Negative thoughts? Blame your purse!

I assumed the bad news these days--recession, the euro and political rivalries--weighed me down. But a story on Health in a Heartbeat, “A Heavy Load Can Weigh on Mood and Mind,” told me otherwise.

Heavy loads can bring out “heavy thoughts,” according to a recent study. People burdened physically seemed to be burdened emotionally or psychologically and see things in a negative light. The “real” reason could be my purse!

Other articles point to back, neck and shoulder pain that result from a heavy purse. An article in the NYT recommended going with a fanny pack (quel horreur) but noted most women would rather undergo back injuries than commit this fashion faux pas.

So what is in my purse?

Wallet. . . . makeup. Glasses and sunglasses with heavy cases. A small notebook for drawings and ideas. A digital camera. Keys. Receipts (for shoes, cleaning or tailoring). Expired coupons. Three memory sticks. Scarf and cropped shrug. iPhone. . . sometimes a water bottle.

Rather than go the route of the fanny pack, I cleaned out my purse. . . . What didn’t fit has gone in a small backpack for my other shoulder. At least that way, the weight is distributed, and my mental state is. . . positive and balanced!

What Made Valentine's Day Memorable?

Were you among the millions of Americans seeking the perfect gift? Or among my favorites who gave out hugs or hand-made cards?

Valentine’s Day is the number-two holiday for giving flowers (Mother’s Day is number one). As many as 5-million roses had been primed for the day, according to CNBC. Another article in the Washington Times estimated spending at $17.6-billion for jewelry, candies and roses, restaurants and greeting cards.

Over the years, most of us have given or received chocolate or roses or gone out to dinner. But my most memorable valentines have been the cards. At Anthony Seeger Campus School (Virginia), we spent hours preparing valentines and making our valentine mailboxes. The entire class exchanged cards with messages like “Head over heels in love with you” or “You’re purr-fect for my Valentine.”

My grandparents sent the elegant, lacey, standing valentine. My dad always signed his card, “Guess who” or “A secret admirer.” Mom still has a special message about love. And my sister Margaret, the artist, sends something worthy of an art museum of valentine wishes.

This year, I looked for Necco candy hearts, which I never found, and drew Valentines for a few special people.


I was sad not to find my letter box of valentines that date from elementary school. But I was happy to receive three valentines (via mail and hand delivery) and bunches of heart-felt wishes (in person and through social media).
What are your memorable valentine experiences?

A special xo to my Margaret for providing photos of her valentines collection. Thanks, Bah. xo

For more information, check out these articles:

- Margo D. Beller, “Retailers See Happier Valentine’s Day,” CNBC, 2-14-12.

- David Hood, “For PajamaGram, Ads Targeted Like Cupid’s Arrows,” Washington Times, 2-13-12.

John Kell, “Showing Quirky Love for Valentine’s Day,” Wall Street Journal, 2-13-12

Just a one-night trip. . . . 4 Tips for Business with pleasure

A business trip offers a chance to get out of the office, network with new people and learn about different things. These experiences, which are already valuable, become priceless when combined with pleasure.

1. Packing. Packing always adds an element of angst—too little or too much! My friend, Heather, a seasoned business traveler, advised having a bag of “spare everything” ready to go at a moment’s notice. Traveling by car is so much easier than plane. None of those TSA requirements. But still, for one night, I planned to travel light. Everything should fit in a tiny carryon. But shoes and makeup left no room for clothes or books. The larger suitcase let me plan for 30-degree temperature shifts in the Florida weather but did not fit in the trunk of my Mustang.



2. Preparing. I was headed for a symposium concerning the Indian River Lagoon, a unique estuary on Florida’s coast. I did advance reading on the estuary itself, speaker credentials and abstracts. This meeting provided a chance to reconnect or network in a shared quest to find ways to convey scientific information to stakeholders so effective policies could be made.

3. Having fun. My conference was just south of one of my favorite beaches. And not surprisingly, my trip also coincided with an Argentine tango workshop.

4. Learning. The conference surpassed my expectations in terms of intensity, dialogue and new connections. Advanced prep helped. But many of my items I planned to pack never made it to the suitcase.

The follow up to the conference is as important as the meeting itself. The dialogue needs to continue. As for that bag of “spare everything,” well, I’ll be ready for the next trip!

I’d love to hear about your business travel experiences! And, if you have any packing advice. . . .

Super Bowl Super Culture

Watching the Super Bowl from the Clevelander (South Beach)--courtesy of Sa!

Until recently, for me, football meant sitting through excruciatingly long games with few moments of action (throw, catch or fumble, pileup, flag). But given it’s the kind of event that draws crowds and becomes the focus of conversation, well, hey, it’s time to see what’s involved. It’s Super Bowl Sunday!

I had hoped to find a crash course that would enable me to talk with authority on offensive or defensive plays--like a Berlitz for football. But a Google search showed that football involves much more than players, teams and positions. There is the culture itself—tickets, the price of advertising, bonuses for winners and losers, food at Super Bowl parties. . . which looked like a good place to start my education.

- For seats at the Lucas Oil Stadium (with 68,000 seats), face value ranged from $800 to $1,200 and an estimated $3,500 on the secondary market (that price had fallen to a reasonable $1,100 on Feb. 4).
- $3.5-million for a 30-second advertising spot.
- Players on the winning team receive $88,000, and those on the losing team get $44,000.
- Traditionally, it’s been nachos or wings. My local grocery deli said, however, that those big ring sub sandwiches have been the popular orders.
For now, I’m waiting for the ads, Tim Tebow and Madonna at half time and checking Amazon. One reviewer, Wanda, says the book Tackling Football: A Women's Guide to Understanding the College Game, would have saved her marriage. That sounds like an endorsement to me.

Final score - Giants 21-17. . . . I'll be ready next year.

To learn more about the Super Bowl culture, visit these sites:


Party Guide – What to Avoid
Jason Gay, “The 21 Rules of Surviving a Super Bowl Party,” Wall Street Journal, Feb. 3, 2012 (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203711104577199052766483434.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_News_BlogsModule)
Tickets
Bill Sayer, “Super Bowl Tickets? Here’s How It Works,” CPBJNow.com, Feb. 3, 2012, http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/article/20120203/SPORTS/120209916/Super-Bowl-tickets?-Here%E2%80%99s-how-it-works&template=sports.
Fans
Matthew Futterman, “A Game Guide for Three Types of Fans: Novice, Casual, Expert,” Feb. 3, 2012, Wall Street Journal, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204652904577197361699434818.html
Food
“Final Round: Game Day Snacks Bracket Challenge,” Huffington Post, Feb. 3, 2012, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/vote-super-bowl-snacks-round-4_n_1250226.html.