Tag: human interest

Finally – Shoes I love To Wear

Vibram fivefingers with nasturtiums

I love my fivefingers! A shoe that I am not in a hurry to take off when I get home.

I don't rave about shoes but I love them so much I even wrote a review for REI [where I bought them.]

Shoe shopping and I have a love/hate relationship. I know I need shoes but the process of getting them is no fun so I do it as infrequently as is possible.

My feet are not made like the manufacturers think all women's feet should be made and I've learned to buy men's shoes – but that only works for sandals and running shoes. When I need to get "dressed up" I am stuck with uncomfortable shoes.

I tried on a pair of the fivefinfgers late last year but waited until REI had it's member's get 20% off sale to buy them. Also wasn't sure how they would manage winter.

Anyway – they are comfy and not too many people think they are odd [but I do live in Portland where one motto is: Keep Portland Weird.]

If you don't go barefoot a lot of the time, these may take some getting used to. But if you do yoga and have learned to separate your toes [like you did as a kid] then these will not feel odd.

They are much the same a walking barefoot and you feel the gravel and rocks underfoot but they don't puncture the shoe or your foot. I'm going to wear them for a run and a bike ride this week and am tempted to wear them to the next event for which I need to get "dressed up."

And for next winter I shall get a pair that are a bit heavier and also some finger socks!

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For those who like shoes without flowers, here is another picture

Comments? Questions?

07/20/2011
Are You a Non-linear in a Linear World?

Do you, like this child, march to your own drum?

Are you often seen as a square peg in a round hole?

Are you thinking of yourself as ADD or ADHD?

STOP! Think again!

It may just be that you have a non-linear mind!!

If you find yourself asking asking ”What is a non-linear mind?” – you are probably in that super majority of people who have a linear mind.

And if you are linear – you may not really understand what it is like to not be one of the linear minded people.

But – that small percent of us who are non-linear minded do “get it.”

We non-linears even understand that you “do not get it.”

What is a non-linear mind? It’s a mind that is constantly in motion – scanning, thinking, creating, jumping from point <a> to point <h> without seeming to pass through points b to g.

[We non-linear people could, at some later time, fill you in on the b through g parts – we just don’t see a need to include it in the conversation.]

Conversations between two or more non-linear minded people may sound bizarre to the linear minded. The talking may seem confused, disconnected and on several topics at the same time and many or all may be speaking simultaneously. Yet the non-linear people having the conversation understand each other very well.

Why are some of us non-linear? It’s probably genetic but, like most development, it can be influenced by one’s environment. Because we live in a linear society we are more often exposed to that type of thought. And in our culture – we also have a notion that children who display the above listed non-linear qualities are ADD/ADHD.

And so our parents and teachers behave toward us in ways they think are best and try to get us to act like “everyone else” and to not be so “unfocused.” Or if you are a non-linear child, you may just get medicated.

Other aspects of being non-linear are that we can get lost in books and the Internet as it is ALL so interesting. We may not finish all our projects because something more interesting comes along and we may not follow a secure career path or have a major interest in retirement funds and pensions.

Some, usually the linear-minded, see the above as negative aspects of non-linearity. But the world is changing and is beginning to function in a more non-linear fashion. We are beginning to recognize major brain/thought differences and we are no longer so quick to label one type of thinking as “good” and another as “not-so-good.”

We each encompass linear and non-linear aspects – and the non-linear creativity and entrepreneurship in all of us should be encouraged! Especially in children!

Let your non-linear mind be free!
Go – be creative – the world is waiting for YOUR non-linearity!

Thoughts? Comments? Thank you.

07/19/2011
Rocking the dock!

My friend and neighbor threw a 60th birthday bash for her hubby and the neighborhood was invited – plus many of their friends and family.

Karaoke From Hell played for 6 [or more hours] while we sang, danced, drank, ate and had fun – way late into the evening…

And in case you are wondering: No – we never fall in the river – though we would have gone swimming if the water were not so cold.

The band set up on one deck and the food, liquids, chairs and tables were set up across what we call our lagoon or backyard and our partying started even before band had set up!!.

[The moorage was very strangely quiet on Sunday.]

We have frequent potlucks and parties in the neighborhood but this bash outdid all of those and will go down in the annals of Bridgeton.

Enjoy the movie: see my neighbors, friends and moorage and rock to the music!

PS – my house is seen at about 1:14

Comments? Thank you.

07/18/2011
Happy Birthday to My Son

33 years ago, at 3:55AM in Boston Massachusetts, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy!

About 20 years ago, when he was a new teenager, we went to see City Slickers.

There is a scene where Billy Crystal is awoken at 5:16AM by his mother who reminisces about his birth.

"Oh no" said my son, "I can see it now"

Well – I never did start the reminiscing calls because for one thing – 3:55AM and I have been strangers in those 33 years. And I never could find the clip on YouTube.

Then last year my son gave me a good suggestion and I got the video from the library and filmed it on my TV.

So kid – pardon the lines running through the video clip – but here it is:

Mommy's birthday call:

Happy Birthday Honey!

Thoughts on birthdays?

Please comment below and thank you.

07/15/2011
Product Packaging Insanity!

Subtitled: Homage to our strange rules for packaging items and sports behaviors!

I recently went to a large membership store to buy a few things – among them a new shower head and eggs.

When I got home, I decided to install the new shower head and so proceeded to try and open the packaging. After I can't recall how much time and almost a few bloody fingers, I managed with scissors, a screwdriver and muscle to open the plastic packaging wide enough to get all the parts out.

There was no way i was going to try to open more of that package! The photo above shows my destruction of the plastic!

Mind you, the shower head itself is not fragile – nor is the tubing that connects it to the water outlet. It's all made to move as it is a hand held!

I remembered that I also bought eggs – 18 of them – and they came in a soft cardboard container!

Do I really need to make the comments I am of thinking

It reminded me of comments my son made when an usher once were told us to stop talking at a Legg-Mason tennis match.

We stopped talking – but on the way home he, a smart early teen at the time, asked why one had to be so silent at tennis matches when the players were swinging at a self-tossed ball that really did not hurt that much if it hit you and yet we were encouraged to yell and cheer at baseball games when a ball was coming at the batter very fast and could do serious damage if it hit him.

Ah life is odd and interesting, isn't it

04/27/2011
Be Kind to Mother Earth [and Your Wallet Too!]

Changing some cleansers, using fewer utilities, and smarter shopping can help reduce your footprint on the planet and it sure will save you money too!

Gas prices are high, electric bills are high, heating bills are high, food costs are high…etc…etc..etc…

Earth Day comes once a year but you can celebrate it 365 days a year…and while celebrating the Earth – you can save enough money to buy yourself something nice [and useful of course ]

Here are some things I do that you might consider for your home. And I've even gotten some friends to also reduce their electric consumptions when they found out how low my bill is compared to theirs. [Comparing utility usage is a neighborly thing to do.]

Wash and rinse clothes in cold water – I can't remember the last time I washed with warm or hot water – and yes my clothes are very clean.

Make you own laundry detergent. Use the ingredients in the photo – Borax, Fels Naptha and Washing Soda. It's easy to make, it's fun to make and it washes better than store-bought stuff. [Even in my very cold winter water.]

Use vinegar as an all purposes cleanser. I wash my floors with vinegar – and – nope – there is no odor.

Hang clothes out to dry or hang them inside as often as you are able to do so. Sun dried clothing has a great fresh smell – and it sure beats the one from machine additives.

Unplug most of your small kitchen appliances when not using – do you really need all those reminders of what time it is?

Unplug the TV set. That instant on means it's always on – even when it's off.

Run your dishwasher only when it is full. You can make your own dishwasher detergent but I've had problems with it not getting glasses clean.

Do as many errands as you can in one car trip and plan out your route.

Better – start carpooling with pals for those shopping excursions.

And even though I've added light bulbs – please turn yours off when you leave a room [unless of course someone else is in that room

Turn down the thermostat and add a layer of clothing.

All the above will save you on your utility bills too!

Put the green back on the planet and in your wallet.

How do YOU save the planet and save money??

Thank you for your comments……

04/22/2011