First Day of Winter

The first day of winter in Phoenix area is almost always the same - great. Somehow this year something happened and look what I noticed early on the morning on the firs day of winter:

First time in almost 3 years I experienced a foggy morning.

Waiting

What do you usualy do when you have to wait?

Can we wait patiently and what does actually mean to "wait patiently"?

I'm at the car service ...waiting and waiting. But that's ok. I have few options: I can get impatient and complane but is this a right option for me? no...all I'm going to achieve is: get nervous and make those people there nervous as well. It's just not worth it. Second option looks so much better: I can use the time as best as I can. 

I decided to find a place I can sit and work ("do my thing"). That way I'm not wasting my time, people who work here (car dealer/service) are doing their work - everything looks ok. 

 

(photo: nope..that's not my car)

So what do you do when you need to wait for someone or something? Do get nervous or maybe you try to utilize the time you have? 

...and just the tiny little thing I'm NOT looking forward to is the invoice, but ohh well I like my car and I need my car to work.

What's Next?

 Families gather together for Thanksgiving/Hanukkah or ... Black Friday - depends on the family.

I'm new here and close proximity of Thanksgiving and Black Friday surprise me. One day people talk about  how much they are thankful for everything and how happy they are to be able to spend time with their family members and the next day...well the following night they are fighting at the store over  a TV set. 

All that Thanksgiving mood is gone the moment some people step into the "shopping mood". I get it that retailers are 'fighting' over customers, after all it's the time of the year - holiday season when big/small stores are making the most money. Of course they are going to fight over customers.

...so maybe this time of the year.... we can try to slow down.

What Does It Mean to Be Fabulous?

"Just because you are 71 doesn't mean that you passed being able to be good and converse with people, and hold on to a job." says one of the main characters of a British TV documentary called "Fabulous Fashionistas."

The group of six women (from UK) that talk about their lives and fashion. They are older adults but what does that really means? I think it means being fabulous.

No matter the age we can become great and fabulous! 

Here is the link to youtube video:

http://youtu.be/nahrW6KMtp0

another comment I heard during the movie that I'm going to remember:

 "People must look at me and think "That poor old (81) woman, who does she think she is? and I don't give a toss."

Just be who you want to be. Don't worry about what other people are going to say...they can say whatever they want ...it's up to you what are you going to do with it.

Autumn...Winter...It's Getting Cold

It's here...autumn. But you and I know that.

Some of my friends have already experience some snow...SNOW already? Yes...it looks really great on all those pictures they share. The thing is that for the last few years I did not have too many opportunities to see the snow around here...and I'm not sad about that :)

Autumn and winter for me at this moment mean: less heat and more of great weather. I try to enjoy every moment of it.

That's the reason I like Arizona...that weather (now) makes me smile.

Dia De Los Muertos

Dia de Los Muertos, November 2 2013

Living in Arizona I learned something new about celebration of All Souls Day. And this is what I've been told and experienced today.

"The celebration of All Souls Day is for families to invite their deceased loved ones into their homes. They build a path of flowers to guide them to their homes where an altar is mounted for them with photos, diplomas, food, clothes of the decedent. Later the celebration moves to the cemetery where the tombs are decorated with flowers, food, religious amulets, candy skeletons and other items that were treasured by the decedent. The families share stories of the deceased with other people in the cemetery. All Souls Day is observed differently in every region. For example in Mexico, families celebrate with a supper and the bread of the dead. 'The bread of the dead' is a very special part of the celebration. It is customary to break the bread with skeleton inside, the belief is that the person who bites the skeleton will have a good luck."   

What's Freedom?

What does it mean to be free? to feel free?
Big questions! for some people it means something like that:


Experience Freedom from InfinityList on Vimeo.

For me freedom has several meanings...and I'm still trying to understand it's essence.

Sometimes I Need a Smile

Sometimes in the middle of the day I need that tiny break to clear my head and relax for a second.
This video made me smile - and that's exactly what I was looking for today.
How about you? What do you do when you need to stop for a moment and have a short break?

link to the above video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ueJ4-lTa1s

Talk to Me

...sometimes I think that people talk to each other via hi-tech devices more often than face-to-face.

Positive Thinking

I love Mondays. Here, I said it. I have no idea how it happened and when exactly but one day (few years ago) I decided to change my attitude regarding Mondays. Why? I used to have a "I hate Mondays" approach which made my first day of the work-week a disaster every single time. 

So as always I asked myself what can I do about it, and the answer was simple - try to change it.

No, the change was not easy. I couldn't get used to the positive thinking at the beginning of every week. How could I be happy? At work when all those e-mails were waiting for me, phone calls, customers, projects, deadlines, etc? And then I had that "aha moment"! E-mail/deadlines/projects - those are not my enemies, those are just things on my "to-do-list" that I have to take care of. 

Different attitude, good weekly agenda and few months later I was able to break my old habit and start  something I'm proud of - I love Mondays :) 

How about you? Do you like Mondays or maybe you would like to make that day disappear from the calendar.         

  

Summer in October?

What I can tell you about October in Arizona. 

1. finally 120F is gone and dry-heat is not so bad.
2. beautiful weather all day/night long.
3. monsoon season is over.
4. "snow-birds" are coming back to Arizona - welcome back friends!
5. ohh...did I mention that 120F is over?

5 Ways to Get Ready for Pumpkin Season

Let me start with simple statement: I don't like pumpkins, sweet potatoes and turkey. So I guess the Thanksgiving dinner is not the best option for me. I tried and somehow I still not a fan of those Thanksgiving season's specialties. Maybe I'm too 'new' here in the States, and if that's a reason - then I just need more time to get use to it (and that's absolutely ok with me).
Even tho I don't like pumpkins my Facebook friend told me about some fascinating (funny, crazy?) ideas - what you can do with/to a pumpkin, here is a short list:

• Pumpkin Spice Syrup - you can use to make a (guess what!) Pumpkin Spice Latte
• Amazing Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns - "Hilarious, artistic, bizarre and remarkable pumpkins carved up for the Halloween season. (link to the video: http://youtu.be/yK8cjzOXwfw )

• Pumpkin Race - Showing some of the various the participants dress up and decorate their...pumpkins. Ohh and this also shows how fragile pumpkins are as they also sink more often than not :) (here's the link to the video: http://youtu.be/jD-l43E-Mvo )

• World Championship Punkin Chunkin - celebrating 28 years of flying pumpkins on Nov 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2013. Yes you read it correctly - "flying pumpkins" (here is the link to the video: http://youtu.be/hu5Uk9Wuwhk ) 

• hundreds if not thousands recipes
• ohh and one more extra video on what you can do with pumpkin - this time tigers, leopards and lynx destroying pumpkins ;) (here is a link to the video: http://youtu.be/UcT4paZfflg )

 

What about you? Do you like pumpkin? What about getting ready for "Pumpkin season" ? :)

To Be or Not to Be a Volunteer

As almost every week I'm doing my overnight shift (15h) as a volunteer and it seems like I have few minutes of free time so I decided to write about volunteering. What does it mean to be a volunteer? I don't know about you but for me it means:

• being able to provide help and support to those in need
• knowing that you are doing something good - even if that 'something good' is very small for you, might be a big help for someone in need
• better organizing my life (time management) - better planning my weekly/monthly schedule. How to organize my life so not only I can do my work (so something for me) but also how to add to my schedule other activities (e.g.: volunteering work).
• understanding that I'm part of something bigger - part of the community I live in.
• 'paying forward'. Sharing something useful is...good :)
• I'm changing something - I'm changing something by providing support

'Paying Forward' - according to wiseGEEK means:

Paying it forward is a third-party beneficiary concept that involves doing something good for someone in response to a good deed done on your behalf or a gift you received. When you pay it forward, however, you don't repay the person who did something nice for you. Instead, you do something nice for someone else. For example, if someone changes your tire while you are stranded on the highway, you might shovel your elderly neighbor's walkway after a snow has fallen.

What do you do to help your community? What do you think about helping others? Are you a volunteer?

If you want to become a volunteer check your local city hall for some information. Visit VolunteerMatch where you can find a cause you are passionate about and get in touch with non-profit organizations. You might want to check Volunteering and Civic Life in America

Another Day

My Wednesday morning:

• 7:30 - meeting with Client #1 (great person)
• 9:30 - meeting with Client #2 (groovy person)
• 12:00 - lunch with friends (it was a birthday-lunch - so happy BirthDAY my Friend!)

The rest of the day was busy as well....it was a good day, even tho it's not Monday ;) Good day so it's time for a short feedback.
I asked myself 3 questions today, the same questions I like to ask myself every month:

"What would I like to do in/with my life?

What would I like to change?

How can I change it?"

 Every month I like to give myself a short feedback: what happened, what did I do to achieve my goals, what should I change and do I try to be a better person. Short feedback that can help me to stay focused and pay attention to what I want/need/should do in my life.

I try to keep the feedback short & sweet but sometimes I'm upset at myself that I didn't do something better/faster/at all as I planed. Sometimes I'm happy that I accomplished some projects. So it's combination of happy/not-so-happy feedback but still I decided to  keep doing it.

What you do to help yourself to keep track of your plans/dreams/goals?

...it's another day, another idea, another project, another...

I Dare You...

English language is my second language and I am aware of that every single day. I think it's a beautiful language but at the same time it can be a little bit tricky. Polish is my native language and today I decided to show you a short video made by employees of U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. Americans from U.S. Embassy were tested for their ability to say complicated Polish phrases and names. The results are pretty funny. ...so I dare you to try to say those Polish phrases...come on just try - it's fun!

Safety Online - Lock Your Screen

listen to ‘Safety online #3 - lock the screen on your device’ on Audioboo

Gaming with My Mom

"In honor of Video Game Week, Jimmy Fallon debuts the super cut of Late Night fans recording themselves playing video games with their moms."

Old Henry (movie) - Challenges of Aging

"Old Henry" is a original short limited series (by INSP). It's a story of a man in his 80s, who is dealing with the challenges of aging.

You know you're from Arizona when...

YOU KNOW YOU'RE FROM ARIZONA WHEN. . .
 

• "You can say Hohokam and no one thinks you're making it up. 
• You no longer associate rivers or bridges with water.
• You know that a "swamp cooler" is not a happy hour drink. 
• You can contemplate a high temperature of 120 degrees as "not all that bad, after all it's a dry heat."
• You have learned to expertly maneuver your vehicle under any traffic conditions using only two fingers; a skill usually learned initially in July.
• You know that you can make sun tea outside faster than instant tea in your microwave. 
• You have to run your air conditioner in the middle of winter so that you can use your fireplace. 
• The water coming from the "cold" tap is hotter than that from the hot" tap. 
• You can correctly pronounce the following words: "Saguaro", "Tempe", "Gila Bend", "San Xavier del Bac", "Canyon de Chelly", "Mogollon Rim", "Cholla", and "Tlaquepacque", "Ajo". 
• It's noon on a weekday in July, kids are on summer vacation, and not one single person is moving on the streets. 
• Hot air balloons can't fly because the air outside is hotter than the air inside. 
• You buy salsa by the gallon. 
• Your Christmas decorations include a half a yard of sand and 100 paper bags. 
• You think a red light is merely a suggestion. 
• All of your out-of-state friends start to visit after October but clear out come the end of April. 
• You think someone driving while wearing oven mitts is clever. 
• Most of the restaurants in your town have the first name "El" or "Los." 
• You think six tons of crushed rock makes a beautiful yard. 
• You can say 115 degrees without fainting. 
• Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.
  People break out coats when the temperature drops below 70. 
• You discover, in July, it only takes two fingers to drive your car. 
• The pool can be warmer than you are. 
• Most people will not drink tap water unless they are under dire conditions. 
• Monday Night Football starts at 7:00 instead of 9:00 
• You realize Valley Fever isn't a disco dance. 
• People with black cars or have black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out-of-state or nuts. 
• You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.
• Announcements for Fourth of July events never end with "in case of rain..." 
• You eat hot chilis to cool your mouth off. 
• You know that a seat belt makes a pretty good branding iron. 
• You know that you can get a sunburn through your car window. 
• You have to explain to out-of-staters why there is no daylight savings time 
• When someone asks how far you live from a location, it's always in terms of minutes, not miles. 
• Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?" 
• You realize that asphalt has a liquid state."

text from: https://www.facebook.com/WowsersWebDesign 

Phoenix Comicon 2013

I'm not a huge comics' fan but I really like 2 TV shows: Doctor Who (BBC production) and Start Trek and guess what...I'm going to Phoenix Comicon ! Am I excited? of course I am.

Is there anything interesting about that kind of event? well, let me think:

• there are 13 Comi-Con in United States (and the largest is in San Diego)
• the first Comicon was held in 1970 (San Diego) and the one in Phoenix in 2002
• Originally showcasing comic books, science fiction/fantasy, film/television, and related popular arts, the Phoenix Comicon has expanded over the years to include a larger range of pop culture lements, such as horror, anime, manga, animation, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, and fantasy novels.

This is my first Comicon so I'm looking forward to take part in such a great experience. It's going to be fun!

See you there.

Unleash the Power of Age -"Don't let yourself get stiff"

Inspiration from  a 97-year-old  Sylvia Carle
 more information, please visit: Advanced Style

New (look) Google+

So what do you think about the NEW look of Google+ ?
Do you like it? Yes/No?

Somehow it reminds me Facebook

Bully [movie]

I had a chance to watch a movie "Bully" by Lee Hirsch. And after I watched it I felt that there is not much people can do to stop Bullying unless parents start do something. Unless parents start talking to their kids.

Here is a part (from the movie) that sum this issue:

• "(...) why would teacher, some counselor, somebody in enforcement not do something? Because that is very derogatory to any kid (bullying). That's like a slap in the face to these parents. And my question is, if bartenders are responsible for a drunk that goes out and kills an innocent person, how come the bullies are not responsible for the death of this precious child?"
• "This is an awfully complicate and difficult issue. I know there;s a lot of anger about the school system. But the school can't, by itself, change a child's behavior if they're going home and not being reinforced at home to change their behavior."
• "Good luck with that. Most of these parents could really care less. We've been there, done that. You;re not going to get them in there. So then what do you do? We've been in this scenario, and you couldn't get the parents involved. So then what do you do? And we went to the police. Their hands are tied. You go to the school, and they say: "Kids will be kids." or "Let these girls work it out." or "Let your child work it out." Well, it's not just in school. They go on the internet, cell phones. They can damage somebody's life."

Paris (video)

The Quite City(???) - Paris

The Quiet City: Winter in Paris from Andrew Julian on Vimeo.

The World in 2030 [video]

"The World in 2030: How Science will Affect Computers, Medicine, Jobs, Our Lifestyles and the Wealth of our Nations" by Dr. Michio Kaku



Dr. Kaku is one of the founders of string field theory, a field of research within string theory. String theory seeks to provide a unified description for all matter and the fundamental forces of the universe.

Facebook NewsFeed [audio]

New look of the Facebook News Feed

listen to ‘Facebook New(s)Feed’ on Audioboo

Friday - Good Time to Smile [pictures]

Friday it's a great time to smile and relax - well, at least Friday evening.
Let the weekend begin :)

image credit: Medical Humor Facebook Page

Safety Online [audio]

How often do you check Facebook privacy settings or what others can see on your profile?
Here is a short audio-tip on safety online:

listen to ‘Safety online #2 - Facebook Privacy’ on Audioboo

Have fun and stay safe online!

Oscars 2013 [songs]

Maybe I don't know too much about Oscars and about movies. Well, I know what I like and that's it.

But there is something about music, that makes good movies even better or at least we remember those songs.

Are You Ready for New Glass(es)

Google finally decided to share some more information regarding Google GLASS (futuristic, strange-looking glasses). This time people can try to get a pair of those glasses earlier. If you are one of those people all you need to do is:

"Using Google+ or Twitter, tell us what you would do if you had Glass, starting with the hashtag #ifihadglass"

On Google Glass website you can find more infotrmation regarding the sweepstakes.




oh and one more thing:

"The deadline for applications is February 27th. If you are chosen, we will reach out to you with an invitation to become a Glass Explorer (please remember to follow us so that we can contact you directly). Explorers will each need to pre-order a Glass Explorer Edition for $1500 plus tax and attend a special pick-up experience, in person, in New York, San Francisco or Los Angeles."

...so do you still want the glasses? ;)

Give Me a Reason...[video]

You don't have to be good to be healthy...
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation published a fantastic TV commercial "You can reduce your risk"

"Whether they are big or small, gradual lifestyle changes can benefit you. By getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things, you'll help to reduce your breast cancer risk."

check www.onenewthing.ca

You Don't Have to Be Perfect [videos]

Ari Seth Cohen from Advanced Style recorded several videos with beautiful people - older adults about fashion and life:



"Keep doing things"

Be beautiful - be yourself

Time for a Smile [pictures]

 most of those pictures I found on Facebook Page:  Anyone Can be Cool but Awesome Takes Practice Facebook page

Don't Forget

"Tonight, I will braid my pigtails and let them go all Medusa. I will plan my next adventure. And I will refuse to let the world tell me who I should be."

Donna Highfill wrote a post on Huffington Post (Post50) "How I Almost Got the Pippi Beaten Out of Me" 

I recommend you read that article - it's just perfect to stop for a moment and think if you still have "Pippi in your heart"

"My 50s have revived the Pippi in me. I have found the power of writing, and a love of conversation that goes deeper than the recent Cosmopolitan quiz. Menopause has removed the capacity for coy behavior or passive flirtation. In fact, it's fortunate that I am not armed"

"Although I want to be physically healthy, the need for perfect beauty is gone. I never achieved that look anyway, because I don't have a person who can airbrush me before I go out the door. And I've never been willing to stop eating so that my clothes could hang on me perfectly. I demand that the fashion industry fit clothes that hang correctly on women who weigh more than their dogs."

Safety Online - Tip #1 [audio]

Safety online - Tip #1: create a strong password

listen to ‘Safety online #1 - passwords’ on Audioboo

Please NOT Pink! [video]

Please don't take the pink away!
 "Pink is just leftovers of white light when you take out the green" !?
ohhhh nooooo! I'm shocked! What have you done to color pink?!
 Here's an article by Robert Krulwich (from NPR) on "They did it to Pluto, but not to Pink! Please Not Pink!"

Age is Beautiful [video]

What do you think about age?

Slow down, simplify your life

1st AudioBoo [audio]

My very 1st AudioBoo recording - I'm testing audio-application.

listen to ‘My very 1st audioBOO - Introduction’ on Audioboo

Funny Saturday [pictures]

Something funny for the weekend :)

 

Protect Your Private Information On-Line [video]

NetSafe Episode 11: Protect Your Personal Information (Grades 7-12) from Planet Nutshell on Vimeo.

Give a Little [video]

It's all about sharing, helping and giving...

B&W vs. Color [video]

I just found an interesting post on TwistedSifter.com - "Adding Color to Historic Photos"
Have you ever wondered how Black&white pictures would look like in color?

"Artist Mads Madsen has an amazing skill for colorizing old black and white photographs."

Here are some black&white photos transformed into color:

Albert Einstein_pic colorized by Mads Madsen

Butch Cassidy ad the Wild Bunch_pic colorized by Mads Madsen

Charles Darwin_pic colorized by Mads Madsen

Frederick Douglas_pic colorized by Mads Madsen

Migrant Mother_pic colorized by Mads Madsen

Here is a youtube tutorial on how to colorize Black&White or vintage photographs:



What do you think about that? Should we keep black&white photos or colorized them?

Facebook Messenger [video]

...and again Facebook offers some new feature. This time well known mobile application - Facebook Messenger added a new feature - free calls.




iOS: iTunes and Android: GooglePlay

• chat with a friend or group for free
• send voice messages, photos
• get notifications
• know who’s seen your messages
• include your location
• call friends for free (free calling uses your existing data plan, and will be rolling out over the next few weeks)

Facebook's New Graph Search [video]

What do we need to know about Facebook's New Graph Search.

Something Good [video]

I believe that people are good!

Downton Abbey [funny video]

Are you a fan of MASTERPIECE's Downton Abbey? I'm not,I have never seen that tV series but I had a chance to watched the video below - the recap of what happened in 1st and 2nd season. It's funny, at least the way they created the video :)

Cats Forever [Photo]

Body Language [video]

I had a chance to watch a movie "Secrets of Body Language" by History Channel

Body Language can tell us everything people don't want us to know about them.

You can watch this video on the History Channel:

Dinner with Family and Friends

Try to do THAT next time and see who first reach for their phone ;)

Earth at Night [video]

A beautiful NASA video of Earth at Night: