Do your homework.

Access to information is extremely easy these days. We have 24/7 news channels and internet. Want to know something? Sure, just "Google" it. Reading and researching lead me to start an organic clothing business for babies and children. It has also helped my husband and I understand the importance of natural foods in our diet. We've changed our eating habits for the better and discovered how much better we feel and how good real food from scratch can be.

Other things I have discovered:

• Obesity in children and adults increases very year.
• Diabetes is now rampant in our society.
• Autism has increased in the last 25 years from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 100.
• ADHD increases 2 - 3% every year.

I don't claim to be an expert (although my family has accused me of being "a know it all") but let's just look around us. What's different today than when we were kids.

• Fast food eateries at every street corner.
• Preservatives and additives in almost everything we pick up at the grocery store.
• Everyone spraying and fertilizing with chemicals to get the perfect lawn or bigger yields.
• Healthy lifestock being injected with antibodies.

I'm a child of the 50's and 60's. I didn't know anybody with autism, ADHD or diabetes. I know many researchers say that because it wasn't diagnosed then. In my heart, I don't buy that.

What I'm asking you is to do your own homework.

Word of caution, however. When you read a research or study, check out the organization that funded or conducted said research. There might be a bias.

Happy Googling.

The Awesome Cheetah.



Photograph by Chris Johns

 I could look at this picture for hours. Such a magnificent creature. I love all animals, but there is something magical about the big cats. They are so regal. I think it's the eyes.

Cheetah.

Even the name is cool. That's why Disney has the "Cheetah Girls" instead of the "Naked Mole Rat Girls". Cheetah is even listed in the Urban Dictionary: "A cougar in training. A sexy woman too old to be a kitten and too young to be a cougar. They are known to move extremely fast."

Now, for the sad facts. Cheetahs are at the top of the list of all endangered big cats. Their habitats are dwindling and so are their numbers.

That's what Animal Tails are all about. Organic clothing for our children with a message. Hopefully, when your child wears one of the Animal Tails tees, they will be encouraged to learn about our endangered species and help made their world better. To learn more about the cheetah, go to http://www.cheetah.org/. It's a great website.

We're featuring the boys Cheetah shirt at http://www.rubij.com/ as our "Special of the Day". Like the cheetah, it's cool.

Grandson Cole is cool, too.

My New Year Resolution.

Here it is, the last day of the year, and I still haven't decided what my New Year's resolution will be. So, I've been thinking about it all day.

First thought - "This year I going to work out on my Cross Bow exercise machine every day." Wait a second. I think that was my resolution last year (and the year before).

Second thought - Peace in the Middle East. I could succeed where others have failed and become "Time's Person of the Year". Nah, I don't have time.

Third thought - Maybe something more domestic, like keeping my bathroom drawers organized. Too dull.

Final thought - Find joy in whatever I'm doing and keep laughing. Yes, I think I can do this. Hope you can, too.

Happy New Year, everyone.

Keeping the Christmas Spirit.



Grandson Cole opening his gifts!

 I know for sure the Christmas weekend is over. One sure sign was how hard it was to get my jeans buttoned this morning. Ouch. Back to reality.
First things, first.
Hide the caramels.
There.
Now I can concentrate.

The party is over but the spirit lives on. I've been busy these last few weeks (like everyone else) with Rubi J's orders and family planning. Fun but tiring. It's back to the grind; but let's don't go alone. Let's take the Christmas Spirit with us through each day's journey.

Daughter Stef and I made a committment to remember to keep giving throughout the year. We both have our favorite charities to which we donate; but we wanted to get more involved. So we decided to keep reminding each other to "do an extra". When we're at the grocery store, grab an extra item for the food bank. When we're shopping, pick up an extra pair of socks for the Open Door Mission. How simple is this?

I know this comes from watching Bill Murray's "Scrooged" too many times; (I still cry at the end) but what he says is true. "The more you give, the more you want to give." You just don't want that wonderful feeling to go away.

My family and I are so blessed. My husband's and mine favorite expression of endearment to each other (after "Love you") is "We're lucky people".

My daughter, Stef, and me. (That's Stef on the left.)

For you people that don't know me; that was a joke. Merry Christmas Spirit!

A Christmas gift suggestion.

Here's a suggestion for a Christmas gift that is probably not on everybody's list; but should be.

I have just submerged from a story so inspirational, I'll will never look at the world the same again. Laura Hillenbrand has just released her book about the the life story of Louis Zamperini. Ms. Hillenbrand's first book was "Seabiscuit" the race horse, which was made into an award winning movie. I loved, loved, loved that book; so, naturally I couldn't wait until her next was published. How a wonderful gift she has given us.

The book is called "Unbroken, A World War  II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption". This is the perfect title.

• Survival - Crashing into the Pacific Ocean during WWII and surviving 47 days in a raft.
• Resilience - Being captured by the Japanese and sent to several POW camps, enduring unthinking brutality.
• Redemption - Learning how to live in society when those torturous memories had stripped all humanity from you.

I have to admit, it was hard to read at times; what the POWs went through; but, this book is the most inspirational book I have ever read. Every citizen of the United States should read this book.

To me, it's the perfect Christmas gift.

Thank you, Louie, for your service.

The Riverine Rabbit

When Animal Tails added the Riverine Rabbit to their collection of endangered species, my first thought was "how adorable". Then, my second thought was "I can't imagine any rabbit being endangered". I, of course, was limited in my history of rabbits living in the middle of America. ("Pesky rabbits!")

Then I read about the Riverine Rabbit's plight.

They only live in one place in the whole world; Cape Province of South Africa. Would you believe there are only about 250 left in the wild? That puts them in the critically endangered group.
As with so many other endangered animals, one of the main reasons for their dwindling numbers is lost of habitat. So much of the dense marshes by the rivers are being converted to agriculture. Another reason, unlike most rabbits, these little guys only have 1 to 2 offspring a year; nothing like our home grown.

So, my hat's off to Animal Tails for bringing the Riverine Rabbit into the spotlight. And another tip of the hat to the South Africa's farmers that are using conservation practices on their land to help enable these beautiful little animals to survive. Thank you.

Check out the Riverine Rabbit design at http://www.rubij.com/. They're on the rompers, blankets, hats and t-shirts. The rompers and t-shirts are the current "Special of the Day".

The music in my head.

Dear Dr. Freud,

I know you're the one to go to for unlocking suppressed thoughts in the brain. I don't want to find out the meanings of my dreams. I'm too entertained by them. I'm desperate to discover why I keep having strange music coming in my head.

Some reasons are obvious. After seeing West Side Story a few weeks ago, I drove myself nuts with "Tonight, Tonight". (I should note I don't sing out loud. In my mind I sound just like the artist.) I finally had to put in my tape of "Les Miserables" to block it out. Funny, with all that powerful and beautiful music, the one that kept running through was "Keeper of House".

This happens to all of us. My husband changed his cell phone ring to a train chugging and whistle blowing. After a week, he changed it back. All he could think of was that old T.V. sit com "Petticoat Junction". He caught himself singing at work "there's Uncle Joe, he's moving kinda slow".

Back to my problem. Why songs that I don't especially like? For instance, last holiday season, with all the beautiful carols filling the air, the only one in my mind playing OVER AND OVER again was Elvis' "Blue Christmas"; complete with backup singers.

Today was weird. I was at the computer with "Sweet Child of Mine" serenading my mind along with Slash's guitar; when, out of the blue, Dean Martin steps in with "That's Amore". It's been in my mind ever since; ("When the moon hits your eye like-a big pizza pie, that's amore"). What the? I don't mind old Dino, but a favorite? No. ("Bells'll ring, Ting-aling-aling; Hearts will play, Tippi, tippi, tay") Where did these lyrics come from? What hidden secret am I suppressing, Dr. Freud.

Maybe I'm reading too much into this. I do seem to function okay. I just need to get this song out my head. Maybe there's an old tape of Barney lying about.