Friday, March 24, 2017

Deep Thoughts from your Neighborhood Pothole

By Dave Trux

Wikipedia defines me in rather negative terms. They say I’m a structural failure on a road surface, caused by failure primarily in asphalt pavement due to the presence of water in the underlying soil structure and the presence of traffic passing over the affected area. Water in the underlying soil structure first weakens the supporting soil and then traffic eventually breaks the poorly supported asphalt surface until further traffic ejects both asphalt and the underlying soil material to create a hole in the pavement. I refuse to see myself in such negative and undignified terms, preferring to bask in the glory of successfully destroying the suspension systems, tires and rims of unsuspecting vehicles and the drivers they serve!

Oh, my joints are finally loosening. All this rain really helps with that. At first, it’s a joint here or there but eventually the rain helps manifest all of my joints to loosen to the point that my bones begin to crumble. It’s delightful for me to have the cars drive over me.

This simply speeds up the entire process. These cars are clueless as to the impending doom I am soon to reap upon them.
More rain. This makes me happy. The more the better I say. My transformation is nearly complete. More cars please; speed up the progression. Finally I am at least a square foot in size and growing. Let the battle ensue! I am ready.


Night and darkness are my favorite hours. I lay and wait for my first victim of the night. Here comes one. Hit me, please hit me. Darn. They missed. Wait, here’s another. Man, its dark out here and raining. Here they come. Closer, closer, and WHAM! A direct hit! That had to do some damage. Perhaps a hit to the wheel to the point they bent it. I can only hope I was successful. I didn’t feel a thing; only personal satisfaction. My lifeless soul awaits another and another. Ah, the satisfaction of being a pothole belongs to me and only me! 

Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness Takes Shape!

By Bob Cox

Whether you’re a fight fan, a fitness fan or both, I have some very exciting news. Sacramento’s own former WEC Champion Urijah Faber is opening a brand new cutting edge all purpose fitness facility in East Sacramento and it’s sure to be a knock out!

According to Josh Espley, the General Manager of Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness, there is simply nothing else on earth that compares to what they’re in the process of assembling. Scheduled to open this April, their 22,000 square foot facility combines the components of martial arts and fitness with a wide variety of classes to choose from.

We have several martial arts classes, including boxing, kick boxing, jujitsu, submission grappling and Muay Thai. As far as fitness classes go, we have everything from yoga, Pilates, advanced based fitness, cardio, boxing cardio, kickboxing cardio, MMA programs, cross fit programs, functional fitness programs, circuit training classes and even boot camps”, explained Espley.

For those of you who prefer the solitude of working out alone, Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness is the place for your fitness routine. “As far as the gym goes on the fitness side, we have functional fitness equipment, we have weights, barbells, Olympic dumbbells and high tech cardio equipment as well”, Espley said.

Other amenities of this amazing facility include a cafe with a WiFi lounge, clean and spacious locker rooms, saunas and a kid’s zone that gives all members two free hours of child supervision. There are even fitness programs for kids to help build their confidence while you work out. “Our youth martial arts program consists of kids striking, kids kickboxing, kids wrestling and a youth jujitsu program as well. Those classes are run Monday through Saturday, two times a day”, Espley explained.
Faber and Espley started this out of the box idea after observing what their group of professional fighters from Team Alpha Male (founded by Faber in 2004) was doing. Their group trains primarily out of their original facility in downtown Sacramento. Several professional fighters have trained under Team Alpha Male, including Joseph Benavidez, Justin Buchholz, Danny Castillo, Chris Holdsworth, Chad Mendes, Paige VanZant, the former UFC Bantamweight Champion, and the current UFC Bantamweight Champion, Cody Garbrandt.

Espley, who is also the CEO for Team Alpha Male explained how today’s fighters rely on a wider variety of fitness routines to maximize strength, speed, endurance and flexibility. “We just basically put together what our fighters were doing. Our fighters are better rounded athletes. Many participate in strength and conditioning classes, cross fit classes, functional fitness programs, cardio boxing and even kick boxing programs. To build endurance and coordination, they’re involved in yoga, Pilates, stretch based fitness and even footwork classes, which we also offer here as well”, said Espley.

The vision for Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness is to evolve from a primarily fighter customer base at the midtown location to more of a family oriented facility in East Sacramento. “This gym is really a culmination of putting all of the knowledge Urijah’s gathered over the years in the fight community and using it to give back to the community he grew up in. He’s a very humble and down to earth guy, and very appreciative of everything he’s got”, explained Espley.


Based on Faber’s extraordinary background and business acumen, along with Espley’s experience with Team Alpha Male and as the former Vice President of a successful supplement company, I would say it’s safe to say that Urijah Faber’s Ultimate Fitness has more than a fighter’s chance of achieving incredible success! 

The Joy of Sinus Season

By Bob Cox

Every spring, we experience the wonders of nature in full bloom. The days grow longer, the skies become bluer, our trees fill out and the wild grasses transform into vibrate shades of green. When the birds and bee’s take a break from doing what they’re famous for, those little honey making marvels get busy pollinating as much as they can for as long as they can. And yet, while many revel in the majesty of spring, there are many more that suffer silently from the annoying symptoms of allergies. On those blustery days when the winds from the delta kick up and spread an assortment of allergens, it truly becomes something to sneeze at, again and again.

Kelly Matts has been an ardent supporter of chiropractors for many years. Before moving to California, she had seen a chiropractor while living in Ohio for a variety of ongoing issues due to numerous car accidents. Her chiropractor used a specialized gun that helped her get immediate relief from chronic back and neck pain.

After moving to the golden state, she chose to see Dr. Blakely, primarily because Dr. Blakely uses that very same gun. From that first visit over two years ago, Kelly has loved her ever since! While also getting amazing results from Dr. Blakely for her chronic back and neck issues, Kelly told Dr. Blakely how badly she had been suffering from severe headaches caused by sinus issues. Nothing she did seemed to help.

Dr. Blakely told her that she could help her by using that wonder gun to relieve the pressure in her sinuses. At first, Kelly was skeptical as Dr. Blakely applied the gun to her face, targeting her cheeks and forehead. However; in a matter of mere minutes, relief came and it actually worked! Nowadays, as soon as Kelly feels the familiar pressure begin to build in her sinuses, she makes a bee line to Dr. Blakely’s office.

Kelly was so impressed, she recommended Dr. Blakely to a friend who also endured severe sinus issues. “My friend had suffered really badly from sinuses for years and I finally took pity on her one day after she came to our house with a horrible sinus infection. Her doctor did everything he knew to do, but could not take care of the problem. She had been to several doctors for years and I finally told her to see my chiropractor. She agreed and after just one visit, she said she was 75% better! I now call Dr. Blakely Wonder Woman, explained Kelly.


If you or someone you know suffers from chronic allergies, put down the box of Kleenex, pick up your phone and call Dr. Blakely today at (916) 944-1444 today. Your sinuses, your doctor and Wonder Woman will thank you!

Transforming Nightmares into Dreams

By Bob Cox

Does the thought of a “kitchen remodel” wake you up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat? Perhaps you’ve had the displeasure of enduring a lengthy and costly kitchen renovation. Remember the bad old days of inhaling clouds of dust while listening to the nails on a chalkboard sound of screeching table saws for weeks on end? Shouldn’t there be an easier, cleaner and faster method for you to enjoy the kitchen of your dreams? Well now there is and it’s a company called Granite Transformations. Over the last 13 years, Granite Transformations has helped thousands of your neighbors get what they want while avoiding the things they don’t want.

The easier way: Granite Transformations will simply use your existing surface as the sub-top for your new counter. This is a much less costly and wasteful alternative to the conventional approach of ripping out and tossing your old counters into our overcrowded landfills. Their engineered surfaces are only one-quarter inch thick, so the height of your counters will only be slightly taller. Their gorgeous counters, made from granite, quartz and recycled glass are incredibly durable and completely non-porous, so maintenance is virtually nonexistent. They never have to be sealed or treated with a multitude of expensive cleaners, just good old soap and water.

The faster way: Forget those nightmares from your previous kitchen remodel, when your house resembled a disaster area for weeks, weeks that probably felt like years. Granite Transformations will complete your entire project, including your new backsplash, replace the sink and finish the plumbing in as little as one day! They do all the fabrication in their shop in Rancho Cordova and their installation team will arrive early in the morning and transform your kitchen, usually before you’re ready to start cooking dinner that night.

The cleaner way: They do all the messy work in their shop, not in your kitchen or garage. Hundreds of delighted customers have given Granite Transformations glowing reviews about the cleanliness of the entire process. On top of all that, their customers are consistently blown away by how absolutely beautiful their kitchens are upon completion.


The most exciting news of all is you will never have to compromise on beauty to enjoy the ease and convenience of a Granite Transformations kitchen. Oh, and did I mention that all of their products are made in the USA? If you’re looking for an easier, faster and cleaner way to an updated and beautiful kitchen, call my friends at Granite Transformations today at (916) 851-9745 and schedule an in-home meeting with one of their design consultants. The consultation is not only free, it’s pressure free!  

Climbing Aboard the Pro-Train

By Bob Cox

What does a famous millionaire like the starting running back for the Denver Broncos, Devontae Booker have in common with a growing number of everyday citizens from across the nation? They’ve all decided to get their nutritional goals on track by climbing aboard the fastest moving train on both sides of the Rockies: Pro-Train Food For Fitness!

Pro-Train is a thriving healthy meal preparation company that’s based here in Carmichael, California. They are providing their customers with nutritious and delicious meals that can be shipped directly to their customers at a surprisingly affordable price. I spoke with two of the three partners, Eugene Thompson and Chris Wilson the other day to learn more about their fresh and innovative business.

Q: Can you tell us about how you all started Pro-Train?

Eugene: I was a chef at the time it when I came up with the idea in 2013. I was working out with some professional athletes, fighters and bodybuilders and I saw that they were all eating healthy prepared meals that I knew I could do better. I decided to contact Freddy Knight, who was my friend and head chef at the time and told him I thought we should start a business and offer healthy prepared meals. So, we teamed up and started selling food. Chris Wilson was one of our first clients. He loved it so much and he quickly became our third partner!

Q: Chris, how did your background prepare you for this dynamic business?

Chris: I received my B.S from Sacramento State University and studied business with an emphasis on marketing. I was successful in the corporate world and started a few health-related companies as well. I have had an entrepreneurial mindset since as far back as I can remember and started competitive bodybuilding when I was in my mid-20’s. I didn’t have time to make my own meals and I happened to stumble upon Pro-Train on social media and saw that they were doing it for a great price. The meals looked amazing but I honestly thought it was going to be normal, bland diet-food. The first bite I took, I was very impressed and I knew I needed to be a part of the company. The meals were perfectly proportioned to my needs and the flavor was amazing!

Q: Eugene, can you tell us about your background?

Eugene: I was a chef at Red Hawk Casino. I didn’t go to school to become a chef, but I started cooking at a young age. I grew up in wine country, worked in restaurants in my youth and moved up the ladder. I was also a professional mixed martial arts fighter, so sports and fitness was a big part of my lifestyle. I put my career and lifestyle together and this is what I came up with.

Q: What exactly does Pro-Train offer?

Eugene: We’re a professional meal prep company. We make healthy prepared meals that are perfectly proportioned and we deliver them directly to your door. We have no processed foods, GMO’s, added sugars, trans-fats or dairy in our meals. You can select the portion size that fits your diet and then those meals are prepared fresh and picked up or directly shipped to you. We also have consultants that can encourage and guide you to help you reach your health and fitness goals.

Q: What separates you from your strongest competitors?

Eugene: The four things that separate us are our cleanliness of our food, our consistency, our variety and our low price. I believe we have the best prices in California for premium quality food that’s prepared by a chef. Our fresh and healthy prepared meals can be purchased in a weekly package as low as $6 apiece, which is incredible, especially when you compare it to the cost and quality of fast food!

Q: Where are your meals prepared?

Eugene: In our facility here in Carmichael! The majority of our clients are local and some will come here and pick up their meals but most prefer to have their meals delivered. We have an outstanding delivery system and serve the greater Sacramento area. We deliver a week’s worth of meals to our customer’s door steps in the local area by 7am on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays. We also are able to FedEx our meals to customers in a one or two day shipping area. Very soon, we will also be offering meals a-la-carte for pickup and purchase any day of the week.

Q: How long does it typically take from the time the order is placed until it’s received?

Eugene: We ask for three days, which allows us enough time to purchase the food fresh, prepare it and have it ready for pick up or delivery.

Q: Do you offer an automatic weekly program?

Chris: Yes, this is also how our customers can benefit from volume pricing discounts! Our customers can change their order up to three days before their order is shipped. They can change their menu, the size of their portions, along with many other options.

Q: What’s been your customer’s feedback?

Eugene: Feedback has been amazing! The majority of our customer’s feedback is that the food is great, it is such a time-saver and it’s very cost effective. For many of our customers, we have now become their grocer and it’s like they have their own personal chefs.

Chris: We have several customers that have lost a lot of weight, some as much as 80 pounds! Some of the best feedback that we have heard is that we are helping to turn the American dietary standards around and ultimately helping to extend and save lives! We have many customers that have been with us for over a year and it just keeps growing. We went with a subscription based model so that our customers could place their order and never have to worry about it again.

Q: Why are you both so passionate about Pro Train?

Eugene: We all share the same mission statement, which is to change lives from the inside out.

Chris: Our three partners are driven to make this succeed. Our mission is bigger than each of us! We all come from fitness backgrounds. I was a bodybuilder, personal-trainer and health-coach. Eugene was a professional athlete and outstanding chef and Freddy has been a chef for over 30 years and was running the entire kitchen at Red Hawk Casino. So, we’ve brought all of our talents together and our servant’s mentality to market and I believe it’s what’s helped us achieve continued growth thus far.

Q: What have been the biggest challenges and hardships you’ve faced and how have you overcome them?

Chris: The biggest challenge was starting up a new business and not having much capital to start. We want to eventually be seen as a true rags-to-riches story. Not quite there yet, but through it all we’ve actually paved the way for other meal prep companies. When we started, no one knew what “meal-prep” was but now it’s becoming a common thing.

Eugene: We all had to give up a lot of things in our personal life and it makes it really hard on our social lives, families, etc. We’ve put in a lot of hours, which makes it really hard to balance work and family. We just know that in the end the benefit we bring to society will be worth it.

Q: How do you both maintain such a positive outlook in spite of all the challenges of a start up business?

Eugene: We started a charity with Pro-Train that’s going to be launched next month to feed underprivileged children who aspire to excel in athletics. These kinds of things push us and we’re always going for more. We also lean on each other. There are days when I don’t want to come to work and I can call Chris and he may have some great idea that makes me want to come in and work and vice versa.

Chris: I’ll second that 100%! For me, the big purpose in my life is to give back. The more that we’re able to provide to the community and those we love, it’s going to come back. I have a spiritual purpose too and believe that the Lord shall always provide and he has blessed us with our abilities; this drives me every day. There’s a lot of things that I’ve gone through in the past that have brought me to where I’m at and I know Eugene and Freddy feel the same way. What’s really cool is we’ve become like brothers and we’re able to really pull each other up when we need to! We hope to do that for all our customers as well!


Editor’s Notes: For more information about Pro Train, visit their website at www.Protrainf3.com, call (916) 281-9339 or stop by their facility at 4747 Manzanita Ave. in Carmichael, CA. 

Red Line is the Bottom Line

By Bob Cox

To be completely honest, my mama never told me, “You better shop around”. Fortunately, I’ve heard the soothing and soulful sounds of that old Smokey Robinson song enough times in my life to benefit from those words of wisdom. So, when it came time to replace my tires recently, I did shop around.

What did I find? I discovered a gem of a shop that offered me such a great deal; I simply could not refuse the huge savings! That shop is called Red Line Tires in Rancho Cordova. According to Majid Pasha, the President of Red Line Tires, their goal is to provide an excellent quality product and service at a very reasonable price. Customers can choose from a variety of used and new tires, including several popular brands like Michelin, Goodyear, Cooper and more.

Red Line Tires offers complete alignment service that utilizes state-of-the-art equipment. They also provide a free alignment check to make sure their customers actually need the service. “We’ve had many customers come in specifically for an alignment and after we put their vehicle on the rack; we often discover that an alignment is not needed. When we tell them there’s no charge, they usually come back because they leave so happy”, Majid said.

You don’t find that extraordinary level of honesty everywhere in the business world, which is just another reason why I’m so jazzed to have discovered Red Line Tires. They also offer premium quality flat repairs (patch instead of a plug) and tire rotations to all vehicles riding on their new set of tires absolutely free! “We take pride in providing excellent service to our customers. Our associates are very friendly to people and we listen to our customers and find out what they need rather than forcing our will upon them. We also offer nice clean waiting areas and restrooms”, explained Majid.


Red Line Tires has four independent shops located in Roseville, South Sacramento, Rancho Cordova and Natomas and they’re planning to open at least three new stores a year. In the coming months, they want to open facilities in Elk Grove, Folsom and another towards the Bay Area. That’s great news for those of us that would prefer to not have to shop around. Sorry Smokey’s mama!

Swatting Flies with a Sledgehammer

By Bob Cox

When it comes to the critical subject of criticism, chances are good that you’ve run across someone who practices the fine art of brutal honesty. They may even behave like an annoying and obnoxious braggart, declaring how unafraid they are to tell it like it is, anytime, anywhere and to anyone.

On the one hand, offering honest and direct feedback can be an extremely admirable character trait, but only when it’s delivered and received in a healthy way. When the stakes are high, the decision to be completely open and transparent by sharing the uncensored version of what you believe, think or feel does require the positive character trait of courage.

Unfortunately, it also requires an even greater negative quality: callousness. When you choose the sledgehammer approach to swatting lies like flies, you may get lucky and squash a few, but look at the destruction you’re causing! Also, you’re likely to be seen as a self centered narcissist and that only cares about your desire to express an unfiltered message. Brutal honesty typically leads to an ironic and miserable outcome because the truth-teller may sincerely believe that their misguided approach will build a foundation of trust and respect, when in fact it often destroys it, especially when the motives of the truth-teller are called into question.

Case in point: When I was a child, my dad was my hero for a number of very good reasons. At the top of that list was his unwavering commitment to always being honest and expecting no less from me. All those warm and fuzzy feelings evaporated quickly during my 16th year of life. Shortly after being uprooted 400 miles from the home I grew up in, I fell into a spiraling whirlpool of self pity and despair that I believed was caused by being separated from the people and places I loved. After articulating those honest feelings with daily updates about my miserable little life that I blamed him for, dad responded with cold heartedness by telling me that I needed to get a job. While I knew he was being honest, I questioned his motives, believing that he cared less about my happiness and more about his by shutting me up once and for all! Looking back, I can understand the method to his madness.

Since I cannot endorse the sledgehammer approach to honesty, do I advocate lying in order to spare the feelings of others? No, because lying is primarily motivated by one of two fears: Either you’re afraid of not being strong enough to handle the guilt of hurting someone else’s feelings or you’re afraid the recipient is too fragile to handle your criticism. Either way, fear becomes the primary motive to avoiding the truth and that fear will become fertile soil for a bumper crop of pain and misery.


So, what on earth am I advocating? I believe in tempering the brutal impact of authentic criticism with generous quantities of compassion. One way to achieve that healthy balance is to strive for the Platinum Rule, which is to do onto others the way they (not you) would like to be done onto. To practice the Platinum Rule successfully, you have to be willing to extend generous amounts of time and energy to thoroughly understand the person you’re planning to critique. Once you learn more about the person, then you’ll be in a better position to deliver an honest and compassionate message that builds a solid foundation of mutual trust and respect.

Our Palace is Your Palace!

By Bob Cox

During the Great Recession, millions of Americans endured a variety of financial and emotional hardships. Not only did the housing market experience an unprecedented downfall, the financial industry was in shambles, which forced thousands of businesses to either downsize or go down six feet of dirt. The year was 2008 when Shafika Mangal was laid off from her job. She had no prospects for employment since most businesses weren’t hiring. How would Shafika manage to survive and make ends meet?

Shafika reflected on all the hardships she had endured during her lifetime and then on the qualities that helped her persevere. The inner strengths she had relied on would serve her well during those dark days. “I’ve been through hardships many times in life but I’m the type of person that when I fall down, I get up. I don’t quit until I find a solution. Life is good. God gave us life and I am determined to enjoy every minute of it”, said Shafika.

The lack of employment opportunities forced Shafika to come up with a completely different strategy to create a steady source of income. She had nearly 30 years of experience managing five star hotels, so she drew upon her vast number of skills and focused on those experiences she enjoyed most. “I had to do something, so I put everything into it, including my energy, my money and my retirement to purchase an existing banquet hall and catering business”, explained Shafika.

Today, Shafika Mangal is the proud owner of The Palace Ballroom, Inc. in Rancho Cordova, CA. She purchased the business while it was in Carmichael and moved it two years ago to its current venue, which is substantially larger. The Palace Ballroom is a stunningly beautiful facility that encompasses nearly 19,000 square feet of luxurious amenities. I spoke with Shafika the other day to learn more about her unique and thriving business.

Q: Why did you choose to purchase a banquet hall and catering business?

A: Thank you so much for asking me that question. I love what I do and I am a people person. You can run this business if you’re a people person but you have to have the patience, the attitude and the experience to succeed. I’ve been doing this for a long time and really enjoy taking care of my customers.

Q: What was it like when you first started in 2008?

A: The first job I got, I catered for a group of about 70 people and it was such an enjoyable experience! It’s been growing ever since and my goal is to let this business continue to grow and reach the goal I set for myself. I love coming to work every day and I’m very happy to take care of our customers.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your facility and describe the types of events you host?

A: We have an international banquet hall and we are open to the public and the business community. We host a variety of functions, including weddings, birthday parties, anniversaries and a number of other celebrations. Businesses choose us when they host meetings, conventions, parties and training sessions. For businesses, we offer a continental breakfast, a cold lunch or hot lunch and much more. We also have a fully functioning kitchen and can serve food to all of our guests.

Q: How many people can you host?

A: Our capacity is 640 people. We often work with smaller groups, from 100 people on up. The size of the room is huge, so for smaller events, we can partition the room to create the ideal environment for our customers. We can make the space any size or shape our customers want to make the space feel more intimate and presentable.

Q: What types of cuisine do you serve?

A: We can serve any type of cuisine our customer’s want, so everything is on the menu. We are an international banquet hall, so we have hosted events for a variety of cultures and companies, big and small. We are here to serve the public and we are happy to take care of your banquet and catering needs.

Q: What sets you apart from the competition?

A: I have no competition here locally. I know we all need money to pay our bills, but my mission is making sure my customers are happy and say, “This is the greatest place”. When people come here, they feel our friendly service, they smell our delicious food we serve, they see the nice uniforms worn by our employees and experience our five star service. Those are the things that set us apart.

Q: Do you help your clients plan their events?

A: Yes. We start by giving them a site tour and let them know about the different services we offer. They tell us what they need and then we come up with a strategy to make it work.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your business?

A: Our customers. They are number one. We want to take care of them and we give them real red carpet service, which is an actual red carpet that’s rolled out at the front door for them. If they want to create an upscale function with limousine service and so on, we will make that happen. I’m so happy to provide this atmosphere for our customers and always look forward to meeting with them and our new clients as well!


Editors notes: For more information about The Palace Ballroom, Inc., stop by their facility at 11354 White Rock Road, Suite 120 in Rancho Cordova, CA, visit their website at www.thepalaceballroomsacramento.com or call (916) 722-6741.