Saturday, May 31, 2014

Don't Venture Out on Your Own


Don’t ever, ever attempt to remove wallpaper, unless it the easy kind that peels off in huge sheets. If it’s well-glued, you’ll need extra patience to scrape-scrape-scrape away at the little, bitty pieces. This week I scrapped off a section of one wall and it felt like a like a major project. I can’t imagine how it would have felt to scrap off an entire room. Unless you’re a handy do-it-yourselfer, forget attempting the big, difficult projects on your own. Hire a professional—but that’s just me—and maybe these people:

                                           http://youtu.be/mNL9fKVdFsA
 
We all have different skill sets. There’s nothing wrong with branching out into new territory now and then, just know your limitations. What have you tried on your own, but later decided to bring in someone who could truly handle the task?          
 

 

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Words With Friends



“You can always call.” Call?  Who does that anymore, except for the blue tooth crew who make you think they’re actually talking to you? Last week, I checked several different mapping sites to get reliable directions to an appointment. After that, I asked someone familiar with the location for their opinion before it occurred to me that I could always call the office receptionist for accurate directions. Why didn’t I phone her in the first place?  
 
I communicate at least weekly with a relative, but we haven’t spoken on the phone more than three times in two years. What’s wrong with the phone? Sometimes a phone call is too much when you just want to pass along a quick thought or funny occurrence without a lot of added discussion. Maybe we should start communicating like this:

                                          http://youtu.be/1KhZKNZO8mQ

Huh? Throughout the video, I switched from thinking the idea had potential to brushing it of as a joke from a Saturday Night Live episode. After the video ended, I researched Tap and discovered that it was a Google April Fool’s Day joke. Was the video character Todd Smith played by LL Cool J? Before you laugh too hard, anyone who knows Morse Code can actually use technology similar to Tap on a cell phone. Let’s sit back and wait for that to catch on. For now, what’s your favorite way to communicate?    

Friday, May 16, 2014

Say Something

Two songs, “Say the Name” by Martha Munizzi and “Say the Word” by Christy Carlson Romano, underscore the fact that words matter. You probably already knew that. Words encourage, words hurt, and as we’re seeing in the news, they can get you in a whole lot of trouble. Everyone’s talking, but rarely face-to-face. Instead we use Facebook, Twitter, and hordes of other social media sites. Some chatter is downright horrendous while other parts, like crowdfunding, is constructive. When little people start wielding words—watch out! Listen to this:         
                                       http://youtu.be/l-gQLqv9f4o
 Well, he has personality! That young man is going places and sharing his message with the world. Given the technology at our disposal, it’s never been easier to send a message to the pope, the president, or Pink. Just be careful what you choose to say. Remember the children’s rhyme about how sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me? Not true. Let’s be encouraging face-to-face and on the Internet. Perhaps there will be a pleasant message for you the next time you log on to your favorite social media site. What good news are you waiting to hear?

Friday, May 9, 2014

How Do They Survive?

I watched a squirrel and a groundhog scurry across the lawn. Now that spring has arrived, they frolic freely under the warmth of the sun. I don’t know how they survived the winter, especially when temperatures dipped below freezing. Fur helps, but it has to feel pretty chilly with just a hole to hide in. Spring must be one of the best times of the year for animals—the freezing cold has ended and the scorching heat has yet to come.  Animals—and people—can survive incredible conditions. Listen to this extraordinary story:

                             http://youtu.be/jLr15BBBtrc

I wonder what Anna’s doing now. No doubt she emerged from that experience with a new outlook on life. Sometimes it takes a traumatic event to jar us into seeing the future in a new light. What if you tossed away the emotional baggage that holds you back? Your life might change in amazing ways. What first steps can you take to move forward today?    

 

Saturday, May 3, 2014

The Passion Inside


 Do you love chocolate? It’s one of those treats that scores of people around the world enjoy. Thank goodness nutritionists say some types of chocolate have health benefits, as if we need a reason to indulge. We’re going to eat our chocolate, the research just helps minimize our guilt if we gobble up an entire bagful.

At our house we keep stashes of chocolate to nibble on when the urge hits. On Wednesday I looked in the cabinet and actually said, “We don’t have any chocolate left? What kind of crazy world is this?” Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic, and maybe a depleted stash of chocolate isn’t the barometer for the state of the world. Maybe this guy puts it in perspective. Have a listen:

 
                                *   http://youtu.be/YGgwsfr7lFQ

Sorry to take the fun out of your chocolate binges. Now I’ll have to reevaluate my snack choices, and that could mean living without chocolate. I can do that—I think. If chocolate isn’t your passion, then what couldn’t you live without?      
 
*video is for informational purposes and not an endorsement of any therapies