Today's Giggle

Here's something that struck me as funny when I saw it: a karate school and an orthodontist in the same building. I don't know which was there first, but if the orthodontist set up shop second, he or she chose a strategic location where potential customers couldn't help but notice the office. I realize that most people who go to the orthodontist don't end up there because of a well-placed kick in the mouth, but I still think it's a funny couple of businesses to share a wall.

A Wish For My Nieces

As I dressed my niece's Barbie dolls on Thanksgiving and watched her match shoes and purses to outfits, I was glad that I had congratulated her on her good report card that day. I want her to know that being a girl or woman is about more than just matching shoes to outfits.

The pressure on young girls today is worse than when I was growing up. Chatty, confident girls begin to doubt themselves when they start to compare themselves to the perfect images so prevalent in our culture. The message they're getting is that how a girl or woman looks is more important than anything else. The problem with this is that it doesn't take into account a girl's talents or smarts. As adults, we need to encourage our daughters and nieces to pay attention to their whole selves, not just their nail polish and shoes.

I'm happy to say that I have many nieces who are smart and talented. They get good grades, play instruments, sing, dance and play sports. My wish for them is that they will never judge themselves solely by how they look, cute as they may be. I want them to see the same accomplished and talented girls that I see, and to be proud of who they are, inside and out.

Making Adjustments

Being back at work has been great, but I've had to make some adjustments. Since I was out of work for a while and was telecommuting before that, I've had to get back into the swing of actually going to an office. I'm growing accustomed to packing a lunch and driving to work.

I worked for my previous boss for so many years, I could make decisions in his absence because I knew how he wanted things to be done. I'm figuring out how people want things done at my new job. I am asking questions and trying to get clear direction.

At my last job, I was very comfortable with sharing my opinions and ideas with my boss. I already feel pretty comfortable with sharing my perspective at my new job. Nobody has shushed me yet. Maybe they're just too polite. Must pay closer attention to determine whether they want my viewpoint or are just being nice to me.

Getting acclimated reminds me of breaking in a new pair of skate boots, only nowhere near as painful; in time, discomfort and uncertainty give way to a perfect fit.

A Different Take on a Classic

Last night, I went to a local production of The Sound of Music. I enjoyed it, but my friends and I were surprised that some things in the stage version were different from the musical we knew so well.

On stage, Maria was singing about her favorite things while at the abbey. In the movie, that famous song is sung in her bedroom at the Von Trapp home during a thunderstorm. That scene on stage featured the silly song that's part of a puppet show in the movie. And there was no puppet show in the stage version.

The other thing I noticed was that the stage version left out one of my favorite scenes from the movie. I always get a kick out of it when the nuns, car parts in hand, confess that they have sabotaged the Germans' vehicles to give the Von Trapps more time to escape into the mountains.

Pancakes for Dinner

I love breakfast, especially pancakes. I'm one of those people who can eat breakfast for dinner, which is why I love restaurants that serve breakfast anytime.

On the way back from a recent day trip, my hubby and I stopped at an IHOP for dinner. We were pretty sure which highway exit the restaurant was near, and were happy to find it where we remembered it to be. I had pumpkin pancakes and my hubby had eggnog pancakes. Both of these unusual flavors get high marks from me.

So now I'm on a mission to find the closest IHOP. Well, it looks like there's one 17 or 18 miles away, depending on which direction we want to go. Yes, I would drive 17 miles to get to an IHOP. You can't beat a good pancake.

Lessons From My Father

Six years ago today, I lost my dad. Here are some of the things he taught me.

1. Don't quit.
When I had a tough time at my first job after college, he and my mom encouraged me to keep going. I'm glad they did. Later, when my dad was fighting for his life, he tried everything the doctors had to offer until there was nothing left to try.

2. Keep your sense of humor.
When we were eating pizza and noticed a thin strand of something that looked like either cheese or hair, my father, bald from chemo, said, "It's not mine." I still chuckle at that.

3. Things will look better in the morning.
I have reminded myself of this many times. Most of the time, it's true.

Thanks for the lessons, Dad. I miss you.

A Phrase We All Say

Lately, I've been noticing a common phrase popping out of people's mouths. I'll admit it's slipped out of mine too. It's a quick little phrase, but its meaning is immediately known. You'll hear it when your dining companion declines a beverage refill. "I'm good," he'll say. When someone doesn't want an offered seat and prefers to stand, she'll say, "I'm good."

It seems so odd to say this when the intention isn't to convey how good or bad we are as people. Why don't we just say, "No, thanks"?

Pick a Star Favorite

For some reason, anyone with any interest in science fiction seems to have a strong preference for either Star Wars or Star Trek. It's like choosing between Coke and Pepsi for some people; they love one and can't stand the other.

Although I don't consider myself a big science fiction fan, I'd choose Star Wars over Star Trek every time.

Which would you choose?

Going Back to Work

As you may have heard, I've found a job and I'm going back to work. Woo hoo!

It wasn't my intention to neglect this blog over the past two days, but I've been inundated with good wishes from more people than I ever expected.

The network of people I've come to know turned out in full force to congratulate me via email or social networking sites. Many people I don't know have wished me well too. They felt a kinship with me simply by being in the same unemployment boat.

Job seekers have thanked me for sharing the story about how I found a job. Several have told me it gave them the encouragement they needed to keep searching. I think this line hit home for a lot of people: "The disappointments and dead ends are just steps along the twisty path to employment."

I feel very fortunate to have found a job that I think I will really like, but the truth is, I've been blessed throughout the entire transition. I have had the support of my husband, family and friends (old and new) the whole time. Thanks, everybody!

Meat-Happy in the U.S.A.

We sure are a meat-happy country. I just saw an ad for a six-meat pizza. I don't suppose that leaves room for anything else other than sauce and cheese among the various meats. Come to think of it, which six meats would they put on that thing? They must be including several types of pork, chicken and hamburger to come up with six meats.

A local restaurant offers steaks ranging in size from 10 ounces to 23 ounces. I suppose they want you to forget that the Food Guide Pyramid's recommended serving size for meat is 3 ounces. That's the size of a deck of cards.

I am not a meat hater or a vegetarian or anything like that. I like meat a lot. I just can't (and shouldn't) eat 10 ounces in one sitting. I've noticed that many restaurants don't list the size of their hamburgers. I always ask what the burgers weigh, because most are a half pound. I can't eat that much either. Give me a quarter pound and I'm content. I know, I'm so unAmerican.

Apples Rule in the Fall

The produce spotlight shines on apples in the fall, when this modest, everyday fruit becomes the star attraction among other fruits and vegetables.

Johnny Appleseed stories and the "American as apple pie" saying make this fruit part of our nation's heritage, but sometimes I think we don't fully appreciate apples. That's why it's nice to give them renewed attention at this time of year.

I confess that I like the names of the apple varieties: Gala, Red Delicious, Rome, Fuji, Granny Smith and more. A quick look online shows that there are many more varieties of apples than I'll ever taste. Blushing Gold sounds like an intriguing name to me. I would try that variety based on the name alone.

While I enjoy apple pie, applesauce and apple cider, my favorite way to eat an apple is to cut it into pieces and spread peanut butter on each slice. The taste reminds me of a caramel apple, only a bit healthier.