Spring Forward, Fall Back - Enough already!

I'm tired.  And I'm not going to take it any more. I'm exhausted. I'm grouchy. I find no logical reason why my life should be dictated by a tradition that I see no value for. I must confess I hate Daylight Saving Time.

I'm not sure what time we are saving. I only know that this twice a year tradition has me seeing red. (And I'm not only talking about my eyes because of lack of sleep.)


This practice is over a century old, and it feels like it. It just doesn't make any sense to me.  I am seriously thinking that it is time to start lobbying the US government and start a movement to ban this practice.  It will take some planning but I am sure that there are many of you out there that feel the way I do. What is required is some snappy group name, followed by a very clever tag line, and I'm sure we
will have national movement in no time. (It's either that or move to Russia.) Russia is considering abolishing Daylight Saving Time by 2012.  At this moment I'm not sleeping well and I'm tired. I don't care where I live as long as my much loved and valued sleep time is not disturbed.

No Daylight Saving Time in Russia - I'm so there!

Can’t Buy Me Love

The Beatles once sang “…I’ll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it would make you feel all right… (Well it won’t make me feel all right.)  Thank goodness Valentine's Day is over! For over a month I have been listening (as I am sure you have been) to radio and TV commercials that tell a man how to show the woman in their life she is special and loved.  Apparently the only way to show a woman she  is loved is to purchasing a diamond ring or pendant.  (Poor Men. Talk about pressure and a no win situation.) If I was a man I would be angry that this type of commercial hype is being directed at women (heck, I’m a woman and I don’t like it). Setting expectations at such a level is ridiculous and can set a couple up for some emotion pressure, and conflict.

(This is one gal's opinion.) Valentines Day should be more introspective. One should think about people in one's  life that you love and love you. Mom, dad, sisters, brothers, grandparents, best friend (to name a few). Take stock of who you have in your life that enhances your life, and then honor each of those individuals. 

And (PLEASE) do not honor with a gift (and perhaps even not with a card) but with a heartfelt phone call, meal together, coffee, or face to face were you sincerely thank them for being special in your life, and tell them how they have made a difference to you. 

In fact ...everyday should be Valentine’s Day. You don’t need commercial marketing types to tell you what to purchase or when to honor those you love.  DO IT EVERYDAY, because ”money cant buy you love”…

(The Beatles are always right!)

New Year's Resolution - how's it working for you?

New Year's Resolution? You got to be kidding right?  (I believe in Santa and the Tooth fairy, but this woman does not believe in a New Year's Resolution.)  I just can't do it. When I examined my behavior over the years, what I found was that I really regurgitating the same old vows over and over again. I get that the New Year is symbolic of new beginnings and hope, however; I was having new beginnings and hope on a monthly basis throughout the year. (Talk about lack of commitment. My husband should be worried.)

Researchers claim that around 40- 45% of American adults make new year resolutions each year. They also claim that after 6 months 46% of those resolution makers are still at it.  (I'm sorry. I think they should check those statistics again. Either there is a math error or people are not being honest. Seriously. Think about it. Have you ever heard a person say (at the end of a year) that they kept their new year's resolution? No. Cause it does not happen.)


So obviously a new year's resolution doesn't work for this gal, but maybe it does for you. How's it going? If you made a new year's resolution and have broken it already - take heart. The positive spin is that those who do set goals are more successful then others achieving their goals. (Which I don't understand, because; if one person makes a goal and another doesn't have one - it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out only the person with the goal has the possibility to be successful.)  If you are still going strong at and maintaining your resolution goals then congratulations!
(You have made it further than me!)

Living in the Moment - Being Present

I have been pondering my next whine for a couple of weeks now, and then this morning the fates aligned and there it was. I had been giving thought as to why many people seem to be clueless. Not dumb clueless, but more like unaware. Simple things such as being aware of what is happening around you, or noticing how your behavior affects others. Basic things like intuition, observation or even conversation.  These things seem lost these days. And what I mean by lost is that, I do not think many individuals would list awareness, intuition, observation and conversation on their list of life skills.
(Which is sad really.)  Why is that?  Because people do not live in the moment. People are not present.

What causes people to not live in the moment and to not be present?  Well....
When one is constantly checking their email. When one is texting during dinner, or constantly answering their cell phone whenever or wherever they are. If one spends 6-8 hours playing online games, or is on Facebook for hours. Or is connected and plugged into Twitter all day everyday.
How can one be aware? All one is aware of is the constant clamoring of electronic technology for your attention. If you are paying attention to that techo-clamoring then you are not "living in the moment". And "being present" is really one of the things that life is all about. (Yeah, really.)

Don't get me wrong I think technology is useful, but it is addicting. And if you are addicted (and most of us are) then one obsesses and forgets how simple and quiet life can be.  One can even discover time they never knew they had.

Which brings me to an article in today's San Jose Mercury News about teachers at Shoreline High School (in Seattle) who challenged their high school students to go without social networking for a week. No texting, No Facebook, no cell phones! You need to read the article. The results were interesting.  (A great idea by the way, and not one student went through withdrawals.)

The high school students found that they had a difficult time conversing on a regular house phone. Why? Because in their words " It's emotion, not just little lines" (of text).  Some of them discovered time to do things like help around the house with chores, or rediscovered things they liked to do again like walking their dog or shooting hoops.  Parents enjoyed actual conversations with their children. (This is what I'm taking about!)  It is the little things. Devoting your time to pursue something when you are focused on only one thing (and not constantly plugged in) makes for quality of life.

Being present and living in the moment allows for self reflection and observation. It allows for personal contact with others and it slows down time. (Ok, it slows down the perception of time) that in a way makes day to day living less stressful and makes interaction with others and the world more personal and satisfying.

If you are in need of a new year's resolution - give yourself time to "be in the present".
Resist the urge to answer your cell phone when you are in line at the grocery store.
Stop texting on the dinner table or while at the movies. And for pete's sake quit talking on your cell phone while driving. I want you to enjoy the moment. I want you to practice "being present" (but don't call me because I'll be busy posting on Facebook).

"To do" Lists

Some time in October I realized that I had an awful lot of "to do" lists. As I pondered why I had the propensity to constantly have the need to generate a list that keeps me busy all the time - it occurred to me that this need is a terrible habit that must be stopped. Having a running "to do" list means that you are perpetually busy. Is this a good thing? (No) and who is responsible? (No one but me. What a dummy.)

First realization, then much pondering, and (as I always do) there can be no pondering without a fomulated idea, and putting that idea into action. The decided upon action was to implement a "Just say No" campaign. So (hold your breath) I decided that I was going to chuck my "to do" list out of the window and try to live without one. At first this was very liberating, and relaxing. It was very odd. This relaxing inactivity state, “take it as it comes” attitude, “respond to the need as it arises” bearing was not really in my genes. I come from a long line of "busy babes". My mother is constantly "busy". Her mother was constantly "busy".  Her mother's mother was busy, and so on and so on... Centuries of very efficient and very busy women. (But I digress.) Once the luxury and enjoyment of my newfound mental state started to wear off, I started to struggle with my need to "be prepared" and to "use my time wisely" in anticipation of all that was to come.

(Damn this was hard.)

I vowed that I would not have a "to do" list (and I was sticking to it) but not writing it down (I'm a visual type of gal) meant that I had started keeping the list in my head. Keeping a mental list was just too much. Before my brain fried I tossed that "to do" list out. Finally I had reached a state of mind and being where I was just reactionary. Again liberating.

(But was it?)

Now the holidays were approaching and this was a major "to do" list time for everyone. Was I going to survive through November into December unscathed? Perhaps this no "to do " list thing was a bad idea? (Yup.) Boy, did I struggle. I know I don't have to inform you that I lost the struggle. Yet I did not struggle in vain. I have a "to do" list, but it is a more of a "if you want to list".

I found that not being constantly proactive and filling up my time with chores, that I had time to relax more and not worry about things. I also found that I gained some downtime, and the urge to fill it up with activity waned. It was not that I was unbalanced (I'm not that nuts) it was that a "to do” list that is constantly demanding of your energy and time is not worth it. I am not preaching that it is ok to be lazy. What I am preaching is that it is ok to focus on other things like leaving the shopping for another day and going for a walk with your significant other, or biking with the kids, or to go get coffee with a friend. If you are not doing these life activities with those you care about than the problem is not the "to do" list itself. The problem is that you have written the wrong things on your list.

Manners and Movies don't Mix

Last week my family and I braved the crowds to watch Harry Potter.  I was looking forward to this time together. Once inside the theater I started hoping I was not going to regret that decision.  This was not based on my family’s behavior, but the behavior of others.  I am happy to report that while there were indications  (prior to the movie starting) that the audience would have ill-mannered members it actually behaved quite well (all except some idiot with a laser pointer. )

The idiot with the laser pointer was tame compared to some of my theater experiences.  Seems like manners and movies don’t really mix these days. (Though many of us would agree manners in general have been on the decline.) I thought I would compile a list of offenses (none that should be new to you) that usually send me scrambling for the movie theater manager.  (That’s right this woman is a tattletale.) And some ways I handle these situations that may work for you too.  

An infant in the movie theater

Get a babysitter!  (I adore babies and children, but even I draw the line here. )

Under aged children watching inappropriate movies

Poor parenting skills, selfish, ignorant and unaware? 

(Dare I say… all of these?  Yup – I dare.)

Talking during the movies

What about this situation makes you think you are at home? Go to the nearest

Startbucks if you need time to verbally socialize.  (I have been known to yell “ENOUGH – BE QUITE NOW” in my best angry mommy voice. This usually works. Even my husband trembles.)

Cell phones or texting

I must admit with the whole texting craze cell phone are not ringing. I don’t mind this actually, but should my kids (or group) I am with start texting -  I use my best dirty looks.  (I have perfected my dirty looks to academy award level acting. Watch our Merle Streep.)

Kicking a chair or putting feet up on the chair you are sitting in.

Don't parents raise their kids to keep their feet off the furniture? 

(Only solution is to pull an Ace Ventura Pet Detective. Stand up, turn towards the person behind you, wave your hand in front of your face (like there is a bad odor) and yell,  “PU!  Your feet smell like crap! Could you please keep them down and away from me!”  Works everytime. Makes Jim Carrey proud.)

Laser pointer

Someone thinking it is amusing to project a laser onto the screen while the movie is on.

(I would have loved to have taken that laser pointer and shoved it up a certain unmentionable orifice. Fortunately for the laser owner I could not triangulate their position.)

Leaving trash.

This sloppy, shocking behavior can be attributed to the decline of western civilization.

 ( It’s either that or these people live in filth homes, and have never heard of trash cans and personal responsibility.)

There you have it. 

At least 7 annoying activities people do in the movie theater to drive us (or possibly just me) crazy.  If you have more activities to add to the list please share. And if you have crazy stories to tell – DO TELL!  (Best story gets 2 free movie passes to AMC)

Saving the Planet - Reporting In

Back on April 14, 2010 I reported that my husband and I decided to save the 
planet and install solar.  I promised to report back and so here I am.

Yeah - I know. I could have reported back sooner, but I need to confess that 
while our solar company Sungevity installed in a timely manner there were 
other unexpected delays in the process.  For example the city permit 
approval process added some time, and PG&E took the longest to install a
special meter for solar (roughly 2 months).


So while we installed solar on our home in April it was not until August that
we really began saving the world.  I can't tell you how many times my husband 
and I walked outside to watch the meter run backwards. (Exciting!) Or how we 
watched the mail for our utility bill. (Yes, we are strange.)


Then yesterday we received our much anticipated bill from PG&E. After one 
full month of solar - I am very happy to report that our wildest dreams 
have come true.  (OK, well, maybe not our wildest dreams.) Our electric and gas bill
(prior to installing solar) was $250+ a month.  The bill we received in the mail
was a grand total of $45.49!  (I just love it when a plan comes together!)


Now I look around at all the roofs around and wonder why are those roofs so bare?
(Perhaps I should start a new crusade?) I would like to invite you to save money 
and help the environment too.  


Now for the shameless commercialism - 
Check out Sungevity.  There are several companies that do what they do, and there 
really is no reason why everyone (especially in California) should not have solar.  I like 
this company for several reasons they deliver what they promise, the price is right,
and they have outstanding customer service. (I am really into customer service.)  


And if you do check out and use Sungevity and given them our referral code #24995.
Using this code will get YOU $500 of your lease or purchase agreement, and my new
crusade/cause will be on it's way!


PS. Even the White House is going solar.