This is one of my favorite holidays. When else can you eat hot dogs, watermelon, snow cones and then watch fireworks in a dazed, overfull stupor? OK, so that's not the point of the holiday. So let's talk about what is.
1. Community: We need days like today to interact with friends, neighbors and even complete strangers. Life is about connections and relationships; take the day to remember why you moved to a certain neighborhood, town or city.
2. A bit of nationalism: We're Americans. We're proud to be "free and independent" as Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote. Notice I said a bit. No reason to go overboard and piss off your non-native co-workers at the company picnic.
3. History: In our 233 years as a nation, we've done some things very well and others poorly. Let's acknowledge both and learn how to make the future stronger, safer and brighter.
Happy 4th of July!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Hot weather, cool tempers
When my husband was growing up, he had a couple of longtime neighbors that always planned a huge 4th of July extravaganza in their backyard. Think grilling, horse shoes, all the American family pastimes.
Along with all the food and fun, this family—we'll call them the Flops--fought. A little too much beer, a little too much sun, and the afternoons always entailed a boxing match. It was a joke around my husband's house: "The Flops are at it again."
Every year, the Flops set out with the expectation of a fun-filled family event. And every year it ended with a rumble through the azaleas.
Our own holidays tend to be a little, ahem ... quieter. But I do wonder if the hot temperatures can have an inflaming effect on tempers that are naturally inclined to run a little hot.
As I enjoy a cool drink on the patio this weekend, I'll think of the Flops ... and hope they're celebrating this hot weather with cooler tempers.
Happy 4th!
Along with all the food and fun, this family—we'll call them the Flops--fought. A little too much beer, a little too much sun, and the afternoons always entailed a boxing match. It was a joke around my husband's house: "The Flops are at it again."
Every year, the Flops set out with the expectation of a fun-filled family event. And every year it ended with a rumble through the azaleas.
Our own holidays tend to be a little, ahem ... quieter. But I do wonder if the hot temperatures can have an inflaming effect on tempers that are naturally inclined to run a little hot.
As I enjoy a cool drink on the patio this weekend, I'll think of the Flops ... and hope they're celebrating this hot weather with cooler tempers.
Happy 4th!
Summer rains
I live in the high desert. To many that means hot temperatures and little, if any, vegetation. And drought is a constant.
While it is true we don't get a lot of water, July is typically the wet season. Temperatures drop by 15 degrees and the ground is saturated as moisture weeps from the sky. The dry, brittle grasses of June flourish again and the cactus bloom in a profusion of reds, pinks and even yellows. Hollyhock blossoms burst from their stalks and birds, chipmunks, and even snakes flit about. July brings renewed life.
Today, as the gray clouds linger and water trickles slowly down my window panes, I find myself thinking about second chances. Everyone has goals; thy are akin to hope and purpose. Or at least offer a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
So here they are, some of my goals:
1. Spend more quality time with my family
2. Exercise with more frequency - unfortunately, the walk to the mailbox doesn't really count as a workout
3. Write for at least an hour
What will you do for yourself today?
While it is true we don't get a lot of water, July is typically the wet season. Temperatures drop by 15 degrees and the ground is saturated as moisture weeps from the sky. The dry, brittle grasses of June flourish again and the cactus bloom in a profusion of reds, pinks and even yellows. Hollyhock blossoms burst from their stalks and birds, chipmunks, and even snakes flit about. July brings renewed life.
Today, as the gray clouds linger and water trickles slowly down my window panes, I find myself thinking about second chances. Everyone has goals; thy are akin to hope and purpose. Or at least offer a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
So here they are, some of my goals:
1. Spend more quality time with my family
2. Exercise with more frequency - unfortunately, the walk to the mailbox doesn't really count as a workout
3. Write for at least an hour
What will you do for yourself today?
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Seize the moment
Laughter, little secrets, a renewed connection - these are just some of the benefits of making time with friends. Last night, I met up with four other women for cocktails. Our cocktail hour ran a little long; five hours later, I was pulling into the driveway. But you know something, that's the way it should be: Losing track of time may be just as important as always being prompt. It means you're having fun, you're connecting.
Girl time is more than just having fun. When we talk and interact with others, we're happier and less stressed. There's even research documenting our girl-friend phenomenon. Yeah, there's always something else we probably should be doing: Kids, husbands, house cleaning, that one last assignment and even laundry take precedence over fun. But it's shared moments like last night - with the fruity drinks and the hours of laughter - I'm going to remember a lot longer than whether my floors were mopped.
Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio once wrote a column titled 45 Lessons Life Taught Me. Here are her top four:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
What will you do for yourself today?
Girl time is more than just having fun. When we talk and interact with others, we're happier and less stressed. There's even research documenting our girl-friend phenomenon. Yeah, there's always something else we probably should be doing: Kids, husbands, house cleaning, that one last assignment and even laundry take precedence over fun. But it's shared moments like last night - with the fruity drinks and the hours of laughter - I'm going to remember a lot longer than whether my floors were mopped.
Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio once wrote a column titled 45 Lessons Life Taught Me. Here are her top four:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone...
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
What will you do for yourself today?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Breast friends
I woke up this morning with a couple of cantelopes strapped to my chest. At least, that's what it felt like. No, I'm not some post-op breast enhancement victim. I'm just lactating. A lot.
Moo. That's what I feel like sometimes. A glorified cow. Worse yet, because I pump extra milk for donation and for nights out, if I don't keep up a regular pumping schedule, I end up with the chest of a less-than-sensible exotic dancer.
To me, that's the funniest part. I know some guys go gaga over the "enhanced" look, but do they really realize what it is they find so attractive? One word: lactators! Those big, fake boobs are merely mimicking the look of breasts engorged with milk.
Then there's the fact I leak. Like a faucet. As if the achy engorged feeling weren't bad enough, I sport a couple of wet spots on my chest and my scent can best be described as au lait. If the look of engorged breasts is so attractive, is the smell of breast milk some sort of fertility pheromone?
Our bodies do some pretty darned strange things. But they're pretty amazing too.
Moo. That's what I feel like sometimes. A glorified cow. Worse yet, because I pump extra milk for donation and for nights out, if I don't keep up a regular pumping schedule, I end up with the chest of a less-than-sensible exotic dancer.
To me, that's the funniest part. I know some guys go gaga over the "enhanced" look, but do they really realize what it is they find so attractive? One word: lactators! Those big, fake boobs are merely mimicking the look of breasts engorged with milk.
Then there's the fact I leak. Like a faucet. As if the achy engorged feeling weren't bad enough, I sport a couple of wet spots on my chest and my scent can best be described as au lait. If the look of engorged breasts is so attractive, is the smell of breast milk some sort of fertility pheromone?
Our bodies do some pretty darned strange things. But they're pretty amazing too.
Let the sun shine in!
Sun shine, birds twittering. Yes, it's finally summer. I admit it, I'm a sun junkie. My house has walls of windows and skylights. After a full day of clouds, I get mopey. I rarely turn on a light switch during the day. I spend hours outdoors.
Sun helps to make Vitamin D. Last October, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doubled the recommended amount of vitamin D for infants, children and adolescents from 200 IU to 400 IU a day. This May, some researchers suggested increasing doses of Vitamin D to a whopping 2,000 IUs a day. Note that the AAP does not recommend children getting more than 2,000 IUs per day.
Here are some good sources of Vitamin D:
Sun helps to make Vitamin D. Last October, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doubled the recommended amount of vitamin D for infants, children and adolescents from 200 IU to 400 IU a day. This May, some researchers suggested increasing doses of Vitamin D to a whopping 2,000 IUs a day. Note that the AAP does not recommend children getting more than 2,000 IUs per day.
Here are some good sources of Vitamin D:
Fatty fish. Think salmon, tuna or sardines
Milk, specifically cow
Certain cereals
Fortified juices
- Sunlight, if it's between 10 and 20 minutes a day on bare skin (Because UV rays are known to cause cancer, I'm not running around without my sun screen.)
Vitamin D is fat soluble, which means the vitamin may need some fat or oil to be absorbed properly. That makes cow's milk and salmon great sun alternatives. However you choose to get it, make sure you pay attention to your Vitamin D intake. It's not just for strong bones - though who doesn't want those?
The grudge report
Please don't tell anyone, bit I kind of hold grudges. Part of it is because I don't do a good job of expressing my likes and dislikes. I get too worried about hurting people's feelings.
If you've ever answered "I don't care" when someone asked where you wanted to go to dinner--and fretted later because the person didn't read your mind--you're guilty. Sometimes the nicest thing you can do is just be a little more straightforward.
That's why I'm going to practice these steps for healthier communication:
1. Be honest with myself and others about my likes and dislikes.
2. Speak from the heart.
3. Let go of little problems and hurts.
One final note: my personal pet peeve is when people use honesty as permission to say anything. (You know, stuff like this: "Yes, grandma, we're using the dishes you gave us ... as planters." Or, "Sure boss, that's a great idea, and if you could just find someone else to do it right ...") So for me, I'll focus on a happier balance of truth with compassion.
What will you do for yourself today?
-- Post From My iPhone
If you've ever answered "I don't care" when someone asked where you wanted to go to dinner--and fretted later because the person didn't read your mind--you're guilty. Sometimes the nicest thing you can do is just be a little more straightforward.
That's why I'm going to practice these steps for healthier communication:
1. Be honest with myself and others about my likes and dislikes.
2. Speak from the heart.
3. Let go of little problems and hurts.
One final note: my personal pet peeve is when people use honesty as permission to say anything. (You know, stuff like this: "Yes, grandma, we're using the dishes you gave us ... as planters." Or, "Sure boss, that's a great idea, and if you could just find someone else to do it right ...") So for me, I'll focus on a happier balance of truth with compassion.
What will you do for yourself today?
-- Post From My iPhone
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