The power in one drop of water

We have a family cottage in upstate New York - in fact so 'upstate' it's about 45 minutes from the Canadian border. We love to visit Alexandria Bay which is a famous vacation spot in that area. I have fond memories of walking along the tiny streets, ducking in to little ice cream shops and especially of taking a boat tour around the 1000 Islands.  While I was there a few years ago, the weight of this area's importance to me and my family was stronger than usual. We had just gathered to memorialize my grandmother - as well as my grandfather and his father - all at the same cemetery, so the fact that generations of my family visited this place, called it their home away from home, was becoming a tangible blanket over my shoulders. Since I'm getting older, I realize that I now will be the 'older' generation at the cottage and my feelings about the place have evolved from that of a child playing and jumping off the dock, to an adult who is grounded by this place, an adult who feels this 'home' as an anchor for all the crazy whitewater my life has become.  

On this visit to Alexandria Bay I stopped into a tiny jewelry and trinket shop.  I found 2 things that have become enormously important to me. Amongst all the typical silver charms like butterflies and hearts, there was a tiny silver propeller. A boat propeller.  I have always loved boats - the bigger the better. Military - love it. And this little propeller not only represented that but more importantly it seemed to symbolize my love for the water in our bay, the same water my grandparents swam in, the same water my father skipped rocks across as a kid.  After I pulled that out of the case, I wandered to the back and saw a title on a book 'The Secret Life of Water' by Masaru Emoto.  He is a Japanese scientist who tested the effects of words and music on water.  His premise is that a kind word can change the molecular structure of water. The photos of his experiments show beautiful snowflake-like crystals formed as a result of the sound of words like love, thank you and music like Beethoven's Pastorale.  In contrast, he shows broken, asymmetrical, shapes that were formed after the sounds of words like hate, or war, etc.   Pretty impressive.  His research was like the last piece in a puzzle for me:  The water of our bay holds all of the memories, love, laughter, tears and dreams of all the generations in our family.  We go there for a vacation but we all knew we returned to our day to day grind refreshed, revitalized and renewed.  I was pregnant at the time and I knew that I wanted to swim in those waters to bless my sweet baby.  I can't wait to bring her there now as a toddler so she can splash in it all by herself!
Dr. Emoto has sent out a global request, written in 13 different languages, for a world wide prayer to the water of Japan.   He is asking that everyone send kind healing words to this water to help them heal.  We know this can only help and certainly can't hurt because if you can change your morning cup of tea by the words 'thank you' we can make a bigger change in healing a country.

A festival of color - what a beautiful party!

Someday I'd like to see this in person. Any party that simply celebrates life, love and the triumph of good over evil - for TWO WEEKS, I'm in.  The colors are amazing and the joy on their faces is palpable!

Leafy greens / Folic Acid erases BPA in offspring!!

What to Do About Chemicals in Pregnant Women: A Green Solution. | Healthy Child Healthy World

Yay. Working Parents. Sigh.

I just read this article about a beautiful iPad app where parents can record their voices reading nursery rhymes to their children. However, the guy who wrote it obviously feels some shame at the need for it since he describes that his life has become a 'blasted lunar landscape" for not having the time to physically be there to read to them himself. I had to laugh (while choking back tears.) 

Free Hugs - some of the best stuff on earth

If you ever feel down, if you ever feel bad, or lonely or just plain old pissy (not me, ever) watch this video. Even I can't help smiling - and my chin will quiver a bit too. Plus, the soundtrack is Hallelujah - written by Mr. Leonard Cohen.   Thanks to my sister, MamaWA, for sending this and brightening my day!

The NYC Starbucks Sitcom

Up until about a year ago, I have to admit I swore off Starbucks for a lot of reasons: the long lines, the prices, non-fair trade, etc etc.  But then my sister got a job at the corporate HQ and I re-thought my blockade.  Factor in, too, the happiness I receive from coffee and now since I'm post baby nursing, I can dance happily and daily in a caffeine induced euphoria. And just like any drug addict, I need more and more to get that high. So naturally I went to Starbucks.  I used to refer to their coffee as Jet Fuel and I meant it in a slightly derogatory sense, but now I say Jet Fuel with delight. It's the only coffee that really ups my typing WPM and my ambition and giddy sense of aspirations of success. Yes. All in a cup of Grande Pike for $2.40 ($2.18 outside the city.) So in order to keep my job and possibly elevate to new levels of middle management, Starbucks has become an integral part of my career now.  The theory of this crutch is staggering but I wistfully pay it no mind, for in my happy bubble, I am invincible. Budgets and strategies are crushed! Spreadsheets are putty in my hands. Reports - bam!  Meetings - ya vole! Well, that's until lunch. Then productivity drops in direct proportion to hours since first sip (equation: P=T/S).  Anyhow, I thought I might start a regular posting of just what it takes to achieve said drug. Sure, NYC has a Starbucks on every corner, but you think you can just walk in, get a coffee and walk out?? Pftt. Silly non-New Yorker.  No, with my coffee usually comes a story of some kind and really, why keep that to myself? I am typing 155 wpm right now so I can share.   

This morning it's raining.  I have 2 choices of SBX locations to hit on the way to my office.  I can get off at the front of the train and hit the 42nd /6th ave spot, or get off the train at the back (which is where I board and frankly more convenient in my sloth-like, pre-caffeine subway bubble) at 40th / 6th and walk 2 blocks to the Madison Ave. location.  Now, not only do we New Yorkers have to consider the actual geographic location of a SBX we have to recognize the regulars, or the type of New Yorkers each location will attract.  You can imagine a SBX in the East Village will be different than these Mid-town locations, right? East Village hipsters stroll in, order basic bolds and Pikes, and usually tote a laptop or iPad etc.  They sit and discuss.  Midtown locations attract the suit.  Mr. Important Briefcase Man.  He is very busy.  He gets basic coffees too but is gone in a flash.  He usually gets a call while standing in line.  The McKenzie account is in jeopardy. Also, you get the lady suits.  Some really nice sophisticates but mostly, mousey oversize trenchcoats with sneakers. Ugh. They order some pretty serious drinks. Tall iced skinny vanilla soy latte decaf - with a straw.  The other thing to consider is that neither of these locations is very big. So often, if I'm running late, I go to the 42nd street spot because somehow it's not as busy. But Madison Ave, whoa.  Like, this morning, it's raining. I stood OUTSIDE the door, in a line to get IN to the Starbucks. Then once you get IN the door, you have to follow proper protocol and follow the person ahead of you closely, but not too close as to be weird, but enough so that when the line snakes around and wraps around on itself, it still remains clear to any NEW coffee hopeful, that yes, you indeed are ahead of them and therefore 2.5 minutes closer to coffee nirvana.  So there I am, marching in slow motion with all the military precision of the 3rd Reich, when Mr. Important Briefcase Man shoulder checks me on his way out.  He's on the McKenzie call.  Has his Grande Bold and is very important and unable to see us non-coffee peons and his corporate girth is too wide for the space between me and the door, so he takes me out.  Nice.  I, am too, quite important as I'm busy texting, so I merely say "Excuse You" and go back to my carefully considerate line holding texting and nonchalant Midtown way.   I also must note that my nonchalance can be attributed to an event prior to the Starbucks approach. I had stopped for a toasted english muffin at the deli first since it's on the way.  I got to the register and tried to read the black ink written on the paper wrapper. I know this is cheap, but why do I see 4 numbers? I look closer and see (smile) that Mr. Nice Deli Man had drawn a heart and then $1.10.  So I am now in a caffeine bubble encased in fluffy clouds.  Would be cooler if the Mr. Nice Deli Man was, oh, about 40, Latin and capable of singing just like Mike Reno from Loverboy and also was Admiral of the Pacific Fleet but no.... He may be 50 and from Uzbekistan. Still fun - husband should only be slightly nervous. Wink.  Regardless, I'll take it.  With my Grande Pike, to the office for a great Friday. 

You can see my devotion as evidenced below by my collection of cups - both pre- and post new logo. 

Party in a box (and no, it's not wine.)

Throwing parties for kids can be daunting. I'm no Martha.  And I know that my sister, who has 3 girls and a full time job, can't always get out to buy the right decorations and supplies necessary for properly representing true love and devotion which we all know parties are symbolic of in New York.  The more expensive - means the more we love you.   So one year I thought I'd send her the whole thing - everything (except us family on the other coast :(  and I found the best site to buy this "party in a box."   Birthday in a Box has many different collections for girls and boys - all in the same theme. There are animal parties (horses - omg breathe!), butterflies, movies, characters, princess / prince, sports, dinosaurs etc.  So you can get a tropical fish pinata, tropical fish games & favors, tropical fish plates & cups, streamers, sippy cups, candles and tropical fish invitations. Even stuff for sleepovers: the kids can personalize their own pillowcases or color their own dinosaurs! Everything - literally - except the cake and the kids. I have this site bookmarked because sometimes for each birthday I just send a couple of the games/favors to her house since there always seems to be more than her 3 kids running around. She has to make sure she recognizes the ones she puts to bed.