Parents vs Teachers — Important but Different Roles

Two weeks ago on the NPR show, “Talk of the Nation,” the privacy rights of teachers were discussed—like do they have the right to post online a photo of themselves at a party where alcohol is being served? Apparently not in the State of Georgia, which fired a teacher in 2009 for doing so. The [...]

Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman

Especially when she’s mad. Anger is a great motivator. It can be useful—if channeled properly (like MADD — Mothers Against Drunk Driving). Then a woman can move heaven and earth. Today is: It wasn’t contentment with or acceptance of the status quo that got this organization going. It was the need to improve the dismal [...]

How the Elephant Bar Can Kill You (Its customer service is DOA.)

File this blog under bad restaurant policies and yet another tale to confirm my theory that customer service is dead in America. And that sad fact can be deadly—literally. Five years after I heard the story about the two elderly women sitting at a restaurant discussing the many ways to die (see previous blog), I [...]

The Aging Process – A Cry-Baby’s Perspective

For me life’s milestones are like millstones—a concrete weight that weighs me down. Milestones remind me that youth is not only fleeting—but at this stage of the game, it’s up and left the building. Pesky milestones, such as birthdays, pop up yearly—and the older you get, they add up at an accelerated pace. All the [...]

Women Are a Trusting Gender. They Need to Trust Themselves.

This morning I reread the notes I took while listening to a speech at a business function I attended last week. The speaker, Dr. Kathleen Rose (of Gavilan College in CA), talked about how women can become “accidental leaders.” I blogged about the information presented and wanted to make sure I didn’t leave out any [...]

Human Anatomy – Cool Words and Cool Functions

Last week I ran across a list: “The 100 Most Beautiful Words in English.” I think the words were chosen more for their sound and feeling, as opposed their meaning. The list included: Chatoyant – like a cat’s eye Efflorescence – flowering, blooming Evanescent – vanishing quickly Lagniappe – a special kind of gift Mellifluous [...]

To Fight or Not to Fight: Depends on Your Footwear

While I was searching my archives to find the baseball blogs (yesterday’s post), I saw the one titled “Bernie Madoff, Shoes, and Me: Something in Common.” This one was about (is she repeating herself again?) the reason Bernie bought so much stuff—like yachts, planes, jewelry, and suits. He told a friend it was because when [...]

How to Do a Fashion Photo Shoot?

The answer will save you A LOT of trouble: DON’T! It’s time consuming, back-breaking, messy work. It requires excellent organizational skills—before and during. If you use a mannequin, it falls apart with every clothing change. (And China is a global manufacturing leader? I guess no one told the workers that a square peg goes in [...]

A Mother’s Advice (borrowed from F. Scott Fitzgerald)

Growing up my mom used to say, “F. Scott Fitzgerald said the key to good housekeeping is to only touch an object once.” She explained this principle: If you take a pair of scissors out of a drawer, when you’re finished using them, put them back in the drawer. Don’t leave them on the counter. [...]

Ode to Thomas Hart Benton: Keeping it Real

Thomas Hart Benton (1890-1975), an American painter/cartoonist/illustrator most famous for murals depicting America’s current and historical events, is one of my favorite artists. In his paintings I see real people doing real things and sense a vitality in his work. That’s about as detailed as I can get as an art critic. I either like [...]