“The world’s cities will be our home. Come tour with me.”
“That’s how I proposed.”
-- said by the character, Diago, during an excerpt from the exposition of the film “Departures”
“It’s Not Worth the Fight.”
-- quote from and the theme of an episode of ABC’s “The Middle.”
“That’s too many grandparents!”
-- 3½ yr. old Carter’s response when being told all 6 of his grandparents, plus one great grandparent, would be attending his sister’s birthday party.
One day my cousin Cheryl was driving down I-270 with her two young (18 mos. & 3½ yrs. old) daughters and they saw the Budweiser plant puffing smoke out of its smoke stacks. Cheryl asked her older daughter, “Where does smoke come from?” Her daughter thought about it for a minute and answered, “Cooking!” Cheryl tried not to be offended since she doesn’t think she burns too many things in the kitchen.
One day my kindergarten-age nephew had to write a little report about how he’d spent his time over Christmas break. Among other things, he wrote, “I played on the (Nintendo) Wii.” My sister and her husband questioned him about it because he actually played very little on the Wii, and instead spent more time on their (Sony) Playstation. His reply, “I couldn’t spell Playstation!”
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The Fight to End Childhood Obesity
First lady: Childhood obesity fight is about fitness, not looks
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/09/obama.child.obesity/index.html?hpt=Sbin
As someone who was always on the cusp of being overweight (at least in my opinion), I applaud the first lady for what she’s trying to do. We both recognize that keeping children to a healthy weight, needs to start at home. No offense to my parents, but my dad always had a sweet tooth (and still does!), so there was no shortage of sweets in the house. To go without dessert was a punishment, but something I do voluntarily today (though I kind of miss it). I think it would be easier to keep that routine today if that’s what I was used to.
According to the article on www.cnn.com, “The average soda contains 110 calories, yet many kids drink one or more a day.” I guess we either weren’t average, or it was just a different time, because we were only allowed “pop” on the weekends. We usually split just one or two bottles between our family of five. By bottles, I mean the 26 oz. contour size that is no longer manufactured today, or at least not very commonly. We drank either Kool-Aid or milk the rest of the time. Since we had well water growing up, its taste left a lot to be desired, so none of us ever regularly drank it straight from the tap.
Unlike my brother and sister, I almost never bought lunch. I think I was always afraid I wouldn’t have anywhere to sit, so preferred to grab a chair and join my friends as soon as I could. Plus, I was very much a creature of habit and preferred brown bagging it most of the time. Sadly, I still do that today, but do occasionally allow myself to eat once in awhile to break up a dull routine.
I think parents should also encourage kids to get as much physical activity as possible. As someone who likes to read, and was never very interested in sports, it was sometimes difficult to pry myself away from a good book or the TV.
Sedentary kids, like I once was, are lucky that today there’s the Nintendo Wii Fit if all else fails. I have one and try to use it at least once a week. I also found, as an adult, a few different (non team) sports that I actually like, and in which I am reasonably competent, so never say never!
If nothing else, there’s always your own two feet. Getting out and taking a walk every day is one of the best forms of exercise. During bad weather the mall is a great place to burn off a few calories as long as you can keep moving and stay out of the stores!
I belong to a gym and try to use that on a weekly basis, but most gyms don’t cater to kids. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to perhaps invest in your own equipment – like a stationary bike or a treadmill. I find it motivating to use at home because I can exercise in front of the TV while enjoying my HGTV or a dvd.
At the end of the day, we all just need to get up and get moving, cut down our portion size and make a few more healthy choices. The difficult part is finding the motivation, but that’s another column for another day.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/02/09/obama.child.obesity/index.html?hpt=Sbin
As someone who was always on the cusp of being overweight (at least in my opinion), I applaud the first lady for what she’s trying to do. We both recognize that keeping children to a healthy weight, needs to start at home. No offense to my parents, but my dad always had a sweet tooth (and still does!), so there was no shortage of sweets in the house. To go without dessert was a punishment, but something I do voluntarily today (though I kind of miss it). I think it would be easier to keep that routine today if that’s what I was used to.
According to the article on www.cnn.com, “The average soda contains 110 calories, yet many kids drink one or more a day.” I guess we either weren’t average, or it was just a different time, because we were only allowed “pop” on the weekends. We usually split just one or two bottles between our family of five. By bottles, I mean the 26 oz. contour size that is no longer manufactured today, or at least not very commonly. We drank either Kool-Aid or milk the rest of the time. Since we had well water growing up, its taste left a lot to be desired, so none of us ever regularly drank it straight from the tap.
Unlike my brother and sister, I almost never bought lunch. I think I was always afraid I wouldn’t have anywhere to sit, so preferred to grab a chair and join my friends as soon as I could. Plus, I was very much a creature of habit and preferred brown bagging it most of the time. Sadly, I still do that today, but do occasionally allow myself to eat once in awhile to break up a dull routine.
I think parents should also encourage kids to get as much physical activity as possible. As someone who likes to read, and was never very interested in sports, it was sometimes difficult to pry myself away from a good book or the TV.
Sedentary kids, like I once was, are lucky that today there’s the Nintendo Wii Fit if all else fails. I have one and try to use it at least once a week. I also found, as an adult, a few different (non team) sports that I actually like, and in which I am reasonably competent, so never say never!
If nothing else, there’s always your own two feet. Getting out and taking a walk every day is one of the best forms of exercise. During bad weather the mall is a great place to burn off a few calories as long as you can keep moving and stay out of the stores!
I belong to a gym and try to use that on a weekly basis, but most gyms don’t cater to kids. I don’t think it’s a bad idea to perhaps invest in your own equipment – like a stationary bike or a treadmill. I find it motivating to use at home because I can exercise in front of the TV while enjoying my HGTV or a dvd.
At the end of the day, we all just need to get up and get moving, cut down our portion size and make a few more healthy choices. The difficult part is finding the motivation, but that’s another column for another day.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Today is Holocaust Memorial Day
Don’t worry if you don’t know about this. Chances are, unless you are of Jewish descent, a WWII veteran, or a European expatriate, this will be news to you since Holocaust Memorial Day rarely gets a mention by the American media (not even NPR which holds itself up to some of the highest standards).
After checking several different (American) online news sources, the only article I could find was on CNN, which has a story about an American soldier remembering the liberation of Auschwitz.
Of course there are several big news stories that are still monopolizing the headlines, the main one being the devastation in Haiti following the January 12 earthquake. There’s also President Obama’s up coming (tonight) State of the Union address. If you’re a techie like my husband, you were probably eagerly awaiting word of Apple’s latest gadget (rumored to be a tablet size computer).
It is all these things that have pushed the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Concentration Camps like Auschwitz and Birkenau very much to the back pages if mentioned at all in America. This is just further proof how geocentric our world view (as Americans) is, most not knowing or caring what goes on beyond our borders. Should we blame the media or should we blame ourselves?
Either way, each one of us should take a quiet moment today and say a prayer for all those who perished in the camps, and pray that such genocide never happens again (it still does but on a much smaller scale).
After checking several different (American) online news sources, the only article I could find was on CNN, which has a story about an American soldier remembering the liberation of Auschwitz.
Of course there are several big news stories that are still monopolizing the headlines, the main one being the devastation in Haiti following the January 12 earthquake. There’s also President Obama’s up coming (tonight) State of the Union address. If you’re a techie like my husband, you were probably eagerly awaiting word of Apple’s latest gadget (rumored to be a tablet size computer).
It is all these things that have pushed the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Concentration Camps like Auschwitz and Birkenau very much to the back pages if mentioned at all in America. This is just further proof how geocentric our world view (as Americans) is, most not knowing or caring what goes on beyond our borders. Should we blame the media or should we blame ourselves?
Either way, each one of us should take a quiet moment today and say a prayer for all those who perished in the camps, and pray that such genocide never happens again (it still does but on a much smaller scale).
Friday, January 22, 2010
10 Things that would make Women Happier (poll)
January 2009 Real Simple Poll:
Real Simple surveyed 2,600 women and men on their keys to happiness – profound and otherwise.
10 Things that would make Women Happier:
1. A permanently clean home.
2. A luxury trip.
3. A big house.
4. Losing 10 pounds.
5. A great body.
6. Time for themselves.
7. A really romantic relationship.
8. Being smarter.
9. Saying “no” more.
10. A luxury car.
Differences on the man’s list:
6. A better sex life.
10. Having a personal assistant.
(men didn’t list ‘time for themselves’ or ‘say no more’)
My thoughts on the subject:
I agree with six out of the ten things on the women’s list. The four things I don’t need/want are: a big house (there’s something to be said for coziness you know!), to lose 10 pounds. I guess I’d be happy to stay at about 115 pounds for at least a few more years. As it is, I tend to only fluctuate by about 3 pounds or so. I don’t really have a problem saying no, but it’s more that not many demands are placed on me outside of work. Being “child free” immediately frees me up from so many responsibilities except for the occasional job of babysitting my sister’s kids. I also don’t need a luxury car. I’m still not sure what kind of car I would want if money were no object. It would be nice to have a chauffer though sometimes! I agree with the men in that, I definitely wouldn’t mind a personal assistant! (to help me finally sort/archive all my photos, negatives, and slides).
Real Simple surveyed 2,600 women and men on their keys to happiness – profound and otherwise.
10 Things that would make Women Happier:
1. A permanently clean home.
2. A luxury trip.
3. A big house.
4. Losing 10 pounds.
5. A great body.
6. Time for themselves.
7. A really romantic relationship.
8. Being smarter.
9. Saying “no” more.
10. A luxury car.
Differences on the man’s list:
6. A better sex life.
10. Having a personal assistant.
(men didn’t list ‘time for themselves’ or ‘say no more’)
My thoughts on the subject:
I agree with six out of the ten things on the women’s list. The four things I don’t need/want are: a big house (there’s something to be said for coziness you know!), to lose 10 pounds. I guess I’d be happy to stay at about 115 pounds for at least a few more years. As it is, I tend to only fluctuate by about 3 pounds or so. I don’t really have a problem saying no, but it’s more that not many demands are placed on me outside of work. Being “child free” immediately frees me up from so many responsibilities except for the occasional job of babysitting my sister’s kids. I also don’t need a luxury car. I’m still not sure what kind of car I would want if money were no object. It would be nice to have a chauffer though sometimes! I agree with the men in that, I definitely wouldn’t mind a personal assistant! (to help me finally sort/archive all my photos, negatives, and slides).
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
the Death of Miep Gies
Yesterday, on January 11, one of twentieth century's quiet heroes passed away at the age of 100. Miep Gies, whom most presumably know, helped out (by way of daily grocery deliveries, etc.) the Frank family while they were in hiding in Amsterdam during WWII.
Having visited the Anne Frank House just after September 11, 2001, and having read her diary several times, I can get a feel for the sense of duty Miep must have felt in wanting to help the Frank family. Of course this assistance by Miep didn't come without its risks, and I doubt many of us (myself included) could have been so brave.
I admire Miep for her modesty. True, she didn't do as much as some people. Probably the best known is Oscar Schindler who is credited for saving about 1200 jews during WWII. However, Miep, without knowing it, gave the public an even greater gift - the diary of Anne Frank.
As the media has reported, Miep recovered it from the Frank's rooms above the storehouse and kept it in her desk until after Anne died and the war was over, before returning it to Otto Frank. Little did she know that book would still be published more than 60 years later in over 70 languages. It's thanks to Miep's discernment, and Otto Frank's agreement to publish her diary that we have this legacy.
Having visited the Anne Frank House just after September 11, 2001, and having read her diary several times, I can get a feel for the sense of duty Miep must have felt in wanting to help the Frank family. Of course this assistance by Miep didn't come without its risks, and I doubt many of us (myself included) could have been so brave.
I admire Miep for her modesty. True, she didn't do as much as some people. Probably the best known is Oscar Schindler who is credited for saving about 1200 jews during WWII. However, Miep, without knowing it, gave the public an even greater gift - the diary of Anne Frank.
As the media has reported, Miep recovered it from the Frank's rooms above the storehouse and kept it in her desk until after Anne died and the war was over, before returning it to Otto Frank. Little did she know that book would still be published more than 60 years later in over 70 languages. It's thanks to Miep's discernment, and Otto Frank's agreement to publish her diary that we have this legacy.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
My Other Talents/Hobbies/Interests...
A couple weeks ago I came across this posting on the Photojojo forum:
"After having a chat with a few of you on another thread it seems that a number of us "creative types" also like to try out methods, other than photography, of letting our creative juices flow."
Here's my own personal list of other creative pursuits I occasionally practice:
creative writing, cooking/baking (and I have a pretty impressive collection of cookbooks too!), scrapbooking (what do you think I do with all the photos I continually take?), and making arts and crafts.
I did once take a drawing class, but don't think I have a huge amount of talent in that area.
"After having a chat with a few of you on another thread it seems that a number of us "creative types" also like to try out methods, other than photography, of letting our creative juices flow."
Here's my own personal list of other creative pursuits I occasionally practice:
creative writing, cooking/baking (and I have a pretty impressive collection of cookbooks too!), scrapbooking (what do you think I do with all the photos I continually take?), and making arts and crafts.
I did once take a drawing class, but don't think I have a huge amount of talent in that area.
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