Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I'm sick of myself.

I said something the other day (out loud) that I haven't been able to quit thinking about.  

Joe and I were at the Junior League of Dallas Ball (thanks to my friend Greg) and we were walking around talking to friends and taking pics with the I-Phone, etc.  Someone stopped us and said, "Would you mind taking our picture?" and handed us her phone.  What I said back is the problem:

"Of course I'll take it -- that's the only reason we came to the Ball!"  

Yuck.  Long slow clap for me.  

It seems to me that now all I do when I go to events is pose for pictures with my friends.  While the entertainment is happening, I am furiously taking pics that I can post on FaceBook, on Twitter, on Pinterest, on Instagram, on this blog -- basically missing the moment.

So while I took this amazing shot at Diffa the other night,  I missed seeing the show, actually talking to a person, or just thinking and observing.  

I no longer want to attend fabulous events and spend lots of time utilizing my basically non-existent photography skills on an inferior photographic device (Sorry, Apple, but it is.) so I can remember an event through some bad photos.

I want to attend and be present in the moment.  

Please invite me again -- I missed the party.

Caveat:  Under no circumstances does this mean that I want Jeanne Prejean and Nancy Gopez to stop bringing their cameras -- I want to see party pics, just not take them.  Plus, I paid good money for that dress, after all.



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Kids Are Smarter than Child Resistant Caps

The Today Show shocked me this morning with a piece on child-resistant bottle caps.  Jeff Rossen, their investigative reporter, got a room full of 4-year-olds and gave them a bunch of pill bottles, drain cleaner bottles, cough syrup bottles, etc. (without pills and cleaned out, of course).  He then told the kids to open them. 

Despite all of the bottles being child resistant, the kids were able to open every single bottle, some within 10 seconds. 

You can see the piece here:

http://todaynews.today.com/_news/2013/03/20/17360233-rossen-reports-are-child-safety-caps-enough-to-keep-kids-out?lite

It is super scary to see that child resistant meant nothing in the hands of the kids, isn't it?  I'm shouting from my soap box today:

Get ALL dangerous stuff out of reach of children!  Your child's life may depend on it. 

We tend to think that abusive parents are "active" in their abuse and sometimes they are, but CPS sees many more cases of neglect.  Please don't "neglect" safety proofing your home.

P.S.  This post makes me think of one of my favorite stories about my niece Caroline (aka Lina).  When Lina was about 5 she was over at my house and she kept trying to light my electronic long fire-starter flame torch that I use to light candles.  It was child-proof, so she couldn't get it to light and she asked me (in her little girl voice) "Why can't I make it work?", so I told her it was child-proof.  She then said "How does it know I'm a child?"

What a kid!  She turned 17 years old today.  Happy birthday, Lina.  Xxoo

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

To Jump or not to Jump?



I jumped.

This is a photo of me 35 feet in the air after climbing up a telephone pole and hoisting my butt up and over the top with the whole pole swaying and my legs shaking and well, let's just finish by saying that right after this picture was taken, I stumbled off the pole yelling -- uhh, uhh, uhh -- I'M GOING TO GO!

NOTE:  It is A LOT windy-er 35 feet up in the air.  Is this a problem for tall people?  How does Dirk keep his hair in place?

NOTE:  The jump instructor at Miraval said I was the only person who had ever held their nose when they jumped.  It was an automatic reflex from the blob at Camp Longhorn...

Let me tell you that I never, ever thought I would jump off a pole, but Miraval (and Cynthia O'Kelly) makes you do things you think you would never do.  Here's what happened:

On the plane on the way to Miraval for a girls trip in February (we had 8 of us there for fun, relaxation, and life-changing-stuff-Oprah-style), I casually mentioned to Cynthia that I was thinking of trying the Quantum Leap adventure at some point.  As quick as a wink Cynthia said, "Oh great, let's do it!" 

I said I was thinking about it -- not doing it. 

NOTE:  I think about eating kale -- that doesn't mean I'm going to do it, for Christ's sake.  Moderation, people.  Moderation.

So, Cynthia made me jump.  Oh, and it was supposed to be a 20 foot pole, but when we got there that morning our instructor told us that he had to ready the 35 foot pole instead. 

What's 15 feet between friends?  The whole thing got me thinking. 

Can someone make you do something? 

One of my old friends with whom I worked at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra told me not long ago that I was the reason that she and her husband decided to become foster parents.  About 10 years ago Deanna had done some volunteer work with me at Community Partners of Dallas and she apparently always remembered the experience.

Now, I didn't make her become a foster mom, but the seed was planted.  She was open to changing the lives of children who needed a chance.  I know God put us together at the DSO for that reason (and others).  I am so happy for the children who are lucky enough to be in her care.

So thanks, Cynthia, for helping me to make the decision. I'm glad we did it. Once.


This is a photo of us after we all jumped.  That ground felt good!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

4 Favorite Things I Love Right Now! Part 8



Seems like I haven't written about my 4 favs for some time now (visit the past 4 Favs here http://blog.paigemcdaniel.org/2013/01/4-favorite-things-i-love-right-now-part.html), but of course it is not because I don't have any favs -- quite the contrary.

Anyway, let's get right to the good stuff...

  1. My Trainer, Carrie Holland -- Thanks to my friend Joanna Clarke, I realized many years ago that I would not make myself work out unless I paid someone to come over to my house and make me "just do it".  Carrie is the best.  She arrives bright and early twice a week and puts me through my paces.  We started back up around Christmas after a long hiatus (due to my self-imposed frugality) and I can already tell the difference in my clothing -- I didn't have to release the waistband of that pair of too-tight pants until 4 pm the other day!  Carrie is beautiful, smart and a great therapist too -- I love and appreciate her so much.
  2. Rubber Band Bracelets -- These made the list because Carrie said they are the hit with the elementary crowd.  I bought them from some cute girls who had a lemonade stand over the weekend (my mom and I always stop and buy from every kid we see), but since I already had a City Cafe Teamonade Shlushie, I bought $4 worth of bracelets.  I'm giving them out for the Easter season, so stop by while they last and one can be yours.  Carrie told me you can buy a kit to make them at Learning Express if you want to set up a stand this week.  Let me know where you set up, I'll come by...
  3. Chimes Original Ginger Chews -- these were introduced to me by my friend Jill Bee.  Have you ever been in a meeting and started to nod off?  These chews are the antidote.  First, they are kinda hard to remove from their wrapper, so that wakes you up.  They are super chewy, so that wakes you up.  They are super spicy, so that wakes you up.  Sad to say, but I need them a lot, since I am about to fall asleep even as I write.  They are also good for indigestion.  Here's the link:  http://www.amazon.com/Chimes-Original-Ginger-Chews-1-pound/dp/B005ISUOEQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1362577246&sr=1-2&keywords=chimes+ginger+chews
  4. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand -- I read this book for our JLD Sustainer Book Club (Between the Covers) that meets next week and it is hard to put down.  Hillenbrand wrote Seabiscuit and she uses the "same rich and vivid narrative voice" here to tell the true story of Louis Zamperini, a young lieutenant during WWII who became a POW of the Japanese.  Gripping.

What are your 4 favs?

P.S.  The bracelets and Chimes are shown above.  When are you coming over?