Really Think About It… Are You A Survivor?

Just what does it mean to be a survivor?    The dictionary says it means to live or exist in spite of hardship, danger, accident or ordeal… against all odds.   The fact of the matter is, at some point in all of our lives, we face circumstances that test our ability to survive.  Whether it’s surviving financial hardship, health issues, divorce, or a death of a loved one…  our survivor skills are put to the test at some point in our lives.

Many bloggers have be following the experiences of Stephanie Nielson who survived, against all odds,  a near fatal plane crash last summer.   Most of her body was burned. She not only survived, she is now home picking up the pieces of her  life with her husband and four children.  She  exhibits courage and fortitude in her fight for a normal life..   Her story is an amazing one.

Is there a personality difference between the individual who is able to survive a hardship while someone else succumbs to a much less difficult condition?

The site, The Survivors Club, claim there are survivor personalities.   They even  have a quiz you can take to see what your Recession Survivor IQ is.   I took it… and found I am a “Thinker.”  along with Bill Gates.  Pretty good company I’d say.

If you’re are having difficult times, the site will guide you to the best sources and information for helping you cope with hard circumstances.  There are also stories of courage and valor.

Not all difficulties are unforeseen.  In some cases, our survival rate is much greater, if we prepare in advance.  Certainly the pilot of the plane that successfully landed in the Hudson River was prepared.

And…I  personally believe our survival rate is higher when we know we are supported by family and friends. Faith and prayers go along way to helping us cope with difficult times.

Blessings!

Kathy Griffiths
Insightful Nana

P.S.  Join me… and follow “Back To Basics” on his site for ideas and tips for emergency preparedness and survival.

“HOW WELL YOU RECOVER WILL DEPEND ON HOW WELL YOU ARE PREPARED.”

P.P.S.  The Survivors Club may save your life…  click on the book cover to pick up a copy. 

How To Determine Your Moon Sign

Actually, I didn’t know you could determine your moon sign.  I’ve never been into horoscopes, even though curiosity gets the best of me now and again and I look up Leo on occasion.

Paper placemats used at Chinese restaurants often depict the 12 zodiac animal signs.   Since I can’t remember from one time to the next, I check out my birth year while waiting for my Hot and Sour soup.  I share the “Sheep”  with folks like, Michaelangelo, Julia Roberts, Andrew Carnegie and Kelsey Grammer.  Pretty good company.  However, The Fortune Cookies are another thing.  “Who writes those things!”  Can you imagine a job that just requires you to come up with generalizations about people’s personality?

A couple of days ago, I was sent an e-mail with this photo of the moon.  Wow!  What an amazing sight.  This is the moon at it’s lowest point and the sun is still shining beneath.  Notice the refection of the sun and the moon in the water.  It’s times like this, I wish I were a poet.

This photo got me thinking.  Are there moon signs?  Yep… there are.  I found my moon sign and by cracky… I couldn’t believe how well the description of my sign fit my personality.  Spooky!  For fun… want to determine your moon sign?  Go here!

My “Moon Sign” description is much more favorable than the zodiac “Sheep.”  (I’m not much of a follower…  a bit rebellious in nature, actually.)

Till Later,

Kathy Griffiths
Insightful Nana

P.S.  Maybe there really is something about all this astrology business.

Squidoo Queen – Baby Boomer Joan Adams

Squidoo Queen is a perfect name for baby boomer Joan Adams… She maintains she’s going to have 100 Squidoo Lenses up before the end of the year… and at the rate she’s going…she’ll make it.

I first met Joan by seeing her photo on Pat O’Bryan’s Internet Marketing forum chat site. I liked the way she looked… kind, and fun. (Besides, she and I are in the same baby boomer category and, that has to count for something.) Her comments on the forum were thoughtful. So, I watched her from a far for awhile until I contacted her by e-mail. Soon we were visiting by phone.

This photo is of Joan and her boomer sisters… They’re know as the “Tate Girls” and originally come from Pendleton, South Carolina. From left to right is: Nancy, Joan and Betty. You can almost hear their southern accent.

Both Joan and I, being newbies to the Internet Marketing world, had lots to discuss and sort out… mainly getting our “mature” brains working out all the tech stuff. What a challenge. She, and her sister Betty, wrote an e-book called, Banish The Blahs And Be Happy and offer a free work book called, Ten By Ten Workbook. Joan put up a blog and a web site … but seems to have settled in to writing Squidoo Lenses. A boomer woman on the go.

At the present time, Joan has 53 lenses and her interests range from the Legally Blind Golfer… to Tailgating Recipes (of which I am proud to be a contributor) to music of the 50′s. Oh, the memories I had when I listen to the Platters … “Only You”. Go see. You need to check out all of Joan’s Squidoo lenses. Such a treat!

Her sister, Nancy, has also created Squidoo Lenses… and a favorite of mine is, Greeting Cards For Fun.

The point of all this being… we’re never to old to change gears and do something interesting and challenging. In fact, because Joan is a Boomer, she has lots of entertaining experiences to draw from… she’ll never run out of ideas.

Just who says young folks have all the fun!

Thanks, Joan Betty, and Nancy, for being great examples to the rest of us baby boomers.

Till later

Kathy Griffiths

Insightful Nana

P.S. Joan has been encouraging me to put up a Squidoo lens… perhaps a recipe or two. Hmmmm… just might do that. It really looks fun!

China’s Caught With It’s Pants Down Again

China’s caught with it’s pants down again. Just let the foreign media into that country for a few months… and all kinds of things get exposed which China would rather not have the world know. China invited the world to take a look at the glitz and glamour of the country by way of the Olympics… but really doesn’t want the world to see behind the scenes into the lives of the people. Can’t have it both ways “Big Red.” Now that you’ve opened yourself up to the world… look out… all eyes are upon you and your human rights infractions.

Take a look at these two gals. Do they look like they’re a threat to the national security of the country? Not! Wu, age 79 and Wang, age 77, had the audacity to repeatedly apply for permits between August 5 and August 17, to hold a protest against being force out of their homes during the China Olympics. Oh my! Apparently they were “disturbing the public order.” Sentence? One year of “re-education” in a China prison.

Well gals, you’re not alone in being sent to be re-educated. Deng, who was the Chairman of the communist party between 1978 to the early 90′s was packed off in 1969 with his wife. As a important member of Mao’s cabinet, he was evacuated to the boonies as an important political prisoner. Apparently, Mao and other members of the Party didn’t approve of his point of view. Needed to get this man’s head on straight ya know.

For three years, his and his wife suffered great hardships. His son, Pufang, 25, was a brilliant physics student at Beijing University. He was taken prisoner by the savage Red Guard and beaten into insensibility in an effort to make him “confess” to the “treason” of his father. When that didn’t work, his torturers took him to the fourth floor of a dormitory and some how he just landed on the ground below ….leaving his legs paralyzed.

After three years, everything changed. Guards appeared in the early morning of Nov. 8 and escorted Deng and his wife to a Party meeting and then took them to their home. Immediately Deng went to his study and wrote a letter to the Central Committee declaring his full support. He presented himself to Mao as being ready in spirit and strength to undertake any task Mao had for him.

So you see gals, no one is exempt from being re-educated… unless the world gets a peak at the injustice of such actions by the police. Re-education allows the police to side step any formal charge or criminal trial to send the offender to prison up to four years.

In the glare of international attention… it seems that the government has acknowledge that the punishment might be a little too harsh and inappropriate. So for the time being, Wu and Wang have been saved from hard labor in a far off prison.

I go nuts when I hear of such injustice. And we supported the Olympics in China? I’m grateful to be an American… even as unsettled as things are right now.

Till later

Kathy Griffiths

Insightful Nana.

P.S. I still fear for these ladies. One day they will just quietly vanish because they’ve brought negative attention to the government of China. Pray for them.

Growing Cilantro In Your Container Herb Garden

Growing cilantro in your herb garden is easy…but in order to have a continuous crop, cilantro seeds should be sowed every two weeks. It’s a fast growing herb and can be harvest quickly.

Cilantro looks like parsley. In fact, it’s called Chinese Parsley. If you purchase a bunch at the store, smell it first and make sure it’s not regular parsley… the strong citrus like fragrance will let you know right away whether you’ve picked up the right plant.

The herb, cilantro, dates back to at least 1,500 B.C. It’s mention in historic Sanskrit writing.

Cilantro and the herb coriander come from the same plant. Coriander seed come from the blooms of the cilantro plant… it’s a two-in-one herb

Container gardening is ideal for a year round cilantro crop.

1. Find a container that is at least 28 to 20 inches wide and about 10 inches deep. Make sure it has good drainage.

2. Fill the container with good potting soil. I like to use soil that already has the fertilizer in it. I’ve found that Miracle grow works well. Moisten the soil before you sow the cilantro seeds.

3. The seeds are very fine, so sprinkle the seeds over the top of the soil. Cover the cilantro seeds lightly with soil. Spray the soil to moisten the top layer. The seeds will germinate in 7 to 10 days if the container is kept in a sunny spot. Keep the soil moist.

4. Harvest the cilantro by cutting it near the base of the plant… leaving about 2 inches of stems remaining in the container. If you harvest the cilantro herb on a weekly basis, new leaves will being to appear. You can usually get 4 cuttings.

5. When your 4 cuttings are complete… pull up plants and resow the area.

Cilantro is not only used in Mexican food, but it’s an herb frequently used in Chinese food as well.

Till Later

Kathy Griffiths

Insightful Nana

P.S. My recipe… Fresh Mex Fiesta Salsa calls for fresh cilantro. Check it out and sign up for a free printable copy.

Pulling A Loose Tooth

Pulling a loose tooth became quite a traumatic deal when my grandson’s front tooth was hanging by a thread.

“It’s my tooth,” Glade wailed, as his Uncle Wade threatened to remove it. Glade has been hanging on to his loose tooth for weeks now. He’s certainly earned the name, Snaggle Tooth, as the tooth is just hanging there by a thread. But… he won’t give it up.

Wade had dropped by my house to visit, when, he spotted Old Snaggle Tooth. He tease Glade about hanging onto it for so long. “Here, let me help you… just one little jerk and it will be gone.” “No, No,” Glade replied, “It’s my tooth!”

As Wade left to get something from his car, he turned to Glade and said, “Well Glade, I’m going out to my car and if you haven’t pulled it out by the time I get back, I’m going to do it for you.”

Glade put his hand over his mouth, lowered his head and his eyes filled with tears. When Wade return, he noticed how up set Glade was. We both looked at each other and realized that this was a much more sensitive subject than we had supposed.

“No Glade, I’m not going to pull your tooth. It’s your tooth and you can decide when you want it to be gone. I’m sorry that I up set you… I was just teasing. ” Wade put his arm around his shoulder to reassured him. Glade brightened up and was off to play, in a flash.

This incident led us to a discussion about choice. When do parents or adult cross the line and make personal decisions for kids and when does a child choose for himself? I have pondered this question for several days. Even though I have written about this subject in my book, “5 Power Tips Moms Use For Raising Fantastic Kids,” the theme fascinates me and always has my attention. It’s a subject that has many twists and turns. (book available on-line soon)

For parents, helping children learn to make healthy decisions is a balancing act, which can be confusing at times.

I also had a lengthy discussion about it with, Sheila, my wise sister. We decided, for the hundredth time, it all comes down to control. There is good control and their is bad control. There is the matter of being self-determined or other-determined… which leads to being responsible or irresponsible. (These are are subjects for later commentary.)

For now… the bottom line is… it’s Glade’s tooth and he should decide when it will be pulled. It’s not dangerous, it’s not immoral nor rude. For what ever reason, this little boy wants his tooth, and he should have control over that decision.

Till Later,

Kathy
Insightful Nana

P.S. It took another week before he decided to pull his own tooth. As you can see, by his own self portrait, the tooth fairy came… and he’s well on his way to mighty fine choppers.

Good Table Manners & Kids

Teaching kids good table manners can be a challenge if your wait until you’re at a friends house or a restaurant to in engage in dining etiquette lessons. Bad manners are develop at home and can show up at the most inconvenient time.

However, being one who likes to lick her fingers when eating the Colonel’s Chicken… or Goodwood’s ribs… I can’t be too hard on the kids. (Just how can you eat BQ ribs without licking your fingers?) But… there’s a time and place.. right? Come to think of it… I can’t think of a time and place where I wouldn’t lick my fingers if I were eating ribs. Hmmm… perhaps the White House?

Back to table manners… Training children to have table etiquette begins at home a little at a time…and considering the child’s age. Here’s a few table manners they need to know. These are probably the most obvious to others when they’re not kept. Helping your kids in these areas might save you and your child a little embarrassment…. You know… for when the in-laws come… or your dining at the White House.

1. Elbows On The Table: During the Middle ages, trestle tables were use and the diners sat on one side close to the fire… keeping their backsides warm. If they leaned on the table with their elbows, the table would collapse and dinner would be in their laps… So goes the tradition of “No Elbows On The Table.” Today, however, putting elbows on the table doesn’t leave much room for the person sitting next to you. So it’s best if you keep your elbows off the table and be considerate of your neighbor.

2. Don’t Talk With Your Mouth Full: Now just how do you talk during a meal with out food in your mouth? Get real! It would be a pretty quiet dinner conversation if you had to wait until your mouth was empty before you could talk. The secret is… don’t over stuff your mouth with food. Take small bites so you won’t choke and you can talk to someone while you still have a bit of food in your mouth.

3. Chew With Your Mouth Closed: Good idea. Do the best you can.. no one like to see half eaten food. Sometimes we’re not as careful as we should be when we’re in a hurry. Best thing to do is slow down a bit.

4. Don’t Eat With Your Fingers: Unless… it’s ribs, of course…or chicken or food that is meant to be eaten with fingers. If your meal consists of finger foods, provide lots of napkins. Cutting food into small pieces will encourage your child to use utensils. (At last try to keep the finger licking to a minimum if your eating ribs.)

5. Don’t Burb at the Table: If you slip… say, “Excuse me!” However, in some cultures burping is considered a way of showing the host your appreciation for a good meal. (When I was in China… there seemed to be a lot of burping going on… and no one seemed to mind. For me… I kept mine to myself.)

6. Use a Napkin: Wiping your mouth frequently is the trick. If you spill, wipe it up the best you can. Small children sometimes have a hard time with napkins. Help from parents is frequently necessary. (I swear… sometimes I have a hard time keeping food off my abundant Italian chest… so I really sympathize with kids in the spilling area.)

7. Say, Please And Thank You: Get in the habit of saying, “Please” and “Thank You.” These are probably the number one rules of good table manners in any culture. Often… when we’re in a hurry… those words are easily forgotten.

FOR PARENTS ONLY!

8. Set A Good Example: Setting a good example is probably the best teaching tool you have. As you can see by the above suggestions… they apply to us as well as our kids. As you already know… kids watch adults very carefully. Often times kids reflect our own behavior when they’re in public. I know I’ve been caught more than a few times… “Oh my gosh… just who did they learn that from?”

9. Explain The Rules: Often time, correction is made by the parent and the child doesn’t understand the “why.” Explain “why” certain etiquette is appropriate in our culture. “Son, when you put your elbows on the table, it doesn’t leave much room for your sister.”

10. Make Your Meal A Pleasant Time: Lecturing kids will turn them off to good manners, plus make the meal unpleasant. The best teaching method is “making suggestions” rather than nagging or putting a child down. They’ll come along if your patient and kind. They just might surprise you at the restaurant with good dining etiquette.

Good Luck… and I’ll be watching you at the restaurant with your kids… as you’ll be watching me with my grandkids. Let’s be kind to each other.

Till Later

Kathy Griffiths
Insightful Nana

P.S. Now for the issues of fighting among siblings, spilling milk, falling off the chair, whining about what’s served… you’re on your own. These are areas where I could use a few suggestions.

A Make Up Tip For Moms On The Go

Here’s a quick beauty tip for mom’s on the go…which of course means all of us. Working moms have barely enough time to get the kids up… off to the sitter… to school and get to work on time. They have to be quick about getting ready for the day.

With little ones banging on the bathroom door, stay-at-home-moms find they don’t have much time to primp either.

1. My make up goes on smoother with less drag on my face (which causes wrinkles)…and I need all the help I can get.

2. The make up seems to give my face a soft powder look.

3. It’s fast…and I don’t work outside my home and I don’t have kids banging at the door… unless
the grandkids are sleeping over. I just love fast!

Here it goes: Place your moisturizer in the palm of your hand. Add you base make-up next to the moisturizer. Mix together with your finger and apply to your face. Wa la….Two steps in one!

Till Later

Kathy
Insightful Nana

P.S. Hope your using a base that has a SPF sunscreen factor to protect your face from

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