The Primping Process

photo courtesy of dogwelder

What personal care products do you use, on a daily basis, that you just couldn't live without? Things like, skin cleansers, soaps, body lotions.. etc ...

Well, for me, this changes with some frequency. I mean, how many times have you gotten hooked on a product only to learn that it has been discontinued?

• I did fall in love with some Bath & Body products; namely the Aromatheraphy line and even more specifically the Sandlewood Rose (discontinued); I also adore the Eucalyptus Spearmint
• I live and die by the Eucerin Mosturizing Creme only I usually purchase the generic brand for obvious reasons and it still gets the job done
• Like most women, my deoderant needs to have some staying power and I am hopeful that it will not damage my clothes; right now I'm using Degree Ultra Clear
• My toothpaste selection always changes though I used to have an allegiance to Colgate, now I am venturing down the sensitive toothpaste options and I have yet to go brand specific
• I do like Crest Pro Health for a mouthwash, though it is pricey; I can justify that because I use it once or twice a day and I don't try to gulp it down so it's house for several weeks at a time
• My hair is a special situation, but I am deeply connected to Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Shampoo and Conditioner; it is excellent; I do use some Aveda hair products as well
• Finally, the facial products are switched out often, though I do like Kiehls. Right now the only mainstay is a product that I purchased this past Easter weekend while I was in Boston. The Lush Tea Tree Water is toner that comes in a spritzer bottle; it gets the job done in such a refreshing way.

I could go on ... but I need to tend to my pedicure and what not ...

oooooooh, how I love strawberries

Strawberry, originally uploaded by dulcelife.

I saw this photo and I immediately thought 'yummy!' Props to the photog Dulcelife

Public Radio Talent Quest Entry

This is my entry to the Public Radio Talent Quest. I almost forgot to enter. However, I was talking to my friend and she encouraged me to vote for her. While I was voting for her, I realized that I had a few hours to create an entry and upload it; so I did.

I did not, however, get a chance to encourage my friends to vote me ... oh, well.

More pondering...

More of my wild, yet intriguing thoughts:

Internet access when on the road

• I found this to be somewhat challenging and in the end frustrating. I do own a laptop, so I expect to have some options for accessing the internet. And I don't want to pay some flat fee that give me access for 24 hours; I'm only trying to check email and enjoy my travel destination.
  
• The hotel did not even offer free wifi in the hotel lobby, which I thought was standard; same for the conference hotel.
  
• Usually, the conference will set up a location where conference attendees can check email; no, no, no, not this conference, not this time.


• How about the airport...? There is usually at least one free wifi hot spot; okay, so there was, but I did not have time to access it and when I had a very lenghty layover, I was unable to connect (for whatever reason). Oh, and how about a free wifi hot spot with some electrical outlets nearby ...

Battery life on laptops

• This is way past annoying! Who creates/designs these things? I think my battery life is about an hour. Again, that could be fine when I can successfully connect to some free wifi in a matter of minutes, but when there technical glitches, one hour is not enough time

A few things to ponder...

On a recent trip I pondered the following:

Should people be allowed to talk on cell phones during flights?

• I say no! Some people are loud enough w/o a cell phone; there are so many distractions - crying babies, coughing and sneezing, beverages being dispensed, flight altitude updates; and when things finally settle down, it is somewhat nice to relax.

How many people know that McDonald's and Chipotle used to be in the same bed?

• Well, the real question is, what difference does it make? Chipotle's got da bomb buritos, eh?
• I don't think a lot of people know or knew; however, I don't think McD's got involved as a replacement for their cash cow; McD's was an investor from 97-05, 06

The Starbucks Strategy: No Freebies, ever!

• Come Starbucks, stop being so greedy! Can I get a freebie after I've purchased, say 70 tall, non-fat lattes? My nearby Circle K will give me a freebie after I've gulped down 8 cups of java (and much less expensive)

Three Things That Always Make Me Smile!

This was supposed to be a list of ten ... funny how it dwindled down, huh?

Three Things That Always Make Me Smile!

• "The Office" on NBC
• Remembering a road trip I took in '95 w/my good friend, Bunny; we drove from Buffalo to NYC and took the scenic route and crashed a wedding!
• My sister on her Red Baron when she was younger

How cool is this?

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Commencement - time I will never get back ...

I attended commencement on Saturday at Muskingum College; rather I was a part of the processional. I usually attend as I am required to do so, and one of my colleagues so casually noted today that participating in the graduation ceremonies are a part of the Faculty Handbook (this is NOT the handbook for my school, but they all usually contain similar language); this mention coming as I arrived 45 minutes prior to commencement, having missed Baccalaureate (I can do one or the other, but not both).

Well, I did get dressed in record time. I keep a gown/robe hanging on the back of my office door in the event that I have to 'throw it on' and appear official (which has never happened; but it has been at the ready when I am running late for those occasions that require being in full regalia). I usually have difficulty assembling my hood, mostly because I want it to hang just so ... This was my last commencement, but it had no special meaning to me. I had a couple of advisees who finished up, but generally speaking, from my perspective, NBD. I do, however, have an affinity for Pomp and Circumstance. It just has a nice ring to it.

However, I did take a liking to the commencement speaker. He was fun and funny and brief! Love that. Also, I sat next to a colleague who had a sense of humor; we did not talk throughout the ceremony, but when comments were made, a smile usually followed.

I like when it is all said and done and the faculty line up to receive the new alum. It's exciting to see them complete an important phase in their young lives. It was also a bit amusing to see the women come through near limping; having chosen the wrong pair of shoes to wear on this drawn out day of accomplishment.

I did make haste to get away with the call to other commitments; which was true. I'll do another commencement, but hopefully it will be to add more regalia. Otherwise, I prefer to listen and/or watch as opposed to sitting through what is often a long and boring event. Though it is time where I can sit and clear my mind ...

I'd like to tell the story of the student who's 'walking in commencement' fate was left in my hands, but I'm sure that there is something in the Faculty Handbook that prohibits disclosing a student's academic standing outside of the walls of academia; oooh, but it is such a good story ... one I will relish telling in another month or two ...

My random 7

My random 7:

1. I'm not as impatient as I use to be.
2. I am purging my wardrobe; really.
3. Radio is my passion.
4. I want to improve my handwriting.
5. Neutral, natural colors are my fav.
6. I absolutely love my Jeep.
7. Multi-tasking while watching reality TV is something that I often do.

The Faces

I don't talk much about how I feel about the war in Iraq. I try to avoid watching or hearing about it. And I can certainly control how much I read about it. It is sort of difficult to suppress this topic since I teach media related course; many which deal with current events. Additionally, I really enjoy watching the Sunday morning news programs: Meet the Press, This Week, and Face the Nation. I like Meet the Press the most or that is the one I've watching most consistently over the years.

So I consume a great deal of media.

I also browse the web with some frequency just checking out cool websites. I really like to search out slick multimedia websites. I often get some good leads from Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute.

I say all of this to say, I am not happy about the number of deaths as it relates to the War in Iraq. It is so numbing to see and hear the names. I appreciate getting the info, but it makes me sad and sometimes it makes me mad. It makes me mad to see the age of the deceased soldiers ...