Archive for September, 2008
Get That Job
Friday, September 26th, 2008
If you’re serious about finding a job, ABC7.com is a good place to start.
In his informative Get The Job series, ABC7’s Consumer Specialist Ric Romero serves up everything from soup to nuts to whet your job-changing appetite. Whether you nibble a bit or gorge yourself at a full banquet, the show is chock full of savory tidbits to advance your career.
Discover how to give your resume a makeover. Learn how to avoid being branded as "too old" before you set foot in the door. Hone your interview skills to position yourself as the ideal candidate for the job. Develop a strategy to negotiate your salary before you accept that offer.
Go to ABC7.com and click on the tab Get the Job to find the broadcast schedule, watch videos or read transcripts of past segments. On their website, you’ll find resources for Southern California job fairs, one-stop job centers, job search websites, links to government and showbiz jobs and more.
Your competitors are polishing their skills and presenting their portfolio in the best possible light. Can you afford to do less?
Sept 12 Newsletter
Thursday, September 25th, 2008If you missed our Sept 12 newsletter, you can read the archived version by clicking here.
You Old Dog
Friday, September 19th, 2008
He’s going gray and slowing down. His hearing and vision aren’t what they used to be, but you still love him dearly. No, I’m not referring to your husband. I’m talking about your older dog or cat. For many of us, the title pet does not begin to describe our deep bond with these adorable critters who are our companion animals and part of our family.
Life transitions are not just for two-legged folks. Our aging pets go through their own changes. Pets age much faster than we do. Most cats and dogs are eligible for their senior discount by the time they reach their seventh birthday.
A routine that includes regular wellness exams, proper nutrition, adequate exercise and appropriate medication may help maintain a good quality of life for your furry friend. Just as you have learned to pace your own physical activity, you may need to adjust your animal’s exercise routine. You watch your own diet. Maybe it’s time to consider senior pet foods to meet your buddy’s changing nutritional needs.
Do you know what signs to watch for in an older pet–signs that could mean serious illness? Do you know when your pet may be telling you he is in pain? The fall 2008 issue of the Healthy Pet magazine includes several articles about giving special care to our older furry friends. It addresses the topic of senior wellness exams for older pets and explains some of the procedures and screenings that may be involved.
This post is meant to celebrate the designation of September as Senior Pet Health Month. It’s intended for your enjoyment only and not presented as professional advice. To learn more, you might pick up a copy of Healthy Pet and schedule a screening exam with your own veterinarian. It’s not always fun for you or your pet, but it’s a good way to keep those slobbery kisses and precious purrs around to help you make it through the night.
Wise Women Speak
Friday, September 12th, 2008
Remember that acceptance speech by Sally Field? No, not the one where she gushed that we really liked her–the one where she said that if mothers ruled the world, there would be no war. There are plenty of examples from history that refute this statement, but the essence of Sally’s message rings true. In many cultures, women have been the guardians of the physical and spiritual survival of the tribe. They still are.
"When the grandmothers from the four directions speak, a new time is coming." So says an ancient prophecy known by many of the world’s indigenous tribes. In October 2004, The International Council of the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers representing tribes from the Arctic Circle; North, South and Central America; Africa; Tibet; and Nepal met to share their wisdom and visions for the future.
In her breathtaking book, Grandmothers Counsel the World: Women Elders Offer Their Vision for Our Planet, Carol Schaefer has crafted a special family album for the family of man. Native voices of natural beauty and strength peer out from the photos in this powerful book.
In 2004, the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers joined in a chorus to celebrate the virtues of the female energy principle. They shared their ancient wisdom and their visions for a future where humans would live in harmony with nature and with each other. These sacred elders spun stories rich with rituals, prayers and ceremonies. They imparted knowledge about sacred plants and their powers to heal the body and the spirt.
The Grandmothers offer guidance for our times on topics such as sacred relations and oppression. They mourn the destruction of the Amazon Rain Forest and warn about the grand catastrophe in store if humankind does not stop abusing Mother Earth. Grandmothers Counsel the World also blends the voices of western women elders including Gloria Steinem and Carol Moseley Braun.
September 7 was National Grandparents Day. To honor grandmothers everywhere, I’m thrilled to introduce you to this treasured collection. For your convenience, you can find a copy of Grandmothers Counsel the World in our Amazon Associates store. To learn more about events and activities of The International Council of the Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, see grandmothers.com or forthenext7generations.com
Aug 28 Newsletter
Friday, September 12th, 2008If you missed our Aug 28 newsletter, you can read the archived version by clicking here.
How to Stop Spinning
Thursday, September 4th, 2008 
Do you ever find yourself spinning out of control? Technology is what sets me off. We have six remote controls in our house and I don’t know how to turn on the television. I know the only way to grow is to step out of my comfort zone. I just hope I don’t have to dress for the occasion.
For me, setting up an online operation is an endurance test. As soon as I get one thing working, something else goes wrong. I feel like the guy on The Ed Sullivan Show spinning all those plates. Instead of sticking my head in the oven, I do my best to think about Edison and his lesson in persistence. I may not have the quote exactly correct, but supposedly when asked how it felt to fail 999 times, Edison replied, "I never failed. Inventing the light bulb was a 1000-step process."
We all know that what we focus on expands. If I focus on technical glitches, I get more technical glitches. I’ve learned to ask, "What do I want instead and what’s my next right action to get there?"
As a child, I was fascinated by the 4-H Club. Core values notwithstanding, those fluffy sheep and pastoral scenes spoke to me. Today, I have instituted my own 3-F Plan. When faced with a problem that makes me feel like a rat on a treadmill, I either: 1) Fix it; 2) Find out what else I need to know and who can help me; or 3) Forget it.
True Confession: It really is a 4-F Plan. Somewhere along the way, I apply liberal amounts of frozen confections (ice cream), but I can’t really recommend that as a strategy.