Haiku about fog

 

Pondrous dewdrops hug

Then droop to kiss the fields and

Greet the rising sun.

Do celebrity endorsements help sell a product?

Celebrity endorsements should have no effect at all on how well a product will sell. In fact, these types of testimonials ought to make a consumer extremely cautious about buying that particular product for the following reasons:

* Celebrities are not just regular "folks". For some special reason, whether it be attractiveness, athletic ability, lifestyle or other peculiarity, they stand out from the rest of society. Most consumers are astute enough to realize this. They also realize that because a celebrity endorses a product does not necessarily mean it will have the same effect on everyone.

If Grandma buys makeup endorsed by Lindsay Lohan, she will not end up looking up like the starlet and, at her stage in life, Granny knows this very well.

If Junior buys runners endorsed by Michael Jordan, he will not automatically become a basketball star. Today's youngsters, often gifted by doting parents and relatives, learn this at an early age.

* Celebrities must maintain elegant lifestyles in order to command continuing interest from their fans. These lifestyles are extremely costly. Savvy consumers know very well that celebrities are paid substantial royalties for their endorsements. Being only human, many well-known people can find it very tempting to endorse any mediocre product if it will finance a Caribbean vacation, or a beach house at Malibu.

* Every consumer should take a few minutes to research the background of the celebrity who is currently slogging a product. Chances are you will find that this icon of contemporary society has been involved in multiple affairs and/or marriages, has been charged several times with drug or alcohol offences, has been in and out of rehab programs and has participated in public feuds and displays of temper with current and/or past lovers, family members and friends.

If the celebrity in question was as ordinary as the gal or gal next door, you would probably have crossed them off your Christmas card list and unfriended them on facebook long ago because of their escapades and erratic behavior. Is it sensible now to accept their opinion unquestionably and spend your hard-earned money on something they claim to endorse? Can you even be sure they were stone-cold sober when they made the commercial?

Because of the current recession, most buyers watch every cent they spend to be sure they receive the best value for their hard-earned dollar. When considering the purchase of a new item, it is much more valuable to accept the recommendation or a trusted relative or friend.

Celebrities exist in the rarefied atmospheres of Hollywood, Broadway, and other exotic locations around the globe. Those of us in the real world will seldom agree with their tastes and preferences. Therefore, their endorsements are of little value to the average person. The savvy modern consumer knows this very well..

 

Signs you are a loner

 "The good and the wise lead quiet lives." - Euripides

Dictionary.com defines a loner as "a person who is or prefers to be alone, especially one who avoids the company of others." Loners are often referred to as introverts.  

 Actually, everyone prefers to be solitary at times, for respite, relaxation, to reflect on recent events, to daydream and make plans for the future. Keeping this in mind, how can you know if you are, in fact, a true loner? There are some specific indicators which can help you decide:

 * You seldom initiate communication with others. You don't phone, text, or write or visit unless it is absolutely necessary. Even then, you do much more listening than sharing your own thoughts or feelings. You are considered to be a good listener.

 * When you need to communicate, you prefer to do so in writing.

 * You have few friends and very few intimate relationships.. Such bonds may form slowly, and if a stranger joins the group, you may quickly withdraw.

 * When possible, you choose a job where you can work alone, preferably from home.

 * You have an unlisted phone number and hesitate to tell others where you live.

 * You seldom have plans for special days, such as birthdays, New Year's Eve, or Valentine's Day.

 * You have no desire to join facebook.

 * You feel uncomfortable in crowds, usually make excuses to avoid parties, and you often prefer to eat meals alone. When attending a group affair, you may well make an excuse to leave early.

 * Having to interact with a group of people for any length of time leaves you feeling emotionally and mentally drained.

 * Your hobbies and pastimes are activities that can be done alone, like reading, writing or doing handicrafts.

 * You prefer to make plans by yourself or with one trusted friend. You will only share events of your past, present or possible future with a close family member or with a true friend of longstanding.

 * When conversing one-on-one with a trusted friend or family member, you can be as vocal as anyone else, although you may need to pause often to collect your thoughts.

There is nothing wrong with being a loner. Throughout history, introverts have contributed much to society.

Among famous introverts are:  Warren Buffet, Rosa Parks , Charles Darwin, Al Gore, J.K. Rowling, Albert Einstein, and Mahatma Gandhi. Loners are frequently leaders: independent, possessing strong concentration skills, reflective, responsible, creative, able to think "outside the box", studious and smart. They can analyze and ultimately integrate complex information. They take the time and have the ability to do so.

 

 The world needs loners. However, it is important to remember that: " No man is an island", as John Donne observed. While valuing your introverted personality, you need to make an effort to remain in contact with other people as well as with contemporary society, so you can offer your specialized gifts and talents where they will be most beneficial.

 

"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." - Carl Jung

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving dinner: Make it yourself or order out?

 

When you look back on past Thankgivings, what do you remember most? The answer probably depends on your gender and the position you hold in the family. In my experience, the males enjoy many more pleasurable reflections on this holiday with its sumptuous dinner tradition at home than the females.

For days ahead of the big day, the house must be cleaned, the menu planned, the provisions and decorations bought, invitations issued if guests are to join the celebration, and suitable clothing planned and/or purchased for family members. In some households, a modern man may assist in these preparations, but the majority of the responsibility will fall on the wife or the significant female member of the family.

 

The real "fun" begins on Thanksgiving Eve. A mass of unprepared, raw vegetables are crammed into the fridge ready to grace the festive table the following day. Of course they need to be washed, peeled, cooked, chopped, mashed, sliced, garnished or whatever, before they are edible. Who will be gifted with this enjoyable passtime? Chances are it will be Mom and perhaps the older daughters, if the family is fortunate enough to have one or two.

 

The festive bird must not be forgotten. Most turkeys come frozen hard as rocks. They must be thawed, gutted, and stuffed before they go into the oven. A conscientious hostess must make the dressing from an old secret family recipe. It is considered cheating to take advantage of the excellent variety of instant stuffings available today.

 

Dare the cook offer comercially-prepared cranberry sauce? Maybe if it is partially concealed behind a mountain of mashed potatoes no one will notice.

 

Actually, the more daring of the domestic divas will be wondering if they can get away with store-bought pumpkin pie and ice cream for dessert. Perhaps if the main course is so delectibley delicious, no one will have room for dessert, but she can't count on it.   

 

So, the night before the big day is spent preparing stuffing which should contain some exotic ingredients to be considered truly memorable. Some ladies stay up late to get the bird stuffed and in the oven so it will cook for just the right amount of time if dinner is to be served at noon. However, her labors have barely begun.

 

Bright and early next morning, she will be back in the kitchen, basting the bird, peeling potatoes, and preparing the other vegetables as required. The older girls will be hounded into giving the environment a final vacuuming, dusting and general tidying up before the guests assemble.

 

Somehow, everything will come together and another Thankgiving dinner will pass. Then what? In many families, the males assemble in the family room to enjoy coffee, a visit, or doze, spending the next few hours relaxing and letting their dinners digest.

 

The females will clean the table, put the first load of dishes in the dishwasher, (if they are lucky enough to have one), pack leftovers into the fridge, and then start pulling greasy turkey parts off the skeleton to be served in a variety of ways the following week. One wonders how the ladies contain their delight at the opportunity to perform these enjoyable tasks! The creative ones may keep their excitement under control with a glass of wine or two.

 

When you look back on past Thankgivings, what do you remember most? It depends on your gender. The men will remember a tidy home, a delicious meal, good company, and a well-dressed family making an almost perfect holiday. The ladies- not so much.

 

Thanksgiving dinner: Make it yourself or order out? Given a free choice, all females, including this writer, would definitely vote to order out!

 

 

 

 

   

The key to successful aging

 

The key to successful aging is to pay as little attention to it as possible.    Judith Regan

Everyone, if they are fortunate enough, will experience the advantages and disadvantages of old age. Being a successful senior requires certain skills and attitudes that need to be developed throughout life. These qualities will not magically appear as the twilight years approach.

Family members will be among the first to notice when their elders begin to slow down. In time, Grandma or Grandpa will no longer wish to participate in the active activities their younger relatives enjoy. Older folks may repeat the same stories to the same person several times. Operating the latest gadgets may seem to be beyond their capabilities, and furthermore, they may exhibit no interest in learning to do so.

So how can one prepare oneself to "age gracefully", when family members and even the senior himself or herself, must admit that he or she is no longer in the prime of life? Here are a few suggestions:

* Maintain as many friends as possible who are your contemporaries. Since everyone is at the same stage of life, you will have many of the same interests. You can laugh together at the foibles of youth as well as your own age-related blunders.

* Develop interests which are enjoyable and can be done alone: reading, painting, photography, needlework, writing, or baking. Besides being satisfying hobbies, some of these activities produce unique gifts. When the young folks receive homemade cabbage rolls, lasagna, or a handmade sweater or afghan from you, they may decide that their elders are not so irrelevant after all.

* Become your own best friend. Give yourself permission to watch a late movie and sleep until noon, to enjoy your favorite snack often, without counting calories, to splurge on a bottle of perfume or on a visit to a spa. Get a personal DVD player and enjoy movie classics whenever you wish. These are your "golden years", and it's permissible to pamper yourself.

* Nourish yourself well, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Eat and drink wisely and in moderation, develop an appreciation of good art, music and literature, and attend the church of your choice regularly.

* Join a seniors' center or church group for seniors and participate in activities offered. You'll be socializing with people of a similar age while sharing activities, outings and adventures geared for enjoyment. As a dividend, you will not be left tired out for the next three weeks.

* Visit your doctor regularly. You need to maintain good health to enjoy these "golden years" as long as possible.

* Overcome your aversion to new-fangled gadgets and get a computer. They are really not hard to operate and they will be your window on the world. Enlist a patient younger person as a coach and have him or her write down instructions so you can practice on your own, at your leisure. Soon you'll have friends around the globe with whom you can visit any time, day or night, no matter what the weather.

Growing older, admittedly, has some disadvantages, but it also contains an excess of blessings which are sometimes too numerous to count. If prepared for properly, and eased into gently with a positive attitude, the twilight years can be one of the most enjoyable of all the seasons of life.

The other day a man asked me what I thought was the best time of life. "Why," I answered without a thought, "Now".            David Grayson

 

 

Haiku: Pumpkins

 

When harvest moons slide

 To earth, sharp blades transform them 
 To glowing icons. 

Until I die

Friends and family

Have passed away,

Have moved away,

Have turned away,

Have faded away,

Have walked away,

Or run away,

And I am left to brood

In God's waiting room,

Until I die.