/In the past, I have been part of many discussions about heaven. What's it like? Where is heaven? Does time stand still in heaven? Does time speed ahead? Is it an alternative universe?
Let's face it. It must be darn good. No one comes back to share its secrets. They are all too busy enjoying heaven to share. For this blog, I am going to presume that heaven is something different to each and every one of us. Some people believe it's a place to be reunited with loved ones. (I pass on that notion.) Case in point, my Aunt Marie. She is buried in between both of her two husbands. Where does she hang in heaven? Maybe she found a third husband in heaven. I don't know. She has not come back to tell me.
This past month I took a part-time job with one of my favorite stores, Talbots. For the fall line, we (Talbots) is featuring jackets. But not just any jacket. There are three main categories of jackets. Each line is named after a fashion icon: Grace, Jackie and Kate. One of my duties is showcase the jackets. What better way to showcase the jackets than to wear them. So, when I am on the floor, I change jackets every hour or two. To date, I have worn every jacket item in the fall collection. Some days, I add a piece of jewelry or scarf to accessorize the outfit. Now in my book, that is a piece of heaven.
My personal choice of jacket is Grace......MOM
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sounds of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel)
Personally, I would rather fixate on happy and cheerful news. But the "sounds of silence" of this (d)recession just need to be spoken.
The latest sword of the Recession hit me and a few of friends quite deeply. Last Sunday evening, my friend, Sunshine, texted me in horror. Our beloved Talbots was closed! There were no signs of there ever being life at the store where I spent a decent size fortune was gone from our lives. "Who will dress me"? was one of my first questions. "Where will I shop"? was the next question.
Then, I personally took the blame. I'm sorry to the Talbot gods. In my current circumstances, I just could not buy enough beautiful clothing to sustain the store. My friend, Sunshine, admitted since her lifestyle had changed, she was not shopping as much at our store.
When I say, my store, I mean it. The tastefully dressed women at Talbots were like family. Candy and Sue would greet me at the door and drop everything to focus on me. Where do you get that type of service from a retailer? Honestly, tell me. I need to know.
After a day or two, we realized that the larger Talbot's stores are still open for business. What relief!
Over the 18 months, we have heard about General Motors, AIG (still paying bonuses), and other huge corporations going bankrupt and whining for money. How many trillions of small businesses and families have gone bankrupt in silence?
MOM - with plenty of clothes for now.
The latest sword of the Recession hit me and a few of friends quite deeply. Last Sunday evening, my friend, Sunshine, texted me in horror. Our beloved Talbots was closed! There were no signs of there ever being life at the store where I spent a decent size fortune was gone from our lives. "Who will dress me"? was one of my first questions. "Where will I shop"? was the next question.
Then, I personally took the blame. I'm sorry to the Talbot gods. In my current circumstances, I just could not buy enough beautiful clothing to sustain the store. My friend, Sunshine, admitted since her lifestyle had changed, she was not shopping as much at our store.
When I say, my store, I mean it. The tastefully dressed women at Talbots were like family. Candy and Sue would greet me at the door and drop everything to focus on me. Where do you get that type of service from a retailer? Honestly, tell me. I need to know.
After a day or two, we realized that the larger Talbot's stores are still open for business. What relief!
Over the 18 months, we have heard about General Motors, AIG (still paying bonuses), and other huge corporations going bankrupt and whining for money. How many trillions of small businesses and families have gone bankrupt in silence?
MOM - with plenty of clothes for now.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Sweet Dreams (Eurythymics)
Calling all Baby Boomers!
Perhaps this crazy economic time has been a recession for the generations of X and Y. Yes, things are tight. The job market is thin. But in conversations of with members of generations X and Y, they feel there is time to recoop from this economic plunge.
To many of my friends and acquaintances who happen to be baby boomers, this recession disguised a Depression. There I said it. The D word.
Not all, but many baby boomers have lost/spent their life savings and/or retirement money just to survive the last 18 months. Many have lost their homes to foreclosure. How many have lost jobs? Within that number of jobless rates, how many have had to reinvent themselves? How many are working at a fraction of their pre-depression compensation? Where are the opportunities for the baby boomers?
After a few heartfelt conversations, many of us have felt we have gone full-circle in our lives. We are starting from scratch. We are picking up shattered pieces of dreams, hopes, plans, and our lives. This is way too depressing for me.
Let’s focus on the other D word. DREAMS! However you want to name them: new dreams, refocused dreams, minimized dreams, etc. Let’s continue to DREAM. Without dreams, there is no hope. Without hope, there is not success or future.
Perhaps this crazy economic time has been a recession for the generations of X and Y. Yes, things are tight. The job market is thin. But in conversations of with members of generations X and Y, they feel there is time to recoop from this economic plunge.
To many of my friends and acquaintances who happen to be baby boomers, this recession disguised a Depression. There I said it. The D word.
Not all, but many baby boomers have lost/spent their life savings and/or retirement money just to survive the last 18 months. Many have lost their homes to foreclosure. How many have lost jobs? Within that number of jobless rates, how many have had to reinvent themselves? How many are working at a fraction of their pre-depression compensation? Where are the opportunities for the baby boomers?
After a few heartfelt conversations, many of us have felt we have gone full-circle in our lives. We are starting from scratch. We are picking up shattered pieces of dreams, hopes, plans, and our lives. This is way too depressing for me.
Let’s focus on the other D word. DREAMS! However you want to name them: new dreams, refocused dreams, minimized dreams, etc. Let’s continue to DREAM. Without dreams, there is no hope. Without hope, there is not success or future.
Trifecta plus One
Through my cursory perusal of the dictionary, I did not find a word for four wins in a row. In some instances, trifecta is used interchangeable with “Hat Trick.” So for this blog today, we will use trifecta plus one.
Last year about this time, we had a blog entitled “Holiday” (Madonna). So you may remember, I love and celebrate every holiday, including Groundhog Day. Celebrating holidays makes life special, in the fabulous sense.
Right now, we are in the third holiday of a trifecta plus one extravaganza. Yesterday, Sunday, February 14 was a double bonus. It was Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year. Both of these great days are celebrated with the color red. Did you wear your red yesterday? This is the year of the tiger.
2010 is the year of Tiger. Some people say 2010 is a Golden Tiger, White Tiger or Metal Tiger year.
Today is President’s Day. If you have the day free from work or school, please celebrate the day with a “President’s Day Sale,” cherry pie or waving the flag.
Tomorrow, Tuesday is FAT Tuesday or Mardi Gras. What a way to end a trifecta plus one in holidays. Please at least wear your mardi gras beads. Coco has a set of beads to wear tomorrow. Personally, I have red beads to wear. Eat whatever you what and do act crazy.
Celebrate and enjoy the holidays - MOM
Last year about this time, we had a blog entitled “Holiday” (Madonna). So you may remember, I love and celebrate every holiday, including Groundhog Day. Celebrating holidays makes life special, in the fabulous sense.
Right now, we are in the third holiday of a trifecta plus one extravaganza. Yesterday, Sunday, February 14 was a double bonus. It was Valentine’s Day and the Chinese New Year. Both of these great days are celebrated with the color red. Did you wear your red yesterday? This is the year of the tiger.
2010 is the year of Tiger. Some people say 2010 is a Golden Tiger, White Tiger or Metal Tiger year.
Today is President’s Day. If you have the day free from work or school, please celebrate the day with a “President’s Day Sale,” cherry pie or waving the flag.
Tomorrow, Tuesday is FAT Tuesday or Mardi Gras. What a way to end a trifecta plus one in holidays. Please at least wear your mardi gras beads. Coco has a set of beads to wear tomorrow. Personally, I have red beads to wear. Eat whatever you what and do act crazy.
Celebrate and enjoy the holidays - MOM
Saturday, February 6, 2010
THINK! (Aretha Frankin)
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
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
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
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