Driver's Ed... in California

I learned to drive in southern California.  First day behind the wheel and I was taking the on ramp onto the freeway with the instructor praising me for taking it with such speed.  I like to drive fast.  It's no wonder that california speeding ticket was a big part of my youth.

We all got speeding tickets.  We were taught to drive fast.  Trying to merge your way onto the freeway going anything less than 70 would get you slammed in the rear end... or worse... a road raged driver would threaten you with who knows what.  It truly is just safe to drive fast on the California freeways.

I live in Utah now and the driving skills are drastically different.  I can't tell you how many times I have almost hit someone stopping at a yield sign.  In California, you roll through stop signs, and yield practically means nothing at all.  The worst problem in Utah is the round about.  I don't know who thought Utahns were ready for this road skill.  The idea, the main idea behind the round about is to keep traffic moving without stopping. If we wanted stopping, then they would have put in a four way stop.  But time after time, there are cars stopped in the round about... not sure if they should go... or should they let someone try and get in.

I understand that fast is not necessarily safe.  But I guarantee you slow and stopping when you are supposed to can be even more dangerous.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

This Could Work

My youngest daughter and I spent her senior trip in southern California.  It's over now... but we still remember the warmth of the beach.  It's during our February snow storms in Utah that we dream of Partners Trust Real Estate and all the homes available in southern California.

How fabulous would it be to have the option of another home in California?  When the weather got ridiculously cold.... like it has been lately... we could leave this frozen wasteland and lie on Venice Beach or near the Santa Monica pier.  It was positively beautiful and incredibly warm.  I remember my daughter telling me... with her eyes closed while she lay on her beach towel in the sand... "I'm not going back Mom."  I laughed but then she said again "No.  I'm not going back."  The warmth of the sun... the beauty of the coastline... and the sound of the ocean was just too good to walk away from.

I think she will end up in California one day.  She has a gift for acting.  She is incredible funny with an unending number of personalities, voices, and characters.  She dreams of being on Saturday Night Live one day... so California would be perfect.  Saturday Night Live would be lucky to have her.  And of course I would take advantage of having a daughter in California and visit her often.  Just like I take advantage of the daughter in New York.  Winters in California and Spring in New York.  This could work.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Mmmmm... The Smells of Summer

Every so often I get a craving like you wouldn't believe for the food of my summers when I was growing up. In the summer I would go visit my cousins in Kansas City, Missouri and man... they have the food!  My Aunt and Uncle have eight children, and with my only having the one brother, going to their house was wild.  Of course my fondest memories are the times spent with my cousins... but I have to admit the food is every present in my mind and makes me think of kansas city homes for sale.

Hot summer days would bring us to Drew's Frozen Custard... ice cream the likes of which I have never tasted anywhere else.  Cool and refreshing... and packed with the whole neighborhood... sweltering in hot humid weather... but enjoying the cool custardy treat.

At night we would play night games and catch lightning bugs.  My favorite was when we would take the butt of the lightning bug and stick it to our forehead and play tag.  We could only see each other by the spot of light goo from our disected lightning bug stuck to our forehead.  I had bangs so I did pretty good.  But afterwards there would be the night run to White Castle for the greasiest little square burger you've ever tasted.  Smothered in onions and it's cute little bun... we ate them by the dozen.

It's funny how smells bring back such vivid memories.  I can almost smell them now.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Wow... I Missed That One!

OK... so I feel like an idiot.  For someone who likes things a certain way and can be pretty obsessive compulsive about certain items/areas being clean... I sure missed the boat on something very important.  Let's just say I was in desperate need of Roto-Rooter due to my neglect.

I sort my laundry so meticulously and have quite the regimental way of addressing my laundry.  I am so particular that I actually prefer to do my own laundry.  I don't want anyone messing with my system.  I have certain soaps, fabric softeners.  I hand nearly everything after it has had a gentle low fluffing in my dryer.  So how could I miss the huge problem that would wreak havoc to my laundry?

You know how there is that lovely drain in your laundry room to prevent a flood if you happen to have a leak from your washer or washer hose?  Well mine didn't work and all I can say is... "Wow."  It never crossed my anal mind that a drain needs to be cleaned at least every once in a while.  Considering we have lived here over 17 years and I have never so much as swept a broom, wiped a cloth, or absolutely anything over that drain... it stands to reason that ours needed a serious overhaul.

Roto-Rooter to the rescue.  My flood was a simple problem of having a drain that had never been maintenance and was full of lint.  It just need a little freshening up and I sure missed the boat on doing just that!  Wow.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Hello Xango!

AS all my family and friends know... I occasionally have digestive health issues.  I watch what I eat as far as what will go through my digestive system smoothly.  I live on yogurt, pureed soups, and smoothies.  I do consume large... very large... extremely large amounts of sugar.  I never have a problem with sugar getting through.  Despite this weakness... I do eat very healthfully.  I can't eat vegetables raw... but I need the nutrients.  I can't eat fruit raw... but again... I need the nutrients.  And the antioxidants are what I am anxious to get in my body.  I was recently introduced to the mangosteen tree and the XANGO juice.

The truth is that the fruit from the mangosteen tree has not been in the United States for very long.  Not long enough for the considerable amount of testing the FDA requires in order for you to claim a substance will help prevent diseases such as atherosclerosis, dementia, and cancer.  But the other truth is that we have proven that antioxidants play a role in preventing heart disease and cancer.  So it stands to reason that if something is full of antioxidants... then naturally it would do as we know antioxidants do... and help prevent heart disease, or atherosclerosis, and cancer.

All I can say is if there is a chance that something that is good for you... and is full of antioxidants which we know are healthy for us... then why not add it to our diet.  I got a sample... and Hello Xango!  It was delicious.

 This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Viva Las Vegas!

My brother has lived in Michigan for many years... which was fine while he was raising his daughter.  Her mother is from the area so it made sense for his daughter to be near them both.  Now... she has graduated from college... will be relocating... and she is an adult and out on her own... so it is finally time for my brother to move back west near his family.  Our folks are in Las Vegas so a short sale las vegas would definitely fit our needs!  Obviously there is the immediate project of selling his house which might be difficult with the Michigan economy.

Our folks are fortunately fairly healthy... but they are getting up there in age and having my brother around will be extremely helpful.  We have family in St. George and central Utah so the location would give him ample opportunity to be with family for holidays, celebrations, and basically anytime.

Although we grew up in San Diego... I think he will love Las Vegas.  The climate is a huge improvement from Michigan.  When I hear the stories of the amount of snow... it is mind blowing.  He also loves cars... is extremely passionate about cars... and Las Vegas has numerous auto show type events... as well as... auto museums and collections.  If he could get a job at one of those... Viva Las Vegas baby!

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.

Call Roto-Rooter.....

I love the old commercial jingles.  Years ago a great commercial had a catchy tune... rather than a scantily clad model making a potato chip look sexy.  Jingles made you remember the item always.  A personal favorite was "Roto-Rooter that's the name!  And away goes trouble down the drain!"  The tune was beyond catchy and the words clearly told you what you needed Roto-Rooter for.

And you and your friends and neighbors would recite the song at any given moment.  Your bathroom toilet is overflowing and immediately someone would say "Call Roto-Rooter that's the name!"  Clogged drain and... that's right... the song would prevail.

Do you remember "There are lots of chewy Rollos in a roll for you. If you're choosy about what you chew.  Real milk chocolate and some caramel too.  Chew!  Chew!  Chew!"  Very clear what was for sale here.  Chocolate candy with caramel that is chewy.  But in the catchy tune which was probably released back in the 70's it served it's purpose.  I mean I can still sing the song some 40 years later!

I admit there were times when you wanted that blasted jingle out of your head... but all in all I still prefer that being stuck in my head than some of the sights that get in there without my permission from a commercial depicting a bag of potato chips as the cure all to a gorgeous body and the perfect man.

This is a sponsored post however, all the points and views are my own.