Looking good is about more than putting on the right shoes and outfit, or having a flattering hair style and attractive makeup.  Looking good is also about feeling good – and that means taking care of yourself in other ways.

One very important way to take care of yourself is by getting plenty of sleep.  With the schedule that many women have, juggling a career, home, and personal life, it’s no surprise we do not get sufficient sleep for optimum health.  That means that no matter what products you use, your skin, eyes, and hair are just not going to look their best.

The occasional sleepless night is not a cause for concern.  However, if you are experiencing more than the occasional sleepless night, it may be a symptom of something more than normal every day stress. If you are experiencing any of the following, it’s time to see a doctor:

• Sleep Apnea – Symptoms include loud snoring and gasping or choking for breath while you’re asleep. In addition to causing extreme fatigue, and daytime sleepiness, sleep apnea can contribute to high blood pressure and increase your heart attack risk. If you think you may have these symptoms, ask your bedmate.
• Insomnia – Everyone has experienced the situational inability to get to sleep or stay asleep, but when it’s a persistent problem, it can contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness, memory loss and more frequent illness.  Plus, insomnia takes it toll on how you look.
• Narcolepsy – Symptoms are an irresistible urge to sleep, often at inappropriate times, like when you’re driving.  Or shopping.  Or eating,  Or pretty much anytime at all.
• Restless Legs Syndrome – This is a crawling sensation that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs, especially when sleeping.  You may not realize that you’re moving about, but you’re likely to get complaints from your bedmate.
• Periodic Limb Movement Disorder – Involuntary contractions of the leg muscles while you’re sleeping can cause you to wake up, either partially or completely. This results in daytime fatigue and achy legs.

If you’re having too many sleepless nights and feeling tired during the day, it’s time to see your physician. Feeling good is a big step toward looking good!

Photo credit: SXC

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In no particular order, here are some of the things that I’ve come to love about Italy, and why I’m looking forward to a return trip again next year.

Fields of sunflowers in Tuscany, July 2009

1. Sunflowers
2. Gelato
3. Lake Maggiore
4. Isola Madre
5. Isola Bella (and yes, I know it’s gaudy and over-the-top)
6. Latte de Luna (with wild mushroom soup that’s to-die-for)
7. Brunello wine
8. Giuseppe and La Montalla
9. Florence (so much beautiful art)
10. Trevi Fountain in Rome (I threw in 3 coins, just to ensure my return)
11. Vatican (history and art, religion and politics)
12. Fashion and fashionably dressed men and women
13. Cafes and cappuccino
14. Hills towns in Tuscany
15. Beautiful churches (every town has a dozen)
16. Pecorino cheese
17. Stopping the car to let sheep cross the road
18. The beautiful language (that I must learn)
19. Limoncello
20. Tomato and onion salad
21. Wild boar pasta (actually, any kind of pasta at all!)
22. Vineyard and olive orchards
23. Cypress trees
24. Internet access (yes, in the middle of a vineyard, there’s still wi-fi)
25. History and a sense of how very young the U.S. is

What do you love about Italy?

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

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I was driving on my way to an appointment, when an interview with Ronald Kessler came on the radio.  Kessler, a prolific author and former columnist for the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, has a new book out, In the President’s Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect . Although a bit too much of the interview was whinging about the Secret Service needing more money (I’m neither agreeing nor disagreeing with that premise), some of the gossipy presidential tidbits grabbed my attention.

I fired up my trusty Kindle, downloaded it, and settled in for a read.

The book was based on interviews that Kessler conducted with over 100 current and former Secret Service agents, including at the management level.  In most cases, he names names and provides sources.  The absences of sources is missing in some of the more over-the-top anecdotes, making them a little more difficult to attach credence to.

The book traces the birth and evolution of the Secret Service, and how its missions has been honed, and changed, over the years.  It’s very clear that Kessler resents the shifting of the Service away from the Treasury Department and over to Homeland Security.  Equally clear is his dissatisfaction with the budget allocation that came with that shift.  He cites countless examples of weakness and gaps in the protection protocol, and continues the whinging for more money.

What struck me as the difficult question in all of this, is that protectees are looking for less (or perhaps less obtrusive) protection, allowing them to be closer to the people who elect them, at the same time that the Service insists on higher levels of protection and risks at an all time.  Until those disparate interests find some middle ground, I don’t see the budget and structural issues of the department getting resolved.

I enjoyed the book, which was a very quick read, for it’s tabloid-like anecdotes about the foibles, misadventures, and lives of Presidents, Vice Presidents, public officials, and their families.  It felt a bit voyeuristic at times, but that didn’t stop me from plowing ahead.

I liked the tidbits about how the Service felt about the people who they protected, which in large part seems to be based on how willing the protectee was in complying with their requests.  A brief overview below:

• Kennedy – No surprises here as they talk about his infidelities.
• Johnson – A picture of LBJ as a sexual conqueror, and Lady Bird’s turning away and choosing not to see or acknowledge
• Nixon – Despised him, felt pathetic toward Pat and her alcohol issues
• Ford – Not the bumbler that was portrayed in the press, he was actually quite athletically gifted – but very cheap.
• Carter – Hypocrite about using alcohol and carrying his own bags, and examples of brattiness on the part of first daughter Amy.
• Reagan – Loved him, thought him jovial and engaging, but Nancy called the shots.
• Bush I – Both he and Barbara were thought to be charming and caring people.
• Clinton – Loved him as well, and though his caring about people and their situation was honest and real.  Always late.  Not fond of Hillary at all.
• Bush II – Loved him, and absolutely adored Laura.  Many examples of kindness and thoughtfulness expressed toward the service.  Always prompt.  Also plenty of stories about the first twins.
• Obama – A little too early for complete feedback, but the initial word is that what you see is what you get, except that he hasn’t quit smoking.  They appear to love Michelle, citing examples of her kindness toward them.  And as for the girls, well, they have to do their homework.

There’s lots of other dirt on public officials, from cabinet members to aides, who’ve made less than stellar choices in their personal life.  While it’s mean spirited to say, we love reading this stuff!  It’s a little like reading the supermarket tabloids, only in book form.

Interested in buying the book?

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Paris is home to one of the most famous streets in the world, the Avenue des Champs des Elysees.

No trip would be complete, without talking time to at least stroll down the Avenue.  Better yet, take time to stop off for a cafe au lait and watch the world go by.   Better still, a little shopping spree!

Avenue des Champs Elysees in Paris, France

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I’m in the process of upgrading my personal blog here into a magazine format, along with adding in some shiny new whistles and bells.   I’ve got the template selected, and, as you can see, I’m in the process of getting it all spruced up.

The Ancient Ruins of the Roman Coliseum

The fun part of all of this, is that it’s going to look so nice when it’s all done.

The not so fun part of all of this, is that I’m having to learn a lot of tech stuff, and that means that there are gong to be lots of mistakes.

So please — I ask for your patience, please.  Check back here again, and see how much changes between visits.  And look for an announcement again when everything is all wrapped up and looking pretty.

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I was researching information for a blog post, and got sidetracked by something that I read on Twitter.

There’s only one of me.  How many of you are there?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 1 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

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We’ve all seen the guys wandering the beach or the street with numerous birds hanging off of them.  A parrot on the shoulder, another one on the arm, and still another one hanging off some piece of equipment.  They’ll pose with you for a small fee.

Unless you’re really drunk, or really need a photo to commemorate your vacation, just say “no thanks” and keep on walking.

This past week, while attending the opening night Pow-Wow party, they had parrots galore to pose with us – and for no charge.  So I seized the moment.

Occasionally, everyone needs a parrot on their shoulder.

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This is Socrates.  I also call him Socks.  He was born on December 31st, 2008, and came to live with me in late February.

The decision to get him wasn’t an easy one.  I had lost a dear pet who had called my home “his” for about 16 years.  You can never replace a pet, but after some grieving time, you realized that your heart can expand a little bit more to include someone new.  Besides, Misha (the other 4-legged household resident) was starting to get a little cranky without a playmate.

So Socks arrived.  And he crept into my life, my heart, and even my bed.

I don’t usually blog about my pets, but I just sort of felt the urge.  I came home after a trip, and this little guy curled up in my lap and spent the afternoon purring.  If I got up, he’s wait patiently for my return and then pick his spot once again.

Life is good, and my world a better place, because of the adorable little 4-footed friend.  It’s also hard to get writer’s block when you’ve got someone purring you on to creativity.

Anyone else blog with their pets?

Photo:  personal collection

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