Planning on Tanning?

Labor Day.  The symbolic end of summer.  But for those of us who travel to or live in warmer parts of the world, sun exposure is a year-round issue. 

We slather on sun screen to be safe.  But there are those of us who want a little color without the risk of premature wrinkling/aging and skin cancer.

Enter Nancy.  She had a nice, even tan on her legs and arms.  Not smeared or streaked.  Definitely not orange.  

Her secret: L'Oreal self-tanning towelettes.

You might like them as much as I have this past week.  Pasty white extremities nicely "tanned" without the accompanying risks. 

Two thumbs up for L'Oreal. 

Note:  This and other tanning products do not provide any type of protection against UV rays.  The "tan" is temporary.  It's vital that you continue to wear sunscreen when outdoors.

Happy Holiday, All!

How does s/he do this?

Where does one find a dog like this?  

 Incredible.  Topped only by the following.  CRAZY!

Enjoy your weekend as much as these two obviously do...

Life on the lake

Whoa, a bear just broke into our cabin at Tahoe.  Pretty exciting. And very scary if you happened to be home.

Our Furry Friends apparently enjoy, as our neighbor recently experienced, taking food from fridge/freezer and then dining on the deck.  Being outdoor creatures, they apparently prefer a venue with a view. 

The same neighbor has a motion-sensing speaker equipped with Very Vicious Sounding Dog Sounds which seems to work quite well since The Bear came to our house this time instead of hers. 

And while Dave was on the phone with the police, another bear was making its way into an adjacent cabin. Crazy culprits.

Sorry, no pictures.  We're not there.  Happy about THAT, actually. 

But I did find some pretty great music by Lyle Lovett.  Which I would not have otherwise found.  This is good.

Life.  Loving it.  Even, perhaps especially, the crazy parts.

Update on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 2:43PM by Lois

I'm getting myself one of these dogs!

More travel humor

Hey, Everyone!  This may be your last bit of travel before fall kicks in.  Thank you, Gretchen!!!

Kulula is an Airline with head office situated in Johannesburg.  Kulula airline attendants make an effort to make the in-flight "safety lecture" and announcements a bit more entertaining. Here are some real examples that have been heard or reported: On a Kulula flight, (there is no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"                  ---o0o--- On another flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."                  ----o0o--- On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings.. If you're going to leave anything,  please make sure it's something we'd like to have."

"There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane."                  ---o0o--- "Thank you for flying Kulula. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."                  ---o0o--- As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Durban Airport , a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA!"                  ---o0o--- After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in the Karoo , a flight attendant on a flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."                  ---o0o--- From a Kulula employee: " Welcome aboard Kulula 271 to Port Elizabeth .  To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised."                  ---o0o--- "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child travelling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are travelling with more than one small child, pick your favourite."                  ---o0o--- Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines."                  ----o0o--- "Your seats cushions can be used for flotation; and in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments."                  ---o0o--- "As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings.   Anything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses.."                  ---o0o--- And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Kulula Airlines is pleased to announce that we have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"                  ---o0o--- Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town : The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."                  ---o0o--- Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town , on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City. Please remain in your seats    with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"                  ---o0o--- Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."                  ---o0o--- An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline. He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no Ma'am," said the pilot. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"                  ---o0o--- After a real crusher of a landing in Johannesburg , the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Captain Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we will open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.."                  ---o0o--- Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today.. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of Kulula Airways."                  ---o0o--- Heard on a Kulula flight. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing.. If you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."

Am I the last to know?

Well, THAT was interesting.  And educational. 

I woke up with a roaring urinary tract infection.  UGH. 

I had a full, non-stop day and evening in the city with friends.  No time for a stop at the doc. 

Susan, bless her big heart, reminded me about an over-the-counter product that, while it doesn't clear the infection, does relieve the painful/irritating/debilitating symptoms.  AZO:Urinary Pain Relief. 

Almost instant relief. 

One somewhat startling side affect:  ORANGE urine.  YOWZER.  

Incredibly helpful if you, too, have a long day (or vacation) with no hope of a physician's visit. 

And that's primarily why I forgot to post a blog yesterday.  

This is worth the wait!

Update on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 9:30AM by Lois

So helpful, in fact, that you might want to forward Tuesday's link to your other women friends.  

Again, this is not a substitute for a culture and treatment.  Just enough relief that you are able to carry on with your day until you are in touch with your doctor.

Waiting for your invitation

We visited Martis Creek, near Truckee, several weeks ago.  OMGosh what an amazing place!  I had to share some of the details that/with some imagination/could be transplanted to your own environment.  Not the scale, not EVERY detail but some tiny portion of the concept.  LOVED this place!  Simply Sensational.

Be sure to visit their website:  http://www.martiscamp.com/ for an overview of the property.  And other slightly larger details that aren't easily duplicated.  Like the 18-hole putting course through the forest.  Or the barn filled with amazing kid-friendly opportunities.  Or the 3-acre lake for fly-fishing or polliwog catching possibilities.  Or the ski lift to the back side of North Star.  

OH, If you move there, I'll come visit!!! Bags already packed!

I could actually move in with you, of that's OK. 

Just for the summers and the winters. 

I'll cook, clean, shovel snow...

AND, where is MY bathing cap like the ones I photographed?  What should we be saving from this segment of our lives?

Even better news

Candles from previous blog available at Costco!  YES!  Remote controlled as well!

Enjoy your Sunday!

No flame. No drips. No mess.

Candlelight.  Warm, cozy, comforting.  A little fire flickering on the faces of those around the table. 

I've never been a Fan of Fake anything.  But the fact that this little Look-Alike "burned" for 500 hours on 2/rechargeable/batteries sealed the deal when wind was howling at Tahoe a few weeks ago.  

Moreover, this glowing pillar is programmable.  A built-in timer turns the candle on at the same time every day and automatically shuts it off five hours later.  Pretty cool little device, don't you think?  We did.  My purchase served as a night light during our stay in the woods.

A small collection of candles could be a perfect shower gift for new moms as they attempt to ease in and out of the baby's room, as well as their own sleep, each night.  

Rather than a drive to Truckee, here's the link at Amazon:  Candle Impressions Round Pillar Flameless Candle.

Update on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 at 5:14PM by Lois

From Susan:  My husband said how great the candles would look going up the walk for a dinner party or at Christmas .....of course, now I have to go and get another set or two.....

Only a few vacation days left

You, too, could enjoy this experience!

Flying anywhere anytime soon?

Thanks, Jan, for sharing this with us!

Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high  school diploma to fix one; a reassurance to those who fly routinely in  their jobs. 

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems; document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight. 

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers. 

By the way, UPS is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident. 

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement. 
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire. 

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough. 
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft. 

P: Something loose in cockpit. 
S:  Something tightened in cockpit. 

P: Dead bugs on windshield. 
S: Live bugs on back-order. 

P:  Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200-feet-per-minute descent.  
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground. 

P:  Evidence of leak on right main landing gear. 
S: Evidence removed. 

P: DME volume unbelievably loud. 
S: DME volume set to more believable level. 

P:  Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for. 

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode. 
S: IFF is always inoperative in OFF mode. 

P: Suspected crack in windshield. 
S: Suspect you’re right. 

P: Number 3 engine missing. 
S:  Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P:  Aircraft handles funny. (I love this one!) 
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right and be serious. 

P:  Target radar hums. 
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.  

P: Mouse in cockpit. 
S: Cat installed.  

And the best one for last 

P:  Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer. 
S: Took hammer away from the midget. 
 

Meticulous Masterpieces

Amazing.  Thank you, Mimi.  The perfect Back-to-School blog.

Artist Dalton Ghetti carves artwork on a very tiny scale.

The Bridgeport artist creates impossibly detailed miniature sculptures on the tip of a pencil.

"I'm known as the pencil guy," laughed Ghetti, 49. "I don't mind that at all."

He shuns a magnifying glass and uses simple tools like razor blades and needles to create delicate little figures from a tiny, jagged handsaw to a minibust of Elvis in shades.

"It's like I'm removing specs of dust at a time because the scale is so small," he said. "If there's a little bit of dust on my table at the end of the day and I didn't break it - that's a good day's work."

Ghetti, who grew up in Brazil, has been carving since he was a schoolboy who sharpened his pencil with a razor or a pocketknife. He started big, with wood and stone, and then moved to carving soap, candles and even broom handles before he found his niche about 25 years ago.

"The pencil has been kind of like a challenge to myself," he said. "I can do anything really big, but the small stuff is really difficult, so I was like, let me see how small I can go."

He works as a carpenter and carves pencils in his free time - often putting in just an hour or so before his eyes get tired. It can take years to finish an especially complicated piece - a linked chain in the middle of a pencil took him two years, and a carefully crafted giraffe even longer.

"When I'm inspired, I can sit down and things just flow," he said. "You can't force yourself to do those things. I do it just for fun, it's pretty much like a hobby, a kind of meditation work that I do."

Along with his other projects, Ghetti is slowly carving a tiny, graphite tear for every 9/11 victim, finishing one each morning before he goes to work, and estimates it will take him 10 years to finish and display them together.

Several years ago, he decided to carve the entire alphabet, and created one letter a month until he was done.

The entire work is on display through Aug. 29 at the New Britain Museum of American Art as part of its "Meticulous Masterpieces" show.

He has four pieces in the works, but would not say what they are, in case he ends up jinxing himself into snapping the delicate lead. Ghetti doesn't sell his creations, and even saves his failed attempts, pinned into a Styrofoam "graveyard."

"I do it from my heart, I do it when I feel like - and I pretty much do it for myself," he said. "It's my own interest in the small things in life that drove me to call people's attention to them."

A change is gonna come

Gathering all grandmothers/grandmothers-to-be/anyone who hopes to become a grandmother someday and/or anyone who had a grandmother they loved or one they didn't think was particularly terrific. They all had an impact.  AND, most importantly, we can learn from our combined experiences.  So much more than if we had tackled it all alone. 

Join me for a discussion of pertinent topics.  It’s Fresh Perspectives on this next/definitely NOT last/stage. Let's share what worked, what didn't and/or what’s currently going well.  

Wednesday, September 15, 2010.  9:30-noon.

I’ll count on your full participation.  This means:

• Helping me generate discussion topics 
• Participating in our meetings.  Hmmmm.  How could we have long-distance participants?
• Sharing something to sustain us food-wise  

I'll provide the setting, facilitate the idea exchange and provide coffee and tea.  

The following favorites speak volumes about life with friends and family.  Each could have been a theme song for Fresh Perspectives, don't you think?  Take ten minutes out of your busy life to listen.

If it feels like a fit, join me and other wonderful women for the Next Step in Parenting: CampGran/GranCamp or whatever you want to call it. 

We’ll meet every month or so.  Subsequent dates TBD in September.  Participation is limited.

Register your interest by emailing lois@freshperspectives.org.  

Location details and agenda available once you've RSVP'd.

A change is gonna come.   Oh yes it is.  

 One more time.

My festive, feathered flock

wishes you a few fine days with family and/or friends!

Back Monday.

Updates on Kathi and Patricia

Dear friends, so many have asked about Kathi and Patricia.  Here's the latest.  Please continue to keep these wonderful women in your thoughts and prayers.   Please forward.

From Kathi who had a hysterectomy after the first several rounds of chemo:

All good news.  The doctor examined me and all is healed.  I will still need to be careful with lifting for a while.  My blood counts were fine so got my treatment.  They were VERY busy so Kay and I had to wait until 11:20 to begin the treatment.   Since she picked me up at 6:30 and we got home at 5, this was quite a gift of time she gave me.  My college friend, Betty, joined us during the 4 treatment hours and we told stories non-stop.  Having people i love to sit with me and keep me busy made the time fly by pretty fast. Traffic going there and home was not bad at all which is a nice bonus!  Next treatment will be on August 30th if blood counts are good.

I spent last week in Michigan with Jennifer and Liz's families.  We went to the beach almost every day.  Since I cannot be in the sunlight much (chemo accelerates sun exposure), I spent a great deal of time in a chair under a large umbrella/tent enjoying watching the kids frolic in the waves, build sand castles and dig swimming pools, etc.  We went to St. Joseph several times.  Lovely beach there as well as a large indoor merry-go-round, children's museum, Splash Park and playground.  It is about a half hour from where we stayed in Union Pier.

We also went to Warren Dunes.  Those of you who have been there know that it is a beautiful beach as well and very close to Union Pier.  There is a huge sand dune and the kids loved their walk to the top and the run down to the bottom.  Once was enough for everyone.  The kids went berry and peach picking. They had to abandon blueberry picking when the mosquitoes outnumbered the blueberries!

Dave and Kasia came up on Monday and spent all day Tuesday.  He brought up two paddle boards and the kids and adult have a go at it.  They loved it.  They joined us again on Thursday and we took them to our beach---it was pretty wavy so they did not use paddles, just tried surfing in on them a bit.  For the little ones, their boogie boards were easier to handle.

All in all it was a wonderful week.  II got to enjoy all 8 grandchildren at the different stages and ages!  They range from almost 11 to almost 1.  It is great for the cousins to get this time together!  I felt the most like a normal person since this started in February.  It was wonderful to get away.

Love, Kathi

And from Patricia who has begun a new series of treatments:

How I trust in the power of your prayers, your "loading of the air waves with positive thoughts."  Already, I feel that this new regime is working.  Already, I feel my heart shifting from anxiety about the changes in my life patterns.  The loss of hair, the changes in schedules, the long days in treatment--these have all worked out. I'm left with plenty of time to pray for the well-being of our children, for all of us and for a deep quality to our lives as we all try so hard to be present for each other and for our children.  

I do feel that I'm a work in progress because I am learning, every day, how really fortunate I am to have medical care, a place to sleep, a wonderful place to work, a great husband, and terrific friends and children.  And equally important, I am really learning so much about what life must be like for thousands of other people, including our dear Kathi and my six other friends who have cancer.  Oh boy oh boy, doctors, nurses, technicians (both at Kaiser and at Stanford) have taught me so much about how to be a good person in this world.  I am surrounded by people who role model generosity of spirit -- including you.  Including you.

Love love love to you in return, dear Lois.  I pray for you to be strong and healthy so that you can continue to do the work of making this world more beautiful for others to live in.  It's such work, Lois.

Thank you.

Patricia

Appetizers @ Anderson's

Seemed appropriate after Breakfast @ Ginger's, don't you think?   

Have I shared this before?  I don't think so.  And we're having it again tonight so you, too, will be enjoying it as well!  It's definitely worth a repeat.  And some experimentation with other savory/sweet ingredients.

All you need:  Some sturdy crackers, spreadable goat cheese, fig spread.  All were found at Whole Foods Mkt.  

We served this combo earlier in the week/this time I was sorry that I didn't have flowers or herbs with me to garnish.     

Crackers featured below were too sturdy.  Substitute with your favorite.  I love the seeded varieties.

  

Breakfast at Ginger's

TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny. 

Nancy's Sunsational Find

UV Sun-sensitive wristbands change color to indicate when it's time to reapply sunscreen or to cover up and/or simply get out of the sun.

Apply sunscreen to skin as well as the band.  

When exposed to sunlight, the band turns purple.  

As soon as purple fades, it's time to reapply sunscreen.

Once words are no longer visible, it's time to call it a day and get out of the sun.

VERY useful/smart concept, don't you think?  I do!  Particularly with tiny tots who are capable of be fried before you realize they've been out too long.

Thank you, Nancy! 

Wait!  Gifts should be going in YOUR way today!

One more time!  

For further info, see JUNE 15, 2010 Wall Street Journal article:  http://webreprints.djreprints.com/2450911384147.html

To try a package yourself, purchase @ Amazon:  UVSunSense UV Monitoring Wristbands: 7 Pack.

I don't know about you

But I definitely prefer to have my food prepared this way:  

WHOA!  

If anyone knows the source of this wildly wonderful artistry, I'd love to know and to be able to credit these obviously creative people.

Sent to me in an email/Thanks, Barb.  

Hard to ever look at food the same way again!

SIMPLY STUNNING!!

How many watched Tuesday's episode of America's Got Talent?  OK, now you know which camp I'm in.

I'm in the one that supports the notion that this type of programming provides a stage for young and old to share their talent with the Big World Out There.  

Tuesday's performance by a tiny ten-year-old was a stunner. Watch for yourself.  And, yes, there are definite issues related to child stars.  And parents who push them.  And I obviously don't know the details related to Jackie Evancho and her family.  What I do know is that this girl is remarkable.  We'll undoubtedly be seeing much more of her.  And, I hope for her sake, that life can be relatively normal/hmmmmm/is that a possibility?  Thinking this isn't so likely when you come in with so much talent.  How could this work for her and her family?  And others who follow in her footsteps.

On December 2, 2010, she is scheduled to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York City and will be the youngest female vocal soloist ever to have performed there.

I've tried everything to adjust the size of the video to fit the blog.  No such luck.      

Go directly to youtube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPITHzdUUDk