Newest articles and comments on The Sacramento Press written by Tamara Dorris

An Interview with My Hero

2009-10-31T00:03:35Z

Not really a big fan of football (what’s a touchdown?), it may seem odd to some that I was so excited to find out a famous football hero was coming to town. Most of us have seen the awe-inspiring movie, “Rudy,” about a small fry guy who wants to play ball for Notre Dame.

Because of the young man’s dogged determination, drive and passion, he does end up realizing his dream and playing football for the “Fighting Irish.” Ever since that movie, in my mind, Rudy Ruettiger has been my personal icon for perseverance.

Needless to say, when I found out the “real” Rudy would be coming to town for a speaking engagement, I knew I had to interview him. Rudy agreed to be a guest on my radio show, “Sacramento Smiles,” which is focused on positive education for Sacramento residents.

In speaking with Rudy, during, and a couple times prior to the show, I can say this about him: he is not pretentious. He is also not especially quick in his responses, but his words and wisdom flow with an appealing and selfless sincerity.

By his own admission, Rudy doesn’t like to talk about football. While he treasures his famous 27 seconds on the field, his passion is more focused on making a difference in the lives of others, and he does that by sharing his story.

As with any dream, Rudy acknowledges there are steps and processes that must be in place. His example was that he didn’t just start out playing ball at Notre Dame, but instead, had to start by getting good grades, getting accepted into the college, trying out for the team, etc. He also talked about the importance of good mentors. In the movie and in life, one of his mentors was the janitor who helped Rudy realized the value of his accomplishments.

Subsequent to his days at Notre Dame, Rudy had another big dream that required his same famous tenacity: to have his story turned into a movie. This was no easy feat, and in fact, took ten years of effort before the movie was accepted in Hollywood. While Rudy inspired and pursued the movie, he did not write it himself.

So far, we’ve noted two huge dreams which are quite literally beyond the scope of comprehension for most people: playing ball for a famous football team and having Hollywood buy a movie inspired by your life.

Rudy is humble about his successes, yet he recognize and talk about them as they are indeed the fodder for his ability to reach and teach others. And that’s what he’s been doing these past couple decades.

Traveling the country, talking to people from all walks of life; discussing dreams, faith, patience and processes, and even the power of prayer and meditation, Rudy takes pleasure in working with adults, kids, teams, parents and coaches. He enjoys sharing his hard-won wisdom in the hope that he can help others try a little harder, go a little further, be a little more.

Rudy will be speaking in Roseville on November 6th. There is no charge to attend. The event is the brainchild of Jim Bellacera, founder of Successful Thinkers, of which Rudy is a big fan. Rudy acknowledges that surrounding oneself with other like-minded individuals is essential to success, and he is therefore enthusiastic about sharing his inspiring story with Sacramento residents who are interested in hearing it.

To register for the event, visit: www.SuccessfulThinkers.com

Sources:

Successful Thinkers website. (http://www.successfulthinkers.com) retrieved 10-25-09.

Rudy Ruettiger website (http://www.speakersbureau.com/speakers/ruettiger/bio.htm) retrieved 10-25-09.

Personal telephone/radio interview with Rudy Ruettiger. October 28, 2009.

Personal telephone interview with Jim Bellacera, founder of Successful Thinkers. September 18, 2009.

I Found My Thrill

2009-10-31T00:00:07Z

With Halloween almost behind us, now is the time to head up to the Hill. Apple Hill, that is.

Sure, the Sacramento crowds are at an all-time high when families head up Highway 50 to pick out the best pumpkin, and as a result, parking is a challenge, lines are long and traffic is thick.

While November still brings good crowds (let’s not forget pumpkin pie), the air and the apples are crisper and the parking not as tricky as it is right before Halloween-time.

Cinnamon tends to scent the air among many of the stops, making you crave the yummy baked goods that are at virtually every stop. There is every kind of apple one might imagine, and plenty of other things to eat and drink.

Having four children, I don’t think there was ever a fall, in at least ten years, when we skipped the familiar trip to Apple Hill.

“Dad” and I would feast on fudge from High Hill, while the kids found apple fritters and caramel covered apples the treat of the day.

We tasted apple wine (yum!) and shopped the many craft stands. In fact, I’ve always gotten a lot of Christmas shopping done in them there hills! As a collector of all things rustic, I’ve purchased amazing metal work, handmade candles and candle-holders, and plenty of holiday ornaments.

The ride up 50 in the fall is fine, especially on a clear and crisp day. The air is fresh and the pine trees welcoming. Just a hop and a skip away, and you are transported to a country-living menagerie of apple orchards, open-barns, pumpkin bins, baked goods, and a myriad of music and crafts.

According to the Apple Hill Growers Association, it was once a “fledgling association comprised of 16 original ranches. Today it boasts more than 50 ranches including Christmas tree growers, wineries, a micro-brewery, spa and vineyards.”

While there are some great little “apple maps” you can pick up at just about any stop, here a few of the ones we’ve found most notable over the years, for all-around family fun:

High Hill Ranch. This was always the kids’ favorite. It features a large trout pond that guarantees a catch, indoor and outdoor shopping for crafts that range from the home-made to the high-art, a candy shop, wine tasting, baked goods and a whole lot of food and fun. This is a great choice for picnics and shopping sprees!

Boa Vista Orchards. This is the one we usually pick for a paid lunch. Their walk-up window diner and inside-bakery are tough to beat. Something about eating a tri-tip sandwich while shopping the outdoor display of all that fresh produce just works for me! There’s often vendors showing off their crafts, and a gourmet food shop inside the big barn. I get everything from fancy mustards to apple juice and wasabi peas at that place. Plus, they have killer apple fritters!

Jack Russell Farm Brewery Okay, so it’s not an apple ranch, but hey, parents gotta have fun too! Actually the Jack Russell Brewery features craft vendors, food sampling and a picnic area. Oh, of course they have some great beer, too! It seems like every time we visit, someone has a Jack Russell on the grounds, which makes it even more fun.

All in all, Apple Hill has too many ranches to name (50!), so you’ll have to explore them all for yourself. Don’t forget that there is wine tasting, Christmas tree farms, pumpkin patches and ranches that cater to younger kids. The landscape is picturesque and the ranch owners ever-so-eager to have you sample their wares.

Sources:
 Apple Hill Growers Association (http://www.applehill.com/ ) retrieved 10-24-09.

Placer Info (http://www.placerville.info/Apple_Hill) retrieved 10-24-09

Sacramento Rage

2009-10-30T23:55:09Z

Having lived in Sacramento for nearly 40 years, it’s not like I’ve never read about or seen news coverage on crimes in our town. However, it seems that recent years are introducing a new level of crime that arises from rage.

The recent Sac State slaying, where Scott Hawkins was allegedly beaten to death (possibly with a baseball bat) by his own roommate, Quran Jones, speaks volumes. The boys shared a dorm room, went to college and seemed to get along fine. The victim, Hawkins, is reported to have been slightly autistic. The other roommates said that they were completely shocked by the ordeal. In a photograph, the alleged killer, Jones, looks like a clean-cut, serious student. What caused Jones to explode in such an unexplainable fit of rage to where he beat a less-able boy to his untimely death?

Last week, down the street from where I live, on the 5300 block of Marconi, a woman, Regina Leigh Grant, age 47, and her son Gerardo Verde, age 23, allegedly stabbed a neighbor to death. Can neighborly disagreements so easily escalate that someone pulls out a knife and stabs someone to death?

This month, Tyrone Adam Palmer was convicted of second-degree murder for running a car off the road that had three teenage girls in it on Winding Way and Barrett. One of the girls was killed, one still remains comatose (after two years), and the other escaped with two broken legs. Apparently, Palmer was disturbed when the girls, upon leaving a party, threw an egg at his car.

Palmer reportedly jumped in his vehicle and chased the girls down, eventually running them off the road into a telephone pole. My own daughter was supposed to go to the same party the girls had just left from. Who would think that a silly, mischievous prank (egging a car), would result in such a degree of rage that three young lives would be so dreadfully affected?

Rage knows no region. There is no household, office building or neighborhood that is safe from its reach. What can we do to curtail the impact?

According to Andrea Lambert, Sacramento-based Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist, “There is not enough information available on how to express and release anger responsibly … we have a way to express sadness by crying … to express fear by trembling and shaking … to express love by a kiss, a hug, a tap on the shoulder. We have not been taught or shown how to express anger in healthy, responsible ways which is a feeling just like the others.” Lambert goes on to say, “So when anger is not being expressed, it builds and builds into rage and to be released so it doesn’t harm the body, it is expressed by violence.”

Lambert, who has worked with clients of all ages and all walks of life, acknowledges that there are healthy ways to express anger and states that there are various forms of therapy which are highly effective in supporting people to release their rage that might result in violent behavior.

It seems that Sacramento would benefit with a reduction in rage through education and awareness of this rapidly growing problem.

Sources:

KCRA News
(http://www.KCRA.com/news/21408837/detail.htm retrieved 10-26-09)

(http://www.SacBee.com/static/weblogs/crime/archives/2009/10 retrieved 10-25-09)

(http://www.SacBee.com/static/weblogs/crime/archives/2009/10 retrieved 10-25-09)

Personal Interview, Lambert, Andrea, LFMCC, Oct. 24, 2009.

Personal Interview, Marsha Smalley, Sacramento State University professor, Oct. 20, 2009.

Tamara Dorris on "The Open hits the home stretch"

2009-10-26T21:54:55Z

what kind of word limit are you looking for?