Grateful for Gracious Grandkids

"So, Nana," my eldest grandson said with expectation in his voice. "Where should I sit?"

I turned and looked at him standing there with a bag of leftover cold pizza in his hand, the lunch I had just handed to him. I surveyed the kitchen, and then burst out laughing. The kitchen table, the island, everything was covered with some project-in-progress. I couldn't even send him to the dining room; that table was covered with my writing research, and a few more projects. We finally found him a spot on a couch where he obediently sat munching his pizza.

I adore my grand kids, but I adore more the fact that they love me just as I am, complete with my crazy craft projects and my dishevelled house. But then I am the same Nana who, on the spur of the moment, will drive 3 hours up and 3 hours back on a Sunday afternoon, just to take my grand kids to see a dinosaur museum in Drumheller. So, there is a little give and take.

Even with all my projects, my jobs, and my responsibilities--my grand kids rank high on my list of priorities. Amidst the blog writing, the teaching prep, the decorating job paraphernalia, the jewellery supplies, I still find time for impromptu piano lessons for my 10-year old granddaughter (everything I can remember from my lessons over 40 years ago -- isn't much, but it makes her happy), a Nancy Drew mystery PC game with my 7-year old grandson, a little tickle and tease for my 5-year old autistic grandson, a little sticker book time with my 3-year old granddaughter, and a little face time with my 12-year pizza eater.

Yep, thank God for grandchildren, especially the gracious ones! I am so glad they understand that Nana may have a messy house, and sometimes there might not be a place to sit and eat a meal, but there will always be love, even if we have to sit on the floor for a cuddle.

Cheers,
Sheree

Here's a funny take on teaching your grandchild about antiques, eBay, and garage sales.
http://www.helium.com/tm/227405/lucrative-return-think-maintained

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Elf Yourself! - Howl with laughter!!!

Okay, I am supposed to be doing real work. But a friend of mine just sent this wild thing offered by OfficeMax. It's this crazy photo manipulation thing that you can do in minutes. You upload photos of yourself or friends, and then align their faces on the bodies of elves, or scrooge.

Once all the aligning is done, you can test your work of art. That's where the howling comes in. The faces of loved ones set on the bodies of dancing elves is just what the doctor ordered.

Go ahead. Elf yourself! I promise that you will LOVE this crazy Internet diversion.

Cheers,
Sheree

Baby Boomer Bloggists!

Are you a Bloggist?

Have you thought about making your thoughts public? Well, not those thoughts? But I mean the ones that can be made public?

Have you got something to teach? Something to share? Do you make people laugh at your wry observations? Can you explain something difficult in simple terms?

If so, maybe you should be a bloggist. I know, you think it should be, "blogger." But blogger sounds so, well--ungainly. "Bloggist," on the other hand, sounds classy, refined. But whatever, blogger or bloggist--if you have something to say, it's time to try your hand at blogging.

It's so easy. Just find a blog site like this one. And fire away.

You'll have to do a little work to get your blog read. Like linking your blog to a "blog catalogue." Here's a Blog Catalogue. It's simple to register, simple to use, and they'll provide you with cute little link backs like the one showing below.



Really, it's easy. Just be sure to say something of interest to your reader, something that will help or intrigue a reader.

Cheers,
Sheree

Cutting through the Blog Smog

Baby Boomer Volunteer Travel: A More Rewarding Experience

Many Boomers are still full of energy and ambition, they have great work ethics, they care about the world, and they have itchy feet. What to do with that combination? Take a "volunteer vacation," of course.

Retired Boomers, finished with the daily grind of 9-5, are setting their sights on something loftier than making their month-end sales goals; many are seeking out volunteer organizations that offer a unique adventure in an exotic locale. Like Global Volunteers.

Instead of lying around soaking up the sun on some congested overly-touristed beach, Boomers are finding great reward in teaching English in China, Greece, or Romania; helping to build a church; caring for impoverished children; or planting a garden. In addition, these special volunteers get to experience, first-hand, the unique culture and lifestyle of a foreign society.

It's as easy as picking a continent, an intriguing destination. Organizations like Global provide training and tips to assist Boomer volunteers to be as ready as they can be for their new adventure.

The volunteer vacation has received attention from a number of credible sources including Arthur Frommer and Newsweek magazine.

Remember, when volunteer vacationing, it won't be just your time and talents you'll be donating--like any other volunteering effort, you must foot the bill, too.

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Are you interested in becoming an "Ecotourist?" Here's an article that may intrigue you:
http://www.helium.com/tm/430174/getting-itchy-usual-travel

Looking for low-cost ideas for travel in Canada? Try this article:
http://www.helium.com/tm/304795/vacation-options-canada-diverse

Cheers,
Sheree Zielke

Travel Mementos - Tokens of our Travels

Addicted Traveler - Must Cram Suitcase with Souvenirs
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Try these ideas instead!

As Baby Boomers, we already have enough stuff cluttering up our house--we don't really need more. But travel souvenirs are different.

My husband and I lovingly refer to the trinkets, the statues, the jewelery, the wall hangings, the ballcaps, the junk, we happen across in our travels...as garage sale fodder. The souvenir that attracts our eye, while visiting an exotic locale, soon loses its charm back home. And ultimately ends up being discarded for a pittance at a garage sale.

Here are a couple of ideas for souvenirs that don't take up too much space in the suitcase, and become beloved charming reminders of our travels back at home.


Try these suggestions:

Baby T-shirts: T-shirts are a staple on every continent. And T-shirts made for babies are cute, take very little room in a suitcase, and are imprinted with the city, town, or country in which they were purchased. Back home, treat them like wall art. Use thumbtacks, and tack them up in the family room, bedroom or den. Great for sparking memories of a beloved trip.

Postcards: Of course, you will mail a postcard or two to friends or relatives back home. But you've missed an excellent way to give yourself a great souvenir. Next time, buy some really interesting postcards (like a vintage atomic bomb postcard from the Las Vegas Atomic Testing Museum), jot notes about the day's events on the back, and mail it to yourself. Scrapbookers and journalers will love these mementos. And usually the postcards arrive after you've returned from your trip; these whimsical surprises provide instant travel flashbacks.

Rocks: The most easily accessed of all souvenirs. This is my cheapo husband's favorite type of memento. He has picked up rocks from wherever we have traveled. Now, in some cases, like Greece and Hawaii, you are NOT to take away rocks as souvenirs. But it's hard to take the advisory seriously when you are standing at the ocean's edge looking at millions of pebbles; who really is going to miss just one?

Liqueurs: If you like the taste of thick sweet liqueurs, these make really great souvenirs. My husband and I are fans of the tiny odd bottles like the imprinted ones sold at the gates to Pompeii, Italy. Choose from flavours like lemon, melon, tangerine--the price is right. Pop the bottles in a ziplock bag for tranisit, and they become perfect gifts back home. If you don't plan to drink them, sit them on a windowsill where they can catch the sunlight. Very pretty.

Hint: I had a bad cough while traveling; I bought a small Cherry liqueur and sipped on that. Perfect throat soother. And cheaper than actual cough medicine (which according to recent studies, don't work anyway).

Kid's Toys: All travel locations offer some sort of children's toys, like the pull-toy Pinocchios sold at Venice kiosks. These tiny mementos don't cost much, they take very little room in your suitcase, and they are easily displayed at home.

Photographs: A snapshot is still, handsdown, the very best souvenir. And with today's digital technology, there is no excuse for anyone not to take away a wealth of travel memories inside their clever little compact camera.

Remember to acquaint yourself with your camera BEFORE you travel, take extra memory cards, extra rechargeable batteries, your battery charger, and use your "scene modes" to get those difficult images like sunsets, snowscapes, and museum shots.

For more tips on using your digital camera, try this link. http://blog.picajet.com

Cheers,
Sheree