Hey, Pittsburgh Pirate fans - you never thought you'd see this in Spring Training!

During an event for season ticket holders and sponsors of Pittsburgh Pirates spring training, Latisha Kirk was in labor in the breezeway at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Florida.  Standing by was none other than Trevor Gooby, director of Florida Operations for the Pirates.  Would Gooby have to "play catcher"?

2012 brings issues on the state level regarding risk management, U.S.-wide.  The Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS) provides education, information and strategies at their annual Conference.

Among these RIMS said in a statement that it plans to follow several state issues this year.  Included in this RIMS will work with New York State Sen. Jeffrey Kelin, D-Bronx/Westchester, to push for New York State to establish an Office of Risk Assessment.  This would then integrate comprehensive risk management into the State’s operations.

“What?  Too cold for baseball?” you say?  But you love the Pittsburgh Pirates and you would love to get out of the snow and ice?  Ah... the great news is you will have plenty of reason to fly down to Florida, to watch your beloved team during Spring training in March.

The schedule of the Pirates Spring Training runs all along the Tampa Bay, Southwest Gulf Coast, and boy is it warm and beautiful.

It’s challenging for the business traveler to eat healthy on the road or in the air. 

In Part I (in January and more on healthy breakfasts review our blog on 1/26/12: Eating healthy can be a big challenge for businesspeople that do a lot of travelling.)  In today’s blog we’ll be talking about Strategies to keep in mind, and a few healthy snack choices to look for – choices packed with nutrition and a lighter fare. In Next month, in Part III we’ll cover lunches and dinners.  By the time we're done, healthy eating for business travelers will be a bit easier and less confusing, plus you'll have some strategies in place to help you when you need them most.

In the face of the fact that the Obama administration gave warnings that funding cuts in K-12 education would continue in the post-ARRA era, The Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) will be forging ahead at their annual conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center on March 24^th – 26^th.

Hopefuls have been discussing an fiscal year 2013 budget of as much as $25 billion for teacher stabilization and $30 billion for modernization of our schools.  But in reality, these provisions were speculated numbers found within the American Jobs Act being reworked and first introduced Fall ‘2011—the American Jobs Act had first been introduced last fall, and though the administration reintroduced it now, it has not gone far.  

Do you pack light and never miss what you didn’t bring? Or, do you pack heavy and wish you had packed light?

Packing is universally a personal thing, but there are some packing tips to make it easier.  Let’s look at what you can do to make it work the best for you.

 First time dance competitions can be a very nerve-wracking experience if you don’t prepare yourself mentally, physically and practically. 

"Princess...Your Chariot Awaits..."

Looking for ideas to woo your Valentine on that special day?  Here's How to Make it Super Special! 

Below you'll see some terrific resources for crafting the Valentine's Day experience you want your love (your "Princess") to always remember.  But where you go for Valentine's Day is only half of the experience.  Picture this:

If you’re on a budget, a great way to save is to combine important events that will minimize your cost of travel. 

Many families live spread throughout the USA, and they plan a yearly family reunion in some central spot all can get to.  But what about you and the kids?  You want to have time away (just you, your spouse and the kids on your own family vacation), and you are thinking how much it would cost to be able to fit both a family reunion, plus a separate family vacation into your vacation budget (not to mention time off from work!)