Soapbox Friday’s

Get up on your soapbox and start your own frenzy!!

Right on Red

I understand the theory of this traffic law, I understand it helps reduce gas consumption, helps even out traffic flows, but haven’t we seen its abuse long enough? It’s time we start refreshing our minds on how this law actually works or begin the repeal process altogether. Here is the ‘Right-on-Red’ rule from the CT-DMV driving handbook. I’m sure other states’ laws are similar. Please note the section I’ve bolded.

Red traffic lights mean stop. You must wait until the traffic light turns green and there is no crossing traffic before you may move ahead. If you are turning right on red, you may turn after coming to a full stop and checking to make sure that there is no oncoming traffic and no sign prohibiting the turn on a red light. Watch out for pedestrians crossing in front of your vehicle.

Have you seen ANYONE stop and then safely proceed? I love those who roll stop, see you coming and gun it!

Why are your neighbors friendly only after a snow storm?

Under-rated Halloween

I think we should all collectively decide to make Halloween a national holiday! (you know the kind where you get the day off with pay) Think about it. Christmas and Chanukah are morbidly overrated. People over spend, parking lots are full, people pushing and shoving to get the best deals. Halloween? You go to CVS/Walgreens or grocery store pick up 2-3 or 4 bags of GOOD candy (not that cheap stuff), people come to your door (you don’t even have to go out) and you give some kid a $0.50 piece of candy and they are happy! Bliss.

Why do I own 47 face cloths?

What are we doing with them? 47 divided by 7 days divided by 3 people…2.2 face cloths per person per day.

Why hasn’t anyone invented a toothpaste tube that automatically seals?

Prenda un pelo, it' s buona per voi

In a few short days I will begin my 53rd year on this planet. I find I am now questioning those important matters of life: grown children? retirement plans? moving to a warmer climate? No, there is one thing I can honestly say causes a greater concern:

Will I get my nap today?

The nap!

Encarta dictionary defines it as: a period of short light sleep, especially during the day.

In other countries the nap is known as:

Chinese: 休息 (<- can’t you envision a person walking over to a bed here??)

Italian: pelo

Dutch: dutje

Russian: ворсина

Spanish: siesta

German: Haar

It is said Europe and Asia are far advanced of the United States in culture, life styles and the humanities, based on the simple fact of: longevity. They have been around longer than we have. They have had more practice than we have.

We, in the United States, claim technology, production, natural resources as our forte. I believe we should allow our Euro/Asian friends take the lead on this one.

Here is more information, I stole this directly from Wikipedia, so it is an absolute truth.

Biological need for naps

The timing of sleep in humans depends upon a balance between homeostatic sleep propensity, the need for sleep as a function of the amount of time elapsed since the last adequate sleep episode, and circadian rhythms which determine the ideal timing of a correctly structured and restorative sleep episode. The homeostatic pressure to sleep starts growing upon awakening. The circadian signal for wakefulness starts building in the (late) afternoon. As Harvard professor of sleep medicine Charles A. Czeisler claims.

We have people in the world like Charles A. Czeisler, to explain homeostatic sleep propensity and how naps are important.

Another important investigation I did, again, Wikipedia

Siesta in other cultures

The Washington Post of February 13, 2007 reports at length on studies in Greece that indicate that those who nap have less risk of heart attack.^[4]An example of a siesta-like habit can for example be found in Serbia and Slovenia. Especially among older citizens, it is common to observe the so-called "house rule", requiring people to refrain from telephoning or visiting each other between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., as people are supposed to be resting. In some southern German-speaking regions, the Mittagspause (de:Mittagspause) or Mittagsruhe (de:Mittagsruhe) is still customary; shops close, and children are expected to play quietly indoors.

In South Asia, the idea of a post-lunch nap is common. In Bangladesh and West Bengal, the word which describes the concept is bhat-ghum, literally meaning "rice-sleep", a nap after lunch.

Afternoon sleep is also a common habit in China and Taiwan after the midday meal. Some Japanese offices have special rooms known as napping rooms for their workers to take a nap. In Islam, it is encouraged to take a nap between Dhuhr (midday) and Asr (afternoon) prayers, with the intention of doing tahajjud later in the night.

Again, the above was stolen from Wikipedia.

So after all the research, the cultural facts, the biological human requirements, my questions is why do we consider naps to be a bad thing?

Why do I feel I am doing something evil?

Why do I feel I must sneak a nap in when no one is around?

Should I move to Europe where naps are more accepted?

I think not. The BEST part of a nap is the feeling of getting away with something.

“HA! I slept for 45 minutes and you didn’t even notice!!”

Proper Nap Preparation - PNP

There are critical nap protocols that must be adhered to:

1. Naps are to be taken in a place other than your bed.

2. You are required to cover yourself with a light cover, again not a blanket from your bed.

3. You must be fully dressed. (hair combed and make up is a nice touch)

4. You must, and this is a critical point – keep your shoes on.

Following these four steps will provide you with the most fulfilling ‘got away with it’ feeling upon awakening.

So I will continue with my Nap Quest, my Siesta Agradecida, my glückselige Ruhe.

And I bid you good night!

btw...prenda un pelo, it' s buona per voi in english means: take a nap it is good for you.

Life's Addictions!

Okay. I’ll admit it. Over the summer I have developed an addiction. It’s not an addiction to some party drug or alcohol. No it’s nothing like that. It’s more embarrassing than that. I’m an adult woman, I should know better. Addictions follow the path of the young and the weak and strike when the opportunity arises.

They do say though once a person admits to themselves they have a problem…

I’m addicted to Facebook.

Okay. I’ve said it. As with all of these troublesome addictions it started out small… one small farm on Farmville. I would feed the animals, picked whatever vegetables I planted six hours prior, plow the land and replant a new vegetable or fruit. I had a few cows, horses and chickens, a small farmhouse with a white fence. It was peaceful.

This led to me getting involved with a café crowd. Again a small operation, my Café World, a few dining tables, a few stoves, a chef, and a simple wait staff.

All was progressing well. That was April, 2010… fast forward to today, July 28, 2010.

I am now a Knight of Camelot obtained at level 45 of Knights of Camelot, an Expert Cavalier of My Empire, I have 2.6 Billion (with a B) dollars accumulated in Mafia Wars, I’m at level 70 on Treasure Island after conquering 30 islands, I’m at Level 20 in Frontiersville, and I now own a very successful candy shop, owning eight display cases and five chocolate producing machines in Chocolatier. Dear...oh dear, what has happened to me?

I must face this addiction with my head held high. I am strong. I can stop this. I …

Did I mention my small farm is now one of those corporate conglomerates we all had evil thoughts about when we were kids, at Level 39 and accumulated 3.4 million coins? Most likely I didn’t, to busy eating at my Café World, at Level 73, and 7.1 million coins, 18 stoves, and have Mastered 41 dishes that would make Hell’s Kitchen’s Chef Ramsey’s head spin!

It’s okay I suppose, as long as the kids don’t find out!

What Clutter?

I've watched TV shows that depicted those poor souls who have been labeled as hoarders. Feeling bad as I watched these people being 'forced' to deal with throwing away their precious life's treasures collected over the years. I've asked myself, what exactly constitutes hoarding?

I live in a four and one half room cottage, a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and a bathroom. This cottage would be quite suitable for one person, but there are three of us living here, in this now tiny house. Mike, my live in musician companion, my college attending daughter who is now on summer break and I share this frugal space. At this point I will now add that every corner, every possible space, every nook and cranny of these four rooms (I exclude the bathroom) has something crammed into its precious square footage.

The kitchen, or shall I call it, the computer-craft-storage-cooking-cleaning zone.

The living room, the TV-computer-library-closet-medicine cabinet-display-study area.

The bedroom, aka, the library-recording studio-guitar practice-storage-district.

and bedroom 2, did I mention my daughter and I do crafts? paper crafts, sewing, crocheting, jewelry making, scrapbooking and make character costumes for various conventions throughout the year?

Within these four rooms: areas, zones or districts contain everything one would need to accomplish the aforementioned activities. I have containerized the unimaginable.

My goal in life is to rubbermaid everything! Heaven forbid one of the 15 plastic crates we own would be empty! I panic thinking 'what can I readjust in this madness to re-fill this container so we are more organized!' I search the web looking for bigger, better containers. I have purchased plastic containers too big to fit in my car and had to strap it in using the front seat belt!

So now back to my question... am I a hoarder? Or a potential tupperware sales person?

Who Controlling the Purse?

Consider women's most prized of all accessories: The Purse

What is with purses? What magical property do they hold on us that causes a person

to spend their last dime to find the ONE!

How many purses do you own?

How many leather (or pleather) do you have?

How many summer bags, fall bags, spring, winter purses do you have?

Why, when we finally obtain that perfect purse, do we use it until it's nothing but a thin shell of itself, leaving a trail of change, from the hole in the stitching, behind for Hansel and Gretal to find their way home?

And when it is time to replace 'Perfection' the style can no longer be found? Yes, it's been a year and a half since you first bought it, but it was perfect! How could they no longer make this design? Who is making these decisions? Who do I write to?

So begins the long journey of finding a replacement purse. This process takes months. Through careful examinations, preliminary purchases and random samplings.

We start at all the regular stops; K Mart, Walmart, Target, and Kohl's walk up and down the three, maybe four, aisles of current offerings. Going back over and over to re-look at that black pleather one with the cool snaps and many internal pockets or that smart red one in the second aisle, no wait, that color will not go with anything... damn. It's too hot for black pleather, it may melt in the car.

Okay, it's summer, let's be daring...let's get the brown and white 'cloth' purse for the summer..no wait, let's get the green and white cloth one too, in case we want to match an outfit.

The purchase is made. Our treasures are placed in the car. We cannot wait to get home so we can empty out old raggedy 'perfection' and toss it in the trash. We quickly enter the house and empty the bags, grabbing the brown and white cloth purse and, no wait, there's no pockets inside, it's one big giant hole! I can't use this!

The collection is added to.

The search continues.

My First Post

I have created this blog to give myself space to speak. I find myself questioning day-to-day things and need a place to voice myself. I believe in todays' world we all need a place to speak on the topics of world. Doesn't matter what 'world' you want to speak about. Your immediate world or the place we consider the world.

You don't need to be an expert, I am certainly not an expert, sometimes though people with basic common sense outshine all others.