Bang & Olufsen EarSet 3i

http://www.bang-olufsen.com/ru/sound/earsets-telephones/earset-3i

I have never been an audiophile. I love music. I love life performances. For me there are few experiences more uplifting than a symphony orchestra performing a classical work or attending a concert with one of my favorite contemporary musicians. While I’ve always appreciated recorded music I’ve never been privileged to own a top of the line audio system.

In childhood I had a little box record player that would spin LPs or 45’s with a little adapter inserted into the larger hole in the middle.  My parents had a console stereo that looked like a piece of furniture. I progressed to an all in one Panasonic stereo with turntable in college to a multi component JVC stereo system to the first incarnation of the CD player in the early 80’s. I progressed then to a Sony Walkman, to a portable CD player, to an iPod and music I would play on my computer to the digital music of today.

But I’ve never loved ear buds or head -sets or head phones. Headsets or head -phones gave me headaches. Ear buds were uncomfortable and did not provide audio of any quality. While the digital audio with ear-buds was better than analog music of days gone by, I wasn’t feeling the love. The sound wasn’t clear. I couldn’t differentiate the various instruments and I could not understand the lyrics. Since I love singing along in my car at the top of my lungs, it was generally preferably to know at least some of the lyrics. What I couldn’t understand I made up. Really – how many of us must confess to the same?

But after my husband dragged me into the Bang & Olufsen store in Bethesda, Maryland last week, I came to understand the difference between ordinary head-phones / ear-buds and Bang & Olufsen Ear-sets. Wow! Even my iPhone sounds live when the music is broadcast through these amazing state of the art headsets. I can actually understand the lyrics. The music sounds live. I feel a part of the music.  They are expensive, but I need them. I want them. I lust for them. I never thought there could be such a difference in how one could experience music emanating from a phone. But, there is a difference. There is a big difference. I may yet join the ranks of the audiophiles in my family. 

The End of an Era – What Not To Wear is Ending its Makeovers in July

The End of an Era – What Not To Wear is Ending its Makeovers in July

Since the US version of What Not To Wear debuted in 2003 on TLC, I’ve been a huge fan of the social services provided by the show.  While the past few seasons have for me shown the show has lost its luster with a misplaced focus on former celebrities that lost their way, I will miss the positive impact that Stacy and Clinton have had on fashion challenged individuals with low self esteem, a misunderstanding of what is appropriate, those with limited means, cancer survivors, those lost in another decade (or century), women who denied themselves to provide for their kids, and those with just plain abysmal taste. 

What Not To Wear gave us a new Cinderella story every week. Stacy and Clinton encouraged women to celebrate themselves and understand that dressing well and looking good is not a luxury, it is a necessity.  Looking good imparts a sense of confidence that affects the very core of our being. If we look good, we feel better and are better able to negotiate our lives. 

Despite what some think, fashion is not frivolous. From the earliest of recorded history, fashion has been an integral part of the human condition. What people wore and wear says a lot about that individual and their place in history or their place in the world today.  Some of us study fashion, search historical archives online, visit museum collections, endeavor to recreate the fashions of the past.  Fashion conveys socio-economic status, cultural identity, religious identity, what one does for a living, one’s hobbies or sports,  or how one wants to be perceived by the world. What one wears is part of that critical first impression that says to those one meets  “this is who I am”.

What Not To Wear and the WNTW team that also included Carmindy sharing make-up tips and Nick and Ted bringing out beauty with a change of hairstyle, brought joy, tears, and newfound delight to countless participants who found a revitalized self within, a new beauty, and new sense or worth.  I will miss What Not To Wear, but I also appreciate that it has run its course. Sayonara WNTW! 

The Gift of Introspection – Taking a Self –Inventory

The Gift of Introspection – Taking a Self –Inventory

One of the greatest gifts I’ve given myself is the self – inventory I made while working the 12 Steps of Al Anon.

Step 4 – Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

I took my time making my self-inventory. When I was ready I used a journal and wrote pages and pages of fears, resentments, guilt, weaknesses, doubts, questions, sins, failures, and regrets from my earliest memories to the present. Part of the process involved identifying my actions or reactions and why I had responded to certain situations as I had. I also had to practice self-compassion and give myself a break and forgive myself for my perceived failures. I learned that in most instances I did the best I could with the tools I had in my toolbox at the time. Instead of failing, I made a decision and survived.

And there were two sides to the inventory. It wasn’t just focusing on my challenges. It also involved an inventory of my assets. I found that nearly every human characteristic has a positive facet and a negative facet. The negatives were essentially a characteristic taken to one extreme. I found I also had within me an amazing array of positive characteristics. My path to self-improvement required me to know myself and learn to cultivate the positive side of any characteristic rather than wallow in the negative. We all have within us two sides to every trait.  For me to live a healthy life with a positive focus I have to work on the right side of the coin. It means avoiding the extremes.

Working on my-self inventory was a voyage of discovery and appreciating the road I’d traveled. I learned that I had to follow the path I had followed to reach where I am today. And I discovered that I am where I am supposed to be today.

One of the gifts of this self discovery is accepting that what has happened has happened and cannot be changed and that the choices I’ve made brought me to where I am. And I have achieved a modicum of peace, serenity, contentment, joy and happiness.  I know that I can appreciate the blessings in my life today because of the challenges I’ve faced in the past. I know that every step I’ve taken has brought me to who I am and where I am today. And I am grateful.

How One Small Project Begets Another And Another…..

How One Small Project Begets Another And Another…..

My husband and I watch a lot of the home improvement shows on HGTV and DIY Network and this has, of course, resulted in our spending hours thinking about various and sundry projects. While I consider myself pretty handy, my spousal unit heartily disagrees. I’ve been banned from painting and performing any tasks that involve measuring and cutting.

This weekend it all started with replacing our kitchen faucet. Friday evening we ventured out to Lowe’s with a mission – to find the perfect Kohler or Moen stainless steel single hole pull down faucet that would clear the pesky shelf on the pass through to the family room above the sink.  The Kohler Bellera fit the bill, a modern integrated single handle design with a high arching spout with a three function spray head.

While we were at Lowe’s, with all of the inspiration we’ve gleaned from watching the rehab shows, we decided to peruse the tiles with the intent that a gorgeous backsplash may be in our future. I’d really never thought about a backsplash with much passion until I saw Property Brothers, Kitchen Crashers, Love it or List It or Income Properties. Now we have a full out lust for a back splash!

Saturday morning after coffee I removed the detritus from under the kitchen sink in preparation for the faucet replacement which revealed the next critical project of the day – cleaning, bleaching, covering and organizing that cabinet where we store our cleaning materials, fire extinguisher and flashlights. That, of course, required a trip to Bed Bath & Beyond for an “under sink liner” and trays to keep store the cleaner supplies.

Naturally, after seeing the impact of the new faucet, our desire to install a dynamic back splash increased exponentially.  So, I’ve spent the past two days searching the web for ideas. This, naturally, has caused us to think of redoing the shower someday, and painting, and lusting after vessel sinks.  It never ends. 

How Faux Celebrities Have Dampened by Trip to the Hair Salon

How Faux Celebrities Have Dampened by Trip to the Hair Salon

While I never actually buy tabloid style magazines such as People, OK or US, I’ve always enjoyed the guilty pleasure of reading them at a doctor’s office or the hair salon. I relish the time while my chemicals are processing to read about the latest celebrity gossip, see who wore what to which event, or decide who wore it better.

But recently these magazines have focused on what I call faux celebrities; and I really have no interest in the Kardashians, Teen Mom, Kate Gosselin,  Paris Hilton or that girl she made The Simple Life with, or whoever is on The Bachelor or those other reality shows. I mean, I’m the kind of woman who refuses to even consider buying a fragrance, handbag, shoes or clothing item with a logo from a pseudo real celebrity like J Lo, Sarah Jessica Parker or even Elizabeth Taylor. Nope, nada, no way, not gonna do it, wouldn’t be prudent.  I refuse to contribute to the bottom line of somebody who thinks so highly of him or herself they want to market a product with their names on it for cash and publicity.  It you want to earn a buck, act in a move or TV show,  make a record, perform an amazing athletic fete, write a book or a play or music, create something artistic. 

The pervasiveness of faux celebrities has taken over the tabloid media. Ho hum! And really, isn’t everybody fatigues with Jennifer Aniston’s love life?

So, I’ve given up the ghost and started taking my Kindle to the salon. At least I can enjoy literary mind candy. But I do miss indulging in the latest on George Clooney or Daniel Craig or Julia Roberts or Reese Witherspoon or any real celebrity. It is mindless, entertaining and amusing to see adults behaving badly.

I’m sure it will only get worse. I understand TLC is debuting a show about a trailer park. No doubt, the inhabitants of the trailer park and the gypsy sisters who apparently hang out at the Martinsburg, WV mall just 20 minutes way, will be the next faux celebrities to enjoy 15 minutes of fame. But I don’t want to read about them.