Vicki Hinze, ©2008

Power.

We hear a lot about it. We’re taught from an early age to seek and seize it. We’re warned against being hungry for it to the point of our own stupidity. We see those chasing after it, those willing to sell their souls for it, and we often hear it connected to politics and other hot-button issues. Oh, yeah. A lot is said and written on power. And yet we hear far too little–and maybe as a consequence of that lack–we spend far too little time coming up with our own definition of power.

That raises a question that just begs an answer:

If we aren’t cognizant of our own definition for power, then by what standard do we judge the ultimate–our true power?

I’m a simple woman, and often when exploring these type things from my perspective, I find it easiest to wrestle and grasp broad concepts by exploring what something is not. It eventually narrows down the concept to a point that I find a path to what that something is. So here’s my narrowing down on what true power is not:

It’s not a commodity to be bought, sold, or given or taken in trade.

It’s not a weapon to be used to force one’s will on another.

It’s not a tactic employed for the purpose of manipulation or harm.

It’s not a separate entity, and yet we can separate ourselves from our true power.

Everything else I’ve thought of regarding power fits into one of the above, so for me, those things define what power is not.

Looking at the text-book, dictionary definition, power is “the ability to do something or act in a particular way” or the “ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.”

There are those who have the power of authority over us–(elected officials, judges, bosses, spouses, parents). But that is power we gave them by electing, appointing, accepting employment, marrying, or being born to them.

These are not holders of true power, only of provisional power. With provisional power, someone has power until we no longer give it to them. The elected officials are voted out of office, the judge leaves the bench, we change jobs, shift the balance of power with spouses, or grow up and leave home, removing ourselves from parental authority.

There is the power of things or entities: a car engine is powerful, for example, or laws that enacted protect and/or prohibit actions.

The power of speech is disputable. So is the power of a speech to inspire us.

Power takes on many forms. And that’s the point. But in form, it still is a two-part process: the first part establishes power and its form, the second part comes from us and our willingness or unwillingness to accept, adopt and/or abide by it in that specific form.

The power of faith is, for example, deemed more significant by some than by others. The power to create change, the power to change. So our reaction to something’s power is a strong influence on its true power. In short, it has what power we give it.

And that’s my point.

Each of us has a measure of true power. Our power to run our lives, to live them in the manner we choose, adopting those things we consider constructive into it–or not. Our power to choose is our true power.

We can keep it, give it away, allow it to be stolen or taken from us. We can spend such an inordinate amount of time guarding it that we totally lose it.

Our power lies in our choices; our true power, in the choices we actually make.

For example, when you awaken each morning, you make choices.

Let’s say, you have a meeting or a task you’re dreading that you must attend or you must do that day.

The power isn’t in the meeting or task. That you might or might not be able to control.
The true power is in the emotional investment you attach to it, the dread. That you can control, and by dreading, you’re giving dread your true power.

No one is taking it–no person, no entity, nothing outside you. You are giving it away.

On realizing this, the perspective shifts a little, doesn’t it?

It does, and should. Why? Because we also realize that we can choose to retain our true power. We can decide how much we allow this one meeting or one task to impact our lives.

Will we allow it to ruin our day? The days preceding it? The next week or month? We choose.

Today, many of us find ourselves in situations or events in which we are victims of others’ power plays. We didn’t ask to be in this position, we didn’t want it, but we’re in it. And because it isn’t our choice to be there, we often can do little to extricate ourselves.

That’s part of being a member of the human race and something we all face at one time or another. But note that these are external things that impact us internally.

Too often we forget that and allow these things to rob us of peace, to steal our joy. To command our focus and attention, which negates our ability to expend our efforts and energies in the way we would have chosen.

Some of these challenges are totally outside our control, which adds new dimensions to our emotional reactions to them. Along with the challenge itself, we develop a “victim” mentality, and then we’re really robbed of peace and joy and an ability to focus where we wish to be focused. Again, they’re largely external. Often the result of someone’s warped perspective that they’re projecting onto us–often because we allow it.

But if we remember that we hold the keys to our true power, we can limit–not eliminate, because we can’t control others, only ourselves–the impact on us. We can choose how much effort and energy and focus we give these things. How much of our time and life we allow them to rob and steal from us.

Unfortunately, in some of these cases, we allow the balance of power to strip us entirely. But we don’t have to do that. Remember, we choose.

So what if you realize that you’ve forfeited your personal power. That you hadn’t realized it was gone (often these snatches are insidious and one day we wake up and discover our true power depleted), then what do you do?

Reclaim it.

Because the power of choice is internal, because you still hold the key to what goes on in your mind and heart, with each thought you have, you can make a decision to reclaim your true power.

You decide what to think about. You decide what gets your time, energy, effort and attention. You decide who and what is constructive and of value. You choose.

You can’t live your life free of challenges imposed or inflicted on you by others. What you can do is to retain your true power so that those incidents have minimal impact on you rather than usurping your life.

True power is your innate gift. It is yours and you own it. Whether or not you retain it, or how much of it you retain, is a matter of choice. Yours.

And knowing it, believing it, exercising it–that is your true power.*

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Ever since the movie, The Titanic, came out in 1997, brides have been having Titanic themed weddings. Various places throughout the country will cater to the desires of the bride wishing to have such a wedding.

If you live in or near Florida or are planning a destination wedding in Florida and wish to have a Titanic themed wedding, check out “Titanic: The Experience.”  This exhibition serves as a wonderful backdrop for your special day.

Or if you live a little more inland, (more specifically, somewhere in the vicinity of Missouri) get married on the grand staircase at the Titanic Museum (Branson) and have the wedding of your dreams.  

Okay, so maybe you don’t have an actual replica of a Titanic in your area, well, don’t let that stop you from having a Titanic themed wedding anyway. Check out the site, Favor Ideas to help your create the ambience of the Titanic for your wedding.

Many brides ask their wedding photographer to shoot a “Titanic-I’m-Flying” photo of the bride and groom. All you need is a balcony (or something that looks like one). And then just spread your arms. Water is optional.

Then again, a getting married aboard an actual ship is always romantic, isn’t it?

And what about the Titanic fashions for your wedding?

Bridal shops like Raspberry Beret or costume shops will help you find the perfect Titanic-inspired gowns.

Of course, you can find a seamstress to make gowns for you and your bridesmaids. Find one who’s experienced in making period clothing like, The Very Merry Seamstress.

But be sure the dressmaker is reputable. You certainly don’t want your bridesmaid gown to end up looking like the one below. This dress was supposed to look like a blue version of Rose’s red dinner gown. This poor rendition would make any girl “jump,” if you know what I mean.

Check out Ebay and search for Titanic, Victorian, or Edwardian gowns to see your options. Many online stores on Ebay, like Romantic Threads might have what you are looking for.

Either way, it’s your day. It’s your groom’s day. Make it magical. Make it fun. Make it your own. And most of all…have fun!

–DivaKimbling

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I should note that since I do not live in a flood zone and am inland from the coast, I have somewhat less preparation than is required for others.  There are many web sites that give information on how to board up your home to protect it from hurricane force winds and debris, so I will not cover it here.  However, I am including links at the bottom of this article.  No matter where you live, if you are in the projected path of a hurricane you will want to gather up any loose items around the exterior of your home and take them inside or place in your garage.  This includes your patio furniture, gardening tools, sprinklers and hoses, flower pots or other items typically placed outside your home.  You can also use masking tape in a large X shape to keep glass from flying on windows not boarded up.  Again, links to more information are below.

At the beginning of hurricane season, I like to stock up on certain supplies I might need.  It’s amazing how quickly store shelves are emptied of these necessities once you’re in the potential path of a hurricane. 

• Extra drinking water.  I buy 5 gallon drums of water.  It requires a deposit, but it’s much easier to lug than 10 one gallon bottles.
• Batteries of all sizes, but particularly flash light batteries.
• Flash lights and other battery operated lighting.
• Manual can opener.
• Food that doesn’t have to be refrigerated or cooked, such as canned tuna, crackers and peanut butter.
• Paper plates and disposable utensils.
• One or more large coolers.
• Masking tape.
• Clear packing tape.

I do not recommend buying candles or anything that requires a flame because of the risk of fire.

Once you learn a hurricane potentially may be heading your way, there are certain supplies you’ll want to have on hand.  If a hurricane hits your area, you probably won’t be able to run to the store and grab groceries — they will likely not have power or be out of what you need.  These items include: 

• Extra drinking water.
• Water for bathing or flushing toilets.  Some people fill up their bathtubs with water.  I have a pool so can use the water in it.
• Propane or charcoal for your outdoor grill.
• Ice.  I freeze bags of it, but some people save milk cartons and fill them.  Bags of ice can keep items in your refrigerator or freezer from melting/spoiling if the power isn’t off for long.  If it is off, then you can transfer items to your cooler.
• Prescription and over the counter medications.  Just to be safe, it’s best to have at least a 1 month supply of prescription medications.
• Pet food.
• Bread and other staples.
• Easy to heat canned foods, such as stew or soup.
• A full tank of gas in your car.  You can use it in order to evacuate or to siphon if you have a generator.  If you lose power in your area, then your local gas station may not have power either.

Diva Kimberly Llewellyn said that as she prepared for her first hurricane she didn’t know what supplies would be most helpful.  However, she figured it out very quickly when she went into her local grocery store.  The shelf stock was low in quantity for the items that were in most demand.  She grabbed everything that seemed sensible if it was low in stock!

If you don’t own one, you will want a battery operated emergency radio.  If local TV stations aren’t on the air, then you may have to get your news via radio.  Speaking of TV, during the last hurricane that hit our area, one of the first services we lost was cable.  Now that TV broadcasts are changing to a digital signal, if you don’t own a battery-operated TV that is digital, then you may wish to purchase one before the changeover if you want to get local TV during a power outage.  I found it reassuring once I was able to see TV, so this is high on my purchase list before the 2009 hurricane season.

Telephone service is important after a storm has hit your area.  If you have a cable phone or rely on a cellular phone, the service could be out for days afterwards.  It’s a very good idea to have a land line as well as a wired telephone unit (not wireless).

What plans do you have for your children?  If at all possible, you will want your family to leave in sufficient time so that they don’t have to take up residence in a shelter if a deadly hurricane heads your way.  A hurricane can be extremely frightening to small children, so you want to make preparations ahead of time.  When my children were young, I had a rule that if a Category 2 or higher hurricane was heading toward us, then I left right away with my kids, pets and family heirlooms.  Since I live further inland and my children are older, I now leave if threatened with Category 3 or higher.  If you wait too long to leave, then you may have to contend with horrible traffic and a lack of hotel rooms along your route away from the danger area, so please take that into account as well.

Before a hurricane heads your way, you’ll want to preplan what to do about your pets.  If you have pets and may need to evacuate, plan in advance what you will do with them.  Will you leave in time to take them with you?  Do you have friends or family who live further inland who will care for them for you?  I can’t tell you how sad it makes me when I realize how many people don’t make these plans in advance for their dearly loved pets.  If you have to go to a shelter, you usually can’t take your pets with you and you sure don’t want to leave your poor pet to fend for himself!  So please, have a plan in place.

I’m very fortunate because my husband likes to preplan as well.  Once hurricane season was well past, he purchased a generator for our use and we’ve had more than one occasion to use it.  Generators may only be used outdoors in a well ventilated area.  The carbon monoxide released is deadly.  Here’s a tip we learned through experience.  Hurricanes come with lots of rain and we prefer to keep our generator dry.  As a result, we set it up on our covered patio just outside our back door.  However, we have to insulate the sliding glass doors because the fumes can penetrate the seams and leak into the house.  We use a generous amount of clear packing tape on all of the sliding glass door seams.

List of helpful links: 

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml

http://www.floridadisaster.org/family/

http://www.onestorm.org/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=/OnePlan/

http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/hurricanes.html

http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/21/pf/saving/willis_tips/index.htm

http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/maintenance/weatherizing/hurricane-proof-your-home/

http://www.floridapets.net/petfriendlyshelters.html

http://www.essortment.com/all/explaininghurri_ttot.htm

My greatest wish is that if you should ever have to face a major hurricane in your area, you, your family and pets will all remain safe and weather the storm easily.  It’s always good to plan for the worst but hope for the best.

Diva Kathy Carmichael

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On weekends we would go to the beach and we’d cook a big pot of Frogmore Stew.  It didn’t have any frogs in it.  :-))  It was named for a small community there.  A typical Frogmore Stew would consist of a big pot of boiling water over a firepit seasoned with vinegar and other spices.  Today I use a store-bought seasoning–Old Bay TM. 

To the boiling water we would add whatever we’d brought.  It was kind of like making Stone Soup, but usually we had potatoes, corn on the cob, onions, sausage, chicken, and shrimp.  When it was done, we would drain the water, line a picnic table with newspapers, and then dump the contents of the pot out on the newspapers.  Everyone would sit around the table eating our way through the pile of meat, seafood and veggies.  If you like butter on the corn, put a stick in a Ziplock bag, throw an ear of corn in and roll it around.  Pass the bag for everyone to do the same (before they start eating the corn, of course).

While I was in Alaska recently, we did an Alaskan version of Frogmore Stew.  We had the same vegetables, but we added large tiger shrimp, chunks of halibut, and Alaskan King Crab legs broken into pieces to fit into the pot.  It was YUMMY!  If you’d like to try your own version, just add the items that take the longest first like the potatoes.  5 minutes later add the onions and sausage.  5 minutes after that add the corn, then the seafood.

Best wishes,

Diva Dolores

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After her return to San Francisco, she took a position with the Berkely-based, architectural firm of John Galen Howard, winner of the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Architectural Competition. While in his employ, Julia had a hand in designing the Mining Building and the Hearst Greek Theater.
In 1904, Julia opened her own office in San Francisco. Two years later the city was ravaged by earthquake and fire and Julia’s business boomed during the rebuilding of the City By the Bay. Favoring the California style of architecture (open beams, lines that blended with nature) and the use of natural materials such as redwood, she undertook such projects as Nob Hill’s Fairmont Hotel and St. John’s Presbyterian Church, which would eventually become the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts.

Her crowning achievement came in 1919 at the age of 47, when William Randolph Hearst commissioned her to design and build a memorial to his mother and a museum of sorts to house his art treasurers at San Simeon. For the next 28 years, Julia worked on the project that was to become known worldwide as the Hearst Castle http://www.hearstcastle.com. Many pieces (Spanish antiques, Icelandic Moss, reindeer for the zoo, doors, windows, statuary, sometimes entire rooms, etc) were imported from Europe and sometimes created by master European craftsmen. Julia, who took a very personal interest in the project, designed most of the buildings, the intricate landscaping which she painstakingly integrated with the buildings, the famous Neptune Pool and the indoor Roman Pool, and the zoo and shelters for the animals herself. Only when the Hearst money ran out did the project come to a halt, leaving the castle unfinished.

Among her other accomplishments, and often done while she oversaw the building of the Hearst Castle, Julia also designed: Chapel of the Chimes in Oakland, Phoebe A. Hearst Memorial Gymnasium for Women at U.C. , Berkeley City Club on Durant Street in Berkeley, and several Bavarian-style village houses on the McCloud River. In all, Julia was the architect for over 700 California buildings.

A recluse for most of her life, due in part to an inner ear infection that disfigured her face, in 1950, at the age of 78, Julia closed her architectural offices for good. She died 7 years later.

Blessings,
Diva Elizabeth

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Why is it, that on the days when I’m waiting for the mailman he/she doesn’t come until after dinner? Normally, he/she is here by 10am. I’m tired of pacing the floor as a form of exercise.

And where is the UPS guy with my carton of author copies for the October book?

Why is it so easy (snicker) to bleed words onto the page, yet as soon as someone puts a mic in front of my mouth I go totally brain dead?  Stt…uuttt…eerrrr much? Naw, only when people are listening. Do I jest? You decide:   Rowena Cherry’s August 12, 10 to 12 Eastern Standard TimeCrzay Tuesday

Why, when I planted a multi-coloured mix of morning glories, did they all come up a really strange shade of purple?

Why does mustard come out of the bottle in a nice thin squirt, but catsup globs out by the gallon?

How can I sit in a hospital waiting room all day long while my mother has surgery and not notice that my bil (the dh’s brother) is there too, while his wife has surgery? Course, he didn’t notice me either, but that can be chalked up to the guy thing.

Why does the bank use a different method of math than I do? On my calculator 150 - 15 = 135.  On theirs it equals 133.75.  What’s up with that math? This is some secret conspiracy to keep me perpetually out of balance. The question is…why?

How come in August the house gas bill is 186$?  The dh has already been warned that we aren’t using the furnace this winter–unless he wants to get a second job.

Why do the yellow German tomatoes taste more like tomatoes than the Big Toms this year? And, ahem, where did the cherry tomato bushes go?

Why on earth would anyone put the big jug of Dawn dishwashing soap next to the washer? They know I don’t pay any attention until the suds are frothing out the top of the washer.  Side note: Dawn does cut through grime and grease…even on metal. My, my, what a clean washing machine…

Why would anyone make liquid handsoap in two forms? And why doesn’t the foaming kind work in the pump bottle?

When did being nasty sarcastic and/or nasty snarky become kewl, or even the norm? Why is it so blatantly acceptable? I must have missed the step from dry Bob Newhart to outright evil.

Why are my Iclone characters all talking and moving at the same time?

And why is playing with animation suddenly much more fun than working? I love my job, seriously, love my job, so what gives with that?

A random thought over breakfast — Why can’t I tolerate soured milk, but love cottage cheese?

When did a red light come to mean speed up? I thought yellow meant hit the gas and red meant hit the brake. Who changed the rules?

Exactly how does one get a ‘clean/fresh’ stool sample from a dog?  There ain’t nothing clean, nor fresh involved. Following with…when did taking said dog to the vet turn into a real ugly battle? Do they make muzzles out of steel anywhere?

Why, as soon as I decide to try the morning shift like normal people, did I lose the ability to be rational, or to think?

When does the fog clear?

Until next time,

Take care and be well.

Denise Lynn

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 A Visit to the Cobbler is Good for the Sole and the Pocketbook!

Are you trying to be green or at least more conservative with your resources and money? A trip to your local shoe repair/cobbler might be in order. Repairing or renewing your shoes can be both easy on the budget and the environment.

Come home from the mall with the most gorgeous pair of shoes, but find they are too tight across the toes? Take them to the shoe repair and have them stretched.

The straps broke on one of my favorite pairs of sandals and the cobbler not only crafted new straps, but dyed the leather to match. My sandals are now ready for several more seasons of wear and I couldn’t be more pleased.

The heels worn down on your best pair of boots? The shoe repair can replace them.

Cobblers and shoe repair shops are not just for shoes. While they do handle everything from replacing heels and soles on shoes to shining them, they also handle many additional repairs, including to handbags, luggage, even backpacks.

My son had a very expensive designer backpack which unfortunately didn’t hold up. Considering the expense, I decided to take it to the nearby shoe repair shop to see if he could do anything with it. Not only did the cobbler replace the bottom of the backpack with heavy-duty suede leather, he reinforced the shoulder straps. That was five years ago and my son is still carrying the same backpack!

Cobblers also repair handbags. They can order replacement metal rings, zippers and the like and, even better, they also will dye not only shoes, but also handbags. If you love a handbag, but it’s getting that worn-out look, consider taking your bag to the shoe repair for a little color touch-up. The bag will come back looking like new again.

If your gorgeous leather pullman is damaged after a flight, then you might visit the cobbler to see what he can do to fix it. They work on most leather items as well as other fabrics.

A visit to your local cobbler will be easy on your wallet. It sure beats hitting the mall again, hunting for another pair of perfect black shoes when the ones you love now look new again!

Diva Kathy Carmichael

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Almost every lodge along the way had a bakery and many of them made this creation called Fruit of the Forest Pie.  Now you would think that with so many places making it, at least one of the million cookbooks sold with Alaskan recipes, written by Alaskans would have a recipe for the wonderful pie.  Well, I never found one.  It is a delicious mixture of rhubarb, apples, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and sometimes blueberries.  When I get home I intend to experiment with different rhubarb and strawberry pie recipes to see if I can capture the same taste.  I’ll let you know if I do.

I’ve eaten so many blueberries, I should look like a Smurf.  Here is a new berry cobbler recipe I’ve made a couple of times during the trip:

Any Berry Cobbler

4 cups Bisquick

1 cup milk

1/4 cup Amaretto

1/2 cup granulated sugar

7 cups fresh or frozen berries

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 T cornstarch

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix Bisquick, milk, Amaretto, and 1/2 cup sugar.  Bake in a cast-iron frying pan until lightly brown and toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool then remove from frying pan.  In the same pan, add berries and 3/4 cup granulated sugar.  Bring to a boil on stovetop.  Add cornstarch and let thicken.  More cornstarch can be added if needed.  Put the breading on top of hot berry mixture and sprinkle with a little more sugar.  Serve hot.  Serves 8-10

Until later,   Diva Dolores

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To everyone’s surprise, at a time when railroads were cutting into the profits of the riverboats (also known as packet boats), Captain Mary’s boat, Argand, turned a tidy profit for the Greene Lines.

During her time on the river, Captain Mary gave birth to three sons. One of those sons, Tom, who later became a riverboat pilot, was born while her boat, The Greenland, was hung up on an ice jam.

When the riverboat business changed from cargo carriers to passenger vessels offering recreational cruises, Captain Mary came into her second element – the much beloved hostess of the passenger boats. People lined up to travel on Captain Mary’s vessels because she made it her business to see that those passengers who traveled on her boats were the recipients of her full hospitality.

In 1946, Captain Tom, her son, had the Delta Queen, a luxury steamship scheduled for demolition, towed through the Panama Canal from Sacramento to New Orleans. There, after it was refurbished and refitted for service, in 1948 the Delta Queen became the Greene Lines’ flagship and with Captain Mary at the helm was introduced to the public.

A year later, in Cabin G, her personal residence on the Delta Queen , Captain Mary died after having steered her beloved boats up and down the river for over sixty years.

The Delta Queen still plies the muddy waters of the Mississippi River today and there are those who claim that Mary stills lives onboard. Many have seen her ghost walking the companionways while seeing to the welfare of the Delta Queen as well as the guest traveling aboard her.

Blessings,

Diva Elizabeth

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