Happy Independence Day! To escape the gloom and doom of the latest news (and the relentless gory details of Michael Jackson’s sad demise) I would like to provide you with my own version of how to cheer up your life: Hug your sweetie, your pet or get a massage! Eat a healthy, anti-inflammation diet. Start believing in yourself today! Write down your feelings, fears, frustrations, everything. Clear out your work space and your head! Exercise. Whatever you do is better than nothing! Go have some fun. Decide what you like to do and do it! Don’t forget to be creative! Feel gratitude…
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Midlife Crisis Queen: The Weblog
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Ten easy steps to enhance your sense of well-being!
3 Jul 2009 | 6:06 am -
Pursuing love at any cost
1 Jul 2009 | 6:54 amI find the recent news story about South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford to be an interesting case of midlife love. One way it MAY be different than the standard midlife philandering stories like that of Eliot Spitzer or President Clinton, is that Mark Sanford believes that he found his soul mate in this Argentine woman. I believe that is possible. In the end, we all seek to feel unconditional love and acceptance at some point in our lives. That was my quest after my own divorce in 2001. I wanted to believe it was possible in this crazy world. We also do not choose when we will meet… -
Midlife Crisis: What could be more natural?
30 Jun 2009 | 7:41 amAfter all I’ve been through, and speaking from the perspective of one who is well into her second midlife crisis (at least!), I realized today: What could be more natural than stopping in midlife to seriously consider where I’ve been and where I hope to go next. An elder friend of mine said to me yesterday that the best thing you can do for yourself at some point is to forget about your past and begin living for today. I completely agree, but I have found it useful and necessary to first stop and consider how all that I have experienced in this lifetime has made me what I am… -
It’s Carnival Time Again!
29 Jun 2009 | 6:15 amDina over at This Marriage Thing has put together an amazing new Blogging Boomers Carnival just for you! Quick, go see! -
MIDLIFE CRISIS, ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH!
26 Jun 2009 | 7:26 amOn Google I notice the apparently endless questions about midlife crisis. It sometimes seems these requests are couched in a strong desire to somehow curtail or avoid the myriad of gifts provided by a life crisis. The problem with this way of thinking is that there is NO WAY to avoid an occasional crisis, and you will never learn and grow if you don’t bottom out every now and then! Let’s go through the five things we cannot change about our lives: Everything changes and ends. Things do not always go according to plan. Life is not always fair. Pain is part of life. People are…
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The New Old Age
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The $500,000 Question
2 Jul 2009 | 4:00 amAfter years of moves and mounting expenses, would a continuing care community have made more sense for my mother? -
When the Walker Slips Away
30 Jun 2009 | 6:57 amFalls involving walkers and canes lead to 47,000 emergency room visits among older Americans each year, according to a new study. -
What Makes Us Happy
30 Jun 2009 | 3:50 amThree factors contribute greatly to happiness in old age, a new survey finds. -
Family Caregiving on Contract
25 Jun 2009 | 10:03 amShould adult children be paid to care for aging parents? -
6 Reasons to Grow Old
22 Jun 2009 | 8:06 amA rabbi reflects on the virtues of old age, among them "a liberation from the compulsion to set everyone else straight."
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The Midlife Gals
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Take a Pill!
3 Jul 2009 | 7:49 am“I want to have sex,” she said. He replied, “Wait a minute, I’ll take my pill.” When did it come to this?? SHE’S the one who used to say, “Okay. I’ve taken my pill...let’s DO it!” Her pill was to make sure she didn’t produce offspring who would then say, “Okay. I’ve taken my pill.” Someone forgot to take a pill in that case. His response is further proof that there is a pill for everything...and everything for a pill.I take pills...not for protecting myself against an unwanted pregnancy...those days are long over. But, were I to get pregnant at THIS age, there’s… -
Queen for a Day
30 Jun 2009 | 8:43 amThe Midlife Gals love gay men. We just can’t help it. We were raised that way. With The Ancient One owning a very sophisticated art gallery out in the tumbleweeds of west Texas in the sixties, if you were gay in our town, you were drawn to her like a gorgeous moth to her fag hag flame. We called her gay friends, ‘Uncle’ This and ‘Uncle’ That. We didn’t know they weren’t really our flamboyant uncles until we came to know our real uncle whom we didn’t care for much, so we clung to Uncle This and That with all the love we’d been told one should have for an uncle.We have a gay… -
To Gift If Frazzled...
26 Jun 2009 | 9:36 amTGIF can mean a lot of things, and in this case, we’re talking about RE-gifting. Tell me that you’ve never re-gifted, and I’ll call you a liar...or a saint...or maybe too driven! Let’s face it, we’ve all received gifts whereby, after our initial shock and embarrassment for the GIVER because a tacky fake crystal giraffe is NOT reflective of the type of gift one should give another...We smile a fake, warm smile, and say, “Oh! I know EXACTLY where I’m going to put this (on my re-gift shelf in the garage). You SHOULDN’T have! (really).”TGIF happens when you’ve forgotten to… -
In Movie Mode
23 Jun 2009 | 7:02 amSalGal is in hog heaven! She’s co-starring in a small, independent movie being shot here in the A-Town, and I’ve never seen her so happy. You’d think that having to shave your head for a scene in a movie would be the most traumatic thing you’ve ever done. Pish Posh! They tried the ‘skull-cap’ thingy in the makeup chair on Sal’s head, but she just looked like a twisted version of Bozo the Clown, so she said, “What the f**k! Shave it! Authenticity, right? And, with apologies to all who HAVE to shave their heads (for whatever reason), she now looks just like she’s had her last… -
Happy Father’s Day Daddy
19 Jun 2009 | 7:13 amI love the word, Daddy. It just sounds like someone you would love. Of course, I tend to think about things as if they are chapters from a good southern novel, so a Daddy for me connotes a big, strong, handsome man in uniform in an old black and white Polaroid from 1943. He’s with his Navy buddies on a crowded ship in the middle of the Pacific. They’re off duty, drunk, smoking and playing poker on an overturned bucket from their bunks below deck.I picture a Daddy tying his little girl’s shoe laces and teaching her how to make the loop go under and through. He is patient and funny. The…
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The Midlife Gals Videos
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REALLY Bad Hair Cut!
26 Jun 2009 | 9:33 amTwo Words....Never fall asleep in the chair at the beauty parlor!!! -
Wo Moved Our CHI???
24 Jun 2009 | 7:51 amDon’t ask The Midlife Gals to move the couch 3 inches to the left if you don’t want an entirely NEW living room by the time they’re done! -
Makeup...a lot goes a wrong way!
17 Jun 2009 | 2:26 pmThe Midlife Gals try to advise their model, Sweet Pea, but she obviously has a mind of her own, which just irks us no end! -
Dear Midlife Gals on Deadbeats!
7 Jun 2009 | 10:18 amMen who are self-assured and successful will LOVE this video...if that’s not who you are...move along! Cuz, Sal’s still a skosh bitter! -
Family Reunions...just lie your head off!
5 Jun 2009 | 11:50 amThe Midlife Gals think you should just find another family...only MUCH smaller than your present one!
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MidLifeBloggers
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Pimp That Post!
1 Jul 2009 | 12:03 pmWhich is what I’m doing right now: pimping my most recent post for More.com….in which I whine about why I’m bad at pimping (my mama done brought me up right)–and why it’s crucial to this ... -
Perrie Meno-Pudge comes to MidLifeBloggers
28 Jun 2009 | 5:22 pmPerrie is the newest MidLifeBlogger. You can find her at Perrie Meno-Pudge, where she lives and works and puts her finger on exactly the right spot for tickling MidLifeBloggers' fancies. Lucky us, Perrie and the gang will be appearing here weekly 'Cause you know we really need our fancies tickled. -
The Only Thing We Should Fear Is…Fear Itself
25 Jun 2009 | 12:15 pmTwo completely disconnected events last week got me thinking about just that and how sometimes we need reminding that we are ultimately in charge of how we handle our fears. -
MidLife, Marketing and Dumb Assumptions
22 Jun 2009 | 11:26 amIf you’re in your 20’s and have read this far, don’t think that people twice your age don’t have a clue about pop culture or the Next Big Thing. We saw it coming. -
Eternal Youthfulness: Is it a myth? Do we even want it?
18 Jun 2009 | 2:55 pmAt fifty-three, I have to laugh when I hear people claim that fifty is the new thirty, or that aging is all in your head. The truth is, it's a lot of work to stay young. Which isn't the same thing as remaining youthful.
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Over 50 Website
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Physical Activity Study Needs Your Input
2 Jul 2009 | 3:17 pmI got this request for a post from my alma-mater, UT, Austin. I hope you will find it interesting, and will consider helping out! This is from the school of nursing, and I did graduate with a BBA (Class of ‘81): Physical Activity Study For Women Ages 40 - 60 Dr. Eun -Ok Im of the University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing is conducting an Internet study on the physical activity attitudes among diverse groups (Caucasian, Asian, African American, Hispanic) of middle-aged women (40-60 Y/O). In this study, each participant will be reimbursed with a gift certificate of 10 dollars… -
Testing
18 Jun 2009 | 9:04 amTesting -
Baby Boomers and Retirement
3 Jun 2009 | 8:14 amSo What About Baby Boomers and Retirement? We are only certain about one thing when it comes to baby boomers hitting the traditional retirement years, and that is that retirement years will not be all that traditional. This conclusion comes from a mix of good news and news that is not as good. But we, the baby boomer generation, are nothing if not flexible. You may sing that we didn’t start the fire, but we certainly did not put it out either! Baby Boomers Expect to Stay Working Longer We may expect to leave our current job (or not) at age 65, but we probably do not expect to stop… -
What is Resveratrol?
28 May 2009 | 9:34 pmSo What is This Wonder Supplement - Resveratrol - and Does Dr. Oz Really Like it? A new supplement called Resveratrol is now being touted as an anti-aging wonder. We’ve seen press about it from Oprah’s own Dr. Oz, and even on the news show 60 Minutes! Commonly found in the skin of grapes and red wine, is this new supplement the vitamin C of the 21st century? What About That French Thing? Heart Health and Red Wine! A lot has been made of the French, and their ability to consume a high fat diet, drink plenty of wine, and still have better heart health than Americans. Finally… -
Who Needs Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI)?
27 May 2009 | 1:37 pmDo you Need Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI)? While most adult Americans are giving some thought to retirement planning, especially with these tight economic times, many have not really thought about the need for long term care planning. In my experience, people who have had to go through the experience of having a family member need long term nursing care tend ot think about it more than others. The Need for LTC Planning But experts predict that along with longer lives will come the increased possiblity that half of us will need nursing care at some point in our adult lives. And the cost of…
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The Boomer Chronicles
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Friday Links Variety Show (July 3, 2009)
3 Jul 2009 | 8:22 amThe poor economy is seeing Amish workers leaving their jobs at RV factories and returning to ‘more Amish’ ways Parents of a 2-year-old are keeping his/her gender a secret from him/her and everyone else. Interesting idea. Some baby boomers are selling everything and taking to the road in RVs. If prostate cancer patients are disease-free after five years, they are disease-free after 10 years. -
The Fanciest Dog Park Around
3 Jul 2009 | 7:53 amI went to a dog park in Boston that I don’t often visit — Joe Wex Dog Park at Peters Park in the South End. This place is the creme de la creme of dog parks. The park offers two spaces, one designated for large dogs and the other for small dogs like mine. Comfortable benches line the main pee/poop area, which is covered in gravel. But my favorite feature of this park is the water fountain that’s actually at doggy height. No more scooping up water and getting my dog to drink out of my cupped hands. Here is a pic of the Canine Prince indulging at the fountain: -
Are You an Adult Planning to Live with Your First Roommate?
2 Jul 2009 | 8:58 amAs readers of The Boomer Chronicles know, I am a big believer in community building, co-housing, and other related phenomena. I just spoke to a Boston Globe reporter who is looking for people to interview for a story on unrelated adults living together. Are you going to rent out your first room to a stranger? Then drop everything and send an email to: Megan Woolhouse at MWoolhouse@globe.com. -
Urban Word of the Day: “Running Latte”
2 Jul 2009 | 5:51 amRunning latte Definition: Showing up late to work because you stopped for coffee along the way. I told them I got stuck in traffic, but really I was running latte. -
Quebec City: The Definition of a Great Innkeeper, and Other Adventures
1 Jul 2009 | 6:52 pmGuy, the man who runs the 727 Hotel, where I stayed my three nights in Quebec City, has owned the inn for just three months. So that explains his enthusiasm! I joked with him that his demeanor will change after he’s dealt with a lot more guests. He comes from a background in contract administration — the opposite of being a warm, involved innkeeper. Well, this morning after he served another fine breakfast, I ran up the street to the pharmacy for something I needed. Turns out it’s Canada Day today, so the pharmacy was closed. I came back and Guy asked what I was looking for.
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A Different Nest: Embracing the midlife journey while mothering special needs children
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Autism's False Prophets: A look at the role of bad science and good intentions
25 Jun 2009 | 1:12 pmAutism's False Prophets: Bad science, risky medicine, and the search for a cure, explores the role of social forces in shaping what we perceive as "science" and "truth." Through great research, author Paul A. Offit debunks the idea that vaccines or mercury cause autism, or that biomedical "alternative" treatments will cure it. He aims to give voice to parents who do NOT buy into this idea, and resent the diversion of research and resources spent to prove or disprove causation and miracle cures rather than interventions and family support.That would be me. Hear Offit's own words here.Offit's… -
12 Jun 2009 | 10:07 am
12 Jun 2009 | 10:07 amToday is graduation day for high school seniors 'round these parts. But for teens or young adults with special needs, it may just be another day, if they are not "walking" with their "typically developing" peers.How nice, then, to read about a graduation ceremony recently in Oregon for graduates of the Salem-Keizer School District's Community Transition Program. This article describes the impact that graduates have had have on the instructional assistants, bus drivers and specialists who have worked along side of them for so many years. Many of these attend the ceremony as "crucial partners… -
IEPs According to Dr. Seuss (author unknown)
29 May 2009 | 10:36 amDan was sent this poem via Washington Dads, a support group for dads raising children with special needs. It seems appropriate with IEP season upon us. IEPs According to Dr. Seuss (author unknown) I do not like these IEPsI do not like them, Jeeze LouiseWe test, we check We plan, we meet But nothing ever seems complete. Would you, could you Like the form?I do not like the form I see Not page 1, not 2, not 3 Another change A brand new box I think we all Have lost our rocks.Could you all meet here or there? We could not all meet here or there. We cannot all fit anywhere. Not in a room Not in the… -
Happy 10th Birthday Big Guy
22 May 2009 | 3:25 pmIn two days, Sayer will be 10! So = how did we get from birth to 10? One nice thing about having a blog is that a writer can plagiarize him/herself and that's OK. So, here's a partial re-run of what I wrote when Sayer turned 9 last year:"Sayer is nine today. Birthday milestones of children with special needs can be bittersweet for the Mom and Dad. We recall the history surrounding the pregnancy, birth and first years. Those of us who bore children without immediately identifiable issues remember the first pit-in-the-stomach feelings that something wasn't right. We may grieve the life that we… -
The Perils of City Driving: Have the streets shrunk or has my van grown?
17 May 2009 | 7:11 pmWow - where did last week go? My Different Nest has been a Neglected Nest of late, but here is a story about driving in "the City" that I posted recently in the 50-something Moms Blog:City Driving: Not so fun anymore Today I drove into downtown Portland (OR) from Camas, WA, the "suburban utopia" I call home for a mid-day appointment. I often go visit the Portland neighborhoods but it has been a while since I've been to downtown, let alone driven in on a week-day. Either my mini-van has gotten bigger or the streets have gotten narrower, but this trip was a bit harrowing. The simple, and…
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Midlife Beginnings
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Financial Blogs
21 Jun 2009 | 2:24 pmNow that things have calmed down at my job I have had more time to pay attention to my blog. I checked my blog roll today and was surprised to find that almost half the blogs that I have linked to are defunct. I have a few blogs I check regularly but [...] -
My New Netbook
20 Jun 2009 | 5:36 pmI don’t usually do product reviews, but I felt moved to write about my new netbook. I will be doing some travelling this summer, and have been mulling over the idea of getting a laptop. A couple months ago I started noticing little “netbooks” at Circuit City. I especially noticed the price, under $500, [...] -
Debt Payment Progress
14 Jun 2009 | 5:50 pmMy third day of not working. Ah vacation, I wish it could last forever! But I only have one more day off — tomorrow — and then it’s back to the old grind. Today I decided on a new design for my blog. I liked the old one, but the template was very [...] -
A Day of Budgeting
13 Jun 2009 | 3:45 pmI’m taking a four-day weekend. And, as has been the case so often this Spring in New York City, it is gray and rainy outside. I can’t believe it’s June 12 and I haven’t turned on the air conditioner yet! I’ve spent the better part of today catching up on bills and [...] -
Banks Raising Credit Card Rates, Even if You Have Good Credit
7 Jun 2009 | 2:31 pmSo we finished our special project at work last weekend, and I have been taking it easy ever since. Lots of bike rides, a couple dinners with friends, some gardening, and catching up on stuff around the house. But I’ve stayed away from the computer — until now. I just got through [...]
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Diary of a Housewife
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Graduation Day - Specially for Stinking
22 Jun 2009 | 12:08 pm20th June 2009BA (Hons) LiteratureAfter the ceremonywith the man who can claim a large share of my success. I could not have done it without him. -
We. Are. Fam-il-y!
21 Mar 2009 | 1:46 amDon't you just love families sometimes? I do. No, really I do.My daughter's home for the weekend. It's like having a visitor from a different age. I'm loving it. -
'Let's kill all the lawyers!'
5 Mar 2009 | 2:20 pmDid you know that was a Shakespearean quote? It is. Honest. It's from Henry VI part 2 and is spoken during the Cade rebellion. Seems very apt for me just now. Although I have to confess to a sneaking regard for lawyers. And I wouldn't really want them all dead. There are plenty of my acquaintance that have served me rather well and some of whom I am extremely fond.Even so, it quite pleases -
Are you still there?
2 Mar 2009 | 12:47 pmI know, I know. I've been sort of absent, haven't I? Sorry about that. I kind of ran out of funny. It was like my blog bone got broken. One minute I was fine and writing about all manner of nonsense. The next, I had nothing. Zilch. Nada. Zip. Sometimes my life does that. I have been writing. In fact, you'd have been hard pressed to make me do much else. But it wasn't for general -
A Beginner's Guide to Nose Surfing
13 Oct 2008 | 10:45 amLose vast amounts of weight ensuring that all night attire plummets to ankles the minute a vertical position is assumed.Insist on wearing aforementioned night attire on grounds of Scrooge like tendencies and the belief that as hardly anyone sees it, replacement is not a priority.Consume two pints of water immediately prior to retiring for the night.Wake at 3am with bladder the size of
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Whose shoes are these anyway?
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Michael Jackson Rehearsal June 23, plus Details on Memorial
2 Jul 2009 | 5:10 pmEmbedded video from CNN VideoI can't fault CNN for all its Michael Jackson coverage. Whenever he was seen while alive they treated that like news as well, and so, the network's not talking almost nonstop about Michael Jackson for the heck of it. Poked my head over there today just to see what's going in the world and on one side of the page Iran, the other Michael Jackson and a lot more Michael -
WaPo's Pay-to-Play Mini Scandal
2 Jul 2009 | 8:27 amWithin an hour of of its editorial staff posting its side of the story in an influence-peddling mini-scandal, the Washington Post has added an update saying its publisher, Katharine Weymouth, has canceled plans for "off-the record salons." Earlier this morning The Post responded to a story from Politico on a flier circulated Wednesday by the newspaper's business staff to lobbyists and -
Language of My Reality and Back to Self-Mythology
1 Jul 2009 | 4:19 pmI saw this video posted at My Brown Eyed View, Colin Mutcheler's "Language of My Reality," and I decided to post the spoken word piece here for reference. I'm working on self-mythology, despite my last post on the topic not having one soul drop by and share his or her own. Well, I'll keep on working on it and the importance of self "story." "Self-Mythology: What Myths Do You Tell You About You" -
Don't Stay, Laura Izibor
30 Jun 2009 | 10:44 pmI bought Laura Izibor's Let the Truth Be Told album day before yesterday, and I'm wearing it out. I like every single cut. This video is of her singing "Don't Stay." -
Blue-eyed Black People, Colorism, and Our Continued Dysfunction
29 Jun 2009 | 8:57 pmAnd the blue-eyed black people debate continues at Field Negro. I wanted to save my latest response that's on a post that has nothing to do with colorism. I figure if I'm going to write that much on a topic, then I should say it at my own blog as well. Field Negro's actual post is on voting rights, but it's become a post gone wild and way off topic in comments since one person who calls him or
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Twenty Four At Heart
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Wishing You A Wonderful 4th of July
3 Jul 2009 | 12:05 amI'm spending the weekend in Santa Barbara. Many of you know Santa Barbara is one of my favorite places to escape to whenever I get the chance. The 4th is a great day for my American readers. It's also a special day for Briefcase and I. Yes, we got married on the 4th of July. Wishing all of you a wonderful and safe weekend!© Twenty Four At Heart -
Random Shit
2 Jul 2009 | 12:05 amI guess everyone is on vacation. My readership numbers are really high this week (thank you for visiting!) but comments are low. Of course, I haven't been writing real exciting comment worthy stuff. Nonetheless, I'm expecting low readership for the next few days due to the 4th of July holiday. In honor of no one reading, I'm just going to throw some randomness out into the blogosphere today. First up ... Twitter. If you've followed me on twitter, please don't be shy. Make conversation, send me an @ message so I know you're there. It's hard… -
Famous Plastic Surgeons Can Be So Sensitive
1 Jul 2009 | 12:05 amI was counting down the days and finally, yesterday, I had my three week check up with the plastic surgeon who did my breast reduction. The "recovery" is supposed to be six weeks but a whole lot of things get better at the three week point. I was anxious for my appointment all day, and typically, it fell at the very end of the day.I might have been annoying at my appointment.I didn't mean to be but I couldn't seem to help myself. I realized later, I have trouble trusting doctors. I don't know why. It might have something to do with the fact that it took… -
This One's For The Chicks
30 Jun 2009 | 12:05 amI apologize in advance to my male readers. If you read this today, I'm sure it will bore you to tears. I've got some girly things on my mind. I'm not very girly, so I need to get the girliness out of my system while it's there.I went shopping yesterday. [Pausing while my male readers make a quick exit.]While I was laid up, I had become bored and ordered a couple things online from Nordstrom. I ordered some Haviana flip flops for $12 and I ordered a couple new bras to try with my now smaller boobs. Well, of course, nothing fit when it arrived. I knew that… -
Curing My Withdrawals
29 Jun 2009 | 12:05 amToday makes three weeks since my surgery. Three weeks without much activity. Three weeks of being pretty bored if I'm honest.Last weekend was hot. Very hot. On Saturday I was booked solid with activities I probably shouldn't have been participating in. On Sunday I was overwhelmed with chores. I'm supposed to be resting, but I'm so over resting. It was 95F/35C in our backyard Sunday afternoon. I'm not allowed to swim yet. I'm not even allowed to go for walks yet. I couldn't stand it.At 4:00 in the afternoon I drove down to the beach. I…
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After the Dust Settles...
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What Would You Do?
22 Jun 2009 | 9:25 amLast week I had to pick Leia up after school. As we were leaving the school, a car pulled out behind us. Leia said, "Hey, that's John and Joe."I know John and Joe. In fact, I am pretty good friends with his mom (who I like IMMENSELY). So, as I watched them in the rear view mirror behind us, I saw John, who was driving, texting. Yes, texting while he was driving with little brother Joe in the car.That's a HUGE no-no in my family. Eowyn will lose her phone if I ever catch doing that. And since she doesn't have her own car, she could also lose her car privileges too.Anyway, back to the… -
Monthly Update
17 Jun 2009 | 8:31 amYes, I seem to be neglecting this blog again. Yes, I am posting more at the other blog. No, I did not start a 3rd one.There really isn't a whole lot going on now. This is Leia's last week of school. Yay! Because of the 2 week teachers' strike last fall, the kids have had the never ending school year.Eowyn is at training for her summer camp job this week. We'll see her again in a couple weeks, and then she's off for a camp in Louisiana : ) She sounds like she is having a good time at training. I hope it all goes well for her.I've probably mentioned this at one point or another....I have been… -
Just a Couple Thoughts
19 May 2009 | 4:04 amSo I bought some summer clothes on clearance last year at the end of the season. They were cheap and I needed shorts and capris. My old ones didn't fit too well.I am happy to report these ones aren't fitting too well either. In fact, I need to wear a belt with them now : ) Yay! Can't wait til I can go shopping again.....to go down a size or two, and not up.I am thinking I may need another blog. I already have this one and the other one. Bet you didn't know I had the other one, did you? There's some things I can't post here....I could post them there, but I don't have too many readers there. I… -
Catching Up
18 May 2009 | 3:56 amA couple of you faithful readers have contacted me to make sure I am okay, and to see if I will ever write again. Thanks for your concern. I am alive and well, but life is pretty dull, dull, dull.Really. Nothing much is going on. The cat is NOT killing like he did last year, the dogs have sort of settled down, and business is, well, business. I could copy and paste all of my to-do lists from last year and they would fit in perfectly. *sigh*In a nutshell, Eowyn is home from college and is planning on working at a camp this summer. Leia has school until the June 22nd (that is a monday and a… -
Is It Oink or Moo?
20 Apr 2009 | 4:45 pmSo I had time the other day, and I painted this piggy bank...and this one : ) They make me happy.I found a couple tutorials online for making a "light box" and I am going to attempt to take better, more professional looking pictures. We'll see how it goes. Not sure how good you can make a piggy bank look....
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Anali's First Amendment
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Discovering Food in our Northern Neighbour’s Capital City
1 Jul 2009 | 6:35 amHello, I am Esme, from Chocolate & Croissants. This week Lisa honored me by asking if I would write a guest post here at Anali’s First Amendment. Lisa and I met through the blogging world; we both love Nutella, adore Obama, passed the bar and enjoy food. These are some of the best ingredients for a friendship. Happy Birthday Canada! Canadians are waking up today to celebrations of Canada’s 142nd Birthday. To get you in the mood, I have a Canadian trivia quiz for you.1. What is the capital of Canada? 2. Who is the current Prime Minister ? 3. How many official languages does Canada have? -
The Boston sky on the day Michael Jackson died.
27 Jun 2009 | 6:31 pmThe Boston sky on the day Michael Jackson died.Originally uploaded by anali02170 -
Michael Jackson-P.Y.T
26 Jun 2009 | 7:10 amRemember the music. -
Food, Fine Art, & Friends @ Vlora Restaurant
25 Jun 2009 | 7:46 amOver the past couple of weeks, there hasn't been as much blogging here. I've been caught up with life off-blog. Enjoying these hydrangeas. Having dinner for Father's Day. The diy chair project was so much fun that it started me on another organizing frenzy. I may paint this chair again and use some fabric to sew a new cover for the cushion. I've felt the need to change the look of my living space. I love art and have many pictures hanging on the walls around my apartment. Because of what I took down, put up, and replaced, I now have one extremely blank wall. For now it will have to stay that… -
Juneteenth + The Pursuit of Happiness
19 Jun 2009 | 11:27 amThis is a long post. I hope that you'll get comfy, take a seat, and read along. "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator…
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art of allowing mindset
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inspiration, emotions… let us dance in our summer state of mind
29 Jun 2009 | 5:22 amFireflys dance in the evening sky, the hoops and hollers of kids in the next yard having one last game before bed… soft morning light brushing against climbing roses and the sweet sound of birds filling the air… These are some of the wonderful things that fill up the rhythms of summer. Where the sky [...] Related posts:life inspiration- being in the moment with what you love gives daily inspiration What do you love to emotions, questions, answers - 3 important ingredients in the recipes of your life We choose what we wa5 steps to persistence, once cultivated this state of mind… -
inspiration sparks from the most unexpected sources
12 Jun 2009 | 4:31 amI had a lovely walk to my library today, the fragrance of lilacs and viburnum carlisii reaching out and kissing my senses as I walked along the pretty little streets fresh with spring green. I love reading and I was enjoying my walk with the morning sun streaming through the leaves thinking about the books in [...] Related posts:life inspiration- being in the moment with what you love gives daily inspiration What do you love to Amazon.com has a program for authors to connect with their readers Amazon has a programStep into this moment and release your Inspiration and new ideas How often… -
inspiration- we find it in the pathways and windows that open to us
10 Jun 2009 | 6:07 amHow are you feeling today? Do you check in with yourself each morning and feel the aliveness flowing through you? Do you breathe in and feel where their is discomfort in your body so that you can pay attention and release the tension, the worry…? We seem to move so quickly through each day, thinking we will get [...] Related posts:life inspiration- being in the moment with what you love gives daily inspiration What do you love to Life is foot tapping, fun and full of possibilities once you open to the true rhythm of it What would life be choose your own change- 3 steps to start down a… -
inspiration- a new message is unfolding in advertising and doing business
29 May 2009 | 6:27 amThere are so many changes happening right now. So many things are crumbling and falling apart. Things seem to be contracting and disintegrating on every level… But shift your view of what is happening just a little and watch the advertisements, the news headlines, the stories of people out there and what [...] Related posts:small business growth - 5 inspirational ideas for creating videos to connect with your audience Video is an excelleYour marketing message is it hitting or missing the mark? was catching up on sRSS feeds maybe confusing you but they can help your business There is a…
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Average Jane
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Average Jane Starts Her 4-Day Weekend
3 Jul 2009 | 6:51 pmNever let it be said that I don't know how to enjoy some time off from work. Okay, I did work a little bit today, but when you work in social media you can't ever completely walk away.This morning I met a buddy for coffee, ran some errands, and surfed the 'net until my sister posted on Facebook that she didn't have anything planned for the day.After a quick phone call, we decided I'd go to her house with some of my copious vegetable supply to contribute to a batch of chicken noodle soup.We hung out from late morning to early afternoon and then I went home to spend some… -
Average Jane Remains Bandless
1 Jul 2009 | 5:45 amEven though my husband is (always) in a bunch of different bands, we've been looking for a project we can do together and I've been responding to ads for bands that need a lead singer. So far, nada.Responding to Craigslist and Backpage ads is like trying to find a band by tying a message to a helium balloon and setting it free. (See also: placing Craigslist and Backpage ads.)Most of the ads have deal-breaking parameters for the singers they want, such as "male" and/or "ages 16-20." One particularly offensive ad contained the line, "No chicks, unless you want… -
Average Jane Gets Her Wish
28 Jun 2009 | 10:21 amI've written several times about how overwhelmed I've been with all of my extracurricular activities. Between work, volunteer work, my band, and social invitations, sometimes I'd have weeks at a time where I was only home to sleep.I've been making a concerted effort to tone things down and it's finally starting to pay off. As of mid-June, I'm no longer on any not-for-profit boards. Band practice isn't currently an issue since my band broke up (although I am trying to find or put together another band soon). I've cut back on volunteer projects, and I'm… -
Average Jane Goes to St. Louis
18 Jun 2009 | 5:26 amLast Saturday morning, I picked up Bea at 10:00 a.m. and we let my GPS, Inga, guide us to the open highway toward St. Louis, Missouri.After a lunch stop in Columbia, Missouri at Shakespeare's Pizza, which was just as delicious as everyone who recommended it had promised, we made it to our destination in St. Louis right at 3:00 p.m.We were there for a pre-Blogher meetup at Soulard Coffee Garden, a charming restaurant and coffee shop. We made our way to their back patio, sat at the biggest table they had, and met up with Kelly from Mocha Momma, Kara from Star Monkeybrass, Jaelithe of The… -
BlogHer for Beginners by Average Jane
15 Jun 2009 | 8:56 amEvery year I see several pre-BlogHer Conference posts with helpful tips for first-timers. It occurred to me that I may have something to offer along those lines, seeing as I've been going to BlogHer ever since it began. Thus, here's my take on the subject, in no particular order: Just say "hi." If I have a cardinal rule for BlogHer Conference interactions, this would be it. You're going to see people you recognize from your blog reading and Twitter icons. Do not EVER think to yourself that so-and-so is "too famous" to want to talk to you. Just go up, introduce…
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ByJane
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Pimp That Post!
1 Jul 2009 | 12:17 pmWhich is what I'm doing right now: pimping my most recent post for More.com....in which I whine about why I'm bad at pimping (my mama done brought me up right)--and why it's crucial to this here internets thing. The drill is this: go read the post (okay, you don't have to read it; just look at it). Click on the "I Like This" icon (you may have to sign up first but only the first time and honestly, you'll be entered in a contest to win Michael Jackson's sixth grandchild.) Then comment....and send the link to your friends... Because the more People Who Like my post, the--the--the -------… -
In Sickness and In Health
6 Jun 2009 | 11:17 amI'm missing writing on ByJane. I'm missing doodling with keyboard and I'm missing venting and I'm missing sharing my every this, that or the other. MidLifeBloggers seems too--I dunno--grownup to just mess about on. Or maybe it's just me. Maybe I feel too grownup to mess about in public. Whatever. Stuff is going on in my life and ByJane is where I've always put my stuff. Will I post it on MidLifeBloggers as well? I dunno.Today D comes back to my house for a while. Take note of the pronoun, people, because it is My house. It may be the address listed on his license, but he doesn't live here… -
Jon & Kate Plus 8: Hang 'em from the highest tree
25 May 2009 | 7:19 pmI just finished the season opener of Jon & Kate Plus 8. It was painful to watch, especially for anyone who has gone through the breakup of a marriage. Clearly they are each putting on the Brave Face that I remember so well from my own life, and that, perhaps, makes it harder for me at least to see. I get the sense that they are both doing the best they can in a crummy situation.Meanwhile, the citizens are milling about yelling, Jump! Jump! Or maybe, to make the metaphor I'm reaching for clearer, Off With Their Heads!I am astonished at the hysteria that this family has generated in the… -
Dancing With The Stars - American Idol: the last word, sort of
21 May 2009 | 3:27 pmIndulge me while I write about my true interest in life: television of the reality genre. T'is true that I'm a People mag sort of girl. Actually, I prefer US because they never try to be high-minded about their gossip and besides, my friend, Stefanie Wilder-Taylor does fashion reviews for them.Stephanie and others do round-up/wrap-ups of shows like American Idol and Dancing With the Stars. I prefer to just pop in occasionally for the brief--140 character--insightful comment, which is why you may want to follow me on Twitter one of these days.This week, unfortunately, my fleet fingers were… -
What Happens To One of Us Happens To All of Us
15 May 2009 | 11:30 amGwendomomma is a blogger I met at Woolf Camp last month. Now she's a blogger in need. In the infinite wisdom of our courts, her ex was allowed to plead down a domestic violence charge to disturbing the peace. This came after he cleared out their money to pay for his bail! Gwendomomma has two kids, rent to be paid, food to be bought, etc. etc. etc. We bloggers are mighty in our ability to Get Things Done, and we are perfection in the way we Support Each Other. There's a widget in my sidebar that allows you to safely donate whatever you can to help Gwendomomma keep things going for her kids and…
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Cindy La Ferle's Home Office
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Celebrate freedom!
3 Jul 2009 | 2:14 pmI love my freedom. I love my America. ~Jessi Lane Adams Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Throughout this patriotic holiday weekend, I’ll be remembering the sacrifices made by our founding fathers and mothers — and by all the men and women who’ve fought in our armed services — to preserve our liberty. That liberty includes my right [...] -
River of reinvention
1 Jul 2009 | 7:47 am“No one really knows how you must change. Not even you. Not until you start.” — David Viscott, Risking Working on our new/old house in St. Joseph last week, I spent a lot of time thinking about change, restoration, and reinvention. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1957 — just a few years after I was [...] -
“Answers for the Family”
28 Jun 2009 | 8:18 am“Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.” — Raymond Lindquist Earlier this month, I was invited to be a guest on Allen Cardoza’s Answers for the Family. The program will be aired live, June 29 (Monday) on LA Talk Radio at 10:55 a.m. Pacific time. Allen has asked me to join him [...] -
The Joy Guide
25 Jun 2009 | 6:10 am“Joy is the best makeup” — Anne Lamott Today I’m a guest at Janice Lundy’s Awake is Good. A longtime friend of mine, Jan is author of several wonderful books on women’s spirituality, including Your Truest Self (Sorin Books), which was featured here in May. This month Jan is devoting her blog to the topic of [...] -
Almost unplugged
23 Jun 2009 | 7:32 am“If it weren’t for electricity, we’d all be watching television by candlelight.” — George Gobal Returning from St. Joseph last night, we discovered that part of our Royal Oak neighborhood had lost power. The street light on the corner was dark, and we could hear generators humming and buzzing around the ‘hood. In the house, only [...]
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Coming2Terms
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Barren Doesn't Mean Empty
3 Jul 2009 | 11:37 amCome on in. We've got room in front. Okay, everyone settled? Can you hear me in back? Good. Okay, I've got a few confessions to make and a decision to share. First, I haven't been completely silent these past six weeks. Those of you who follow me on Facebook or Twitter know I've been writing for other sites during my Coming2Terms sabbatical. That's right. I've been testing the waters and getting comfortable writing for a wider audience. For instance:There's my ongoing work to raise awareness about my book Silent Sorority (new reviews arriving regularly)There are my offbeat pieces… -
Growing Pains
27 May 2009 | 7:50 amUh, oh. I detect some growing pains. The signs are all there. You know, when you wake up and get the sense of being torn in different directions? It's not simply a question of bagel or Cheerios, but am I feeling settled? Unsettled? Seems I'm a goofy teenager all over again only with better clothes and different skin care issues. Sure, we're always undergoing some form of growing pains, whether it's adjusting to a new routine, a disappointment or a success for that matter, but some transitions are bigger than others and, for me, they always seem gigantic when I'm on the cusp of a birthday. -
Revisiting Tents Old and New
25 May 2009 | 7:00 pmI don’t often read books more than once, but when my online book club suggested The Red Tent I decided to take another look. I first cracked the spine of this book more than 10 years ago. I was on a tear through historical fiction then and this book fit the bill perfectly. Just pages in, I found myself intrigued by one character in particular: Rachel. She was young, nubile and barren. What a coincidence. I was young, nubile and having problems conceiving, but I wasn’t barren. Surely not, I reasoned. For one thing barren was a biblical term. Her story took place in Old… -
Going Up!
18 May 2009 | 7:16 pmAn an infertile (that's right, all you "as a moms," ... we infertiles can invoke superiority, too!), I'm happy to report that there's finally a movie coming to theater near you that contains a story line that portrays infertiles as endearing, not selfish ... sweet, not reviled or pitied. Time magazine says the movie, Up, will prove to be one of the most satisfying movie experiences of the year. Hallelujah! It's about freakin' time. Hollywood has some serious making up to do for consistently negative story lines about my people. Time's Richard Corliss writes:"Spanning two continents and… -
Envy and Equanimity
13 May 2009 | 7:06 amSome remarkable milestones to report:1) I was pea green with envy yesterday, but not for the usual reason (that's right folks, pregnancy was not involved!) ....2) A new work acquaintance asked me if I had children and my first instinct was not to throw something at him. I think both episodes show signs of progress, yes? Okay, the details. I've been working a few days a week at a really interesting startup where the only downside is that it requires 60-90 minutes of drive time each way. Since I abhor long, slow commutes I try to distract myself with NPR stories. Yesterday's feature had me…
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Diary of a Midlife Crisis
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Get "Gross & Indecent" with me this Saturday!
9 Jun 2009 | 10:53 amIf you're in LA and you have $10 to spare, come by and check out this event!"Gross & Indecent" - a 24 hour theater eventSee what happens when writers and directors only have 24 hours to create theater!What happens when writers have no time to write and directors and actors have no time to rehearse? Why, 24 hour theater is what happens!Friday night, June 12, the writers get assigned a line of dialog and draw a cast out of a hat. They then scurry off to their local coffee house and tap away at their keyboards until early morning.Saturday, June 13, the directors and actors arrive early in the… -
Just needed to know
5 Jun 2009 | 2:40 pmI just needed to know that you loved me. Not that you loved me because I behaved or because I did what you wanted me to do. Not that you loved me because I met your expectations or your unintelligible requirements. Not that you loved me because you had to or because we were married.I just needed to know that you loved me.Loved me.Flawed. Failed. Floundering. Depressed. Ambitious. Determined. Fragile. Strong. Defeated. Difficult. Successful. Powerful. Weak. Loved me.It’s pretty simple, actually. Just love me. I tried to love you that way. No matter how damaged you were, no matter how much… -
Fundraisers in LA for "Gross Indecency"
3 Jun 2009 | 12:31 pmIf you're in LA and want to support my fall production of "Gross Indecency, the Three Trials of Oscar Wilde", check out one of the fundraisers below. Or go to my Paypal account and drop in your $10! susan@lifeonitsside.-----------------------------------------"GROSS AND INDECENT - A 24 HOUR THEATER EVENT"What happens when writers have no time to write and directors and actors have no time to rehearse? Why, 24 hour theater is what happens!Friday night, June 12, the writers get assigned a line of dialog and draw a cast out of a hat. They then scurry off to their local coffee house and tap away… -
You can't take that away...
1 Jun 2009 | 5:46 pmI have spent my life trying to do/be what others want me to do/be. Well, I’m done.I’m done trying to impress you all with my dazzling skills and all my accomplishments because you just don’t care. You don’t see it. You think I’m wasting my time with all this “stuff”. You think I’m being indulgent and ridiculous. You think I’m playing at my life because it’s not the life you chose for yourself. And you resent me because I chose to live the life I want, and not to live a life that is ordinary.You can’t take anything away from me that hasn’t already been taken. You… -
Virtual fridge - new oil painting
7 May 2009 | 11:23 amFinished this the other day:
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DuchessOmnium - Island to island
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Moving house
30 Jun 2009 | 3:15 pmWell, not quite. Moving house implies another house to go to, or other grown up accessories, the kinds of things my elderly father calls “plans”. (As in, “But what are your plans?”) Although I have no plans, I have, nevertheless, suddenly acquired tenants and apparently they are not expecting me to be lurking in the back bedroom when they move in next month. It seems they are also expecting my chattels to be gone. Cupboards that haven’t been opened since 1984 need to be emptied. Hands up who knows what a Teasmade is. -
Oh good grief
20 Jun 2009 | 2:35 pmToday the UK government issued guidance that British schools should no longer teach children the spelling rule, “i before e except after c”. It was one of the main news headlines all morning. Haven’t they got anything better to think about, like crashing economies worldwide, wars in Iraq and Afganistan, unrest in Iran, terrorism in Pakistan, nukes in North Korea and disease and starvation in Zimbabwe (to name a few, if they are feeling bored and out on a limb)? Apparently not. They have other things on their mind. The guidance says: The i before e rule is not worth… -
Sunday
14 Jun 2009 | 5:14 pmI spent this morning catching up on housework and this afternoon working in the garden. I have a viewing on Friday — for rent, not sale, but even these are rare, so the house needs to look its best. I was about to go to bed when I remembered that I haven’t spoken to a single person, in person (as it were), since lunch time yesterday. That’s more usual than not, at least on weekends, but it still surprises me. Yesterday I went to the gym with my mad Norwegian friend who ran the 2001 London Marathon with me. After the gym we sat in her garden for a while, eating sweet… -
Tonight was my first time
4 Jun 2009 | 4:48 pmI have lived well over half my life in the UK, but I only became a citizen in 2005, weeks before the last general election and too late to register. Tonight was my first opportunity to cast a vote as a UK national. It isn’t a proper election, really. For most of the country it is merely a European election, something even most Europeans, don’t care about — Slovenia turned out less than 17% last time around. Only for a very few of us was it also time to elect our local representatives. Even so, my village was buzzing. It took me nearly an hour to walk the quarter… -
Lord love a duck
27 May 2009 | 4:58 amAny wide awake person in the UK ought to be able to tell you that the theme of the last week or so has been ducks. First we had an update on the long running crisis of MPs’ expense claims. We learned that Sir Somebody or Other had claimed more than £1600 for a “floating duck house” on his pond. In his inevitable apologia and announcement that he would not be seeking re-election the MP noted sadly that the house “in fact was never liked by the ducks.” The good Knight ought to have consulted the good scientists of Oxford University. The results of a recent study to find out…
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Good & Plenty - Candelaria Silva's Blog
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Love in Action
2 Jul 2009 | 8:52 amExpressing love, feeling love, writing love, drawing love and are things done frequently but none of them show love. This came to mind while I was scrolling through some blog posts and saw the iconic graphic design of the word love on a post (I haven't been able to find it to link). Anyhoo, I thought, this design, like the I Heart NY graphic design by Milton Glaser, is an often duplicated image but it in no way communicates what love is. That got me to thinking - how do we show love? Here are two recent small love actions in my continuing love story with my… -
Falling Asleep at the wheel of your life
29 Jun 2009 | 10:30 amHave you ever had that feeling when you wonder, what the hell have I been doing?When did I falter? Where was the fork in the road that didn’t notice? How did I fall asleep at the wheel of my life? I mean I was driving - right? Actually, I was coasting. I was waiting. Waiting for it to find me.The “it” being life, not realizing that each day I lived was my life. I should have carpayed the effin’ diem. How could I have made choices so obviously wrong or, more to the point, how could I not have pursued choices so much wiser for me? Warning: Pity party… -
Proper Farewells
25 Jun 2009 | 9:26 amWhenever I am traveling away from my husband or he is traveling away from me, after we’ve said our goodbyes, and are on our way into the airport or bus or train terminal, there comes a long moment when I want to turn around and get yet another hug or deeper kiss and tell him once again how much I love him. Really tell him. The same thing happens when I bid adieu to my daughter, son, Mom, sister or brother. In that long moment when they have dropped me at the airport, I realize that I don’t know when I’ll see them again. I try not to let my mind wander further to… -
Gifts do not equal love and other observations about holidays
22 Jun 2009 | 9:23 amIt is awfully nice to get a card on your birthday, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, Easter, etc. Likewise, it feels good to be the woman in the office on Valentine’s Day, birthday, an anniversary that gets the big bouquet of flowers from your husband or boyfriend and have the other women “ooohhh and aaaahhhh” over them. (Men may notice the flowers but they don’t comment much.) Cards, flowers, gifts don’t indicate a person’s love or how you are held in someone’s esteem. The daily actions and interactions of your loved ones are the… -
You Can't Take Black Away from Me
17 Jun 2009 | 8:09 pmI wrote the following post in 2007 but decided to post it after reading a post on This So-Called Post-Post-Racial Life titled Working With Back Women, Part 2: The Movie. You Can’t Take Black Away From MeCopyright 2007 by Candelaria N. Silva Have you ever been challenged about how Black you are/act/behave by other Black people – friends or strangers? These challenges will piss you off, hurt your feelings and lay you low. Among the worse words a Black person can say to another Black person are “You ain’t black” or “You act…
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Granny Sue's News and Reviews
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Catch-up Photos for the 4th
3 Jul 2009 | 6:35 amI've taken lots of photos recently that haven't made it to my blog for one reason or another. Here's a random batch that you might enjoy: First tomatoes this summer, from our Early Girl plants that we raised in the greenhouse Half-runners, the first of many, I think. This was the basket we sold. On the storytelling trail in St. Mary's, WV--hey, this was a small cone! I wonder what their large looks like?Author Fran Cannon Slayton (on right) and a program attendeeLong may she wave. (Taken from a window at work. )Book sale madness Waiting for the harvest Architecture feature on a building near… -
Beans, Beans and More Beans
1 Jul 2009 | 6:23 pmRemember how excited I was with these?The first batch of beans always provides a nice glow that Yes! we did it right and we have these beans to show for our efforts. There is a little self-satisfaction, knowing that at least for 7 dinners we will have something homegrown on the table.Then the next picking comes in. And the next, which might be, as it is this year, the biggest of them all.Then the next planting is ready to pick. And the first planting needs another going over. The second planting needs to be picked again.All of these beans need to be snapped and/or strung, washed, jarred up,… -
The Big Stuck-Up
30 Jun 2009 | 6:59 pmSo we get home Saturday after a day of working at the Street Fair.The firepit is lit. The wine bottle is open. The shoes are off. It is time to sit back and relax.The phone rings."Granny."" What's up?" It's our oldest grandson. I know his Dad is gone for the weekend. Generally, if Dad isn't home, these kinds of calls are not good."Ummm...is Poppa Larry there?""Yeah, he's here.""Well, I need him to pull me out. I'm kinda, well, stuck in a big mudhole.""Where are you?""Well, I'm..." He describes the location. I know exactly where he is; worse, I even know the mudhole. This road has never known… -
What to Write?
29 Jun 2009 | 6:19 pmI'm thinking about what to write tonight, sifting through the past few days in my mind and considering what is worth your time to read.Should I write about the guy with the flat tire who told me he got fired from his job at Long John Silver's for bringing a gun to work? He figured that they wanted to get rid of him because his wife had chopped off her finger there a few months back. May...be....Or about the older lady at the grocery store who told me more than I ever wanted to know about her sex life over the chicken breasts? And the young contractor working on her house who she was sure was… -
Street Fair Photos
29 Jun 2009 | 2:37 amIt's been a long, fun, hot, busy weekend--the annual Street Fair and Used Book Sale at the library where I work. Doesn't the grand old girl look great with some balloon accessories? We're celebrating our 100th year of service. Some tall people paid a visit during the day:This lady could dance to the rhythm of the band on her stilts,While this gentleman juggled, blew his horn, conducted bouncy ball races and also danced on his little feet.Today's book sale was very good. We all worked hard to get set up in an hour and a half; the line of people waiting to get in went around the block. When…
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It's a Mad Madge World
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still. not. reading.
1 Jul 2009 | 5:26 amSo. I'm still not reading. No blogs, books, magazines, on-line articles, newspapers. Nothing. Gotta say it's pretty weird. No I don't feel like I am having an amazing, cathartic, artistic awakening. But I do feel like it's kind of been a good thing for me to do. I've been working on my quilt. This is kind of a big deal for me because it was this thing sitting on a shelf in my office/sewing room. I walked by that quilt every day and every day thought to myself, "I need to get started on that." It really bothered me that I wasn't working on it. Now I am, and that feels… -
Slowing Down
27 Jun 2009 | 5:14 pmSo have any of you done The Artist's Way? This is my second try at it. Today I hit week four -- the week of Reading Deprivation. Yeah, you are supposed to go one week without reading anything. Today was the first day of no reading and I have to say I was a little freaked out by it. I kept wanting to wander in and mess around on the internet. My son was excited because he figured it would mean I would play with him more. Silly boy. OK. I actually did play with him more.I also pulled out the first quilt top I started when I started quilting three years ago and finally… -
My First Time
26 Jun 2009 | 5:41 amI must have been about 12 or 13. I hopped on my bike and rode down to the Woolworth's on Main Street. I had been saving my money to buy one of those K-Tel compilation albums. I'd had my eye on it for awhile. The one song I wanted the album for? Rock With You by Michael Jackson.It was my first album. Remember having to pick up the needle and setting it down in just the right spot to get to the next song? After awhile you would never miss.Pretty soon my album collection grew, and included David Cassidy and Leif Garrett (you know you loved them too) and I forgot about that… -
a poem and unemployment update
11 Jun 2009 | 5:57 amI am officially downgrading my husband's chances of unemployment from 99% to 91%. This is incredibly optimistic of me. But what the hell. It's Thursday and I'm making mojitos tonight. Go me. There is some negotiating going on but because we are OK living off of my income I am comfortable with him not taking a cut in pay (50 percent cut is what they first offered him) and telling them to go jump in the lake. I realize we are much luckier than many people in this economy. Like the guy I heard on NPR the other day who said his family would be OK if they did blah blah blah and stopped… -
Ten Things Tuesday -- The Unemployed Edition
9 Jun 2009 | 10:02 amLooks like The Man will be unemployed July 1 (we are 99 % sure). Ten things I am not looking forward to during his undetermined time of unemployment:1. Less money.2. Being the only one with a paying job.3. Him in the same house as me 24/7.4. Watching major home repairs not being done while he looks for work on-line while watching MSNBC/CNBC/The History Channel and (god help me) the Military Channel.5. Constantly asking him to make major home repairs instead of spending hours on-line while watching MSNBC/CNBC/The History Channel and (god help me) the Military Channel. Oh, and…
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Jan's Sushi Bar
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Cloud Pie
3 Jul 2009 | 2:00 amThis is one of those old recipes that I’ve been making since forever – and has been evolving that long too. It was born out of necessity when Oldest Son and Darling Daughter were very young, and we were on a very tight budget. I almost always had the cheap, store brand jello in the house, along with graham crackers, butter and sugar and if I got the store brand frozen whipped topping, I could have a very economical and tasty dessert in very short order. Darling Daughter has dubbed this “Cloud Pie” – I always just called it “Jello Pie.” Basically I… -
It’s Not All Poison Apples
2 Jul 2009 | 4:52 amWell, I was going to post a recipe today – my insomnia has been bad again this week, I’m very tired and the recipe I was going to post is very easy (it’s coming tomorrow). But I’ve had the thoughts for this post rolling around in my head ever since this post last week and I need to get it off my chest. Being a step-parent is not easy; there are ALL sorts of challenges and obstacles and frustrations that come with the job. I can certainly understand the desire to not want to do it – trust me, I really, really can – but if you’ve married a man with… -
Mother of the Year I Ain’t, But They Seem to Be Okay…Amazingly
1 Jul 2009 | 5:05 amNot to brag or anything, but I have GREAT kids. Absolutely wonderful, marvelous, intelligent, witty, entertaining kids, and I adore each and every one of them. Okay, so I’m bragging. Shoot me. I never really cared much for children until I had my own. In fact, I still don’t care much for children except my own. All right, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but my kids are definitely better than your kids; don’t even bother trying to argue with me about it, because, gee – you’ll lose. I know everyone thinks their own children are exceptional,… -
RTT: It’s All About Beloved. Mostly. And Pirates. And Robotic Ducks. With Some Elbows Thrown In.
30 Jun 2009 | 3:42 amI’ve been slathering both of my elbows with lotion on a daily basis for the last week, and they still have dandruff. What’s with that? I know I’ve always been a little flaky, but this is just too much. Saturday, Beloved and I went to the locally nursery to pick up a couple of houseplants. The man is so optimistic – we have all of one houseplant I haven’t managed to kill yet. But, we picked out a pink polka dot plant, a chocolate drop plant, a lovely ivy and some huge purple thing that we can’t decide where to put it. Sunday he left for Louisiana for a… -
Coffee Toffee Ice Cream
29 Jun 2009 | 7:03 amI did an amazingly stupid thing yesterday and fell off of the bottom step of our back porch trying to untangle my poor retarded dog who can’t figure out that we won’t have to leash him if he’ll just stay in the damn back yard. In the process of falling off the bottom step of the back porch, I twisted my left ankle and sprained the bejebus out of it, mostly because I was genetically cursed with weak ankles – this is approximately the 3,469th time I’ve sprained this particular ankle since I was 5 years old. But still. Ouch. But that’s not what I wanted to…
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Growing Older, Sexier, and Skinnier
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Life Without The Scale…
30 Jun 2009 | 7:59 amDue to circumstances beyond my control, I have been living the last couple of months without a bathroom scale. My curiosity is killing me. I’m to the point that when I take my laundry into be done, maybe I’ll just jump on the scale they have for weighing my clothes to see if I’ve gained or lost. (I’m pretty sure without my own kitchen either, it’s probably a gain). For me, the scale and I have never been “friends” but it did help me at least keep track of things. While it didn’t stop me from gaining the 50 pounds I did, it did help prevent me… -
The Importance of Walking
15 Jun 2009 | 5:19 amI received this in my email and since diet and exercise go hand in hand, I thought I would share. LOL. Importance of Walking Walking 20 minutes can add to your life. > This enables you at 85 years old > to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing > home at $7000 per month. > > My grandpa started walking > five miles a day when he was 60.. > Now he’s 97 years old > and we don’t know where he is. > > I like long walks, > especially when they are taken > by people who annoy me. > > The only reason I would take up… -
Am I My Mother?
14 Jun 2009 | 6:53 amMy mother is 78 yrs. old and her favorite forms of exercise are eating and watching TV. She gave up on herself years ago, has gone through some pretty unhealthy times, and is ready to go home to the Lord anytime he’s willing to take her. Like me she has no desire to exercise, although at least I realize some movement is necessary. If she had her way she would never move at all. I quit taking her in her meals etc. as going to the kitchen was the only exercise she got. It wasn’t far from her chair to the kitchen, but she made the trip several times so at least she was doing… -
So Much For Points or the Scale
11 Jun 2009 | 6:56 amI don’t remember how much I’ve written here about our landlord losing our house in foreclosure, but we’re pretty much living day to day in a hotel eating fast food. While at first I relished the fattening hamburgers and used moving as an excuse for exercise, I think I’m reaching my “fill”. I’m starting to look around for things that are not so “fast food fattening”. Last nite I went to a Long John Silvers to get fish for dinner and they have a few beautiful platters of salmon, tilapia, etc. just for people who want to eat fast food, but… -
A Reality Check
30 May 2009 | 4:07 pmI went to lunch with a very dear friend of mine yesterday. He’s great because even though he talks way to much, he’s encouraging to me and interested in how I’m doing as well as letting me know how he’s doing. When I’m down I can call him and even when he’s complaing he’s full of energy, enthusiasm, and very uplifting. For lunch I had a chinese chicken salad with the dressing on the side, and a piece of flatbread ( the new rage). Whenever I eat with him he takes 1/2 of what ever it is he ordered home with him. This has taught me to do the same even…
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Librarian Lee
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Meet Bear and some thoughts on being pack leader
30 Jun 2009 | 6:22 pmHere he is. Bear. Right? BEAR!Bear came into my life for a number of reasons. For one, I just wanted a pet. I looked around, I considered birds, I considered cats. Truth is, I just like dogs, and I felt the need for the special companionship a dog brings. So, why this Bear! Why this huge dog? First, I intended to look for a pug. I really loved Monty. Pugs are expensive! Then, I met Bear's owner. We had so much in common. I was, and am, convinced that there is a greater purpose to our meeting than simply Bear. She and I share so much in common; we have raised birds, we are both have military… -
Slinking back in
26 Jun 2009 | 6:28 amI feel like I am sneaking - I've been a bad blogger, a slacker. I've bailed on Wish Casting Wednesday and Tarot Thursday. I've squinted my eyes each week as the reports come in and I see that pretty much no one stops by here anymore - and why would you? There's nothing new to see. I feel like I need a note from the principal in order to return to class. I can come in, can't I? For a post or two maybe?So okay - there have been some issues going on around here. They are pretty big issues and in and out of the issues I'm struggling with being very depressed and feeling a little helpless to… -
Avoiding other stuff
30 May 2009 | 2:42 pmI don't feel like blogging. But...I need to. Perhaps as a diversion; who knows why. I rarely speak of bigger issues on my blog. I'm content to read those who are brighter and more articulate than I. But today, in the midst of all my other issues, I happened to glance upon this photo. Isn't this just an exquisite photo? I don't know lots of things. But there are a few things I do know. And one of them is this:I cannot judge what others do; and I fail, but try hard not to calculate the measure of another human based on circumstance that I may not understand. So, I often am unable to know the… -
Popping In
27 May 2009 | 9:09 amHello everyone. I've been pretty absent; as you can see. I can't even remember what I last posted. My life has taken itself into some intense times and I've just been too exhausted to sit and share - though I think about it all the time. I think I'll be back in a little while. I even received an award that I've not properly acknowledged. Soon, I hope. I read your blogs and think about you all often. I once in awhile update my twitter, though I've been really too tired to do even that. But, it's something and an abbreviated "catch-up" until I can compose something more meaningful and manage to… -
Wishcasting Wednesday
14 May 2009 | 10:08 amI'm so amazed that Jamie keeps coming up with these wonderful, provocative questions. This week she asks us, "What do you wish to connect to?" Ha!That list got long. It got really long, really fast. My partner, my daughter, my employer, my profession, that Cosmic Conduit, a woman healer,my garden.....yes, it got to be a really long list and it left me in despair. Suddenly I realized, I am disconnected! Really. I am. So..I did what I tend to do; I wallowed in the despair for awhile. I let that feeling sink in all the way to the bone marrow. I am disconnected. Thanks, Jamie for giving me a…
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Midlife's A Trip
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4th of July - The First Reality Show
3 Jul 2009 | 5:26 amI wish I could claim authorship of this interesting essay on the men who bravely stepped forward to create the Declaration of Independence but I can’t. It was written by an unknown author and sent to me by a friend. I typically don’t post email stories here on Midlife’s A Trip. But today, I’m making [...] Related posts:The 4th and My Slice of the Pie The 4th of July is the day when I... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. -
Life Lesson From A Conversion Van
1 Jul 2009 | 10:08 amDo you know what a conversion van is? Well in my neck of the woods here in the Midwest, it’s a van that’s been converted to include beds, sinks and other stuff you’d find in a house. No disrespect to those readers who have conversion vans but washing up at the sink looking out of [...] Related posts:Living Life Out Loud This was one of those weeks when the wisdom from...The Bat — Lessons from the Universe Have you ever had a situation keep coming up...Lessons from the Universe Revisited I originally wrote this post last spring as a... Related posts brought to you by… -
Can You Make A Difference?
15 Jun 2009 | 9:37 amIf you’ve ever questioned whether one person can make change happen or make a difference in more lives than just our own, watch this: Then ask yourself - “what makes me unstoppable?” I’d love to hear your answer:-) Related posts:Know What You Don’t Know Have you ever just not had the answer to an... Related posts brought to [...] Related posts:Know What You Don’t Know Have you ever just not had the answer to an... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. -
Another 50-Something Birthday
8 Jun 2009 | 7:19 pmI’m having another 50-something birthday today. 58 to be exact and I have to say - glad to be here:-) I remember the days when all of my friends were young and not even aware of any age on the other side of 30. Then the years flew by and 50-something crept silently into [...] Related posts:It Felt Like Midlife Crisis Today This morning when I turned on my laptop, I had...My Midlife Birthday Wish I’m getting ready to head over to my sister’s...My Son’s 33rd Birthday #1 Son, Chip turned 33 years old yesterday. It really... Related posts brought to you by Yet… -
Even More Karen’s Favorites from Britain’s Got Talent
30 May 2009 | 11:31 amOK, now don’t say I didn’t warn you but this video will melt your heart as little UK songbird Hollie Steel gets a case of the nerves during her performance in the semi-finals. But surprisingly, she got a second chance from none other than tough as nails Simon! He really has a heart:-) [...] Related posts:Karen’s Favorites from “Britain’s Got Talent” Finals I’ve become a huge fan of the UK talent show...More Karen’s Favorites from Britain’s Got Talent 11 year old Aiden Davis is a star in the...Young@Heart I started off today feeling not so…
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Midlife Slices™
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But They Said It Works!
1 Jul 2009 | 8:16 pmX I’m a sucker. There I’ve said it so is that step 1 of my 12 step program of not believing everything I see or hear? x This might sound a little strange but I realize I’m pretty lucky to be a redhead because we aren’t normally very hairy people. In fact, I stupidly use to shave my [...] -
Go Green, Anyone?
29 Jun 2009 | 7:20 pmI’m recycling one of my very first posts because I’m so lazy busy these days and I love this greenhouse so much and wanted to share it with you. Hope you don’t mind. At least I’ve added some new pictures. I love my greenhouse. I absolutely LOVE my greenhouse and we, meaning my husband aka Hunka [...] -
A Celebration of Sorts
24 Jun 2009 | 9:29 pmx Where is that vacation when I need one? x x Between working on our house projects. x Stalking a gorgeous movie star………. x …..and having house guests for a week…… x ……….we had a birthday to celebrate. Hunka Burnin Love turned 39 again and we had a huge celebration. O.k. so it wasn’t that huge and maybe he’s not really 39 but it was [...] -
Meh….Casey. Woot….Simon!
19 Jun 2009 | 9:53 amI’m exhausted. Being a stalkarazzi grammarazzi is hard work. Most of the time is spent waiting or being confronted by the guy we’ve dubbed mean Barry because he keeps demanding that I put my camera away and then stands there and glares at me. Little does he know, but that doesn’t bother me. I’m the [...] -
Yep, He’s a Jerk
16 Jun 2009 | 3:46 pmFilming has begun in our little town and there aren’t hordes of people standing around watching. In fact, it’s almost like a ghost town around here. I had my camera and snapped a few pictures of Casey Affleck and he complained so they asked me to stop taking his picture. I was clear across the [...]
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Nanny Goats in Panties
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Cantankerous Landlords and Crotchety Old Men (Who Yell at Cars)
2 Jul 2009 | 12:46 pmFor the last ten years or so, I've been waking up in the morning, not sure at first which bed I'm in. If you don't know who you're going to wake up next to each morning, it's time to simplify your life. And I thought I was. Of course, when you live in two cities, four hundred miles apart, owning two of everything doesn't exactly have a minimizing effect. In fact, anything you do to simplify your ridiculously overstuffed existence is a joke as long as your TWO HOUSES and WEEKLY PLANE TRIPS are beating you about the face and neck. What is that you're doing? Donating a bag of books to the… -
How To Create Your Twitter Handle in Two Easy Steps
29 Jun 2009 | 3:10 pmSo this spammer person on Twitter with the very legitimate sounding name of Fulton604 started following me. Like a trenchcoat-wearing dark alley hoodlum who says, "Psst! Hey, buddy" kind of following me. Fulton604 is following 1,299 people, but only has 67 followers. I wonder what that means. Actually, it makes me want to change my name to Plexus437. It sounds so cool. Like an alien space ship / area code mashup. Or, HEY - I know. This will be a new thing like How To Create Your Twitter Handle in Two Easy Steps: 1. Take the make or model of your first car. 2. Guess how many Jelly… -
Teh Keyboard HAtes Me, But What Cn I Do Abou Tit?
25 Jun 2009 | 1:14 pmI have a drinking problem. No wait - that's not it. It's a typing problem. My "the"s always come out "teh" and I keep losing Ts to the subsequent word, like when I'm trying to say "about it" or "thought it", it always comes out like this: abou titthough tit What IS that, a Freudian slip? What is my obsession with tits? Oh sure I'll catch one now and again and correct it <--- including this one right here. So if you are a blogger and I've left a "tit" on your blog somewhere in the comments section, I'd like to apologize right here and now. Yeah, I've probably dropped some "tits" everywhere. -
Necklace? What Necklace?
22 Jun 2009 | 11:50 amEntertainment Weekly has this page called "News Style & Notes Hunter" where readers allegedly see some fashion item on a celebrity and then write in asking where they can get the same thing. Because people can't dress themselves without emailing a magazine inquiring about fashion and then waiting 3-6 months for a reply, at which point said fashion advice is no doubt, no longer fashionable. But I'm veering off the road here. A woman wanted to know where she could get the necklace that Megan Fox wore in the Transformers sequel. (click to enlarge - all right, i know how that sounds,… -
We Have No Waiting (Or a Sense of Humor) at Checkstand #1
18 Jun 2009 | 1:18 pmSo I'm at the 15 Items or Less line in the grocery store. Safeway to be exact. Checkstand #2 to be even more exact. I realize I'm standing behind my neighbor. He's an old guy who I've seen several times around the neighborhood who always seems a little out of it and every time we meet, he has this glazed look on his face like he has no idea who the hell I am. So I decide not to embarass myself in front of everyone around me by saying hello and re-introducing myself for the umpteenth time only to be followed by little or no awkward conversation. And when I say he's my neighbor, I mean that he…
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Not What it Seems
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Come on in! The water's...
2 Jul 2009 | 4:13 amWarm! Really warm! As I sank blissfully into what I consider my true element yesterday I had a thought. ( Yes, only one, but divided into two parts) " With all the rain we've been having, and how early it is in the season, the water seems awfully warm... "I looked around at all the people on the beach. Looked at the beautifully equipped porta-potties- not a lot of business there. "What if the water is warm because each and every one of those people had peed, even only once, in the ocean today? -
" Have you checked the chickens?"
30 Jun 2009 | 5:11 amWe are in the middle of an oddity that may yield a positive outcome. Apparently, at 3 AM my husband was woken up by the screaming of terrified, annoyed or possibly gleeful poultry. When he went outside to investigate, all the lights in the shed were on.This is could be evidence of God answering prayers, an intruder or highly intelligent chickens.After I moved all of my art supplies out to what was supposed to be my studio, my husband set to work to install better lighting and safer outlets. Nothing worked- he concluded that the electrical line had been cut. That was the end of that. During… -
What's going on
29 Jun 2009 | 6:51 amI am waiting. Waiting for my sister to let me know if she is leaving NY and bringing me my youngest child today. Do I go "big-shopping" today or wait?I am pondering a mini-redecoration. I bathed one of the stinky dogs this weekend but my couch, oh my couch.... I am thinking of hauling it outside, maybe setting it on fire. Since the canines look as though they will be here for awhile, I don't want to buy a new one and seethe while they ruin it with drool and stench and hair. I may get out a base for a futon and make a day bed kind of arrangement. That way I can change the covering when it gets… -
Lust
26 Jun 2009 | 5:08 amLike Rapunzel's mother, I am gazing longingly into my neighbor's yard. It's not a vegetable in her garden; it's a hydrangea. The people who own the house come down sporadically and would probably not miss one blossom, and I am fairly certain that no witches live there. I doubt they would want any of my almost grown girls but they do like my grandson. -
One for luck
24 Jun 2009 | 5:10 amMy husband brought this inside for me this morning as I drank my coffee. He has a knack for finding them. I am going to need all the luck this little baby can bring me. I am trying something new.I have been on and off antidepressants since I was 24. With rare exceptions of brief and lovely periods of time, I have remained depressed. The last 6 months have been horrific. Over the weekend I considered ECT and suicide. Just try to schedule a good time to kill yourself- there is always something coming up that would make it a bad time- children's programs at the library, youngest child leaving…
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Out On The Stoop
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In My World of Fantasy on the Finally Friday Freakout
3 Jul 2009 | 12:00 amI was truly blessed to grow up in a musically open and abundant time. You couldn't really roll up and be a half-ass performer and expect to stay too long. We had so much talent there wasn't room for everybody. Well, that and radio payola, protecting regional turfs and other shenanigans had a huge effect on who broke through to the big time.This is another musical group of siblings that should have been promoted and nurtured to prominence. The 5 Stairsteps were vocally exquisite, musically lyrical and they were successful but I think got caught between the transitional shift between… -
Twilight Dance at Santa Monica Pier - Summer of Staycation 2
29 Jun 2009 | 12:00 amDance, dance and dance some more! Turn off the DTV and go do it for yourself without judgment or national humiliation. The Santa Monica Pier has a Twilight Dance Series from now until September 3rd. This is the 25th year and the hipulation will commence with the Playing for Change band.Am I psychic or what? Yowser and pass the Ginger Beer. Yes, some of those folks. And if they can get that Belgium brother over here I might book a hotel room to see him.Cuz there is no way I'm gonna get home from Santa Monica after 11pm without added to my life experiences. Yes, take Metro if you can but… -
Uptight Citizen's Brigade - Summer of Staycation 1
27 Jun 2009 | 12:05 pmSunday nights in Hollywood are not generally associated with entertainment unless you want to watch the dads with baby car seats in the back troll for fresh meat. Yes, way too much non-verbal information that is shared by all.Anyway, if you are not doing anything around Sunday 7:30pm and, you want to keep it legal, you might want to check out the Uptight Citizen Brigade Theater. If you are outside of L.A. you can check out comedy and improve videos at UCB Comedy.Always double check event listings but I hear that on Sundays there is a freebie performance. All you have to do is get yourself… -
Inspired By Miss Johnnie - Free Events for Staycation
27 Jun 2009 | 9:34 amMiss Johnnie was one of those kick in the pants people. I'm still kicking myself for not recording her and our conversations. By the time I met her she was about 80 something living in a residence that had a stripper pole and stage. Miss Johnnie had traveled the world and done things I could only read about.She needed help to work on her computer. It was a finicky Windows 95 bucket of bolts laptop that refused to yield to the herald of change. The purpose of this post is that Miss Johnnie wanted her friends to really know the joys of Los Angeles. She wanted them to get out of the house and… -
Stop - The Love You Save on the Finally Friday Freakout
26 Jun 2009 | 7:52 pmIt is still too much to take in. I was telling a friend this afternoon that with the passing of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson I could hear the invisible clock tick a little faster and just a little louder. I asked him if we were meant for this time?He smiled at me and said "Yeah, I think so but the passage isn't always easy." No, it isn't. This is one of my connections to the Jackson 5. On the list of firsts, this was one of the first animated series that featured African-American kids who could sing and have hit songs. I don't like death. I accept it. I think once you make it to the…
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Seasonality
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ADDED INCENTIVE
3 Jul 2009 | 2:47 pmWell folks, the time is drawing near for me to pick a name out of the hat, so I thought I would try to pique your interest even further. The book I am giving away this month covers a year in the life of one family - a year in which they made every attempt to feed themselves animals and vegetables whose provenance they really knew, and to wring as much petroleum out of their food chain as possible. The chapters follow their progress through the seasons, telling you what they ate and why. At first you might feel a bit sorry for their two children, when you hear what they had to give up in order… -
MANLY DECOR
3 Jul 2009 | 5:32 amWe've been in Houston all week, for follow up appointments with John's surgeon and cardiologist. They were both quite pleased with his progress, which means I get to hang up my chauffer's cap, and he gets to go back to work next week. I'm ecstatic about my reward. I think he has mixed feelings about his.Being here in Houston now is something of a mixed blessing, as well. Our son, who just graduated and is still looking for a permanent position, is doing some contract work for one of John's partners, and staying here at our little townhouse. It is sooo much fun to have him here. Unlike his… -
END OF A DRY SPELL
1 Jul 2009 | 4:21 amI think the dry spell is finally coming to an end - at least, as far as reading goes. I owe it all to you guys, and your wonderful recommendations. There was a time when I had no problem whatsoever finding books I liked on the grocery store shelves, but as my friend Paula once said, "Once you start reading the good stuff, it's kinda hard to go back."Believe me, I've tried! I had a couple of really good books set aside to read during John's hospital stay, but they were both fairly dark, and I decided after the first day that the hospital itself was a dark enough place on its own, and that I… -
WHERE IS A MUSE WHEN YOU NEED ONE?
30 Jun 2009 | 5:15 amBy the time I got back to Wimberley, after John's surgery, the Muses were all scattered hither and yon. They finally came back the day I had to leave again! I haven't really done much of anything creative all summer, and just can't get too excited about any of the projects I already have on hand (such as painting that garden bench, or finishing that dang orange wall). I'm certainly not in the mood for knitting tea cozies, when it's 107 out! Of course, this is fairly typical for me to go into a bit of a slump this time of year, now that I think about it. I guess I almost always lose interest… -
WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?
29 Jun 2009 | 5:52 amDid you ever wonder, what food is "American Food"? You know, like the Italians eat Italian food, and the Mexicans eat Mexican food, and the Chinese eat Chinese food, so, what is American food? When we signed up to host our first exchange student, a boy from Denmark, I went straight home, pulled out my recipe files and a clean tablet, and started thinking about what to feed him when he arrived. An hour later, I was still staring at a blank tablet. I had plenty of great recipes to choose from, but unfortunately, they were mostly all either Italian, Mexican, or Chinese!Where were those recipes…
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Telling It Like It Is
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Kaboom Town 2009 Addison TX July 4th Fireworks Show – DFW Goes Kaboom!
3 Jul 2009 | 2:41 pmKaboom Town in Addison TX, just north of Dallas, is having their annual Kaboom Town fireworks show in celebration of the July 4th Independence Day today, Friday, July 3, 2009 starting at 5:00 p.m. until midnight tonight. Are you going to Kaboom Town in Addison today? Kaboom Town Addison TX fireworks show is the biggest and best fireworks show around DFW, and Kaboom Town is always a spectacular fireworks show. Since Garland and Carrollton have canceled their fireworks shows due to budget cuts, we’re trying to decide which July fourth fireworks show we’ll be attending this year. Since we… -
Deaths in Threes – Do Deaths Come in 3 or Do Celebrity Deaths Come in Threes
3 Jul 2009 | 9:40 am“Deaths occur in threes. If one person in your family dies, two more will within a short period of time.” Do deaths come in threes or is it just an old wives tale? There’s been a lot of discussion in the last few days that deaths always happen in threes or celebrity deaths come in threes, and questions about where the “deaths come in 3” tale came from. My understanding is that the origin of the old wives tale or legend about deaths occurring in threes came from the first world war. When the men would light their cigarettes they knew not to use 3 on a match because the enemy could… -
OK Magazine Michael Jackson Cover Picture of Michael Jackson’s Death Photo
1 Jul 2009 | 10:48 pmOK! Magazine has sunk to a new low. OK Magazine paid $500000 for a cover “death photo” of Michael Jackson on a stretcher, as emergency personnel tried to revive the dying star, which has created quite a controversy amongst Michael Jackson fans, the pathetic magazine’s advertisers and the music community. The OK! Magazine Michael Jackson cover picture is all over the internet now, and I can only imagine how upsetting and heart-wrenching the circulation of this photo must be for the Jackson family. You may now add OK! Magazine to the list of other tabloid rags to line your birdcage… -
Wedding Planning, How To Plan A Wedding, When to Get Married
25 Jun 2009 | 5:00 amAre you ready to get married? What have you done to prepare for marriage? Knowing when to get married and when not to get married to your significant other are important things for couples to consider before taking the plunge into holy matrimony. Saying “I am ready to get married” or “I want to get married” isn’t nearly enough to prove you are actually ready to be married, especially when you consider the divorce statistics or “divorce rates” for first, second or third marriages. What does preparing for marriage or “marriage readiness” mean to you? It’s unfortunate that… -
Barbie Alternative: Only Hearts Club Dolls the Best Bratz, Barbie Alternative Doll Review
20 Jun 2009 | 11:51 amBarbie alternative? Appropriate dolls? Parents are looking for an age-appropriate alternative doll for their little girls to enjoy, especially since Barbie dolls and Bratz dolls, Dora the Explorer (amongst others), have been “updating” the clothes these dolls are now wearing to include inappropriate, racy, “sexy” outfits on dolls for young kids. Meet the Only Hearts Girls by Only Hearts Club, a great alternative to Barbie dolls and Bratz girls. Not only are the Only Hearts Club girls baby dolls that look real, but the Only Hearts girls are appropriate toys for young…
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Hot Flashes
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Child's Fear of Fourth of July Fireworks, Oh and Car Washes Too
3 Jul 2009 | 8:34 amI am one of those people who looks forward to the Fourth of July fireworks. From the time I was a kid, this free entertainment fascinated me as it lit up the sky with beautiful colors and designs. So I approached motherhood with the idea that both of my children would love fireworks as much as their overgrown child - I mean mother-- did. For my son Brett, it was an easy one. The loud noises didn't scare him, and he too was mesmerized by the pageantry of glorious color and light for fireworks. There was no avoidance, tears, or fear in him. When my daughter Elissa came along two… -
What About Michael Jackson's Parenting? What Becomes of the Kids?
28 Jun 2009 | 7:54 amWould a major pop culture event involving parenting escape my observation and need to comment? Of course not. Though Michael Jackson (MJ) was a brilliant talent, he was also brilliant at plotting his own downward spiral. It was said he wanted to be Elvis - and in fact married Elvis' daughter for a time, and a similar ending was also accomplished. He was as big as the King for a time, and as self-destructive.Having grown up in the Jackson 5 era, and grooved into the disco MJ next phase, it was only when he released Thriller, that I felt a bit disconnected. He was starting to look different… -
Gravy Training Gosselins Will Probably Milk Show Longer Even With Pending Divorce
24 Jun 2009 | 6:30 amPerhaps you read my past blog where I listed the top gravy training parents in pop culture. In case you are unfamiliar with the term, gravy training means living a high lifestyle due to someone else's earnings. For example years back when Jackie Stallone was living the good life and getting tons of publicity because her son Sylvester was a hot commodity. Recently, Britney Spears' parents have their wealth off the kiddos. The Gosselin's are a little bit different. Sure, they are living a nice lifestyle due to their famous kids on Jon & Kate Plus 8, a dumb TV reality show, but they are… -
Gene Simmons of KISS as a Father Role Model: For Real?
19 Jun 2009 | 7:00 amI don't even like the (way past it's prime) rock group KISS. Nor did I ever like Gene Simmons, even though this is my second blog mentioning him. Imagine that! Actually that last one was about how his poor mother suffered.I caught Gene on the Fourth Hour with Hoda and Kathy Lee promoting his reality series, "Family Jewels." I have never seen the show and I, in fact, would rather be tasered than be forced to watch such inane glop on TV. It seems the premise of his show is he and his "baby mama" Shannon Tweed (who he has shacked up with for 20 odd years or so) raising their teens. Oh what… -
Note To Customer Tech Support in India: Don't Mess With Hysterical Mom
15 Jun 2009 | 6:55 amPreface: I am truly embracing of all nationalities and cultures and if you Google my writing name, Arlene Nisson Lassin, you will find pages and pages of features on a wide variety of accomplished people of diverse backgrounds, as well as stories on cultural happenings. The following experience is about the mis-communication resulting from telephone customer service reps who are foreign and have trouble understanding my American accent, while I have trouble understanding their accented English. It is not about the country of India or its people - I have similar trouble with the Philippines.
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Queen of Planet Hotflash
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Geessshhh she's here then she's NOT
15 Jun 2009 | 10:38 amSorry about that, I quit in the middle of my MIL Drama but ..I had back surgery, I have degenerative disc disease and I fell in the winter and surgery now, I shall be back as the famous words were said .. feeling better, able to move around more, drugs are awesome.. -
After a handful of Blood Pressure pills and some Tequilia..
28 May 2009 | 4:26 amI couldn't believe what I was hearing as I walked out of the bathroom.I have to explain why my hubby tolerates his "mother's" behavior the way he does.First, my hubby was abandoned as a child. His grandparents who were old old at the time came to the house where hubby, his brother and their sperm donor & egg supplier (for the lack of better names for people that would abandon children) lived, to get the boys, after a neighbor called and said the boys had been alone for days.The grandparents raised the boys for a couple years but they were getting really old and couldn't handle raising 2… -
Wandering the past 2 weeks in a delirious state
26 May 2009 | 10:49 amWell, the Queen has ventured to a planet, so far beyond her planethotflash and she has witnessed behavior that has changed her soul.We visited MIL.MIL called and ask that hubby and I come to her home ASAPI looked at hubby and asked do I hafta, yeah I actually said hafta.He looked back at me lovingly and said, " No *sigh* you really don't *sigh* have to go but I *sigh* should, she sounded like she was having some problems *sigh*."After searching my life for a plausible excuse, I could not find one, so I responded," No, *sigh* I wouldn't do that to you my love *sigh*"So off we went to… -
Happy Mother's Day !!!
10 May 2009 | 6:03 amI hope your day is filled with love, laughter and smiles -
How NOT to Answer a Jury summons
9 May 2009 | 11:43 amRead the Whole Story here... the dumbasshttp://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0430091jury1.html
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Talk2Bev
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Amazon's Relationship with North Carolina Associates Coming to an End
17 Jun 2009 | 5:32 amMessage from Amazon:We regret to inform you that the North Carolina state legislature (the General Assembly) appears ready to enact an unconstitutional tax collection scheme that would leave Amazon.com little choice but to end its relationships with North Carolina-based Associates. You are receiving this e-mail because our records indicate that you are an Amazon Associate and resident of North Carolina. Please note that this is not an immediate termination notice and you are still a valued participant in the Associates Program. All referral fees earned on qualified traffic will continue to be… -
Celebrity Imposters on Twitter
8 Jun 2009 | 6:54 amOprah does it. So does Ashton Kutcher and Larry King. They send "tweets" on the social networking site, Twitter. More and more celebrities are becoming a part of the twitter craze--but not everyone is who they claim to be. That's the danger of Twitter according to Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis professor, Jonathan Faber. "As exhilarating as social networking tools like Twitter can be, they also raise a variety of legal issues concerning the right of publicity. In addition to other potential legal issues like fraud and defamation, such activity also could drive attention and… -
Video Marketing
29 May 2009 | 5:24 pmAs a veteran journalist who spent several years as a Reporter and a short time as a videographer, I feel very comfortable in front of or behind the lens of a camera. And now I am starting to see the value of using a video camera to market my business. Thanks to my husband, I am now equipped with my own personal video camera and I am busy putting it to use. You can check out some of my work at BoomerDivasTV on YouTube. Video marketing, in my opinion, is a great way to get your name out there. Unlike social networking, video marketing allows people to place a name with a face and that adds even… -
Social Media and Crisis Communication
15 May 2009 | 9:52 amWhen news of the Swine Flu broke out, thousands of people turned to Twitter to query each other and share news of the latest developments in Mexico and the U.S. Twitter status updates ranged from "Could it be germ warfare?’ to "Don’t eat pork from Mexico."Thanks to the Internet and social media applications, such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter, the public is able to seek and share information quickly during a health or safety crisis, according to a study conducted at The University of Texas at Austin. The study found that if an organization involved in the crisis doesn’t provide… -
The Most Inspiring Baby Boomer Woman Contest
13 May 2009 | 1:45 pmBoomer Diva Nation wants to know who you think is the Most Inspiring Boomer Woman for the Summer of 2009.She could be your girlfriend, someone you met on Facebook or Twitter, your mom or other relative. She could even be YOU!Boomer Diva Nation wants to recognize Inspiring Boomer Women who are on the move and making a difference in their professional and personal lives. No, we are not interested in Hollywood celebrities---we want real women who look aren't caught up in their looks or obsessed about weight. We want women who go out of their way to help others in some form or fashion.We want…
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Baby Boomer Talk & other stuff
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The Baby Boomer Who Changed the Face of Music
26 Jun 2009 | 5:43 amIt's hard to believe he's gone. Michael Jackson was one baby boomer I thought was larger than life. Who cares that he was 50 years old. If he could still shake his body down to the ground, I would still watch. I grew up with Michael and his brothers--when they were known as the Jackson 5. I first saw them on TV in 1969 when they appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. I then saw them in person in 1971 at the Ohio State Fair. I remember screaming hysterically along with thousands of other little girls in the crowd.When Michael decided to go solo, it seems as though his fan base became even larger. -
Social Media May Be Hazardous to Your Health
19 Jun 2009 | 5:02 pmI went to the doctor this week and learned a rather interesting lesson about social media.When the scale reflected the fact that I had GAINED and not LOST some weight, my doctor wanted to know what kind of activities I was involved in. I told her I was spending a lot of time on my computer these days. Sometimes I spend more than half of my day between Twitter and Facebook. Not good, according to my doctor. She says spending hours at a time at a computer can create havoc on the body. In addition to the middle age spread, one might also develop knee, back and vision problems.Another point she… -
Bank of America, Are You Serious?
12 Jun 2009 | 2:30 pmToday I received my bank statement from Bank of America. Why I'm still a customer is a direct result of my laziness to go to the bank and close out my account.The statement I received today has become new motivation to get off my behind and make my own statement to Bank of America.Here's what I received:IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT:Recently we informed you that we were raising our Overdraft Item and NSF: Returned Item Fee to $39. After careful consideration of the many factors currently impacting the economy, our business and our customers, we have made a decision to change our… -
Burn Baby Burn Takes on a New Meaning
10 Jun 2009 | 10:47 amWhen I hear burn baby burn , I'm thinking of a disco inferno, but, for some folks, this phrase has them thinking about death.According to The Cremation Association of North America, more and more baby boomers are considering cremation as their last rites over a ground burial. Although many Baptists view cremation as an unacceptable destruction of the body, some 37 percent of Americans say they would like to be cremated after they die. Research also shows that people who would prefer cremation tend to be well-educated, earn higher-than-average incomes, and reside in Western boomtowns and… -
Shame on You Wal-Mart
5 Jun 2009 | 3:03 pmIt should come as no surprise to anyone that women are the reason businesses like Wal-Mart are managing to thrive in spite of a weak economy. Women are always shopping for great deals and Wal-Mart has gone out of its way to convince us it is the place to: "Save money. Live better." But the question here is are the women who work at Wal-Mart really living better? Maybe not---according to an article in BusinessWeek---which states that women account for nearly 80 percent of all shoppers but more than 70 percent of its senior leaders are men. To add insult to injury, in 2001, six female Wal-Mart…
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BOOMER WORLD
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North Carolina Ranks Among the States with the Fattest Baby Boomers
1 Jul 2009 | 3:37 pmDuring my adult life, I have lived in Ohio, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, West Virigina (which I rarely admit) and now, in North Carolina. Based on this study of obesity and baby boomers, I should be heading back to New England. Here are the states listed in order of where the fattest baby boomers live. Where does your state rank? (To read the entire report, click on the title for this blog post).1. Mississippi2. Alabama3. West Virginia 4. Tennessee5. South Carolina 6. Oklahoma7. Kentucky8. Louisiana 9. Michigan10. (tie) Arkansas and Ohio12. North Carolina13. Missouri 14. (tie)… -
Top Ten Things Only Boomer Women Understand
26 Jun 2009 | 4:30 pmThis is a Top Ten List I saw on the website of my good friend and fellow Boomer Diva Nation member, babyboomerqueen. 10. Cats’ facial expressions9. The need for the same style of shoes in different colors8. Why bean sprouts aren’t just weeds7. Fat clothes6. Taking a car trip without trying to beat your best time5. The difference between beige, off-white, and eggshell4. Cutting your bangs to make them grow3. Eyelash curlers2. The inaccuracy of every bathroom scale ever made1. Other women ***I decided to alter that list and create one of my own for my fellow baby boomer women***10. What it… -
Will Father's Day Someday Become Obsolete?
21 Jun 2009 | 8:15 amToday is the day children across America are celebrating their dads. Even though my dad is deceased, I still honor his memory because he was a great father who had a strong presence in my life.But, unlike me, my daughter does not share that sentiment. She does not acknowledge her dad on this day---or any other day for that matter. Why? Because he was an absent father. Yes, we were married but his actions made him appear absent more often than not. When you see your mom struggle to make ends meet because dad doesn't pay child support, he doesn't try to stay in contact, doesn't participate in… -
You Know You're a Baby Boomer If...(Part II)
10 Jun 2009 | 6:16 amYou rode in the back of the station wagon and you faced the cars behind you. Schoolhouse Rock played a HUGE part in how you actually learned the English language. A predominant color in your childhood photos is plaid. You remember the Flinstones in Primetime.You grew up with neighbors you actually knew by first and last name.You had a rotary dial telephone.You weren't considered fashionable if you didn't own a pair of black & white saddle shoes or a pair of stride rites.Good TV reception came with a pair of pliers and a coat hanger.There was such a thing as penny candy--and you could always… -
You Know You're a Baby Boomer If...
9 Jun 2009 | 12:18 pmYou've seen every Brady Bunch episode at least twice.You remember Michael Jackson when he was black.You remember Sally Field as The Flying Nun.You remember when VCR's cost $2000!You remember cigarette commericals on TV.You owned a pair of pedal pushers--or at least know what they are.Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off. Your back goes out more than you do. You finally got your head together, now your body is falling apart. It takes twice as long to look half as good. Many of your co-workers were born the same year that you got your last promotion. The clothes…
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Boomer Diva Nation
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What Do Your Colors Say?
22 Jun 2009 | 7:39 pmBy Kaye Z. Marks There is a reason why people wear black at a funeral and a reason why red is considered a power color. If you go to a toy store, odds are the section for young boys will be blue while the one for young girls will be pink. You simply cannot escape the [...] -
Are Your Customers Satisfied?
22 Jun 2009 | 7:24 pmIf you’ve got a good product or business and a gift of gab, you should have no problem attracting customers. But the question here is, how often do you get repeat business from the same customer? It’s one thing to sell lots of items but it’s also equally important to have customers who want to keep coming [...] -
Meet Featured Diva Evelyn Kalinosky
21 Jun 2009 | 9:30 amPlatinum Diva Member Evelyn Kalinosky 1. What plans do you have for the summer months as it relates to your business? I plan to officially launch my business website “Evelyn Kalinosky, LLC” in mid-July and will be writing a weekly blog and a monthly newsletter. I have a radio interview scheduled for 7/15 with the Coach [...] -
New Business Etiquette
20 Jun 2009 | 6:16 pmBy Marsha Egan In yesteryear, we did not have things like cell phones, email, and voice mail. But we do now, and Emily Post might turn over in her grave if she sees how some folks are handling these new situations. Here are some guidelines to move us along in this world of “new” things: Email “Clean up” [...] -
Sexy is Not a Corporate Look
10 Jun 2009 | 9:37 amSummer time is here. As women in business, that means we must be mindful, more than ever, of how we choose to dress to impress. Barbara Pachter, a business etiquette expert and author of the NewRules@Work: 79 Etiquette Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead (Prentice Hall Press), issues her comments on professional summer [...]
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merlot mom
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Now This Is What I Call A Vacation
26 Jun 2009 | 8:50 amThis is Mirror Lake Not hard to figure how it got it's name. As our family drove the scenic byway 10,000 feet up through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest, we marveled at the majestic evergreens and watched in amazement as our car's outside temperature gauge dropped from 80 degrees to 76 to 74 and down to a final 62 degrees upon reaching our destination. We saw remnants of winter clinging to life As summer pushed it's way in We watched as city boy met country boy and learned about trout fishing Watching the life go out of these innocents was a little hard for this… -
Mountains and Lakes and Word Counts...Oh My
25 Jun 2009 | 7:00 amTo those of you who may be wondering, NO, I haven't stuck to the NaNoWriMo schedule. NOT EXACTLY. But don't be disappointed IN me or FOR me because I have been writing away. I've been outlining, and thinking, and dreaming, and, on top of that, I've written over 3500 words. I quickly discovered that writing a novel without an outline, no matter how spontaneous and freeing and full of possibilities, is not my style. So I'm keeping my outlines to the bare minimum to allow for surprises and making up the rest as I go along. I'm pretty much a trailblazer like that. I guess I… -
Give Me The Grateful Life - Monday
22 Jun 2009 | 8:02 amSummer is here. What's not to be grateful for, right? I am grateful for successfully motivating myself to write. It has been empowering (so far). I am grateful for gorgeous green mountains against blue, non-polluted skies. I am grateful that my kids are relaxed and stress-free. I am grateful for watching them play and laugh in the pouring rain. I am grateful for Jamie Lee Curtis. That last one is curious, I know. But hear me out. I've always loved Jamie Lee Curtis. Not for her role in the Activia commercials, not for her movie roles, but for her contributions as a writer. She has… -
My Latest Wacky Attempt At Calling Myself A Writer: NaNoWriMo
17 Jun 2009 | 4:07 pmThis is a short post. It has to be. Wanna know why? 'Cause I've up and started my novel. Yes, I said novel. Not a great American. Just a novel. Oh, and I'm writing it in 30 days. Yes, I said 30 days. 'Cause I'm an idiot that way. 'Cause otherwise I'll spend another 15 years writing nothing. It's called NaNoWriMo. NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth. For everyone else it's in November. Crazy people, like me, get together online and spend the month of November killing themselves. They lose touch with their families, forget to shower, drink too much coffee, eat too much junk, chew… -
Cleaning House In The Digital Age
9 Jun 2009 | 6:00 pmEvery morning I wake up and one of the first things I do, sometimes even before hitting the bathroom, is turn on the computer. It's the modern-day equivalent of running to the mailbox. I love to watch the screen fill up with emails. The quiet morning air abuzz with possibilities: friends or colleagues answering a question I posed, sharing a joke, making a date, or re-discovering me, after many years, on Facebook. Lately, though, the emails that fill my inbox are from strangers. Nigerian bankers, people with funny sounding names wanting "to be my friend", Harry and David,…
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Zen and the Art of the Midlife Crisis
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Goin' Down the Road
25 Jun 2009 | 8:32 pmOn a Vermont two lane byway, green mountains rolled out, a sky full of thunder clouds and patches of brilliant blue, the Grateful Dead singing along, some times it feels like no time has passed at all and some things never change. It could be 35 years ago and me heading to a swimming hole, my heart bouncing along in time to the music.Life has changed, though; so many things for the better, even -
Oasis
21 Jun 2009 | 4:44 amSeveral times this week I have stared at this yellow pad, pen in hand, patiently awaiting inspiration only to move on to do something else. After eighteen months of regular entries, it feels bad to go a week without a new post to this blog.True to form, my body is split with pros and cons. I am aware of a compulsion to account for my production, a need to sum up, at the end of the day, what has -
No Money on Trees
4 Jun 2009 | 4:57 amA friend and I bantered the other day about the fact that what lies in our back pocket is more important than the size of what we hide in the front of our pants. We both adore women in general and ones in particular, and even though it was all in clever jest, there rang a note of exasperated truth.In this day and age when women can hold their own, or even better us financially, these -
At the Bitter End it's not so bitter
28 May 2009 | 6:35 amWith plenty of time to spare, my son and I arrived in New York City, daunted and excited by the heat, traffic and cavernous setting of the landscape. Easily, we found Bleeker Street and wandered along in the redster, recognizing that full of shops and restaurants, it felt much like Burlington's Church Street, but much,much longer.At sight of the Bitter End's blue awning, so small in presence, so -
Roads Taken
24 May 2009 | 6:06 amFull of ice cream, mango and a break-a-leg bon voyage from a good friend, my son and I redstered into the sunset, on our way at last to play music in the Big City, may show at the Bitter End. Happily, traffic on this holiday weekend was not flowing our way, so we cruised along in an easy gear with reggae soaring.A road trip feels like one of our best activities together. We wander with purpose,
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ask allison: the middle-Aged woman’s go to girl
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A Perfect Summer Event
2 Jul 2009 | 4:01 pmEeGADS, it was HOT in Texas last week! If you can believe it (and I know those of you who were there DO!) it was a record 107 degrees on Thursday, the day of our Boggy Creek Farm celebration of food, drink and successful midlife makeovers! But that did not stop almost 50 women from braving the heat to partake of the amazing produce from Boggy Creek Farm, drizzled with flavorful estate grown olive oils by Piche, washed down with the frosty, summer cocktails made with Paula’s Texas Spirits’ orange and lemon ‘cellos. Between the cool drinks, the nice shade, a big fan of Carol Ann’s… -
A Call To Action To Prevent Breast Cancer
24 Jun 2009 | 8:02 amMORE magazine just published an article by Dr. Susan Love about the $1 billion dollar stimulus package for the National Cancer Institute. Although she’s been in the field of cancer research for more than 30 years, she was still frustrated and surprised to learn that virtually none of that money would be going towards cancer prevention research. Maybe I should be, but I’m not even that surprised. I hate to be cynical but one big reason our health care system is so broken is that it incentivizes the wrong things. The big pharmaceutical companies who wield a LOT of money and influence make… -
Do You Know What YOUR Future Looks Like?
17 Jun 2009 | 2:56 pmIs it a newsflash to anyone that reinvention is the BIG nerve for women in midlife? It seems like every woman I talk to is either feeling vague yearnings for something different, or already has the change in mind she’d like to make. Whatever end of the spectrum you’re on, actually tackling it can seem daunting. It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s a major career shift to something more fulfilling, or just wanting to make some life adjustments so life is a better fit for who we are at 48 than were at 25, many of us aren’t sure where to go from there. My good friend Sue Cullen and… -
So THAT’S Why I’m Not Wealthy! Duh!
16 Jun 2009 | 9:14 amLadies! I just spent a mind bender of a weekend at a seminar that was about the psychology of real estate investing. It turned out to be as much about how wealthy people think about their money as it was about investing in real estate. And I found that even though I’ve been exposed to some very wealthy people as role models (why didn’t more rub off dang it!), I didn’t really understand many of the concepts this guy taught. Women and finances are a subject near and dear to my heart. I worry about us. Most people aren’t educated about wealth period, and women are even less… -
I’m Still WAITING, Fairy Godmother!
10 Jun 2009 | 2:49 pmI’ve been a little preoccupied these days with the process of reinvention. Could it be because I am STILL trying to figure mine out? Well, yes dammit! HelLOOOA, Fairy Godmother, where ARE you, dang it, when I need you? Like many of you, I’ve seen The Secret, and read The Success Principles, and plenty of self-help gurus about the Law Of Attraction. The L of A in essence says that if you want something badly enough, focus your energy and attention on it, persist, and keep holding it out as a detailed vision to guide you, you will create it. If you want it badly enough, work…
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AARP Bulletin Today
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Double-hand transplant patient 'looks good'
6 May 2010 | 2:35 amThe Georgia man who received a double hand transplant at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center was in critical but stable condition Tuesday, one day after the historic surgery, officials said. The surgery on Jeff Kepner began at 8 a. m. Monday and lasted about nine hours, much shorter than the anticipated 20 hours. -
Hot picks: Riverboat Gamblers, T.J. Miller
22 Apr 2010 | 2:39 amDance: Marriage of music and moves The splendor of "Sleeping Beauty" is the centerpiece for the La Roche College Dance Theatre's annual performance Wednesday at the Byham Theatre. The young dancers will perform "Aurora's Wedding," which provides the joyous denouement for Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's three-hour ballet "Sleeping Beauty. " The big celebration features some of Tchaikovsky's most memorable music for a chain of dances to entertain the princess and her prince. -
Dora won't be too grown up
24 Mar 2010 | 5:21 amMattel and Nickelodeon, which produce the popular doll and cartoon "Dora the Explorer," say there are misconceptions about a proposed new and older Dora doll. "The Dora that we all know and love is not going away," says Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products. Gina Sirard, vice president of marketing at Mattel, says. -
IPhone 3GS owners bemoan its battery life
3 Jul 2009 | 7:59 pmTECHNOLOGY By David Sarno July 3, 2009 The new, high-octane iPhone 3GS is loaded with features that could light up your life -- but its battery isn't one of them. Buyers are finding that the device, introduced two weeks ago, has trouble making it through a workday without a rest stop at the electrical outlet. It's proving to be something of an Achilles' heel on Apple Inc. -
Buzz Aldrin on his new book, space exploration and rapping with Snoop Dogg
3 Jul 2009 | 7:28 pmBy Lori Kozlowski 6:16 PM PDT, July 3, 2009 His mother's maiden name was Moon. Buzz Aldrin, it seems, was destined from birth to travel to the rocky sphere more than 200,000 miles away from planet Earth. Today he says, of being on the moon: "I was exhilarated but guarded.
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Midlife Musings
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Honest Scrap!
2 Jul 2009 | 6:27 amThis has been a banner week! I've gone from 28 followers to 31 (yay!) and y'all know how much that means to me. LOLAlso, I was completely tickled to receive an award from a new blogger, Maureen at Island Roar. Maureen has been blogging a couple of months, and is a relatively new reader of mine. I was extremely flattered to receive this award from her, as she has a wonderful blog and is a terrific writer. Go check her out. Go ahead. I'll wait. :)Back? Good. Now subscribe to her. Got it? Good! Okay! Here we go. The rules for this award are as follows: -Each blogger to whom the award is given… -
Put your teeth in, Martha. We're going to the Wal-Mart
30 Jun 2009 | 6:37 amThis morning I have an 8:00 appointment to have some pre-op testing done (blood work, some other stuff, hopefully nothing too yucky). Then at 11:30 I have a pre-op appointment with my gynecologist who will be doing the surgery. In case you're new here, next Monday I am having a laprascopic hysterectomy. I've got questions and I'm sure he'll answer them. Dr. Jekyll is coming with me to get the deets on the surgery and to meet my doctor. Dr. Jekyll has one question for the doctor. Can you guess what it is?? Yep. You got it. He's a man, after all. He told me he only has one question for the… -
Midlife Mama's Year In Review: Blogworthy
26 Jun 2009 | 7:36 amHey blog buddies! Today marks my one-year blogaversary. 185 posts later, here I am. Amazingly, I have been at this for a full year already, trying to make y'all laugh. When I first started, I had no idea what this blog would become. I was hoping to find a forum for spilling some of the angst I was going through at the time (and still am going through), and at the same time find the humorous side of life. Was there a life before blogging? I tend to view everything I see in terms of a blog post. "Is it blogworthy?" I think to myself when I see something happening. Sad, happy, strange, gross,… -
You've been married HOW many times???
25 Jun 2009 | 9:23 amI've been married three times. Divorced twice. So far. Heh. Not that I'm even considering divorce right now, just with my track record? I'm just sayin.'Yes, apparently I have relationship issues. LOL I first married in 1981 when I was 22 years old, for reasons best left to the therapist's couch. Suffice it to say I was so insecure and full of self-doubt I married the first guy I could strong arm into doing so to avoid being "not chosen." My self-esteem was at below zero, and I was extremely immature. I thought I was "all grown up" -- boy, did I have a lot to learn! I still struggle with… -
Smurfs -- Not Just For Breakfast Anymore
24 Jun 2009 | 6:04 amI woke up this morning and still have a bad sore throat and still am killing trees with my kleenex usage. But I have more of a voice this morning. It is still gravelly but at least I can be understood and I don't sound like a Smurf. Speaking of Smurfs, I was talking to a representative of Bank of America on the phone yesterday. She was calling for an employment reference on one of our employees. I explained that I didn't have much of a voice and to let me know if she couldn't understand me. She said it was no problem and that she was sorry I was sick. I laughed and told her that someone said…
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BoomerCafé ... it's your place
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The Passing of Icons
25 Jun 2009 | 8:39 pmAll at once, our ranks are thinner. And the ranks of our icons: Farrah Fawcett, a leading-edge boomer, and Michael Jackson, on the other end of our generation. Mike Petrie writes this tribute about the passing of icons. Two more Baby Boomer icons are gone: Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Both passed away on June 25th and whether you were a fan or not, the world seems a bit more empty to this Boomer. If you are one of those who limits Boomer icons to Beatles, Stones, and peace symbols, that only means you are at the upper end of our mega Boomer generation. Both Farrah Fawcett and Michael… -
Second Reserve Bank Unit
24 Jun 2009 | 9:01 pmNinni HolmqvistWe love it when baby boomers write books that other generations want to read. Such is the case with Ninni Holmqvist’s new novel about a woman whose government considers her “dispensable” at the age of fifty. That’s when she is involuntarily checked into the “Second Reserve Bank Unit” for biological material. Here is an excerpt from The Unit There were eight of us. Only two were men, which wasn’t that strange as the age limit for them is sixty. It’s perfectly natural; after all, they produce viable sperm much later in life than we produce eggs. Even so, I had… -
Baby Boomers are Today’s Entrepreneurs
22 Jun 2009 | 4:53 pmIf you’re thinking that the majority of entrepreneurs are young go-getters you’d be thinking wrong. In fact, according to the Kauffman Foundation, the the highest rate of entrepreneurial activity belongs Baby Booomer go-getters, 55 to 64. “The fact that the largest age group of our population is also the most entrepreneurial bodes well for the United States’ economic future,” said Robert E. Litan, vice president of Research and Policy at the Kauffman Foundation. Click here to read the whole story. -
Looking into the Eyes of Iran
21 Jun 2009 | 9:33 amNedaBoth of BoomerCafe´s co-founders – Greg Dobbs and David Henderson – are former network television news correspondents. As such, each continues to closely follow world events. David and Greg each have written pieces about what’s happening right now in Iran, and we post them here because this may be another of the many shifts we boomers have seen in our world since we were young. By David Henderson - Much of the world has kept track of events in Iran following the questionable outcome of elections there on June 12 via Twitter. With severe restrictions by the regime in… -
Maybe It’s Times To Change Things
21 Jun 2009 | 12:01 amWe boomers might think we’re innovators, and in many ways we are. But in others, we are no different than the generations before us: we do what our parents did, and their parents before that. Humor writer Katie B. Goode is trying to change a few things with our generation, and she begins with the custom of shaking hands. I’m starting a campaign against the common handshake. And it’s overdue. One report I saw says that cold germs live on hands for hours. The silly custom of shaking hands costs us $46 billion a year in health costs, and who knows how many missed work days… or…
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Going Like Sixty
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Leading Our Lives Via Search Engines
3 Jul 2009 | 11:29 amHere’s what trending high on Google now. (I took out the searches for the hot Fox news babe, drunken women’s soccer player, the sex tape teacher, and some ) all recipes are banks open today wimbledon semi finals live fireworks shows is the post office open today wimbledon tv coverage is the stock market open today usps holidays I pity the people who are so out of it that they don’t know if the post office or banks or stock markets are open… today… Friday… July 3rd. So they go f**king Google it. Now, if you sneeze and need help, go here. If you just told a… -
Blaming Canada Led Me to Write Poorly, Badly, Ungoodly.
1 Jul 2009 | 12:11 pmThis writer dude is giving me tech support advice. Isn’t that kind of like a painter giving me cooking tips? Not really. There is a story. Always a story, isn’t there? I read this post about blaming Canada. (Happy Canada Day!) Since I know a couple people in Canada via blogs and somebody tweeted they are vacationing in Canada, and another blogger is on her way home from Quebec City, I thought I would read why I should blame Canada. In other words, it was a helluva headline. It was written by a writer dude from Men With Pens (which I always read as Men With Penis.) James… -
I Forgot What a Fun Time Suck Wordle Can Be
30 Jun 2009 | 11:19 pmJanna reminded me. Here’s most of my blogroll as a Wordle. It’s much cooler full size, so click it. You might like these also:Another Way to Waste Your Day. Kinda My New MantraRendering the Dork SideI Hate Billboards in Detroit. These Are Some of the BestShe now is a spinner.Susan Boyle Will be Played By Catherine Zeta Jones Bookmark It -
Gale Storm: Insert Punny Weather Forecaster Name Here
29 Jun 2009 | 11:59 amI’m sure there is a weather forecaster with the name Gale Storm. But since Gale Storm died, (real name Josephine Owaissa Cottle) it lead to an exchange with my daughter about unlikely weather forecaster names. We covered a few, outside of Gale Storm, and I know you must have a favorite, who might be an actual person, but just in case, I’ll get you started: Lee Ward Alberta Clipper Hugh C. Rain Dusty Rhodes (don’t we all know one of these guys?) Al Timiter Cap Twister Eddy Stream Hi Winds (and his partner Gail Force) Cy Clone Crystal Snow Dawn Sunrise Zenith Snow I. Wall… -
Geeky Animated Gif Monday
28 Jun 2009 | 11:50 pmYou might like these also:Geeky Animated Gif MondayGeeky Animated Gif MondayGeeky Animated GIF MondayGeeky Animated GIF MondayThe Best Animated Gif You Will See Today Bookmark It
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A Boomer in the Pew
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Moses dies and Joshua, the Son of Nun, steps into leadership of Israel
3 Jul 2009 | 11:47 am"Joshua", sculpture c 1650, by Artus QuellinusESV Study Bible DevotionsThere is a great succession of leadership taking place in Israel. Moses has just died, and Joshua, the son of Nun, has been appointed by God to lead the Israelites.I found it most interesting that God was the one to bury Moses, and that no one knows where this site is, except that it is in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor.I also greatly appreciated God's final words of Moses:Deuteronomy 34:10-12 - "And there has notarisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 none… -
The Vanity of Toil from the lives of King Solomon and Cornelius Vanderbilt
3 Jul 2009 | 10:03 amCarol, my wife, in front of the Vanderbilt Mansion (2001).ESV Study Bible DevotionsI have always been a fan of architecture, and when we bought a second home near Asheville, North Carolina, which we have since sold, I jumped at the chance to go visit the Vanderbilt Mansion.We went on the official tours offered, and greatly enjoyed the beauty of this place, but I also left with a fairly heavy heart.You see, the story of the Vanderbilt family is one where the grandchildren spend nearly every penny that Cornelius ever made. In the 1880's, Cornelius Vanderbilt was easily one of the richest men… -
Phoenix Art Museum - Charting the Canyon: The Photography of Klett and Wolfe
2 Jul 2009 | 5:11 pmToday, Carol and I made a visit to the Phoenix Art Museum to see "Charting the Canyon: The Photography of Klett and Wolfe.I was attracted to this special exhibit because of my love of photography, and its Arizona subject matter.Photographers Mark Klett, and Bryon Wolfe have an unique talent for taking famous 19th century photographs, and juxtaposing them inside a vivid, colorful, current scene of the exact same place. The above example merges two photographs from William Bell (1872), inside a contemporary photograph of the exact same place.Our favorite composition, which we don't have a… -
Turdology, Tarantulas, and living in the Sonoran Desert
1 Jul 2009 | 12:16 pmLast night, I was relaxing in my study watching an episode of Eureka on Hulu, when all of a sudden I was startled with screams from my wife, "DAVID! COME HERE!"Earlier, I heard the patio door close, and knew that she was outside puttering around.With adrenalin now rushing through my veins, I ran outside to inquire of her dismay.She was standing by the pool, with a bit of terror in her eyes, pointing at a fairly large piece of fecal matter, commonly known in my vernacular as a turd."WHAT IS THAT?", she trembled.I looked in her eyes, and again surveyed the turd, and thought to myself, what… -
If we truly believe in God, why wouldn't we wait continually on Him?
1 Jul 2009 | 4:45 amAndrew Murray's "Waiting on God" (Day #30) - Continually.Hosea 12:6 - “So you,by the help of your God, return, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.”Andrew Murray:"This waiting is a promise. God's commands are enablings: gospel precepts are all promises, a revelation of what our God will do for us. When first you begin waiting on God, it is with frequent intermission and failure. But do believe God is watching over you in love and secretly strengthening you in it. There are times when waiting appears to be just losing time, but it is not so. Waiting,…
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Catskill Cottage Seed
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Gnaw
3 Jul 2009 | 8:05 amIn the back of the Elementary Latin Dictionary is a table of roots where you will find this curious combination gna- strung together. Gna- forms the root of our gnosis and know. And gnaw perfectly captures the process of transferring energy through the body. I was keyed into this root by Charles Olson who often jotted it into the marginalia of the books he was reading when he’d find a puzzle piece to the knowledge he was pursuing. In the following passages from Jung’s Religious Ideas in Alchemy, Olson gnawed heavily on the text. The marking from paragraphs 375 to 379 are… -
The Objective Psyche – take two
2 Jul 2009 | 6:36 amImage by stage88 via Flickr It’s always a cool thing when the narrative of what one is attempting to articulate seems to fall into ones hands on it’s own accord. As a followup to the previous post concerning the objective psyche, and the “what if” I posed, this nugget jumped from the page. It tosses the ball I’m playing with here further down the field. “The full significance of synchronicity is still to be discovered. We already have hints from what is so far known that at some point the objective psyche may emerge with the outer physical reality to… -
The Objective Psyche
1 Jul 2009 | 2:23 pmImage via Wikipedia “The alchemical opus must be understood as a phenomenology of the objective, autonomous psyche enacting its drama of transformation on the stage provided by the material world, the objective nature of which must remain unknown in order for the play to continue.” Tom Cheetham, Green Man, Earth Angel, pg.36 The subtlety of the wind, can you grab hold of it? Can you pin it down and so know it? Or do we encounter it as experience? The psyche will ever elude our attempts to define it by our rational concepts. Just as we become confident in our firm grasp, it… -
The Sealed Vessel
30 Jun 2009 | 3:20 pmOne of the lessons I learned from the artist Deane Keller first, and it clearly applies to any analytic undertaking as well, is the importance of the sealed vessel. In analysis the clear analogy is to the alchemical vessel, which if not properly sealed will result in the spirit escaping from the bottle. I recall sharing with Deane one evening a vision of a poetic work I was formulating. My enthusiasm was electric. When he finally got a word in he questioned: should I be telling him? As you might imagine, he was correct. The “work” never launched. Does this tale sound familiar? Can… -
Traveling into contacts
29 Jun 2009 | 2:50 pmImage by Gary Hayes via Flickr How are you utilizing all the folks you exchange ideas with across the social media platforms? The number one difference from this corner is that no matter where I go these days, connecting with folks that I met first through this world is now a regular occurrence. Each time these exchanges translate into encounters, I get an amazing affirmation of the value of being active in this space. Each time I meet up with someone it changes the nature of the relationship in this space moving forward as well. It creates some texture in memory, fills in the blanks…
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Nourishing Relationships
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Support Helps Your Marriage Get Back on Track
3 Jul 2009 | 6:32 amSupport each other. Instead of focusing on the negatives or going your separate ways, spend time discussing what you want from one other. Think about what would demonstrate true emotional commitment to you. Prove that you are on each other's side by deciding to change your attitude and behavior. And begin to invest in your marriage's emotional bank account. Create excitement, pleasure and fun together - then take advantage of the dividends.You and your partner are individuals who each have a mind of your own. What you want may have changed since you first tied the knot. And the present… -
Conflict Resolution in Your Marriage
2 Jul 2009 | 7:11 amNeed some help with conflict resolution in your marriage?Limit your arguments. If the situation between you and your partner is tense, small annoyances can seem bigger than before. When you argue, allowing bad feelings to fester only makes it worse. Don't turn your quarrels into something more or attach your reactions to another issue. Agree that you will together explore the problems in your relationship. And spend time learning about conflict resolution, direct communication and active listening skills. There's a lot of information available through relationship workshops, on the Internet… -
The Challenge of Improving Your Marriage
1 Jul 2009 | 7:11 amAs you begin to work at improving your marriage, think back to when you first met your partner. Do you remember what originally attracted you to him? Was it a strong character, fierce independence, a decisive nature? Now, these qualities may suddenly be getting in the way of getting along. You may want to take a look at what has changed in your relationship so you can come to terms with your negative feelings. But that's not all there is to it. Try to recognize your own role in what's happening in your marriage. If you want to stay together and there's a glimmer of hope, accept the challenge… -
Financial Uncertainty can Trigger Marital Problems
30 Jun 2009 | 6:59 amAre you and your spouse worried in these times of financial uncertainty? During any economic crisis, couples have to face tough financial decisions. This can lead to an increase in stress and exacerbate problems that may already exist in your marriage. Identify what you are feeling. As a first step, write down the emotions that now regularly surface. What is happening between you and your partner when you are feeling sad, scared, overwhelmed, embarrassed or frustrated? Chances are you have emotions ranging from disappointment to anger, and these are constantly changing. Don't worry - this is… -
Jon and Kate on the Road to Divorce
29 Jun 2009 | 7:04 amThe headlines read: "Jon and Kate ready to litigate?" It was followed by confirmation that the Gosselins, parents of eight and partners in the TV reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8, plan to legally dissolve their marriage. The celebrity gossip machine and fans of pop culture have been speculating about this issue for months. The much publicized episode where they announced the break up of their 10 year marriage hit an all time rating high. Jon and Kate's physical separation has forced TLC to put production of the popular program on hiatus. You may not be accustomed to an endless stream of…
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Silver Planet
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The Divinity of Dogs
2 Jul 2009 | 3:58 pmThanks to my friend Melanie for this great clip by Ben Stein (Bueller? . . . Bueller . . . ?). As someone famous once said, “God, please allow me to be half as nice as my dog thinks I am.” By Kevin KneblPositive Alignment Blog -
Better Buttermilk Waffles
2 Jul 2009 | 12:35 pmIf you like Belgian-style waffles, this reduced-calorie version might be just what you’re looking for. -
The Long and Short of It
2 Jul 2009 | 10:53 amI have been following an interesting poem online. It’s a poetic effort using the newest forms of electronic communication—texting and social networking—to form a poem known as “The Longest Poem in the World.” The brainchild of Romanian Web developer Andre Gheorghe, it’s a Web site creating a gigantic poem of “found” words. read more -
Ever Been to Your State Attorney General’s Web Site?
2 Jul 2009 | 10:38 amYou need to visit your state attorney general’s Web site. Why? Because the sheer magnitude of scams and frauds being perpetrated on older adults has led state governments to reserve online resources just for victimized seniors. -
What’s Up with Life Extension?
1 Jul 2009 | 3:42 pmI watched Oprah this afternoon, and she and Dr. Oz featured strategies, techniques, and equipment to extend life. I understand wanting to live a healthier, happier, more meaningful life, but living to 125 or 150, just for the sake of living long, doesn’t make sense to me.read more
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Aging As a Spiritual Practice
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We Are All So Fragile
27 Jun 2009 | 3:28 pmWe are all so fragile. We are, first of all, so fragile physically. When we are born, we can’t even feed ourselves or survive without continuous attention. And throughout our lives there are so many things that can go wrong, but mostly do not. It is actually amazing that the incredible intricacy of body and [...] -
Mindfulness of Aging Part 3
20 Jun 2009 | 11:45 amI often say, paraphrasing my own teacher, that the purpose of Buddhist meditation is not to be calm, but to be real. Being real doesn’t exclude being calm, if that is what is happening. But being real is not some particular state of mind; it is the mind in accord with the actuality of things—“real [...] -
Mindfulness of Aging Part 2
10 Jun 2009 | 1:53 pmSo what do we do with our aging thoughts? How can we transform them from exercises in comparison and regret into more wholesome insights that nourish us? (If you are tuning in to this blog for the first time, read the last post, “Mindfulness of Aging part I”.) There are three parts to transforming mindfulness: clarity, [...] -
Mindfulness of Aging Part I
28 May 2009 | 4:43 pmIn this post I’d like to explore the practice of “Mindfulness of Aging.” Mindfulness is one of the basic practices in Buddhism, but the precise reasons why it is effective (particularly in chronic pain management) are not yet well understood. Mindfulness is sometimes characterized in Buddhist texts as “bare noting,” and is often coupled with [...] -
The Candle Flame Burns Just as Brightly
17 May 2009 | 6:10 pmA woman in her fifties recently told me about a dream she had had. In the dream she was at a party and saw a tall, attractive man in his early thirties standing alone with a drink in his hand. The woman went over to talk to the man; in the dream she was young [...]
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AOL: Retirement News
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Why Argue About Retirement? Keep Working...
2 Jul 2009 | 8:22 amIf you can't agree on whether to retire, when to retire, what to do after retirement or where to live in retirement, and you don't trust your spouse to know his butt from first base about managing your joint bank account, why would Fidelity suggest that people ought to talk more about these topics? Surely, it's clear that talking more can only make things worse. -
Employers Pull Back on 401(k) Matches
22 Jun 2009 | 6:11 am -
How He Made His First Million
8 Jun 2009 | 9:56 amWalletPop's Lan Nguyen chats with Robert P. Smith, author of "Riches Among the Ruins" (AMACOM), in a podcast about how he built his wealth in emerging markets. Smith, who fell into the business when he was in his 40s, talks about his adventures in Turkey, Nigeria and Russia, and shares his thoughts on what you need to be a successful investor in today's emerging markets. -
Top 5 Retirement Mistakes to Avoid
4 Jun 2009 | 8:30 amPreparing for retirement is no easy feat in the slumping economy. Even if you diligently stash money away for decades, one investment misstep can mean the difference between a relaxing retirement filled with days playing golf on the back nine and one that requires you to slave away at a job for years longer than anticipated. -
The New Dream Job Contest
1 Jun 2009 | 9:23 amPack your Dramamine: The tourist city of Orlando, home to seven of the most popular amusement parks on earth, is rolling out a job search for a couple who can take 67 days off to ride every ride, tour every attraction, get rubbed down at every spa, and generally explore every crevice (and line) of the Mecca of Mascots.
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AOL: 401(k)
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Never Borrow from Your 401(k)
30 Jun 2009 | 3:32 am -
Make the Most of Your 401(k)
30 Jun 2009 | 3:30 am -
New Math for IRA Savings
1 Apr 2009 | 12:14 pmA Roth IRA could be your new best friend in this scary investing environment if you use your tax-deferred earnings the right way (should you eventually have earnings) and now might be the best time to start fully funding it while your income is down. -
Can I Sue My Financial Broker?
27 Mar 2009 | 12:34 pmA WalletPop reader wants to know if there's any recourse with your financial investment broker if you've lost money. The Dolans offer a few situations where you may be able to have a case, and a few where you are out of luck. -
Compound Gains, Not Losses
23 Feb 2009 | 2:13 pmMarket sell-offs are bad enough. By fixing these common investing mistakes, you'll make sure difficult times aren't made worse.
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RetirementRevised
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Why target date funds face heat and probable reforms
1 Jul 2009 | 2:17 pmTarget date funds need to sharpen up their aim. These funds, which offer a way to put your 401(k) investing on cruise control, are taking a lot of heat due to the large losses suffered by some close-to-retirement investors in the market crash. At a Washington hearing last month, regulators threatened to impose new regulations and [...] -
Watch: Obama to meet Purpose Prize winners today
30 Jun 2009 | 8:11 amVia Encore.org: President Obama will meet today with social innovators, [...] -
Reader Q&A: IRA withdrawals and taxes
26 Jun 2009 | 1:41 pmQ: I am anticipating signing up for Social Security benefits late this year or early next year as I will soon be 62. I rolled my lump sum retirement over into an IRA. When I begin taking distribution from my IRA, will my Social Security benefit be affected, since I am not yet full retirement [...] -
The difference between healthspan and lifespan
24 Jun 2009 | 4:59 pmAs American lifespan rises, longevity risk has become a big topic, with much discussion revolving around concerns that we’ll outlive our money. Another interesting way of looking at the longevity challenge is the span of healthy years you’ll live–not just your overall lifespan. In this clip, noted speaker and author Joe Piscatella discusses the importance [...] -
Investors near retirement lag in recouping from crash
18 Jun 2009 | 7:28 amRetirement investors under the age of 30 participating in defined contribution plans are seeing their accounts bounce back at a much faster rate than over-55 investors who are near retirement, according to Mercer, the benefits consulting firm. Mercer analyzed its defined contribution data for participants under 30, and those over 55 from the end of 2007 [...]
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The Midlife Gals
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Take a Pill!
3 Jul 2009 | 7:49 am“I want to have sex,” she said. He replied, “Wait a minute, I’ll take my pill.” When did it come to this?? SHE’S the one who used to say, “Okay. I’ve taken my pill...let’s DO it!” Her pill was to make sure she didn’t produce offspring who would then say, “Okay. I’ve taken my pill.” Someone forgot to take a pill in that case. His response is further proof that there is a pill for everything...and everything for a pill.I take pills...not for protecting myself against an unwanted pregnancy...those days are long over. But, were I to get pregnant at THIS age, there’s… -
Queen for a Day
30 Jun 2009 | 8:43 amThe Midlife Gals love gay men. We just can’t help it. We were raised that way. With The Ancient One owning a very sophisticated art gallery out in the tumbleweeds of west Texas in the sixties, if you were gay in our town, you were drawn to her like a gorgeous moth to her fag hag flame. We called her gay friends, ‘Uncle’ This and ‘Uncle’ That. We didn’t know they weren’t really our flamboyant uncles until we came to know our real uncle whom we didn’t care for much, so we clung to Uncle This and That with all the love we’d been told one should have for an uncle.We have a gay… -
To Gift If Frazzled...
26 Jun 2009 | 9:36 amTGIF can mean a lot of things, and in this case, we’re talking about RE-gifting. Tell me that you’ve never re-gifted, and I’ll call you a liar...or a saint...or maybe too driven! Let’s face it, we’ve all received gifts whereby, after our initial shock and embarrassment for the GIVER because a tacky fake crystal giraffe is NOT reflective of the type of gift one should give another...We smile a fake, warm smile, and say, “Oh! I know EXACTLY where I’m going to put this (on my re-gift shelf in the garage). You SHOULDN’T have! (really).”TGIF happens when you’ve forgotten to… -
In Movie Mode
23 Jun 2009 | 7:02 amSalGal is in hog heaven! She’s co-starring in a small, independent movie being shot here in the A-Town, and I’ve never seen her so happy. You’d think that having to shave your head for a scene in a movie would be the most traumatic thing you’ve ever done. Pish Posh! They tried the ‘skull-cap’ thingy in the makeup chair on Sal’s head, but she just looked like a twisted version of Bozo the Clown, so she said, “What the f**k! Shave it! Authenticity, right? And, with apologies to all who HAVE to shave their heads (for whatever reason), she now looks just like she’s had her last… -
Happy Father’s Day Daddy
19 Jun 2009 | 7:13 amI love the word, Daddy. It just sounds like someone you would love. Of course, I tend to think about things as if they are chapters from a good southern novel, so a Daddy for me connotes a big, strong, handsome man in uniform in an old black and white Polaroid from 1943. He’s with his Navy buddies on a crowded ship in the middle of the Pacific. They’re off duty, drunk, smoking and playing poker on an overturned bucket from their bunks below deck.I picture a Daddy tying his little girl’s shoe laces and teaching her how to make the loop go under and through. He is patient and funny. The…
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Menopause Mafia
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An Imperfect Fit
23 Jun 2009 | 1:30 pmIf you know me at all there are two things you probably figured out pretty quickly. One, I have an addiction to shoes. Two, I have a tendency to be both stubborn and hopeful at the same time. Now, lets combine these random traits with a trip to Nordstroms where I found a fabulous pair of red patent leather pumps named “Girlie” from my favorite designer Stuart Weisman. On sale for 75% off. I couldn’t believe this was happening, I had been dreaming about these shoes for quite some time! There was just one problem, these shoes were a size 7. I wear a size 7 1/2. I asked if… -
My Best Frenemy
10 Jun 2009 | 6:20 pmHave you ever had a person in your life that liked to push you in front of the proverbial bus? You know, a friend who seems to enjoy your discomfort a little too much? The perfect friend on the outside but some little part of them, either because of low self esteem or jealousy, loves to torture you. A frenemy. Okay, before you start to give me crap and ask the question “Why would you put up with someone like that?” lets think about our relationships with our sisters. We all have those periods when we are frenemies! Here’s why I’m bring this up…. Lately… -
The Day Job
2 Jun 2009 | 1:07 pmIf you wonder why posts come sporadically here at the Menopause Mafia it’s because of my day job. As much as I would like to do nothing but write for the MM I still have to pay the bills, so I’m at the old grindstone (which in my case looks a lot like a computer), quite a few hours a week. Now, that being said- it’s a cool website I work for during the day (and night and on weekends if something goes wrong) it gives you a simplified look at the news by city. Headlines, weather, movie times, lottery numbers, lowest gas prices and local events all in one place. It makes… -
Paid Retail? No!
24 May 2009 | 8:10 amLike to shop online but hate paying retail? Retail Me Not is a site that has online coupon codes and print coupons. I use this site for everything from pizza ordered online to books and electronics. Just enter a store or website name in their search bar and all of the possible coupons/discounts will show up. This is a site you can used all the time and with impunity! This site is populated with coupon codes that users upload. So after you get a look around share the coupon codes you find in your email box everyday and keep this site going! -
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
7 May 2009 | 5:31 pmI have known for quite some time, as I’m sure you have, that the male ego is the most fragile thing in the universe. What we might not realize is how insecure a man can feel or how his self worth is determined by his ability to provide AND his woman’s attraction to him. The two big revelations for me were about men being “Visual” and that men are emotional about sex. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn about the inner lives of men will help the Mafioso’s understand what’s going through his head and why some seemingly innocent remark we make may set him off. This is a nice…
