Nor'easter

My book signing adventure this past Saturday was  wet, cold, windy, and muddy.  As I mentioned in Friday's post, a storm, actually, a Nor'easter paid the coast a sudden visit. The college didn't cancel the event, so I dressed warmly and drove in the rain to the site.  There were two large white tents set up outside, the signage was clear, and helpful college students were there to unload cars for vendors and organizations.  I was directed to my table and began to set up, but the rain began to blow into the tent on my side. The wet grass under my feet gave way to mud, so I got permission to move to a table more in the middle of the tent.  People actually came out to Community Fest, but not as many as had been expected.  I watched the rain turn to tiny snowflakes to big fluffy snowflakes to sleet to hail balls.  The crowd began to dwindle some.  After about four hours, my baby toes began to feel numb, so I knew it was time to pack it up.  For my treat, I bought a whiting fish po boy sandwich and some gumbo from a food vendor's truck and headed home to get dry and warm.
Although the event didn't turn out as expected, I still had fun and met some interesting people.  Part of going after a dream is enjoying the ride.
Take care,
Sylvia

Go For It

I am so excited to bring my novel, Behind Church Doors, to an event at The College of NJ.  It is to be held tomorrow in one of the college's outdoor lots, under 2 large tents, come rain or shine.  I have my books ready, my fliers, my posters, my banners, even my special book signing  pen.  However, as I type this, there is a weather broadcast about a storm advisory for tomorrow.  Heavy rain, wind, and some snow is expected.   This is unusual weather for this area in October.  The last such storm was in October 1979.
Well, what is one to do?  We do not have control over the weather.  My plan is to pray, take the necessary precautions, dress warmly, and make the most out of what may be another of life's adventures.
Have a great weekend!
Sylvia

Zip Lock Bags

I use zip lock plastic bags to certain keep foods fresh.  For example, when I open a box of cereal, I open the wax bag that holds the cereal and pour out some cereal.  Then, I use a twist tie to close the wax paper bag, put the wax paper bag in a zip lock bag, and put the bag back into the box.  That way, less air can get into the cereal and it stays fresh longer.  I do the same for almost any food that comes in a box and has to be stored after it has been opened. I also use zip lock bags when I slice part of an onion, pepper, cheese brick, or piece of fruit and need to store the remainder. The bags can also be reused.   My beloved spouse thinks I go to zip lock bag extremes, but that doesn't bother me.  He jokes that if he stayed still long enough (which is not likely with his high energy level) and if I could find a large enough zip lock bag, I'd put him in. We laugh about that one a lot!
Smiles,
Sylvia

Sounds

We live in a noisy world.  Today, sounds exist that were not thought of when we were children.  From inside your home you may be able to hear traffic sounds, fire truck sirens, police car sirens, and airplane sounds. There are telephone and cellphone sounds, the whir of the refrigerator and washing machine.  My kitchen timer rings as I type this because it's time to take the casserole out of the oven.  Even the fan in my computer makes a sound, as do the keys I  tap.   Some homes have the constant sound of the television, stereo, or radio. We have a cuckoo clock that makes noise but tells the wrong time.  Some homes have the sounds that children make.    You can probably think of other sounds in your home environment.
Sometimes, it's good to get still and quiet so you can listen to the sound of you - breathing.
Take care,
Sylvia

To Do's

When your daily task list seems longer than the hours in your day, breathe.  Sometimes we put more  "TO DO's"  in a day than we should.  We cannot always get things done when we want to get them done, no  matter how hard we try.  Do the best you can, and move some of those tasks to the next day, or the next.  Can you delegate a task or two?   When it comes to tasks, sometimes being  flexible can reduce stress.
Take care,
Sylvia

Turn Here

If you  have ever been the vehicle driver who relied on one of your passengers to give you directions, you probably recognize this scenario.
Driver: "Where do I make the turn?"
Passenger:  "Don't worry, we have quite a ways to go before we get to our turn."
Driver:  "Is it going to be a right turn or a left turn?"
Passenger:  "I think it's a left turn.  No, maybe it's a right turn.  I know we turn by the tire shop."
A few minutes pass.
Passenger:  "Here's the tire shop.  Turn here!"
Driver:  "Turn which way? Left or right? Say a direction!"
You can imagine, or from experience, you  know the rest of this conversation between the driver and the passenger.
Our takeaway?  Be careful who you let give you directions.
Smiles,
Sylvia

Purse Party

Have you ever heard of a Birken Party?  It's a gathering of people, usually ladies,  who have Birken purses and want to trade them with other Birken purse owners.  These events are so serious  that an authenticator is hired to inspect the Birken purses, so no fake purses are passed off as genuine.  It is reported that these purses can cost as much as $10,000 each!   Of course, I have never attended such a party and I don't know if I  have ever seen a Birken bag.  I don't travel in those shopping circles, but that's okay with me.    Dooney & Bourke is more my style, but I also have some bags from Burlington Coat Factory.  To each his/her own when it comes to shopping.  Different things are important to different people. 
Ladies, what's the highest amount of money you would spend on a purse? What's the highest amount of money you have spent on a purse?
Smiles,
Sylvia

Under Ether

This week, an acquaintance and I discussed vacation time shares, their advantages, and their limitations.  It was dizzying to hear about the blackout times, the annual fees, trading vacation weeks, and other details.  She cautioned me about some  salespeople who leave out information you later wish they had told you.  She believes that she and her husband made some time share purchase mistakes because of the salesperson's pitch.  She told me, "He had us under the ether." 
This term made the writer in  me take notice, so I asked her what it meant.  She explained that the sales pitch was so powerful that they were anesthetized (under ether), so they signed off on the package when they could have gotten a better deal.
Wishing you sound business transactions and a blessed day,
Sylvia

Memory Holders

Many people have loved ones who have passed  from life to physical death.  These loved ones are warmly remembered and their presence is missed.  However, we may continue to hold on to a piece of that loved one.  It may be an item the loved one owned and used while he or she was here.  It may be something the loved one gave you, or it may be a special photo of the loved one.  Whatever it is, when  we see or handle the item, it evokes special memories of our departed one. Take a  minute.  You can probably think of  more than one of these memory holders.  I thank God for good memories of  people who have blessed my life.
Take care,
Sylvia

Childhood Homes

Have you ever returned to the house or apartment of your childhood?  Have you ever returned to view your childhood bedroom?  If you have, the house and the bedroom probably seemed small to you.  This was my experience when I went into our old family house.  The rooms seemed small and my old bedroom seemed so tiny.  It's hard to believe that my sister and I successfully shared  such a tight space.  As adults now in our own homes, we are accustomed to much more space.  In our current houses, some of us even have private bathrooms. Remember when everyone in the house used the same bathroom?
If you do visit your childhood house, it may not seem that familiar after all this time,  but you will probably see one spot in the house that will bring back a warm memory.  Maybe it's the heating grate you stood on to get warm, or the initials you carved in the banister, or the staircase step that creaked when you did not want it to...
Smiles,
Sylvia

Mommy Calling Cards

Do you know about Mommy Calling Cards?  They are special business cards used for setting up play dates for children.   Play dates are specific times to play, usually arranged by mothers,  so their children can play with other select children.  The children are typically transported to the home of a selected child or a chosen venue.  There, they play for a certain amount of time.  Sometimes, the mothers who bring their children stay and have a social of their own while the children play.
When I was a child, we did not have Mommy Calling Cards.  If I wanted to play with another child who lived on a nearby street, I would ask my mother, "Mom, can I go over Jane's house and play?"   Mom would reply, "Did you finish your homework and your chores?  Is it okay with Jane's mother for you to come over?  Do I need to call her?"   If my answers were satisfactory, my mother would caution, "Be back before the streetlights come on." 
I guess I was my own calling card.
Smiles,
Sylvia

Tell the Truth

What's the best way to handle the situation when a person lies to you?  Do you call the person on the lie right away?  Do you wait for a more opportune time and place?  Do you ignore the lie?  Do you plan to ignore the person in the future?  Do you tell others that the person is a liar?
Perhaps it depends on the relationship you have with that person. When one of my elementary students told a lie, I addressed it by explaining why it was wrong to lie and the far-reaching negative consequences of a lie.  After that, we could get to the truth.   That usually worked, unless it was a student who would tell a lie and then deny, deny, deny.
Prayer helps.
Take care,
Sylvia

Pawnshop Predictions

A recent magazine article noted that in the year 2006, pawnshop owners noticed a change in their types of customers.  More and more of these customers were middle class and upper middle class in terms of earnings.  Prior to 2006, most customers were those who made less money. The article stated that this trend fueled predictions that our economy was taking a turn for the worse.  Five years later,  we see what has happened.  Under today's economic circumstances,  those who have jobs and those who are able to make ends meet should be thankful.  We may not be able to get everything we want, but if we have what we need, we are blessed. 
Keep the faith,
Sylvia

Food Labels

 A recent newspaper article reported that new food labels are being promoted by our country's Food and Drug Administration.  These labels will give a better breakdown of  what's in our foods so that consumers can use these facts to fight obesity.  Some think the food companies are resistant to this disclosure because it might hurt their profits. The thought is that consumers will have better knowledge and be more conservative about what foods they buy. I don't know about all of that, but I like to read labels because I like information about what's in my food.  Much of the time, I pay attention to the listed amounts of salt, fat, calories, sugars, and nutrients. However, if it's something I really want, I may read the nutrition label after I have consumed the food.
Smiles,
Sylvia

Ten Random Questions

In all of your life:
How many cars have you had ?
How many houses/apartments have you lived in?
How many jobs have you had?
How many children have you raised?
How many surgeries have you had?
How many pairs of eyeglasses have you had?
How many washing machines have you purchased?
How many refrigerators have you purchased?
How many personal email addresses have you used?
How many beds have you purchased?
You may be surprised at how many of the answers you easily recall, and how many you do not.
Smiles,
Sylvia

Phone Tale

While at the movie theater today, I searched my purse for a mint to serve as my movie snack.  Movie theater food is expensive for what it is, so I usually don't splurge on it.  I have heard some people say that they prepare and sneak their own food into the movies: popcorn, candy, sandwiches, even chicken dinners.  In fact, I did smell some homecooked food at a theater one evening. That's a tale for another day.
In my search for a mint in my purse today, I found all the usual contents, and one unusual  item.  It was my house cordless phone!  Before I  left home to go to the theater, I made a call and must have put the phone in my purse instead of returning it to the phone base.  Of course, I did not have to worry about my house phone ringing during the movie.  It was too far from its power base and could not make a connection.  Remember the corded telephones we had before cordless phones came about?  This would not have happened with one of them!
Smiles,
Sylvia

Manners

It is quite refreshing to interact with  young people who are polite and appreciative.  When I was growing up, most parents insisted on these words from their children:
"May I please have..."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you."
"Excuse me, please."
"Please pass the..."
This polite behavior was reinforced by teachers in the classrooms, and parents approved of the practice. Parents would remind the children, "Act like you have good manners,"  or,  "Mind your manners."
Fortunately, some parents still insist on good manners and appreciation from their children.  Lovely.
Have a good weekend,
Sylvia

Close Calls

"That was a close call!"
 Have you ever said these words?   Many of us have.   Maybe you almost crashed into the rear of a vehicle, but applied your brakes in time.  Maybe the cooking pot on your stove was just about to boil over, but you saw it and caught it just in time to avoid a mess.  Maybe your earring came off and was about to go down the kitchen drain, but you grabbed it out of the dish water at the last minute.  Maybe the toddler was about to topple off the sofa, but you caught him before harm could come. Maybe you felt the crackle of lightning a second before you got out of the storm and into shelter.  Maybe you were choking on some food and a person's quick thinking action helped you out.
Some people say that coming out on the right side of close calls is attributable to angels sent by God.  Others credit good luck.  Others point to fate, or the law of the odds.  I am thankful for coming out on the safe side of many close calls.  Have you had any close calls lately?
Take care,
Sylvia

Layaway

This morning I heard that a major toy store chain is providing layaway for toys in time for this Christmas season.  The terms are a 20%  down payment, a $5 service fee, and 90 days to complete the total payment.  I wonder how many of our young people, both parents and children, know about layaway.  Many Baby Boomers surely know about layaway. Our parents used this method to get not only toys, but items for the house and clothing.  As a child, it gave me something to look forward to, because with layaway, you did not get the items right away.  The store put the items aside for you and you made payments  until the items were completely bought.  I would accompany my mother to the store when she made payments.  Sometimes the clerk would bring the items out so we could see them.  This would make me even more excited to be good and  make sure I earned what my parents worked hard to get. Bringing back layaway is probably a good economic idea.  Delayed gratification is also a good concept in today's society.  For many in my generation, layaway was the only way we could make certain purchases long ago.
Take care,
Sylvia

Wear and Tear

A recent health report reveals that the fingers, hands, and thumbs of  lots of us are wearing out.  The report  points to popular technology as the reason for this.  We also excessively angle our wrists with our phones, pads, keyboards, and other devices.  It is interesting to note the number of people seen walking while peering at and typing on their communications devices.  Who knew that thumbs could be so efficient at hitting tiny keys on keypads?  Thumbs used to mainly help us anchor pencils during penmanship lessons.   I wonder what body parts received the most stress 50 years ago, or 100 or more years ago.    Our country used to be more agricultural, so maybe backs, knees, and shoulders were overworked.   For a while, our country had more assembly line industry, so feet and arms might have been strained. One thing is certain, no matter how we use these bodies to do our daily work and communication, they will eventually wear out. They are not meant to last forever. In the meantime, we do well to take care of them so we can enjoy them for as long as we can.
Take care,
Sylvia

Autumn

There is definitely a chill in the air.  There should be, since the date is October 3rd.  September 23rd marked the beginning of autumn.  Goodbye for now to the hot and sweaty summer.  The leaves have started to turn and the fur on the squirrels has grown full; their bushy tails  twitch as these animals cavort in the yard.  Time to pull out the warm pajamas, sleep socks, and blankets.  The time to has come to close the storm windows and remove or cover the air conditioning units.  The time to rake the leaves is fast approaching.  It is also time to think about the annual question:  "How long will the socks, blankets, sweaters, and sweatshirts suffice before we  have to turn on the heat in the house? "
Smiles,
Sylvia