Colleen Stinar's blog

SOAPWARE

2011-12-20T13:05:00.000-08:00

Well, we have been using the new SOAPWARE for 90 days and have solved many problems. The remote hosting is functioning fairly well. The printing is slow, but the convenience of not having a server may be worth it.

I am unsure if the scheduler will be able to be functional. You are unable to print the patient's name on a superbill. For users that do not use the SOAPWARE billing this is not good. Tech support at EHR suggested we hand write the patients information on the billing slip. Not really a viable option if you have an active practice. I will request an enhancement and see what happens.

Tournament results, 2011

2011-04-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

The second annual Dan the hand Armijo tournament was held in Deming, New Mexico March 12 and 13 , 2011. Everyone had a great time and played lots of handball. Having attended several tournaments recently that indicated a consolation bracket on the entry form, but failed to have one, we wanted to avoid that mistake. The C division had a true round robin format. With four players, each played three matches. The winner was Colleen Stinar. Novice players Bobbi Hall, Brian Pottratz, and Jeramy Brewster participated.

In the AB division there were eight players. A modified round robin format was used, and each player played four matches (two games to 15 with an 11 point tie breaker). A player earned one point for each game won and a point for winning the match. Luckily there were four players from other areas to play the four players from Silver City. Cary Hamilton (Las Cruces, New Mexico) was undefeated for first place. He was an all around good player, and his serves that hugged the left wall were very effective. Brian Stinar (Albuquerque, New Mexico) was second, and Don Stinar (Silver City, New Mexico) took third.
Alan Gast and RFC, also known as “the destroyer” both from Silver City, have moved up from novice players to solid B players. Ryan Ashley of Las Cruces was a welcome addition to the mix. Ron Todd of Anchorage, Alaska (he winters in Las Cruces) added the novelty of far away places to the tournament. Wayne Abraham, a recent transplant to Silver City from Colorado Springs was a big addition to the draw.

On Saturday afternoon instead of having an exhibition match (which we did last year with Dan Armijo vs Louis Cordova Jr) we had a competition between Danny Armijo and everyone in the tournament. He played each player to eleven points. After 3 serves he relinquished the serve to his opponent. At 10 points he also let his opponent serve. The tournament organizers (Don and Colleen Stinar) foolishly thought each player might be able to score two or three points and reach 21, thus beating Armijo. This was not the case. Colleen Stinar pointed out how well Armijo was doing at keeping track of when to change serves, and Jeramy Brewster answered that it is not hard to keep track of 3,6,9. Armijo was perfect at his task. He did not kill the ball immediately, but ran his opponents around. In between matches he would give brief instructional pointers without humiliating anyone. He was humorous and encouraging. All the participants found it a very enjoyable and interesting experience. As A, B, and C players most of us never get the opportunity to play a nationally ranked player. There were four points scored, one by Don Stinar, Brian Stinar, RFC , and Jeramy Brewster.

Abstraction opening by Autumn Stinar

2010-05-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

An exhibit of paintings by Autumn Stinar recently opened at the Anima Gallery in Silver City. The title of the show is Abstraction, and is composed of colorful abstract oil paintings. One painting sold prior to the show, and two sold on opening night.

Autumn studied painting at the Battle Creek Art Center in Michigan, at Fountain Valley High School in Colorado Springs (where one of her paintings won an award at a show of work by students in the Colorado Springs area), and with Christin Forman Brown in Silver City. While a student at Chapman University, she was the graphic artist on a team project that won the Cecil Award for best advertising campaign of the year. She worked for a year in Hollywood at an advertising agency under a gifted and encouraging art director.

Autumn is currently focusing on painting and replacing her works as they sell. Her work may be viewed at Anima gallery at 215 Yankee, Silver City, New Mexico.

2009-01-30T08:15:00.000-08:00

Every time I drive to Phoenix I have to stop and take a photo of an expansive view.

Yorkie Bliss

2009-01-30T08:12:00.001-08:00

Two little yorkies have joined my family. It's a bit chilly in the morning, so a sweater is needed.

Affirmations

2008-08-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

For a person just beginning to meditate, it can be difficult to focus the mind. Beginning with a period of Yoga postures and Yogananda's recharging exercises can be helpful. The meditation techniques taught in the correspondence course offered by Self Realization Fellowship are excellent. But for the individual without these resources, affirmations are a useful tool. After a period of stillness, a thought is spoken out loud, softer and softer, and then mentally repeated. I prefer affirmations written by Yogananda, as I want to improve my thinking. The western mind is used to thinking in words, so this technique is not foreign. You may also write the affirmation for a change of pace. Each of the Self Realization Fellowship lessons includes an affirmation. There is also a book availalbe, Scientific Healing Affirmations.
I find affirmations especially helpful when the mind is ruffled and disturbed. I recently was reading an old issue of Self Realization magazine and found an affirmation I have been using the last few months. "Joy and I are one. God and I are one in divine ecstasy. Oh infinite spirit, surcharge my body, my mind, my soul with thy heavenly bliss. Give me realization that I may consciously feel thy presence within me.
There is a lecture on affirmations by brother Anandamoy When I play the CD in my car I feel as if he were riding in the car with me. Even as adults we are influenced by our peers, and it is a privilege to have lectures that allow me to hang out with people who have many years of meditation practice and service to others as their way of life.

2008-08-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

Wild flowers adorn the highways of New Mexico this time of year. It is especially colorful this year due to frequent rain showers.

Mule Creek, New Mexico

2008-08-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

2008-07-18T09:38:00.000-07:00

2008-05-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

2008-05-15T15:13:00.000-07:00

2008-05-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

The word Yoga means union. The individual is uniting with a higher state of consciousness. Meditation is concentration upon God. Many people have a negative concept of God due to negative experiences with religion. It is not necessary to believe. Applying techniques and seeing what results you get is a reasonable and logical approach.

The goal of the physical yoga poses, called hatha yoga, is to prepare the individual for meditation. It is a good beginning point for many people, because we are used to the idea of controlling the movements of the body. Controlling the mind is much less familiar to us. Many of the yoga classes today are very physical and active. I prefer to mix in breathing techniques and mental relaxation techniques. My goal for my classes is to create a deeply relaxed state, through stretching the muscles, breathing and mental techniques. The student should leave the class refreshed with a feeling of well being and kindness.

Photography

2008-05-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

Mexican bird of paradise, a flower in Silver City.

Real estate in Silver City

2008-05-12T21:42:00.000-07:00

Real estate sales 2008 compared to 2007 in Silver City, New Mexico

You hear all sorts of information about what is happening with real estate in Silver City. One realtor recently gave a lecture about how the downturn is not affecting Silver City. Some realtors are afraid to admit the market is down, thinking buyers will expect super low prices. My personal opinion is, just tell the truth. If people have unrealistic expectations based on the truth, they might have unrealistic expectations and mistrust me based on my lies.

When I run statistics from the Silver City multi-listing service the results are:

Number of land sales January to May 12, 2007: 79

Number of land sale January to May 12, 2008 : 27

Number of home sales January to May 12, 2007: 102

Number of home sales January to May 12, 2008: 76

Am I seeing a big decrease in prices? No. Most sellers are taking a wait and see approach. Very few of our sellers are moving due to job transfers, and have to move in a specific time frame.