Do you ever have the urge to discuss the meaning of life? Or delve into deep subjects like friendship, love, kindness, the best things in life, etc., and there just isn’t anyone to talk to? In my town, a Big Talk Meetup group was created for just that purpose; it’s open to people of all ages – and membership is free. Joining one is a great way to meet new people and have stimulating conversations. Continue reading
I’m a definite Type A personality and have had anxiety — the most common mental illness in the U.S. — since my 20s; my particular symptom is a tingling or aching from my left shoulder down my arm. Fortunately, people around me don’t know when I have it and I don’t generally get it very often — might be 8 or 9 months in-between events. But when I do get it, it doesn’t feel good! Here are 19 ways to reduce anxiety — things that work for me. If they work for me, they may work for you! Continue reading
Stretching for health and fitness is the latest trend — and businesses are springing up everywhere to help athletes – and nonathletes – understand the importance of stretching. Besides improving health and fitness and reducing the risk of injury, stretching feels good!
I’m an enthusiastic cruiser who’s taken about 20 cruises on four major cruise lines (Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Carnival) in my lifetime. A friend and I recently completed my first Norwegian cruise on the Norwegian Spirit and compiled a list of Norwegian Cruise Line pros and cons (good and bad features). Continue reading
Beautiful Barcelona is one of the coolest places on the planet! The architecture is stunning – and the buildings and parks created by famed artist Antoni Gaudi are fun and funky, too. Continue reading
Most people have heard of the Rock of Gibraltar — but if you’re like me, you have no idea what it really is or where it’s located. I got to tour Gibraltar, located off the coast of Spain — and see the Rock — on a shore excursion from a Norwegian cruise to North Africa and Spain, and loved it. It’s a really interesting place to visit! Continue reading
Never thought in my wildest dreams that I’d be riding camels in Tangier, Africa, on a Norwegian Mediterranean cruise that included stops in Morocco at Casablanca and Tangier — but that’s just what I did! Continue reading
Norwegian seems to be the only mainstream cruise line with a port of call in Casablanca, Morocco, in northern Africa on a Mediterranean cruise, which is why we picked that cruise for our 2018 travel adventure. Who wouldn’t want to go on a Casablanca shore excursion to see sights you’ve only read about and seen on TV — and never dreamed you’d see in person?! Continue reading
My friend and travel buddy Merry Ellen and I found a cruise itinerary of a lifetime — a 10-night cruise to Spain and Africa. The trip went along the coast of Spain, stopped at the Canary Islands and visited Morocco, Africa, too. Continue reading
If you work for a government agency or high-tech business that uses a badge ID or CAC (common access card) for admittance to the premises/military base, and/or for building access and computer access, you understand how important it is to remember to take it with you everywhere. And you need a foolproof way to remember CAC or ID badge.
If you forget… there aren’t too many things worse than not being able to enter the property on Monday morning when you’re headed to work! Or being locked out of the room where you working on a big project because you jumped up and ran to the restroom quickly, forgetting your ID.
Some things I’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to avoid situations like these are:
1) Posting notes and signs around my cubicle
2) Posting signs across the hall from the doorway of the cubicle
The bad thing about signs is that, after a while, you ignore them. (Plus, it’s visual clutter — and your coworkers tend to tease you about your bad memory.)
After years of experimentation, I finally came across the winning combination.
1) Cut a piece of bright red or orange paper and put it in the plastic CAC holder underneath the CAC. (I carry a second badge, so it sits on top of that.) That way, when the CAC is missing and you glance down, you immediately see the wrong color (orange — not white) — and a color that signifies emergency, at that — and you know immediately something isn’t right.
2) Also, clip a big sign that says “CAC” on your purse. When you leave work at night and pick up your purse to take it home with you, don’t let yourself remove the clip until you’ve actually removed the CAC from your computer and inserted it into the holder. (Don’t trust yourself if you think, “It’s only going to be a few seconds; how can I forget it?” Believe me — you’ll get distracted and forget it! I’ve done it numerous times…)
If you’re required to wear and use an ID badge or CAC at work and have an idea that helps you remember it, please share it!
