One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 41

#41 – “When you run out of something, put the empty box or bottle in your car to remind yourself to buy that item the next time you’re at the store.” 
(Photo is of me and my beautiful daughter, just being silly)

When I see the TV shows about hoarders, I have flashbacks on this one of one hundred things my mom taught me a million times. Mom wasn’t technically a hoarder; she was more like a slob. (Sorry mom). Granted, she though nothing should be thrown away, but it wasn’t so out of control that I couldn’t tidy up the place before friends came over. Yep, I did. I cleaned house before my friends came over because I was embarrassed for them to see how disorderly mom kept it. You know what though, some of the coolest women I’ve ever know didn’t/don't give a hoot about cleaning house, so I don’t consider that a fault, just a characteristic.

So back to the empty boxes and bottles in our car. Honestly, having an empty gallon bottle of Clorox bleach, and Nilla Wafers and Arm & Hammer baking soda boxes rolling around in your front seat floorboard just felt so wrong to me. I can’t tell you how many times I cleaned my mom’s car out so I could take my friends “riding around,” which is pretty much all we did once we learned to drive. Click on Read More below...

My Latisse - Not So Clinical Trial - Week Three Results

Week #3 - Well my Latisse lash-growing experiment seems to be going well. I am most excited that the lashes on my right eye seem to be catching up with the lashes on my left eye. I have a theory about that, which may sound a little wacky to you, but I think it has merit.

Week #2 - I think it’s a right brain/left brain thing. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this “theory” clinically referred to as Lateralization of brain function, in a nutshell (non-clinical, basically worthless opinion), the right side controls creativity, and the left logic.

Here’s a gross rationalization for you. If you’re an anal, Republican, control freak, the left side of your brain is probably dominant. If you’re a hippy-dippy, new age, bohemian painter, you’re right brained. I also think that’s why some people have very symmetrical faces (supposedly the most beautiful people in the world), and some appear to be two-different people depending upon which side of their face you’re looking at.

Anywho, I think my way too logical control freakiness left brain has been stunting the growth of my eyelashes. However, this past week I took a couple of days off from work and relaxed and gave my right brain a little play-time, and my anal left brain a rest, I think that made the lashes on my right eye grow faster.

My Latisse - Not So Clinical Trial - Week Two Results

WEEK ONE - Baseline - Pitiful

WEEK TWO – OMG! I think this stuff works!

OK. I need a little perspective and a third-party opinion here. Are my lashes really longer, thicker and darker, or is it just my need to believe that the $114 I spent on a bottle of stuff half the size of a wine cork isn’t just vanity run amuck?

I’m starting to feel a little like Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."

I’ll mention again that I spent a good 30 minutes “re-touching” this updated results photo (something I seem to do a lot lately), but I didn’t touch the lashes, just the depressing sea of wrinkles, pores the size of salad plates, and brows in tragic need of maintenance.

So what do you think? Is it working or not?

The Time of My Life By Patrick Swayze And Lisa Niemi

Patrick Swayze never blew my skirt up the way Brad Pitt used to (note the past-tense here), but I always thought he was good-looking and a good actor. So, when I saw that he had a posthumous autobiography out, I paused before deciding to read it, and I’m glad I did. Not glad that I paused, but rather, glad that I read it. It being, The Time of My Life, by Swayze and his wife of 34 years, Lisa Niemi.  How do you do a posthumous autobiography? You write it then die of pancreatic cancer two weeks before it’s published.

There were several things in this book that compelled me to slog through the predictable “we went here, we did that,” theme of life-stories. Click on Read More Below...

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 40

#40 - "Moderation in all things.”
(This really, really old photo is of my great grandmother Vina Belle McLaughlin, and great uncle, Alva McLaughlin, taken around 1900 in Spring Creek, TX)

When I was a kid and mom would say this one of one hundred things she taught me a million times, I thought she meant don’t do things, which in my “exploring the world of wonder” mentality just seemed wrong, and to conflict with the adventuresome mother I knew. But by the time I got old enough to experience the downside of “lack of moderation,” I realized what she was really saying was “It’s not what you do that gets you into trouble. It is how much.” Even arsenic in the right proportion can save a life. Click on Read More Below...

My Latisse - Not So Clinical Trial

WEEK ONE - Baseline - Pitiful

Having the Wade Family short-eyelash curse, I decided to give Latisse a try. For those of you living in a cave, Latisse is that perscription stuff you swab on your eyelashes to theoretically make them grow. Whoever thought that Brooke Shield's (Latisse spokesperson) needed more eyelashes is just goofy. Now if they'd grown Whoopi Goldberg some eyebrows, that would have been more convincing.

Anywho, I decided to get some Latisse and do my own not-so-clinical trial. A word of caution here. Don't ever take a photo this close up without having a drink first. It was scary. I had to photo-shop the hell out of it.

So, I'm going to occasionally document the growing, or not, of my eyelashes. If I can grow lashes with this stuff, I'm going to buy it by the bottle and pour it on the "thinning hair" spots on my head! Stay posted for my reoccurring posts!

SPOKEN FROM THE HEART BY LAURA BUSH

Until I read former First Lady Laura Bush’s book, Spoken From the Heart (current #1 best seller, non-fiction), I would have never thought, nor wanted to admit frankly, that she and I share a bond. We’re both West Texas gals. I’d also like to believe that we have that West Texas gal quality of a simple façade, obscuring a solid core of wisdom, presence, and quiet fortitude, honed on the trials of isolation and survival, passed down by our pioneer mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers. Perhaps I flatter us both, but I’ve seen it in others, and although it seems odd to say (considering that I’ve been pissed off at her husband for eight years), I saw it in Laura Bush.

I’m glad I listened to her read her book, rather than reading it myself, because her voice (sound and style) made me feel like I was sitting on the porch at the 3rd generation ranch home of my friend Linda Sue, drinking iced tea, reflecting on life. As I listened to the book, several other things jumped out at me: Click on Read More Below...

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 39

#39 - "Mercurochrome and Vaseline will cure anything.”
(Photo is of my dad and my brother – probably taken around 1942.)

Mom tended to take a rather vague but seemingly effective approach to treating us kids’ illnesses, pains or ”owies.” Her treatments usually consisted of ignoring us or giving us half a baby aspirin (regardless of our age). But she had two other home-remedies in her vast medical repertoire - Mercurochrome and Vaseline, or as mom said a million times, petroleum jelly.

In a world with daily medicine recalls, one has to wonder just how in the hell we survived childhood without modern medicine – or perhaps we survived for the lack of it! When I  researched Mercurochrome, I was a bit horrified! Wiki says that in 1998 the FDA virtually halted its distribution in the United States over fears of mercury poisoning. Yikes! It’s a wonder I didn’t grow a third eye! No wonder I have kinky hair, my nose is too big, and Tom Smith didn't fall in love with me when I was in the 9^th grade. It’s all Mercurochrome’s fault.  Click on Read More Below...

THIS AND THAT

Arrangements Catering & Events

Très chic and very smart gal, Keely Murphy is looking for catering, events, convention services contracts and/or work. If you have any good ideas, or need a good gal, give Keely a jingle. Check her out by clicking on Arrangements Catering & Events above. 

S’more Soirée - November 6-7, 2010

Gal-friend Fayruz Benyousef clued me in on this fun girlfriend getaway to benefit Girl Scouts of Central Texas.  Any event that includes the word “Soirée” sounds Ab Fab to me! If you register with a girlfriend by 6/30, you get a great discounted deal!  Fayruz will be teaching a belly dance class! Must go for that!

Check it out, tell your friends, get a group together for some great fun. Fayruz said they had a BLAST last year with Sara Hickman - great views, great food, awesome pamper treatments – even shopping! Gal-howdy! Click on S’more Soirée above for more info.

 

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 38

#38 - "You are not Ansel Adams, so always put people in your pictures.”
(Here's a photo that you could write a book from! Family members - 1950's)
When my first husband (of many) and I went on our 2-week honeymoon in 1966 to Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico, we took lots of pictures of the many beautiful landscapes, but I only remember one, of me standing close to the edge of the grand canyon. It was the only photo we took that had a person in it. When I saw all those photos, none of which did the scenery anything close to justice, I flashed on what mom taught me a million times. “You’re not Ansel Adams SueAnn,” she’d say. “Put some people in the picture. Otherwise it just won’t be interesting.” Gaud, she was right again! Click on Read More below for the full story...

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

With a great husband, three loving children, five amazing grandchildren, great friends, and a plethora of books to read, I feel like I lead a charmed life (knock on wood). I am inspired to say this at the beginning of my review of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks because this is one of those books that fills your heart to bursting and makes you feel happy to be alive.

I’m not sure how a book about a poor black woman whose cancerous cell samples are taken without her consent shortly before she dies of cervical cancer in 1951, can inspire such happiness! Nor how I can feel so elated to read about how that woman's cells are eventually grown in massive vats, leading to a cure for polio, breakthroughs in gene mapping and a multi-billion dollar industry. But I will try to explain. Click on Read More below...

Happy Mother's Day!

I received this Mother's Day greeting from artist, neighbor and friend, Annie Taylor.

She should be illustrating children's books!

Isn't this lovely!

Thanks, Annie!

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 37

#37 - "Practice your Miss America walk and graceful hands."

 My husband Crouse and I in Port Aransas – we were 40-something – and to think that this is the body I always hated, and would now kill to have!

Although lots of people joke about beauty pageants, when I was growing up they were paragons of beauty, grace and status for women. We never missed watching the Miss America Pageant, always cheering for Miss Texas of course. Mom was determined that one of us girls (four daughters) would be a beauty queen, so practicing the Miss America walk and graceful hands was imperative.  She taught me a million times to walk with my head up, shoulders back, a smile plastered on my face, making eye-contact at all times! Several friends have said, “Ah yes, the book on the head thing,” but it was much more than that, it was the Miss America Walk, designed to convey confidence, very subtle sexual promise, and a virginity in tact! Click on Read More Below...

Nicole Brown Simpson’s Sister at Mother's Day Luncheon Benefiting The San Antonio Battered Women and Children’s Shelter

(Denise Brown left)
After 15 years, Denise Brown, has decided to talk about her sister’s death. Although Denise has long been an advocate against family violence, she only recently opened up about Nicole Brown Simpson’s murder. Denise said that her family helplessly witnessed the psychological and verbal abuse and manipulation for years. They didn’t know about the physical abuse. But later found 12 years of physical abuse documented in Nicole’s diary. How often we stand by helplessly as loved ones struggle. How horrific when that struggle and helplessness turn into irrevocable tragedy.

Christy Overstee (daughter’s friend in San Antonio), wonderful friend Linda Benjamin (VP National Domestic Violence Hotline/TX Council on Family Violence) JoLene Noelke Moore (my daughter), and long-time friends, Debbie Tate from Austin and  Suzi Crane from San Antonio.


Despite the sad topic, my table really enjoyed the "Honoring Mother's 2010" luncheon in San Antonio, benefiting The Battered Women and Children's Shelter, and felt honored to support such a nice event and important cause. My gratitude to all of the people working in the trenches to help abused and battered women and children.

Pat Smothers – Founder and Chair of the Event, Honorary Board Member of Family Violence Prevention Services, and friend from the days when we were officers and very active in the National Women's Political Caucus and the Texas Women’s Political Caucus.

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 36

#36 – “Don’t let children fill up on tea before supper.”

 Photo of mom receiving special recognition from the Texas Historical Commission in 2005.

As I think about #36 of the one hundred things mom taught me a million times, two things come to mind immediately: Tea and Supper.   I don’t know about your family, but ours drank ice tea pretty much 24-7. It didn’t matter how hot or how cold it was outside, or what mom was serving, there would always be a big pitcher of tea and lots of ice, served in recycled Del Monte sliced peaches cans (the residual of mom’s peach cobblers). To this day my sister Dorothy and my youngest son, Colt drink their tea in recycled tin cans, learned at the knee of mom, or memaw as my kids called her. 

There’s nothing as refreshing on a hot summer day as ice tea served in a tin can. The tin imparts a very subtle and unique flavor, and you’ll never drink a colder tea. Try it! That is if you can find a real tin can. Most cans are now actually made from aluminum. I remember like yesterday mom showing me how to hammer down the sharp edges of the can where it was opened with an old time can opener. Remember those – just a 2-3-inch piece of steel blade with a windmill looking crank, and a bottle-opener on one end? I still have one in my camping gear – for nostalgia and convenience. Click on Read More Below...

GALS GRAZE

I asked my mom one time why all of her friends were so young and she said, “Because everyone my age is too old!” Well, obviously that is relative, and truth be told, when I asked mom that question, most of the people her age were actually dead. But I must admit that I also enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of younger gals. Case in point: my luncheon last Thursday with three young, Very Smart Gals, Beth Rowan, Randi Knight and Debbie Tate.

I met Beth Rowan around 1997, when she was the Events Coordinator at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Anyone who has done events knows that is the hardest work in the world, and she was one of the best I’ve ever seen. The Wildflower Center is a classy place, does classy events, and Beth was a classy events coordinator. Since then she’s become the mother of two little girls and an editor of curriculum for students with a speech disability, for international publisher, pro-ed. Beth is just one of the nicest gals around so I’ve tried really hard to keep her in my life.

I adore Randi Knight, and I’m not just saying that because she is a client. Randi is the Director of Development and Marketing at The Arc of the Capital Area, an accomplished artist, and the brainiac behind The Arc of the Arts, an artist studio and gallery for artists with a developmental disability. This program/place is amazing and has done so much for the self-esteem of a community of people often overlooked, undervalued, and sometimes even feared. Check out the Arc of the Arts Blog and you’ll see what I mean. Anyway, Randi is a super cool gal, and she and her husband own a home on Lake Tahoe for gauds sake! I am so jealous, but I love her anyway. 

Debbie Tate is one of my closest and dearest friends and someone that I truly respect and admire. She is super energetic, super smart and super fun. Debbie is also the Director of Development at the Center for Child Protection, coordinating, among many other things, fabulous fundraisers such as PlayBingo and Dancing With The Stars, all focused on raising money to keep children in Central Texas safe from abuse. You will not meet a more down-to-earth gal - and she’s a cowgirl to boot, helping her dad work cattle several times a month.

Yee Haw! Thanks, Beth, Randi and Debbie for your gal-acious friendships and for helping me stay young!

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok

I recently received an email from Riverhead Books asking if I would like a free “advance” copy of Jean Kwok’s debut novel, Girl in Translation. They probably already knew this was a pretty safe investment, and that I would like and recommend the book on this blog, and they were right.

It is a simple story about a complicated situation. Simple because it is a quick read told in the minimalist style of Cormac McCarthy, complicated in the covertly, thought-provoking style of Ian McEwan. I could say that Girl in Translation is a well-told story about a young Chinese girl and her mother coming to America, living in a horrible condemned, heatless building full of roaches and rats, toiling for 15+ hours a day for pennies, finding and losing love, and eventually achieving the American dream, but my take on this book goes deeper than that.

First, I was reminded of the enormous cultural crevasse between China and America - traditions, family protocols, manners and language, and the universality of other things - fear, ambition, loss and love. This was reflected not only in the very different behaviors but also in the verbal perspective. Click on Read More Below.

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 35

#35 – “Always wash the drinking glasses first, when the dishwater is cleanest.”
(My son Colt, granddaughter Sydney, daughter-in-law Lovie, daughter JoLene, son Cuatro, Me, Mom, 2002, Gray Moss Inn, San Antonio)

Nearly everyone asks me the same three questions about the one hundred things my mom taught me a million times:
1.   Do you really have one hundred things?
2.   How do you decide what to write about?
3.   Why do you write about the one hundred things?
The short answers are, yes, I really have one hundred things. I write “ stream-of-consciousness” whatever comes out as I think about the randomly chosen “thing of the day” and the memories they conjure. I write about the one hundred things to capture and record my memories of my mom and as a tribute to her. I also write because I love to write and every famous writer says that if you want to be a really good writer you must write, write, write.

Which brings me to drinking glasses and dishwater. I don’t want to over-think this one of one hundred things my mom taught me a million times, but then I never really know where I’m going with these things.  Click on Read More Below...

GALS GRAZE

I learned something new and useful at last Thursday’s Very Smart Gals luncheon at Cipollina’s. Size matters, when it come to luncheon tables. On those rare occasions that I’ve hosted luncheons that required more than four chairs, and we’ve ended up at a rectangular table, the conversations tended to be between people sitting across from or next to each other, which limited the interactions. King Arthur’s round table wasn’t just about equal status, it was about hearing everyone, and gal howdy there was some muy rico repartee going on last Thursday between Lisa Stark-Walsh, Fayruz Benyousef, Harriett Kirsh-Pozen and Benita Giller.

 

New York gal, Lisa Stark Walsh, MA is the Executive Director of the Texas Medical Association Foundation, which among many, many other things, provides Texas children with helmets to prevent head and brain injury while riding a bike.  We were intrigued with her story of her and her husband’s adoption of a child from China. I did a little grant writing for Lisa some years ago and was so impressed by her that I determined to keep her in my circle of Very Smart Gals.  Benita Giller is a nationally recognized artist and prolific world traveler, always in search of beads and inspiration for her beautiful jewelry and other artwork. Ironically, although we both live in Austin, we met in Italy at an artist retreat (me being the only non-artist in attendance). In addition to being staggeringly creative, she’s got a super-dry wit that I adore. What a lucky day that I met Benita! 

Harriett Kirsh-Pozen is a wonderful person and the Executive Director of a wonderful organization, Candlelight Ranch, an outdoor camp for families and special needs kids. Harriett was one of the major masterminds behind the Dell Jewish Community Center, and due to her sincere and engaging personality and sharp mind, is very well connected in Austin.  It took about 10 seconds for Harriett and Benita to figure out that that although they’ve never met, they know a lot of the same people and may even be related. Fayruz Benyousef, CFRE, Partner, The Dini Partners, is a star in the non-profit fundraising industry and one of the most highly respected gals in the business. She was the Development Director with Ballet Austin, is a past president of the Austin Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and was named the 2006 Outstanding Fundraising Professional of the Year by AFP - Austin. Fayruz has a precious little daughter who is super-lucky to have such a smart mom!

I feel so fortunate to have such stimulating and “together” women in my life! Thanks gals for bringing your wit and brilliance to my table!

 

Into The Arugula

At the top of the news today is the story of SueAnn Wade-Crouse, who was found dead in her garden last night. Her husband of 20 years said that this photo was taken shortly before she walked into her garden, for the last time, carrying nothing but a gallon of balsamic vinegar.

Obviously shaken, he said that he suspects that an autopsy, ordered by the Travis County Medical Examiner, will reveal that she died from an arugula overdose. “She knew it was lethal in large doses,” her husband said, “but she just couldn’t seem to stop herself.”

One source that declined to be identified, said that SueAnn had recently been feeling overwhelmed by her arugula, and spoke of wanting to go into the arugula and never come back. “One day I went over to her house and found her just standing in her garden, staring at her arugula, tears in her eyes,” said a close source. “Now I wish I’d taken some of her arugula. This will haunt me forever.”

Bright-sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America by Barbara Ehrenreich

I had to start Barbara Ehrenreich’s book Bright-sided twice because at first, her negative attitude put me off. But then I realized, Duh!, that’s the crux of the book – her raging against what she calls the "cult of optimism." So, I decided to give her another chance, and I’m glad I did.

Ehrenreich is probably best know for her 2001 best seller about the working poor, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, which I found to be a startling eye-opener, and the 2005, very good, and yet less-well-received, Bait and Switch, which was about trying to find a white-collar job at mid-life. As a quick aside, I saw an interview with Ehrenreich in which she was asked, “You seemed to make much closer ties with your fellow workers in Nickel and Dimed than you did on the white-collar job hunt. What was different this time?.” Her response rang true, but really bothered me. She said, “There's a lot of camaraderie in the blue-collar world I entered in Nickel and Dimed. People help each other and look out for each other; they laugh together--often at the managers. The white-collar world doesn't encourage camaraderie, far from it. There it's all about competition and fear--of losing one's job, for one thing. Other people are seen as sources of contacts or tips, at best; as competitors or rivals, at worst. And among the unemployed add shame and a sense of personal failure, the constant message that it's all your own fault. All this discourages any solidarity with others or real openness.”Click on Read More...

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 34

#34 – “Always wear a slip. You don't want anyone seeing through your skirt. That looks cheap.” (Photo - Me, my sister Honey and mom. Mom and I in suits and hats, gloves and corsages, on our way to Europe - 1958)

Admonitions to not “look cheap,” is a reoccurring theme in the one hundred things my mom taught me a million times, but I have a little trouble wrapping my head around the concept of "cheap." Is that like prostitute cheap or like Wal-Mart cheap. I’m not sure, but knowing mom, I think that looking cheap is the antonym of looking classy. But then do we all define classy the same? I define classy as self-assured, smart, accomplished, courteous and respectful in all situations. I suspect that others, including mom, define it more by the way someone dresses.

So, if not wearing a slip and therefore revealing what’s under your skirt is cheap, let’s examine that. The evolution of my underwear-wearing is very upside down, and circular. When I was young and solid and would have looked good in a burlap bag, I wore just about every piece of underwear available – bra, panties, girdle, hose and slip. Now, when I need all the help I can get to keep it all contained, I do good to put on a bra. Except of course when I want to look better than I really do. In those instances, I have an arsenal of garments scientifically designed to contain and smooth out virtually everything from the tops of my shoulders to my ankles. So what the hell? Click on Read More

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 33

#33 – "When you are sitting around reading, rest each elbow in a half of lemon. It will bleach the skin and keep your elbows from looking brown and scruffy." 

Honestly! I don’t have time to groom things I can’t even see. It’s all I can do to keep the really obvious stuff in decent order, hair, makeup, nails. When was the last time you checked your elbows?   

As I stroll through my memories of the one hundred things my mom taught me a million times, grooming techniques pop up frequently. Believe me, you’ll hear much more on this topic before I’ve cleared the full one hundred. I can’t wait to talk about Vaseline, but not today. Today the topic is lemons and elbows.  Click on Read More for the full story!

GALS GRAZE

The common denominator between the women at last weeks (April 8th) Gals luncheon was the fabulous Center for Child Protection’s Event, PlayBingo. After a few Q’s & A’s we discovered that although not all of the gals  knew each other, they’d all attended PlayBingo, loved it, and vowed to go again this year. Click on PlayBingo to see what it is they won’t miss and what you shouldn’t miss.

What a fun bunch of gals! Although it was tempting to sit and gossip with my former San Angelo cousin-in-law, Patty Sue Chandler, rancher and a wonderfully sharp gal (she’s a mathematician for gawds sake) who I recently reunited with at Yoga, we focused on the positive and laughed a lot! Debbie Kern, founder of the PlayBingo fundraiser, and scary smart gal, is always fun to be around. She reminds me of the Energizer Bunny, but is much more energetic and infinitely cuter too. If you need a really, really cool, exceptional event planned – here’s your gal! Check out her i3 Event Planning website here.

Mary Wright is a childhood and forever friend who was always smart and still is as she was recently recognized by TX Monthly Magazine as a 2009 FIVE STAR Wealth Manager for the Austin, San Antonio and Central Texas Region. So…..if you have money and want more, Mary is the gal to contact. Click on Mary Wright here. Cathy Crabtree is the Executive Director of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas, a member of the National Children's Alliance, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, and one of the smartest gals I know, as evidenced by the fact that she and I seem to love the same books! Actually Cathy’s a lot smarter than me, and although I can’t tell you about it right now, she’s going to be headed to the top!! Think Washington DC!

Gal howdy we had fun at lunch and it was really great to see everyone!

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 32

#32 – “During the summer you should always pack your woolens with mothballs and store them in a cedar chest.”

(My kids, Colt, Cuatro and Jolene with Mom)

Mom’s #32 of the one hundred things she taught me a million times presents a bit of a mystery because although I have a cedar chest and woolens, never the twain do meet. Why? Because I just don’t see moths as a threat. 

This begs the question, “Where have all the moths gone?” Is this one of those ecological disasters that we just haven’t heard about yet? I remember there being lots of moths in my childhood, but I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw one. Were they a West Texas thing where I grew up? Do I simply not see them now, their existence blurred by the priorities of my complicated life – deadlines, bills, allergies? Are they out there? Are they hiding in my spare closet, covertly munching holes in the beautiful wool suit that I once wore to a tea at the White House? Click on Read More Below..

Rolling With The Homies

(Hell Marys Teammates Roughing Up Rachel)

When Rachel Muir snatched up my offer for a VIP ticket to last nights Texas Rollergirls, I was surprised, but not. I knew Rachel was quick, but I didn’t know how fun she was. I do now! We had a blast.

I must admit that I went into this whole Rollergirl thing with some trepidation. What if it was like wrestling, all show no dough? What if it was seedy? What if there weren’t any other women my age there? Questions answered: 1. It’s a whole lot more about competition than sex, 2. It wasn’t seedy, it was good clean fun, and 3. There were lots of soccer mom’s there! Women of all ages, lots of them, dressed in everything from JC Penny’s to Prada.

The beer was cold, the Rollergirls were fun and Rachel was a killer date!

Neanderthals, Potty Training, Global Warming – The Soap Opera, Science Bars and Galileo

Since I took yesterday morning off to read my most recent Discover Magazine, you’ll have to suffer my ramblings about science – which I will try very hard not to make too boring.

Neanderthals - Scientists have decided that Neanderthals may have received a bum rap as the Homer Simpson’s of Homo sapiens. They base this on the fact that Neanderthal jewelry and abodes with functional spaces have been recently discovered, indicating intelligence capable of symbolic art, abstract thinking and organization. Well hello! There were women Neanderthals!

 Click on Read More...

One Hundred Things My Mother Taught Me A Million Times – Chapter 31

#31 – “Don't ever admit your age or that you have children because people will automatically categorize you and deprive you of opportunities.”
(Mom and my Brother JS)

When I was young and had children this one of one hundred things my mother taught me a million times really made me angry. I told her that was outdated thinking, old fashioned. My generation was a lot more sophisticated. Employers wouldn’t dare discriminate against a woman because of her age or the fact that she had children. That was before I became an employer, blinded by a misguided sense of duty and the bottom line. Click on Read More...