“Enjoy everything, need nothing.”

Charlene Ross’ Blog on skirt!  asks the question, should we pay our children for good grades?  I believe in praising not only children but anyone who does a good job.  Positive reinforcement; reinforcing positive behavior, by definition can’t be negative.  A few weeks ago when Matthew brought home an excellent report card, I told him I’d take him to the store to get a treat.  I knew his father was already thinking about putting some money in his Easter card for the holiday and for the good grades but I still wanted to give him a prize.  I instructed my son to start thinking about what he wanted so that we didn’t have to wander the isles aimlessly once we got to the store. Continue Reading »

I wasn’t surprised to find a call tag on my doorknob that read, “Sorry, you were out when truck called.”  I wasn’t supposed to be home but I agreed to have a pile of goods at the end of my driveway for the charity truck.  A pile of too small, too big and too boring clothes and shoes had been growing in my garage over the last several months.   At work, several co-workers read the horoscope in the L.A. Times.  The majority are Capricorns, so they read that one and pass it on.  I’d stopped consulting horoscopes but will still listen in when a fellow Tauraen shares what’s up with the “Bull.”  One day, our horoscope talked about removing clutter, getting rid of old things and making room for new.  In this season of renewal, I heard a voice telling me it’s time to clear out.  So I called the charity I normally donate to to tell them that I had a pick up. Continue Reading »

A very interesting thing happened this week on the “Biggest Loser.”  An eliminated contestant had the opportunity to return to the ranch.  There was a weigh-in and the person who lost the most weight at home was able to come back into the competition.  Nicole, who was eliminated early in the game, was the one who lost the most weight.  She lost a whopping 87 pounds, on her OWN!  She was so successful that her weight loss percentage was second to Tara, one of the strongest athletes in the house.  At the weigh-in, the remaining contestants were shaking in their tennis shoes.  As soon as they had the chance to get Nicole’s ear, they all dumped on her.  People frantically filled her in on the drama and tension of the house.  They talked to her about strategies, alliances and broken alliances.  In addition to winning the opportunity to enter the game again, Nicole had immunity for the week unless of course she gained weight.  Everyone vowed to step up their game to compete with someone who didn’t have the luxury of nutritionists, doctors and trainers and was still able to lose almost 90 pounds. Continue Reading »