When Kate Blogs

The Word

2012-02-07T10:22:00.001-08:00

In the beginning, there was the Word. The Word was powerful. The Word was awesome. The Word was frightful.

In the course of time, the Word manifested within the Storyteller. The Storyteller transmitted the message of the Word.

The Storyteller became scribe, became writer, became playwright, became prophet, became journalist, became scholar, became communicator, became blogger, and so on...

Words are dynamic, powerful, awesome. Playing with words is playing with fire, if you don't know what you are doing you can get burned. Playing with Words can lead to tragic ends: Ernest Hemingway, Sylvia Plath, John O'Brien, Thomas Heggen, Hunter Thompson, & Virginia Woolf. Even those who make it through the trial by fire and profoundly changed.

Dare to play with words, do you? If the Word is in you, the Word demands to be spoken, heard, written, and read.

Laugh At The Absurd

2012-01-29T09:01:00.001-08:00

Alice in Wonderland leaves her home by following the rabbit down the rabbit hole. She finds herself in Wonderland where all things seem contrary-wise but ultimately there is definition between the wise and the absurd.

Alice finds that her inner self, with kindness and good humor, is able to navigate through the nonsense and find her true self. Much to the chagrin of the anonymous antagonist, she becomes Alice in real life too.

The lesson for Alice remains ‘to thine own self be true.’

Lament of Customer Service

2012-01-20T13:52:00.001-08:00

Long before anyone around now the general business practice was full service to the customer. The first self-service grocery store was patented in 1917. It’s been downhill for the customer ever since.

Full service grocery stores gathered the orders from the customer’s list presenting or delivering the order to the customer’s specification.

Plus for business: controlled inventory; Plus for economy: employed people; Plus for customer: product and service.

Self-service grocery stores offer a self-push cart for customers to shop then present the selection to the cashier. Recent developments have store owners eliminating cashiers in promotion of self-check-out machines. Upon leaving the store, the customer loads the vehicle and delivers their order home.

Plus for business: lower payroll

Minus: for business: limited control on inventory, fewer customers and smaller sales; Minus for economy: fewer jobs; Minus for customer: DIY, DIY limits options; DIY=not a valued customer

Phone service in its infancy employed a multitude of operators who provided directory assistance and assistance making calls. Today, automated service directs callers to the internet. The internet provides dubious information in a helter-skelter arrangement which makes finding a local business or the family down the street virtually impossible.

Plus for business: lower payroll

Minus for business: failure to meet primary purpose of service, ‘people connecting with people’, fewer customers for the product; Minus for the economy: fewer jobs, fewer business and social connections; Minus for customer: DIY limits options

When gas stations offered full-service in the better interest of the customer, they employed attendants who pumped the gas, checked the oil, washed the windows and offered suggestions for needed servicing.

Plus: lower payroll

Minus: spillage, equipment damage, smaller sales; Minus for the economy: fewer people able to afford driving, travel, etc.; Minus for the customer: Ruined clothing, lesser maintained cars.

Calculate the pluses & the minuses, businessmen should take note of the balance sheet from the customer's perspective.

Customer surveys indicate a decline of brand-loyalty. The reason most customers give for not offering loyalty to a company or store is they don’t feel valued.

Scenario:

Suppose you are a customer:
Do you feel valued when you have to serve yourself through a gauntlet of phone selection menus?
Do you feel valued if a person answers the phone & connects you to the correct person or department?
Prefer texting? That’s okay: Can a knowledgeable employee respond?

What less customer service says to the customer: We don’t care if you shop with us. We don’t care if you buy our product. So the customer goes elsewhere.

The short sweet answer: Be polite to the customers. Oh, and have someone answer the phone.

My favorite companies answer the phone, respond to emails and provide service and products in a timely fashion with employees who know the product and can offer advice for a better experience. I'm brand loyal to those companies. I wish there were more like them.

The Curtain

2012-01-14T09:23:00.001-08:00

My gift to youth
Is just the truth

Life is raw
From what we saw

The war for oil
Rips the soul

From the chest
To claim the best

And leave the rest
Gone is the zest

To hunt for love
Pray to above

They sink in muck
Becoming stuck

In the lie
Wishing to die

Because what’s true
The real of you

Is still inside
And not behind

The curtain

Content Theft

2012-01-10T13:57:00.001-08:00

When does research becomes content theft? There is a high threshold to prove that your creative content has been stolen.

True, we are capable of thinking similar thoughts. In fact, people working on the same topic often come up with similar ideas and create similar content. However, there is usually a difference in the story line at some point.

True, using the same source documents or reference material can lead to similar or even the same conclusion.

In the end there are goodies and baddies. The goodies are creative. The baddies are thieves.

How the goodies win. The baddies are exposed and the copied content is taken down. The goodies get credit, money, fame and live happily ever after.

How the baddies win. The goodies are so disappointed that they stop creating.

Stop Content Theft. "Dislike" obviously stolen material. Report the thieves to Google and to You Tube.

Just like in the old westerns, we want the goodies to win.

Links

Creative America - Action Group to stop content theft.
www.creativeamerica.org

Google Report
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/spamreport

You Tube Legal Issues
http://support.google.com/youtube/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=140536

Venus: Goddess of Love

2012-01-04T15:57:00.000-08:00

Goddess of Love, Pleasure and Procreation, Venus was the most beautiful of the goddesses. She and Aphrodite have intertwined into virtually the same goddess covering love, marriage, love and fertility.

Worshipped for fertility, Venus is married to Hephaestus, the god of skilled artisans. He worked hard and neglected Venus. She found love with Mars.

Sacred signs of Venus include water and roses. These symbols equate the goddess with her origin and her purpose. She was born from the water. Roses are the symbol of love.

Water is a feminine element used to counter the masculine element of fire. The elements seek balance, male/female to fire/water.

In the story of the Trojan War, Paris prefers the gifts of Venus over Juno & Diana. The gift of love was highly valued and the cults created to worship Venus testified to the lengths the ancients would go to honor and receive love.

Typical to Roman mythology, the Roman lineage came directly from the gods. In later myths Venus is noted as the mother to Romulus, the founder of Rome.

Medusa: the Gorgon

2011-12-29T10:43:00.001-08:00

Medusa the Gorgon is typically accepted as one of three daughter of the god Phorcys and Keto. The three sisters were considered immortal. With beauty beyond comparison, the three sisters were cursed by the jealousy of others.

Known for her fabulous beauty, Medusa received the wrath-filled transformation from Athena who cursed her after Poseidon copulated with her in the temple of Athena. Some stories speak of Poseidon’s affection gone bad: some say he was obsessed, some say to the point of rape. No matter what the story, Athena felt disrespected by the couple and took out her anger on Medusa.

Snakes replaced Medusa’s beautiful hair, her eyes and facial features became serpentine, as well as her lower body transforming into a serpents tail. Still many of her attributes were venerable. Ancient Greeks placed engraved gorgons on doors and shields for protection and as a symbol of fertility.

The gorgon lived just outside the entrance to the Underworld. To meet them was to tempt doom. Equal with the danger was the healing powers of Gorgon blood. To sprinkle blood taken from the right side of a Gorgon could bring the dead back to life.

Medusa was thought to be immortal until the battle with Perseus. Perseus armed with Herme’s sythe and Athena’s shield beheaded Medusa. Pegasus and Chrysaor, her sons by Poseidon, were born from her blood.

Hit Wall = Turn

2011-12-23T20:52:00.001-08:00

Plus or minus I’m a dreamer who through the course of time became an academic who through the course of time returned to dreaming. My natural state is somewhere between uncomfortable reality and utopia.

Many years ago I had a chance moment to talk with someone who was wise or a wise one spoke through him.

Bobby: "Keep Moving Forward."

Me: "But what if I hit a wall?"

Bobby: "Turn"

Me: "Which way?"

Bobby: "Until you can move forward again."

Me: "Huh."

Since that day I've kept moving, revising the plan called life as I go but ever forward, even if it seems sideways.

Wild for Wilde

2011-12-18T20:49:00.001-08:00

The writings of Oscar Wilde have always been among my favorite. The plays are witty with fast-paced language. The audience of the Victorian era both wished to be entertained and shocked.

Oscar Wilde may be the most noted celebrity of Victorian Times. He was famous for being himself. His dress and witty conversation at parties made him famous before he had produced much. Imagine what he could have done with social media!

His writings challenged the standards of the day. He asked the audience to look at those issues which were hypocritical and did it in a humorous way. He lived as he wrote, with the freedom of the thoughtful, upper middle class. What he lacked was the carte blanche of the titled English upper class which was his undoing.

Beginning as a poet, he wrote the most charming children’s stories including the Happy Prince, followed by his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Thereafter, he focused on plays which brought him much notoriety. While Lady Windemere’s Fan and Salome were outrageous by Victorian standards, the audience loved Wilde for his blunt honesty in what was a most coy and indirect society. The Ideal Husband and the Importance of Being Earnest continuing with his theme of true versus covert identity are the two plays most often performed. Most of his works are regularly cited in colleges, his plays performed regularly and much of his work converted into television and movie scripts.

Without a doubt, Wilde’s writings speak to the heart of modern society and we love him. We can only hope the bigotry that gave speed to his early death will be left behind, opening the opportunity for pure celebration of a truly great writer.
The Wilde legacy lives on in his grandson Merlin Holland and his son, Lucien.

Picture from
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01996/Oscar-Wilde_1996173b.jpg

Spinach Artichoke Dip

2011-12-13T16:21:00.001-08:00

Ingredients

1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, drained and thaw
1 (14 ounce) jar artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon chopped basil
salt and pepper to taste

In a glass bowl, mix all the ingredients together. Grease a baking dish. Spoon mixture into baking dish. Sprinkle some mozzarella or Parmesan on top. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips or bread.

Caught Smiling

2011-12-02T12:53:00.000-08:00

It happened again today, I was caught smiling.

I was talking with a woman with whom I'm acquainted. She commented, "You're smiling."

"Am I?"I asked.

"Yes," she said, "and you're talking about your 3 teenagers."

I thought a moment, "Oh, well, that's because I like them."

Thankful for Toddler Days

2011-11-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

Toddlers are wonderful wow little people. There are few things as delightful, or tiring as a day with an energetic toddler.

Toddler To-Do List:

Chasing a ball
Blowing bubbles
Running with the dogs
Playing at the park
Going to the zoo
Drawing with sidewalk chalk
Digging in the dirt
Walking a nature trail
Running in the yard
Batting
Pulling a wagon
Climbing up the slide
Sliding down the slide
Running through the sprinklers
Swinging
Riding the merry-go-round
Jumping in a puddle
Pushing the stroller
Climbing the jungle-gym
Singing and marching to “We’ve off to see the Wizard.”
Drumming
Walking in the museum
Running to feed the ducks

This is only a partial list of a typical toddler day. What wonderful things are on your toddler to-do list?

My toddlers were capable of going, and going, and going, then falling asleep in an instant, >snap<, then awake for more! I had thought I was going to fall over exhausted when they were 1, 3 & 5. We all made it. Now, when I see toddlers I think of all the fun energy of running, running, running.

Legacy of Babe Ruth

2011-11-19T21:31:00.001-08:00

"Don't let the fear of striking out hold you back."
~ Babe Ruth

George Herman Ruth, Jr. was born February 6, 1895 in Baltimore Maryland. He was raised in a rough neighborhood until his father placed him in an orphanage at age 7 where he remained until he reached adulthood. At St. Mary’s Orphanage he progressed with the regular curriculum, learned the skill of shirt making and played baseball.
In 1913 he was noticed and was signed to his first baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox in 1914. He played Major League baseball on three teams throughout his career: the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Boston Braves from 1914 – 1935.

Career
Babe started wtih the Boston Red Sox in 1914. The New York Yankees bought the Bambino in 1919. He was a natural hitter significantly contributing to the Yankees’ seven pennants and four wins at the World Series.

Stats
Ruth’s life time batting average was 342, with 714 home runs, 2,873 hits and 2,217 runs batted in.

Personal Life
Babe Ruth was known for his Roaring Twenty lifestyle and was famous for his generosity. He was married twice. His first marriage was to Helen Woodford who died in a house-fire. His second marriage was to actress Claire Hodgson. He had two adopted daughters.

Legacy
In the promotion of excellence Major League Baseball gives the Babe Ruth Award to the best performing player in the World Series.

Mrs. Ruth and his daughters worked tirelessly after his death to create a foundation to memorialize Babe Ruth's life and career. They purchased the property known as Babe Ruth's Birthplace and renovated it into a Museum. The women selected items that defined Babe Ruth. Over the years other baseball memorabilia was contributed. Now, the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum and Foundation also houses the archives for the Baltimore Colts.

Read more:
http://baberuth.com

Life Style

2011-11-09T20:37:00.001-08:00

Always amazing to me is how some people choose to hold themselves back from happiness. The joy in life comes from living at the level you live. This is where happiness is found; when you live at the correct level for your actions.

This is a large topic because there are differences as we grow older, differences if we mature or stay immature. The differences impact the level of happiness we experience on a daily basis.

Innate to our human nature is the desire to be happy. Happiness is the proper state. When we are happy, we know this. People who experience unhappiness for a long period of time become depressed. Depression is a dysfunction. Even doctors realize that depression is something to be corrected. Although there are ways to correct depression and unhappiness that have long range effects rather than short term outcomes.

Happiness is the place where we realize that everything in life is just as it should be. We find ourselves smiling for no reason at all.

The question for people who realize they want to be happy and that at the moment they are not is how do we get happy, to this place of happiness? It is an inward journey but the journey happens when we practice principles and take action in our lives.

Moments on the Path of Solid Happiness: http://solidhappiness.com

Conscious Parenting

2011-11-03T15:03:00.001-07:00

“You’re so calm,” she accused.

“Sometimes,” I answered.

“But you have three teenagers,” she studied my face.

“Yes,” I smiled, “they’re really fun to be around. I like them.”

“How did you do that?” she exclaimed.

“It’s a long story.” I said.

When we decided to have children, I made a statement that seemed innocent enough at the time but it was a pivotal moment in my life: “I want to raise them.” I hadn’t realized, we were stepping onto the path of conscious parenting. The philosophy demands a good deal of soul searching and choosing to expand the parent’s (my & my partner's) consciousness for the benefit of the children.

Contrary to the standard, we made parenting decisions based on desired outcome. Our goal was to form a family with intelligent, healthy, compassionate children. All decisions included the consideration ‘what’s best for the individual as they are a member of this family.’ Once you think about it, it really is a simple way of going about life, especially if you’re a parent.

Babies cry. They cry for a reason. It’s the parent’s job to find the reason and fix it. The check list is short: Is baby hungry? Is baby messy? Is baby hurt? Is baby lonely? Is baby tired? Contrary to expert advice, ignoring a crying baby is not okay. Besides, a crying baby is irritating, I prefer the cooing, cuddly kind. I discovered that when a child’s needs are met, they rarely cry.

I was known as an over-packer, even for short trips. A fully stocked diaper-bag, snacks, Sippy cups, a small cooler, extra change of clothes, blankets, toys, books and a first-aid kit. Why? Because when you have kids, things happen. My kids were happy campers because mom was mostly prepared.

The toddler years: I love the toddler years. It’s a really fun time because the entire world is WOW! Everything is new for the young ones. The parent’s job is simple. Toddlers want to explore. Parents need to ensure a safe environment. We decided to forgo the coffee table because rolling, crawling, walking, summersaults, building, and dancing, are just too important to be impaired by living room furniture.

One day, another toddler mom commented on my lack of trips to the emergency room. I never liked going to the emergency room. The anxiety and related indigestion that comes with hospital visits never really appealed to me. So I avoided the whole issue with a liberal use of “NO.” I observed that most “accidents” happened when parents were inattentive. So I watched them and stop them from doing things that would inevitably cause injury. Kids don't need to get injured to learn a lesson.

Elementary years: Many people were watching how this conscious parenting thing was going to go once the kids were in school. We reviewed our own school experiences; we reviewed current data about schools today. The evidence was overwhelming, arbitrary institutional rules prevented children from a variety of behaviours we felt stronly about encouraging in our children. The list included: No being allowed to attend to bodily functions in a timely manner, not being allowed to eat when hungry, segregation encouraged ageism, and there were limits placed on compassionate interactions. All these issues were counterproductive to our goal. There is no useful purpose to being publicly humiliated or slammed into a row of lockers. Large or small, every former school student has unnecessary scars. So we opted otherwise.

Teen years: Clearly, I wasn’t thinking when they were babies because when they were 1, 3 & 5, it didn’t occur to me that someday it would be 16,18 & 20. Of course, I could go on & on about all the things I love about them, the fun things they do; the interesting things they learn and share with me and each other. They make me laugh every day. That’s our experience with teen years.

But the question: “How did you do that?” is best answered by saying that raising kids, like living my life is one small decision after another.

http://www.consciouslyparenting.com/

http://www.namastepublishing.com/products/book/conscious-parent-book-shefali-tsabary/9781897238455

Part goes to Girl with Costume

2011-10-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

I love acting.

As a small child, many of us experience time on stage in school productions, choir or award ceremonies. I participated in these activities and enjoyed them.

But the experience that set everything apart was Hansel & Gretel. It was a queer version, written by a well-intentioned teacher that put a fairy godmother in the story. I was the that fairy godmother, probably the only fairy godmother Hansel & Gretel will ever have.

I looked and felt like the good witch, Glinda, in the Wizard of Oz, but the fairy version of course. The gown was made from one of my mother’s old dresses and embellished with sequins and ruffles. The wings were draped with gauze. My wand was caked with sparkly glitter that flew through the air anytime I waved it. It was magical.

The experience was profound for this ham-bone. The rest of the school year I was a fairy, floating around the play ground granting wishes, permission to use the restroom or go to the water fountain. The authority’s reprimand for overstepping my bounds is another story.

As much as I’m sure I was right for the part, that my acting ability surpassed the majority of my class, the truth about that part was that I had a costume. Well, I said I had a costume.

I showed my mother the note given by my teacher requiring the costume in a few weeks for dressed rehearsals. She said no. True to form, when my dad got home, I told him that I really wanted to be the fairy godmother. He asked my mother to take some time away from my toddler sisters to make a costume. She did. And all was right in my world.

I got the part.

This memory hadn’t come to mind until today when skimming through the audition announcements I found:

BRITISH QUEEN

Female, British accent, must own a costume worn by the British Queen.

So the truth about the theater remains: The part goes to the person with the costume.

Ben Franklin's Post

2011-10-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Franklin, the great philosopher, inventor and American patriot would likely develop a new vision to encourage and maintain the tradition of the post office and yet, conform or most probably exceed the demand for cost effective, customer service.

Mandated by Congress to serve every person with an address in the Union, the United States Post Office has through mismanagement after the privatization during the 1980s managed its way into a money-pit. Core service-first values were lost in bids to compete with retailers for collectables. Coloring books and other give-away items cost the Post Office millions of dollars in a bizarre bid to entice customers to use the service: the only standard letter service available.

Still, USPS operates better than most corporations with local delivery in one to two days. Other services require a week or more for to the door service.

Certainly, in a bid to look customer friendly, corporations would like the USPS to just go away. The fact that they encourage customers to receive email or online statements instead of printing saves them millions. Customers are left to download and print statements using printer, ink and paper. The cost cutting adds to bottom line profit of the corporation but increases costs to customers. Having USPS makes the large corporations look as cheap as they are providing substandard service to their revenue stream.

USPS could develop an innovative way to decrease cost to the citizens and provide better service. Perhaps, cease to offer volume discounts to the corporations who seek its demise.

In line with his historical personality, Ben Franklin would be pleased to find his post office providing 21st century service beating the battle of the powers that be (in his time, the monarchy – in our time, the corporations) to provide communication between the citizenry at a reasonable cost for the service.

Our forefathers were greatly independent of authority promoting the common good for citizenry as a priority. They were cautious of large organizations, even their own government with a recommendation for a complete overhaul, not just revision, every 20 years. Traditional organizations such as the Post Office were mandated to meet the needs of the people of the Nation which was why it was (until the 1980s), subsidized by the government.

United States Postal Service, Success or Failure…only the future will tell.

Restaurant Tweets

2011-10-12T11:11:00.001-07:00

Attracting customers to a new restaurant takes more than just good food. Everything counts: food, service, location, parking, atmosphere and marketing. Marketing is more important than ever. If people don’t know about a restaurant, how can they get there?

The savvy restauranteur or manager knows that marketing is increasingly more important. The more people talk (or tweet) about the restaurant, the more will walk through the door. Word of mouth is very important to keep patrons coming back but how does a restaurant start to get the word out?

New restaurants have an added challenge of getting all their information to their perspective clientele. If the restaurant is new, how do the restaurant owner and manager get reviewed, develop excitement and create the thriving business? The answer is branding.

Branding experts work to increase the number of “views” on websites and advertisements. Increasing the number of times a restaurant is mentioned directly effects the number of customers. Including good reviews in a marketing campaign or on websites for restaurants is more important than ever. People do take the time to scroll through reviews to find out about the food and the service.

Three simple steps will increase business.

Step One: Get people to notice the restaurant
Step Two: Create excitement for the dining experience
Step Three: Provide such an excellent experience that customers consider it an event!

Consider all online branding to be the 21st century equivalent to signs and balloons of the last century.

Thank customers by giving them something extra. Thank your branding expert for increasing your exposure. And thank yourself for understanding it takes a team to create an excellent dining experience.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

2011-10-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

Shell Shock is not just a First World War condition, but is seen in modern day soldiers. Shell Shock, also called Combat Stress Reaction, Battle Fatigue, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Neurosis is an anxiety-based disorder most commonly caused by combat stress.

Shell Shock was first identified by an over activation of the startle reaction. There are three components to the set of symptoms: reactions, trouble sleeping and emotional disturbance.

In the first segment of symptoms, loud noises, quick motion and sudden bright lights may evoke an overreaction, jump or startled jerk. In the second segment, sleep disturbances may include an inability to fall asleep, nightmares or battle dreaming. In the third segment, irritability and snap anger can lead to unintended reactionary violence.

The term Shell Shock was first used by doctors to describe the intense symptoms of returning solders after the First World War in those that would otherwise be considered mentally stable.

Depending on the country and the particular war, the psychiatric community has referred to post-war emotional reactions in a variety of ways. The symptoms include all those described as Shell Shock but may include more symptomology and rate the degree of particular symptoms.

Russian doctors called the symptoms Traumatic Neurosis. They were among the first recognize the mental trauma resulting in autonomic responses to either traumatic combat or prolonged combat stressors.

The diagnosis of Combat Stress Reaction was popularized for military compensation claims after World War II included symptoms depression or melancholy as well as the jerking reflex. Many soldiers appeared to be deep in thought until startled from their mournful contemplation.

Another term for Shell Shock was Battle Fatigue added lethargy to the list of indicators. Returning soldiers with slowness of thought and reaction time (except when startled) as well as difficulty with prioritizing or creating a daily routine were diagnosed with this variant after World War II and other subsequent combat venues.

Since the Vietnam War ended, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder became the popular diagnoses for soldiers returning from combat. This diagnosis has undergone a redefinition to include anyone who has undergone a traumatic stress and exhibits enough of the symptoms to fit the category. For the purposes of military compensation claims Post-traumatic Stress Disorder has recently been given a particular time frame which limits the most intense symptoms for 90 – 120 day duration. After which the medical community has deemed the most appropriate term: Shell Shock.

It is not uncommon for returning soldiers to exhibit some symptoms of Shell Shock to a greater or lesser degree for the remainder of their lives. For this reasons military compensation claims should cover the cost treatment and provide the income to reduce daily stress so the soldiers have the time required to recover from their honorable, yet traumatic service.

Shell Shock by any other name includes an intense jump or jerk reaction to what would otherwise be common movements, sounds or lights within daily living. The added stress and anxiety creates a physical, involuntary reaction activating the fight or flight response which in all likelihood saved their lives in battle but creates social difficulties in civilian life.

If someone you know suffers from Shell Shock, there is an increased chance their diagnosis will be termed PTSD or Depression. With corrective therapy it is possible to overcome many of the symptoms and return to a functioning member of society.

** Thanks to the National Archive for the Photo of WWI soldiers crossing a bridge (c) 1918. http://www.archives.gov/

GMC Died for Me

2011-09-28T09:31:00.001-07:00

From time to time, life gives us curve balls. In my case, the curve was on a mountain road and the ball was a Jeep sliding out of control across the center divider and into the front end of my truck.

I could tell you the story of the ride to the hospital. I could tell you the story of the real cost of uninsured motorists. But I choose to tell you the story of the truck.

Selecting the GMC truck off the lot was an exciting day. The detail guys just finished vacuuming the carpet; the truck would never again be quite as pristine. The commitment to the payment was a biggy, even though this story pre-dates the early 21st century Depression-era.

The GMC transported my family, got me to work, and toted the groceries, dogs & supplies. Gas milage was as expected and the overall cost of maintenance was within budget. Of course, the price gas was in the $1.50 - $2.00 range. The CPA and I agreed, this was a good purchase. With a stroke of luck and lots of hard work, the truck fell into the asset column.

Until that fateful day, I hadn’t given much thought to the safety features. Until that day, I hadn’t thought about what a downward moving Jeep could do to my Sierra pick-up. Until that day, I hadn’t thought about the auto designers & engineers. Until that day, I hadn’t thought of how government safety regulations might save my life. I had only thought I drove a pretty truck.

My pretty GMC truck gave its life that day to save mine. I’m grateful.

Autumn Changes

2011-09-18T09:26:00.001-07:00

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf's a flower. ~ Albert Camus

Perhaps it's programmed in our human DNA or just a coincidence but Autumn brings changes to our situation, to our psyche. Summer, a time of activity, productivity and fun draws to a close. Autumn is a time of harvest. Traditionally, we prepare for the winter.

Opportunity comes in the quiet moments of Autumn mornings. It provides time to reflect on our position and what we need to do to make it through another winter. Moments of reflection used to motivate bring us to new levels of understanding, work to enhance our experience of the Harvest.

Celebrations through the millennia include gratitude for the abundance we find, for the promise of a warm hearth and home through the cold months and for camaraderie we've found through our summertime actions.

Moving forward with the flow of the season cycle keeps the balance in our lives. Including those who would like to join us brings delight in new ways. Placing effort and energy toward the solutions puts the dilemma of the moment in perspective.

Life is the promise of new and wonderful things ahead.

Check out a new and wonderful project, Solid Happiness at http://SolidHappiness.com Click to the blog for a 10 second thought-of-the-day.

Yummy, Sun Butter!

2011-09-10T14:53:00.001-07:00

Sun Butter

Sunflowers like other weeds that yield food have a history of bring esthetic value to an otherwise dreary area. The sunflower has the habit of turning up in unusual places, sometimes unwanted but often to the delight of children and Nature’s admirers.

The Sunflower is native to the Americas, there is archeological evidence of Sunflower use dating to 2600B.C. It did not traveling to Europe until the 16th Century where it became immensely popular in the 18th Century.

As an annual, the sunflower grows best in moist fertile soil with heavy mulch. It grows best in full sun. Traditional gardens grow sunflowers within the combination of beans, corn , squash and sunflowers.

As a food, the sunflower seed is processed, roasted and salted. A favorite food in Germany, sunflower seeds are made into Sun Butter, similar to peanut butter. The seeds are a good source of protein.

Notes about Sunflowers:
In the US, Kansas is the sunflower state.
One of Van Gogh’s most recognizable paintings is Sunflowers.

Visionary Howard Hughes

2011-09-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

http://howardhughescarroll.blogspot.com/
Born December 24, 1905, Howard Hughes was among the great visionaries who made the United States a great country. Granted he had personality quirks but what he did for America should be a blueprint to innovation and forward movement into a better future.

With the spirit for a great inventor, Howard Hughes dared to build experimental aircraft moving aviation to single wing planes, then to aerodynamic designs of the sleek aircraft we have today. Daring to buck the status quo, he sought to improve flight by hiring the best of the best and paying them particularly well often doubling their pay. He found that happy employees were able to produce remarkable innovations.

So forward thinking were the scientists and engineers brought together by Howard Hughes that we can only stand in awe of the company moving from rudimentary aircraft to Hughes Galileo Probe.

Read more about

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_D-2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_XF-11

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-4_Hercules

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIM-120_AMRAAM

http://www.mrc.uidaho.edu/entryws/presentations/Papers/bienstock_pioneer%20venus%20and%20galileo%20probe%20history-final.pdf

Picture from http://howardhughescarroll.blogspot.com/

English Tea Quilt

2011-08-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

My latest quilt is complete. I call it “English Tea.”

After selecting the material, cutting the fabric was one day. Sewing the quilt top was one day. Selecting the boarder fabric and adding was one day. Quilting was one day. Binding was one day. It was a total of five days work for this beautiful quilt.

The combining of fabrics to create a quilt is fabric art, an American women’s tradition. Privileged I’ve been to share a bit of my quilting experience with the next generation of girls who are interested in learning about the art, and the skills required. As with all women’s work, this too is undervalued and teaching a dying art brings nothing but smiles on the faces of the girls who conquer the skill and create their own fabric art.

Book Review: The Evolution of the American Dream

2011-08-19T12:50:00.001-07:00

Title: The Evolution of the American Dream: How the Promise of Equal Opportunity became a Quest for Equal Results
Author: Bob Skandalaris with Amber Clark
2011: Auburn Hills, MI: Pembrook Publishing
Hardcover: pages 296

Bob Skandalaris provides a nice overview the history of the American Dream. He sets out the historical perspective from the New World to the 21st Century, what it is to dream the American Dream versus what it is to attain it. In short, the American Dream was within attainment for the average American in the 1940s -1950s. Since that time, it’s become increasingly difficult for subsequent generations to attain the dream as the dream is increasingly financial expensive. In the end, the author blames the common person for the dilemma even though he laid out the historical facts to take the ending in a different direction.

In the beginning, immigrants in the 1600s were looking for the New World, a place to make their name and bring back or create wealth. Most immigrants found a difficult and short life.

As the colonies came into existence, subsidy from the home country was vital in the outcome of the immigrants’ success. While there was room in the new land for business and expansion resources were required to build the infrastructure. Thoughtful men began to understand the resources of the New World were ripe for the picking and export back to the home land and investors.

Freedom and Justice in theory came from the Enlightenment movement started in Scotland. The movement spread around the globe with great speed especially considering the time required for correspondence. The time was right for men to use their minds to improve not only their own condition but to guarantee rights to each man.

The Gilded Age built wealth in a way that was never seen before. The number of men who came to disregard the enlightenment premise of fairness to all came to find that freedom for the rich allowed them to collect wealth for the express purpose to manipulate markets for a better personal position without regard for others or society.

Reinventing the Dream came as the general public tired of the few disregarding society at the expense of the many. The many began to come together to require the few to pay their proportional portion to the workers and the government. This was done through gathering and union negotiations and government regulations by ethical men (at least in comparison to the Robber Barons).

The Good Life was found through the promise of fair employment, social security and a guaranteed chance at future generations attaining at least as much as their parents. The Dream of education and home ownership increased. Americans worked harder to attain. Women joined men in the work place. Consumerism increased and the top few percent of people enjoyed the benefits of a happy society and increased productivity.

With the Reagan Revolution society changed the thought that anyone and everyone was worthy an unending share of the American Dream without personal effort. While the examples of fraudulent activities were few, the media created the thought that neighbors and others didn’t deserve the government help they requests. End result the 90% tax during the Eisenhower Administration which built American was set to decrease the burden on the richest in America and increase taxes on the middle and lower classes. With the propaganda that fair tax meant equal percentage of income tax regardless of the echelon of the taxpayer, the effect was a drastic decrease in government income which resulted in fewer regular jobs and less taxes. Twenty years the country was in serious trouble with only a dot com bubble to shield the population from the truth.

The last few chapters outline the austerity plan which blames the poor for being poor. It also asks the question to the middle class why should you be worth food, housing and health care?

While I liked historical context of the book, I profoundly disagree with the direction and questions the book takes at the end. It would serve the reader better to ask questions about the solution rather than questions that lay blame with the average person outside the realm of responsible party in the larger American economic field. The countless sums of money lost by the average person in the loss of home values, the loss of employment, the loss of retirement funds, the increase in energy costs, the increase in financial fees, the increase in food, and the increase in health care costs while bankers and investment people thrive hardly supports the supposition that the average person is to blame.

Rich immigrants come to America, buy houses, cars, and businesses. The American Dream is available and for sale to the rich of the world. The question needs to be: is the American Dream available for the less fortunate, the homeless, the tired, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free who are already here? If so, how does America restructure to offer the Dream to the average person again? If not, who’s responsible and what do we do without a dream or hope?

Book Review: The Whole Brain Path to Peace

2011-08-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

Title: The Whole-Brain Path to Peace: The Role of Left and Right Brain Dominance in the Polarization and Reunification of America

Author: James Olson

Publisher: Origin Press, PO Box 151117, San Rafael, CA 94915

2011: 235 pages, Hard cover.

James Olsen is a former farmer and Christian church deacon from Missouri. Beginning with a conservative Christian point of view, he strives to use science and Eastern philosophies to blend a new perspective of integrative thought into a unique path to peace.

The book is divided into three parts: Universal Fundamentals Who We Are and What We See, Theory: How Perspective and Dominance Produce Polarization, and Application: Perspective’s Influence on Culture.

In the beginning there is the brain. The brain has a dominant functional path: right or left. Using basic philosophy of neuroscience to explain right brain dominance, a naturally whole thinker versus left brain dominance, a naturally compartmentalized thinker, Mr. Olsen seeks to explain why women and men are basically different.

He presupposes brain dominant function is gender biased rather than culturally or educationally taught. Although he offers the caveat that both men and women or right and left brain dominant people can learn to integrate other brain-sidedness through education. In most cases, this would be seen as women changing their natural right brain views to include left brain values.

Through a series of examples, Mr. Olsen argues the overall male dominance of the left-brain compartmentalized thinking dominating culture over the millennia has culminated in the world’s cultures we see today. Rather than choosing to get along, men basically defend their territory and seek to expand their beliefs and culture into other areas.

A world survey for "Global Peace" places the United States between 80 – 95 in ranking out of 121 countries when ranking from the most peaceful to the least peaceful societies. Norway, Finland and other Scandinavian countries rank in the top 10. Iraq ranked last in 2008 & 2009 surveys.

Toward the end of the book, the author debates ideas such as truth is internally harmonious. Beliefs about God may be juxtaposed: God is Love versus God sends people to Everlasting Hell. Mr. Olsen agrees that these issues must be resolved in some way. He suggests that by integrating both sides of the brain processes that these issues may be resolved.

The Whole Brain Path to Peace is an ambitious book blending portions of Eastern thought with traditional conservative Christian belief. There is much to learn from World cultures. Perhaps, incorporating more whole thought into our culturally compartmentalized thinking may help bring about world peace. Certainly, individual blending of right and left brain dominance will open new opportunities to share love and peace on a personal level with our neighbors.

Water Wishes

2011-08-09T09:49:00.001-07:00

Guardian water spirits bless each place they reside. People instinctually know that giving gifts to the water brings good back to them. Following that simple instinct is the reason for many places of open water, ponds and wishing wells are filled with coins and other gifts to the sprites, nymphs or deities.

Since ancient times, legends agree the blessings of the water spirits are truly worth making the wish and tossing the coin.

Celtic and Germanic people of Ancient Western Europe believed water was a gift from the gods, wells and waterways were sacred. Norse legend tells that Odin rode to Mimir’s Well to seek wisdom.

More recently, Saint Catherine is associated with wishing wells and wishing for a husband. Drop one coin with each line of the wish…

A husband Saint Catherine
A handsome one Saint Catherine
A rich one Saint Catherine
And soon Saint Catherine
Amen ;)

Whatever you wish for… wish well!

You Say It's Your Birthday

2011-08-04T12:06:00.001-07:00

Kinderfeste or Kid’s Party celebrated birthdays of children, not just nobility, beginning in the 19th Century. The tradition spread throughout the world and was particularly embraced with the 1893 musical composition, “Happy Birthday to You.”

Societal acknowledgement that every child is special lead to the thoughts that children and childhood should be preserved as a time for education and play rather than reduced cost labor or child labor of the earlier eras. The progressive thoughts were championed at the turn of the twentieth century with protesters marching with signs “Abolish Child Slavery” in New York City parades.

In more affluent counties, children grown into adults continue to celebrate the yearly anniversary of their birth. This move to annual celebrations supports the retail culture in the desirability, if not requirement to either celebrate with co-workers & friends at a local eatery/bar or host a party complete with dinner, dessert and gifts.

While I celebrate a special birthday today, not mine. Our celebration is subdued in remembrance of the young military people (just out of their kinder years) away from home today.

The NEW Customer Service

2011-07-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

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A Precious Little Boy

2011-07-18T13:12:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time, there was a little boy who was very precocious. Rarely, did he sit still, he was very curious indeed. He loved to learn new things. He laughed at the way the water bounced on the sidewalk. He danced with the butterflies and bees. He talked to his dog about the beautiful sky. And sometimes, he brought flowers home to his grandmamma.

At the age of three, he started writing. He learned to write his name. He wrote his name everywhere, even on the wall which wasn’t a good thing, but he did spell it correctly. He read everything with words: junk mail, signs and cereal boxes.

One day he discovered there was a place where he could learn more. He could learn about math and writing and the wonders of the world. He was very excited about this new place of wonder. It was a place called school.

Finally, the day came, the little boy was very excited about learning even more things about the world; he was excited to go to school.

When he arrived, he was told to sit in a chair and not to move until the bell rang. Luckily, he sat near a window so he looked out to the world. When the teacher noticed he was gazing out the window, the little boy was given a note for his parents that said he wasn’t paying attention.

The next day, he was given a new seat away from the window near the hamster cages. He watched the hamster run on the wheel and he talked to the hamster about how much he liked running. When the teacher noticed he was talking to the hamster, he was given a note that he was disruptive.

The next day, he was given a new seat in the middle of the class. By now the other children noticed he was a problem child, so they teased him and pushed him and pulled on his hair. He yelled at the mean kids and hit them back. When the teacher noticed, he was given a note that said he didn’t know how to get along with others.

The next day, he thought he would bring flowers to his teacher. He didn’t understand why he was the only child given a note each day, but he sensed it wasn’t good. As he walked to school he saw a variety of flowers, so he gathered one of each kind. There was a daisy and an iris, a lily and a rose.

He waited by the door for the teacher to show him to his seat, it had changed so many times he wasn’t sure where to sit. When the teacher approached, he held out the flowers. The teacher took them and placed the flowers on her desk. The teacher placed him in a chair in the corner facing the wall.

That afternoon, the teacher gave her a note that said he destroyed property and was not welcome at school until he learned how to behave.

That night, the little boy’s mother and father discussed what they should do with their little boy. They decided perhaps he wasn’t ready to behave like the other children. They liked him better laughing at the water bouncing, dancing with the butterflies and bringing flowers to his grandmamma.

Have you eaten your Roses today?

2011-07-14T08:21:00.001-07:00

Not only are roses beautiful but they contain significant amounts of vitamin C.

In the 19th century, small town doctors prescribe roses as a regular remedy. The apothecary rose was a frequent suggestion for home treatment of common ailments such as stomach disorder, diarrhea, constipation, gallbladder & kidney problems, gout, fever and exhaustion.

Long standing philosophical traditions find Rose garlands strewn around altars of Gods and Goddesses. The rose was one of the flowers which had cross culturally represented love and health throughout the World. Many are the brides who held roses in their bouquet as they entered into marriage with the well-wishes of life-long health and love.

It stands to reason that the ancients understood the relationship between the beautiful flower and its health giving properties. The flowers’ fragrance provides for a method of relaxation. The beauty and cultivation of the flower offers tranquility for all to behold. The internal properties of the flower, in the rose hip, offer to the health practitioner a potent and reliable source of immunity boosting properties.

The following is a brief review of the versatility of the Rose.

Rose petals make a light and fragrant tea which settles stomach upset and provides a soothing aroma.

Rose hips in vitamin form offers an extra boost for people needing to fend off colds and fevers.

Rose jams and jellies offer sweetness and vitamin C to boost children’s immunity to the everyday ails found in most daycare and school institutions.

Rose water is added to ice cream and cookies in the Middle East to give added flavor.

Rose water also adds moisture to skin preparations, Middle Eastern and European traditions.

French chefs add Rose syrup made from rose petal extract to pastries.

Chinese apothecaries are among the few practitioners who still use this remedy for stomach ailments.

As all things go full circle, scientists harkened back to a more intuitive time and are testing rose and rose hips in the treatment of some cancers.

Re-discovering Home Birth

2011-07-05T08:37:00.001-07:00

At the turn of the 20th Century, 95% of US women birthed at home, attended by a doctor or a midwife. By mid-1950s approximately 1% of women birthed at home. During the 1970s a home birth revival movement began with women realizing that births, in fact, most births don’t require hospitalization.

In the second decade of the 21st Century, a growing number of women are staying home to birth their babies. So many that the movement has reached main stream media. One news source recently reported a 20% increase in home birth.

As any woman who have had a baby in the hospital will tell you, the experience is turned into a medical procedure with clinicians coming & going, medical intervention (and increased insurance billing) just moments away regardless of the situation.

Women are questioning the medical involvement in birth and many are choosing to forgo the unnecessary procedures for a natural birth. The best way to insure the least amount of medical intervention is to skip the trip to the hospital.

Certainly this is not a promotion for risky behavior. If there are complications involved, by all means get the help needed. But be aware of the statistics.

C-sections are more likely to happen in the hospital. Depending on the particular hospital c-sections are 30 – 60% of births. Home-births with complications requiring transport and c-section are 3% of births.

Attendance in a hospital is often the floor nurse and the on-call physician unless you keep a appointment with a scheduled birth. You’re likely not to know anyone in the room behind the many masks that come and go.

With a home-birth the midwife attends the mother until & through the birth. In most cases, unless there an another birth, the midwife stays for a while after the baby arrives to insure a good start for mother and baby.

Cost for homebirth is a $3,000 - $4,000 for a midwife including all the pre-natal and post-natal visits. OB-GYN attended hospital births start at $10,000 and only go up.

As for this author:

Three of my four children were born at home. I believe each woman needs to educate herself to decide how she wishes to birth her babies.

I had a horrible and completely unnecessary c-section experience in 1981 at age 18. When I found I was pregnant in 1991 at age 28, I did my homework & decided to have my baby at home. It was difficult to find a midwife who would help with a VBAC but well worth the research and interviewing. There was no comparison between the two experiences. So it was easy to decide to have my subsequent children in the comfort of my own home.

Resources:

Feminist Breeder
http://thefeministbreeder.com/
Home Birth Kits
http://homebirthkits.com/
WIC
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/breastfeeding/mainpage.HTM
La Leche League
http://www.llli.org/

Sheperd's Pie / Cottage Pie

2011-06-29T15:09:00.000-07:00

Recently, I’ve been privileged to write not one but two articles about Shepherd’s Pie. Rarely, do I track the location of ghosted articles, so I decided to stick with the theme and write the true story about real Shepherd's Pie, as it appears and is eaten, in our house.

The history of Shepherd’s Pie begins in Ireland with sheep herders and potato farmers teaming up to make Meat Pie. This protein rich pie was filling and as history records: Potatoes were definitely in the daily diet of most Irish people. This dish dates to the pre-famine era.

The British enjoyed the Meat Pie but renamed it Cottage Pie.

In the 1870s, Shepherd’s Pie was printed in an American cookbook. As with all things American the pie not only grew in size but also in the number of ingredients. Today, cooks can find any number of regional “Traditional” Shepherd’s Pie with few calling for the original ingredient, Lamb.

In my vegetarian kosher kitchen, you’ll find neither meat, nor gluten in this incredibly yummy and filling dish. So what do I put in my Cottage Pie?

Ingredients

8 - Potatoes
2-slices of Butter
Dash of Kosher Salt
Splash of Milk
Cook 'em. Mash ’em. Set them aside.

In the skillet over medium heat:
Olive Oil
Large Onion
5-6 cloves of minced garlic
12 oz Bag of Meatless Sausage or Meatless Balls

Turn the heat to low and add the veggies:
10 oz Bag of Organic Peas & Carrots
10 oz Bag of Organic french beans/spinach
4- Diced Tomatoes
½ cup Vegetable Broth
½ cup Tomato Sauce

Preheat the oven to 350 F.

My Cottage Pie bakes in a Quiche dish because it’s larger than a regular pie pan.

First, coat the bottom of the pan with butter or non-stick spray. Then place a thin layer of potatoes on the bottom of the pan and bake it for 5 minutes or so, until it seems firm. If I don’t do this the bottom of the pie can be squishy when served.

Pulling the pie pan from the oven, I pour everything form the skillet into the pie shell, and then cover with the mashed potatoes. I like to sprinkle cheese and wheat germ on top.

Bake 45 minutes. If you prefer you may bake @ 375 F for 30 minutes.

Cottage Pie is incredibly filling. Don’t let the kiddos eat it too fast because it expands.

Warning: Cottage Pie uses many pans and the baking dish in the preparation which in my house is a determining factor in menu selection. But everyone loves it so much I do serve it as a winter savory.

The Disease of More: One Woman’s 25-Year Recovery from Alcohol and Food Addiction

2011-06-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

Eleanor story, The Disease of More: One Woman’s 25-Year Recovery from Alcohol and Food Addiction provides a testimony to the excesses available in American society, how far a person can push those excesses and yet be redeemed to have a full and affluent life.

Eleanor begins with her past, her family’s history in the Hispanic community. She documents her father’s drink problem. In spite of not wanting to live like her parents, she found herself imitating the less desirable traits her father exhibited. Her personal story includes child-rape-molestation and incest that influenced many of her choices.

Somehow she was able to graduate college and applied for college scholarships which were available to her. She moved across the country to attend school and get away from her problems, but her problems continued as did her drinking and eating.

Eleanor came to the realization that she wasn’t going to finish school unless she got her drinking under control. She started going to AA meetings and found continuous sobriety helpful in her academic and personal life.

Once a lawyer, she obtained a fabulous job in the Bay Area, met her husband and began a great life. Still she was eating at an amazing pace. She found after many years of trying to control her weight. She found that she created issues with her family to cover her over-eating. She found that many similar issues she had with drinking were also applicable to her eating. The only difference being that total abstinence isn’t possible with food. One must eat.

Eleanor found her salvation in a 12-step program for food which helps her remain accountable for her calories. She lost the weight she wanted and now lives a pleasant life with her husband and children.

Eleanor’s story is a contemporary version of the stories found in 12-step books and literature. It shows that if we or a loved one has a problem, there is help available to get whatever the problem, alcohol or food, under control and move on to a full and happy life.

Resources:

Alcoholics Anonymous http://www.aa.org

Food Addict Anonymous http://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/

Alanon For Family and Friends http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/

Dog First-Aid Kit 'Cuz Ya Never Know

2011-06-14T08:03:00.001-07:00

Well-meaning intensions aside, procrastination can be profoundly revealed when a pet is injured. My story is simple: my pets never get injured, so why have a first aid kit? Because never can turn into rarely in a blink of an eye.

My little dog has a small head. She can poke her head through the fence to gaze at the neighbor’s beautifully manicured and dog-free yard. The rest of Tippy, the little dog is too wide to make it through the fence. My neighbor, an older lady actually likes to talk with Tippy. So I figured no harm, no foul.

Until one day when Tippy’s ear got caught on the fence as she pulled her head back through. It is amazing how much blood is in a dog ear. There was blood all over the yard, blood all over Tippy, and when I went to help, blood all over me.

I won’t keep you in suspense. It was a flesh wound, no stitches required but it was a mess.

Had I had a dog first aid kit, things might have been less messy. Instead, I was yelling at child one and child two to look in the various household cupboards for gaze, for tape, for antiseptic.

End result: I’ve made a list for the dog first-aid kit and will keep it readily available for the potential future occurrence. Now that I’m prepared I do hope we’ll just return to the “my dog never gets hurt” status.

Dog First Aid Kit

Muzzle (even when they love you, they nip when you make their ouch worse)
Roll of Gauze
Gauze Squares
Non-stick Pads
First-aid tape
Vet-wrap/bandage roll
Sterile Saline Solution
Tube of Antiseptic
Scissors
Tweezers
Cotton Balls
Cotton Swabs
Gloves
Pet Carrier
Leash
Cold Paks
Heat Paks
Syringe
Pliers
Thermometer
Pedialyte
Bitter Apple Product (to discourage licking)
Vet’s phone number

For humans
Band-aids
Sterile Saline
Antiseptic cream
Doctor’s phone number

Diane Harrison of Wild Side Kerry Blues sent this message.

"Great article! Things to add to your dog first aid kit: Benedryl (for bug bites, stings, hot spots and any allergic reactions. and very good to use to calm your dog down), Tagamet,(great for large breed dogs that can or get, gastric torsion aka: Bloat) Tums, Aspirin, Clavamox (a very good antibiotic that you could get from your Veterinarian. Any good Vet will sell this to you if you tell him/her it's for your dog first aid kit) Pedialyte is great, but so you won't have to worry about it going bad, get an Electrolyte powder. Gold bond powder, Kwik Stop Powder, Super Glue, And a Bulb syringe. Just my 2 cents worth! :-)

For more information about Kerry Blue Terriers:
http://www.wildsidekerryblues.com/contact.html

Sunstruck

2011-06-08T20:03:00.001-07:00

Title: Sunstruck
Author: Mayra Calvani
Cover Art: Debi DeSantis
2011: Zumaya Embraces: imprint of Zumaya Publications
236 pages
ISBN: 978-1-934841-18-1
Print: $14.99
Kindle: $6.99
Nook: $6.99

Sunstruck opens in sweltering San Juan, Puerto Rico giving the reader an instant taste of the exotic island. Mayra Calvani describes the sights, sounds and smells of this tropical city as only a native Puerto Rican can.

Daniella is a student with a taste for artistic and amazingly handsome men. Unfortunately, the men are as broke as they are handsome and as dysfunctional as they are artistic. Still she can’t seem to help herself. She emotionally bounces back and forth between her ex-husband and her new boyfriend.

She just doesn’t see what Ismael sees in his new old wife, Irene. Lady Dracula, as Daniella dubs her, is just creepy. And Ismael has lost his zest for life and the coloring from his face. Daniella worries about him, his new marriage and his new enterprise.

Tony’s success is all wrapped up with the art gallery crowd of which Lady Dracula is a main player, of course. Daniella loves Tony. Tony says he loves Daniella but he hates her cat. It’s a bad sign.

Daniella knows she should concentrate on her studies but she just can’t help wanting to go to the party that may bring Tony some recognition. She dresses in the cutest little dress, but Tony hardly notices her, he’s too involved with his paintings and with himself.

Once at the party things really start to heat up. Ismael is jealous of Tony, on the inside, but helpful to his career on the outside. It’s the usual love to hate the ex’s new mate unhealthily enmeshed story. Yet, Daniella and Ismael can’t see themselves back together either.

The party gets really weird when Lady Dracula enters the room. She has an obsession for antique torture devises. She is also fabulously wealthy, so nearly anything goes.

The psychological intrigue keeps this novel's pages turning. It’s a quick 200+ page book or e-book that evokes tingles, chills, and nervous laughs, all in the middle of a delightful story of a truly likable naïve young woman.

Without a spoiling the ending, I will say it is satisfying.

The Surprise Doll

2011-05-31T08:42:00.001-07:00

The Surprise Doll
Author: Morrell Gipson
Artist: Steffie Lerch
©1949

Forward thinking children’s books come from all eras. Even though this book written in the 1940s, before the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, it is an excellent example of the understanding that we humans are more alike than different.

One girl wants a special doll. She visits a doll maker with the hope that she will have a doll for each day of the week. She has to leave her dolls with the toy maker. She misses her dolls.

When she returns to the toy maker on the appointed day, her surprise doll has qualities of each of her dolls. I won’t give away the biggest surprise.

This is one of my personal favorites. My father used to read it to me often. When I read it to my kids, I can remember the sound of his voice like an echo, “just like me.”

Value of Volunteering

2011-05-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

The value of Volunteering in life is directly relational to the project to which we volunteer. Volunteering for a mandated number of hours has its value, perhaps to alleviate some penalty. This volunteering is good but it’s not out of desire to do good works, it’s from the desire to avoid penalty.

Volunteering as a responsibility to our community or out of desire just to be of service creates the most value because the motivation is positive to positive. The positive, not avoiding penalty plus the positive of the action creates a greater good.

Particular to this thought is the need for mentors, whether the mentorship within a business situation or for youth in the community. Mentors or Masters are necessary so society moves forward. If the new or young people to a trade or craft are always reinventing the wheel, we as society fail to move forward from our current status.

4H was introduced a little over a hundred years ago via the University Extension Services to help boys with growing crops and girls with canning produce. Since that time 4H has expanded into all areas of farm and animal husbandry as well as technology, science, art, crafts, public speaking, theater arts, and more.

I am privileged to mentor several girls through the learning process of quilting. This uniquely American textile art which was once part of most women’s creative outlet has waned in the last 50 years.

Recently, there has been increased interest in the art. With few mentors in the craft, I’m pleased to share the joy of creating beautiful and useful items.

It came to my attention that many volunteer projects are creating a difficulty by taking what was a paid position and making it a volunteer job or internship. I’m not taking anyone’s job by volunteering in this way. In fact, much of what was considered women’s work, aka unpaid, is just not done. The field is wide open to volunteer in what past centuries labeled as women’s work. These venues of volunteerism are still available, still necessary. They are the fabric of our society.

The fact is many of the ways in which our foremothers related with one another, supported each other and the greater society are just what we find lacking in today’s world. It could be considered nostalgic by the uncreative, but I beg to differ. The remnants of a once great textile industry are ready for resurgence but we need society to value the creation of hand-made items as well as the value the volunteers who pass on such knowledge.

4H is an excellent program for youth. It provides learning experience for young people in a many different fields of knowledge. It also provides the opportunity to share sports, crafts, gardening, animal and technological knowledge with the next generation.

http://www.4-h.org/

A Good Omen: Ladybug

2011-05-16T10:46:00.001-07:00

When a good omen visits, it’s nice to tell nature or the world thank you for sending the message of balance this day.

Ladybugs are good omens. Since the Middle Ages, ladybugs have been connected with saving crops from being overrun by other insects.

Depending on your local history, Ladybugs may be responsible for predicting how much money you’ll have, how many children you’ll have, a cure for tooth aches or improvement of your overall health. But no matter where you live, it’s considered bad luck to kill a ladybug.

Some of the amazing fact about ladybugs includes: Ladybugs are beetles. There are at least 400 different kinds of ladybugs in North America and nearly 5,000 different varieties around the world.

Without the ladybug we’d be overrun with aphids. Aphids are a favorite food of the ladybug. Contrary-wise, Ladybugs are not a favorite food to any predator. They release a chemical so they don’t taste very good.

Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home
Your house is on fire,
Your children are gone.

Horseradish: Herb of 2011

2011-05-10T19:30:00.001-07:00

Horseradish, known is scientific circles as Armoracia rusticana is a close relative to broccoli, cabbage and mustard. It grows as high as 5 feet (1.5 meters) with large leaves and beautiful white flowers.

Best When Used: The Horseradish root is best use when freshly broken providing the most pungent of tastes and unique aroma.

Myth: Ancient Greek myth states the horseradish root is worth its weight in gold for the myriad of medicinal uses. These medicinal applications were commonly used through the Renaissance period.

Good Health: Horseradish contains calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin C.

Medicinal Use: Known to herbalists through the ages as a diuretic, Horseradish is used in treatment of minor health problems such as urinary tract bronchitis, coughs, infections, and sinus infection. Recent biochemical research reports Horseradish kills harmful bacteria and has an immuno boosting constituent.

Growing: The root grows better in a sunny area. Plant the root immediately in a moist hole twice as large as the root itself. Keep the area moist but not soggy wet. Add compost two or three time per growing season. Horseradish grows into zone 5. Harvest in the autumn after the first frost for the most pungent flavors.

Landscape: Horseradish is used as a border accent flowering plant.

Recipe:

Granny’s Horseradish Sauce

1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup horseradish
1/8 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp mustard
1 bunch chopped chives.

Blend together. Pour over steak or seafood.

Food Uses:

Breakfast: Scramble 1-tsp in with scrambled eggs.
Lunch: Add ½ tsp to mayonnaise on a sandwich.
Dinner: Use Granny’s Sauce with abandon

Gerenuk

2011-05-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

Watching Gerenuk (genus: Litocranius) eat is a calming experience. The East African antelope also known as the giraffe-necked antelope have a beautifully muscular, yet slender body. Their movement is delightfully graceful.

Indigenous to the African continent, it may be surprising that the Gerenuk are picky eaters. They tend to select the juiciest leaves available, leaving the rest behind.

Nature has uniquely situated these elegant animals at just the right height for the best food selection: fruit, flowers and leaves. Taller than the most gazelles, their selection is greater and higher on the bush or tree than their smaller food competitors. Since they average 4-5 feet in length, they are far smaller than giraffes that graze further up the tree.

Male Gerenuk have horns, females do not. They are otherwise very similar in size, shape and coloring. Both the male and the female stand on their hind legs to feed.

A well-cared for Gerenuk can live up to 13 years in captivity, while the average lifespan in the wild is only 8 years.

Watch and learn more about Gerenuk: http://www.lazoo.org/animals/mammals/gerenuk/

American Quilts

2011-04-24T15:08:00.000-07:00

Some of the oldest quilted items in museums today are in Egypt and Sicily, these items were created in their entirety. What makes American quilts unique is that women created them out of bits and pieces utilizing scraps which later developed into the American Quilt we know today.

Each quilt begins with a variety of color complimentary fabrics which allows the quilter to imagine patterns and designs to create a unique item. Handmade, each quilt has variations which can be delightfully individual and hopefully pleasing to the eye.

A remnant for the aesthetics movement, quilts are both useful and beautiful. Depending upon the level of detail in the design and the skill of the quilter, quilts can be created in as little as a few hours.

Creating sample miniature designs hearkens back to an era when large Manors were first made in miniature for architectural approval. If approved by the Master then the miniature house was finished and given to the children as a house warming gift.

Small samples of larger items were also created as sales aids throughout the frontier era. A smaller version of large equipment or furniture designs traveled with the sales men by train across the country. Salesmen sent orders back East for the full-size version.

Today, as I completed one section of a full size quilt, I noticed the scraps were large enough to create a miniature just right for a toy-size comfort quilt.

Resources for Dollhouses and Miniatures: http://www.achildatheart.com/

Rebellion

2011-04-19T13:33:00.000-07:00

Revolt, uprising, insurgence, upheaval, mutiny, revolution, by any other name it’s still rebellion. For the most part, it doesn’t exist within my home. My spouse, my children and I pretty much get along, with disagreements, sure, but rebellion, no.

We, the parents haven’t created the environment from which our children wish to rebel. The dynamic has created an ever changing and interesting experiment in human development.

Old thoughts: As a youth growing up in a difficult household, I rebelled. While everyone said they were surprised, no one was surprised, there would have been something wrong if I hadn’t rebelled. The dynamics created in that house were of conflict, argument/debate, picking on and putting down. Rebellion was mentally healthy. How it all rolled out, maybe not so healthy. But I've done the work to put it in perspective and correct my errors.

New thoughts: When our three were little. I remember looking at each of them and thinking, I don’t want my children to have all that conflict in their lives that I had growing up. Then I had a thought: wouldn’t it be nice if we had a house where we got along, where we have love and mutual respect.

Matching my actions with my desired goal has provided a space for our kids to be kids without conflict. As young adults, they have a home that is not a battleground, so there is no reason to rebel.

Life and Spirit in the Quantum Field

2011-04-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

Title: Life and Spirit in the Quantum Field: spirit is real, feelings rule and other adventures in quantum life
Author: Doug Bennett
Publisher: Take Charge Books Brevard, North Carolina
ISBN: 978-0-9815818-1-1
357Pages, Soft Cover
Price: $19.99
Kindle: $8.99
http://dougbennettsquantumlife.com/

Life and spirit in the Quantum field begins with basic Newtonian philosophy the foundation of our current science structure then builds into Quantum mechanics. From quantum mechanic explanation and the workings of the quantum field Doug Bennett launches into scientific explanation of the unseen world usually the territory of the parapsychologists or religious clerics.

The building blocks of science concepts provide the equations to support the hologram which was an entirely new concept less than a century ago. Holograms are everywhere. How a hologram is and isn’t in time and space lends the mechanism to leap to the quantum field understanding.

The promise of a scientific revolution presents new possibilities for the remedy to the centuries old philosophic schism between the seen and unseen world. Measurable experiments show that light and life are intertwined. The ultra violet rays help the seed sprout. Without light the seed remains inert. Life as a quantum process explains how energy moves into the unseen world to spout the seed in the seen world.

In very scientific language, the practices of faith healing or intuitive experience are explained in quantum energy terminology which potentially can move the open-minded skeptic from their comfort zone into the provable yet scientifically denied realities.

Inner work or psychotherapy coupled with spiritual practice can heal the subconscious to align the conscious analytical mind with the emotional intuitive self.

Putting together the two parts of self in a logical process the science minded can be brought to understanding other spiritual concepts such as the soul, ghosts, heaven, hell and the after life.

Bringing the subject full circle through the final link to religion and the spiritual practices of the ages, the mysteries of unseen world can be explained through scientific methodology. Eastern thought accepts the positive and negative of energy. We have the ability to direct thought to particular ends. Documentation of experiments explain what yogi Masters have known for millennia.

The Life and Spirit in the Quantum Field brings science and philosophy into harmony with both disciplines explaining life from different perception perspectives. The exciting part is that there is no longer the taboo that each field must stay on one side opposed to the other discipline. The promise is the wholeness of understanding life, seen and unseen.

Doug Bennett does an excellent job explaining otherwise difficult concepts for the layperson to understand. Clearly, the scientific audience will be able to move to a whole perspective by following the argument from cover to cover. People familiar with healing energy work will learn about the laboratory language that describes the truth in their daily work.

A Boomer's Guide to Chronic Pain

2011-04-08T11:58:00.000-07:00

Title: A Boomer’s Guide to Chronic Pain: The Ultimate Resource for Practical, Effective Advice on How to Live a Full and Active Life While Managing Chronic Pain.
Author: Dr. Michael J. Kaye
Publisher: BookWise Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-60645-070-3
Price: $15.95
Soft Cover, 190 pages
URL: www.aboomersguidetochronicpain.com

Dr. Michael Kaye writes an excellent advice book for people with chronic pain. He eloquently tells the story of impact of chronic pain on the lives of the aging population and provides suggestions for overcoming the most dreadful components of debilitating painful conditions.

All pain isn’t the same. Pain management is different for each person who experiences pain. Some people find that injuries in their teen years come back to haunt them. Other people develop painful health conditions. Dr. Kaye’s step by step approach isn’t just his medical advice; he suffers from chronic pain too.
Readers may take the portions of advice and apply what they will as best they can to improve their quality of life. The advice explains the quickest way to resolve issues as they arise. Preparation and life style changes toward healthful living are essential to come to terms and live with chronic pain.

Gathering trusted health providers and a support network outside your immediate family is essential. While your loved ones do care, they can get burned out. Take your complaints to the proper place and develop a network of helpful professionals and support people who will keep the focus on improvement rather than the suffering.
Subjects covered in the book include: diet, exercise, energy, relationships, money management, fun, sex, work, and education which weaves into a comprehensive plan for individual pain management. Dr. Kaye presents each subject with real people, real life examples from his practice. He offers suggestions that improve life regardless of pain status.

I enjoyed Dr. Kaye’s no-nonsense style of writing. He explained the overall dilemma chronic pain suffers have with the medical system. Increasing pain medication may not always be the answer for patients but it takes most people a long time to figure out they aren’t getting their real needs met.

I highly recommend this book, not only for boomers but anyone who suffers or knows someone who suffers from chronic pain. Buy this book, read it, apply it and live better.

Has It Really Been a Year?

2011-04-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

Some call it reflection, others call it inventory: I think it’s just a part of moving forward in life: Review.

Periodically, my mind reviews a particular segment of life: Work, Relationships, Location, Health and Inner Stuff. When I started this process in earnest more than 25 years ago, I followed direction to put it on paper. Through the years the need to put things to paper decreases as the problem to solution or goal to fruition methodology has become ingrained within my neuro-net. So ingrained is this that it would better be described as a continuing stock inventory system rather than a yearly goal setting session.

So it was not surprising when there is a “problem” my brain goes into hyper-drive to find a solution. This trait, call it Type-A personality or liken it to the Rabbit character in Winnie-the-Pooh, is helpful at minimizing situations so that they never become real problems.

The demarcation for this particular inventory came quickly in that it’s been a year since my last cross country move. Logical to look at the state of things/life, as the dust has settled and scramble has turned to routine.

Work ~ this year has marked more regular writing work than ever. With more than 50 ghosted articles sold and a regular technical writing gig, I’m pleased with the quality and the level of output. The downside is the ridiculously low pay. My son said yesterday, “That’s great money for 1856!” and he’s correct.

Relationships ~ really the key to a happy life are the people around. It may be old age creeping up on me hopefully, just wisdom probably a bit of both. But honestly, if it’s difficult, I’m really not interested. Relationships are so much better when they’re easy. Things are easy if everyone is polite.

I’ve noticed there are two kinds of people, probably more but for this example there are two: the kind of person that accepts an apology and the kind of person that continues to tell you how awful you are after you apologize.

Disrespect just leads to hard feelings, or in tough places, mortal peril. Personally, I choose to be polite for social cohesion. It’s easier to navigate situations if everyone cooperates and is forthright. I know, some would say I’m trying to live on Cloud Nine. And I would reply: If Cloud Nine requires manners then, yes. I require good behavior from myself when I make a mistake, I apologize and so expect the same from others.

Then of course, there are the people with whom I have no business being around. Take my ex, please! Seriously, we are ex, we don’t talk, we aren’t friends. If people ask me why? He's my ex, duh... Those who knew us should attest that the world is a happier place for the distance between us. After a number of years, I had a dream where I discovered he was doing really well. I woke really hoping the dream was true that he was doing well. I don’t know if he is or isn’t. It’s none of my business, that’s the ex-part. I consider this segment complete.

I learned a long time ago a relationship takes two people with a similar vision for the relationship for both people to be happy. I remind myself of that periodically as I continue life’s construction.

Location ~ Location, Location, Location… it’s true. Wishing to be somewhere and being somewhere are two entirely different things. Make a decision. Be there.

Health ~ As an issue health has come to the fore in the news as the overweight people outnumber the physically fit. The percentages coincide with the level of poverty and unhappiness, though not by simple equation. A simple way to live is healthfully: Eat right, sleep enough, avoid anger, and love daily.

Health is one of my favorite topics. I’ve been published on this subject more than any other in the last 20 years, probably because I love eating. I love good food. The flavors, spices, and textures of good food made into a fabulous dish is one of the things that make life enjoyable.

Memorable food moments this year: avocado off a tree, orange juice from personally picked oranges, Churro @ Olvera St, Soup in a Bread Bowl @ New Orleans Square, my daughter’s potato soup, ripe jalapeños, my neighbor’s lentil soup, my husband’s veggie burgers, my son’s quesadilla, my son’s rice & beans… I just discovered, the way to make my list of favorite people is to cook a tasty dish.

Inner Stuff (old & new) ~ I have these things called thoughts and feelings. Sometimes they’re old, sometimes their new, sometimes useful, sometimes just clutter… I decided to de-clutter the old and useless, just let it go, don’t beat the dead horse. Life got lighter, calmer, happier.

I liken the inner stuff to a closet. When I started my Fibber McGee closet was full. If I opened the door stuff would tumble out with a crash. Life went from one crash to another. It also made seeing today in reality difficult, if not impossible. Reality is where it’s at baby. Reality is today!

At a moment of clarity I realized I didn’t like the way a bunch of the old stuff felt when it crashed and I set about throwing out the stuff I didn’t want anymore. Some of closet junk I gave back to others, it wasn’t mine to keep. Some of the junk was mine and I had to face it, deal with it and move on. Some of the stuff was useful, some stuff was pleasant so I tidied up and placed those items in a mental file: Things Worth Remembering.

Things Worth Remembering:
Like the Kitty: Allergic to Kitty: Don’t pet Kitty.
Kids, like vegetables, spoil if you put them on a shelf & forget about them.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Share good things, it makes the world a better place.

Food Chemicals, Hyperactivity & Illness

2011-03-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

A continuing study released findings that children’s behavior problems may be linked to or exacerbated by food dyes and other unnecessary ingredients in their food.

Any mother worth her stuff knows what foods work well and what foods send her children into crying fits, climbing mania or complete melt-down. It’s easy to blame sugar and for some kids that is the cause. But a recent release of a continuing study lists other food additives as the primary culprits.

Colours – Yellow 5 has been directly linked to hyperactivity in children with food sensitivities.

Other colour dyes approved by the FDA were linked to ailments within laboratory studies using lab mammals: Blue 2 led to brain cancer; Green 3 led to bladder and testes tumors; Red 3 led to thyroid tumors.

MSG can cause headaches, wheezing, and nausea among other symptoms. Research in the 1960s showed MSG destroyed nerve brain cells.

Olestra or Olean found in some Fat Free products is a synthetic fat that is not absorbed in the digestive system. In regular language, it causes diarrhea abdominal cramps and flatulence. If you have suffered these symptoms after eating a product with Olean you can file a report on the Center for Science in the Public Interest website: http://www.cspinet.org/olestraform/index.htm

Many of the ingredients on the sides of packages are completely unpronounceable. I usually wonder, what does that do to the food? Then I’m distracted by my child’s urgent need for something. Besides, where would I get the information about all the words I can’t pronounce and still ingest? The quick list is available http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm#mycoprotein in a listing called Chemical Cuisine.

For more information about the foods we eat everyday visit the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a non-profit which is celebrating 40 years of public service. http://www.cspinet.org/

Beyond the Myth: How to Live the Life You Desire

2011-03-20T15:10:00.000-07:00

Title: Beyond the Myth: How to Live the Life You Desire
Author: Maria Holmes
ISBN 978-0-9830946-0-9
Hard Cover, 6.5 x 6.5, 60 Pages
Price $24.95

With a firm belief in creating the life you wish to live, Maria Holmes blends wisdom throughout the millennia with beautiful images to create a soothing and inspiring book of inspiration. If the Law of Attraction has come to your attention, this book is a must have for your coffee table.

Pick a page at random or read from front to back either way the reader will come away with some insight and encouragement t move in the direction of the desired life.

The Principles of Gratitude, Desire, Faith and Visualization leads to attracting the deepest desire into your life. Chapters speak to the path to create a wondrous life.

Chapter 1: Possibility, the principle is that the universe is made of energy. Awareness f this energy brings the interconnectedness of all life to the fore.

Chapter 2: Create, by understanding the Law of Attraction and put it to use in life.

Chapter 3: Attract the life you wish into your life by focusing all your energy on that Desire.

Chapter 4: Choice to move forward into a plan that is doable, everyday.

Chapter 5: Manifest a Belief in life by Faith in an idea that will grow.

Chapter 6: Results living in harmony creates a positive environment with powerful connections.

I particularly like the imagery and quotes from Buddha, Helen Keller, Napoleon Hill, Andrew Carnegie and William James among others. Maria Holmes adds her personal insight throughout the book.

Living every moment with gratitude is the message Maria Holmes gives to readers in her parting comments, “I thank the Universe every day for my blessings."

Blood Soup by Kelly A Harmon

2011-03-19T21:14:00.000-07:00

Title: Blood Soup
Author: Kelly A Harmon
Publisher: An Eternal Press Publication
ISBN: 978-1-926704-61-6
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-926704-53-1

Blood Soup is a page turning novelette that will keep you wanting more. The well-crafted suspense had me reading until I finished. I could not put it down. At the end, I just wanted more!

An antiquated kingdom tale tells the story of mixing of royal blood lines from differing kingdoms with differing traditions. Of course, there is a problem when the worlds collide.

The calculating king focuses on business as the ultimate goal. Business-minded yet ethical within his realm of reality, he weds a bride who believes in the seen and the unseen worlds. Their heir, boy or girl will determine the future of the kingdom. She knows the heir will be a girl. She tells the kingdom she carries a girl. And yet as the queen dies, it's not a girl who survives.

So many are sacrificed to uphold the king's beliefs and traditions. He ends up facing the kingdom and heir he created. Much to his chagrin, his wife’s foretelling seems to be coming true despite his efforts.

The kingdom in peril, treaties in jeopardy, traditional beliefs challenged, all is at risk when the heir discovers his true origins. Born of Blood, Fed on Blood, what is the new king to do with the knowledge of who and what he is...

I enjoyed Blood Soup though I wouldn’t want to taste it. 

Not-Really St. Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

Celebrating the Ashen tree dates to pre-Christian times, pre-St. Patrick. March 17th runs deep in the genetic memory of the Irish people. The truth of the celebration is sprinkled throughout the Catholic Church's British version of the holiday.

St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the day snakes were banished from Ireland. But the lore pre-dates the Catholic priest by centuries with riddance of evil-faeries and their slithering compatriots by the protection of the Ashen tree.

Attributed to ash wood are many magical properties. Amongst those properties is the protection from snake bite, both of actual and spiritual reptiles, healing properties, for restful protection by ocean and wood spirits, and warrior protection, when the wood is used as a talisman or portion of spear, shield, or handle.

The third moon of the year, from Feb 18 - March 17, ends with a celebration of thanksgiving and rivalry that exceeds all others. The celebration feeds the Irish soul in ancient and secret ways.

The day isn’t about the British-born Catholic priest, St. Patrick, but we include him in his quest like all non-Irish folk who wish to be among the blessed people.

Medusa

2011-03-11T20:52:00.001-08:00

Medusa was the most beautiful of the Gorgons, the daughters of Phorkys and Keto. Her parents were the children of Earth called Gaia and Ocean called Okeanos.

Medua's beauty was her undoing. She was so beautiful that Poseidon would not take “no” for an answer. He found Medusa in Athena’s Temple and had her. Athena grew so outraged she vented her anger on Medusa. Athena changed Medusa into a snake-haired monster.

Athena wasn’t finished with Medusa. The goddess provided Perseus with the shield he used to outwit Medusa, ultimately beheading her.

When Medusa's head rolled, it became known she was pregnant by Poseidon. The children of the union were Pegasus and Chrysaor.

The Getty Villa displays a rendering of Medusa created in Rome 115 – 150 CE using tile to provide the illusion of spiraling circles, a representation of the shield designs from the period.

15 word poem

2011-03-03T12:13:00.000-08:00

laughing, crying,
eating, sleeping,
burping, watching,
listening, being,
sighing, playing,
wondering, waiting,
giggling, sensing:
baby

Banana Bread in the Morning

2011-02-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

One of life’s pleasures on a cool winter morning is the smell of banana baking in the oven. Sad to find many people have never experienced this simple pleasure. The process is easy.

Special equipment:
Masher or a fork to mash the bananas
Bread pans 9x5
Crisco
Toothpicks
Wire rack

Special ingredients:
Very ripe bananas
Some of the sweetest bananas for banana bread have nearly black peels. I would never eat the “over-ripe” mushy bananas but they are absolutely perfect for banana bread.

Banana Bread

6-7 large ripe bananas
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda

The process:

Mash the bananas in a bowl.

In a larger mixing bowl blend together the butter and sugar.

Mix in the bananas.

Mix in eggs and vanilla.

Combine the flour, salt and baking soda in a bowl.

Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Set aside.

Prepare the two bread pans with a thin layer of Crisco rubbed all over the inside of the pan.

Pour half the batter in each pan.

Bake at 350F, depending on your oven the bread maybe done in 35 - 60 minutes.

The first time you bake you’ll have to check it more often. Check by poking the bread in the center with a toothpick. Poke the bread at 35 minutes then every five minutes until it’s done. The toothpick will pull out clean when the bread is done.

Take the bread out of the oven. Cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes.

Flip the bread out of the pan onto a wire rack for the final cooling.

Leonardo: A Vegetarian

2011-02-22T12:55:00.001-08:00

We understand that Leonardo Da Vinci loved animals. He understood they are sentient beings, they have feelings. He understood that it was not required to kill to have a healthy body. He knew this to be true and lived without eating animals in the 15th Century.

"As long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other." -Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

It is interesting that the act of killing any sentient being is brought together in this note as if he expects that one act leads to another. The act of killing, whatever it does within the soul makes the killer. There is no division in Leonardo’s mind.

“Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs. We live by the death of others” (Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519)

He lived in a tumultuous time. The government was involved in several wars for control of resources. The brutality of war may have prompted this statement. We do know that war interfered with some of the project on which he worked.

Of course, he was a genius or perhaps because of his conviction he became a genius. Regardless, he had hope for the future and that ethical men will look upon killing as killing without distinction of species.

"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look upon the murder of men." -Leonardo Da Vinci 1452-1519

Vegetarianism is a legitimate lifestyle choice. It doesn’t mean that you’re conservative or liberal but it does mean that the temple of your soul (your body) is maintained in optimum health. Some of the health conditions prevented or improved are:

Obesity
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Vitamin deficiency
Diminished Cognitive abilities
Heart Disease
Liver Disease
Gallbladder Disease
Sleep apnea
Osteoarthritis
Diabetes
Cancer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarian

Mustn't Be Rude

2011-02-15T13:12:00.000-08:00

Favorite quotes can offer a lovely way to address issues as they come up in life. In the 1998 movie, Merlin Morgan le Fey tells the young Mordred: ‘You mustn’t be rude. To be rude, is to be weak.’

As witness to rude people on a daily basis, it’s important to remember that cultured people are never rude to peers. Within the realm of committee meetings helpful structure has been handed down to create not only a fluid transcript of the proceedings but to focus creating the most productive time possible. The framework is Parliamentary Procedure.

Properly used there is no need to shout or talk over anyone. Everyone gets their say. Everyone is acknowledged, discussion is constructive, not repetitive and the group conscious makes the decisions after all points have been stated. The beauty of parliamentary procedure is, when followed, the harshest enemies can work together to resolve issues great or small.

If you abhor rudeness, it behooves you to learn Parliamentary Procedure.

Quick links, for your convenience:

http://www.kkytbs.org/forms/ParliamentaryProcedure.pdf

http://crs.uvm.edu/citizens/procedure.htm

Simple Accounting

2011-02-10T16:50:00.001-08:00

American banks really should try using simple accounting to remedy their issues. It seems they’re too busy with whatever you want to call what it is they do, rather than accounting for the money and assets within their institution.

Case In Point:

21st Century bank statements don’t cover proper accounting, or what should be banking procedure. At least, procedure as defined for anyone who has completed basic high school accounting. As the high school student can tell you for your accounts to balance you need the following:

Receivables, this is a list of all deposits.

Payables, this is a list of all debits. Debits may be broken down into several categories, checks, transfers, fees, charges. The proper form is a list for each category.

Summary, this is a short list of the account showing previous balance, in, out and current balance.

You’d think with all the technology at their disposal, they’d include all pertinent information on the statement.

Today’s mail brought a bank statement which included a summary and a running balance.

Transaction History or Running Balance, this is a list of the in and out from the account. This is nice to include a running balance sheet but is not a statement of account.

This running balance is good to know if you tend to overextend yourself, but kiting checks puts you in danger of bouncing checks, getting charged mega-dollars in fees, not to mention bouncing checks is illegal.

The question that comes to mind: If this is the state of banking at this small level, imagine what a mess it is on a large scale…

What’s that you say? You’ve been reading the financial news headlines?… Well, then you already know…

Happy New Year Rabbit!

2011-02-03T23:58:00.000-08:00

Were you born in a Year of the Rabbit? 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999or 2011

Famous Rabbits include: Albert Einstein, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie & Brad Pitt.

Like the animal, those born in the year of the rabbit may have similar traits. Rabbits are cautious, thoughtful, calm and yet persistant. They also accumulate wisdom over time and are often consulted for advice.

Much like Peter Rabbit, persistance without wisdom can get a body in much trouble. We may remember the children's story that tells of Peter's persistance in getting into Mr MacGregor's garden.

Still the wise Mama Rabbit offers great wisdom. She offers Peter Chamoile tea for stomach ailments and shares her cares and woes about Papa Rabbit's demise. Mama Rabbit is the picture perfect wise rabbit.

The Chinese Zodiac has twelve signs, over twelve years: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep,Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig For more informatin about People of the Rabbit http://www.usbridalguide.com/special/chinesehoroscopes/Rabbit.htm

Oil Company Spokesperson Recommends Walking

2011-01-26T16:09:00.001-08:00

News Flash

In an unprecedented move today, Oil Companies collectively agree that walking is a preferred mode of transportation for most citizens. The loosely associated collective of behemoth companies have agreed to price their commodity completely out of the reach of most citizens sending the recent statical trend of increased reserve and reduced consumption to spike drastically.

While getting to work may be a problem for most people, an oil company spokesperson said, off-the-record, “our people aren’t really the concerned with the general population or the economy. Quarterly profits will be up and people will have to figure out how to pay or walk.”

When asked if this won’t adversely affect the company in the long term, the anonymous spokesperson said, “The point of raising prices is more profit now. It should be evident; we have no long term plan.”

Back to you in the studio…

Honoring AA Milne

2011-01-18T08:19:00.001-08:00

Alan Alexander Mine was born this day, 18 January, 1882, had he lived, he’d be ridiculously old. During his time he produced some of the most loved children’s literature of our age. Winnie-the-Pooh and House on Pooh Corner have entertained and inspired children since their publication in 1928 and 1929 respectively.

As most people know Mr. Milne’s inspiration was his son Christopher Robin Milne who asked the author to write about a five year old boy. The character was called Christopher Robin and was not too different from, that is to say, was similar to the real boy.

Winnie-the-Pooh, Pooh for short, has had an amazing career. Being picked up by the Disney Company as a principle player, Pooh has had more adventures than Mr. Milne had ever dreamed. Most recently, Pooh adds to his resume, the 'Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh' ride found in the Critter Country area of Disneyland, a must ride ride for anyone who is a child at heart.

Benjamin Hoff’s version of Mr. Milne’s character shows Pooh at his spiritual fullness as an uncarved block in the Tao of Pooh.

For the joyous times given to multitudes of children, all from a “silly old bear”… we gratefully remember AA Milne .

Equitable Pirates

2011-01-10T20:53:00.001-08:00

Bartholomew Roberts started his career as a seaman with no hope of moving up in responsibility or pay. When the opportunity to become a pirate and a leader presented itself he took it.

An interesting fact about pirates of the Golden Age was that many were literate and wrote codes for the crew. The straightforward honest nature of these scoundrels offers a fascinating look into a code of honor long past.

A seaman wishing to join the crew was provided with the code to which he would agree to abide. Once an agreement was made the pay scale was equitable for the level responsibility, risk and effort. There was room to move up through hard work.

The captain acknowledged that he amounted to nothing by himself therefore he rewarded his crew appropriately, equitably, fairly. While the gains were ill-gotten, the split was fair.

Captain receives 2 shares, Quartermaster receives 2 shares, Master, Boatswain, Gunner receives 1.5 shares and Seamen receive 1 share.

Remarkable consideration in an age gone by…

Chocolate & Sunshine

2011-01-05T07:58:00.001-08:00

As much as the world changes, it remains the same. The individual story and the accessories change but the story of humankind: love, hate, peace, violence, these things are the human story.

One might think that with enough time and learning we too should move closer to the ideal of what a human being should wish to be, want to be, and become. But as much as we see two steps forward, it seems that we’re at least two steps back.

Who was it who said: Love your brother as yourself? And when was that…

The Golden Rule moves my spirit… I practice it daily to make it a reality not only in my small part of the world but with the hope that what greater people than I have said becomes the reality we all need so badly.

The awareness of what we do, what we buy, how we treat each other flows out like the motion of a water droplet onto a glass-like still pond, gives each of us an awesome responsibility. Everything counts.

If what we do not only impacts those immediately around us but around the world, how too does it impact the generations yet to arrive. What will you say when your children or grandchildren ask about the world you leave to them… because you were here is there more kindness… more generosity, more love?

Shouldn’t we say to our grandchildren, I was there when we conquered poverty, I contributed to eradicating pollution, it was my country that moved fearlessly into a better future, I sang in the streets when the Declaration of Independence and the Ideals of our 1776 forefathers became a reality. Wouldn’t that just be awesome to say that to your kids? What you do today makes a difference. Everything makes a difference.

It doesn’t matter how it’s said, but the following are words that help keep us on the road to a better future.

Blessed is he who prefers his brother to himself.

Do naught to others that which if done to you would cause pain.

What is hateful to you, do not to your fellows.

That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self.

Hurt not other with that which pains yourself.

To hurt them is not at all good. Beloved, then, hurt thou not any one’s heart.

He is kind to the kind, he is also kind to the unkind: for virtue is kind.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.

With that I wish you prosperity in love and money, a fun filled and productive 2011 and lots and lots of chocolate and sunshine! ;)

Quick Guide to Reassessment

2010-12-31T20:42:00.001-08:00

Year-End close-out and reconciliation, whatever you call your reassessment, now it a good time to check your status, chart your course, move along...

1) Know where you are

a. Location
b. Occupation
c. Education
d. Relationships

2) Know where you want to be

a. Location
b. Occupation
c. Education
d. Relationships

3) Steps to move from one place to the other

a. 3 steps for a
b. 3 steps for b
c. 3 steps for c
d. 3 steps for d

4) Timeline

a. Wishful timeline
b. Realistic timeline

Celebrate the past year for progress made, good bye 2010. Celebrate the future year for the progress to come, hello 2011.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy

2010-12-22T11:16:00.000-08:00

Twenty-nine years ago today, I showed up for the appointment made to surgically remove my baby from my womb. It was a trauma: not the birth because he wasn’t birthed but the surgical removal of the infant for a variety of dubious reasons which were given for the convenience of the doctor’s schedule during the holiday season.

Hopeful that my experience was rare and that most doctors aren’t as hard-hearted, I didn’t often share my experience with others. Frankly, I was ashamed of it. I felt violated. I felt stupid and soon after recognized my gullibility, I had acquiesced and placed my child in jeopardy.

Mother’s guilt for bad decisions can be overwhelming but there is a point where you can only be responsible for decision based on the information given at the time. My guts said the doctor was telling me some information but not all. But why would as 18-year-old girl know better than a doctor?

The doctor said that I was unable to birth. He said the baby was too late. He said the baby was too big. He said the baby would die inside of me if I didn’t do what he said to do.

The inner knowledge, woman-wisdom I’ve come to call it, said the baby wasn’t ready. If he was ready to be born, he’d come. I didn’t trust myself. I was afraid. I allowed a doctor to schedule the surgery.

The arrival was disastrous with the anesthesiologist telling me I didn’t feel anything. I was chemically paralyzed but not anesthetized. I felt everything. It wasn’t until I was being wheeled into recovery that I actually went numb.

Numb and dumb in the recovery room, I cried. They took my baby away to the nursery. My baby was jaundiced, a sign of premature birth. I was drugged & out of it until they released us on the morning of the 25th; sent home with my abdomen stapled together, a prescription in hand and a bag of disposable diapers. “Merry Christmas,” they said.

Many years later, I see the beginning was a foreshadowing of things to come. But truth be told, the doctor was a liar. I was the recipient of many lies as the drama based on bad information unfolded.

In this particular case I affirm that I birthed much larger babies than my first and for whatever reason they take longer choosing their arrival date. A wise midwife told me: Babies come when they come; their time not by scheduling on a calendar.

So I light a candle each holiday season: a prayer for pregnant women, that only the truth will fill their ears.

Book Review: Earthing

2010-12-13T13:45:00.000-08:00

Title: Earthing: The most important health discovery ever?
Authors: Clinton Ober, Stephen Sinatra, MD, Martin Zucker
Publisher: Basic Health Publications, Inc
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59120-283-7
Price: $18.95

This book came to me as a surprise. I love surprises. Even more of a surprise was the contents which made so much sense. In regular language the authors explain why we have so many health problems and the simple solution to many, if not all of them.

Wish you felt better? Interested in small changes that make a huge difference in your health? This should be the next book you read.

The 259 page book is sectioned into four parts: Part One: Why we are unhealthy – the missing link; Part Two: Personal discoveries; Part Three: Connecting with Science; Part Four: Earthing Chronicles.

The one thing that I liked about the book was that everything, even the complicated scientific stuff was put in a way that was easy to understand. The explanations are essential so the reader doesn’t think that this is just made up. Time and time again, in anecdotal trials then in clinical trials the same results played out the same: getting grounded restores a better healthy balance to the body.

Grounded is just that grounded to the earth, like an electrical appliance, only humans need to reconnect with our Planet. There are several ways of reconnected, each is explained in the book but it is a simple as walking barefoot on the beach or in your garden.

Older people suffer from a variety of ailments but most are accompanied by inflammation. The trials and the photos show that earthing or grounding help relieve much of the inflammation in a short period of time. The pain relief when the inflammation subsides is testimony enough for the clients/patients to want to continue to use the earthing apparatus or to continue to connect to the Planet regularly.

The easiest way to connect and become grounded while continuing to have a busy life, is to use the products developed by one of the authors, placing grounding sheets on your bed is all you must do. The authors declare, you won’t have to wait for results, you’ll feel better after the first night.

Book Review: The Kennedy Detail

2010-12-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

Title: The Kennedy Detail: JFK’s Secret Service Agents break their silence
Author: Gerald Blaine with Lisa McCubbin
Genre: History
Publication Date: 2010
Publisher: Gallery Books, NY
ISBN 978-1-4391-9296-2
Price: $28.00

Breaking of more than four decades of silence, the Secret Service Agent turned tell-all author attracts historians and Kennedy-fans with his compilation of government documents, agent stories and personal account of November 22, 1963. This is a story that begged to be told.

Agent stories place the characters in place and time. The men served their country not for the low wages but for inner reasons. Their lives were inextricably intertwined with the First Family, spending more time with Caroline and Jon than their own children. Their wives and children were bonded together in an effort to make up for the time their husbands were away. The agent life style deprived them of regular meals, regular sleep and perhaps, taxed their inner resources to a point that led to their failure of duty, it certainly left an opening for a mad-man to shot the president and alter the course of the country forever.

What draws many people to the story of the assignation of President John F Kennedy is the country’s grief that continues to this day. Children not yet born can identify the country’s optimism in the early 1960s: America had faced off with the Reds and won; we had launched machines into space; we were able to claim our greatest and dream of better things to come. The dreams were dashed that infamous Day in Dallas. American ideals best stated in JFK’s notable speech: Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country, were withdrawn into a societal caution and grief.

Jerry Blaine was there through the all the events that lead up to the assassination, the funeral and afterwards. While many of the other agents left the secret service feeling that they had failed, Jerry Blaine continued his career until retirement. His position within the organization allowed him to come forward at this time to tell the story of six seconds that changed the country forever.

The book is written in four sections: The Men, The Job, That Day, and Our Lives which fills in the picture of the president’s life in the early 1960s and the small intimate detail of agents who sole job it is to protect the president from harm. The Secret Service learned a lot in November 1963 that has benefited subsequent presidents and kept our Commander in Chief safe from madmen.

Readers will find new details to fill in the how and the why of the Kennedy assassination. The agent's personal stories create memorable perspective of a national tragedy.

Estimate versus Guess

2010-12-02T12:54:00.000-08:00

As our culture changes at an even increasing rate of speed, it becomes more important to instill in the younger generations basic facts about honesty, logic, integrity. The ways we as a society convey our ideas, using ever increasing acronyms and misspellings for the sake of brevity (lol), remain problematic. The results range somewhere between complete miscommunication and utter global disaster.

The solution may be instilling in our younger generations a better grasp of language or at least a standard for the language we use.

Do you know the difference between an estimate and a guess?

Most people would say “yes”, but for clarity's sake please read on…

A group sits in a conference room, a long table in the middle with chairs around.

Ms. L: I want you to give me estimates but I don’t want you to guess.

Mr. A: Okay

Ms. L: Please let me give you an example of an estimate. Take this table for example: based on your ability to see the table and your proximity to the table and your experience with different sized tables, you would be able to estimate the length of this table.

Mr. A: Approximately.

Ms. L: Yes.

Mr. A: Well, it’s more than six feet but less than 10, I’ll guess, 8 and a half feet.

Ms. L: Actually, that’s an estimate, because you looked at it and reasoned it out. I happen to know that this table is 8 feet long, so your estimate was very close to correct. But if you had said anything between 6 and 10 feet, that too would be correct because you are estimating.

Mr. A: Okay, great!

Ms. L: But if I asked you how long my dining room table is at home, you would have to guess. You haven’t been to my house to see the table. I might not even have a dining room table. So for you to answer, that would be a guess.

Mr. A: I understand.

Ms. L: Great. Are you ready to proceed?

Mr. A: I guess.

Ms. L: cries….

Agreement of language is essential for good communication. If you aren’t sure what something means, ask. Language is fluid. Words have a variety of definitions. If you understand the language but you don’t understand the message, ask: what do you mean by that? What’s the point?

Queen Anne Home

2010-11-21T22:18:00.000-08:00

1890s large homes built for the upper middle class were classically constructed in what we call “Queen Anne" style. While our ancestor’s might have known most people ask: who is Queen Anne and why is this architecture her style?

Queen Anne 1665-1714, succeeded to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland in 1702 as well as the title Queen of France (1707). She lived in a politically and religiously tumultuous time. During this period the political two-party system developed: “Whigs” And “Tories.” In spite of closer heirs, the crown went to George I.

The exciting part of this period of English history was the developments in architecture. Classic Queen Anne buildings are notable by rows & rows of sash windows flush with the brickwork, stone quoins at the corners, rooms built two-rooms deep providing an inner chamber and sweeping steps leading to the door. This English Queen Anne style was commonly built into the 20th Century.

A hundred years later during the Victorian Era, Americans romanticized our collective English heritage and made the Queen Anne their own. With classic American disregard the once British Queen Anne style became an American home hardly resembling its British architectural predecessor.

American Queen Anne has high pitch asymmetrical gable roofs, huge porches, variants in texture façades. This style was particularly popular with the socially upwardly mobile middle classes who buffered the upper class form the American working class.

Expected details of the interior of an American Queen Anne home include sweeping stairs from the foyer, with wainscoting throughout the public areas of the home. Private areas often included interior or double chamber space in the larger homes. Grand fireplaces placed throughout the lower areas with smaller fireplaces on the second floor provided warmth on the inside and contributed to the asymmetrical exterior style.

Remembering Dave Niehaus

2010-11-12T22:16:00.000-08:00

Most of the stories about Dave Niehaus this week talk about the man who worked as a sports caster, the Dave Niehaus I’ll remember was my neighbor. In fact, his family lived right next door to mine. Dave was the Dad. My best friend was Andy, Dave’s son. The Niehaus family profoundly impacted my childhood in a good way.

Of course, having your best friend live next door makes for a good situation. There were actually three of us who were best friends: Andy, Frank & me. I played like my friends. I had trucks, cars and a sand box. I changed into play clothes when I got home from pre-school. They told me, 'you're as fun as any boy.' But Mr. Niehaus said I was the pretty little girl from next door. Then he’d wink at Andy.

I don’t remember what I wore for Halloween the year we went trick or treating together. But Andy became a clown. Marilyn had made the costume; it was the “wonderfulest costume in the whole wide world." Marilyn was a really great mom. She said I could call her Marilyn which made my mom flip out. I remember thinking: Andy is so lucky to have such a nice mom.

Tomboys tend to get bumps & bruises when they’re acting out on the boy-part. Andy gave me my first black eye. He slammed the gate and I miss judged the distance…Boom, black eye. He felt really bad. I had a great story for school and recovered quickly.

I remember clearly sitting on their back porch at the table. It was Andy & me and Mr. Niehaus & my Dad. Mr. Niehaus & my Dad were talking; Andy & I were playing cards. Mr. Niehaus asked to see the cards. He shuffled the cards and had me pick one. He shuffled and lined them on the table. There was my card. He shuffled and had me pick another card. Suddenly, my card was wherever I pointed my finger in the deck. He did this several times to my squealing delight. A magician! I had a magician living next door.

At some point, the Niehaus family moved to a different neighborhood. I remember they invited us over but my mother said we didn’t have time to drive 'all the way over there.' So, I lost touch with my first best friend, the boy-next-door. But I never forgot Niehaus family.

I’m not a sports fan and while I heard the name Niehaus mentioned from time to time, it didn’t occur to me that it was the same Mr. Niehaus from so many years ago. Until this week, when they announced his passing and had photos online did I recognize my neighbor, the magician.

I wish Dave Niehaus well in his new Magical Place because he put magic into my childhood.

Different Shapes

2010-11-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Daily reminders that we share our space with a plethora of creatures encourage the symbiotic nature of life on planet Earth.

Momma Earth provides the habitat for species to thrive or decline based on a variety of influences both naturally occurring and action consequence. Habitats for Earth-dwellers are ever overlapping producing an array of sub-species developed by natural selection and environmental impact.

I eat my lunch at a beautiful location near signage which reminds me: I Am Not Alone.

My virtually unseen companions are the local inhabitants. I recognize my intrusion into their territory and I act accordingly… respectful.

Often snakes are under appreciated. They serve a great purpose in keeping the rodent and small animal populations in check. We need these creatures to help maintain a proper balance.

Respect for the rattlesnake is a healthy position to maintain. They are venomous snakes whose striking distance often surprises their prey. In general, they strike out from a coil to a distance of two-thirds their length. Bites provide the mechanism for venom delivery.

Rattlesnake venom is most often an hemotoxic venom which causes blood clotting and destruction of tissue. Rarer but more deadly are the rattlesnakes that have neurotoxic venom which shuts down the nervous system. Medical attention is required for venomous bites. Treatment with anti-venom reduces death down to 4% of those bitten.

Rattlesnakes rattle when they’re disturbed; angry or fearful, but they need not rattle before they strike. Non-rattling rattlesnakes include the young or pre-button size rattlesnakes and water-logged rattles on rattle snakes. Water-logged rattles occur after a heavy rain. Still the rattle is a warning to back away which is better heeded than not.

When entering a rattlesnake habitat it behooves humans to wear protective clothing: long pants and high boots. Proper boots can stave off what could be a devastating conflict with one of Earth’s necessary creatures.

Nero fiddled, Rome burned

2010-10-29T20:56:00.001-07:00

Nero, born December 15, 37, died June 9, 68 by suicide, ending the reign of the Julio dynasty of Rome.

Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, called Nero by friends and enemies alike, was known for fiddling while Rome burned. In truth, he was pleased with the clearing of the city so he could build his pleasure palace on a prime piece of Roman real estate otherwise occupied by the property’s owners.

Once obtaining the prized piece of ground, his Real Estate and building projects were completed by the salve class who were entertained by gladiatorial games. Unlike other times in the Empire, this period was particularly hard on the slaves with little to no compensation for their labor. They attended gladiatorial games regularly for the food dispensed to the crowds.

Nero’s ruthlessness and greed for money and power propelled him into abuse of the citizenry. Under his rule the decline of the Roman Empire became apparent. With the heavy taxation of the people, consolidation of wealth to a few, especially Nero’s treasury, Rome became troubled within the Empire and that was the good side.

Despite troubles both within and on the outskirts the Empire, Nero didn’t flinch at demanding his wealthy enemies, and perhaps a few friends, bequeath their lands and property to him. Often his royal request came just before charges of treason were delivered via the sword. Inheriting, rather than seizing the wealth gave him full power to use his ill-gotten gains as he chose.

Hardly a family man, he is suspected of being in on the plot his mother launched to kill his uncle Claudius, the previous Emperor. Once on the throne, he found his mother tedious and had her killed. He served his first wife’s head to his second wife, by request. Not too much later, he kicked his second wife to death while she was pregnant with his heir.

All this from a man who wasn’t much of a politician but inherited his position, wasn’t fiscally wise but obtained much his wealth through improper and illegal means, and wasn’t much of a looker either.

The Roman slaves entertained by the games were equally joyous at the death of the emperor. It’s recorded: there was dancing in the street.

Question Wonder Being

2010-10-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

There are times when the question occurred to me: why do anything? The thought of giving in to utter despair to not do anything had crossed my mind. It has crossed my mind before. Perhaps, this is a component of being human… questioning.

When situations, relationship don’t seem to be going well: why continue? The thought of not continuing had crossed my mind. It has crossed my mind before. Perhaps, this is a component of being human…wondering.

From the ground, beaten into silence: why be? The thought of not being had crossed my mind. It has crossed my mind before. Perhaps, this is a component of being human…being.

Questioning and being open to the answers presented is an uncomfortable place. It takes bravery to gaze into the looking glass and find that all is not right with the reflection. For some it’s the true nature coming through, for others it’s the battle scars of life. However, the growth that comes from questioning may set a soul free from the bondage of the past.

Wondering about people, places, and the situations that appear askew, learning that sometimes it’s the viewer and sometimes it’s the view. Which is which and how do we know? An honest friend who tells the truth, even if it's not what you want to hear is the best determiner of just how off one may be.

Being in the moment, standing still to take the punch one more time. Why? Because sometimes you do things because you have to, sometimes you show up because people are counting on you, sometimes you do the best thing for others because life isn’t all about one person, it’s about everyone.

Question to seek the answers. Wonder to grasp the meaning. Be in the now to experience life.

Queen Elizabeth II is like Scrooge

2010-10-14T08:42:00.001-07:00

Like many people around the World, I love watching the British Royalty. But I have to say, the Queen has forgotten herself, her position and her people. Canceling Christmas is a villainous thing to do. In movies we see Sheriff John (Robin Hood) canceling Christmas. In Literature, Dickens has Mr. Scrooge canceling Christmas, well, the Christmas party for her staff anyway.

The position of the upper class is to employ as many people as possible to move the money of the country around in a way that circulates and encourages a better economy. It is not in anyone's interest to act as a bump or villain, by stating the obvious, the economy sucks and depressing your personal staff even further by Canceling their Christmas Party.

I don’t think the Queen remembers the promise she made when she took the throne to be a good guiding force for her people. She’s off track and we’d all like to see the Queen set an example for the upper class to get the world economy back on track.

Knuckling to depression and pretending that she and her echelon aren’t responsible for the recovery is absurd, unless of course, they really want to join us in the trenches, then by all means Cancel Christmas.

The World and certainly Britons would like to see a really big party, with the hiring of plenty of extra help to give more people a better Christmas.

Honestly Madam, don’t be a Scrooge!

27 Powers of Persuasion

2010-10-09T21:00:00.001-07:00

27 Powers of Persuasion is a easy and quick read. If you’re looking to do better with work relationships or people in general this is a must read.

Bringing people together to find a consensus, to lead the group in a way they will participate to make a better project and happily agree with your desired direction. All the step by steps to lead people happily by persuading them to see your vision, your goal and make those visions their visions, their goals.

27 Powers of Persuasion is a great how-to book for grass roots involvement or to make a department or company super productive. It’s the best advice to make cohesion within an organization.

Contents: Focus on the goal, Evaluate Egos, Soothe or sidestep other egos, Manage opposition by giving it nothing to oppose, Make your weakness your strength, Find one thing to like about everyone in the room, Use the first five minutes to make people feel safe, Stay in the present, Recognize the reality, Make it about choice fairness and accountability, Keep it simple, Own the language, Use emotional language, Make sure everyone’s invested, Get third-party validation, Arm your advocates, Aim for the undecideds, Avoid absolutes and hypotheticals, Learn how to use silence, Get physical, Don’t say no, say let’s try this, Release bad news quickly and good news slowly, Challenge bad ideas by challenging the details, Play devil’s advocate, Don’t change, Adapt, and Be your own pundit.

Since college, this is the most highlighted book on my shelf. Sales people, managers and leaders should all take notes from Chris St. Hilaire who has brought together all the persuasive philosophies in one place.

Title: 27 Powers of Persuasion: Simple Strategies to Win Allies and Seduce Audiences
Author: Chris St. Hilaire
Genre: Business/Self Help
ISBN: 978-0735204515
Publication Date: September 2010
Pages: 288
Price: $25.00
Publisher: Perigee Books/Prentice Hall Press Penguin Group

Science of Being and Art of Living

2010-09-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

The Science of Being and Art of Living: Transcendental Meditation is a book written by His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1963. Maharishi left his home and brought Transcendental Meditation to the Western World.

Open to those who wanted to learn to meditate in a most simple fashion, Maharishi set into motion the growth of a program of meditation not conflicting with any religion that serves humanity at times of great need. I participated in the first surge of meditation in the US, learning at the Santa Monica TM Center in 1974/5. The second surge is just as exciting, maybe even more because my vantage point of a long time meditator. I am truely excited for each and every person who learns TM.

Saturday, I met Tess. She's roughly the same age I was when I was introduced to TM. I told her what I've come to know if you meditate for over 30 years, you'll be much more aware of many, many things.

Maharishi often talked about the levels of awareness: consciousness is like the water on a lake with the top waves being the thoughts of which we are aware. Below the surface and into the depth of the lake are the deeper parts of the mind. Transcendental Meditation helps meditators access these depths available to every human being.

In the depths of the mind, just like in the lake, is calm/quiet but in access the deeper mind there is also increased energy, increased creativity, increased organization, and the ability to see more clearly our personal life path.

But how do you reach those depths?

http://www.tm.org

Green Clean = Clean Environment

2010-09-21T07:56:00.001-07:00

Benefits of Green Clean

Better Health
Clean Environment
Supporting Environmentally Friendly Companies

The last century held a war of germs at the cost of ever increasing numbers of toxic chemicals. Some germs, bacteria, viruses died but some became Super Illnesses threatening the health of an increasing number of people. Hazardous for the elderly and young children Super-bugs are infecting athletes and others in locker rooms and public restrooms with fungus, bacterium and viruses.

One way to avoid a variety of Illnesses is to keep your environment clean.

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/

http://www.simplygoodstuff.com/

Light Clean – Daily
Wipe All Top Surfaces
There are places such as public restrooms, offices and even some homes that only use this type of cleaning. They need to do more, really.

Regular Clean – Weekly
Bring the cleaning bucket with all the cleaning supplies. Today is cleaning day: Dust, Vacuum, Wash Floors. All daily lightly cleaned areas are really cleaned with cleaner. Wash all towels, bedding, over-clothing aprons, et cetera. Wash all mugs, coffee pots, tea pots, et cetera. Clean keyboards, mouse, screens, shelves, picture frames, et cetera.

Deeper Clean – Monthly
A semi-large cleaning keeps the dust bunnies and cobwebs from collecting. This is the level of clean that gets noticed by guests and the public. Wipe Walls, Light Switches, Door Handles, Tops of Cases, Tops of Fans, et cetera.

Seasonal Clean – Quarterly
Inside and Outside Windows and Screens, Railing, Curtains, and Behind Appliances in this three-month cycle of clean. This is the cleaning that prevents build up of nasty toxins. While cleaning behind the appliances remember to vacuum the vents, this will extend the life of your appliance. Change vent filters in the heating and air conditioning system. If a loved one has allergies you may want to do this more often but a seasonal filter change keeps your indoor air cleaner, reducing pollen and dust. Change water purity filters too.

This is a great time to prepare a repair list too.

Comments
With the recession building management has reduced the number of cleaning personnel and it shows. Cleaning and maintenance should be a high priority because it reduces overall cost of health-care by reducing communicable diseases, and keeps public areas in better repair.

Historical Note
Until recently most Middle Class and all Upper Class Homes had one or more staff members because cleaning was a daily event. For larger homes it was common to have Upstairs and Downstairs Staff as well as Chamber and Scullery Staff.

Good Clean Health!

E-85: A Better Choice

2010-09-13T18:21:00.000-07:00

Sustainable eco-friendlier combustible fuel is produced from corn, a rotatable sustainable crop, it's called E-85.

Current dormant acreage can be rotated to a corn crop rather than subsidized through USDA payments to farmer ‘not-to-plant’. This rotation provides soil nutrients as it is worked and turned, prevents top soil erosion and makes a fuel that burns cleaner than fossil fuels. Could this be an easier choice?

Let’s Explore E-85

E-85 is now available at less than 3,000 gas stations across the US. It is a primary fuel in several European countries including Sweden, Ireland and Italy. If US consumption rises not only would the fuel be available at more stations, the price should go down as the production quantity goes up, making E-85 even more attractive to the consumer.

Current E-85 prices on cost per tank are on par with fossil fuel costs, but E-85 creates less carbon emission, less overall air pollution per mile of driving.

E-85 is an alcohol fuel made from non-edible corn plant or whey, the waste, by product in cheese production.

Reports online show the fuel miles per gallon is reduced when compared with fossil fuel. But the important part for consumers is the price per gallon which is less. With zero added cost to the consumer adding in the improved air quality, the decision is a no-brainer, E-85 wins!

Not only is E-85 better for the consumer and the environment but a boost for the economy as well as rising production levels will increase alternative fuel production jobs right here in the US.

Fuel Economy

In trials gas consumption seems to be related to driving habits. If you are a responsible driver, you’ll find nearing similar mpg (miles per gallon) with E-85. If you are heavy on the gas or ‘Ricky Racers’ with excessive speed or stomping on gas to brake and back again, then your over all fuel economy will be reduced. Some of the anti-E-85 articles on the web are skewed to show the fuel economy ratings toward an erratic driver rather than easy-going driver. In other words, the worst-case scenerio is stated as the probable fuel milage.

One Day’s Price

Gas $3.25/gallon
E-85 $2.75/gallon

Emission Toxins

E-85 reduced emission toxins including Benzene, a known carcinogen. E-85 increases acetaldehyde which is found in exhaust and cigarette smoke. Studies are in progress to find the ratios and related risks to the acetaldehyde emissions.

Is E-85 the end to air pollution?

Easily, the answer is NO.

Is E-85 an alternative to fossil fuel?

Yes.

Can E-85 be less costly than fossil fuel?

Yes.

Clearly, E-85 is a step in the right direction for cleaner air at a better price for everyone.

Book Review: Confucius Jade

2010-09-06T12:03:00.000-07:00

Title: Confucius Jade
Author: Frederick Fisher
Genre: Fiction/China
ISBN: 978-0-9819291-3-2
Publication Date: March 2010
Pages: 350
Price: $14.95
Publisher: Dudley Court Press

Confucius Jade: the story begins in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China telling the story of the Kong family, descendents of Confucius who lived five hundred years ago. The family’s story recounts bravery, and tragedy as they move for better opportunity. They follow the jade trade routes only to loose half the family along the way.

Jade is a desired commodity. Wan Yi is a jade carver who finds himself in an unusual position having carved using mystical ways, the representation of Shou-Xing, the Chinese God of Longevity.

Frederick Fisher, a gemologist is the author of this unusual tale of intrigue. His knowledge of China and the gem trade not only makes this story interesting but gives the reader insight to another world.

Once started, I could hardly put the book down and couldn’t wait to get back to it to find out what happened next. It was an honor to read this book and a delight to recommend it to people who are interested in gems, China or simply reading a great story.

An Interview with Christine Marie Bryant, Founder of Coffee House Writer’s Group

2010-09-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

Interviewer: Hi Christine

Christine Marie Bryant: Hi

I: How are you?

CMB: Great!

I: We’re here today, in your home. I want to thank you for letting me interview you. We’re going to be talking about the Coffee House Writer’s Group. You are the founder.

CMB: Yes.

I: Can you tell me a little bit about Coffee House Writer’s Group?

CMB: Well, my inspiration came from looking for motivation to write personally. Nothing out there really motivates me to write more than people and reading my writing to people. So I figured I’m going to go out there and find people who would like to listen to me read and that there are writers that would want to have others listen to them. My whole idea was to have maybe 5 or 6 people meet on a weekly basis.

CMB: I stumbled across meetup.com and I did some investigation of writer’s groups. I went to a couple of them. I saw thing I didn't like and things I liked. So I took the things that I liked and I created this group.

I: So this is a group for writers who read to each other and then?

CMB: And then we critique. We talk about the writing and we give our opinions. I make it clear to everyone that comes that it’s important to give honest critiques so that the writer can take the information and learn from it. They can take the critiques that work for them and leave the rest. So the writer can improve the piece they're working on. Nobody is there to hurt anyone’s feelings. And honestly, that really hasn’t happened. We’re all adult about taking the criticism and it being constructive criticism.

I: Very good. When did this start?

CMB: I started investigating other writer’s groups last year. As a New Year’s Resolution I just jumped in. I thought, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

CMB: I love coffee and I love the idea of meeting in a coffee house. The place I had originally picked was a coffee house. So really it was simple, I made the logo with a coffee cup, added the name, Coffee House Writer’s Group.

CMB: I didn't know this but Meetup.com jump starts new groups by sending out invitations to people who have said they want information in a certain category. So I selected writers, screen writers, poets as tags for the group. There may be 20 different tags for the group. So what happened was they sent an invitation out to all the people that said they were interested. I probably had, within four or five days, there were 45 people who joined.

I: You’re nine months in now?

CMB: Yes.

I: How many people do you have now?

CMB: 159 participating members.

I: When do you meet?

CMB: It started on Thursday nights. There were a lot of people that couldn’t make it during the week. So we decided to also put a meeting together on Saturday afternoons for people who live farther away that don’t want to fight the traffic during the week.

CMB: Then we found another venue that is so wonderful. They have given us the opportunity to hold meetings there on Monday nights. So every other Monday we have writing competitions, and on the other Mondays we have writing workshops.

I: Tell me about the competitions.

CMB: The competition is a writing prompt competition where the contestants get the prompt when they arrive at five o’clock or five-thirty, so they have 60 -90 minutes to write about the prompt. At the end, they read what they’ve written. Then the contestants vote by private ballot, but they can’t vote for themselves. The ballots are counted to find the winner. The prizes are $20 gift cards from Barnes & Noble, Boarders, Starbucks, or other store card. The gift cards are donated by businesses and in return they have a sponsor ad on our website.

I: So your sponsors are local business people who support the writers in this area.

CMB: Yes.

I: Coffee House Writer’s Group is obviously growing. What are your plans for the future?

CMB: I see little things happening every month. In the beginning, I saw that there should be a committee. It’s really cool, that now I have a committee. In the beginning I saw there should be competitions and now we have competitions. It’s already in motion.

CMB: Everything that I see is going to happen at some point. Right now, there are a lot of ideas for a writer’s retreat and to do things together as a group; going to a murder mystery dinner or doing a radio blog show for the group. The idea is to have a meeting for people who live too far away and can’t come to a meeting. The reading could be done on the radio and they can be home in their pajamas. They could be on their home computer and we could have an online meeting. That’s very cool.

CMB: Another thing that I see is that this grows into a non-profit organization that helps support writing in high schools. There will be writing competitions for high schoolers and have the prizes be a $200 or $500 scholarship toward their continued education. The Coffee House Writer’s Group will be the judges or mentors.

CMB: One of the members just said that he could see himself mentoring kids that are really into writing. He suggested workshops where members can work with the high school writers partnering on projects.

I: Wow! You have big plans.

CMB: Yes, I do.

I: I just want to thank you for giving me your time to tell me about Coffee House Writer’s Group. I’m sure we’ll be meeting again as the group grows and grows.

CMB: Thank you.

Go to Coffee House Writer’s Group fan page on facebook or meetup.com for more information.

Writers Write

2010-08-25T08:26:00.001-07:00

Writers gathering together at a coffee house may be a theme for the genus. Is it the adrenaline anxiety or the caffeine that pumps the blood to push the writer through any shy self consciousness? Does it matter?

Writers write and a writer’s group is a forum for improving talent or experience, expanding genres or categories. Each subsection in a library offers degrees of specialized expertise in knowledge, research, imagination, grammar, communication and talent, cross writing takes time and effort but may be incredibly rewarding.

Many famous dead writers wrote in a variety of ways: Mark Twain was a journalist and master story teller. Oscar Wilde wrote plays, poetry, stories and essays. Charlotte Bronte wrote novels and poetry.

Personal caffeine addiction/enjoyment aside, the coffee house is an artist's refuge and writer’s requirement.

A New Thought

2010-08-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Shocking as it seems, not everyone watches TV. With the increase in mind-numbing commercials coupled with the dumbing-down of prime-time content, and the drool invoking repetition of nonsensical, yet not humorous, slogan spewing heads, it’s truly amazing that carriers receive payment for the hook-up. Shouldn't they be paying you?

Salesman: I’d like to offer you a package discount on services. I see you don’t have our TV service.

Human: Yes.

Salesman: Who is your current provider?

Human: No one.

Salesman: Who?

Human: We don't have a provider. We don’t watch TV.

Salesman: Don’t watch TV?

Human: No.

Salesman: I can offer you 220 stations with all your favorite shows and additional channels for just an additional $30 per month to your current services.

Human: No thank you. We wouldn’t use the service.

Salesman: May I ask why not?

Human: Because we don’t watch TV.

Salesman: Don’t watch TV?

Human: No.

Salesman: At all?

Human: No, not at all.

Salesman: (exasperated) Really?

Human: (giggle) Yes, really. But thank you for the offer. If I change my mind I’ll give you a call. Thank you for calling.

Salesman: Okay… thank you.

Often, a newly planted thought of life participation rather than observation is all a person needs to venture out into the world and do, rather than just watch.

Dream Pillow & Journal Giftbox Set

2010-08-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

For the Dreamers:
Giftbox of Dream Pillow filled with herbs for your slumber pleasure and a journal to record your dreams upon waking.

Money is for Spending

2010-08-09T22:35:00.000-07:00

“Sit still,” the mother commanded.

A little girl, a precocious child, sat in a hard chair while her mother brushed her hair from behind.

“So he’s getting a raise,” she continued the conversation with her sister.

“Good for you, I wish Chuck would get a raise soon,” said the aunt.

“Doesn’t he get cost of living raises?”

“Yes, but not until the end of the year.”

“Ouch,” said the little girl.

“You make me pull when you wiggle,” she scolded the girl, then continued with her sister, “Well, you’ll have more then. We’ll be able to do so much more with the money.”

“It won’t be more by the time you get it,” said the girl of five years.

“What are you talking about?” the mother demanded.

“The money,” she replied.

“She thinks she’s so smart, this one,” she said to her sister, as she biffed the back of the little girl’s head.

“Ow,” the girl complained.

“What about the money?” asked the aunt.

“You should only get more money when you do more or do it better,” said the girl, “because it’s not really more money.”

“Yes, it is,” the aunt said.

“No,” said the girl turning around in the chair to face her aunt. “If you get a little money then the prices go up, then you get more money then the prices go up, it’s what they do, it’s a game,” declared the child, “there is a way to make the game work for everyone but grown-ups don’t understand the way the game works.”

“It’s not a game, and you need to keep your mouth shut!” the mother yelled and sent the child to her room.

After the aunt left, the mother came into the girl’s room. The mother said, “It’s for your own good. You need to learn to not be so smart.” Then she spanked the girl until the girl’s face felt hot.

But the girl didn’t cry because she knew she was correct. She decided she’d keep the answer to the game to herself until it was time for a change or forever, whichever happened first.

And Johnny can't read... really?

2010-08-08T21:05:00.001-07:00

This photo of the cross walk in front of an elementary school provides the answers to so many questions...
why can't Johnny read?
why can't Janey write a letter?
why can't the cashier make change?

Now, how do we fix the problem?

Getty's Garden

2010-08-03T17:34:00.000-07:00

The Getty’s kitchen garden exhibits the best of a cloister garden or a pre-refrigeration household. Herbs were used as flavoring for cooking, medicines, preservatives for food storage and aromatics. The variety of herbs in the garden include:

Peppermint ~ Mentha varieties brew splendid teas, cook into candies, cakes and other dishes. This herb grows well in the sunny beach location.

Lavender ~ Lavendula officinalis from the Latin “lavare” means to wash. Using lavender in the wash or placed in clothing during storage not only kept the moths away but gave the fabric a pleasant aroma. Lavender serves as a multi-use herb, good for food, drink, aroma, cleaning, medicine and crafts. It grows in abundance in the Malibu climate.

Chamomile ~ Matricaria chamomilla has a mild sedative action but is primarily known as a disgestive. Mother Rabbit gives Chamomile tea to Peter after he overindulges in Mr. MacGregor’s garden.

Sage ~ Salvia officinalis means to save or preserve in Latin. Sage originates from the Mediterranean and is added regularly in meat dishes.

Thyme ~ Thymus vulgaris, another Mediterrenean plant fills the Getty's boxes with flowers and brings the bees to the garden. This filler plant grows in the spaces and crevices of most herb gardens.

Basil ~ Ocimum basilicum, a popular herb in Italy, comes from India. The savory herb compliments tomato dishes and Pesto.

Porridge in the morning, M-M- Good!

2010-07-24T21:54:00.001-07:00

Oatmeal in the morning isn’t just for athletes. We can get all the same benefits weight lifters and other exercise fanatics get from their morning bowl of porridge. Health benefits include a leveling of metabolism, lower blood cholesterol and a stabilizing of blood glucose levels.

Oats grow on an Oat plant, also called Avena sativa. The top three producers of Oat are Russia (5.1 metric tons), Canada (3.3 metric tons) and the US (1.7 metric tons). Oats grow in temperate climates and require less heat and thrive with more rain.
Oats grow inside the hull of the plant. The plant is processed and the oats are rolled or ground for human consumption, while horses and cattle will eat the entire plant. Truly oats are an eco-friendly life cycle with every part of the plant being useful.

Health Benefits

The beta-glucan in oats is responsible for reducing the risk of heart disease, especially if combined with a low-fat diet. The fiber of rolled oat keeps digestion moving while providing maximum energy from the complex carbohydrates. Oatmeal is also high in B vitamins which are important for energy and overall good health and especially important for non-meat eaters.

Traditional Cooking Methods

Scotland: Oats have been a staple in the Scottish diet for centuries. Often cooks will soak the oats with some salt overnight then in the morning cook over a low heat until the mixture thickens.

Switzerland: Oats are soaked in milk, honey & cinnamon overnight then in the morning, add fruit & nuts, serve cold.

Vermont: An American version via Scottish settlers of the 19th Century, oatmeal is soaked overnight with a pinch of salt and maple syrup. In the morning, the mixture is cooked with nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger. This must be the best recipe because Vermont leads the US per capita for oatmeal consumption.

Clearly, oatmeal is a breakfast food of champions!

Handsome Hades

2010-07-19T08:36:00.001-07:00

Hades is the son of Kronos, brother of Zeus & Poseidon, and husband to Persephone. If that isn't enough, he’s also the CEO of a very busy place, the underworld.

Not to be confused with the Grim Reaper, Hades is the Head of the afterlife, managing three main regions: Elysium, the Asphodel Meadows and Tartarus as well as the transportation system that runs off five 5 main waterways: Acheron (the river of sorrow), Cocytus (the river of lamentation), Phlegethon (the river of fire), Lethe (the river of oblivion), and Styx (the river of hate). The River Styx, of course, is the most famous of the rivers due to its proximity to our realm, actually serving as the boundary between the two.

Depicted in this marble statue, currently on display at the Getty Villa in Malibu, Hades is a robust figure with handsome features and a reputation as a fierce warrior, an ancient bad boy whose reputation not only endures but continues to evolve to greater heights, or depths as the case may be.

Hades, a evenhanded ruler judged the dead and their destination with a reasonable, rational determination. His rules were simple and not to be broken. Woe to those who sought to cheat death for their time to face Hades became a moment to fear. However, for a good soul, Hades offered the promise a good and peaceful life in the afterworld as reward for the hardships and sorrows of this one.

PECOS VALLEY REVIVAL

2010-07-11T14:09:00.001-07:00

Book Title: PECOS VALLEY REVIVAL

Author: Alice Duncan

Author's website: http://www.aliceduncan.net

Genre: Historical cozy mystery set in Rosedale (a thinly disguised Roswell), New Mexico in 1923.

Publisher: Five Star/Cengage

Publisher's website: http://www.gale.cengage.com/fivestar/

ISBN 978-1-59414-926-9

Pages: 250

Price: $25.99 (hardback)

Publication date: January 2011

A really fun read! Alice Duncan has written a charming story of a fictitious 1920s town called Rosedale, New Mexico in which a young woman Annabelle finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery not unlike the novels she often checks out of the library.

The town seems like a regular small town on the edge of the Wild West with the addition of a cattle drive through the middle of town which brings cowboys to town twice a year. The cattle drive brings the cowboys who stay for the rodeo. The whole town comes out to the rodeo. It’s the biggest thing happening in Rosedale until next year. But this year is special because a fabulous preacher came to town at the same time preaching the gospel in the tent revival fashion.

Annabelle and her friend Myrtle are the center of Rosedale. Myrtle is smitten with the new preacher man and wants her friend Annabelle to come to the tent revival. Annabelle is too sensible for that, then her beau Phil goes the revival, she thinks she might consider it. But when the preacher’s sister, the gorgeous angelic looking young woman catches Phil’s eye… well, Annabelle gets to the revival meeting. That’s when the whole town comes apart…

Pecos Valley Revival grabbed me. I could not put it down. I had to know what happened next… Are Richard & Josephine having an affair? What about Hannah? Kenny’s kind of a jerk, who will he fight with next? Will Phil break up with Annabelle? Will Jack get what he deserves? If Esther is so perfect, why does Annabelle find her irritating? How is it that Hazel knows everything?

Set for release in January 2011, this is a delightful read. It left me hoping that there will be other stories from Rosedale, New Mexico.

Thumbing Through Thoreau

2010-07-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

Thumbing Through Thoreau: A Book of Quotations by Henry David Thoreau
Compiled by Kenny Luck / Illustrated by Jay Luke and Ran Adams
2010: Tribute Books: $24.95
ISBN 978-0-9822565-4-1

Henry David Thoreau profoundly moved me, when in high school, I first read Walden. Pleased not only to find a philosopher I could admire, but a writer who made beautiful statements within his argument that outlined a design for a better world. Thoreau believed in the value of humanity, the value of the Earth and that humanity need not injure the Earth to survive. His naturalist principles are as true today as they were in the mid-19th century.

Thumbing through Thoreau is a compilation of the points one might highlight or underline within the writings. The selections are choice, creating items for contemplation. Thoreau’s inspirational writings are reorganized and divided into three sections: Society & Government, Spirituality & Nature and Love. Thumbing Through Thoreau could easily be used as a reference or daily meditation book. Each page has one quote and one nature drawing.

If you enjoy Thoreau, you'll like the following excerpts from Thumbing through Thoreau:

Section I Society & Government

While civilization has been improving our houses, it has not equally improved the men who inhabit them.

To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.

I have found thus that I had been a rich man without any damage to my poverty.

There is not one kind of food for all men.

Section II Spirituality & Nature

Our life is frittered away by detail…simplify, simplify!

I have a great deal of company in my house, especially in the morning, when nobody calls.

Nothing so fair, so pure, and at the same time so large, as a lake, perchance, lies on the surface of the earth. Sky water.

Go in search f the springs of life.

Section III Love

Love is the profoundest of secrets.

All romance is grounded in friendship.

Veneration is the measure of Love.

Love is a mutual confidence whose foundations no one knows.

For more: http://www.tribute-books.com/thoreau/index.html

Egyptian gods on the wall

2010-07-02T21:37:00.001-07:00

Powerful deities of the Egyptian pantheon are found on mural walls around the world.

Horus seen in his bird form or a man with a falcon head represents hunting and offers protection to devotees. The eye of Horus symbolizes the power of the pharaohs as they receive the power of the gods to rule the country. Horus is the god of Sky & Protection as well as War & Vengeance. During periods of Egyptian history, Horus served as the patron god of the nation.

Sobek, a fearful creator god, represented by a man with crocodile head protects Egyptians’ from Nile crocodiles. As a creator god, Sobek was so closely associated with Ra, he became Sobek-Ra. At the height to popularity, Sobek’s cult provided pools for sacred crocodiles and mummified their favorites for a blessed afterlife.

The stylized representation of Egyptian gods provide great subject matter for conversation while waiting for the show at the Egyptian Theater. It's always good to know tidbits of Jeopardy-esque trivia.

Benefits of Chocolate

2010-06-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

Mary See’s understood good things are related to chocolate. There is nothing as memorable as the first time walking into the See’s Candy Store. With all the ladies behind the counter in white, white uniforms, proving just how clean and good for you the product can be… I am a believer… a chocolate believer.

I justify and supplement my dietary chocolate requirement with M&Ms. When I was busy creating my youngest child, I had cravings for M&Ms and lots of them. Believe me eating chocolate for two was a high point. :) Now, I know if a pregnant woman eats enough chocolate the baby will have brown eyes…

Italian scientist studied hypertension and found that chocolate lowers blood pressure. Even as little as one bar per day will ease the tension in your life creating a feeling of pleasure. It’s the endorphins doing their job.

Stressed out… eat chocolate

Research for this entry:
http://www.sees.com/
http://www.mymms.com/
and eating lots of chocolate. ;)

Playgrounds Build Character

2010-06-20T21:08:00.001-07:00

Early 21st century playgrounds are full of safe brightly colored play equipment. Slides, Swings and soft cushioned material should a child stumble or fall. The slopes of the slides are designed for a smooth glide. Swings set in dirt covered with wood chips with shavings progressively lighter, finer… nearly fluff. Shade trees strategically planted for a light canopy, shading children’s delicate skin from the harsh sun.

Overall the playground leaves visitors with a feeling of ease and splendor. Oh the joys of outdoor time.

Contrast that with playgrounds of the 1960s-70s. Those playgrounds built character. Ten feet steel sheets at a sixty degree angle, stairs, no, ladder, no… those playground designers of yore made sure they welded a solid steel bar along the three upper sides of the perimeter so kids could pull themselves up to the top. Swings made of hard rubber attached to fifteen foot chains with the frame embedded in black top or concrete for durability. Blacktop on a summer day was an experience unto itself. Kids could watch the sizzling heat create vapors mirages of puddles across the playground. Run at your own risk because a fall would mean blacktop gravel burned and embedded in bloody wounds on knees and elbows.

Overall the playground left an entire generation wounded warriors before the end of elementary school. Oh the joys of outdoor time.

Lessons from the Past... Senator Hattie

2010-06-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

To move forward, we may look back to seek wisdom but the courage to change must come from within...

To the surprise of many political observers of the early 20th century, 1931 was not only a year during the Great Depression, but it was the year in which the United States seated it’s first woman Senator. The tumultuous political climate which facilitated the circumstance for the elevation of Hattie Caraway to Senator, not only opened the doors to women in American Politics but also provided the means for populous movements to change the face of America Politics in the 20th century.

Hattie Caraway, the wife of Thaddeus Caraway, Senator from the state of Arkansas, took the oath of office on December 8, 1931, just one month after her husband’s untimely death. Supporters of the momentous occasion hardly expected that the widow Caraway would do more than hold the senate seat until a suitable successor could be elected the following year. As a junior member of the senate, Mrs. Caraway was assigned a seat toward the back of the Senate Chamber, right next to the controversial Senator from Louisiana, Huey P. Long. Although the two Southern Senators had met previously, it wasn’t until they found themselves sharing many similar concerns that they became friends and political allies.

Realign Life

2010-06-04T16:32:00.001-07:00

Life Lessons present themselves daily for those who seek to learn and grow into full human beings. The rest of the population languishes in a sea of misconceptions, immaturity and classic ‘stuck in a rut’ syndrome. As simple as it seems, each one of us has the power to change things in our lives. It’s not easy and sometimes it seems like life is really beating on us. In the end the important things need to be our focus and the rest… well, that’s small potatoes…

An exercise to realign life to the proper priorities:

Sit with a piece of paper & pen. Close your eyes for a moment. Breathe deeply for a few moments until you are relaxed. Then think, what is most important to me. List those things that are most important.

Turn the paper over.

Sit with the piece of paper. Close your eyes again. Focus on the last week or the last month. Face the reality of life and think, where am I spending my time. Chart the time in your life.

Finished?

Now you have point A and point B… where you are and where you wish to be.

Consequences

2010-05-30T16:39:00.001-07:00

In a crazy world of no accountability, no consequences, one could imagine that executives would be shifting responsibility, blaming the government, blaming the silent victims & coastal communities, seeking the cheapest way to stop the flow instead of the fastest and reporting profits in the middle of it all… but that would mean… oh, wait…

Just a thought:

Naughty children need to demonstrate that their lack of responsibility has been replaced by way of amends to behave with a sense of contrition and humility.

Clean-up considerations:

1) Start with a hay barrier for coastal areas: the technology is available, hay is available and experts are available who can direct the retrieval process and recycled the oil soaked hay into blacktop type of products.
2) Retrieve as much oil from the water as possible with a vacuum system, refine it, recycle it. Do not let it float & destroy any more than it already has. Do not hide it under the water.
3) Development of workable solutions should have begun already but… let’s begin immediately. One would think that a sort of rubber tampon or upside-down umbrella or balloon would fill the inside the oil shaft to temporarily stop the flow until the relief well could be drilled tout de suite.
4) Double-double overtime on the relief well.
5) Surely there are engineers and scientists with even more solutions. Pay them well to fix this fast.

Turn a bad situation around and develop solutions that can be made part of regular protocol because it's the long-term profitable thing to do.

My Dog Talks

2010-05-23T19:44:00.001-07:00

“My dog talks,” said the boy.

“Dogs don’t talk,” said the man.

“He does too and I can prove it,” said the boy.

“I’ll go with you boy, just to show you dogs don’t talk,” said the man.

“My dog asks for walks, he does,” said the boy.

The two walked over to the window on the inside of the house.

The dog walked up to the window on the outside of the house.

The dog lifted his paw & tapped on the window.

The man turned to the boy and asked, “What does that mean?”

“Ask him,” said the boy.

“What do you want?” asked the man through the glass to the dog.

“Waaah,” said the dog.

“A walk” laughed the man.

“See, it’s not hard to understand him” said the boy.

“No, it’s not…” paused the man.

“Ruff,” said the dog.

Book Review: Confessions of a Hiring Manager

2010-05-18T20:05:00.001-07:00

Title: Confessions of a Hiring Manager: Sage Advice for Fearless Job Seekers and Career Changers in a Confused Economy
Author: J.T. Kirk
Genre: Nonfiction/Career
ISBN: 978-0981485713
Publication Date: March 2010
Pages: 238
Price: $15.00
Publisher: Kings Crown Publishing

If you’re looking for work, but haven’t had much luck, J.T. Kirk may have the answers you seek. Confessions of a Hiring Manager tells all about the hiring game with detailed strategy to get your resume to the top of the pile, interviewed and hired!

Okay, be honest with yourself. If what you were doing was working, you’d have a job now. Perhaps you need to revamp your game. And don’t you want to know what the hiring manager looks for, how they choose which people to interview? If getting a job is what you want, and you’re willing to follow directions, Confessions of a Hiring Manager provides the tactics necessary to land that job during tough times.

Start with your resume. What does it say? How is it organized? Job seekers need to learn how to write a resume for each job category and probably tweek it for each job. This is how to get the attention of a hiring manager. The manager will know that you are applying for ‘this job’ in particular instead of sending the same resume to a variety of job advertisements.

Take time to develop a strategy, you’ll save your time, energy and money if you develop a plan and stick to it. Are you in the middle of changing your career? Focus on the skills you have that will lend themselves to the job you want. Think about the best way to showcase your skills, the biggest, the best, the most necessary, these should be featured on your resume.

If your resume isn’t very good, you won’t get interviews. It’s that simple. If your resume isn’t in a logical order that focuses on the skills needed for the job you want, how will the hiring manager know you’re perfect for the job? It may be time to hire a resume writer or at least an editor to help you write a great resume.

Cover letters are more important now than ever before. If your cover letter isn’t clever or unique, you might as well pass on sending the resume too. Yes, the job market is that competitive. You must sell yourself through your cover letter. It must show that you read the ad and that you understand what the job entails. J.T. Kirk has the answers you need to write a great cover letter.

Simple manners may not be so simple anymore. J.T. Kirk tells humorous stories from the manager’s side of the desk.
Imagine: it’s 8 am and the first interview of the day is with a man with alcohol on his breath. No, he didn’t get the job. You’ll enjoy the stories and learn what’s okay and what isn’t.

Most importantly, in this market, job seekers need to be flexible. Think about part-time or temporary work that will get your foot in the door. Many companies plan to expand but want to see how a new employee gets along with everyone before they hire full-time and permanent. If you really want a chance to show a particular company that you are an asset, use the creative strategies J.T. Kirk covers.

If you’ve had trouble finding work, these are among the 10 best chapters to get you headed in the right direction. Follow the suggestions and you'll create a great resume, excellent cover letters and have a job sooner than you would if you hadn't followed the suggestions in this book.

The review copy of this book was an uncorrected proof: Not for Sale.

Galileo Galilei

2010-05-13T17:16:00.001-07:00

The brave dream dreams then move forward to make those dreams come true. In life we are moved to make decisions: are we to play it safe, do little or nothing of significance or are we brave enough to risk being different?

One person who was different was Galileo who made logical conclusions based on what he new to be true. He extended thought out to theorize about the workings of the universe and presented it in publication much to the chagrin of the authorities.

This brave man dared to be different. He dared to speak the truth as he had come to understand it. What rewards did he reap for this?

Galileo was tried by the Inquisition. He was believed to be a heretic. Continuous pressure and threats of torture lead to his recant of his theory, only to regain his courage and publish again, outside the jurisdiction of the Inquisition.

He was the beginning of what we call: physics. In addition to his heliocentric theories, he explained the basic principle of relativity. His claim to fame in mathematics is Galileo’s paradox. His work in astronomy revolutionized how we think about planets, moons and the universe as a whole.

The Catholic Church has expressed regret for their treatment of one of the greatest scientific minds.

Relationship Ends

2010-05-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

Ending a relationship, especially a life-long relationship, isn’t easy and usually isn’t done without thoughtful reflection. In some cases there is malingering contact that isn’t a relationship but isn’t broken off completely either.

Despite knowing this from past experiences in other relationships, there was one relationship that no matter how much I tried to let go, I found myself returning to “check-in” from time to time, sometimes months, sometimes years between checks. My obligation was often prompted by other people’s questions or stories of reconciliation after years apart. People do change, why don’t you try again? Maybe this time will be different.

Through the Years
So the magical thinking child inside of me, checked-in for a number of years wanting to make everything okay. The emotional adolescent checked-in for some time, angry at the wrongs and hoping for a change. Then finally, the spiritual adult arrived on the scene and said, ‘hey I’m just here to check-in because that’s what people do.’ The adult checking-in had no rhyme just randomly, periodically, via phone, mail, email… Still continuing to do what seemed obligatory by societal standards, though mentally and emotionally knowing nothing would change.

Grace from Above
The cosmic continuum lined up and in a series of events I found myself pulling up to where she was, standing there waiting. Must be a sign we hadn’t seen each other in fifteen years.

Revelation and Release
My appearance obviously came as a complete surprise. For the first time instead of the long standing declaration of love and care, ‘Yes, call,’ ‘Yes, this is important’; I heard, ‘No, don’t call’ and ‘No, I don’t want to see you.’

What I said was: ‘Coming here was a mistake. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m sorry.”

What I thought was: “Finally, the truth… Thank you.”

What happened was the simple realization that there was nothing there… and there never had been.

Writer's Group

2010-05-01T21:24:00.001-07:00

The value of a good writer’s group is beyond description. The variety of personalities, experiences, perspectives bring a unique challenge for the organizers and the best thoughtful critique for writers.

Writing can be a lonely business. Pen & paper, typewriter or computer… technology doesn’t change the individual effort and need for concentration which usually puts a writer alone in a room or alone in their head. Either way, most writers are alone during the creative process.

Without an official editor, some writers rely on friends or family to be the first editors, the first audience. This may or may not be helpful to a writer. What is helpful in any profession is peer review. The first draft review by other writers can help a writer learn about their strengths and weaknesses and with a good writer’s group they can share their strengths and bolster their weaknesses so the final manuscript is just the way the writer wishes to present it to agents or publishers with minimal revision needed.

If you’re a writer seeking to improve your craft, join a writer’s group with other writers who are supportive and helpful.

PersonaliTrees

2010-04-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

PersonaliTrees is an inspirational book that lifts one’s spirit. Timeless photographs show the winter trees in most expressive ways. Accompanying the photographs are wise sayings from some of the most memorable philosophers through history.

Author Joan Klostermann-Ketels is dedicated to helping others with health and well-being through her writing and training company. Her book PersonaliTrees blends the sights of Nature & human wisdom or thought.

Trees (and all Nature) speak to us, if we are open to hear what they have to say. Walking through the woods during different seasons offers different experiences. Walking through the woods during winter gives us the opportunity to look at the barren branches to see the PersonaliTrees beneath the leaves.

Silly, Fun, Serious, Scary, Thoughtful, Balanced, Joyous, name it… there is a photograph of a Tree representing that feeling, action, or emotion within this book.

Wise sayings from our cultural behemoths: Charles Dickens, Emily Dickinson, Benjamin Franklin, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, Plato, Thomas Moore, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Victor Hugo, And Edgar Allan Poe among them give each reader inspiration for inner spiritual growth.

PersonaliTrees is an exceptional gift book, a coffee table book, an inspirational book, written for thoughtful people to pick up, read and rejuvenate the spirit anytime.

Title: PersonaliTrees: Let the Human Spirit Awaken in the Presence of the Trees
Author: Joan Klostermann-Ketels
Genre: Spirituality/New Age
ISBN: 978-1-84409-191-1
Publication Date: April 2010
Pages: 112
Price: $14.95
Publisher: Findhorn Press
Free Review Copy