At Work, Rest or Play, Animals are the Best!

My Derick 

Monday I started working at the home of a new client (who will probably use my services once a week).

Within minutes of working, her beautiful, fluffy black cat with big green eyes, jumped on my lap and stayed there for almost the entire time I was in the client’s office.

This kitty cutie was a big fluff ball and it made me a little homesick thinking of how my Derick is always on my lap while I am working at home, knocking the mouse out of my hand when I’m working so I could stop and pet him! How cute is that?

And it made me realize — I think all my clients are pet lovers! That makes me so happy. Clients, friends, family, almost everyone I know loves animals. These little creatures are just too much, too adorable, too cute. All they want is to be fed and a lot of love.

When the kitty jumped in my lap, my new client said, “She knows you’re an animal lover.”

That is so true. They tend to gravitate to those who love them. But it’s also funny when they go to the ones who don’t love them. It’s as if an animal can sense the goodness in a person’s soul and knows deep down that someone who isn’t an animal lover may have it in them even in a little, tiny way.

I can’t imagine living in a home without a pet. All my life I’ve had: cats, dogs, a ferret, turtles, a guinea pig, fish, a snake and hamsters. The little that we do to take care of them, and all the love they give back to us.

Every day should be “bring your pet to work day” — the world would be a happier place.

And every night should be snuggle with your babies night.

I have just two cats — Billy and Derick. But if I had just one, or if I had 101 — they are all welcome on the bed to sleep with us!

Readers and fellow bloggers — tell me about your pet! And post links to pictures!

(Even if your pet is deceased, you can tell me about your pet and we can honor him/her and say a little prayer).

I Don’t Do Facials

Me, late 40s (Photo by Darlene Foster)

I don’t do facials.

The other day someone said to me that if I don’t enjoy facials I haven’t received a good one.

Wrong.

I received many “good” ones. I don’t like them — period.

First of all, except for my husband, I don’t like anyone touching my face (especially women with creepy long nails). Facials aren’t relaxing to me. They take too long and I can think of a million better things I’d rather do with my time. And if the person giving me a facial is a talker — forget about it! Nothing is more irritating than senseless chatter.

Mind you, I have gotten facials in amazing health spas that are classy, clean and have a very spiritual atmosphere. But if something is not your bag — it’s just not your bag! I will not pretend to be into something just to keep up with the Joneses (unless it’s a very sexy Jones like Tom Jones in the 1970s!)

Yesterday I was in Whole Foods and one of the women sampling products commented on my “beautiful skin” and how I looked like I was glowing. Mind you this woman was at least 10 years younger than me. So to hear how great your skin is from a much younger woman is truly a compliment.

When I told her that my beauty regimen is just slabbing coconut oil over my face first thing in the morning, she couldn’t believe it. Then she added, “Coconut oil seems to be the latest thing.”

I’m not one to follow beauty fads. My love for coconut oil came by chance. A few years ago I realized my skin got a little sensitive in my old age and it would turn red with regular beauty products. (Mind you, for the past 20 years I’ve only used all natural products that don’t test on animals).

So coconut oil seemed to be the purest thing I could use to keep my skin soft and it works! (I prefer Spectrum brand).

I do not sleep with the oil on my face, but I put it on every morning. I work out and then relax and have breakfast. Then I take a hot shower and the oil gets into my pores.

I did not read about this routine anywhere, I just figured it out on my own.

I also think eating clean, organic, natural foods attributes to healthy skin.

Bernardo LaPalla is 109 years old and eats a pretty clean diet. I also read somewhere that he puts olive oil all over his skin. This man looks amazing! More like he’s in his 70s than 109! Of all I read of him, I never once read that he gets facials.

I honestly think facials are unnecessary and a waste of money (and worse, a waste of time).

Bernardo LaPalla — age 109!

One of the tips Bernardo gives in regard to staying young is “Don’t be an uptight fanatic.”

I totally agree with that because being a fanatic about your health is very stressful. And I know when I’m very stressed, I’ll get a blemish. So when people say beauty is from within, they are correct. Stay positive and happy and your skin will look great.

So two cheap tricks that don’t take up a lot of time and cost much:

1. Be a nice person

2. Coconut oil or olive oil

ENJOY!

Maryanne's Jukebox

Happy Birthday to the late Johnny Cash!

Unfortunately I don’t have a Johnny Cash story to share, as I never got to see him perform live. But he was a pretty big hit in our home, growing up.

One time I did get to DJ at the Knitting Factory in NYC after his death for a Johnny Cash diabetes benefit. Whenever I deejayed I always threw some Johnny Cash in the mix (although one uptight goth rocker didn’t dig it and I got flack for it — screw him, ha-ha, how could you not love JOHNNY CASH?!)

Here are a few amazing tunes from the legendary JOHNNY CASH!

It Ain’t Me Babe

One Piece at a Time

Folson Prison Blues

Jackson

And Johnny Cash’s impersonation of Elvis! (Perhaps the first Elvis impersonator ever? This is hysterical!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G8jeVrzJ9U

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I’m Bringing Nosy Back!

Me, wishing people would take the time to communicate properly! (Photo by Darlene Foster)

For those of us in our 40s or 50s, we may have had a nosy aunt who asked us all kinds of annoying questions like, “When are you going to get married?” “Why do you wear your hair that way?” or “Did you gain/lose weight?”

It may have been so annoying back then, but nowadays having a nosy person around would be like a breath of fresh air. Seriously.

I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times — people today are just too self-absorbed. We should all learn from our elderly aunts of yesteryear — asking each other questions isn’t a bad thing!

Now, I don’t mean going overboard. There is a type of prying that is totally uncalled for. I would never, ever ask someone when they’re getting married, if they plan on having kids, or how much money they have in the bank.

But sometimes a sincere “And how are YOU doing?” would mean the world to a lot of people.

Give and take is called a CONVERSATION.

There are just too many people in this world that choose to babble on, about themselves. When I was in therapy, my therapist said to me, “You’re right. You know one time I was talking to a friend and I got off the phone realizing I talked about myself too much and never even asked the other person how she was doing.”

Yeah, bingo!

One too many times I’ve been trapped in conversations where people just go on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on, without coming up for air. I have a relative who once talked for 50 minutes non-stop about a simple operation that could have been told briefly in less than 10 minutes.

This is why I dread events. It drains your soul when you’re stuck listening to someone and not getting a word in edgewise.

But what is even worse, is when you DO talk and the other person either: 1. changes the topic back to him/herself or 2. has to one-up everything you said.

URGH!  KILL ME NOW!

I get in situations like that, and I’m secretly imagining the old episodes of “All in the Family” where Archie Bunker is pretending to take a noose and strangling himself when Edith goes into yet another one of her long-winded stories. But the sad news is, not everyone is as charming as Edith Bunker!

This saying is so true, “If you are doing all the talking, you’re boring someone.”

Do you want to stand out from the rest? Do you want to be truly unique? Then ask questions. Good ones. That is how someone will remember you as a “good person” and not someone to be avoided or dreaded.

In all my life as a journalist, I’ve never had an interviewee tell me they didn’t want to answer a question. No one ever said to me, “No comment.” Because my questions are thoughtful and non-intrusive. In fact, many famous people told me some great stories “off the record” because I have a welcoming attitude that makes people feel comfortable and want to share! And that is definitely a good thing.

No, no one wants to be that nosy aunt, but let’s all make a little more effort to make conversation what it should be, so everyone involved feels a sense of win/win.

I feel that we need to bring “nosy” back in a similar fashion — an upgraded positive, modern way. When you ask someone a question about him or herself, you can make him/her feel like a star! Remember being a child? We’d ask each other cool things like, “What did you dream about last night?” or “What is your favorite color?” or even “What zodiac sign are you?”

People should be able to leave an event feeling refreshed, happy and ecstatic, and a sense of friendship/family. Not drained by a know-it-all who doesn’t know when to shut up.

Take some time today to ask others questions. You may be pleasantly  surprised by the results!

Maryanne's Jukebox

Sister Janet Mead

Here’s another 1970s hit, “The Lord’s Prayer” which was actually sung by a singing nun named Sister Janet Mead.

I’ll never forget when this song first came out. I was a little kid and my little sister’s hamster just died. When this song came on the radio, she sang, “My hamster who walks in heaven.” Too cute!

ENJOY (I love the footage where she’s actually singing with her band. Too cool!)

The Lord’s Prayer

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Maryanne's Jukebox

Mocedades

In the 1970s Mocedades was the only group to have a hit song in the Top 40, sung entirely in Spanish.

The name of that song was “Eres Tu.”

It’s a most gorgeous song, check it out:

Eres Tu

And here is the English translation:

Like a promise, you are, you are
Like a summer morning
Like a smile, you are, you are
Like that, like that, you are

All my hope, you are, you are
Like fresh rain in my hands
Like a strong breeze, you are, you are
Like that, like that, you are

[Chorus:]
You are like the water of my source
(Something like that, you are)
You are like the fire of my home
You are like the fire of my bonfire
You are like the wheat of my bread
You are

Like a poem, you are, you are
Like a guitar in the night

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Cult Blogger

My blog … it’s not for everyone

Why do I blog?

I started this blog a year ago as a creative outlet to write about things I like, mostly positive and inspirational because that’s how I am. But I also like to share about my life because writing for an audience, I write better than what I write in my private diaries. So, this blog is a wonderful document of my life.

Also, being a professional writer since 1995, even though I choose the topics I get paid for writing and I just ADORE writing as a profession, I do have a quote about journalism:

“It’s journalism, not creative writing. You’re writing a format. It’s like being in a cover band.”

— Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta

So I blog!

Now, not wanting to go by formats, I mentioned before that I’m not a “tit-for-tat” blogger. I don’t spend time “liking” every blogger that likes me. I find it to be phoney and that’s not my personality.

I am not in this as a popularity contest, or to get a million followers.

I am in this to, as I said earlier, document my life and any friends I make in the meantime is a beautiful bonus.

That said, I have to point out that I stop following blogs if I’m not connecting with a fellow blogger.

For instance, if I make a sincere comment to a fellow blogger and they don’t respond; if I email a fellow blogger and they can’t be bothered answering; if I’m always reading someone’s blog and I never hear from them or if they are just pressing “like” all the time in my blog without commenting.

There are so many great blogs out there and so many great people, I like to spend my time with the BEST. Those with the best personalities, those with the best insights and those that make me laugh and make me think of them during the day.

No, I’m not making blogging like “American Idol” by making “cuts” (as someone once said to me when I made Face Book cuts years ago). It’s just that time is precious and limited. So, let’s be honest. I don’t have time to read hundreds of blogs every day and I’m not going to be phoney and press “like, like, like” if I just skimmed through something and didn’t look at it.

That said, I highly doubt I’ll follow a blog that has several hundred followers already, especially when blogs with fewer readerships are even better!

So many times, early on, I’d read “Freshly Pressed” and be like, “What did I read that for? Well, that was a boring waste of time.” When someone that has maybe 50 followers I’m like, “WOW, this person should be known worldwide — this is fantastic!”

I think my blog is pretty versatile if I do say so myself. It offers music, spirituality, fun, animals and health. But if my blog is kept at cult status because I’m not playing  the game of re-blogging others, liking everything, interviewing other bloggers and giving out awards — SO BE IT!

What the hell — my art was once called “punk art,” so keeping it real, I don’t mind being a cult blogger. In fact, I’m quite enjoying my cult status.

The Missy Award! (For Animal Lovers)

I stopped doing the Awards thing for awhile because it is a lot of work.

But I couldn’t resist this one from Ivonne: http://ivonnemontijo.wordpress.com/2013/02/23/the-missy-award/#comment-1703

Being an animal lover, I am soooo honored! Ivonne presented me with this award for being a vegetarian (Since 1986 I might add; and haven’t used products that tested on animals since the early 1990s!)

And isn’t her doggie the cutest?! I wanna snuggle with Missy all night!! AND RUB THAT BELLY!!!!

SQUEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The  Missy Award is presented to those bloggers who support and advocate for animals either in the blog as a whole or a blog post.  They can be animal lovers, vegetarian,vegan, rescue workers, doesn’t matter it’s all about the animals.

The Rules are:

1- You must post the Award Picture onto your blog–but who doesn’t love putting award pictures on their blog?!!!

2- Link back to http:ivonnemontijo.wordpress.com

3-And answer two questions.

A- What inspires or motivates you to write?

B- Why do you love animals?

4-Nominate other worthy bloggers or just simply accept the award and do #’s 1-3

5- Oh yes, please let your nominees know you nominated them .

My answers are :

A. What inspires or motivates you to write? EVERYTHING. Life is just one big story waiting to be told. I can write about my life, your life, my cat’s life … it’s all good!

B. Why do you love animals? Animals are just the sweetest things ever. All they want is to survive and to be loved. You give them a little love and what you get in return is tenfold. My little cat Derick looks at me as if I am God. It’s just so amazing. And they are so smart too. From fish to a monkey — all animals have something to offer. Just pay attention and you’ll see!

My TOP 3 nominees for this award are:

MISS HARPER LEE: http://thek9harperlee.wordpress.com/

(For being the cutest, most reflective Golden Retriever on Word Press!)

RACHEL MANKOWITZ http://rachelmankowitz.wordpress.com/ 

(For sharing stories about her adorable doggie, Cricket!)

LONG LIFE CATS AND DOGS http://longlifecatsanddogs.wordpress.com/

(Check out Susan’s blog, she does SO MUCH for animals, such an inspiration!)

Congratulations to my winners, please spread the award around, animals are a GOOD THING!

Vultures

I love freebies. I think almost everyone does.

But it needs to be pointed out that freebies are a way of advertising for companies and people shouldn’t act like vultures when it comes to freebies. “Freebies” does not mean a literal free for all — not only on the end of the consumer but on the end of the company too (and I will get to that shortly).

A couple months ago I was in Vitamin Shoppe and they were having a free sample day. I was so happy because I was able to find a natural headache solution that worked. Had I not tried a free sample, I would have never known of this product. Now the company has a new satisfied customer because of me trying their sample.

The key words here are “a free sample” — not “all the free samples you can stuff into your bag.”

That same day I saw some samples of a very pricy chlorella product. A woman grabbed ALL of them. ALL! I took my one sample and wanted to get another for a friend who was with me, but at the other end of the store, and thanks to that greedy woman none were left.

People stuff things in their bags whether they need them or not. Even if they don’t know what something is, they will take it because the price, free, is right. It bothers me is that people don’t consider others, that others may need a free sample more than they do. Perhaps a certain sample can be the key thing a heart or cancer patient needs to put him/herself back on track? So, please, people, remember that it’s not always all about YOU.

On weekends Whole Foods usually has a bunch of tables set up for free sampling. If I’ve already tried the product, if I’m already using the product, or if I don’t intend on buying the product, I do not take a free sample.

These workers are standing on their feet for four hours straight and some get commissions on what they are selling. It’s important not to be a T.W. (Time Waster) and have respect for this person’s job. Do not let greed and gluttony get the best of you when it comes to free samples. It’s a sampling table for cryin’ out loud — don’t make it your white trash luncheon affair!

When I have some extra money that is when I’ll sample something because then I could afford to buy if from the person selling. This is how you properly show respect for these hard workers. And if the person is really nice, I’ll even go as far as putting something back that I originally intended to buy in order to buy theirs so they could get a credit/bonus.

Now, on the flip side of the coin, sales people can be vultures too. Several months ago I was thrilled to be going to the Mind Body Spirit expo. But I will not attend again this year.

Sales people at the Mind Body Spirit expo were extremely vulture-like, trying to get you into their booths and to buy what they were selling, some coming out into the middle of the floors running up to you, even using scare tactics to get you to sign up to come to their facilities. (And they would make a face if you weren’t interested. How very Mind/Body/Spirit of them! *note sarcasm*)

That reminded me of a clothing store my sister and I used to go to in the 1980s. It was in a mall and the saleswomen would come out of the store into the mall and try to get you into their store. My sister put it perfectly, “They attack you!”

You see, on both ends of the spectrum, nothing that is forced is ever a good thing. No matter which end of the table you’re on, giving or receiving, there has to be a mutual respect without pushiness, without greed, without urgency, without a sense of entitlement.

So, to all receivers, unless your admission price includes a free goodie bag, please keep your hands at a level of gracefulness, not grubbiness.

And to all givers, give greatly, not begrudgingly. Give your samples, but don’t act like people owe you something if they are not interested. Because you never know, someone may not be interested right now but they could be in the future. And don’t think they can’t sense you making that face at them when they turn away!

Trust me, they can!

 

 

Team Charlie!

Charlie Askew – American Idol contestant

I didn’t expect to pick a favorite so early in the American Idol game this season, but from day one, I fell in love with Charlie Askew.

He has a sweet, unique voice. He’s adorable as all hell. And I just love his stage presence and style. And from all the comments on You Tube, it seems he’s already stole America’s hearts!

Check him out, doing Elton John’s “Rocket Man”:

CHARLIE ASKEW

My favorite Charlie Askew quote is “I glorify weirdness.”

On a side note, I wasn’t going to watch the show this year. In the beginning I did not like the bickering between Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey, but that has subsided, thank you Jesus!

I never even heard of Nicki Minaj before this show and she really turned me off because she just seemed mean. But now, watching the show, she grew on me big time. I just love this woman! She’s sweet and funny and really gives great input/feedback (although I’m not always agreeing with her). I also think she’s gorgeous when her look is more toned down. Now I’m a big fan of make-up and hair and extravagance, but not everyone can be Cher or Dolly Parton. In my opinion Nicki doesn’t need all that. She’s a natural exotic beauty. The dark wigs and the toned down blonde ones are the best for her.

And she’s so cute when she flirts with the contestants. I love that! She’s endearing in that she reminds me of my grandmother who used to flirt with everyone. So, yeah, go Nicki! You’re awesome.

Now back to Charlie — I’m so glad he made it to the next round. My favorites always go way too soon, but keeping my fingers crossed that he will stay for awhile. (And I’m sure MANY other viewers feel the same!)