Because of all the moving around I do, I am seriously considering investing in a rolling briefcase. Since I have a difficult time concentrating when my work space is unorganized, and since I am prone to setting up shop anywhere there’s a flat surface, power supply, and internet access, I think it would be a good investment for me.

They say a rolling stone gathers no moss. So far, I am moss-less, although I wouldn’t mind settling down long enough to grow some. *sigh*

This year, physically, has been rather miserable. The allergies kicked in, and I never had them before. Then, I caught two colds in the same freakin’ month. What’s that all about?

Well, I’m not taking it lying down. I’m taking my vitamins, trying to get enough sleep, and watching what I eat. Okay, so mostly I watch it going from my hand to my mouth, but at least I’m watching it, right? Anyway, I’m going to look into allergy bedding as well. Something tells me I’m going to need all the weapons in my arsenal I can get.

Old age. It gets better every day. /sarcasm.

Okay, first of all I think it’s been established I hate the phone. Even more than the phone, I hate leaving my cave to mingle with….you know…actual people. Well, it’s not really THAT bad, and I’ve been in a rehab-type program with my BFF to help try to get me more acclimated to this type of activity.

I’m not thrilled, but I haven’t killed anyone yet, although I have caught a couple of germie things. All in all, it’s been a pleasant experience and I think I’m liking people more than I have in a long time. Hrmph. Who knew?

Anyway, some things are not going to change. Such as paying bills in person. Uh, no. I actually take care of the majority of stuff from the comfort of my laptop. I found my car insurance online, and I take care of my major bills the same way.

So far, I’ve had no problems of any kind, despite dire warnings. I’m hoping someday, the Internetz Fairy comes along with his Magic Wand and banishes my bills to the far reaches of the Web.

It’s one of my most favorite fantasies. Heh.

I’ve never been a yellow gold person. I like my jewelry to be white gold. And believe me, white gold is difficult to find. Now the difference between yellow gold and white gold is a layer of nickel, manganese, palladium.or rhodium, about .05 percent.

White gold is not only more difficult to find, but is often more expensive to buy. However, in this day and age of “we buy gold for cash” or “buy gold online,” it’s practically worthless. Yellow gold has seen a resurgence and people have begun buying it and stocking it away for a rainy day. As our dollar decreases, yellow gold has increased in value.

Rose gold has the added element of copper to give it that rosey look. It is also hard to find, and because of the added copper, doesn’t maintain the yellow gold value. My mother graduated high school in 1950. Her class ring is made of both yellow gold and rose gold, a rarity to be sure.

My point is if you’re going for asthetics, choose what color gold you prefer. But if you’re going for investment value, stick to yellow gold. Yellow gold maintains it’s value, where the other colored golds do not.

Let’s face it, as we get older, it’s more difficult to lose weight. There are many factors that play into that which most people don’t understand. I have a lot of men, who let’s face it, their bodies don’t really function the same as women, argue with me over this. Stress does put extra weight on the midsection of our bodies. I’ve had a doctor tell me this, yet men think we don’t eat right and maybe we should exercise more. Sorry sweetie, but you’re wrong. Stress affects women differently than men. Stress releases a hormone which is the main cause of that mid-section body fat.

So you can take diet pills, but you may suffer diet pill side effects. Here’s a list of the possible side effects you may incur: insomnia, headache, adominal pain, palpitations, arrhythmias, norexia, constipation, nausea, thirst, joint disorder, dizziness, anxiety, depression, rash, acne. Just to name a few.

I always remember my mom telling me “I was thin until I hit 30.” As we get older, we really have to watch what we eat.

Cut out the fried foods, although you are allowed a few because what is life without fried food. I’m a southerner and I love my fried, battered ocra.

Most people don’t want to hear it, but use fresh spinach as the base for your salads. Please stay away from Iceburg lettuce that has absolutely no nutritional value at all. Go spinach or ramain or endive.

Throw an avocado in there as good fat.

Eat lots of tomatoes which are filled with much needed antioxidents.

Of course, lots of fruits. Because of my Crohn’s Disease, I don’t digest fruits very well, but I’ve found at my local deli, or even at a 7-11 small portions of pre-cut fruits that work for me, and help me get in my daily portion of fruit. Yesterday, I had cantelope and strawberries. Yum!

And guess what? You can have your omelet and eat it too. Eggs take a hit for cholesterol, but you can indulge in a one egg omelet a day and still be good to go. Eggs are a great source of protein and as long as you don’t over-do, they are safe to eat. What’s also great about a one egg omelet is you can fill them with spinach, tomatoes, top it with some cheese, and you have your protein, potassium, anti-oxidents and a little bit of dairy all in one tasty meal. Have a side of fruit, maybe a cup of yogurt, and you’re good to go on the nutritional train.

It goes without saying, ladies, that exercise is what brings it all home. It doesn’t have to be strenuous. A 15 minute walk every day will do wonders. However, another 15 minutes with a stretch band or some light hand weights will help you tone up and focus on those problem areas, most notably, those annoying flabby arm flaps. I swear, some days I think I can fly with those wings.

Most importantly, find ways to de-stress: a trip to a spa, a nice long bubble bath, a walk through your favorite calming nature spot. I find the beach to be calming to me, but before I moved here, just a walk through a small forest which I was surrounded by in my neighborhood always centered me and calmed me down.

De-stress, a good diet, light exercise, and getting in tune with nature will help you shed those middle-aged pounds.

Oh, yeah, and a healthy sex life is always helpful. LOL.

Good golly Miss Molly, I am a hippy. I always suspected it, now I know after reading this post, I am hippy-dippy.

Here in the Midwest, we have seen the Solstice yesterday amongst searing temperatures (heat index has been in the 100′s for DAYS) and formidable storms. Although this type of weather is more or less expected in the summertime around here, heat like this usually doesn’t hit until July. It is brutal.

I grew up in central New York, so summers like this are foreign to me. Summertime in New York can get hot, sure, but not like this. It storms, too, but not like this. I am currently residing in what is known as “Tornado Alley”. My favorite room in the house is the one with no outside walls or windows. When that siren goes off, and it does often, I almost always have to change my underwear.

When the rain comes, it rarely lasts long — in New York, a good soaking rain can last all day and all night. Here, it comes in like a raging bull and will stop on a dime and you’re standing there in your kamik rain boots wondering if anyone got the number of the bus that just hit you.

The heat is enervating and it really beats the crap out of you. All I can say is thank the Universe for air conditioning. I’m feeling all my years during the summer months. Is it fall, yet?

No, not the space shuttle. Sadly, I think the last one of the shuttles has launched. They will be missed.

Instead I’m talking about transportation shuttles. I will be attending my other neice’s wedding in August and this time I intend to fly. But the nearest airport is 46 miles away in Orlando. Unfortunately, I don’t have a car. Luckily for me, people flock to Florida to experience an Orlando vacation, such as Disney World or Universal Studios, but also to lay on the beach, visit the Kennedy Space Center or catch a cruise ship.

What does that mean for me? It means there are plenty of shuttle services that routinely take people back and forth between Orlando and Cape Canaveral. Shuttles are generally cheaper than taking a taxi, and way cheaper than renting a car. Their prices are lower because they are transporting more than one or two people at a time.

When I arrive in D.C., my wedding destination, because I’m coming in at the opposite airport that my mom and sister will be arriving at, and our times are barely an hour apart, I’ll more than likely have to find a shuttle service from the airport to take me to my hotel.

So here’s a travel tip, especially in my area (I haven’t had a chance to check D.C. yet, but I’m sure most tourist places offer the same sort of service,) contact the hotel you’ll be staying at. I know many hotels in Cape Canaveral offer shuttle rides to Kennedy Space Center, as well as into Orlando, and vice versa if you’re staying in Orlando and want to visit the beach. If not, there are many privately owned shuttle services you can check into. Also, if taking a cruise, check with the cruise line to see if they offer a shuttle from the airport to Port Canaveral.

Cape Canaveral, Orlando and even D.C. have hotels centrally located around main attractions, and all three have bus service or train service to get you where you need to go. So skip the rental car and use the money saved to experience the more enjoyable activities that will make your vacation memorable

Oh my gosh. You’d think when you reach adulthood, the acne would stop. But it doesn’t. I’ve suffered from the ocassional outbreak here and there all my life. It doesn’t help that, even though I’m quite young to be going through it, I’m in the early stages of menopause. And menopause changes the balance of hormones. With hormonal changes come skin issues, including acne. Even before I hit the pre-menopausal phase, I dealt with the small acne outbreaks during “that time of the month” because of hormonal changes. Let me tell you, it’s not cute to be a 35-45 year old woman with a giant zit on her face (or chest.)

So I’ve done a little research on acne face washs and here’s what I’ve found.

The top three best brands are ProNexin, Epuri Purifying Foaming Cleanser, and Oxycerin. Oxycerin has the most outrageous retail price of $129, the other two retail at $60 and $34.99, respectively. However, both ProNexin and Oxycerin offer a lifetime money back guarantee. Additionally, they can be purchased online for a much lower price, ranging from $19.99 to $29.99. Not bad, eh? Best of all, none of these washes utilize harsh chemicals. They are chalked full of vitamins, minerals and organic plants.

So if you’re like me and suffer from a monthly acne break out, consider picking up a top rated acne wash because the older we get, the more we have to take care of our skin.

In the quest for beauty, many people turn to an acne treatment utilizing medication or beauty products, when there are many natural alternatives available.

1. Mint 2

M. balsamea (peppermint) Peppermint is preferable to spearmint as a medicinal herb because it contains menthol.
* Take a handful of mint leaves and crush them thoroughly with a mortar and pestle.
* Rub the leaves and juice on affected skin and leave for 5-10 minutes.
* Rinse with cold water.
* Repeat as often as desired to alleviate pain and inflammation.

2. Oatmeal

Method Cook a single serving of plain oatmeal as you would for eating. Add approximately ¼ cup honey and mix thoroughly. Allow to cool. Apply to face, avoiding the eyes. Leave for 10-20 minutes. Do not leave it on too long or it will become difficult to remove.

Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can actually cause acne?

3. Nettle

Urtica dioica Nettle is the general term for herbaceous plants of the genus Urtica. “Stinging nettle” (Urtica dioica) is the best-known variety and is regarded variously as a garden weed.

* Wear gloves when handling fresh nettle plants.
* Remove leaves from stems and discard stems.
* Fill a teapot full of nettle leaves
* Pour boiling water over the leaves.
* Steep for 5 minutes.
* Add honey and/or lemon if desired and drink.
* The tea will be somewhat bitter. However, it is quite nutritious an especially high in calcium.
* Dried nettle is also available in tea bags but will not be as effective.

4. Aloe Vera

Aloe barbadensis There are hundreds of varieties of aloe that grow all over the world. Most have medicinal properties. However, it is aloe barbadensis that is known as aloe vera.

* Remove a whole aloe leaf from the plant. Take an outer leaf and remove it as near the trunk as possible.
* Cut a slit down the middle and allow the yellow latex to drain. The latex has other uses but is not good for irritated skin and might cause inflammation in some people.
* If you want to use the aloe immediately, use a serrated knife to remove the thick skin. This will take some practice but after a few tries you will be able to remove the skin and end up with a nice thick piece of gel. and rinse the gel under cold water.
* If you are using aloe arborescens, it is not necessary to drain the leaves. You can open the leaf and apply the gel directly.
* Cut a piece of the gel and apply it directly to the skin as needed, avoiding the eyes..
* The gel will keep for about a week if stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

5. Lemon juice and rose water

* Mix equal parts lemon juice and rose water.
* Apply directly to skin. You might feel an initial sting from the lemon juice.
* Rinse after 15-30 minutes.

I ’ve seen these commercials lately for lawsuits regarding mesothelioma, and being the curious type, I had to look it up. I thought maybe it was like one of those commercials from the law sharks — you know the ones — the ambulance chasers. I was amazed and disturbed at the information I found.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. From the 1940s through the 1980s, asbestos was widely used to fireproof roofing and flooring, and used as heat insulation due to its ability to resist heat. It’s a natural occurring silicate, used since the time of ancient Greeks. Even then, the damage to the lungs of slaves exposed to asbestos was noted.

Many uses of asbestos have been banned in several countries, including the United States. However, the ban in the US was overturned in 1991 and the manufacture, importation, processing and distribution of asbestos containing products is still legal. The problem is when the fibers of asbestos become airborne due to demolition or destruction. The more prolonged or intense the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chances of developing health problems.

It is estimated that over 100,000 people will die from diseases resulting from asbestos exposure in the next decade. Some of those people include those who worked so hard after the tragedy of 9-11 in rescue and clean-up from the disaster due to the exposure to asbestos in the air after the demolition of the Twin Towers.

Mesothelioma is incurable and lethal. It is thought to be directly linked to asbestos, and it can take up to 30 years to develop.

I have to stop watching commercials.