Sunday, June 22, 2008

On Friendship










We sometimes need another human as we go through life, for sharing experiences, for expressing our innards, for the rich feeling of compassion, for fun. And these people that pass through our lives, be it for an afternoon, or a lifetime, are possibly closer than any relative, simply because they have the safety of distance. Not bound by blood ties, nor ring, nor duty, they are simply there for you. Remember to nurture friendship.

"Do not protect yourself by a fence, but rather by your friends."
Czech Proverb

Prom Season











This strange ritual, prom (short for promenade). Teens still undergo the excitement, heartache, confusion that has distracted youth from their studies for generations. Who to ask, who to go with, how to afford the attendant costs, gown or tux, rent or own? tickets. hair. nails. dinner. limo. after parties.
And the photo shoots, nervous preened teens meet at some splendid setting and the parents mistily capture it on film. Possibly for the first time, dressed to the nines, they dutifully pose in couples, groups, lined along stairwells, like a wedding, photographer's checklist, "get one with just the girls".
And the flowers, don't forget the to order the flowers, "what color is your date's vest?"....they did this during Eisenhower's term, exchange the flowers. The girls get a wrist corsage, the boys get their lapels clumsily pinned with a boutonnieres (now pronounced boo-ton-YAY), another photo favorite.
The NYTimes has a sweet story of foreign students at International High School at Prospect Heights, experiencing this prom business for the first time.
For now, there is no reason not to continue this rite of passage, right up there with Christenings and Wakes.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Yes Please!


Oh, I could really use a massage right now. yeah. A massage in a really nice place. Can I just be here right now, shaded by the palm trees, the sound of waves gently brushing the sand will set my mind at ease. Sun-warmed coconut oil is smoothed onto my exhausted body by strong knowing hands. yeah. Then I will drift off into a deep, delicious sleep, dreaming of wonderful happy things. Birdsong will wake me after a few hours, I'll then go for a swim. yeah.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Sometimes The Spirit Moves Us


Sometimes you just can't help yourself, when that music comes on, when your favorite dancing skirt moves just right, you just have to dance!

Friday, June 13, 2008

Moms Are Still Working, Study Finds


Despite media noise to the contrary, mothers are still strongly represented in today's workforce. In fact, numbers are up.
Christine Percheski, of Princeton University, found that the number of full-time working mothers born between 1966 and 1975 has risen to 38 percent, up from 5.6 percent among women born between 1926 and 1935.

"What's amazing is that women who chose to work are not spending less time with their children, but they're decreasing the time they spend sleeping, the time they spend on leisure activities, and the time they spend in civic participation," she said.

There has also been changes on the home front, as if we don't already see that.

"The shift in the working dynamic has meant a renegotiation in gender roles in the family, such as men picking up more of the housework," said Percheski.

In fact, The New York Times runs a major "gee whiz" story on this very phenomenon.

So shouldn't Mother's Day be extended, maybe a full week next year?

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Mommy Can You Hear Me?


baby cell phone
Originally uploaded by laur5785
The NYTimes advises unsure parents how, and when to introduce tech toys to the tots. Using Swiss cognitive expert, Piaget as a guide, this newspaper of record helps us choose the right calling plan for our toddler.
Of course, real life experiences are recommended as essential for development, but kids love to mimic. Mom texts.....kid texts.

Monday, June 9, 2008

Women Want Smart Stuff


21st century communication
Originally uploaded by lomokev
It seems that "smart phones" now are being snapped up by the female sector in growing numbers.According to The NYTimes,the new IPhone is just one of the new organization tools that women are embracing.
"In the last year the number of American women using smartphones more than doubled to 10.4 million, growing at a faster pace than among men, according to Nielsen Mobile, which tracks wireless trends."
The price continues to drop, the functionality rises, why not?
"Smartphones are cheaper now — as little as $99 for the petite BlackBerry Pearl — and are better designed. Women have been using them for years in business, of course, but many are finding that the phones can also help manage their families’ hectic schedules and keep them in touch with friends.

'You are not seen as a geek anymore if you have a smartphone,” said Carolina Milanesi, research director at Gartner Group, a research firm. “Women, including wives and mothers, need to keep track of their busy lives, too.”

Something Spectacular

Baby You Can Drive My Car!


So I love toodling around town in our electric car! So cute! Ideal for all those mindless local errands, return DVDs, get juice, drive kid, pick up missed homework, drop off junk, get junk. Local.
This car is really plug and play. no gas. at all.
ZENN, zero emission no noise, which is really freaky at first because the silence is unnerving, you think something is wrong. but nothing is wrong at all. Not stopping at the gas station is right. And all those smiles from people is really fun!
We only break out the gas car for runs outside the Boulder border since the Zenn gets about 50 miles on a single charge.