Memorial Day - Did you remember?

The flag is flown at half-mast position until 12 p.m. to commemorate all Americans who have died in the service of the country. Then it is flown at full mast.



On Memorial Day, we remember the lives of those Americans lost in war. The numbers for combat and other victims are staggering. These figures do not include casualties in those other countries or the families and friends impacted by the loss. Total American deaths by war, according to Wikipedia, is as follows: Civil War (625,000), WWII (405,339), WWI (116,516), Vietnam (58,151), Korea (36,516). . . and the War on Terror (6,280).





I’ll leave you with quoted material from two media sources, which echo my feelings:

Herald News: Memorial Day has real meaning
Monday, May 27, 2013
Herald News
People may have different opinions on the wars America has participated in. And that's fine. . . . .
But the ultimate sacrifice some of these men and women make in pursuit of a stronger nation and safer world deserves our respect and attention. Those who have personally lost someone to battle may feel this weight throughout the year. But for many, today may be one of the only times when attention is truly given.

Washington Post
The Post’s View -
The debt we owe our servicemen and women
By the Editorial Board, May 26, 2013

It does seem to us that Memorial Day has meant more to much of the country in recent years, and there is a widespread respect for the men and women in uniform and an appreciation of what they have done for their country. There is, too, a greater awareness of the trauma and lasting damage inflicted on many of those who survived the worst shocks of war. But we have not yet come to a full understanding of the debt owed those who have died and suffered for this country.


MY NOTE - A parting thought . . . Rocky Mountain News reporter Jim Sheeler and photographer Todd Heisler covered several families who lost sons in Iraq in “The Final Salute,” a 12-part series, published in the Rocky Mountain News, Nov. 9, 2005. The series was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in feature writing in 2006.

Cycling & Healthy Lifestyles in Melbourne, Fla.

Years ago, when my kids attended elementary school in Melbourne Beach, most of their friends rode bikes to school along a combination of side streets and bike paths. The kids liked their independence and more importantly, they incorporated a healthy lifestyle in their day.




Joggers and a cyclist make their way toward Melbourne.

Located on the Indian River Lagoon and just inland from the barrier islands, Melbourne provides numerous opportunities to cycle. However, challenges still need to be met—connector trails for the popular bike routes (e.g., over the causeway bridges or off-road trails), bike racks and public information. Furthermore, a cycling /pedestrian-friendly approach needs to be adopted by businesses and urban planners . Banks rarely provide bike racks and discourage cyclists from using the drive through. Cars pulling in and out of numerous strip malls and the lack of center medians put us all on a collision course.




From the Melbourne causeway bridge, cyclists and pedestrians have a view of the Indian River Lagoon with the ocean in the background.

With increasing interest in exercise and cycling, transportation planning groups are now completing an inventory of paths and trails. At the same time, a larger project is underway to link trails between St. Pete and Titusville, which will promote public interest in cycling and healthy lifestyles.



Nice, France, bike rental is located on the boardwalk overlooking the Mediterranean.

Let’s hope Melbourne gets on the map as a bike-friendly city with the added benefits of getting population into shape and appreciating the environment. Healthy lifestyles that start in elementary school could be incorporated as part of the adult commute.

Mother’s Day—a Special Time but the Perfect Gift Remains Elusive

I’ve scanned racks and racks of cards, looking for a message that feels just right for my mom.



I’ve read numerous articles on unique gifts like a Daum vase (too expensive) or hand-made crafts (not Mom’s style).



Given that Mother’s Day (second after Valentine’s) is the time to give cut flowers, I pondered that option too. But we are not in the South of France where cut flowers are not only beautiful but affordable, and my mom would rather have something more lasting she can plant.




I’m sure I’m not alone in looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

My mom would say the best gift is family, which includes pets. But this year, with our family so scattered (Turkey , the South of France and the East Coast), it’ll be just the two of us.

In the past years, Mom would want to fix the Mother’s Day meal herself (after all, it’s the time together, she would say). But this time, she has agreed. The two of us will head for a restaurant in the historic downtown.





And the perfect gift? The time spent together along with some photos (of the pets), rose petal jelly and a fire orchid she can plant.

What are you doing for Mother's Day?

Midlife Career Change – Musings on a Post by a Career Coach

Midlife Career Change. . . .

Not a crisis but a change or transition, prompted by numerous factors – getting older but also more discerning; facing changes in relationships (addition or loss of family and friends); discovering the need for truly meaningful work (social responsibility); allowing for our outside passion to grow; recognizing that attitude has come with age and experience.



Career transition is just part of growth. At 50+, we Baby Boomers have accumulated years of experience and a portfolio of accomplishments. Now, we look to a transition to meaningful work.

My own career path was never about earning power, but instead I followed a trail—what interested me.

For that reason, I went from freelance journalism (not always easy or obvious because I worked abroad and in the States, where I took on numerous assignments, including articles, technical reports, exhibition catalogs and newsletters, not to mention translations).
Then, because of the uncertainty of a pay check and the need for something more fulfilling, as a single parent with two small kids, I went back to the university to work on my Ph.D and then entered a new world-- teaching, research and service. A graduate teaching assistantship, encouraging professors as well as a supportive family made this possible.

In an insightful post, career coach Kathy Caprino provides reasons as to why midlife is a period of transition. I’ve adapted her points below:

- It is a time of “re-evaluation.” The accumulation of experiences (good and bad) has allowed for reflection and self discovery.

- Kids now have their careers, friends and families. No more need to think about school zones, schedules. . . .

- Social and family networks change through loss or addition.

- We have a new understanding of success.

- We have an attitude (thanks to my friend, SL, for pointing out this quality).

- We have credentials, and in the words of the career coach, “We have earned it.”

Change is scary, but even more frightening is to avoid taking the step.

As Caprino concludes, “Midlife can pave the way to an exciting reclamation of your passion, power and purpose in life and work.”

Here we go!

Share your experiences!

Florida Wildlife Corridor - What Better Way to Celebrate Earth Day 2013!

The early history of Florida focuses on the discovery of springs associated with renewing properties. Then in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the hydrology was altered to “transform wasteland into gold,” as developers said. Only recently, little-by-little, have most of the public come to recognize the value of this unique ecosystem.





This month, numerous PBS affiliates are airing a documentary on the Florida Wildlife Corridor that chronicles the 2012 100-day, 1,000-mile trek by four individuals (conservationist Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, photojournalist Carlton Ward Jr., cinematographer Elam Stoltzfus and bear biologist Joe Guthrie, map taken from the website), which shows migration paths (and obstacles) of wildlife.



Loop Road, Big Cypress Swamp

The project has numerous goals, which include the creation of habitat and migration paths (basically, wildlife greenways to enable passage under highways and the linking of conservation areas), protection of the flow of water (Everglades and wetlands) and education of the public through experiences that enable individuals to connect with nature.




Deer, Gainesville Rails Trails

For all of us on Earth Day, we should take to heart the words of the Florida Wildlife Corridor participants, to protect these spaces for “solitude and sanctuary,” critical to the existence of the wildlife and water flow of our unique ecosystem in this state of more than 19-million residents.


Mangroves, Melbourne causeway

Thought for Earth Day. . . .Imagine what it would be like to be wildlife, trying to get from your neighborhood to the nearest source of water.

Please Hold for the Next Available Representative. . . .

By changing to a better phone plan, my payments changed from billing to prepay. Then an unknown charge showed up on my debit card. Given other family member had had $800 of gas charged at a WAWA station in Orlando and a hotel in London, I assumed this was a fraudulent charge so canceled the debit card, which meant my autopay accounts had to be changed.


After nearly three weeks, my TMobile account (on autopay) kept texting me that I didn’t have sufficient funds to make a call. Customer service folks could not identify the source of problem, but they said, “Thank you for choosing TMobile” and transferred me to another department with a message, “Please hold for the next available representative.”





It was difficult to get a response that applied to my situation so I returned to the store. After two visits, the in-store personnel was on the verge of despair because they too had called customer service on my behalf and only received “scripted” responses.
“This plan seems to be tainted. I think you may have to cancel it and get a new TMobile plan,” they admitted.

Or go with another provider, I thought.

I was given one more phone number to call. The dispute verification department identified the problem. The charge I assumed was fraudulent was actually a valid charge. VESTA TMobile? How hard would it be for TMobile to inform me my charges would show up like this on my bank statement? I already get countless useless text messages from the company.


With all the running around, I learned about a problem that lurks within TMobile. Its in-store representatives have very little authority—in fact, they cannot resolve many of the account issues. And yet, when we customers have problems, we’d rather get things resolved in-person then via phone, where we get put on hold for the next available representative.

What are your experiences with cell phone customer service?

Corkscrews . . . A coming anachronism?

Years ago, I always ensured I had one of those winged (double-handled) corkscrews in the house just in case I had to open the wine. Later, I graduated to the double-hinged corkscrew, used by waiters or sommeliers.

But now, an increasing number of bottles come with screw caps. A 2010 article in the Wall Street Journal cites a report by Nomacorc LLC (a manufacturer of synthetic corks), which estimates 20 percent of wines use synthetic, 11 percent have screw tops and the remainder, cork. These days, it has nothing to do with price or quality, given that Château Margaux and others are investigating ways to seal wines.




Wine had been sealed with corks since the 17th century. The manufacture of bottles (cylinder bottles were molded whereas the onion-shaped earlier bottles were hand blown) enabled storage in bottles (rather than casks) and shipping. Improved corks to prevent leakage led to the need for corkscrews.

Corkscrews worked fine on corks but not so well on synthetics. But why the growth of synthetics and screw tops since the late 1990s? Most articles point to the problem of corked wine (a moldy smell) from cork taint.

Is consumer acceptance of synthetics and screw tops based on snobbery or taste? It’s more impressive to wield a corkscrew than to unscrew a top, but studies show consumers can't distinguish a difference in taste.

Research underway at the University of California (Davis) focuses on the effectiveness of wine closures for various wines. Those results will be published this summer.


Admittedly, now that I have finally mastered the art of uncorking a bottle, I am disappointed not to be able to flaunt this skill. But then I think back on those trips when we pulled out a bottle and glasses only to find no one remembered the corkscrew.