Go Red for Women!

     Heart disease is the number one killer of women. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease kills one in three women each year, that's approximately one women every minute. Every year, the organization's "Go Red" campaign issues a challenge to help get the word out and educate women on the disease as well as build support for the cause. Go Red for Women Day is Feb. 1 and you're encourage to wear red to work and around the community. The first national wear red day was ten years ago, and great strides have been made since that time. The American Heart Association cites:

• 21% fewer women dying from heart disease
• 23% more women aware that it’s their No. 1 health threat
• Publishing of gender-specific results, established differences in symptoms and responses to medications and women-specific guidelines for prevention and treatment
• Legislation to help end gender disparities

 You can do more than just wear red. There are plenty of other activities and efforts you can get involved in. Just click below for more information.

Go Red for Women information

Dreams Hold Secrets to Unlocking the Mind

     "All the things one has forgotten scream for help in dreams." - Elias Canetti

     Our troubles tend to present themselves in our dreams. They can reveal concerns, fears, and nerves on things that are masked during our waking hours. One can learn much about present turmoils by paying attention to and learning from dreams and this can also bring a sense of calm and a more centered mind.
     I often dream of situations that taken place in similar settings, for instance a hotel. They often have common themes and features. One recurring reverie takes place in a hotel with me running from an unknown threat or threatening person. I usually attempt to evade capture by ascending and descending elevators. Although, I have also dreamed of running up and down hallways; once in a while I am able to find an escape through an open door that leads outside to another landscape instead of the exterior of the hotel.
     Through my studies and my attempts at dream interpretation, I have learned what the hotel means and why I imagine scenes with me riding elevators to allude those chasing me. The recurrence of the elements lets me know I am still dealing with the issues they represent. I keep a dream diary, which helps me track trends. If I am unable to write in my dream diary I at least take notes on the odd aspects of the fantasy so I can go back and make sense of it in the future.
     Dream interpretation helps me feel more in touch with what is going on in the recesses of my mind. I feel like I can better understand my thoughts, feelings and frustrations. After all, my unburied self consciousness reveals secrets to my happiness.

A Day to Remember the Holocaust

     Every year, governments set aside one day in January to commemorate Holocaust victims and survivors. International Holocaust Remembrance Day is January 27th. On that day, the UN purportedly has an obligation to honor the victims of the Nazi era and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.
    I have always had a great interest in hearing the stories of the Holocaust. For many, these stories are too heart wrenching and painful to hear, but for me they are a lesson on what can happen if hate goes unchecked. I like to hear about the atrocities of the time from different perspectives and media so I can better understand how the events leading up to and surrounding World War II affected people everywhere. I am drawn to movies about the Holocaust and often marvel at how well done they are. I want to spread the word and make sure everyone knows they should see the movie or read the book. I recently viewed, "The Pianist" for the first time. My immediate reaction was to wonder what took me so long. The movie came out more than ten years ago, but still I was reluctant to see it based on a misconception. I thought the movie was a sappy love story, but upon watching when I found out the contrary I was immediately and incredibly excited. I moved "The Pianist" to the number one spot on my favorite movies on the Holocaust. Number two is another movie I recently screened, "Life is Beautiful." I still can't get over how far one father went to protect his son from the realities of a Nazi death camp. Number three is Schindler's List, although it has been so long since I watched it that I feel the need to see it again to reassess. My fourth favorite Holocaust movie (if you can actually call a movie about such a tragic and soul crushing time a "favorite") is "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas." I also have a great interest in books depicting the lives of those caught up in the genocide. I remember reading them when I was a girl, though I can't remember the age. The Diary of Anne Frank was so suspenseful and sad. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry elicited fear and hope. Recently, I read Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay, which beautifully intertwines the story of a young girl's escape from a concentration camp to the modern day life of a news reporter who learns that her life is connected to the young girl.
     To commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day this year I will watch a couple of documentaries on the historical horror, "Auschwitz: Inside the Nazi State" and "Steal a Pencil For Me." In the meantime, I will work on getting my hands on a copy of "Schindler's List" and "Sophie's Choice."

Shells Guide: Wearing Brown, Black, Gold, and Silver

    Many people have fashion rules or guidelines to follow when dressing for a night out on the town. I have many of these such rules; one concerns the mixing of black and brown, and gold and silver. Don't do it! In my opinion, in fashion these agents are not colors but are neutrals or elements to build upon. They are not to be worn together, especially if they are not incorporated in a single print or on a single shoe (which is still debatable). If you are wearing brown shoes you need to wear a brown belt, purse, etc. or a complimenting color. If you are wearing silver earrings, then the rest of your jewelry for the day should also be silver. Some designers have deliberately made jewelry that incorporates both gold and silver so you'll be able to wear your two-toned watch with what ever accessories you chose. Warning: this is tacky. A good example of designers alleviating the problem of owning multiple belts is the reversible belt. It is black on one side and brown on the other with a gold (or silver) buckle that turns around in a click so you can wear either side. Don't get me started on wearing the wrong color socks!
     This color rule is old and people argue that it is dated. However, color coordination is a great thing and goes a long way in making you look sophisticated and well put together. You may chose to ignore this rule and proceed in life unburdened by fashion standards, but do not be surprised if you are judged for your lack of effort.

Wading Through My Reading List

     I am the type of person who has a reading list, an agenda for the books I intend to read. As soon as I've finished one tale I am on to the next. I love reading. There are so many great stories to be absorbed and I love to allow my mind to transfer me to another time or world, to be a silent voyeur as someone else navigates through their problems. I am constantly adding to my list of novels and I often have more than one book going at one time.
     I rarely give upon a book once I have started it, but I do take breaks at times in favor of a much easier read or something that is more timely and topical. Right now, I am working through Dracula by Bram Stoker, a book that I had previously begun and am just now getting back to. I have recently rekindled my interest in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig, so I will likely revisit that book once I am finished with Dracula. I enjoy discovering classic favorites. I recently absorbed Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, both of which I enjoyed greatly.  
     In addition to the oldies that I am working my way through, I have a number of contemporary titles I am waiting to try on. I have yet to read The Marriage Plot: A Novel by Jeffrey Eugenides who is a favorite modern author of mine. I would also like to read The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe, Gone Girl: A Novel by Gillian Flynn, and The Yellow Birds: A Novel by Kevin Power. I just can't get enough of books. They can transform a dull day into a vibrant, exciting adventure with blanks filled in by your mind. I have a very active imagination and literature is a great way to exercise my mind.

 

MLK Day in Memphis

     I have often stated that there's not much I liked about living in Memphis, TN. There are exceptions to that rule, and one of them is being surrounded by so much Civil Rights history. Memphis is a great place to sit back and take in the lessons taught by the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and others. Some of my greatest memories of being a journalist were sitting in the newsroom and coming up with coverage ideas for Martin Luther King Day. Granted, we didn't celebrate his birthday like we did his death. January 21st was always marked and remembered by most because they didn't have school or had the day off from work, but April 4th is a day I won't be able to forget. It is the day King was shot down at a Memphis hotel. Memphis news stations pull out all the stops for coverage on the day because what happened in the Bluff City that day changed America; for many, it was the day hope died. Memphis houses the National Civil Rights Museum and a large portion of it is devoted to Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream. I visited this museum several times during my two year stint in Memphis, and I never made it all the way through. My love for history and the Civil Rights Movement kept me moving slowly through the exhibits, reading each one and breathing in the mood surrounding the events of the time. There is so much we can learn from history and from Martin Luther King, Jr. specifically. King's birthday is a great time to remember his teachings and pass them on to children in your life so that the past doesn't repeat itself.

Name That Tune: My Karaoke Song

     Every karaoke enthusiast should have a signature song. I do not have a practiced tune that I can call my own, and I have been on the hunt for some time. I have tried out a few numbers with some success, but no fireworks ("Papa Don't Preach" by Madonna). I have taken some suggestions, which have been mostly instantaneous and automatic fails ("What's Going On" by the 4 Non Blondes). I really want to have a song that I can have in my pocket to pull out and wow an audience. I need a song that the audience knows and loves but may have forgotten about or at least wouldn't expect to hear at karaoke. It needs to be something they could sing along to if they want, and it can't have too many instrumental breaks. It has to be in my range and style. Lastly, it has to be fun. So, as my next karaoke outing draws near I will continue to brainstorm and search for that perfect beat to belt out.

The Definition of a Midlife Crisis

     What is a midlife crisis? People are often labeled as going through one of these confusing attempts to change life because their actions are misunderstood. This is a result of those who are not close friends or confidants judging the actions of others. People would likely not be as willing to label a phase of life as a midlife crisis if they knew the motivating forces behind the actions.
     Recently, during a conversation on early on-set midlife crises a friend said she thought I may have been going through a midlife crisis. I calmly asked Rochelle why and she responded that she felt I was making drastic changes in my life by going back to school. I proceeded to explain to her that returning to school for a graduate degree was always my plan. Remaining in broadcasting, my first career, was never my plan and in order to successfully transition into a new career I would need training. Rochelle is a friend who has been with me for a long time and has always known my life plans, so it seemed odd that my recent actions had been dubbed crisis decisions. She now has a very busy life and lives thousands of miles away from me and because of those factors my life changes may have seemed more sudden and random to her. It appeared she did not understand what I was doing.
     In addition to people not understanding the motivations for life decisions, I feel that sometimes those who are judging may be a little jealous. The jealousy is not over the exact decisions that are made or of the lives of those who are making them, just over the ability to make life changing decisions. People often desire to fulfill a childhood dream, to restart a project started long ago, to move to a new location with new possibilities, to own something to be proud of, but not everyone has the ability to carryout those desires. Everyone has priorities and decisions are made based on those priorities. If someone has made the decision to start a family they may not be able to relocate on a whim. Someone may have decided to become a teacher or another profession with a limited income and they may not be able to afford a certain item they feel they can be proud of. Just because someone is in the position to live out their desires does not mean they are going through a midlife crisis. It usually means they are attempting to better their lives in whatever ways they deem appropriate and most pleasing. The next time I wonder if a friend is going through a midlife crisis I will talk to that person to find out what is going on before I throw that label on their life.

Vulgarity: Not a Neccesary Ingredient in Comedy

There is a thought by some aspiring comedians that you have to be vulgar to be funny. This is completely untrue! Those who think vulgarity will automatically earn laughs tend to not be funny themselves or just have very limited exposure to the comedy circuit. Sure, there are clubs one can perform that kind of bit at and people will think it is hilarious. Just look at the success funny people like Sarah Silverman. Her success prompts people like my friend Ellen to think that you have to be a bit vulgar and offend people to get laughs. Well, that is not the type of humor I enjoy and I think there are many others like me. I prefer a more high brow type of comedy, but not stuffy. Just give me something smart, thoughtful, relevant, and fresh. Instead of trying to emulate another person's success, find something fresh that works for you. If all else fails, have someone who is funny write your jokes and work with you on your timing because nothing is worse that watching a comedian completely fail on an open mic night (okay, there are a lot of things that are worse but it is pretty uncomfortable).

FitBit Obsession

      My FitBit is my newest obsession. The health and fitness tracker works like a pedometer, but has so many more useful and intriguing features. It tracks your steps, floors climbed, calories burned, calories eaten, sleep, weight, and BMI. The FitBit device clips to clothing or fits in pockets and scrolls through displays of all the pertinent information including the time. It syncs wirelessly to your smart phone and computer where you can see more detailed lists, graphs, and charts of your activity. On your smart phone or computer you can add the foods and drinks you've consumed throughout the day from a comprehensive list of options and you can add the activities you've completed from another list to update your calories in vs. out measurements.
 I love the water meter that tracks how much H2O I have consumed by showing a water glass that fills up and/or a stick figure picture of a lady with water filling her up.
       FitBit has several great features that work to motivate a person toward their personal fitness goals. On your dashboard on the computer version you can see badges you have earned by meeting activity goals. The badges are incentive to continue on because the website will also show you how much more you have to do to earn your next badge or designation like having climbed the world's largest pencil.

The charts and graphs show you if you're on the right track in terms of calories in vs. calories out. There's a goal zone and if you are not in the goal zone the dashboard tells you how many calories you need to burn or consume to get back into the goal zone based on a time prorated calculation.
     FitBit also tracks your weight loss goals and tells you how many calories less a day you need to consume vs. burn to make your goal. The goal is broken down into the amount you need to burn per week to get accomplish your objective. The FitBit incorporates this information into the goal zone pictorials. There are charts to show your progress toward your weight loss goal.
     One of the neatest features of the FitBit is the sleep tracker. The device can tell you how long it took you to fall asleep, how many times you awoke during the night, when your periods of activity occurred, how long you slept for, and then it gives you a sleep efficiency rating. This is very interesting information for those looking to get a better night's sleep. You can track your most wakeful periods and know what your sleep patterns are. There is also a portion of the dashboard for you to record notes on any important activities or factors of the day, including things you tried to improve your sleep and how well they worked.

     There are so many other features to this device and as I continue to learn more every day; I feel like I am just scratching the surface. Most recently, I discovered there are FitBit support groups to help give further motivation toward your fitness goals. Some of the groups are based on geographic locations. I joined the group for Indianapolis and I am perusing the discussion board. This will help me learn more about my FitBit and also the people who are using the device in my community. It will also inform me of wellness events that are going on in my region. The FitBit comes very highly rated. One critic even said, "FitBit makes getting in shape as addictive as checking facebook and twitter." I agree with that sentiment and add FitBit is a very healthy addiction.

Surprise in the Oscar Nominations

     The 2013 Academy Award nominations are out and the biggest surprise isn't which films got nominated, but who didn't. Django Unchained is one of the most entertaining movies of the year and Quentin Tarantino did an excellent job in the director's chair. His flair for the dramatic put a memorable, personal stamp on the movie and Tarantino has been given the snub. The Academy failed to nominate him for the Best Director award. His movie earned five nominations, including Best Picture, but no top reward for the director despite much buzz preceding the nominations. Zero Dark 30's Katheryn Bigalow also failed to earn a Best Director nomination despite critic acclaim for her new movie and the fact that she won the category just years ago to much fanfare with Hurt Locker.
     This year's nominations lack excitement. As I closely follow the process every year, there wasn't much of a surprise in any of the categories on announcement morning. Both Amour and Beasts of the Southern Wild earned Best Picture nominations and more, but I wasn't surprised because I had heard they were movies to watch for. I will not make any predictions at this point, but I am glad to see Denzel Washington won a nod for his acting in Flight. This is a much deserved nomination for him despite the movie not being the type of film the Academy typically pays attention to. I am also pleased to see Argo earned so many nominations (7). It is a movie that was surprisingly entertaining given what could be a dry subject.
     Leading up to the Oscar night, I try to see as many of the nominated movies as possible. This year that quest isn't as daunting because I've done a nice job of picking the right movies to go to in the last few months. In the weeks before the big show, some theaters have special marathon showings of the Best Picture nominees and other categories. In the past I've gone to the Best Picture nominees and a showing of the Best Short Films; both were a lot of fun and I intend to see one of these marathons this year as well. I am very excited about the awards show itself. It is a favorite occasion for me. I love to fill out my Oscar ballot and then see how many of the categories I got right. There is a fun pageantry to the Academy Awards and it is a great occasion to throw a party.

Disgusting Fashion Lace

Lace is the most horrid of fashion trends at the moment. There is a time and a place for the dainty fabric and it isn't dinner and a movie with lace garishly displayed on regular clothing. Worse yet is when the lace is in a terrible color (hot pink), a lace pattern (think screen printing), or on an article of clothing in an odd place (a lace back on a t-shirt or lace on a winter coat). I do not mind lace when it is an undergarment or used on the edging of a more elegant article of clothing. However, anything else looks tacky. You look like you're wearing your grandmother's doilies around town! Every year there is some fashion trend that I find to be disgusting (not being dramatic here) and I really hope this one expels itself from fashion magazines and clothing stores quickly. It is actually hard to shop at times and find cute things without awkwardly placed lace. The chintzy fabric is everywhere and that is what makes it so nauseating to me! Please, can I get a break in 2013?

Foods to Never Eat Again

Health nuts have their lists of foods they won't eat for various reasons. I tend to stay away from artificial sweeteners, microwave popcorn, margarine, and anything with a high amount of sodium (greater than 25% per serving). True Activist put out a list of Nine Foods You Should Never Eat Again. The items on the list are not surprising as they are things I try to avoid, but it is always interesting to read more about why I should be staying away from the highly processed foods. Among the foods on the list are white bread, white rice, frozen meals, deli meats, energy bars, soy, and "diet" anything. I didn't realize energy bars could be so non nutritious. I do not buy many of them, but it is one more thing I will have to be mindful of when grocery shopping. Also, I stated I try to stay away from artificial sweeteners, and those sweeteners are why True Activist listed "diet" foods as being unhealthy. Those sweeteners can cut the calories, but they are artificial and often your body does not know how to break them down. The sweeteners have also been linked to serious health problems like endocrine disruption. Here's the link so you can find out why these options are so bad for your health.

The Foodie Movement

     Most people have come into contact with the Foodie Movement whether they realize it or not. It can be seen in many forms from the push for local foods, to the insistence on organics, to the urge to use rare and tasty ingredients in new and unconventional ways. Some people feel foodies have a superiority complex and become preachy in their holier-than-thou lectures on the best diet for modern humans. They often cite how it is better to eat whole foods, foods that have not been processed and are made from real ingredients. However, their way of thinking isn't something that's new. Americans have been dealing with food fundamentalism for decades. According to UTNE magazine, it all started with Reverend Sylvester Graham and religion. His teachings on health and the uselessness of alcohol, coffee, tea, sugar, meat, and refined grains brought us the ever famous graham cracker, something he served at church services. While the modern day Foodie Movement can be described as rooted in trendiness, the ideas have been around for a while.
     Graham's methods never caught on for a large portion of Americans as I suspect the move toward organic, local ingredients will also not catch on. For one thing, those types of foods are not available to many communities. In 2010, First Lady Michelle Obama talked about the need to eliminate food deserts, and that is just the type of health food deficit that is holding America back from nutritious eating. Furthermore, shoppers cannot always easily find what they're looking for at the local supermarket, so they're forced to travel somewhere else to find the products or do without. Another reason the Foodie Movement will not be adopted on a large scale is that buying those types of foods is expensive. Items with words like non refined, organic, grass fed, and non GMO on their packaging cost more and people have been willing to pay more, thus encouraging this price structure.
     I like the Foodie Movement and I feel the products I consume that are in line with this philosophy are better for me and make me feel better. I do not get sick as often and I have fewer digestive issues. However, due to financial reasons I am not currently able to shop the way I want and I am left to chide the current system and lack of available products. I know what I am missing out on and I don't like it. Furthermore, I have always been bothered by the geographic differences for stores that carry these products. I do not think one should have to travel to a suburb or a trendy neighborhood to eat well. I do not think people in the inner city or even within the city limits do not deserve healthy foods. It is true there may not be a demand for the foods in those locations, but that might simply be because there is a lack of exposure or that the price lines are too unaffordable.
     Simply, something has to be done to make sure more people can eat more pure, whole foods. It is not an issue of trendiness, it is an issue of health. The availability of super refined, factory processed foods has increased and so has the instances of disease, disorders, and inflammation. People were not made to eat this way. Sure it is easier and more people can be fed, but we are now just beginning to understand the consequences of mass food production.

Fiscal Cliff and Cutting Corruption

There's been a lot of talk lately about the fiscal cliff and how to avoid tax rate hikes while still not adding too much money to our national deficit. An Emerging Idea out of the Utne magazine deals with cutting corruption out of the budget. The Green Scissors Campaign identifies programs that waste money and harm the government. Recently, the group presented the public with a plan for $700 billion in bipartisan budget cuts. While it would be ridiculous to think Congress would pass all ideas included in such a budget, it is a positive step for an organization to lay out the cuts it would like to see and make public record of the programs it views as wasteful or damaging. If more organizations did this I wonder if the lawmakers would have such a difficult time coming to a consensus over actions to take.

The Scariest Shoes Ever

     Looking for the latest in high fashion foot ware? I sincerely hope you don't buy into this anti-trend worthy accessory. Upon seeing this I was struck by confusion. I wondered how they even work. After I got over that, there was more confusion. Why in the world would anyone want to wear shoes like that. Despite the fact that they are not even attractive, they look like a hospital trip waiting to happen. I'm sure they're very supportive, but my ankles cry every time I look at the image.
     I'm not the only one who thinks these are the scariest shoes ever. According to an article on Yahoo! Shine, they're dubbed "Scary Beautiful" and the author of the article brings up an insightful view on a quandary, just how far are we willing to go for fashion? The person who designed the shoe is South African and recently completed a stint of school in Amsterdam. Thank goodness she doesn't think her shoes are all the rage. Instead they're a statement the fact that no level of beauty will be enough for some people. Here is an excerpt from that Yahoo! Shine article "The Scariest Shoes of All Time."

"My frustration with my own inability to overcome these feelings of inadequacy was what brought 'Scary Beautiful' into fruition. The shoes formed part of my graduation project that was a result of my thesis. The conclusion of my thesis investigation was that people are not satisfied with what they look like, and that perfection, according to the beauty and fashion standards, has reached a climax. Humans are playing God by physically and metaphorically perfecting themselves. Beauty is currently at an all time climax, allowing this project to explore what lies beyond perfection. Scary Beautiful challenges current beauty ideals by inflicting an unexpected new beauty standard."