FALCON HEENE AND WHY HE CAPTURED STORYTELLER’S HEARTS

Blogging over at Health Bistro today about “Falcon Heene and the Flying Machine” — and how we all sort of hoped that truth was stranger than fiction for a day and maybe a little boy could really fly his own Mylar balloon up into the sky. For those of you living outside of the United States (or somehow managing to step away from Twitter and all television news for several hours yesterday), here’s a link to the events that held the nation transfixed for most of the day. To America, the “balloon boy” was a little James and the Giant Peach and Winnie the Pooh and Around the World in 80 Days all rolled into one, wasn’t he?

And then his story became a little Tom Sawyer.

Did we suspend our disbelief (like a Mylar balloon carrying 50 pounds of anything) because we wanted a little “fantastical”? Did we ignore basic science principles because of good-old-fashioned storytelling? I think it speaks to the fact that — despite being in an Age of Information — we are, at heart, always craving an amazing story.

Come on over to my post and tell me what grabbed you most about the story. Was it the UFO-chasing parents? The helicopters trying to stop a balloon? The hope that a little boy could be “flying” it? (Or perhaps the worry he could not.) Or the fact that the parents were already on TV twice before? — There were certainly enough “truth is stranger than fiction” details to go around!

 

WHERE DO YOU STORE ALL YOUR CHILD’S MACARONI ART?

Hi! I’m blogging over at Health Bistro today — continuing my series of “Mom Tips” for back-to-school chaos.

Today, I talked about where and how to store all those adorable turkey handprints and macaroni snowflakes that start coming home from your child’s art class … I mean, how many watercolors can you really squeeze onto your refrigerator? And where do you put them when you’re done? Can you (*gasp*) throw them away?

Come on over to Health Bistro and share with me any ideas you’ve had about storing kids’ artwork. We moms need to stick together and share tips!

I featured my friend Dawn because she had the most brilliant idea I’ve heard yet …

The post is here.

 

REMEMBERING 9/11

I always feel melancholy on the anniversary of 9/11. In addition to feeling so bad for all the families who are going on eight years without their loved ones, it makes me remember how alone we can feel.

On 9/11/01, I had just started staying home with my children as a stay-at-home mom, and I walked them to the elementary school, then walked the baby home in the stroller, and when I got home I had the strangest urge to turn on the television. And when I saw what was happening, I felt strangely, oddly, alone. Because I didn’t know. The nation was in chaos and scared, and I had no idea. And I was alone. And no one said anything to me as I was walking the baby home! And I just left my children at school.

It was very scary to feel so clueless, and not to have another adult there to talk to. I felt so terrible for all those people, and their families, and so unsure about what was happening, and I just wanted to talk to someone about it. And I thought, wow, people must have been listening to this on their car radios and thinking gee, that poor woman walking with the stroller over there, she has no idea. And I would have continued to have no idea if I hadn’t had that odd urge to turn on the television when I got home. It was a strange realization of how isolated you can be as a SAHM. Needless to say, I always turned on the morning news after that.

I blogged about our nation’s collective memories of 9/11 over at Health Bistro today. I’d love to hear your comments (over there). Where were you when you realized what was happening? Did you have someone to talk to? Do your memories help you on these remembrance days? Please visit the post here and let me know. I’d really love to hear your story.

 

READING NOVELS AND WEIGHT LOSS

It’s an interesting correlation, isn’t it – reading novels and weight loss?

But truly, something kind of clicked for me there. Reading about all those historical heroines and their dresses and their meals. … And it tied in with lots of info I get on a daily basis at my job at Lifescript.

So come on over to Health Bistro and read about the correlation I made. I’d love to hear your comments!

(And if you can guess which novels I’m referring to over there, I’ll give you loud, slappy, virtual high-fives. …)

 

BLOGHER09 AND MY BLOGGING IDENTITY CRISIS

Oh mine gooze-ness … (as my husband’s great-grandmother used to say) … BlogHer09 is in full swing right now in Chicago! A 3-day conference of cameraderie, blog topics, inspiration, ideas and (as I imagine it) some good times at the hotel lobby bar!

Ayeee …

Last week was a killer, with me wishing I could tap my ruby slippers and be transported to RWA09 (Romance Writers of America). And now this weekend sees another major annual event I’d really love to be at.

I guess I’ll have to start saving my pennies and set my sights on one or both for next year, eh? : )

Anyway, I blogged about BlogHer09 over at Health Bistro today. Some of the famous bloggers I’ve got lined up to guest blog for us at Health Bistro (such awesome women!) are going to be at the conference giving workshops, so I wanted to send out some hellos.

Of course, all of this makes me think of my own blog and feel a bit of an identity crisis.

 

THE DAY SKIN CANCER FINALLY HIT HOME

Whew! Busy week this week! Today I’m blogging over at Health Bistro about the day skin cancer finally hit home.

My mom found out she had it, and we’ve been bending our heads and comparing notes on SPF numbers, UV rays, and which sunscreen can be applied under makeup.

Are you a California girl? Do you spend time in the sun? Were you a teenager like me, who (gasp!) used to slather baby oil all over herself to bake for hours on end? (egads! I can’t believe I did that!) Come visit if you get a chance. I’d love to hear from you!

Here’s the link: “Skin Cancer: The Day it Hit Home.”

 

DOES LEARNING TO COOK EQUAL GOOD HEALTH?

Hi, all!

I’m blogging over at Health Bistro today on “Do You Have to Learn to Cook to be Healthy?“

I’m sharing stories involving Valencia Libby (between you and me, for those of you who know her — she’s the one who lived with me for the summer at UCLA) and my poor roommate Debbie R. with the garlic-salt incident. …

Come on over and share your own “learning to cook” stories! And I’d love to know what you think about the premise that we really need to know how to cook to lead healthy lives. …

 

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITES FOR THE 4TH OF JULY?

Hi, all!

I’m blogging over at Health Bistro today about the Top 5 Ways to Celebrate the 4th of July.

I just love the 4th of July! I love the flags, the flip-flops, the corn on the cob, the watermelon, the bike parades, the smell of the grill. … The boys and I ride bikes over to the lake to see the fireworks. Come on over to Health Bistro and tell me what your favorite aspects are!

 

CELEBRITY DEATHS: WHY DO THEY AFFECT US SO?

Hi, all!

I’m blogging over at Health Bistro today about Why Celebrity Deaths Affect Us. Please come visit and tell me  which celebrity death hit you hardest: Phil Hartman? Princess Diana? Michael Jackson? Nick Adenhart? Let me know …

 

CRAZY CALORIE COUNTS

Hi, all! Happy Friday! I’m blogging over at Health Bistro today about “calorie shock” — those foods that make you drop your jaw when you find out how many calories they have (um … Awesome Blossom, anyone? Six-Dollar Burger????) Most are discoveries I’ve made through Weight Watchers. Come on over and join the fun! And add in your own discoveries — I can always use the tips! It’s here: That Food Has HOW Many Calories?