Places to Go

Talked to the Universe lately? Every weekday, I recrive a wonderful note from the Universe. According to the notes, Thoughts Become Things...So Choose the Good Ones! The Universe loves me and I love the notes.

The site where you can sign up to get warm pets from the Universe has other interesting things to find out about. How about million dollar bills?

TUT is described as "A philosophical club of like-minded thinkers who believe that life is the ultimate adventure... because thoughts become things, dreams come true, and all things remain forever possible!"

A Visit Home

Having lived in Europe for half my life and not visiting the States for two years, here are some of my impressions of cha…cha…changes:
1. Ads on TV: The breaks for commercials come often. The programs are interrupted so often that it is difficult to get involved in the program. Although the breaks come often, fewer commercials are shown in a row on American broadcasts. Some commercials seem longer but in total they don’t last as long. More often but less duration. (The warnings shown at the end of ads for medication are so dire that it makes it difficult for me to consider using any of them.)
2. Added Tax: I’ve gotten use to the price marked on an item being the price I have ready to pay. I’ve forgotten that the tax is not marked as part of the price. This makes it difficult for me to pay cash for the exact amount. It does make things appear cheaper!
3. Repeating Stores: Every strip mall seems to have the same stores: Walgreens, Starbucks, fast food and cafes. And the fast food places seem to all be in a row of five or six at a time.
4. Empty Stores: Southern California seems to be filled with ghost malls. Entire malls are empty with signs advertising them for lease. The malls and gigantic stores that are open all have sparsely filled parking lots. It’s easy to find a place to park. Here in Palm Desert that might be due to the heat of the summer but I don’t remember it being like this two years ago. Fast food and cheap eating-places and moderate priced restaurants seem to be doing good business and their lots and booths are full.
5. Green Bags: Reusable shopping bags are available cheaply in many bigger stores. They usually cost 99¢ and have the store ad on them. I’ve so far seen them for Trader Joe’s, Wallmart’s, Targets and Ralph’s. Most places provide recycling of plastic bags.
6. Food for +55s: Cheaper chain restaurants have special menu sections for customers over the age of 55. I’m really pleased, as the size of the portions is smaller and make for a more reasonable meal. Instead of two or three eggs, pancakes and bacon, the menus for the “baby boomers” have one of each. Considering the size of the pancakes or French toast and the unlimited refills of juice, coffee or tea, these meals are plenty big. Some of the higher priced chains also allow a couple to share an order.
7. Choice in Food Products: The quantity of choices in the markets is amazing. The markets themselves are huge and the number of selections within each type of food is amazing. Instead of a choice of different kinds of product, each kind has a myriad of brands of the same kind. I can try a different cereal every morning!
8. International News: Most of the news on TV and in the papers is about international events only when it involves US citizens. The first reports of plane crashes or hotel bombing seem to be centered on the interest in whether or not any Americans were involved. I do remember that when we first moved to Europe we found it difficult to find what we considered “news” in the International Herald Trib.
9. Spanish in CA: I’d use my Spanish so much with people here now that I’d finally become fluent. My friends at school never spoke Spanish in public but only at home. Now it is acceptable to speak languages other than English. Bilingualism
10. Fat Free, Low Cal Food: All food products seem to be marked with either these labels or Cholesterol Free, Natural or Lo Salt. Hey! I can eat as much of anything as I want and still loose weight and stay healthy!
11. Helpful but Lonely Staff: the staff in stores are very pleasant and helpful…when you can find them. In some stores the only staff I see are at the checkout.
12. TV Overkill: How do I find something to watch on 100 channels?
13. Americans, the Friendly Folk: We sat at an outdoor market to eat some “street food.” The men at the same table asked us all about our trip and living in Holland. They did, however, assume we were Obama supporters, liberals and shared their views on most things. What happens when they sit next to the “wrong” people? Maybe Paul and I just looked right to them!

What's New in SoCal?

I'm in the desert of Southern California for the first time in two years. So what's new? Not the heat. Not the traffic. But I'm seeing this land again with a new vision. I'll record my impressions soon....as soon as I get an electronic connection that adapts my Mac to the "funny" little fragile prongs on the US plugs. See ya then!

Take a Picture, Why Don Ya!

Places to Go; Things to Do
Jojo knows photos! If you use a digital camera, you'll probably like Jojo. Here's what they say about their site: What We're All About We publish an insanely great newsletter on photography. More specifically, we scour the internet, rip pages out of magazines, ransack our friends' closets, and go through dumpsters to find the very best Photo tips, DIY projects, and Gear.

One of the more humorous hints is about making your camera ugly so it won't be stolen. How'd you like your camera to look like this?
photojojo.com/ will show you how! and WHY!

Likes and Dislikes
I really like digital cameras! I took many photos with my film SLR Canon but I love being able to play with cropping, sizing, coloring and special effects that are sooooo easy with digital. But I use my camera for more than just fun. Being so available for instant use, it becomes a notebook, reminder pad and, basically, indispensable. Here are 13 ways I use mine:

1. ID Your Camera: I recently saw a program on the BBC about aspiring detectives who enjoy trying to track down the rightful owners of cameras by identifying restaurant interiors and concert snapshots. Not everyone will take the time and enjoy the effort. If my camera runs away from home, help it find its way back. Take a photo of a sign saying This Camera Belongs To: and my phone number and/or e-mail address. I lock it so it won’t be erased by mistake. This screen would also be a good place to put anything that emergency workers would need, like blood type, drug allergies or organ donor status. I don’t put my address or full name as I don't want to make new and possibly strange friends.

2. Mark My Parking Spot: Sometimes it’s me who needs to get home. I take a shot of the number, letter, row, area sign or anything that helps me remember where I parked. I can also take a pic of the doors I go through to reach my parking spot. Something I found out the hard way when I went through a door I didn’t remember when I tried to return to my car. Also, if I still can’t locate my car, the garage man probably can. Don’t know how but they can.

3. Make a Map: Until I’m carrying around an I-phone or personal GPS unit, my camera can help fill the gap. I can fit a lot of detail on a single photo, and my camera allows me to zoom in on photos for a closer view. This also works at amusement parks, malls and such especially when added to the last comment about parking. If I’m in an airport new to me, I snap a shot of the floor plan in case I have to find gate L45 in a hurry. This trick is also good for keeping a shot of the public transport system. When giving directions to our home, photos of landmarks for friends help them follow directions. I also keep a walking photo tour of the route to the local museum, beach and stores of interest. I’m better for my friends than Fromer.

4. Complex Parts Inventory and Repair Diagrams: Before unplugging my router, fixing or disassemble the pond fountain, I snap a photo of what it used to look like. Connections of wiring on DVDs, cables, and other electronic gear are easier to reconnect with photos. These shots can stay in the camera and go to the store with me if I have to buy new parts. “This doohickeys won’t go into the thingamajig,” isn’t gobbledygook at the hardware store when illustrated.

5. Thank You Notes: Take a photo of you using or wearing a gift for a quick thank you.

6. License Plates: Car next to me parked diagonally? Overloaded pickup parked ready to drop its load on your rental? Rental comes with ding? A photo with a date stamp that includes the license number might save me a fight, a bundle of cash or both.

7. Yellow Pages: Want to take a little info on the road? Rather than tearing out the page or printing a ream of paper, snap a photo of those drug and alcohol treatment centers listings... and by drug and alcohol treatment centers, I mean craft supply stores.

8. Evidence in My Defense: I never need defending but… if I did find myself in a legal conundrum I might use a convenient photo. Times I might consider warrant a little documentation: ticket machine is broken, meter is malfunctioning, I have to trespass because I’m being chased by a demented zombie who keeps chanting, “Brains! Brains!”

9. Shopping: I take photos to clothing shops for matching style, prints and colors. To the craft store for photo lists to consider when my head isn’t full. To the home repair store with a photo of a problem to get expert advise. Any store, restaurant, street, etc. to get inspiration for art works. Take photos of storefronts to show name, opening times, windows, etc.

10. Food: Photos of finished recipes to remember visually sizes and colors needed. Baby carrots or giant winter varieties? Cans or fresh? Red or green? I can also snap shots of unknown products to try to identify later. This is particularly helpful in ethnic markets.

11. A Mirror: If I need to check my teeth for taco pieces particles, lips for ink or see how I look and a mirror is not around, turn the camera on myself.

12. Visual Wishlist: When I see a book at a friend’s place that you want to read, an album I want to get, or a gift I want to pick up for somebody, I take a photo of it. Or, if I drop my keys behind the sofa, I use the monitor on my camera to help me see into places I can’t quite reach.

13. Entrance Passes: If you take photos from unusual angles or of usual objects, especially if I have two cameras around my neck, people assume I'm a reporter and become very helpful and often let me in places I wouldn’t normally be allowed.

Got any more Ideas?

Quote Quip: If a picture is worth a thousand words, how many books will a memory card hold?

Being Kermit Green

Places to Go and Things to See

I Want One of Those! is a site to see. It has all the things you don't need but want anyway. It also has a few things that might be exactly what you need....
but do you really need colorful shower? But how can you live without a stress reducing, see-through ant house in a lovely shade of blue?

On the other hand, The Museum of Useful Things is just what its name implies. You can get all sorts of items you'll find lots of ways to use. Admit it! You've always wanted one of those hotel desk bells. Call your family to dinner. Set up codes to who needs to come downstairs. Train your cat to come when dinner is served...Oh, yea. Forgot that cats can hear any can opener or bag tearing from anywhere in the house or yard. They don't need a bell! And, they can only be trained to do things they agree to do. So train your kids instead.


I Like Being Green!

“It’s not easy being green,” Kermit laments. He’s right. It’s not easy being outside the limits of what is seen as average whether it is coloring, height, intelligence, or any of the myriads of characteristics that make us individuals.

Some traits are more obvious than others. We even have names for most. Midget; giant. Obese; skinny. Easy to see and easy to name.

The extremes of intelligence aren’t usually so obvious. “Retard” is a common insult. Usually it means a person has done something silly or unacceptable to the peer group. At the other extreme? Brain, geek, nerd? The dictionary equates these with “bore” and “drip!” Do you think they’re the same?

“Excessive” intelligence and creativity are often equated with insanity. And it’s true that someone in possession of these traits might seem demented to many. Unusually intelligent or creative individuals think, feel and act differently from the average person. It has not been shown, however, that extreme intelligence brings with it mental illness. In fact, individuals of higher intelligence show less mental illness, criminal behavior and deviant behaviors then those of average intelligence.

Schools often identify “gifted and talented” students because it is recognized they need specialized attention to their needs. Gifted adults are often not identified as such by those with whom they associate. They may be seen as weird, strange, opinionated and even slightly scary. Since one of the characteristics of higher intelligence is a questioning of authority, these individuals may indeed prove a source of concern for those in authority.

If, however, as many schools indentify them, the top ten percent of the population exists….and how could it not?....where do they disappear to when they are adults?

Quote Quote: It's not easy being two standard deviations away from any mean. Theo