Just when I thought I was done for the night...

Writing for me comes in spurts and there's a good chance in a few days I will totally forget I have a blog to write out my thoughts. I really figured I was done for the night but since I wasn't sleepy decided to hit "next blog" at the top.  Imagine my surprise to find out that the next 6 blogs were all in chinese!  Now how did I get lumped in there?  I don't know if it is just my computer or maybe the blogs rotate each night.  Isn't that a mind picture...blogs playing tag in the dark hole of cyber space...

So if you are reading this, hit next blog and tell me what you found!  

Why some of us talk to strangers

My sons and daughter like to comment on my habit of talking to strangers.  Adam would roll his eyes and just send me a pleading look not to include his name in the conversation.  Marina just shakes her head and wonders if we are really related.  Clyde vacillates between trying to hurry me up if he's with me to making a running commentary how Amy and I never could pass up a chance to talk.  If I didn't love them so much I could take offense.

Luckily for them, I blame the world of technology they were born into where you don't really have to communicate face to face.  This generation has become slackers.  They would rather tweet it, facebook it, email it or text it than take the time to actually talk face to face.  Talk to a stranger?  How could that possibly happen with your buds stuck in your ears.  Asking for directions today is a challenge.  You have to find the one person in the crowd without buds so they can hear you ask!

I have met so many interesting people on planes or in the places I have traveled.  A conversation often just starts with a returned smile.  Recently I sat by a lady on the way from Perth to Sydney and we began to talk about travel, the places she and I have been and how to do it on a budget.  Got some great tips!  Soon, it lead to the familiar road of "what you do for a living".  The moment you say "travel nanny" you just know there are going to be those questions you have answered so many times you want to carry a card with you and just say "here are your answers".  This time it was a pleasant surprise to find out she was connected to the baby world as her Australian company makes high end nursery furniture.  I had never heard of Boori and was intrigued as they are launching their cribs in the United States.  After we landed I asked my Aussie mom and she said they were great and she would nothing but Boori.  After researching them, I was impressed at the Green label they have earned.  One more tidbit I can share with my parents on my newborn web site!  So laugh if you wish my children, talking to strangers pays off!

In fact, she has invited me to let her know when I am coming back to Sydney as maybe we could meet up or I could travel down to see her, about 90 south of Sydney.  I love incidents like this because I get a chance to really know someone from another country and who knows, a future friend.

It is true that sometimes what happens is people have a tendency to tell me their troubles.  My husband said he used to think I encouraged it but he has seen me do nothing but smile or return a comment in the grocery line and by the time our turn came, I knew her life history and her problems.  He said I had a Statue of Liberty stamped on my forehead that attracted the lost and needy.  It is true that there is something about my personality that makes strangers feel they can talk to me about personal matters.

I decided a long time ago that maybe this was my karma and I should just embrace it.  You can't ignore your Karma as it will catch up with you so why not sit back and grow with it?  Let it wrap you in its warmth as you explore your own cosmic force.  

The most important thing you need to do is learn to ignore the critics.  I am at the age that I don't have to care so much about other's opinions.  When I tell my sister that she reminds me that I have never cared what people think!  It's totally untrue of course as if you have a respectable idea, I am open to listening.  I just don't give credence to those who want to change me--make me fit into their boring world.

My mamma taught me well...

Facebook: The devil on my shoulder

I swore I'd never be one of those Facebook junkies.  Social network indeed!  Like I don't have enough on my plate?  Turns out I don't..turns out I like to post comments.  I have managed to reframe from telling everyone when I am taking a shower or eating a snack, but my need to get my thoughts out is quite compulsive.

 It's not like I don't have a life, thank you very much!  But I am a travel nanny and there are times in a hotel while the children sleep, I just need to hear the thoughts of adults.  Or post a picture of a hawaiian sunset that is too gorgeous not to share.  (no, I am not trying to rub salt into the womb of those living out winter in snow bungalows) Facebook keeps you connected with friends and in my case, the sisterhood of nannies which is spread out over the US and beyond.  We rarely see each other except at conferences so Facebook keeps us in the loop.

I have always put my thoughts in written form.  I never did outlines for stories, I would just write as I thought and continue this habit today.  There are days so many random ideas come into my head that if I couldn't write them out, I know my head would explode and folks would see how small my brain was and wouldn't that be embarassing?  Better to get out the thoughts otherwise I might have to resort to some ridiculous method of passing time like watching reruns of 1950 tv shows.  Or worse, take my words out on my husband and watch his pained expression that says "do I have to response and will you be done soon?"

It's one of the reasons I decided to do my own blog.  One that had nothing to do with business, just a place to write random ideas. My husband might hate to see me on the computer but if I smile and say, "great, we can just talk then!" he becomes a great encourager to write down my ideas.

Hopefully, it will cut down on my Facebook writing and boring friends to polite to not hit "like".  I mean, what are the chances anyone will ever read this blog but me?

Keep me posted...

In today's world, it is common to have your children live half way across the country.  It's not unique anymore and while other parents weep over the separation, I always thought it would be easier on the child if they had a place carved out all their own.  Of course, that was before she went and had children and made my heart weep just a bit. I could practice my guilt trip I suppose, but truth be known, I did it to my mom too.

Unlike the days when my mom was living where we had to budget for those long distance phone calls, long distance is now free.  My mother must have longed to see her grandchildren's face and I confess I was slow to get those pictures developed.  Oh, I took pictures but I would find rolls of films in the drawer as that visit to the developer just didn't fit in my schedule.  So sorry mom!  Now of course we have internet, skype and websites to post pictures.  So life should be easier and communication better, right?

Ahh...if you answered yes you are so naieve or just haven't had to deal with children out of state.  What hasn't changed are parents rushed for time and kids never cooperating during the time you have available for skype.  Phone calls?  Really?  With children tugging on your shirt the moment you pick up the phone?  The child playing peacefully in the other room will come running the moment he senses you near your phone. The few moments they both magically take a nap at the same time, well, it's your time to relax, right?  Who has time to type a quick email to mom or send the latest photo.  True, you don't have to develop it but they are all on the camera and you'd have to take out the SD card, upload it, download it--well, maybe tomorrow...

I love my daughter, I really do.  I know she treasures our relationship and doesn't mean to keep me in the dark or forget to charge her phone, so all you ever get is voicemail.  She is simply at times in the overwhelming world of parenthood.  I get that--been there--done that.  I don't nag as I understand, it's just I want to know how the kids are doing....In other words, I am simply in my mother's shoes and they pinch like crazy!

There is some good news.  She writes a delightful blog about raising kids in Brooklyn, The Kid Has Arrived on tumblr.  My husband and I check on it each day hoping for some new pics or just hear the latest funny story.  She is a funny writer and unlike her mother, her sentence structure is correct.

Plus, I do have an ace up my sleeve.  If I really want to talk to her, I just text her husband Matt and I know I will get a prompt reply or he will light a fire under her to call me.  Son in laws do like to please the mother in law that comes to visit and let's them have date nights 5 nights a week if they wish!  Am I bribing him for future communication?  You betcha!

Attention Designing Enginners - Present or Future

Attention all future and current design engineers. Please take to heart your mother's words "it's the little things that count". Yes, you managed to design a great BOSE headphones and you did good on the big items like sound, reducing noise, one cable, I get it, you spent some time getting it right.

HOWEVER, you failed miserably in the small details. When you stamp the data code on a tiny silver piece of silver that is also reflective, did you realize it would be impossible to read? And you just had to put the serial number under the ear cushion instead of on the band? You did realize that cushion isn't the easiest to squish back on, right? Little details engineers, they count! While we are at it, is there a reason you write the information for all electronics in the same color as the object? Ever tried to read black numbers on black background?

If you don't get your act together I am calling all your mothers!

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