Cheap Eats

Do you sometimes get a craving for a food you used to eat when you had less money than you do now?  Maybe it's a food you ate when you were a struggling college student, or when you got your first apartment.  It's a food you probably do not eat much of now, but back then, it helped you out because it was available and affordable.  For me and some of my friends on campus (long ago), one of these foods was a tomato-based canned product  that had little pasta circles.  It was easy because all you had to do was heat it; no refrigeration required.  Another favorite was canned sardines, in oil or mustard.  Eaten with saltine crackers, this was a gourmet campus meal!  Who can forget the little franks and beans?  Another cheap eat was the packaged wavy noodle product with the flavor packet.  All we had to do was add hot water, and we had a plate full of noodles that would fill stomachs for a long time.  I recently had a craving for these noodles, and they were tasty.  I purposely did not read the nutritional analysis on the package.  It would have spoiled my fun.  Besides, I probably won't have another craving for this food for another couple of years.
Smiles, and best wishes for a blessed New Year!
Sylvia

No, Thanks.

I have a friend whose first response to many things one asks her to do is, "No, I'm not doing that."  She does not holler or say this in a mean way.  She states it in a  matter-of-fact manner.  The only way she changes her mind is if she gets more information that causes her to rethink her initial "No" response.  I used to tease her about this, but now I am beginning to follow her logic more closely.  This year, I have said "Yes" to  more projects than usual.  As a result, I have been busier than a retired person should be.  The year of  2012 will be a year of me pacing myself more and using the term, "No, I won't be able to take on that task. Thank you for asking, though."
Take care,
Sylvia

Pantyhose

I have a complicated relationship with pantyhose.  Although I know they are necessary, especially  in cold weather, and when I am dressed up, I do not enjoy donning them.  When putting them on, I have to be careful not to run them.  If I don't twist them in the exact way, they won't fit well at the top, or the ankle, or the seat area.
What if one were to write directions for putting on pantyhose?
After taking the hose out of the container, pull them out to stretch them.  Bunch one leg of the hose down to the foot section to prepare to stick in one foot.  Place the foot into the foot area of the hose and shimmy the hose to just under the knee level.  Bunch the other leg of hose in this same manner and place the other foot into the hose.  Lean slightly forward and shimmy the hose up both legs.  If necessary, jump a little to make this happen. Continue to do this until the hose is fitted in the seat area and the waistband is at the waist.  Be sure to straighten the waist seam.
This is the best I can do.  I wonder if a person who never tried to put on pantyhose could understand my written directions.  I am open for direction suggestions.
Smiles,
Sylvia

Please Calm Yourself

Today, two women almost got into an argument while doing holiday shopping at a major discount store.  There were many shoppers in the electronics section, of course, trying to purchase the latest devices.  I was there to see if the iPod Nano or the iPod Touch was best suited for one of my loved ones.  My strategy was to read the display information instead of tying up a salesperson with questions, especially with such a crowd.  That way, I could return at a later date and make an informed purchase.  I could also compare prices at another store.  I was reading product information when I heard one woman shout at another woman.  As far as I could tell, the woman standing in line was mad because the other woman crossed through the line and somehow disrespected the child of the woman in line.  The woman who crossed through the line replied she had said "Excuse me" before she crossed through, but the other woman kept fussing.  I  especially liked what the line-crosser woman then said, "Miss, I did not disrespect anyone.  Please calm yourself."  Then, she smiled and walked away.  She didn't take up the fight.  She had a good plan.
Take care,
Sylvia

Need a Minute?

The best way to ward off a temper tantrum or a fight is to spot it before it develops.  While teaching in elementary school, I learned to notice certain facial expressions and body language while I walked my students from the multipurpose room to our classroom in the mornings.  If I noticed a particular student was having a bad start to the day, I'd gently  ask, "Do you need a minute?"  If the child did indeed need a minute, he or she would be allowed to go to the carpet area for a set period of time.  The child could sit down on the bench, read a book, or stretch out on the carpet and chill until the timer went off.  After that, the child could write me a note or briefly tell me what was going on.  That way, we could have a better start to the classroom routine and day.
What I found interesting was that some older elementary students often  needed a minute in the mornings as much as the little ones did.  I learned that I had to consider what they went through before they got to me in the morning.  Sometimes, we adults need a morning minute also.
Peace be,
Sylvia

Music Lift

What kind of music can best quickly lift your mood?  Is it music from an opera?  Is it hip hop music?  Is it show tunes?  Is it jazz?  Is it square dance music?  Is it gospel music?  Is it contemporary pop or rock music ?
According to some studies, the answer is all of these listed, and even  music that isn't listed here.  Music itself can lift your spirits. It depends on what type of music you really like.  Music from my teen years can give me a quick boost.  Some gospel music has the same effect on me.  What's your quick mood-lifting music?
Smiles,
Sylvia

Library Friends

This past Friday and Saturday, I had the pleasure and privilege to do a book signing (Behind Church Doors) as part of The Book Bazaar held by The Friends of the Trenton Public Library.  I was in the Trentoniana Room, a place set apart for information and history about Trenton.  The Friends and the library staff were extremely hospitable, and I had the chance to chat with some warm and intelligent people.  The Friends had books, videos, jewelry, yummy desserts, and other interesting items for sale.  The prices were extremely reasonable! 
Long ago, I was a teenager, and I worked as an intern at the children's branch of this library.  I'd report there after school and would often walk home after work.  This job gave me the opportunity to read many books to the children, and to myself.  I guess this is why libraries are so appealing to me.  There's something special about finding a nice spot with books and quiet all around.  Worlds to explore...  Knowledge to gain...
Thanks to all who stopped by and chatted with me!
Thanks for the opportunity, Miss D!
Take care,
Sylvia

Girls' Afternoon Out

Yesterday was a Girls' Afternoon Out for me, my sister, and our Mom.  We went to an outlet mall and then to lunch at Red Lobster.  We window-shopped, shopped for real (a little), and ate.  Mostly, we caught up on each other's news and laughed alot.  I'm still smiling as I remember some of  Mom's remarks.  She's one of those people who is funny without trying to be funny.  It's her delivery and her candor.  It was sheer joy for us to be together.
Here's wishing you some fun family time with your loved ones.
Take care,
Sylvia

Toy Rentals

There is a new company that allows parents to rent popular toys for their young ones.  A subscriber gets up to 4 toys at a time and has the option to return the toys after a month and get more toys, or pay a reduced price to keep the rented toys.  In theory, a child could enjoy a large variety of toys.  It's actually a program to rent used toys so parents won't have to spend so much money for children's toys.  In order to prevent the spread of germs, the company reportedly uses a sanitation process that uses temperatures over 200 degrees to clean the returned toys.  This venture may prove to be successful, but some children become quite attached to certain toys.  I remember a favorite Thumbelina doll I had long ago... I don't know what happened to her.  Do you remember a favorite toy you had long ago?  Do you still have it?
Smiles,
Sylvia

Inches

I'm a person who pays attention to the television monitors in the doctor's office.  You know, the ones that air health tips.  While I was at my doctor's office today, this programming reminded me that eating too many processed meats, like bacon, hot dogs, cold cuts, can have harmful effects on the body.  I learned that we humans are tallest at a certain  time of the day, which is the morning.  It was a multiple choice question, and I incorrectly guessed the evening or afternoon.   It seems that our spines compress  during the day to the tune of about one inch, so we're tallest in the morning when we get up.  I don't know how you feel about this fact, but as a short person, I strive to claim every one of my 61 inches!
Smiles,
Sylvia