THINK!
One of the common catch phrases is "Think outside the box."
Another phrase is "Not everything is black or white. Think in shades of gray." Personally, if I thought in shades of gray, I would be horribly depressed. Gray is an awfully dreary color. Yes, I understand the meaning of the saying.
Here's my favorite, "See the big picture. Think big."
No wonder people keep reinterating these phrases. As a society, we are not taught to think beyond the lines.
Case in point. When our children start coloring we are excited. They have learned a new skill. But how often as a parent or adult, does that perfectly bright child hear, "it's beautiful, but you colored outside the lines." But maybe, just maybe, the child views the picture as big. Isn't that what we want This child is thinking outside the lines of confinement.
Lately, Monkey and I have been playing this game. We watch people and try to guess if the colored inside the lines. We play this game because we are very proud of the fact that I encouraged my girls to color outside the lines. My reasoning was to raise creative and open thinkers. While it was not easy raising my free thinkers, it has been quite rewarding. Both Monkey and Neptune color outside the lines and see the big picture. Their viewpoints are so interesting and different.
So again, I am encouraging Coco to color outside the lines so she can THINK!
From outside the box - MOM
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Just one word - "Plastics" - (The Graduate)
Do you realize that classic movie was made in 1967? That’s 43 years ago.
Back in 1976, I was employed by the number 2 banking association. This banking association was more of an educational resource to the industry than the number 1 banking association. While pursuing through educational materials, I came across an article entitled, “Cashless Society.” Honestly when reading this article, I could not even imagine something as strange as a cashless society. How would we pay for things?
The zips – 00 – Combine the two thoughts – Plastic and cashless society – What do we have? Credit Cards, ATM cards, debit cards, reward cards, FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards, insurance cards, I-pass cards and devices. The list is far longer. Who could have imagined? I wonder if those geniuses thought of Identify theft?
Plastics – and not a Barbie Doll - MOM
Back in 1976, I was employed by the number 2 banking association. This banking association was more of an educational resource to the industry than the number 1 banking association. While pursuing through educational materials, I came across an article entitled, “Cashless Society.” Honestly when reading this article, I could not even imagine something as strange as a cashless society. How would we pay for things?
The zips – 00 – Combine the two thoughts – Plastic and cashless society – What do we have? Credit Cards, ATM cards, debit cards, reward cards, FSA (Flexible Spending Account) cards, insurance cards, I-pass cards and devices. The list is far longer. Who could have imagined? I wonder if those geniuses thought of Identify theft?
Plastics – and not a Barbie Doll - MOM
Friday, January 22, 2010
Car 54, Where are You?
Car 54, Where are you? (1960’s sitcom)
Is it me?
Have local municipalities and government decided on an old-fashioned way to start paying off the deficit?
Through the headlines we keep hearing about bankrupt states and cities. The first line of reaction is usually raising taxes. While it is hard to keep track, Cook County goes back and forth with its bragging rights of having the highest sales tax in the country. California and numerous other states are bankrupt. Recently, in Maryland, the famous “sin” tax on cigarettes had been raised by $1.00 per pack of cigarettes. Because very few smokers will quite due to the high cost of cigarettes, the cigarette “sin” tax is an easy levy on taxes. The “sin” tax has been extended to candy! When they start taxing my vice, like a smoker, I continue to eat candy.
Officials and the legislations are scratching their heads. Where, oh, what can we tax next? Can you guess?
Monday through Friday, I commute 42 miles each way to work or 98 miles a day or very near to 500 miles a week. Over the last 7 months of commuting to and fro, I estimate on the high side of 15,000. In the last two weeks, I have noticed way-more flashing blue & red lights on the side of the road. Currently, every day I notice at least 2-3 pullovers on the road. When you think of it, who does not speed? Come on, tell the truth!
When you think of the high cost of a speeding ticket, doesn’t it make sense to rake in extra revenue through ticketing speeders? The force is out there any way – why not have them collecting additional revenue for their employer?
Why do I know this? On my return trip from Marquette on Tuesday, I was nabbed for speeding – 81 mph. The ticket will cost me $200! Believe me, Officer, I was just keeping up traffic (in Chicago).
Speedy MOM
Is it me?
Have local municipalities and government decided on an old-fashioned way to start paying off the deficit?
Through the headlines we keep hearing about bankrupt states and cities. The first line of reaction is usually raising taxes. While it is hard to keep track, Cook County goes back and forth with its bragging rights of having the highest sales tax in the country. California and numerous other states are bankrupt. Recently, in Maryland, the famous “sin” tax on cigarettes had been raised by $1.00 per pack of cigarettes. Because very few smokers will quite due to the high cost of cigarettes, the cigarette “sin” tax is an easy levy on taxes. The “sin” tax has been extended to candy! When they start taxing my vice, like a smoker, I continue to eat candy.
Officials and the legislations are scratching their heads. Where, oh, what can we tax next? Can you guess?
Monday through Friday, I commute 42 miles each way to work or 98 miles a day or very near to 500 miles a week. Over the last 7 months of commuting to and fro, I estimate on the high side of 15,000. In the last two weeks, I have noticed way-more flashing blue & red lights on the side of the road. Currently, every day I notice at least 2-3 pullovers on the road. When you think of it, who does not speed? Come on, tell the truth!
When you think of the high cost of a speeding ticket, doesn’t it make sense to rake in extra revenue through ticketing speeders? The force is out there any way – why not have them collecting additional revenue for their employer?
Why do I know this? On my return trip from Marquette on Tuesday, I was nabbed for speeding – 81 mph. The ticket will cost me $200! Believe me, Officer, I was just keeping up traffic (in Chicago).
Speedy MOM
Sunday, January 17, 2010
On the Road Again (Willie Nelson)
This weekend, I embarked on the 7 hour drive to the Marquette in Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I took advantage of the longer holiday weekend to visit with my Monkey.
For the first part of my drive, I listened to my ipod of tunes. Since I had not updated my ipod selection, I went into think mode. While driving a long distance, think mode is one of my favorite activities while driving.
You may or may not be asking, “What does she think about”? Who knows? This think mode started seconds after I crossed the Illinois-Wisconsin border. It has been a long standing rite (tradition) in my family. Three generations have been practicing this ceremony while driving into various states. It is my deep seated hope that Neptune will pass this tradition onto Coco. My father would always say, “Pick up your feet, we are crossing the border into…..(name your state). You don’t want to trip on the state line.” Even when driving alone, I lift my feet for a few seconds as I cross the state line.
So my mind wandered into the good old days and how road trips have evolved since my childhood. My girls and I were raised on road trips and in the car. There is nothing like a heart-to-heart chat driving at 55-80 mph. As a child, many of my better memories are of going somewhere or the 1960’s event – the Sunday drive after an early dinner. Monkey was only 10 days old when I packed her and Neptune into a car and drove to visit family in another state.
For most of my childhood, my father drove a 1960 Chevrolet Biscayne. Yes, it had the fin! These cars were something akin to a living room on wheels. They were spacious!
Today, we talk about texting while driving. While I am not advocating it, I want you to picture my father driving from Illinois to Minnesota every year with two daughters. This was a time when cars did not have seat belts, car seats, cup holders, CD players, or TV. To this day, I still think my father was the best driver in the world. This car had a bench seat . (When was the last time you rode in a car with a front bench seat?) The stick shift was on the steering column. There was no radio. My sister and I sang show tunes for hours. With no seating restraints, we would hop back and forth between the front and the rear seats. My father was speeding, shifting the car, eating a hamburger or ice cream cone or a sipping a cup of coffee or smoking a cigarette. He was amazing. What concentration!
With all the excitement and fun being sucked out of air travel, it is my feeble prediction that more families will be taking road trips. Have fun! But don’t forget to lift your feet while entering a new state. You don’t want to trip on the state line.
Enjoy the memories……Travelin’ MOM
For the first part of my drive, I listened to my ipod of tunes. Since I had not updated my ipod selection, I went into think mode. While driving a long distance, think mode is one of my favorite activities while driving.
You may or may not be asking, “What does she think about”? Who knows? This think mode started seconds after I crossed the Illinois-Wisconsin border. It has been a long standing rite (tradition) in my family. Three generations have been practicing this ceremony while driving into various states. It is my deep seated hope that Neptune will pass this tradition onto Coco. My father would always say, “Pick up your feet, we are crossing the border into…..(name your state). You don’t want to trip on the state line.” Even when driving alone, I lift my feet for a few seconds as I cross the state line.
So my mind wandered into the good old days and how road trips have evolved since my childhood. My girls and I were raised on road trips and in the car. There is nothing like a heart-to-heart chat driving at 55-80 mph. As a child, many of my better memories are of going somewhere or the 1960’s event – the Sunday drive after an early dinner. Monkey was only 10 days old when I packed her and Neptune into a car and drove to visit family in another state.
For most of my childhood, my father drove a 1960 Chevrolet Biscayne. Yes, it had the fin! These cars were something akin to a living room on wheels. They were spacious!
Today, we talk about texting while driving. While I am not advocating it, I want you to picture my father driving from Illinois to Minnesota every year with two daughters. This was a time when cars did not have seat belts, car seats, cup holders, CD players, or TV. To this day, I still think my father was the best driver in the world. This car had a bench seat . (When was the last time you rode in a car with a front bench seat?) The stick shift was on the steering column. There was no radio. My sister and I sang show tunes for hours. With no seating restraints, we would hop back and forth between the front and the rear seats. My father was speeding, shifting the car, eating a hamburger or ice cream cone or a sipping a cup of coffee or smoking a cigarette. He was amazing. What concentration!
With all the excitement and fun being sucked out of air travel, it is my feeble prediction that more families will be taking road trips. Have fun! But don’t forget to lift your feet while entering a new state. You don’t want to trip on the state line.
Enjoy the memories……Travelin’ MOM
Friday, January 15, 2010
SLOW RIDE - Take it Easy - (Foghat)
On Christmas Day, I received a slow cooker. Yes, indeed, this item was on my Christmas list. But of course, there was a color stipulation. I wanted my slow cooker to match my other small appliances in the kitchen. The slow cooker needed to be “Target” red. Santa came through with flying colors.
My daughter, Monkey, also asked for a slow cooker. You may be asking yourself what is a slow cooker. Well, we commonly call them crockpots. The brand name of Crock Pot has become one of many generic names.
Many moons ago, when I was in college marketing, generic meant that a brand had become so popular with the consumer, it lost its brand identity. Some examples are: Coke (a type of pop), Kleenex (a brand of tissue), Q-tip (cotton swab), and now Crock Pot (slow cooker). Today, when I “googled” (another generic brand) “generic.” The descriptions are more about generic drugs and no-name brands in stores.
Well, the point of the story is after all these years of cooking, I finally asked for the slow cooker. My first entrée prepared in the slow cooker was a raving success. I made Italian beef using Darling’s recipe. Darling cooks like I do. No real recipes, just a list of ingredients.
Maybe next week, I will make a slow chili.
Slow cookin’ - MOM
My daughter, Monkey, also asked for a slow cooker. You may be asking yourself what is a slow cooker. Well, we commonly call them crockpots. The brand name of Crock Pot has become one of many generic names.
Many moons ago, when I was in college marketing, generic meant that a brand had become so popular with the consumer, it lost its brand identity. Some examples are: Coke (a type of pop), Kleenex (a brand of tissue), Q-tip (cotton swab), and now Crock Pot (slow cooker). Today, when I “googled” (another generic brand) “generic.” The descriptions are more about generic drugs and no-name brands in stores.
Well, the point of the story is after all these years of cooking, I finally asked for the slow cooker. My first entrée prepared in the slow cooker was a raving success. I made Italian beef using Darling’s recipe. Darling cooks like I do. No real recipes, just a list of ingredients.
Maybe next week, I will make a slow chili.
Slow cookin’ - MOM
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
12 days of Christmas
Where did Christmas go? The 12 days of Christmas went right to my waist and hips. During these 12 days, I have eaten cheesecake, dark chocolate covered blueberries, French toast with blueberries, various homemade cookies, cream cheese spreads, cheese and sausage, crackers, meatballs, pizza, Chinese food, etc. In short, for the past 12 days, I have lived on party food.
Let’s face reality; I will not make a non-stick resolution to eat better. Once I have recovered from my sugar-carbo-high (approximately January 21), my eating habits hopefully will return to somewhat heart-healthy fare. But in the meantime, I am going through an ugly withdrawal period. Talk to you then.
Let’s face reality; I will not make a non-stick resolution to eat better. Once I have recovered from my sugar-carbo-high (approximately January 21), my eating habits hopefully will return to somewhat heart-healthy fare. But in the meantime, I am going through an ugly withdrawal period. Talk to you then.
Friday, January 1, 2010
I Will Survive!
To continue this brief series on the end of 2009 and its entire decade of the ZIP.
How many of us just survived this decade and in particular this year? How many of you are in better shape than you were in 1999? Or, did you just survive? Was your gain ZIP?
Today is the first day of the new decade and 2010.
Happy New Year and may 2010 be the best ever.
How many of us just survived this decade and in particular this year? How many of you are in better shape than you were in 1999? Or, did you just survive? Was your gain ZIP?
Today is the first day of the new decade and 2010.
Happy New Year and may 2010 be the best ever.
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