Southern Belles

I am a real southern belle. I am not ashamed of it. In fact, I embrace it. There is nothing embarrassing about being a southern belle. I know they will be portrayed as brainless twits on "The Help", but modern southern belles are anything but! Real southern belles are smart, savvy and engaging. They may be degreed, work, divorced, of any race or actually live somewhere other than the south.

The modern day Southern Belle is a lady first and foremost. Not to say she may from time to time engage in what Mama would declare an "un-lady-like" activity. Such activities might include wearing leather on a Harley, swilling beer from a bottle at a tailgate, dropping an occasional curse word during an appropriately timed hissy fit, or going around all weekend with NO makeup or lipstick. Today's Southern belle is tough-she can smile the whole time while negotiating with a salesman for a car, helping a dying friend thru chemotherapy or juggling a business, family, aging parents and a busy social schedule.

The Southern Belle is a dying breed. What traits do you see in a modern southern belle?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Cell Phone

I have decided that the cell is the greatest and worst invention of all time.  We can't live without it.  We can communicate instantly with the world via facebook, twitter, texts, and blogs.  But there was a day when we did not have a cell phone as an appendage to our hand.  Those were the good old days.  The beauty of cell phones is that they have voicemail.  If it is really urgent you can get the message even if it is two hours later.  What is so urgent that it can't wait a couple of hours.

I don't think the majority of the world has good cell phone manners.  So here are times when you should leave your phone in your car, your purse or turned off.  You should not text, twitter, facebook or talk on your phone during these times - for any reason at all!!!

1.  When you are talking face to face with another individual.  If you must answer a call - ask to be excused and walk away.

2.  When you are at the table eating a meal.

3.  When you are in church.

4.  When you are in a meeting with a client.

5.  When you are swimming.  Cell phones do not work well in the water.

6.  When you attending a funeral.

7.  When you are in a movie, at a play or in the theatre.

8.  When you are in the bathroom.  The toilet and the shower should not be shared with the world.

I would love to hear of other times when you think the phone should be put away.  I promise if you will put it away your life will be enriched by pleasant conversation, your attention will be focused where it should be and you will enjoy the meal so much more!



It's Hot

How do you stay cool in this dreadful heat?  When I was a child, I played in this heat all day long.  When I was a teenager in the band, I twirled and marched in this heat all day long.  When I was a young adult, I worked as a lifeguard and stayed outside on a chair all afternoon long.  Today as a middle-aged adult, I can hardly walk from the covered parking garage to the elevator of my office without sweltering.  I spend all my time indoors.  In the evening I gaze at my pool from the kitchen and refuse to get in the water because it is tepid. 

I have come to literally dread the Texas summer.  Each August I promise myself that NEXT summer, I plan to move to the mountains for a month and get out of the heat.  I really do plan to do that next summer.  Really!  I don't know how people who are required to work outside stand this miserable heat.

I have become a serious fall and winter fan.  September to March are my favorite months.  I love being able to build a fire, cook some soup and sit out on the patio and enjoy the breeze.  September is usually a bit warm for me but at least the evenings cool off enough that you can enjoy sitting outside.  Wishing your life away is never a good thing but come on September!

What are you doing to stay cool in this dreadful heat?

Tea Snob

I have become somewhat of a tea "snob."  After my lap band procedure, I had to give up soda pop so my new drink of choice is tea.  Iced tea.  Straight up. No sweetener with a slice of lime or lemon.  Preferably over crushed ice.  In my favorite Tervis tumbler.  I am pretty southern - but not enough to drink SWEET tea.  I don't like sweet stuff (except Billy Fox's coconut pie, Janice Holliday's ice cream cake, Bryce's peach pie or Beverly Watson's rum cake - maybe I do like sweets). 

So I have been on a voyage to see what kind of tea tastes best.  I have discovered that Community Tea is probably the best brewed tea there ever was.  It is smooth with no bitter taste. If you are traveling and don't have access to heat, you can't beat the Lipton Cold Brew.  My friend, Tam, turned me on to that little jewel up in Alaska.  Now when I travel I always carry a quart container and a bag or two of Lipton Cold brew.  Great tea when I get to my hotel room anytime!

As for fast food, Chicken Express or Dairy Queen are tops in tea.  Sonic has pretty good tea but maybe it is is just their crushed ice.  McDonald's has the cheapest tea - $1 for a large - except in airports and in Europe.  Most restaurants where you dine will always fix you a glass to go after lunch so you can enjoy it on the way back to the office.

So my dear friends and bloggers..........what is your favorite kind of tea?