Uncategorized Archives - Page 21 of 26

Bison and Bums

So my sister Jackie is on a 2 week vacation….rafting in Idaho, then off to Montana and Yellowstone for some hiking.

She calls me yesterday morning at work, as I’m gearing up my computer in sweltering midtown NYC, and she’s rattling off the adventures she’s experiencing. I’m listening, the phone tucked under my chin, as I’m emailing and shuffling papers around my desk. She’s looking forward to seeing a whole slew of animals, excitedly mentioning a bison.

At 3:57pm, I get a text….

J: So far…Cinnamon black bear, coyote, Bison, Grizzly with 2 cubs and Elk.

At 4pm, I text back…

Me: So far…2 homeless people, stray cats, a pile of garbage and an Israeli protest.

We aren’t having the same kind of day 🙂

Sea Idol

Anybody who knows me knows I have a thing about mermaids….well, more like I think I was a mermaid in a previous life. Yes, I know…crazy…and even my friend Franny asked me if I had papers for proof…but I don’t. It’s just a deep sea-ted feeling that I belong in the ocean.

So, when I came across Linden Wolbert, a real-life professional mermaid, I was in awe. Not only is she beautiful, but she has turned her passion and love of swimming into a profession. That’s what I call dedication.

As a competitive swimmer, it only seemed natural for her to live her life in and around the water. She and a special effects artist crafted a mermaid’s tale she wears for photo shoots. She is also involved in the sport of freediving where swimmers hold there breath for extended periods of time while diving down deep in the ocean. It takes alot of training and a nerves of steel…I can barely hold my breath when I have the hiccups.

Linden works with children to teach them a love of the water, works with various charity organizations and even created her own company Mermaids in Motion.

http://www.mermaidsinmotion.com/

I’m impressed. Perhaps in my next life I’ll come back as Linden.

LeCon

Ok – I have to say it…LeBron James mania….it’s a bit LeSilly.

People, people…what are we talking about here? The media frenzy surrounding LeBron’s decision about who he will sign with is downright comical. Really? To quote SNL’s weekend update, I mean Really?

We are talking about basketball here….basketball my friends. Ok – so I will admit I’m not a major fan of the game…I’m more of a baseball, football kind of girl, but nonetheless, we are getting all twisted in knots over a sports player. Anxiously awaiting the announcement, I heard people on the streets of NYC talking about the self-proclaimed “King James”…nervous about which way he will go. And he went the way many expected no? All he wants to do is win…it’s all about the championship (and the big money that goes with it.) Where’s the “sport” in that?

“This fall I am taking my talents to South Beach and play with the Miami Heat. The major factor was the best opportunity for me to win, to win now and for the future also. Winning is the most important thing for me. I feel like this is going to be the best opportunity.”

— LeBron James, ESPN’s “The Decision”, July 8, 2010

Can we let this go now and focus on the real heroes? Perhaps a closer look at our heart surgeons, our teachers, our police and fire departments, our philanthropists, our military forces would do us all good. Maybe that would remind us of the people who really propel our lives forward…who are in the trenches every day so that people like LeBron can rake in his millions for running a ball up and down a court. Who really deserves our attention and admiration? They do.

Really.

Dove Shove

As my friend Jessica at work was eating a Dove chocolate yesterday, she was reading the message printed inside the foil to a co-worker….her mouth full of chocolate I questioned what she said….”Shoving makes everything better??” I had that split second response to something I thought I heard….thinking that phrase didn’t quite make sense. She laughed. “No, SHOPPING makes everything better.” Ohhhh – that makes sense….that seems like more of a common heard phrase…particularly from a woman’s lips (obviously the Dove chocolate people know who their audience is.) It’s a bit of a commentary on our consumer based society that “shopping” makes everything better…but I digress.

Shoving makes everything better.

We giggled about it but I said I liked that phrase better. Perhaps shoving does make everything better? Perhaps pushing a little bit, every once in awhile, may help ease the pressure. I’ve seen kids shove each other, concert goers push and shove, and fans of all sports jostling and shoving. Shoving is a bit of our human exchange. In Japan, they have professional white-gloved shovers who jam the subway riders in every day during rush hour….how’s that for service? People pushers….shoving everyone to work.

I think I need me a shove Dove.