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It can’t be the end of January already

Posted by coffeemates | 01/31/10

I looked at the calendar today and it’s already January 31st. I can’t quite believe it’s the end of the month.

One minute I’m feeling sad about taking down the Christmas decorations and thinking of how gloomy it looks without the festive lights, and the next thing I know it’s the end of the month.

January went all too fast for my liking. What did I accomplish?

Recently, I’ve felt that time is like a snowball gathering momentum as it rolls down a hill. Is this symptomatic of my increasing age? I hope not.

How was January for you?

One very annoying thing I’ve had to get used to this month was writing the correct year on my checks...

CATEGORY: Commentary & Debate

TAGS: January 2010, writing checks, writing 2010, snow and ice storm in Tennessee, Albany, NY, snow ploughs, Ugly Betty, Haiti, disaster, rebuilding Haiti, February 2010, Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, lucky color red

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Seeing through a fog of sleep deprivation

Posted by coffeemates | 01/15/10

A new year is upon us again. I can’t believe we’re halfway through January and it feels very much like the depths of winter with tragic news to go with the cold outside.

The winter weather matches my sadness as I see on news reports the desperate faces of Haitians affected by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake – Haiti’s worst in 200 years.

My heart goes out to the people of Haiti – a country that has already suffered much and is the poorest country in the western hemisphere.

The Red Cross estimates 45,000-50,000 people have died, trapped under collapsed buildings, and many more are missing. They say 300,000 have been made homeless, but nobody really knows the numbers affected...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: Haiti earthquake, In the bleak mid winter, freeze in northern hemisphere, cold weather in Florida affect citrus crops, Americans sleep deprived, women and lack of sleep

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Another One Bites the Dust!

Posted by coffeemates | 12/28/09

Surprisingly, I’m not depressed as the New Year approaches as has been my usual mindset in years past.

Maybe, because I’ve had such an intense 18 months with moving to a new place with a hugely different culture and starting from scratch with my networks, on top of raising a young family without extended family help. I don’t want to be negative anymore. It doesn’t help me, or my situation.

However, it’s coming to the end of year and I do feel reflective. There are two areas I’m trying to get my head around.

Firstly, in the news, another celebrity partnership bites the dust after 20 something years together...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: New Year, New Year depression, bad news, relationships, relationship slit ups, divorce, marriage, Bill Vaughan New Year quote

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Are you done with shopping, yet?

Posted by coffeemates | 12/21/09

There’s a blizzard in the NE and snow in England, and still people are out doing their Christmas shopping.

Having experienced snow up north for many years, I’m quite enjoying the lack of it here in Tennessee.

Are you one of those fighting the hoards at the shops, or are you putting your feet up right now, happy that you’re not one of the masses at crowded malls shown on local news channels?

What bargains have you found? What trends in gifts this year? Did you buy a Snuggie? I’ve seen them everywhere in the shops – from leopard skin to hot pink tones!

One of my friends gave me a great idea for a simple, eco-friendly and cost-efficient gift...

CATEGORY: General Society

TAGS: Christmas, gifts, party, decorations,

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It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Posted by coffeemates | 12/06/09

You know it’s Christmas when every radio station on your car radio is playing Christmas songs and calling itself “your Christmas music station.”

You know it’s Christmas when Bing Crosby has told you that “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” in his dulcet tones twice in the last twenty minutes!

You know it’s Christmas when holiday lights have gone up in your neighborhood, and it’s not even December 1st.

Every night, I see another house in the neighborhood with their lights up and each presentation seems more elaborate than the last...

CATEGORY: Commentary & Debate

TAGS: Christmas gifts, expectations on gift giving, Christmas decorations, Christmas photo cards, Bing Crosby, Annie Leibovitz, Happy Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwaanza, Black Friday, not buying gifts, buying perfect gifts for family, Children's Gap, bad mother, Chinese New Year, Scrooge, New Year's resolutions list, Twilight

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Joy is not a burden

Posted by coffeemates | 11/20/09

I’m writing my Thanksgiving piece early because I know everyone’s busy getting ready for the holidays with travel to see family, or have family visit. And if you don’t have plans for Thanksgiving, I know you’re looking forward to some down time.

I sense fatigue in everyone at this time of year. It shows in people’s body language. Not least, people are fighting off illness and finding that extra gear to prepare for and get through the holidays.

The longer I live in the United States, the more I appreciate Thanksgiving...

CATEGORY: Commentary & Debate

TAGS: Thanksgiving, appreciate the joy in your life

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A Jack of all Trades and the Master of none

Posted by coffeemates | 11/10/09

We live in a culture of competition where the best of the best are celebrated.

There’s nothing wrong with striving to be the best, but it leaves little room to be average. And more importantly feel good about being average.

Average means you’re neither the virtuoso musician nor the artist showing at the Met in New York. You’re neither the mathematics whiz who earned the millions nor the latest hot designer wowing the runways in London and Paris. And you’re neither a Heisman Trophy winner nor a gold medalist. Average isn’t sexy.

I grew up comparing myself to the best and found myself wanting, even though I worked hard at my studies, went to university, got decent jobs and applied myself to each position...

CATEGORY: Commentary & Debate

TAGS: Average, Average as enpowering, Culture of excellence, A Jack of all Trades and the Master of none, Suze Orman and do average great

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