tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32119169467546141682024-03-13T23:39:46.957-07:00The Fifty FactorFifty-something. One wrinkle at a time.Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.comBlogger466125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-11204901836528302672016-12-24T16:20:00.001-08:002016-12-24T16:20:20.451-08:00We Need A Little Christmas...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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And apparently a soldier guarding the gingerbread...</div>
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Boys will be boys.</div>
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Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday.<br />
xoxo Joanna</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-17738750709136319752016-04-28T13:20:00.000-07:002016-04-28T13:20:28.598-07:00Where Have I Been?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm scratching my head trying to remember what I've been doing that's kept me so busy I haven't had time to check-in for a while. Hmmm...<br />
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I did some work, as in a "real job", for an awesome Interior Designer. Writing her press kit and website info was easy because I LOVE her design aesthetic. You might have seen some of my (very over-shared) photos on Facebook. No??? <a href="http://www.theartofroomdesign.com/banner/showcase-07-general/gallery/2016-pasadena-showcase/#home">Click here to see her Guest House for the Pasadena Showcase House of Design.</a><br />
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Facebook-- Gawd I've spent too much time on Facebook lately. I dove into it for the above mentioned job's social media push. But I'm afraid I'm too easily addicted to endless scrolling through posts that really have no relevance to me just to see what the handful of people I truly love are up too. It's become a bad habit that takes up too much of my day. I have to quit cold-turkey!<br />
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So anyway... that all took several weeks, was a total blast, and now I'm "retired" again.<br />
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And we went to Israel for a fabulous family wedding. I so love it there. Great family (on my husband's side), amazing food, perfect weather and wonderful people. This trip we spent all our time in Tel Aviv. The purple Jacaranda trees were in bloom. So were the kumquat trees at our hotel.<br />
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We stayed at a small boutique hotel called <a href="http://www.thenorman.com/">The Norman</a>. It's a lovely hotel with a chic Moroccan vibe-- Hip but quiet in the middle of the city's Rothschild section. My idea of perfect.<br />
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Since we were exhausted, we camped out in hotel room's bed far more than usual to catch up on our sleep. The linens and duvet were scrumptious-- And by <a href="http://www.frette.com/bed.html">Frette</a>!!! Do you know them? I did-- and what I know about them is that they are far to expensive to ever be on my bed at home! But there they were in all their glory at The Norman. It was like sleeping on, in, and surrounded by, a silky cloud. Heaven.<br />
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One morning I woke and figured out how The Norman tracks these gems of sheets-- Senors! Yep, they are actually sewn into the seams so guests don't walk off with them! Never saw that before.<br />
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Traveling though, not so fun. I've come to the sad realization that a 10 hour time change and 20+ hours of flying and layovers are just too much for my body. Talk about a killer. It took nearly 5 days to adjust and catch up then it was almost time to come back home again. Once we actually returned home it took another 5 days to get myself together.<br />
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Makes me wonder how I traveled like that for business all those years. I know I was younger but sheesh-- It really wore me out.<br />
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While in Tel Aviv I discovered a new cookbook-- New to me at least, and I'm working my way through the recipes. The amazing thing about the food in Israel-- and let me tell you-- we ATE and ATE and ATE, day in an day out-- was that both my husband and I actually LOST weight by the time we got home! The menu is so filled with fresh vegetables and fish that even though we indulged, we felt great and dropped a few pounds. That was an unexpected treat at the end of a vacation!<br />
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So now it's almost May and I'm working on getting central air conditioning in our house. Last year's brutal two month heatwave was the straw that broke the camel's back. We live close enough to the ocean that we really didn't miss having it in the past but climate change, global warning, or old age-- whatever you want to call it, has changed things at Casa Jenkins!<br />
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<b>How are YOU?</b><br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins<br />
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Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-51447400935835236112016-03-13T17:21:00.000-07:002016-03-13T17:21:23.308-07:00That Moment...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Have you ever had that moment when you took a shortcut through the alley of restaurant you've always wanted to try... only to wish you'd taken the long way around?<br />
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That happened to me today on my way for some Indian food.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cilantro drying in the back alley parking lot.</span></div>
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And to think the front of the restaurant looked so nice. Sigh, I won't be eating Indian food again for what will probably be forever.<br />
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<b>How's your day going?</b> <br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins <br />
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Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-60386351079844473822016-02-06T16:23:00.002-08:002016-02-06T16:23:48.110-08:00Seeing Red<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes the smallest gift is really a spontaneous gesture filled with so much kindness that it makes your heart overflow with gratitude. This picture is one such gift.<br />
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My oldest friend's husband snapped this picture on his phone as he left the church after <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2013/11/waving-good-bye.html">my mother's funeral</a>. He was struck by the unusual reds that danced across in the sky, and the fact that my mother had asked all of her family to wear red to the service in celebration of her life.<br />
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The cold November day we buried our mom, I watched the stunning sunset unfold from the church pew-- at times filling the entire sky in varying shades of red-- as I listened to the minister speak of our clothing choices. <br />
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Now, on the rare occasion the skies blaze the same beautiful reds I saw that day, I take it, in all it's glory, as a nudge from our mother to stay strong and be happy.<br />
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My friends recently shared this photo with me, not quite sure how I would receive it. My eyes opened wide the moment I saw it because I knew instantly when it had been taken... at the very end of the service, just before the sunset faded away.<br />
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Truly, it's one of the greatest gifts I've ever been given.</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-25455719279427970902015-12-21T15:47:00.000-08:002015-12-21T15:47:06.192-08:00Tis The Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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No matter how you spell it, or what you celebrate, may your holidays be happy and bright.<br />
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Big hugs and I'll see you in 2016!<br />
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xoxo Joanna</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-72707007512088257772015-10-08T18:04:00.000-07:002015-12-07T09:54:12.835-08:00Dr. Who and the Tardis Quilt<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>Dr. Who</i> collectables scatter my godson's bedroom and Tardis comments pepper his conversation on a regular basis. I've never seen an entire episode <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Shh, don't tell!)</span> but-- I can assure you, Godson has seen them ALL and he and his friends LOVE the show.<br />
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Over the years I've searched far and wide for <i>Dr. Who</i> collectibles and treats, picking them up in my travels and hoping it's something he doesn't already have.<br />
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This year, I'm pretty sure his upcoming birthday will make me a bit of a hero, if I do say so myself.<br />
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This is what I made for him...<br />
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(It took a while to put together using the Relatively Dimensional quilt pattern by Hunter's Design Studio. I made the border slightly larger using Quilter's Linen Metallic-- the solids are Kona Cotton. All are from my favorite fabric store-- <a href="http://www.sewmodern.com/">Sew Modern in Los Angeles</a>.)<br />
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While working on the quilt, I tried to subtly drill Godson about specifics on the Tardis so I could quilt it as "real" as possible. That process was a bit like pulling teeth but in the end, I figured out enough to give it a go...<br />
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Late in the game I learned there is some sort of round seal so I winged it to give the very basic "idea" of where it belongs.<br />
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Spoonflower was my source for the printed panels. Info for that was included in the pattern.<br />
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I'll give the quilt wrapped with popcorn and all the goodies to go with an evening of <i>Dr. Who</i> binge watching with his friends.<br />
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The quilt has been washed so it's super soft and crinkly, which I love. And it'll get even better with each washing.<br />
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Happy Birthday to my favorite <i>Dr. Who</i> fan!<br />
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-28377306763326042472015-07-24T15:47:00.001-07:002015-07-24T15:47:41.746-07:00Changing Times<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our neighborhood could be described as "charming", "family-oriented", "tree-lined" and, perhaps even "old". At least that's how I look at it and love it. It's what drew us to this 'hood in the first place.<br />
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But all that's changing thanks to "McMansions". <br />
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I do not love it.<br />
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My favorite home in the area recently bit the dust to a developer's plan for "progress towards the future".<br />
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Here it is... Gorgeous, beautifully maintained and in pristine condition-- literally move-in ready-- all 3,000 square feet of it. Problem is that this beauty, although on a shallow lot, is located on a double wide lot and that made it a developers dream.<br />
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First a "Notice" of demolition was posted and then, way too shortly thereafter, this started...<br />
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After that it was hard even walk down the street anymore.<br />
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The sad ending is that two, count 'em TWO 5,000 square foot houses will be built on the lot in it's place. Two monster houses in the place of one lovely home.<br />
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This isn't the first sad story like this in our community-- it's actually being written about in the newspapers and talked about on the television and radio news all the time. But developers have deep pockets and it appears, at least so far, nothing "legally" can be done to minimize the overbuilding of lots.<br />
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I totally get "progress" and an owner's right to do with their home/property what they want to-- really, I get it. But I don't get the pile of rubble that once was a perfectly good home that's now in a landfill somewhere. <br />
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Or maybe I'm just really sad that the landscape of our neighborhood is changing-- literally.<br />
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<b>Is this happening in your neighborhood?</b><br />
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-38696426082314813182015-07-15T17:01:00.001-07:002015-07-15T17:01:36.050-07:00Scream and Shout!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Call it an "In Case of Emergency" photo...<br />
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This picture was taken yesterday at the Ringling Bros. Circus with my godson. It was a total blast! <br />
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I'm saving it for a day when I really need to let loose and have a good rant-- like today when my contractor waterproofed and sealed my patio in the wrong color.<br />
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Yep, I'm going to need to scream!<br />
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins<br />
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Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-43801577485397742352015-06-05T13:54:00.001-07:002015-06-05T13:54:59.613-07:00A Vacuum Cleaner Beating<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It all started innocently enough-- Vacuum the house and then go for a much-needed walk on a warm Southern California day. It's feels <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(and looks)</span> like about a decade since I worked out and I figured the combo of vacuuming and walking was a good place to start and would count as weight training and cardio <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(That's only a little stretch of the imagination, right?)</span>.<br />
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But half way through the living room chore my trusty vacuum started wheezing-- just a little at first, but than it worked itself up into a high pitched screech that had the neighbor's dog wailing. <br />
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I fussed and fiddle with the machine trying to make things right, but couldn't identify where the noise was actually coming from-- Not the hose, the bag or any one specific place. Screaming at me, it was as if the entire vacuum was either in shock that I was dragging it around cleaning... Or it was on it's last leg.<br />
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Dang. I really like this vacuum too.<br />
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Since the vacuum was still picking up dust, I kept pushing it along, praying the noise would stop, and cleaning from one room to the next, until the exhausting and nerve-wracking job was finally finished. <br />
<br />
By this time, I knew I had to take the machine in for repair and was giving myself a good talking to because I couldn't identify the source of the noise-- Translation: Not paying attention when I pulled the plug out from the wall while at the same time stepping on the button that retracts the cord and winds it up inside the machine all nice and neat.<br />
<br />
Well... like I said, it's been a while since I was the one doing the vacuuming around here and I'd forgotten about the crazy cord rewind.<br />
<br />
Note to self: Do not bend over, thereby putting your face too close to the machine when the cord is whipping towards you at the speed of light.<br />
<br />
Faster than you can say "Mike Dyson", the plug and my face-- specifically my lip-- collided in a rather uncomfortable smack, just barely avoiding chipping a tooth, but definitely doing significant damage to my bottom lip.<br />
<br />
Let's just say much blood followed and by the end of the day I looked like I'd gone a few rounds with an able-bodies contender.<br />
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But it was only the vacuum who beat me up-- The vacuum that was repaired waaay before my lip healed. The vacuum that didn't dare wheeze or screech while I still had a fat lip. The vacuum that taught me a valuable lesson-- not the least of which was that from now on, I'm letting someone else do the cleaning around here!<br />
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Gosh, I can't believe how long it's been since my last post! All's well, I've just been really busy. I have lots to share and promise to be back soon.</div>
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<b>How are YOU?</b></div>
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
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Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-34016958576677545512015-03-22T15:19:00.000-07:002015-03-22T15:19:53.139-07:00Happy, Calm and Um....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
I didn't make any New Year's Resolutions for 2015 mainly because the thought of having one more thing on my "to-do" list was overwhelming. I was tired, stressed and worn down enough without feeling defeated for not accomplishing yet another goal.<br />
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A better attitude would definitely have been on my agenda if I'd made a resolution-- after all, <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2014/10/i-used-to-love-rummage-sales.html">the countless funerals</a> I've attended in the past few years were more than my heart could stand and left me feeling stressed and sad. Maybe that's why an emailed review request about a supplement called "<a href="http://www.happycalmfocused.com/">Happy Calm Focused</a>" caught my eye.<br />
<br />
In all honesty, the super positive name and packaging had me rolling my eyes and laughing out loud at its claims. It was early February and I'd already attended three <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2015/02/four-reasons-why-i-wont-delete-my.html">MORE funerals</a> of loved ones. <span style="font-size: x-small;"> (I know! When will it STOP!?!)</span> But if ever someone was in need of help being happy and calm it was definitely me. So, after taking my head out of the oven I agreed to give the HCF supplement a try. A free bottle arrived in my mailbox shortly thereafter.<br />
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Did I mention that I have never, ever, blindly tried a supplement before? Not once. I called my doc who said it was okay to give one bottle a try to see if he helped. Then I checked the mostly very positive HCF reviews online and popped the top.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I_drgj2xb8I/VQ88Y2zRb3I/AAAAAAAADuA/EAHMfp8455M/s1600/hcf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I_drgj2xb8I/VQ88Y2zRb3I/AAAAAAAADuA/EAHMfp8455M/s1600/hcf.jpg" height="181" width="200" /></a>The cobolt blue bottle made me happy-- I collect blue glass and even though this was plastic the coloring wasn't lost on me.<br />
<br />
Could I have been momentarily happy before even swallowing the three substantial capsules that smelled a lot like herbs and the back of a pharmacy? Probably not, but it made me smile nevertheless. A good start, huh?<br />
<br />
It's important to take <a href="http://www.happycalmfocused.com/">HCF</a> on an empty stomach 30 minutes before eating in the morning-- That had me watching the clock because I wake up starved and actually keep granola bars on my bedside table. As the thirty minutes ticked by til food time, I could still taste that herb/pharmacy/ick smell and was less than calm waiting to eat something to squash the after-taste. <br />
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Was Happy Calm Focused really working on me? Fast forward three weeks...<br />
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Two more very sad situations with loved ones later <span style="font-size: x-small;">(Again I say-- When will it STOP!)</span> and I have to admit that I'm taking things in stride which I translate to being more calm in a crisis. Happy might be too strong a word to describe my emotional state these days but the noise in my head when tracking the drama that surrounds me is somewhat lower. Both good things.<br />
<br />
As for focused-- I'm afraid that ship has sailed for me. I haven't been laser focused in more years than I can remember and have actually forgotten where I put the Happy Calm Focused supplement bottle a few times.<br />
<br />
Will I continue to take the HCF supplement after the bottle is empty? I'm not sure. The biggest down side for me is the indigestion and "repeating" of the supplement throughout the day. I'm not crazy about that. This is not a side-effect I read about in online reviews so maybe it's just my "delicate" system.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.happycalmfocused.com/">Happy Calm Focused</a> isn't a "miracle in a bottle", at least not for me. Rather, it's an amino acid based supplement <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">t</span>hat might have helped make me feel a little better. Will it help you feel happier, more calm and focused? You'll have to be the judge.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/HCF-Happy-Focused-Brain-Supplement/dp/B00AAIY5US/">Available on Amazon.com</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>How are you feeling these days?</b><br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins<br />
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Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-88600586443786041812015-03-13T14:05:00.000-07:002015-03-13T14:05:34.808-07:00Great Paying Job<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I arranged these flowers myself. No housekeeper required.</span></div>
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I am always amazed by the things that appear on our online community homeowners website. I told you about the <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2014/09/theres-one-in-every-crowd.html">Great Lemon Caper.</a> Now we have what I can only call <i>Housekeeper Madness</i>. <br />
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Names have been changed (in blue) to protect the innocent and slightly crazy....<br />
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It all leaves me thinking maybe I should go back to work-- cleaning houses!<br />
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<b>Happy weekend!</b><br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-56718225429714005862015-01-20T12:23:00.001-08:002015-01-20T12:25:51.500-08:00I Dare You Not To Smile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've heard police called a lot of things but never a "Diva" before.<br />
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This has been on the news lately but it's worth a look. There is NO WAY you can't watch this video and not smile.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qtLb0XTOOic" width="400"></iframe><br />
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I crack up when he spots and waves at a pedestrian. <br />
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I don't know this guy, and I'm guessing there is a lot of teasing and joking going on back at the police station but seriously, I think I would love having him as my next door neighbor... and at my next party.<br />
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And, I'm grateful that I do not have a dashboard camera in my car to catch my antics. How about you?<br />
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com -- Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-82561546562631936712014-12-24T14:17:00.002-08:002014-12-24T14:18:27.653-08:00Move Over Rudolph<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Santa has a new sleigh-- Marine One from the The Ronald Reagan Library.<br />
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Have no fear! Your gifts are on their way.<br />
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Wishing you a fabulous holiday. And a big thank you for making this year so special.<br />
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xo Joanna</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-74904618313851752342014-12-16T12:53:00.001-08:002014-12-16T12:53:38.118-08:00Tis The Season<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
I've been busy, as you can see.<br />
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This the my workroom-- which sounds fancier than "my old office". I might switch to calling it my "studio" in 2015 where I create, mediate and retreat to when the day catches up with me. But for now it's the space I dumped all my holiday shopping packages.<br />
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It's hard to tell, but behind the mountain of boxes and bags is a large table with my sewing machine on it. Behind that is a long cabinet stacked high with fabric. Honest.<br />
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And I'm usually very neat and organized. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Not.)</i></span><br />
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So this week I sorted, wrapped and wrapped and wrapped, boxed up and shipped, and divided the remaining packages into stacks for their local destinations this holiday.<br />
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I can almost see the floor again. <br />
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Did my husband help, you ask? Why of course. He brought home a package of bows from the drug store... And his work is done.<br />
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<b>How's your holiday shopping coming along?</b><br />
<br />
Welcome to wwwTheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-86325588189938778202014-12-13T23:44:00.002-08:002014-12-13T23:45:38.482-08:00Wet. Very Wet<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
Feeling really lucky to have my Mom's rain boots this week. She wore them for years whenever it was wet out to walk her sweet dog, Noah. The dog lives with my baby sister now and the boots were parked at my back door just waiting for the rain.<br />
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The first time it rained after <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2013/11/waving-good-bye.html">mom passed away</a> was in about April and I just couldn't bring myself to put them on.<br />
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But this rain-soaked Friday morning in December seemed like a good time to take a short walk between downpours and soak up a little of Mom's love. I can't fill her shoes but her boots are pretty darn comfy.</div>
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<a href="http://www.unknownmami.com/2014/12/union-square-tree-sundays-in-my-city.html"><i>For more Sundays In My City visit the fabulous Unknown Mami. </i></a></div>
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<b> How's your Sunday? </b> </div>
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
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Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-29396698867200429132014-10-06T09:07:00.003-07:002014-10-06T09:18:12.277-07:00I Used To Love Rummage Sales<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
It was a gigantic fund-raising Rummage Sale like so many others I'd been to...<br />
<br />
But it wasn't. <br />
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It was 7 very large rooms of a community center and all the hallways jammed pack with other people's donated "stuff" for sale.<br />
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But it wasn't.<br />
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It was all meteciously organized and sorted by category so you could easily search out exactly what you were looking for.<br />
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But it wasn't.<br />
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It was every second-hand shopper's dream sale.<br />
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But it wasn't. Not at all.<br />
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Back home recently for a fast weekend of visiting family before the snow flies in Northeast Ohio, my sisters and I stopped by the much anticipated Community Rummage Sale we'd been attending annually for at least 20 years. This is the mother of all Rummage Sales with more treasures and surprise purchases than any other. Furniture, kitchenware, linens, pictures, crafts, glassware, you name it... Truly-- everything you could think of and then some. We love this sale.<br />
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But not this year.<br />
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The Rummage Sale is the brainchild of the residents at the senior living community my mom lived in before she passed away nearly 11 months ago. The "merchandise" is mostly donated by residents when they are downsizing to move into new houses or apartments on the senior campus.<br />
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It's generally all the stuff that new residents either can't fit into their new home, stuff their family members don't want or need, or items they simply no longer desire. It's all donated for a good cause and everyone feels really good about passing their belongings on because the funds raised go to help seniors in need.<br />
<br />
But it's not.<br />
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And by "not" I mean it's not just stuff donated when new residents are downsizing to move<i> into</i> the senior living community. It's also all the stuff donated by families when their loved ones pass away. A realization that we, when attending the Rummage Sale all these years, choose not to think about. <br />
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As I said, this was a much anticipated event for my sisters and I so, without hesitation, we piled into Baby Sister's giant SUV and headed to the sale hoping to find small crystal bowls, mason jars and votive candle holders to be used at my niece's wedding this coming Spring.<br />
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When we walked into the front door we were immediately greeted by my mother's former next door neighbor. She really misses mom and we had a lovely conversation together albeit with a lump in our throats.<br />
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Then, even though we'd braced ourselves for the possibility of running into more of Mom's other friends, we stepped into the first room to shop-- kitchenware.<br />
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But we shouldn't have. <br />
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On a table, four steps inside the door, were my mother's kitchen placemats for sale-- The ones I'd made her a million years ago and she insisted were "just fine" for her new home even though they didn't match anything but she used them everyday because I'd made them for her. <br />
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I could literally hear my sisters' intake of breath simultaneously followed by zippered purses opening to reach for Kleenex. Seeing our mother's donated things for sale never crossed out minds.<br />
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And there we stood silently, tears rolling down our faces-- all of us touching the placemats that I now held in my arms like a child holding a favorite teddy bear. No words, just tears and the realization that our last moments of denial about mom's passing, and thinking the past 11 months had all been a bad dream that we would magically wake-up from, faded with our tears on the fabric of the mates.<br />
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Apparently we stood frozen at the "placemat table" for a long time because a nearly 85 year old resident volunteer wearing a name tag and apron gently nudged us along because we were holding up other shoppers. <br />
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As we snaked our way through the many tables of sale items, we spotted more of the "stuff" we'd donated when our mother passed away-- Her dish towels, the ones with the crocheted tops that she hung off her kitchen stove handle. Then came the China tea pot without a lid that Mom always put the dandelions we'd pick for her as kids.<br />
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In the "Holiday Room" we immediately spotted the Halloween candle holders with the tiny mice glued on them and the wooden, brightly painted Easter flowers mom pulled out for display every year.<br />
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The next room was filled with tables loaded with glassware... and mom's juice glasses, butter dishes, and tea cups as well as several small crystal bowls, mason jars and votive candles. <br />
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We stopped by the "Elegant Elephants" room-- Which loosely
translated means "the expensive but hideously ugly donated stuff they didn't
know where else to put" and there we spotted Mom's over-sized glass
angel dressed in a wonky pink and blue glittered gown and appearing to fly
like Peter Pan. I'm pretty sure mom would have called the angel an
"Elephant" too but never revealed which family member gave it to her and
always had it displayed in her living room. <br />
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From room to room we went, seeing residents who asked us if we were our mother's daughters because we look so much like her. Staff members hugged us and told us with tears in their eyes how much they missed our Mom's positive attitude and sense of humor.<br />
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And we continued to "shop" room by room.<br />
<br />
But we didn't.<br />
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"Shop" that is. We were really just looking for our mother's things.<br />
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In the end, we bought all of our mother's "stuff" that we could find at the Rummage Sale... the stuff we brokenheartedly donated because we all had already brought so much of our mother's cherished possessions to our own home when she passed.<br />
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Mom's things at the Rummage Sale were just too hard to see left behind. Silly, I know, but my sisters and I came home with a carload of our mother's possessions... that we paid for... because we couldn't bear to leave them, or her, behind at the Rummage Sale. <br />
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Credit: © Kellis - Fotolia.com </span></div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-84619345483527677092014-09-25T22:39:00.000-07:002014-09-25T22:39:31.994-07:00Friday Fragments - 9/26/14<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
I do my best to stay <i>out</i> of Costco because it's usually an expensive swing around the warehouse store followed by a $1.50 hot dog and soda that I really didn't need (along with a ton of other stuff stacked in my cart). But this week required stocking up my bare cupboards and this jar of chocolate caramel deliciousness landed in my cart with the silent pledge to "Only eat ONE per day!".<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bcP5768Jl-g/VCSVirxPfhI/AAAAAAAADkw/eN_FYS4T9DA/s1600/1Chocolate%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bcP5768Jl-g/VCSVirxPfhI/AAAAAAAADkw/eN_FYS4T9DA/s1600/1Chocolate%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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You can see how well that pledge worked... Although I did have a partner in crime, my husband.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBBPlzbeqo8/VCSVuS0TIYI/AAAAAAAADk4/fMjGcxNbZpc/s1600/1Chocolate%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBBPlzbeqo8/VCSVuS0TIYI/AAAAAAAADk4/fMjGcxNbZpc/s1600/1Chocolate%2B2.jpg" height="306" width="320" /></a></div>
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I learned a fascinating thing about Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's-- They always have a beautiful display of affordable fresh flowers on hand, but did you know they also do bridal flowers! Seriously, you can get a "wedding in a box" so to speak, delivered to your front door-- Bride's bouquet, bridemaids' bouquets, boutonnieres and rose pedals for the flower girl, the works. Who knew!?!<br />
<br />
And you can buy bulk flowers as well. That's how I found out about it. I Googled "bulk baby's breath" and there it was.<br />
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<br />
Baby's breath was on my mind for my niece who's getting married in May, 2015-- The same niece that's going to graduate as a Veterinarian two weeks before her big day. She'd like to work with large animals. Good thing, huh? (PS She's 5' 6" tall!)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G6MvO-Ue0AU/VCSV5BGATQI/AAAAAAAADlA/SIIIrJMD3rU/s1600/1Courtney%2BCow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G6MvO-Ue0AU/VCSV5BGATQI/AAAAAAAADlA/SIIIrJMD3rU/s1600/1Courtney%2BCow.jpg" height="211" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Did I show you this photo already?</span></div>
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<br />
This baby quilt was finished and shipped off to a new mama. I think she was pretty happy with it. At least grandma/my friend was who said if she knew what my gift was she'd have kept the blanket at her house for the baby. Ha!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ7F0RrCPLE/VCSWGIu4kWI/AAAAAAAADlI/FGRJN2zN82E/s1600/1Pink%2Bquilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rJ7F0RrCPLE/VCSWGIu4kWI/AAAAAAAADlI/FGRJN2zN82E/s1600/1Pink%2Bquilt.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Did I show you this photo already too? A mind is a terrible thing to waste.</span></div>
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<br />
And I've been spotting this sign around Beverly Hills at all the public parking lots. <b></b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxpwk1mXWjE/VCSWgR2-l1I/AAAAAAAADlQ/z5Ci8xyHdt8/s1600/1%2BBH%2Bsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cxpwk1mXWjE/VCSWgR2-l1I/AAAAAAAADlQ/z5Ci8xyHdt8/s1600/1%2BBH%2Bsign.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Give me spare change </i></div>
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<i>and I may never get off </i></div>
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<i>these streets. Give to</i></div>
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<i>organizations that could </i></div>
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<i>really help me </i></div>
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<i>and you could save my life. </i></div>
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<i>It's up to you. </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: white; text-align: center;">
<i>It's up to you.</i></div>
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I'm not sure how I feel about it. <b>What do you think?</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2014/09/friday-fragments-episode-320.html"><br /></a>
<div style="background-color: red;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2014/09/friday-fragments-episode-320.html">Got random bits flying around in your head? Pull them together and share them in your own Friday Fragments. For more Fragmenters, click HERE and visit Mrs. 4444, our gracious hostess. </a> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: red;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: red;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Oh good lord, how on earth did I turn this red on? And what's with that white bar up there? Sheesh. A mind really IS a terrible thing to waste. Sigh.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-2891725917214219182014-09-16T17:58:00.000-07:002014-09-16T17:58:41.184-07:00There's One In Every Crowd<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jFD1iDdsjMU/VBjZjNFnx-I/AAAAAAAADjg/IpONwDLNsTU/s1600/Fotolia_62902468_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jFD1iDdsjMU/VBjZjNFnx-I/AAAAAAAADjg/IpONwDLNsTU/s1600/Fotolia_62902468_XS.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I belong to a neighborhood community website that lets neighbors, elected officials, and first responders keep in touch about everything from road closures and coyote sightings to requests for contractor referrals and babysitters. (Think Facebook for your 'hood.)<br />
<br />
Residents
have been mostly respectful and keep their comments and posts about the
neighborhood. Some just give the facts or ask simple questions-- Others
definitely "over share".<br />
<br />
Case in point...<br />
<br />
A
neighbor posted that squirrels were eating all the lemons off her tree
and wanted to know if anyone had an easy solution that had worked for
them. From her post question, I got the impression she was looking for
safe and sane solutions.<br />
<br />
But that's not the response she got. Turns out, peeps in our 'hood are very passionate about their fruit trees! And they really don't like squirrels-- Any squirrels! Not. At. All.<br />
<br />
One guy talked about the wolf urine he buys online and
sprays on all his fruit to scare the squirrels away. Another talked
about having tried a hot pepper concoction that was only successful at
killing her trees. And another actually takes the time to rubber band
all her fruit to the branches while it ripens making it more difficult
for critters to carry off.<br />
<br />
A prominent member of our
community went on and on that all she has to do is feed the squirrels
plenty of peanuts every single day and they stay away from her fruit
trees. I yiyi-- That was met with screams and pleads to stop feeding
wildlife complete with links to county ordinances to prove it's against
the law.<br />
<br />
There is a long time resident (whose profile includes his photo and complete
address.) who simply traps and drowns the squirrels claiming it's the
very most humane thing to do. His comment was easily 300 words long and
explained-- in great detail, the ins and outs of his reasoning. This comment was met with barely a response!<br />
<br />
Good lord, you'd think the
squirrels were carrying away small children, not lemons!<br />
<br />
Within 24 hours
there were about 30 comments to the simple question of "how to stop
squirrels from eating lemons off trees" with many neighbors feeling compelled to comment
for the first time ever.<br />
<br />
But then...
One comment in particular, well.... that's when things really went sour.<br />
<br />
A middle-aged guy (I know because his comments came with
his full name, photo and full address)-- let's call him Bozo, bragged that
he didn't notice any "bare fruit trees" because he takes daily walks in
our area and "has lunch" by picking fruit off other people's trees along
the way-- several pieces in fact-- and thinks there's nothing wrong
with going <i>into</i> people's yards scavenging because "there's enough fruit for people <i>and</i> the squirrels".<br />
<br />
That made me wonder if he poached and dined on the fruit with the wolf urine sprayed on it.<br />
<br />
To
add insult to injury, Bozo went on to brag that he and a buddy drive
around in a swank BMW and gather shopping bags full of a variety of
fruit from people's yards... in the dark of night.<br />
<br />
And the you know what hit the fan.<br />
<br />
The community site blew up with comments.<br />
<br />
Apparently, we have
some crazy squirrels in these parts who not only eat lemons (and figs,
oranges,
avocados, apples, pears and plums), they also chew their way through
cable wires, security screens and the likes. Folks mostly just want the
squirrels to go away. But they really, really want Bozo to go away. And by
"away" I mean-- Behind bars in an orange jumpsuit (Orange--no pun
intended)!<br />
<br />
More than 100 comments later and people are still livid that Bozo
sees no problem with stealing fruit from people's yards. Great debate
has gone on and he's justified his actions on the site at least 6 times
with no apologizes. Even people who don't have fruit trees
are going ballistic.<br />
<br />
Folks have politely, and not so politely, explained to Bozo that
homeowners pay a high price for watering, pruning and maintaining their
trees. And the trees are on private property. Bozo doesn't have a leg to stand on or any right to be taking people's fruit from their yards.<br />
<br />
And the comments go on and on and on...<br />
<br />
To be honest, I have not gotten into the great squirrel debate with
my neighbors but as a result, I've changed my settings to only include
police reports on our community website. Some may say I'd be more
passionate about this issue if the squirrels were a problem for me but,
at least for now, they are not.<br />
<br />
Other than thinking trapping and
drowning squirrels is hateful, I just can't get on this bandwagon. To read all the banter and drama about the fruit thief and see only a few comments about the squirrel-drowner has left me not really feeling very neighborly.<br />
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# # # # </div>
<br />
Summer has flown by! I hope to be back on a more regular basis. <br />
<b>Thanks for stopping by.</b><br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo credit: © denira - Fotolia.com</span><br />
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<br /></div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-20315177509495616402014-06-12T09:19:00.001-07:002014-06-12T09:22:55.314-07:00I'm Not Buying It<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Having just posted about the marvels of the iPhone and how it's changed my way of life, I was blown away at a presentation I attended recently given by a successful small business owner who talked about how the iPhone screen is at the core of her business product development.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ey-0MR33X2A/U5CtFl-ftKI/AAAAAAAADhc/pnX1ShTUsGU/s1600/3cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ey-0MR33X2A/U5CtFl-ftKI/AAAAAAAADhc/pnX1ShTUsGU/s1600/3cat.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a>As <a href="http://www.hopewellworkshop.com/">the manufacture of modern quilts</a> doing business in the US, Canada and Europe, she discussed how ALL of her designs start small-- very small-- as in on the 2" X 3" screen of her smart phone. Long story short-- If her quilt looks good on a very small screen... like a cellphone, Instagram or Pinterest-- then they will sell well. If her quilts lose their impact, color, pattern/design, etc. on the small image size, it's scrapped from her collection.<br />
<br />
Kinda makes sense if you think about it. A gorgeous floral print, for example, may look stunning in a giant quilt, but on the very small screen-- thanks to modern technology-- the pattern is reduced so much it can get lost and, in some cases, can even disappear or muddy the colors meaning the customer might not be getting the quilt fabric/pattern they expected. <br />
<br />
Genius, is all I can say because in a million years, I'd have never thought our buying habits (as well as design and marketing products) had changed so much so fast and to such a small-- and very cost effective format.<br />
<br />
Then... I got a look at another successful manufacture who has a very different idea of how people shop... It reminds me of the old Sears catalog approach which, in my opinion, is outdated, ridiculously costly (ultimately to the consumer?) and overkill to say the least.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZx_Oifjwhg/U5CtDYAVNeI/AAAAAAAADhU/9ygurXpuB-E/s1600/1cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iZx_Oifjwhg/U5CtDYAVNeI/AAAAAAAADhU/9ygurXpuB-E/s1600/1cat.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Not long ago I received FIFTEEN POUNDS of Restoration Hardware catalogs delivered to my door step. I practically needed a crane to pick them up off my porch. The package included 14 different catalogs covering their entire product line. And by the way, they were not promoting a sale. The impression I got was that I was supposed to keep these catalogs as a reference for future purchases. (<i>Not.</i>)<br />
<br />
Granted, I'm talking about two very different companies and product lines, but the glaring differences between marketing via social media like Instagram and Pinterest versus old school catalogs with expensive photography printed on beautiful paper, then bundled and hand delivered to my front door left me wondering if Restoration Hardware was totally disconnected from today's shoppers-- not to mention the environmental impact of this stack of paper that almost immediately landed in my recycle bin without opening a single page. Do plush towels, furniture and rugs really sell better using expensive, bulky catalog mailings?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40wBXm_LwLQ/U5CuOHu5Q5I/AAAAAAAADho/JWXLadnOJ_Q/s1600/4cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-40wBXm_LwLQ/U5CuOHu5Q5I/AAAAAAAADho/JWXLadnOJ_Q/s1600/4cat.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
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In all honesty, receipt of the Restoration Hardware monster catalogs left me feeling guilty and a little bit miffed that I bought bath towels in their store about three years ago which is why, I'm assuming, I received this expensive collection of catalogs-- Guilty because I'm pretty "green" in our household and call catalog companies asking them to remove me from their mailing list to lighten my carbon footprint. Dang! Obviously I missed Restoration Hardware. <br />
<br />
Did my small towel purchase three years ago generate-- and warrant-- my receiving fifteen pounds of catalogs? No, not in a million years. My guess is the catalogs ate up their profits in my small purchase. I'd have rather they shipped me a free towel instead. <i>That</i> would be <i>positive</i> attention getting marketing. And I'm guessing the towel would have been far <i>less </i>expensive then the cost to produce and deliver their catalogs. The towel wouldn't have landed in the recycle bin either-- Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
My shopping habits have changed drastically over the past few years and catalogs are long gone. I turn to the Internet for everything from groceries and books to bathing suits purchases and prefer not to shop in brick and mortar stores if at all possible (Thus the bathing suit shopping online and it's lack of giant three-way mirrors!). But, thanks to Restoration Hardware, I'm wondering if I might be missing something. Or not.<br />
<br />
<b>What do you think? </b> <br />
<br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-40977725169437841852014-06-01T09:30:00.001-07:002014-06-01T09:31:26.711-07:00Already Four<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have a clear memory of blogging about my <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2010/05/speechless-other-news.html">first great-niece</a>, E, and how marvelous it was to have a smart phone to receive <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2010/05/speechless-other-news.html">text messages and photos</a> all through my niece's labor. The idea of communicating with a woman in the delivery room was shocking and exciting.<br />
<br />
In the end, a photo of this little peanut appeared on my blog...<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKNrv7heLag/U4p0kOnle0I/AAAAAAAADgc/XzCaLKsPYVI/s1600/baby+3+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SKNrv7heLag/U4p0kOnle0I/AAAAAAAADgc/XzCaLKsPYVI/s1600/baby+3+7.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's hard to believe that in four short years I've grown unable to live without my iPhone and totally acknowledge how pathetic it is to admit that... and truly mean it. <br />
<br />
And it's also hard to believe that my first great-niece, E, is now a whopping four years old! I absolutely can't live without her either. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tnhusU0OYSA/U4p0vTvWvsI/AAAAAAAADgk/phaSzWWrefQ/s1600/baby+e+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tnhusU0OYSA/U4p0vTvWvsI/AAAAAAAADgk/phaSzWWrefQ/s1600/baby+e+6.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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For her 4th birthday dinner, as usual, our family held hands to say grace before the meal. E insisted on saying the blessing and took her job very seriously. After a moment of thought, she took a deep breath and said... "Dear God...."<br />
<br />
And then she proceed to recite the entire Pledge of Allegiance-- After which, we all said, "Amen."<br />
<br />
Happy 4th Birthday E. Make a wish and wish big!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q-1MfZ8CsE/U4p1Q4nkEVI/AAAAAAAADgs/HqodQehMJ1k/s1600/E+cat+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Q-1MfZ8CsE/U4p1Q4nkEVI/AAAAAAAADgs/HqodQehMJ1k/s1600/E+cat+dress.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYdXLSJtRuM/U4p4i2J7d2I/AAAAAAAADg4/0S_zIY-4UcQ/s1600/Sundays+in+my+City+LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bYdXLSJtRuM/U4p4i2J7d2I/AAAAAAAADg4/0S_zIY-4UcQ/s1600/Sundays+in+my+City+LOGO.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.unknownmami.com/2014/05/sunset-celebration-weekend-sunsetcw-sundays-in-my-city.html"> </a><a href="http://www.unknownmami.com/2014/05/sunset-celebration-weekend-sunsetcw-sundays-in-my-city.html"><span style="color: blue;">For more </span><i style="color: blue;">Sundays In My City</i><span style="color: blue;"> stop by and say hello to Unknown Mami </span></a></div>
<br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-8710649053042618862014-05-24T22:31:00.001-07:002014-05-24T22:31:48.587-07:00Sent From Heaven?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There has been extensive debate in our household over getting a very big guard dog ever since <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2012/10/people-who-live-in-glass-houses.html">our home was robbed</a>. There is a long list of "pros" for a dog, not the least of which is the police detective strongly suggested we get one. <br />
<br />
Then there's the list of "cons". Dog hair, nail scratches on our hardwood floors and the ever necessary "poop bag" when walking the dog multiple times throughout the day. Truth be told, the poop bag is really the biggest reason I've nixed the dog idea since <i>I'd</i> be the one carrying around the poop.<br />
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But out of the blue today, the dog debate took a major turn! Not only did we get a really big dog-- We got a fearless guard dog to stand watch over our house-- Literally! <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LNxNFh2mKnw/U4FDIKZ7qBI/AAAAAAAADes/4sbznadgraA/s1600/Dog+on+roof+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LNxNFh2mKnw/U4FDIKZ7qBI/AAAAAAAADes/4sbznadgraA/s1600/Dog+on+roof+1.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fido arrived, much to our surprise, front and center on our roof (!) for all the world to see. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3c_clXaDo7E/U4FDKwxvryI/AAAAAAAADe0/KGMrTP_BldU/s1600/dog+on+roof+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3c_clXaDo7E/U4FDKwxvryI/AAAAAAAADe0/KGMrTP_BldU/s1600/dog+on+roof+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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It's as if this lovely pooch was dropped from the heavens to protect us. <br />
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Unfortunately, the dog belongs to our next door neighbor...<br />
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...And we have absolutely no idea how she got on our roof.<br />
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No. Idea. Whatsoever! It's a total mystery.<br />
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I kinda wished Fido could stay up there but the neighbors asked for her back.<br />
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<b>Have you ever had an unexpected/unexplained visitor?</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PyePEchMP6U/U4FGv07phbI/AAAAAAAADfI/pSVZ8kUGMfc/s1600/Sundays+in+my+City+LOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PyePEchMP6U/U4FGv07phbI/AAAAAAAADfI/pSVZ8kUGMfc/s1600/Sundays+in+my+City+LOGO.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.unknownmami.com/2014/05/lots-and-lots-of-ladybugs-sundays-in-my-city.html"><span style="color: blue;">For more Sundays In My City, Stop by and see Unknown Mami.</span></a></div>
<br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins </div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-44199480402856094762014-05-14T18:26:00.000-07:002014-05-14T18:26:03.064-07:00My Godzilla<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
There are very few things that totally and completely freak me out. In our home, for example, I handle the spiders and bugs. <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2012/11/uninvited-guest-giveaway.html">And, ahem, "mice".</a> It really doesn't bother me.<br />
<br />
But snakes... Not on your life! I do not like them or their ugly cousin the lizard. They pretty much put me over the edge and that doesn't seem to be mellowing with age.<br />
<br />
Case in point--<br />
<br />
Recently I was chatting up my husband on the telephone while packing for a mini vacation. We were leaving the next morning and I wanted to be sure I had everything in the suitcase. We'd run down our usual check list of warm weather packing and I'd forgotten flip flops. So, I open the closet door and reached for my favorite orange pair and, and, and...<br />
<br />
Oh. My. Gawd!!! There was a huge, Godzilla-sized lizard stretched across the front my shoe closet.<br />
<br />
And I almost touched it-- With my bare hand!<br />
<br />
I was screaming to my husband to come home and help me but he heard nothing. I was so scared, that despite my best efforts, no words escaped. In an instant, through the hysteria, I knew that something had to be done but I was not touching that monster. No way. No how.<br />
<br />
After nearly hyperventilating I'd made enough noise that the Godzilla withdrew into a shoe cubbie in our bedroom closet so at least I knew where it was.<br />
<br />
I caught my breath, told my husband to come home <i>immediately</i> and then got down on my hands and knees, butt in the air, so I could see into the cubbie that was only 8 inches off the floor.<br />
I vaguely remember Husband mumbling something about taking care of it but hung up the phone before he finished. He knows my fear of snake things and I was confident he'd burn rubber the entire <i>mile and a half</i> drive from his office to our home to save me.<br />
<br />
Confident Husband would arrive VERY soon, I mustered the courage to slowly remove shoes from the cubbie so I had eyes on Godzilla again.<br />
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He'd stretched out the length of the back of cubbie with the tip of his tail curved to fit. In other words, he was a whopping 15 inches long!!! Oh no, I didn't call him Godzilla for nothing! This guy was <span style="font-size: large;">BIG</span> and he was in my bedroom shoe closet.</div>
<br />
Without a doubt, I knew that if I lost sight of Godzilla before Husband got home to remove it, we'd have to sell the house. I absolutely would not be able to stay here ever again. And I'm not kidding.<br />
<br />
Call me crazy but I hate lizards and snakes that much.<br />
<br />
So there I was, my arthritic knees aching and feeling like the blood circulation in my legs was nearing its end. My head, bent down to see into the cubbie, throbbed, and I was in a panic that Godzilla would make a move before I could figure out how to trap him in place.<br />
<br />
What to do, what to do.<br />
<br />
I finally spotted a clear plastic bin not far away that was the exact width of the cubbie so I could see what Godzilla was up to. But, it had small 1/4 inch holes in it. I sized up the holes and the lizard and was confident in thinking Godzilla would never fit through them. He was a very big guy and these hole were pretty small.<br />
<br />
Thank gawd.<br />
<br />
So while keeping eyes on Godzilla, I maneuvered around to reach the plastic bin with my foot, kicked it contents and slammed it up against the cubbie. I swear I heard the angels sing. What a relief. <br />
<br />
Godzilla and I stayed in place-- Me, still bent over on my knees and him, calmly stretched out in my cubbie. For <i>SURE, </i>I thought, Husband would be home to rescue me any second. After all, it had been at least 30 minutes since we were on the phone. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">WTH?!?!?!</span><br />
<br />
Tick, tick, tick, tick....<br />
<br />
Godzilla started looking board, his neck stretching out as if to get a better look at the situation. I squeaked out some nose to scare him to stay in place but he'd been there so long he was ready to make a move.<br />
<br />
I was so stinking happy to have that clear plastic bin covering the cubbie opening holding him in place. I wouldn't have to touch Godzilla with my bare hands or worse, risk loosing him all together, and that was a <i>very</i> good thing. He could move around the cubbie all he wanted but he was not going anywhere.<br />
<br />
Right?<br />
<br />
Wrong.<br />
<br />
Godzilla got his nerve up, despite my screaming, and crawled into the plastic bin. Then he stuck his head though one of the 1/4 inch holes.<br />
<br />
C.R.A.P.<br />
<br />
Where was my husband!!!<br />
<br />
Then he did the unthinkable! Godzilla started squeezing his BODY through the holes as if someone had pulled the strings on a very tight corset making him freakishly thin. I became a lunatic screaming, this time a loud shrill streams of !@#%$! and I banged on the bin with my shoe until he squeezed his sorry self back into the cubbie.<br />
<br />
I nearly had a heart attack. Godzilla actually looked unfazed.<br />
<br />
Still on my knees, butt in the air, I called that lizard <span style="font-size: xx-small;">and my missing-in-action-husband</span> every name in the book. If Godzilla so much as blinked I screamed him back into the corner.<br />
<br />
We sat there like that-- blinking, screaming, backing up, for <i>another</i> full hour before my husband calmly walked in and asked if the "little lizard" was gone.<br />
<br />
One look at my ghost white face and the darts shooting out of my eyes at him was a solid clue that the lizard was still in 'da house.<br />
<br />
I immediately sent husband to find a few supplies that would allow him to slide Godzilla out of the cubbie and into a box with a secure lid so he could be removed.<br />
<br />
Ten minutes later and with none of the supplies, I agreed to change positions with my husband providing he swore on his children's lives not to take his eyes off Godzilla-- and yes, that meant he would need to be on his knees, head bent down to the ground at eye level resulting in <i>his</i> butt being in the air.<br />
<br />
Husband also agreed that if he lost that lizard I would immediately be moving into the Four Seasons Hotel until a new home had been found for us to live in-- I was taking no chance at crossing paths with Godzilla ever again.<br />
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<br />
Husband knew better than to disagree with me.<br />
<br />
We made the guard duty switch and off I went gathering the necessary supplies. I returned in less than 3 minutes and prepared to pass the box to Husband. But... Husband looked a little green in the face.<br />
<br />
Apparently Godzilla tried to make a quick escape through the plastic bin holes in my absence and Husband saw his life, and our bank account, pass before his eyes until he got Godzilla under control and back in the cubbie. (In hindsight, I'd have liked to have seen that. Ha! Coming home an hour and 45 minutes after I screamed on telephone. Sheesh.)<br />
<br />
So now it's obvious that Husband, who is not good at this kind of thing anyway, was not going to do the deed and get Godzilla into the box. That would be my job.<br />
<br />
Again, I made him swear that if anything went wrong and Godzilla was not removed from our house, that I would be living elsewhere.<br />
<br />
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With the patio door to our bedroom wide open, I said a prayer and wiggled Godzilla into a box using a backscratcher. He flopped in and the lid was slammed shut. My hands were shaking and I could feel Godzilla moving around in the box.</div>
<br />
By now, it was all I could do to stand up. My legs were numb and with the box in my hands I couldn't use them to help me up. That freaking lizard took years off my life.<br />
<br />
When I finally made it to the patio, I flung the box as hard and as far as I could-- Watching Godzilla exit the box and swan dive onto the grass. He landed, shook himself off and sauntered into a heap of yellow tiger lilies by the pool... Before losing sight of me, he stopped, looked over his shoulder and gave me a look like "I'll show you lady."<br />
<br />
And he did.<br />
<br />
Because now I can never go into the back yard again.<br />
<br />
<b>What scares the daylights out of you?</b><br />
<br />
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins<br />
Photo Credit: <span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Andrey Burmakin - Fotolia.com </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© seyhoeroglu - Fotolia.com </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Lonely - Fotolia.com</span></div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-44494590865045240002014-01-11T22:30:00.002-08:002014-01-11T22:31:30.135-08:00So this happened...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I said a little prayer when the holidays were finally over. They were rough. I spent much of them <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2013/11/waving-good-bye.html">in denial</a> but, just twelve days into the new year, I realized I hadn't stuck my head in the sand nearly as much as I'd thought.<br />
<br />
Case in point-- My last month in pictures...<br />
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Our family welcomed a new baby cousin. </div>
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I made this quilt and hope it keeps him cozy and warm. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yGz-gD8vyqk/UtG_dpZnhnI/AAAAAAAADZg/15o-H-jdTtM/s1600/108+photo+Quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yGz-gD8vyqk/UtG_dpZnhnI/AAAAAAAADZg/15o-H-jdTtM/s1600/108+photo+Quilt.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.thequiltengineer.com/clamshell-pattern-posted/"> Glam Clam Quilt Pattern</a> by Latifah Saafar</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All fabrics from the fabulous <a href="http://www.sewmodernonline.com/">Sew Modern</a> in Los Angeles</span>.</div>
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My BFF made homemade marshmallows and shared some with me. </div>
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They were seriously delicious and light as a feather.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ziA6gTDL9QI/UtCji5NlGcI/AAAAAAAADYA/WclMbj_FDZM/s1600/101+Photo+Marshmallows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ziA6gTDL9QI/UtCji5NlGcI/AAAAAAAADYA/WclMbj_FDZM/s1600/101+Photo+Marshmallows.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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My friends also shared their Christmas with me-- </div>
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Their tree was magical and filled with vintage ornaments. </div>
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We had relatives from out-of-town visiting for two weeks so we took in
the LA sights including the Space Shuttle Endeavor-- I never get tired
of seeing this magnificent ship. </div>
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We saw "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" at the movie theater and LOVED
it. (Thanks to great cinematography, I also want to travel to Iceland
and Greenland now too!) </div>
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Husband hung the blue stained glass in my kitchen window. It belonged to <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2013/11/waving-good-bye.html">my mother</a> and looks perfect with the blue glass I've been collecting for the past 30 years. </div>
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And we also visited The Skirball Cultural Center. </div>
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<br />
This quote says it all for me. I'll try to keep that in mind as I plow through 2014.<br />
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Happy New Year one and all.<br />
xo Joanna<br />
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<a href="http://www.unknownmami.com/2014/01/pump-it-up-sundays-in-my-city.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_QRypfGs86Q/UtHDIdX_R8I/AAAAAAAADZs/4MtFE15bSD0/s1600/Sundays+in+my+City+LOGO.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.unknownmami.com/2014/01/pump-it-up-sundays-in-my-city.html"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></a><a href="http://www.unknownmami.com/2014/01/pump-it-up-sundays-in-my-city.html" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stop by and see Unknown Mami for more Sundays In My City.</a></div>
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com <br />
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Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-68179331092776299882013-11-24T15:03:00.001-08:002013-11-24T15:09:23.855-08:00Waving Good-bye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
It is with a very heavy heart that I say my beautiful mother passed away November 3rd.<br />
<br />
Thirty-three days <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2013/10/im-not-in-charge.html">in the hospital</a> was a very long time to keep her spirits up, but Mom’s grace was always in check even as her taste buds and <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2013/10/crave.html">tolerance for cream of wheat and red jello wained</a>. Despite the difficulties she faced during her surprising and brief illness, she almost always had a smile on her face and a kind word for the nurses and doctors-- if even if that "kind word" was a request for a hot fudge sundae.<br />
<br />
After lengthy conversations with doctors, Mom made a very clear and thoughtful decision to stop treatment and all the poking, prodding and unsuccessful procedures repeatedly prescribed to her. They weren’t working and she knew it. Mom wanted to be back in her home, and her own bed, with her dog and cat curled up beside her. She was not afraid of her decision to leave the hospital and placed herself completely in God’s hands.<br />
<br />
These past several weeks have been heartbreaking, as you might imagine, but at the same time, my siblings and I, along with my 12 nieces and nephews, all had the same comforting and heart-felt knowledge about our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.<br />
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We. Were. Loved.<br />
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And our mother took her job as a parent very seriously.<br />
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Mom supported and encouraged our interests, hobbies and studies attending every dance recital, horse show, school function, sporting event, party, ceremony, divorce, birth, Grandparent Day, concert, graduation, and community events we participated in-- And she was present and happy to do so.<br />
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She showed us through her friendships what it meant to be a friend, and she gave us the tools we needed to grow into responsible adults and parents. She helped us raise our children and taught us through example to work hard for what we wanted.<br />
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Our mother also taught us the difference between right and wrong, and the importance of always telling the truth. She insisted, for example, that we stand outside on the front porch, even during blizzards, so she could honestly tell a phone caller we didn’t want to speak with that “we weren’t in the house right now.”<br />
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Mom gave us confidence with the absolute knowledge that no matter where she lived, she would always have a “no-questions-asked” policy if we ever needed to <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2011/06/no-place-like-home.html">come back home again</a>-- With open arms she provided a bed or an extra seat at the dinner table for as long as we needed help. She was our safe haven and always had our backs.<br />
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Our mother was always a woman of prayer and devout faith who taught us to worship the Lord in whatever way that worked best for us. Regardless if we followed her exact path or not, mom prayed we had a relationship with God and she made no judgement of how we participated-- although sometimes not so subtly-- like during the 70s when she would answer the phone “Good Evening God loves you”-- a statement that was absolutely horrifying to us as teenagers.<br />
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Her funeral on a Sunday seemed fitting because it was Mom’s favorite day of the week. Starting with Church in the morning, always sitting in the same front pew on the right side-- a spot she told us she picked so us kids would have to behave ourselves during services-- and ending the day with her calling each of my siblings and me to “count noses” as she’d say, to make sure we were all okay, even if she’d seen or spoken to us countless times that week already. It was our mom being our mom.<br />
<br />
So tonight instead of hearing her voice to check in, the five of us will remember our mother and...<br />
<br />
The incredible amount of butter she enjoyed consuming on a daily basis...<br />
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Her wearing layers of sweaters even in 90 degree weather...<br />
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The smile on her face when she ate <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2013/10/crave.html">ice cream</a>...<br />
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And S’ agapaw -- a secret code for I love you.<br />
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We will remember how mom loved her 29 cent lectures from her mentor, protector, advisor and best friend-- her sister, and how she had a smile reserved just for her when she called her durdle-der...<br />
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And how she was the best mother-in-law ever...<br />
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Her "love 'em and hug 'em" parenting advice...<br />
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And “Flapping her wings” to help us fly home to her safely.<br />
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We’ll remember how dinners together as a family were very important to mom...<br />
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How there was always room at her table for one more...<br />
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And how she always ended Grace by saying “Make us mindful of our need for You, Lord, and our need for each other”.<br />
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We will remember how she would undress her newborn grandbabies to count their fingers and toes...<br />
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And how she blessed their foreheads when she saw them...<br />
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And how much she loved her extended family like they were her own.<br />
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With appreciation, we will remember how she kept her cool during heated teenage battles with “That’s okay, I love you enough for both of us”.<br />
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And we will remember mom’s endless wave-- Mom would stand in her driveway or front window and wave good-bye every single time we’d leave her home-- Waving with both arms until our cars were completely out of sight.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WyBEbPaHaCc/UpJ3qiT2VPI/AAAAAAAADWA/Bk1f7N7NlNQ/s1600/Mom%27s+Obit+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WyBEbPaHaCc/UpJ3qiT2VPI/AAAAAAAADWA/Bk1f7N7NlNQ/s320/Mom%27s+Obit+Photo.jpg" width="293" /></a>When mom passed in her home it was heart-breaking and beautiful all at the same time. She made it very clear to us that she wanted it to be quiet so she could have her eyes wide open so as as not to miss any part of her journey-- And that’s how it was, with a peaceful smile on her face and a calmness we have never witness before, mom reached up to heaven on the wings of her deep, deep faith and gently graduated to heaven.<br />
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When the funeral director came to take mom away-- who also happened to be a lifelong friend, he gently wrapped her in a hug and placed her in his vehicle. Our family instinctively followed him outside and all stood in her driveway. Together, we waved, with both arms, one last time, until our mom was completely out of sight-- But she will be in our hearts forever.<br />
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Joanna</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211916946754614168.post-9078742062392748852013-10-26T22:10:00.004-07:002013-10-26T22:10:49.820-07:00Crave<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's interesting-- the foods people crave when they're not allowed to eat-- Like my <a href="http://www.thefiftyfactor.com/2013/10/im-not-in-charge.html">mom who's still in the hospital</a> (29 days and counting) and on a diet limited to chicken broth, cream of wheat, and Jello. <br />
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When the time came for a more substantial meal, her very first request was a Dairy Queen chocolate milkshake with whipped cream and a cherry on top. I literally ran out of the hospital and into a hail/snow/sleet/thunderstorm to get her one on Thursday. <br />
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And in the blink of an eye it was totally consumed leaving a smile on Mom's face (for the first time in a very long time) as she practically purred the word "Delicious!"<br />
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<a href="http://www.unknownmami.com/2013/10/hip-chick-farms-sundays-in-my-city.html">For more Sundays In My City click HERE</a></div>
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<b>What would you crave?</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">PS I was in Ohio again all this past week and I'm heading there again on Friday so I'll be scarce in these parts for a while. Please keep Mom in your prayers for healing and strength. </span><b></b><br />
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Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins</div>
Joanna Jenkinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10836376588710862173noreply@blogger.com39