Observations and Reflections

Think ......

2011-10-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

Mission San Juan Capistrano

I'm not a fan of chain letters and emails. I rarely, if ever pass them on even (especially) when they threaten me within an inch of my life. While the following was not threatening (but did request I forward the email to at least 10 people) I thought the message was a beautiful one. I'm sure this story has been around the block a time or two but this is the first time I had read it. What a lovely message of gratitude that it carries with it.

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.' One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.He asked her, ‘Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.'This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a GiftToday before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before you complain about your children -Think of someone who desires children but they're barren. Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive ~ Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.

Beware: Watch your "Social Media Back"

2011-09-30T09:20:00.007-04:00

Social Media can be a great thing. It can also be quite unsettling. It can leave you vulnerable. I don't often talk about my past. Not that it was bad or because I did anything crazy. There are parts of ones life that are raw, unresolved and therefore go unspoken. That is until through the beauty of social media they hit you smack dab in the face.

In high school I met & fell in love with Tom a very smart and handsome young man. I was head over heels crazy in love. Of course, hormones took over and at 18 I gave birth to our daughter. Yes, there was s shotgun wedding. Back in the day that's what we did. Sadly, I wasn't the only girl on the block to wind up in that situation. After a very tumultuous two years, this union which was doomed from the get go, came to a crashing halt. While I'll spare you the details, it took me several years to recover from the heartbreak. It took me 18 years to fall in love again.

That chapter had long been closed until I received several anonymous emails telling me that my first husband had passed away several months earlier. It had been nearly three decades since we had spoken, a lifetime ago. He had moved on with his life and I with mine. I remembered him as a vibrant young man and was sad to learn his life ended. He and my daughter never had a real relationship. It had been over 25 years since he had contacted her. I don't even know if he knew he had two grand children. They were never mentioned or recognized in his obituary. His family never had a relationship with my daughter and never met my grand children. Probably didn't even know they existed. We are all o.k. with that.

Now, for the unsettling part. This week someone named Charlotte (who we don't know) posted her condolences on his legacy guest book. She included a photo of my daughter (which Charlotte used as her avatar) and one of my grand-daughters. She used the photos as if they were hers. She did not mention that the avatar she posted was not her and that the girls had nothing to do with her. Both photos have been cropped & edited from a recent photo that was taken of my entire family for Parade Magazine (including my husband of the past 18 years who raised the kids w/me). It's downright creepy.

I can't imagine why someone who we don't know would do this. It serves no purpose. It could certainly be hurtful to his mom, sisters and son. While they know he had a "First Family" we have long been out of their lives and long forgotten. Chapter closed. I have googled "Charlotte" in Land O' Lakes until my fingers went numb. Surprisingly, "Charlotte" does not exist! Then who? Who would feel compelled to do such a thing? Sometimes, the past should be just that. The past.

While I may never know who "Charlotte" is, I think there is a valuable lesson here. You have got to "Watch you Social Media Back" ... People can steal your likeness and use it for anything. They can "edit" your life to fit theirs.

Here's what "Charlotte" wrote:

September 28, 2011
My thoughts and prayer are with your family today Tom. I've just recently learned of your passing. You possessed a spirit that always gave and seldom asked for return. You continue live on in the heart and soul of your diverse and very large family, your multitude of friends from all walks of life, and in the beautiful children and their children you created. Your life and all which it stood for should never be forgotten. May peace surround us all until we meet again.

Charlotte

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T07:44:00.001-05:00

2010 had more ups and downs than a Craftmatic bed at the Bunny Ranch

2011-01-01T17:23:00.005-05:00

2010 was a year of highs, lows, heartbreak, obstacles and challenges. It was the best and worst. It was the year I learned what I was made of.

The lessons of 2010

Blessings sometimes come disguised as heartbreak.

It was a year with great loss. It began and ended with the passing of loved ones. My dear friend Renee in January, my father in December. I learned that when someone leaves this earth their memory lives on within you, in your thoughts and in your actions. They are never far away.

Laughter is as important to my well being as the air I breathe.

Facing fear never gets easier. I did things I thought I could never do. We moved the entire family, four generation into one house. That in itself was a challenge. Overcoming being squeamish to care for the physical needs of my father is something I never thought I could do, yet I did. Managing to keep joy and laughter in your life when facing impending death while a challenge is not impossible. My dad inspired me every day. He had so many obstacles to deal with just to get through a day, yet he did it with a smile and gratitude.

Not everyone will like me no matter how much I wish they would.

The disillusion of friendship. I learned that misunderstandings can't always be repaired no matter how much you had hoped they would be.

Forgiveness is imperative to moving forward.

Not to rush to judgement. Some of the best surprises of 2010 were things I would have missed out on if I had never explored beyond my initial impression.

Passion is the lifeblood of creativity.

The labyrinth always leads back to the people you respect and care about.

Love, It's that simple.

All in all, it was a very good year. Looking forward to a great 2011. Happy New Year!

All in all, it was a very good year.

My Dad ... Forever in my heart

2010-12-19T12:02:00.004-05:00

At 3:10 am this morning, surrounded by family, embraced by love and laughter, my father passed away.

It has been a year of many ups and downs highs and lows. There were so many times that the doctors had little hope that my dad would pull through yet somehow he always managed. This year was a "bonus" round, a blessing in every sense of the word.

We learned to work together as a family, four generations under one roof. Not an easy task, but it was such a privilege to have my dad at home with us. Our common goal of his well being and comfort far outweighed any of our personal differences.

He was a man of courage and extraordinary will. He reminded me of the Incredible Oz. Only until you looked behind the curtain, did you realize truly how frail he truly was.

Kenneth David McKenna was a husband to my mom Betty for 59 years. He was a dad, grandfather and great-grandfather. He lit up a room and had a sense of humor that was larger than life. As a family we laughed a lot and he was the conductor. Good times and bad we always managed to see a silver lining.

So in his last hours we remembered the good times. As we sat at his bedside we all shared funny memories and the laughs we had throughout the years. He smiled. We smiled through our tears, laughter and love filled the room as we said our good-byes.

Losing someone you love is never easy. Today, my heart is heavy, and I'm overwhelmed by sadness and an endless stream of tears. This isn't the end of my father. He shall live on in our hearts, our memories and in the stories I will continue to share.

His favorite time of year was Christmas. He always did it up big. So we couldn't pass up the Santa Snuggie we found last week. It only seemed fitting. It was his last photo taken just days ago, with a smile that could light up a city block.

I love you dad.

Dave Koz .. we talked music, family, travel and of course cookies!!

2010-12-11T08:54:00.002-05:00

Dodging Bullets

2010-11-12T10:56:00.007-05:00

I lost a wonderful and very dear friend to breast cancer this year. She never once said "Why Me?" I have several other friends who are fighting valiant battles now. No complaints from them, all amazing incredibly brave ladies doing what they have to do with dignity and grace. I'm no different, not special, so every year when I get the results back from my annual mammogram and it's good, I feel as though I've dodged a bullet.

My dad has had pneumonia four times in the past year and a half. He almost died twice. He has been in and out of hospitals, he has a traich, a catheter and is on oxygen 24/7. He has amazed doctors with his resilience and sheer will to live. We brought him home to my house a year ago this month. Doctors were not optimistic and we counted everyday with him as a blessing There have been tears but mostly laughter. That's what we do in our family. Face anything and everything head on with a joke and a belly laugh and pie.

Today, I write this from Room 3115 where my dad is battling his 5th go round of pneumonia. When he arrived by ambulance a few days ago doctors thought he might be in for just a couple days, a "Tune-Up" if you will. Last night, was a bad night. He couldn't catch his breath. He's scared. The treatment has gotten more aggressive, his oxygen need is increasing and his breathing more labored. He's not eating. He's been here before and always come out of it. I never try to count him out, after all he has amazed us all so many times before. Yet, somehow this time feels different. So we wait, and hope and continue to pray. Does he have the strength to dodge another bullet?

New Season Starts Now: Midlife Road Trip

2010-08-27T08:17:00.001-04:00

My Dad

2010-06-20T08:25:00.003-04:00

This is my dad’s 53rd father’s day, my 53rd year as his daughter. No Norman Rockwell painting here, but more than five decades peppered with magical moments and plethora of belly laughs.

Growing up, my dad was always larger than life to me. He would walk into a room and everyone knew who he was. We never waited for a table. He engaged everyone in conversation causing me to shrink with embarrassment. At the time I wondered how could he just talk with everyone, selfishly knowing we would be there for a good while.

While my friend’s dinner tables were quiet and uneventful, ours was filled with the tales of the day and laughter. Sometimes we laughed so hard there was more giggling than eating.

My dad taught us everything from basic survival skills like how to deflect attention when passing gas in public to more important things like chasing your dreams and doing what’s right when nobody is looking.

Dad wasn’t perfect. He fell short on many an occasion. But, he was real. He was who he was, no apologies. The good memories have far outweighed the others.

My father planned the most wonderful vacations, like the summers we spent on Fire Island. We had to get there by boat. No cars on the island, we pulled red wagons along the boardwalk from the dock to the summerhouse where we stayed loaded with our necessities and our imaginations for what was sure to be an awesome week. It always was and even after 50 years I can still recall the tiniest details.

My father instilled in me his work ethic for which I will be forever grateful. He showed me how to stick it out, even when it isn’t always the fashionable or popular choice.

This past year has been the most profound of all my 53 years with my dad. He almost died, he was told there was no hope, has been in and out of a coma, in and out of the hospital so many times I’ve lost count. This once independent, larger than life figure now relies on others for just about everything. The most remarkable thing though, while his body may be compromised, his spirit and sense of humor remain unscathed.

It has taught me that life isn’t always pretty, sometimes it’s downright ugly but never let it get the best of you. A sense of humor and a soaring spirit will shine light on the darkest times.

It has taught me that my house doesn’t have to be perfectly clean with everything in its place. The chips and dents from my father’s wheelchair have become precious reminders of how lucky I am to have these months with him living in my home.

It has taught me to step outside myself. Realize it’s not all about me. That helping others, sharing what I have is far more important and gratifying.

It has taught me forgiveness.

It has taught me who my friends are, the ones who have been here to stand with me in dark hours, the ones who call just because and the ones who encourage when I just don’t think I can do it another minute and they never judge.

Most of all, it has taught me that my father is facing his mortality, much how he lived his life, with courage and grace. His smile is still a beacon, his spirit still larger than life.

So this Father’s Day, I am especially grateful for the time I have with my father. Our conversations are more meaningful. The “I Love You’s” are much more frequent. That just sitting in a room with him has significance. That every day I have from here on out with my dad is an extra special gift.

While our family portrait may be more of a Mad Magazine cover than a Norman Rockwell, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

It's a new day

2010-06-13T08:13:00.000-04:00

Your thoughts don't have words every day

2010-05-23T18:12:00.000-04:00

Your thoughts don't have words every day

They come a single time

Like signal esoteric sips

Of the communion Wine

Which while you taste so native seems

So easy so to be

You cannot comprehend its price

Nor its infrequency

by Emily Dickinson

Perspective

2010-05-13T15:41:00.000-04:00

Sometimes things in my life don't go as I had hoped or planned. Today was one of those days. Nick Vujicic again reminds me how blessed I am.

"People" from Funny Girl

2010-05-10T07:37:00.000-04:00

I admit .. I lLIKE people~I NEED people
All shapes, all sizes.
Friends, family, strangers alike
The butcher, the baker the candlestick maker.
I've learned lessons from all
Sandi

One of my favorite movie scenes .....

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T08:17:00.000-04:00

My Mother the Car

A Star on the Rise

2010-05-02T18:36:00.000-04:00

Meet Lauran Irion

Happiness Is a Full House | Parade.com

2010-05-01T14:02:00.000-04:00

Happiness Is a Full House | Parade.com

If

2010-04-28T15:10:00.000-04:00

If - a poem by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream and not make dreams your master;
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings---nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

The Road Not Taken

2010-04-18T18:55:00.000-04:00

by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

She Drives Me Crazy

2010-04-09T14:43:00.000-04:00

Guest Blogger: Vicky Akins

I hate to admit it, but there are things I've done I'm not proud of. Some, I still continue to do, even though I know they're wrong. I don't know why I don't stop these behaviors but sometimes it seems the more I try to restrain myself, the worse I actually get. Sometimes, they're just annoying habits, like tearing at my fingernails because they tear so easily. Another one was smoking, which I finally quit doing in 2008. But others involve people.

I'm a very easygoing, down-to-earth woman. Ok, I'm a little compulsive about certain things, overly emotional and quick-tempered, but for the most part, not much bothers me. I consider myself a good judge of character and have a track record of near perfect accuracy when it comes to analyzing someone's intentions/ulterior motives. I'm also pretty tolerant of idiosyncrasies, having quite the collection of my own. But for some reason, some people just make me crazy and turn me into someone I don't like very much.

There's a woman I see every day who absolutely drives me up the wall. I don't know why, but she brings out the worst in me. Her voice, mannerisms, habits and even her physical apprearance annoy the hell out of me. She's never done anything to deserve this exceptionally horrid treatment but I can't seem to help myself. She's a great worker. When she puts her mind to accomplishing something, nothing can stop her. She's not bad to look at. I've heard others tell her she's attractive, yet I cannot bring myself to look her in the eyes and not feel anger just seething inside me. I can't explain it. I'm definitely not jealous.

I know she has a medical condition that has caused her to gain weight and I know she's very sensitive about it, but I insist on bringing it to everyone's attention and making her feel ugly. I know she's trying to fix it, but I have no patience with her and when I look at her body, I'm repulsed.

She's not a bad person. Most of the time she's very kind. Often times I've seen her put her own needs last so others' could proceed where they wanted or do things they wanted. I know she's experienced some outrageously difficult times throughout her life. But who hasn't? She doesn't seem to have much self-esteem. I've noticed she goes through stages when she seems more assertive and sure of herself but they are always short-lived. Her inconsistancy drives me insane. "

One day I found myself unable to control my anger. I stared her down and began to yell.
Pick a mood, woman!! Stop whining and feeling sorry for yourself. Stop bitching and moaning that you can't do this or that. Get off your ass and just do it!" She tried to explain that she really, really wanted to do just that, but she felt like she was struggling every day against an inner voice that fought her every effort and told her she would never be good enough.
For anyone else, I would've tried to understand, but I couldn't understand her. I would've forgiven a complete stranger for making mistakes, but I couldn't forgive her.
I've always tried to assist other people in eliminating what they consider to be their weaknesses. But I couldn't help her.

She's really no different than anyone else. She has the same emotions, experiences and the right to make mistakes as everyone. But for some unknown reason I always held her to a higher standard and expected more from her than others. For some reason I could forgive anyone's imperfections but hers. I wasn't proud of my actions. I wanted to like this woman, so I developed a plan. I made a point every day to look her in the eyes and tell her she was a beautiful person. I vowed to put all her mistakes in the past and remind myself that mistakes are lessons in disguise. They shape who we are and who we are to become. Oh, it felt like a big lie at first, I'll be honest. But with each day that passed it got easier. I'm think I'm actually starting to like her a little more. She's really not as bad as I thought she was. My anger has subsided for the most part and I've started keeping a list of things she's done that I'm proud of. Sometimes I even read it to her.

I've learned these issues don't have to be permanent. For some of us they are more work than for others but it is possible to work through them. I don't hate her like I used to. I can see her looking back at me in the mirror and see, not mistakes, but potential. I've got a way to go yet, but I think we're going to be okay.

*Just some thoughts. We're harder on ourselves than anyone else. Why is it we can forgive the mistakes of others' but not our own. Is this something only women do or are men guilty of this too? Drop me a note, give me your opinion. As always, to the 4 people who actually read this blog...thank you for your continued loyalty. You're the best!

Reflections

2010-04-04T22:05:00.000-04:00

For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Say YES! The Power of Social Media

2010-03-27T10:55:00.001-04:00

Tranquillity at Rancho La Puerta

2010-03-21T15:16:00.000-04:00

Not one to relax, I couldn't imagine being able to find tranquillity anywhere. Not only did I find it at Ranch La Puerta, I relished in every minute of it!

Mykonos Authentic Greek Cookery

2010-03-21T13:15:00.000-04:00

Truly my favorite restaurant, owned by the Salivaras family, Mykonos is a place where you are not merely a customer but you are part of the family. Everything is fresh, cooked from scratch and authentic to Chef Andreas' native Greece.

NY Times David Pogue talkin' Twitter

2010-03-20T13:02:00.000-04:00

http://twitter.com/pogue

YOUR LIFE CALLING

2010-03-17T15:01:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2010-03-16T21:02:00.000-04:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day

What, no teleport? 5 tips for stress-free air travel

2010-03-05T20:15:00.000-05:00

I recently shared some of my
MidLife Road Trip Travel Tips and Tricks with

A Nomad's Lot

What, no teleport? 5 tips for stress-free air travel

How a Valley surgeon found his soulmate -- using Twitter?

2010-03-02T05:33:00.001-05:00

How a Valley surgeon found his soulmate -- using Twitter?

ABC15 PHOENIX - People across the globe are connecting in 140 characters or less.

But social networking sites like Twitter,Facebook and MySpace aren't just for friendship; now they are becoming popular places for folks looking for love.

"It's certainly not a dating service," said Twitter user Terry Simpson. "And you don't do it for that."

"And you wouldn't go out saying I want to find a boyfriend on Twitter," said social networking user April Wilson.

But last summer, Wilson and Simpson met while tweeting with a group of friends. Their twitter names are producergirl and terrysimpson.

"I wasn't looking for love," said Simpson. "I knew she existed I wasn't thinking about her other then it would be nice to know her and that's it.

Simpson said he mainly began using Twitter to gather opinions and thoughts for a new book he was writing called Cigar Talk.

"The first 100 people or so that I followed on Twitter were all about cigars and that was my interest in Twitter."

Simpson, a leading surgeon and author in Phoenix, has written several books about how to succeed using Laparoscopic band (Lap-band) surgery.

He said he's often a "smart aleck" on Twitter. It's something Wilson, a senior entertainment producer in Florida, found intriguing. That's when they starting "tweeting" to one another.

All their tweets about scrumptious food, wine and cigars led to a dinner invitation by Simpson's new group of friends. He was in Alaska at the time.

"So I left from Anchorage flew down to Tampa about 4,000 miles overnight and this is the young lady who picks me up," Simpson smiled, looking at Wilson.

She also giggled and said, "And it was over at that moment. We just went uh oh we're in trouble."

The two spent the rest of the weekend talking and getting to know each.

Dozens of flights, hundreds of phone calls and thousands of frequent flyer miles later they decided to get married.

Less than one year after first connecting on Twitter, the couple tied the knot.

Their wedding ceremony on February 19th at the Phoenix Country Club was just the way they wanted it, low key with a small group of family members and friends.

"What was really amazing was I think about half our guests were actually from Twitter," said Wilson.

And you can only imagine how the nuptials ended. Right after the officiate announced Simpson could 'kiss the bride,' they both grabbed their cell phones and Wilson shouted, "We'll tweet it out."

Simpson and Wilson say they can't wait to tweet about their next big surprise. It's so big, Simpson even changed the ending of his 4th book.

"There will be a new little fella coming into our life," read Simpson. "A dog named Balto and a little boy named Jimmy, yep after my brother, when he is born you can bet I will pass out cigars."
_________________________________________________________________________________________

From the http://MidLife Road Trip Show.com

@ocdchick performed the ceremony
@gungagalunga played guitar and sang
@dudecavanaugh and @rickgriffin shot and provided the wedding video for ABC15

Educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again, empower people everywhere to fight obesity.

2010-02-26T20:45:00.000-05:00

Jamie Oliver on TED. Absolutely spot on.

Bloggers put the "Social" in Social Media

2010-02-10T20:18:00.000-05:00

Every once in a full moon an opportunity presents itself that is life changing. Recently, I had the privilege to travel to Tecate, Mexico and spend a week at Rancho La Puerta with a group of inspiring and empowering women. They shared amazing stories of their successes, triumphs over adversity and just plain true grit.It is with great pride and admiration that I introduce to you, "The Bloggers of Rancho La Puerta"

Gina Andrews www.saveourboobies.com

Gina is a passionate young mother focused on expanding the awareness and education about breast cancer to “young” woman. A breast cancer survivor AND thriver, Gina’s a real spitfire who created www.saveourboobies.com where she champions early detection and shares her story of diagnosis in her 20’s with other young women.

Melanie Berezan www.girlgetstrong.com

The first thing that struck me about Melanie was her outer beauty. She's tall, incredibly fit with legs that went on for days. Imagine my surprise when she told me she gave birth to four children in as many years. Not only does this mom talk the talk, but she walks the walk. A rare combination, Melanie is a great role model moms everywhere.

Diane Cu http://whiteonricecouple.com

Diane says she's a fool for good conversation, green gardening and travel. A modern day "mother nature" Diane springs to life, even just talking about her garden. I was touched by Diane's kindness as I watched her photograph a little boy in Mexico, how she interacted with him and his family. She brought out the best in him, she found and captured such beauty in poverty. It was at that moment, I knew what a gift she had.

Heather Dawson www.californialifehd.com

A veteran news anchor/reporter Heather is the creator of California Life, an entertaining, informative news magazine show. Her on air presence is captivating and I found her to be so IRL (in real life). Soft spoken and engaging it is no surprise that Heather and California Life have found success. She has a winning formula of positive energy and a genuineness that is a rare find in the entertainment industry.

Sarah Evans www.prsarahevans.com

I don't know what I can tell you about Sarah Evans that you don't already know. This young lady is a PR Powerhouse. Her "Twitter Savvy" got her featured in both Vanity Fair and Forbe's Magazine and as recent as today she's on CNN. She truly is "transparent" and was happy to teach this old gal some new tricks.

Julie Gallaher www.thingsyoushoulddo.com

11 time Rancho La Puerta guest, Julie Gallaher was the catalyst behind the Rancho La Puerta bloggers group. It was her idea and tenacity that sparked the magic! Julie is all about the good, as you'll find on her website, Things You Should Do, which celebrated it's one millionth visitor in January 2010. Something you might not know, is that she has a beautiful voice and received a standing ovation at the Ranch when she sang before a packed house.

Gail Goodwin www.inspiremetoday.com

Gail is the founder of Inspire Me Today and inspire she does! Gail led our group in a brilliant mastermind session that carried over to the following day. She's motivating and encouraging, creating a bonding experience that none of us will soon forget. I think of her as the unofficial God Mother of our group, the tie that binds.

Jaden Hair www.steamykitchen.com

She's building an empire one dish at a time and she has her hand in many. She's a food writer, cookbook author, television personality, food photographer and she's Steamy, Steamy Kitchen! Jaden has intense focus She's able to juggle and balance her career with motherhood seamlessly. And did I mention, she has great ideas!

Alice Joyce www.bayareatendrils.blogspot.com/

Alice is charm and class, and is as lovely as the gardens she writes about. She blogs about historic landscapes, Modernist gardens and undiscovered green spaces in the U.S., Canada, and abroad. She has a gentleness and a calm that easily coexist with the gardens she exposes. She is a lilly in the valley of garden bloggers!

Joan Krimstein

New to blogging, Joan speaks to the empty nester crowd with grown children and grand children. She's been around the world and then some. Affectionately known to our group as "Joanie from Chicago" she embodies the spirit that it's never to late to start something new and no matter how bad your hip hurts get up and dance. And, Joan is quite a dancer!

Stacey McKinley

In a league of her own, Stacey advises businesses with federal land use permits, emphasizing environmental and agricultural sustainability areas. She divides her time between California and Washington, D.C. doing good things and making positive changes. Stacey is no wallflower. She participated in just about every class and activity at the Ranch. Her schedule exhausted me!

Andrea Metcalf www.andreametcalf.com

With more than 25 years under her belt as a personal trainer Andrea has an amazing fitness legacy helping hundreds of people get in shape. You can see her on the TODAY SHOW, GMA Health monthly, NBC Chicago weekly, BETTERTV weekly, a contributor to More Magazine or read her blog posts on Oprah.com All that aside, Andrea is truly such a nice person, a great conversationalist. It's no wonder why she is in such high demand!

Babette Pepaj www.bakespace.com

Babette is a light, a shining star! Her smile lights up a room. She has a terrific sense of humor and an amazing sense of self. Her wheels are always turning and her mind is on overdrive. No shortage of ideas, Babette is the brains and the braun behind the incredibly successful BakeSpace Community. A truly extraordinary woman.

Jennifer Quinonez www.californialifehd.com Jennifer is an award winning, Emmy nominated journalist with more than 10 years experience who is currently a writer and producer for "California Life." Jennifer is so understated, that unless you read her bio you would never even realize her laundry list of television credits, accomplishments and accolades.  Beth Rosen www.themidlifewife.com If she didn't tell you, you'd have no idea that Beth Rosen has been creating media for over 20 years and is the mother of four children that include a set of twins. She looks like a kid herself. Don't let her youthful looks fool you. Beth Rosen is a dynamo. Ever evolving, Beth produces commercials, podcasts, and videos in the Chicago market and runs BKR Media.

Melissa Jun Rowley http://melissajunrowley.com/

Melissa is far from ordinary as is evident by her start in life, when she was found on the police station steps in Soul, Korea. She has had an illustrious career to date from covering the likes of the Oscars and Golden Globes to interviewing President Barack Obama. Today, Melissa's passion and focus are on social change and cause reporting. A force to be reckoned with Melissa has enough talent and drive to make a huge difference!

Jackie Silver www.agingbackwards.com

Defying her genetics Jackie is Aging Backwards. She talks about it on TV, radio, in her book of the same name and in the columns she pens. But, what I love most about Jackie is that she's young at heart. If you are lucky to meet her IRL you'll be her BFF for life, because Jackie knows no strangers. She's sweet, generous and has a heart of gold. She was also a great roommate at Rancho La Puerta, opting for ear plugs to drown out my snoring versus throwing me outside with the wildlife! 

Good Morning

2010-01-27T08:20:00.000-05:00

Salutation to the Dawn

Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The splendour of beauty.

For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision
But today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day!
Such is the Salutation to the Dawn.

- Kalidasa, Indian Poet

Renee Salivaras Epitome of Grace & Courage

2010-01-18T14:31:00.000-05:00

Renee Salivaras has been sidetracked. Inconvenienced. Not the type of interruption where the phone ringing in the middle of a great movie or your child tugging on you while your talking to your best friend. Renee has been sidetracked by cancer. It hasn't stopped her, it's barely slowed her down.

Nearly three years ago, Renee was diagnosed with breast cancer. She's had surgeries and chemo and a variety of other treatments. She's lost her hair not once but twice.   She still looks after her family, is active in the community and goes to work everyday in Mykonos, the restaurant she owns with her husband Andreas.

She never complains and always has a huge smile as she greets her guests in the restaurant. Nothing has changed only now she does it sans hair.

Renee says she's not sick, she's just been sidetracked. I say she's remarkable.  Her daughter Sofia Zaronias is determined to see that a cure is found. She'll walk in the Susan Komen 3 day in honor of her mother's courage to fight and the grace and dignity with which she has done it.

Sofia has trained for the past year, with her team of 3 they call... The Miracle Milers. They will be cheered on by Renee herself, who will be there at the start of the race to see them off and meet them again at the finish. Sofia Zaronias says her mom is more than a mom, she's her best friend. Renee Salivaras says Sofia is more than a daughter, she is her strength and her courage. I say they are an inspiration.

I wrote that in October 2008. This morning, my incredibly brave friend Renee, "our angel" as Sofia calls her, left us.

Memories of our friendship flow today in a river of tears. I won't get to sit with her over coffee anymore but with every cup I ever drink, she will be here in my heart. While cancer took her life it never got the best of her. Chemo took her hair, but never her spirit.

Renee was beautiful, in every sense of beautiful. Her eyes were an intense, insightful blue. They were indeed mirrors to her soul.

It gives me enormous comfort to know what a faithful, spiritual person Renee was. We never passed a church without her respectfully doing the sign of the cross.

Her family was everything to her and she was devoted to them. We never had a conversation that didn't include her sharing their latest accomplishments.

I'll never forget our first meeting. I felt like I had always known her. Renee had that way about her. She made everyone feel as though they were part of her inner circle. I remember years later sitting around the table at dinner and everyone speaking Greek and I was of course clueless. They always forgot I wasn't Greek, to the Salivaras', to Renee, I was family.

Everyone who walked into her life whether through the restaurant door as a customer or a friend of twenty years was greeted with an enormous smile, a hug, a warm welcome. Renee was probably the most generous person I knew. She always gave to her church, to worthy causes, to her community, to friends and family. She had a heart of gold.

Renee didn't judge. She always forgave. I loved the way she always wanted my opinion. I can hear her now "So what do YOU think Sand". She really wanted to know. What I thought mattered to her.

There were no pretenses with Renee. She was as honest and genuine as they get.

We used to take "day trips" spending the day doing everything and nothing. We would talk for hours about anything. Nothing was off limits. We never had a cross word, well except when we would stop for lunch and fight over the bill.

I remember going the the Komen 3 Day with Renee to cheer on Sofia. She thanked every walker she saw. Cheered everyone on. She was filled with gratitude. She was amazing, a pillar of strength. I remember Sofia crossing the finish line and her and Renee embracing. I sobbed. It was a bond like no other.

Sofia is pregnant now and Renee will never get to meet her grandchild, but I know Renee will be there every moment of everyday of that babies life. Every time I hold Sofias baby I will think of Renee and the joy and love she brought to so many. And when the baby grows older, I will share my memories with him or her of my dear friend, their yaya.

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal

The Changing Landscape

2010-01-13T13:44:00.000-05:00

You heard it here first! After a six-year relationship I am calling it quits with my landscaper. He did a great job for the first five years but he has gradually become too comfortable and complacent. Our yard, once the envy of the neighborhood is now barely holding its own at “status quo”. This might be acceptable if we were paying for status quo, but we’re paying “green with envy” monthly maintenance fees. The coconut that broke the Royal Palm Frond, came by way of a $300.00 unapproved up charge for additional palm tree trimming he said was not covered in the monthly fee. This may have been all well and good had he not been so presumptuous in assuming we were willing and able to pay the additional charges. He never gave us the courtesy of telling us in advance. It’s not so much about the $300.00 as it about the fact that he took away our freedom of choice!

The landscape is changed in many ways, mostly as a metaphor for my life.

Six years ago, I would have never had the courage to confront my landscaper. He had all the power, I would have paid the up charge, I would have settled for status quo. But, the landscape HAS changed. Mid Life happened.

So, I tell the landscaper, the economy has changed. {As if he hadn’t noticed.} The “landscape” of the way we do business has changed. It is unacceptable to us that he would just charge us for something we didn’t request. To which he said he would split the difference with us, letting us know that he felt that was a very generous offer on his part.

I don’t know what struck me more, the fact that he charged us or that he had the audacity to let us know he was doing us a favor by splitting the cost. To that I confidently said “at the end of the month your services will no longer be required.”

It was liberating! No longer bound by the insecurities of my youth there is something so incredibly profound about realizing the landscape has changed in more than one way. Mid Life is here dammit and lots of good will come of it!

It’s the time to see your childhood dreams come to fruition, throw caution to the wind and challenge yourself. Getting out of your “comfort zone” had become your comfort zone!

The status quo just doesn’t cut it anymore. Time used to be measured by how expensive my watch was. Today, time is more about “how I spend it” and “who I spend it with” …

Mid Life is about luxury. The “luxury” of knowing who you are, where you’ve been and where you’re headed. It’s not the beginning of the end, but the beginning of the beginning.

New Beginnings … Second Chances

In the amount of time it took me to write this post, my landscaper had a change of heart. Not only did he wave the additional charges, he lowered our maintenance fee by $25.00 a month with a promise to bring back his A game.

Mid Life is about taking a stand, backing it up with fact and purpose. It’s about giving and getting second chances. It’s about moving forward, going places and enjoying the ride, no matter what the vehicle!

Is there "Truth" in Numbers

2010-01-07T15:47:00.000-05:00

Scott Stratton a.k.a. @unmarketing wrote a blog "Saran Wrap Series ~ My Transparency On Twitter." It's about automating your Twitter account. It really caught my interest because for some time I had been vacillating about whether or not I should start automating my Twitter account to "beef up my numbers."

For some reason credibility comes along with tens of thousands of followers. As much as I would love to see my "reach" grow swiftly and in record numbers, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The beauty of Twitter is the sincerity of its users and the ability to really connect with people I otherwise would never have met. Managing my Twitter account is no different than the way I conduct business or the way I make friends IRL. It's all personal. It all has purpose and meaning. In doing so, Twitter has changed my life in so many ways. Opportunity has come tweeting more than once. Had there only been spammers & porn stars in my tweet stream I might have missed some of the remarkable people that have come into my life.

Twitter has taken me around the world, virtually and IRL. Somehow that far outweighs "beefing up my numbers."

The Power of Giving

2009-10-09T10:36:00.000-04:00

"The Power of Giving, by Azim Jamal and Harvey McKinnon, is an international bestselling book about how giving can dramatically improve your life. It's packed with inspiring stories and wonderful advice to give your life more meaning."

http://www.thepowerofgiving.org
http://www.thepowerofgiving.org/blog
http://twitter.com/givingbook

When Size Matters

2009-10-07T11:37:00.000-04:00

There are many moments when size matters. Like when you go to put on a favorite outfit and it no longer fits. The frustration, the disappointment, the self loathing.

Or you stumble upon a fabulous sale, one of a kind, the very last one~~> oops wrong size. Better luck next time.

Size matters when you are the smallest kid in the class and bullied by the 'big' kids. Size matters in travel, a lot. Just try exceeding the weight limit on luggage and what that will cost you.

Size matters when you order a pizza. Better have enough to go around or it could get ugly.

Size counts in relation to your bank account. Bigger is certainly better.

"Super Sizing" became an instant hit until we realized that there was a down side to having fries with that.

All this thinking about size and numbers came as a result of meeting Chris Brogan at IzeaFest. Chris Brogan is President of New Marketing Labs. He's a speaker, a blogger and the co-author of Trust Agents, with Julien Smith.

Chris Brogan was not what I expected. I expected aloof, hurried and someone more preoccupied with his iphone than the people in the room. I couldn't have been more wrong. Chris was truly engaging, very kind. And funny. I had no idea what a quick wit and great sense of humor he had. He was also very insightful. "Be self aware, not self involved" he said. Having over 100,000 Twitter followers could certainly have gone to his head, but it didn't. I watched closely as he spoke with everyone who approached him. He was in the moment, gave each conversation 100% of his focus. Lesson learned "Don't Judge a Tweeter by his Numbers"

Having "followers" can give you a false sense of self importance at times. Yes, I'm speaking from my own misguided sense of self importance and the value I was beholding to the "number" of Twitter Followers I had. Barely 6,000 pairs of ears in my Twitter stream, but the largest audience I had ever had! But was it enough? What could I do, should I do to grow these "followers" in number. Would the nonsense I spew be of more value if 10,000 or even 100,000 'followers" read it? Then, thinking back to Chris Brogan, it clicked.

It's not the Number of Followers that you have but, the SIZE of your connection. It's about building meaningful relationships. Do I need 10,000 @McMedia devotees to connect? Surely not. I should however, nurture the followers I have. I want a BIG connection. I want to meet the people I tweet with. I want to KNOW them. I care. I want them to know I care. I genuinely like people.

I was standing in the crowd at Izeafest and looked up to hear "Are you @McMedia?" "Hi, I'm DJ Edgerton, @wiltonbound" .... DJ went on to say I was one of he first people to connect with him when he started on Twitter and how much he appreciated it. I was humbled and almost felt shame. Had I even earned his gratitude? It made me realize that how you interact through social media, does matter. It was a BIG reminder that we are talking to real people, commenting on real topics, dealing in real life situations. Be nice, be kind, be thoughtful. Be a friend, gain a follower, build a relationship. Our tweets are the foundation of our relationships in SM or IRL.

Forgive me followers, it has been many months since my last blog post.

2009-09-25T12:48:00.000-04:00

Forgive me followers, it has been many months since my last blog post. Funny, how in times of overwhelming stress and worry, I am always thrown back to my Irish Catholic up bringing and thoughts of the priest in little dark box. Memories of the little girl trying to decide what sins she committed, the thought, the fear & dread of the act of confession far worse than anything I had ever done wrong.

I'm not one to dwell on the maudlin, more of a realist and straight shooter. But even for me, my father's failing health, lengthy hospitalization and subsequent life in a nursing home have put me in a tail spin, fighting to find a way to make the best of a bad situation.

I have spent countless hours, days & nights at the nursing home we jokingly refer to as the "Comedy Club". Somehow calling it that has made it bearable. After all, laughter is the best medicine and has been a part of my family as far back as I can remember. We've found humor in the crazy, funny in the unthinkable just to get through it. It gave our family hope, a familiar feeling in a very unfamiliar place.

Our hope has moved over and made way for acceptance. My father isn't getting better and slowly his diseased body is wearing him down. He's coming home next week so we can celebrate the moments. Now, life is all about moments.

We have no idea how much time he has left here on earth but we will fill each of his days with laughter, make every one his moments memorable.

And in his honor, and at his request, I begin my journey to finish the bucket list he couldn't. So join me as I hop in the RV and hit the open road with @rickgriffin and @ocdchick on the "The Mid Life Road Trip".

Eating & Tweeting A Match Made in Heaven

2009-04-05T14:35:00.000-04:00

From the moment he opened the door, @barryfrangipane's smile lit up the room brighter than the crystal chandelier he imported from Venice, Italy. I immediately knew we were in for a special evening. Anyone who knows me well, knows how much I enjoy Twitter. It has introduced me to so many fascinating people I would have otherwise never met. That's also what inspired Barry and his wife of 12 years @dolcedebbie to create a Twitter dining experience like no other. I, like everyone else at the Frangipanes's that evening met on Twitter. It was any ones guess how a group of virtual friends connected only by 140 characters, would 'hit it off' IRL (in real life). What happened next would defy odds and reason. Not only was the food, wine and beer incredible, but the interaction of this group, once connected only by keystrokes, resembled that of a group of old friends.

With each new course grew tighter bonds (and waistbands)and stronger threads of friendship. It was a remarkable experience, one I went into with skepticism and trepidations but emerged from with new friends, increased knowledge and a palate that was tantalized and taken to new heights.

The Menu

Appetizers-Fried Rice Ball w Shrimp, Bruschetta, Fried Zucchini Straws
Beer Pairing Lagunitas Czech Style Pilsner
Wine Pairing Bisson Prosseco 2007

First Plate - Parmesean Risotto
Wine Pairing Bonci Verdicchio Carpaneto 2007
Beer Pairing Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale

Second Plate - Pistachio encrusted Sea Bass
Wine Pairing Deforville Chardonnay 2007
Beer Pairing Jolly Pumpkin Brewery Calabaza Blanca

Main dish - Grilled rack of lamb encrusted in parmesean cheese, bread crumbs and rosemary.
Wine Pairing Pievano Sagratino Montefalco 2003
Beer Pairing Dogfish Head Raison E’Etre

Dessert - Lemon Cake with strawberries marinated in Limoncello.

Bananas Exposed

2009-04-04T08:07:00.000-04:00

Bananas, are the worlds most popular fruit, with a long history dating back to Malaysia in the 6th century BCE. But, like many of us the Banana is misunderstood. It's a plant not a tree and is actually the world's largest herb!

Bananas are said to have all the nutrients a human needs plus they contain all the 8 amino-acids our body cannot produce itself. The banana "completes" me.

It is not until you peel back the layers though that you discover how much goodness the banana has to offer. Like people. Until you peel back all the complexities that make a person who they are, you never get to the true essence of who they are.

Take the time to get to know someone. Look beyond the skin. It is inside that you will discover the goodness and reap all the benefits.

Art work by Deb Brown
www.debo.com/blog
twitter: @ArteDeb

Hell's Gone to Twitter in a Handbasket

2009-03-18T16:04:00.000-04:00

LeeAnn Rimes husband @Deansheremet professed his love for his wife on Twitter amidst the rumors of her alleged affair with co-star Eddie Cibrian.

NBC's @jamiegangel has mounted a Twitter campaign to get the attention of her colleague @davidgregory ~ she merely asks that he "follow-her". David Gregory is following a scant 89 compared to the 203,251 following him. If he's not following her I won't be holding MY breath for his follow!

Tony Danza performing an act civil disobedience at the new J. Crew in Malibu all the while filming it and later posting it on Twitter.

Meanwhile, George Stephanopoulos interviewed John McCain online in a "Twitterview."
Here's an excerpt ...

@SenJohnMcCain hi george im a little slow

@SenJohnMcCainHappy St. Patricks day

@GStephanopoulos @SenJohnMcCain Happy St Patrick's Day! First things first: How do u tweet -- dictate or type? Blackberry or pc?

@SenJohnMcCain @GStephanopoulos Happy St.Patrick's day- slow,sometimes pc somtimes bb

And then of course this shocker ..
@johncmayer 's BREAKING CELEBRITY NEWS: I was sitting with my legs crossed for too long and my penis fell asleep.

His 256,283 followers will sleep better having been the first to know this. {blushing} of which I am one.

35th Annual US Business Hall of Fame

2009-03-02T07:11:00.000-05:00

35th Annual US Business Hall of Fame

Business Leaders from around the United States gather for a day-long series of events to honor the 2009 Inductees who have demonstrated vision & leadership while driving results for top U.S. brands.

Where: Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel

When: Thursday, March 5, 2009

Agenda of Events: 9:15 a.m
JA BizTown Tour

Noon
Leadership Luncheon
Grand Ballroom

Luncheon Keynote: Ralph de la Vega

With concerns about dropout rates and the economy, it’s important not to lose sight on the future and focus on helping young people prepare for their careers. That is the goal of Junior Achievement. And no one better to do that than Ralph de la Vega given his background.

Ralph’s remarkable journey to the head of one of the largest wireless companies in the world begins when he immigrated to the United States…alone…at the age of 10 from Cuba. All that he had in his possession was what he could fit in two suitcases. His parents would not follow for four more years.

From this humble beginning, Ralph has risen to the very highest ranks in American business and been at the forefront of the transformation of the country’s telecommunications industry.

Today, he is the CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. Previously, he served as President and CEO-AT&T Mobility where he was responsible for all of AT&T’s wireless business.
2:00 p.m.
The Competitive Challenge Forum
Keeping America Strong in a Turbulent Global Economy
Salon VI, Level 2

Who: Forum moderator Margaret Brennan, CNBC Reporter

Panelists:
Senator Dan Coats
Alex Sink-CFO, State of Florida Florida Chief Financial Officer
JA USA Board – Jim Rutrough – CAO- State Farm Insurance
Edward E. Whitacre – Chairman Emeritus, AT&T, Inc.

Forum Topics: Financial Literacy
Personal and Business Ethics
Work Readiness

6:00 p.m.
Lureate Reception
Grand Ballroom Foyer

These laureates epitomize the American entrepreneurial spirit while providing positive role models for the young people who would walk in their footsteps.

7 p.m.
Induction & Awards Ceremony
Grand Ballroom, 2nd Level
2009 Laureates:
Steve Case, co-founder, America Online, Inc.
Tim Gannon, Bob Basham and Chris Sullivan; co-founders, Outback Steakhouse
George W. Jenkins (1907-1996), founder, Publix Super Markets, Inc.
Muriel F. Siebert, founder and chairwoman, Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc.
Edward E. Whitacre Jr., chairman emeritus, AT&T

The U.S. Business Hall of Fame was founded by Junior Achievement in 1975, and has inducted 240 laureates to date. For more information about the event, visit www.ja.org/hof.

About JA Worldwide® (Junior Achievement)
Junior Achievement is the world's largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement provides in-school and after-school programs for students which focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. Today, 137 individual area operations reach more than four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 123 other countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.ja.org.

Collaboration ~ The Sincerest Form of Flattery

2009-02-24T18:38:00.000-05:00

Collaboration, is the sincerest form of flattery. What could be more flattering than to have someone think enough of you and your ideas to wish to share theirs and build upon yours. I love collaborating, merging passions and creating something from interwoven visions, similar but different. Partnering with someone on a project can lead to great things.

Just take Larry Page and Sergey Brin. They met by chance at Stanford in 1995 when Larry, 22 was considering the school and Sergey, 21, was assigned to show him around. Just about a year later Larry and Sergey began collaborating. Two incredible minds, one brilliant idea ~ google. We'll never know if google would have evolved the way it has if Larry & Sergey hadn't collaborated.

Brainstorming, masterminding or whatever ever you choose to call it, gives birth to ideas that are nurtured and grown through friendship & partnerships. The success of these collaborations is the culmination of great ideas from forward thinkers, risk takers and generous souls.

When you dream alone, with your eyes shut, asleep, that dream is an illusion. But when we dream together, sharing the same dream, awake and with our eyes wide open, then that dream becomes reality! Anonymous

This post is collaboration between artist Deb Brown and writer Sandra McKenna.

Paper Napkin PR

2009-02-13T17:06:00.000-05:00

If you think it takes a fancy brief case, a leather bound portfolio and a Mont Blanc pen to come up with great ideas you couldn't be me wrong! Some of the best ideas are conceived as a result of the union of a Bic ballpoint and TGI Friday's paper napkin!

Serendipity is when you accidentally discover something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely. Whether sharing a good laugh with friends over a glass of wine, a business lunch, a Sunday brunch or a round of golf with your fabulous foursome, you just never know when that aha! moment is going to strike.

To this day, I have a *napkin* contract between myself and my business partner that was written and signed years ago over a one pump non fat no whip extra foam mocha at a Starbucks! Rather than let your moment pass, jot it down where ever you are, on whatever is there! I promise you'll never look at a serviette the same way again!

What would you do if Twitter were gone tomorrow?

2009-02-02T11:17:00.000-05:00

My routine has changed slightly since I fell in love with Twitter. I used to make a cup of coffee, sit back and read the paper. Now, I stop at my computer on the way to the kitchen, take a quick glance at my Twitter numbers, make the coffee and settle on in to the conversation of the morning. Perhaps I share what I'm thinking, comment on someone else's thoughts or report on some over night news.

It struck me this morning, that Twitter has become such a part of my routine, what would I do if it were gone from my life as quick as it came? As my breath shortened and my palms sweat, I couldn't even begin to contemplate the idea. OMG, how would I find out what's going on in Shanghai without @sdweathers or would I lose touch with @mchammer ? What would become of @agingbackwards and how would I get a daily dose of @drmolliemarti ? Would I still be able to "crush it" with @garyvee or be part of the @aplusk & @mrskutcher Twitterazzi? I wouldn't have @unmarketing to entertain me with his off key creations or get the inside info from @NBCNewsCrew or @CNNRickSanchez .

This is only a small piece of the the Twitter family that I have come to rely upon for everything from conversation with my morning coffee to a late night chats about the days events. Would I survive without it? Most certainly. Would I miss it? Without a doubt! Would they miss me? I hope so!

Twitter - Life in Real Time

2008-12-21T04:04:00.000-05:00

TWITTER .. It amazes more more each day. I can't help but feel anyone who isn't using Twitter or is poo-pooing it's value is really missing the boat. Take tonight for instance when a @2drinksbehind (Mike Wilson) a passenger on Continental Airlines flight 1404 from Denver to Houston gave a real time account when the plane he was on ran off the runway at take-off. Twitter isn't just something you do to pass the time, wake up folks!

Photo from TwitPic

The Twitter transcript:

Pretty exhausted at this point, so I'm heading off to bed. Good night!about 1 hour ago from web
I'm very grateful to still be here. Thanks again to all the well wishers. I'm amazed and humbled by it all. about 1 hour ago from web
@mjcarrasquillo this was on takeoff. I'm not sure, but I would speculate some type of mechanical failure. about 1 hour ago from web in reply to mjcarrasquillo
fortunately, there didn't seem to be any life-threatening injuries about 1 hour ago from web
there was a fire station nearby and that's where we all ended up right after the crash about 1 hour ago from web
I made for the exit door as quickly as I could, fearing the right wing might explode from the fire. once out, i scrambled down the wing about 1 hour ago from web
whoever was on the left side exit row, god bless him, was johnny on the spot and instantly had the door open - people crowded out in a massabout 1 hour ago from web
by the time the plane stopped we were burning pretty well and I think I could feel the heat even through the bulkhead and window about 1 hour ago from web
i believe it was after the jolt that the right engine, which was near my row, caught fire about 1 hour ago from web
i think we might have gone into a ravine and dropped some distance as there was a sudden bottom-dropped-out feeling and then a jolt about 1 hour ago from web
shortly after we veered off, the plane quite obviously left the runway at high speed (maybe 100 kts) and proceeded to go 4 wheel drivingabout 1 hour ago from web
a 1st class passenger I talked to indicated he saw the left engine come off at the time, but it's unclear if this was a cause or an effect about 1 hour ago from web
to all who've asked, it's hard to know exactly what went wrong -- we were in the middle of a normal takeoff when we suddely veered offabout 1 hour ago from web
Thanks for all the well wishes everyone. Sorry for the radio silence, but my battery died in the middle of all this and I just made it home about 1 hour ago from twitterrific
You have your wits scared out of you, drag your butt out of a flaming ball of wreckage and you can't even get a vodka-tonic. Boo about 4 hours ago from twitterrific
Continental keeping us locked up at the presidents club until they can sort everything out. Won't even serve us drinks. :( about 4 hours ago from twitterrific
Can't see much, but that's the crash site. http://twitpic.com/ut2cabout 6 hours ago from twitterrific
This was crash #2 for me. Maybe I should start taking the bus. about 7 hours ago from twitterrific
Ugh ... My glasses fell off in the mass exodus getting off the plane .. Can't see very well about 7 hours ago from twitterrific
Holy fucking shit I wasbjust in a plane crash! about 7 hours ago from twitterrific

I feel like Gumby

2008-12-17T08:23:00.000-05:00

Remember Gumby, the green clay humanoid figure who was the star of a Saturday morning television series of the same name which ran for almost 35 years?

What you say, do I have in common with a green clay cartoon figure? For one, we're roughly the same age. He hung out with Pokey a red clay pony and I hang out with Oscar, a 16 year old dachshund in diapers. Before age took over and his mane went white, Oscar had beautiful red hair.

Eddie Murphy played Gumby on Saturday Night Live and those not familiar with his work were reprimanded with his most memorable phrase, "I'm Gumby, dammit!". Hmm "I'm Sandi, dammit" Has a nice ring .....

Today, Gumby is a common nickname for someone who is very flexible. It's even a saying in the Marine Corps "Semper Gumby" which jokingly translates to "always flexible". While I am not a US marine, I do run my kitchen like a mess hall and I am pretty much known for my flexibility. Not in the physical sense of the word mind you (I am sure Gumby is a bit stiff to after all these years too.)

I often catch myself in mid sentence "No problem, I'm flexible." I guess it's too late to change now. I have built my reputation on going with the flow, being flexible. Accommodating others. Looking out for the other guy. It's nothing extraordinary, yet slowly becoming a lost art. Simply put, it's just plain old good customer service.

Won't you be my neighbor?

2008-12-06T05:57:00.000-05:00

Blogging .. Vlogging ..Twitter .. Facebook .. UStream .. YouTube .. Social Media

It's all been around for awhile now, although it's brand new to me. Two weeks ago I dusted myself off and set out to learn as much as I could about what I have been missing. Overwhelmed at the thought, I had little idea where to begin.

Jackie at AgingBackwards turned me on to Twitter. For the first couple of days I was clueless, the tail was wagging the dog. The more I observed, the more I read, the more I realized how far out of the loop I had been and what I had been missing. I dipped a toe in and I typed in my first Tweet, or is it a Twit?

From that moment forward, Twitter has become my University of Social Networking and I am working towards my MBT (mastering the basics of Twitter). I have been learning from the "best of the best" reading all that they write, their Twits, their blogs. I have been inspired and motivated by the likes of Chris Brogan, Guy Kawasaki, Gary Vaynerchuk, Sir Richard Branson, Danny Brown, Peter Shankman and the list goes on .....

In went the other toe. I have now advanced to blogging. Aligned Deb, who I met through Twitter designed the banner at the top of my blog. And New Old Mom who I met during a live chat on how to make money blogging (who knew?) told me that she will teach me what she knows. That's the beauty of Twitter. Perfect strangers helping each other. As technologically forward as it is for novices like me, the concept takes me back to my childhood, when neighbors were truly friendly and helping each other was a pleasure not an imposition. It's the covered dish dinner, well without the covered dish.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Ho, Ho, Hold the Stress and Pass the Turnips

2008-12-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

Recipe for Holdiay Dinner Disaster

1 handful of dysfunctional relatives

1 pinch of unresolved issues
Marinade - Over sized punchbowl of eggnog and Uncle Dave

24 pound frozen Turkey and mom

Flames and sharp objects

Meet the family

Mom ... Mom fancies herself a gourmet as she is a devotee of the Food Network and she's convinced she and Paula Dean
were switched at birth. She's always trying a new "creation" but things don't always go as she plans ....

Dad - He's the rock ... No matter what goes right or goes wrong, Dad is the fixer of all.

Cousin Chaos a.k.a. Myrna ... Habitually late, Myrna is in her own time zone. Not only is she always late, but the world
revolves around Myrna and her latest crisis. If there is no crisis Myrna creates one .....

Big News Sister Sue ... Sue always makes the most untimely announcement at the most inappropriate time .. Like the
Christmas she decided to quit college and blurted it out in the middle of dinner .... Mom clutched her pearls and dropped the turkey, Uncle Dave gulped another eggnog and of course cousin Myrna jumped on the bandwagon.

Uncle Dave .... The family "Cooter Brown". He's a little heavy handed with the eggnog, he tends to get louder with every sip and thinks he's the life of the party ...

Uncle Dave's wife Emmy ... Otherwise lovingly referred to as "Green with Emmy" .... She envious of everything and everyone. She's the passive aggressive one ...

The children. "Jacked Up" Jackie and Jill" ..... A slight case of ADD combined with a healthy dose of holiday sugar treats has the kids all jacked up on a sugar high and acting crazy. Not listening and acting silly they might just be what puts mom over the edge!

Sound familiar?? We all have one or know someone who has a least one family member like this! If so my friend, Patricia Rossi, etiquette/life style coach can help you navigate the holiday table and all the antics in between.

Twelve Days of Twit'mas

2008-12-04T10:26:00.000-05:00

On the first day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the second day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the third day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the fourth day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the fifth day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Five golden ringtones
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the sixth day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Six videos a playing
Five golden ringtones
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the seventh day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Seven Twitpic sunsets
Six videos a playing
Five golden ringtones
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the eighth day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Eight email updates
Seven Twitpic sunsets
Six videos a playing
Five golden ringtones
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the ninth day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Nine links to learn from
Eight email updates
Seven Twitpic sunsets
Six videos a playing
Five golden ringtones
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the tenth day of Twit'mas my Tweetheart gave to me
Ten typers typing
Nine links to learn from
Eight email messages
Seven Twitpic sunsets
Six videos a playing
Five golden ringtones
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the eleventh day of Twit'mas my Tweatheart gave to me
Eleven laptops loading
Ten typers typing
Nine links to learn from
Eight email messages
Seven Twitpic Sunsets
Six videos a playing
Five golden ringtones
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

On the twelfth day of Twit'mas my Tweatheart gave to me
Twelve Tweetup meetups
Eleven laptops loading
Ten typers typing
Nine links to learn from
Eight email messages
Seven Twitpic sunsets
Six videos a playing
Five golden ringtones
Four calling clients
Three teleseminars
Two DM love notes and
New followers totaling 1,003.

twitter.com/AgingBackwards twitter.com/McMedia

Rate My Space but Be Gentle ...

2008-12-04T09:34:00.001-05:00

At the urging of my friend Lucille, I posted my recently renovated kitchen on HGTV's "Rate My Space". I heard someone say "HGTV’s Rate My Space is the American Idol of home decor." That should have been my first clue as to what I was about to experience.

Like me, I bet you are saying to yourself "What in the world do a singing competition and decorating show have in common. By all accounts, the people who post comments on Rate My Space share the same unbridled passion and enthusiasm as the fans of American Idol.

I had never seen the Rate My Space show or web site prior to uploading my photos. Either I was completely naive or just simply so excited to share my dream kitchen with other people who enjoyed design as much as I do, that I was ill prepared for the onslaught of comments. Of course the compliments felt great but I had no idea that the critisims would sting so much. When one Rate My Space reader took five paragraphs to tell me that he/she felt the kitchen I painstakingly designed after a two years of flipping through magazines lacks warmth and fails the basics of design 101, ouch! I quickly learned to enjoy the good with the bad and found that even the design world has a Simon Cowell or two.

You can view and Rate "our space" under kitchens and it's titled Pinnacle of Design at

http://ratemyspace.hgtv.com

About the show ...

Designer Angelo Surmelis Helps Homeowners Make the Grade 
with Help From HGTV.com's Virtual Community

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.--(Business Wire)--
This summer, HGTV will premiere its first primetime program based
on the phenomenally successful online feature HGTV's Rate My Space.
Inspired by HGTV.com's most popular online interactive feature and
hosted by designer Angelo Surmelis, the new series will preview on
Sunday, June 8 at 10 p.m. ET/PT immediately following HGTV Design
Star, and will premiere in its weekly time slot on Thursday, June 12
at 9 p.m. ET/PT. In addition, Angelo will dish about the rooms posted
on the "Rate My Space" Web site and offer advice the help homeowners
improve their room design - during his weekly 2-minute online videos
called "Spacecasts" on HGTV.com.

Since its launch in 2007, millions of online users have discovered
that HGTV.com's "Rate My Space" Web page is a unique place to post
photos of their room designs and possibly earn a coveted five-star
room rating from their online peers. Now, viewers can tap into this
HGTV.com phenomenon with Rate My Space and watch as designer
Angelo Surmelis helps lucky homeowners improve their low-rated room
designs.

To help homeowners achieve their desired look and a higher rating for
their space, Angelo invites them to select their three favorite room
photos from the Rate My Space site. Next, he and his design team will
identify the styles, objects and finishes that captured the interest
of the homeowner and use those elements as inspiration for the new
space. Along the way, Angelo will provide viewers with plenty of style
tips and design ideas. In the end, pictures of the new room are
re-posted on the Rate My Space site (http://ratemyspace.hgtv.com) and
everyone hopes the room will earn five stars.