Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ~Arthur C. Clarke
Let me just admit that until 6 months ago I probably had no idea what an app was.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll catch on. If you do, then I know, I know. I'm very late to the game.
In my continuing effort to embrace technology this year I just upgraded my Blackberry, which means I'm now on it full time, every minute of the day. My phone and my e-mail are now on the same device. Brilliant, but someone needs to invent a surgical snap so I can literally attach this thing to my hand. (I feel like I just hit warp speed. Beam me up Scotty!)
Now I want apps. Today I started downloading my first with some help from photojournalist Brian Iacone.
Too bad there's no app for cook dinner. There is one for order dinner! I like it.
Know a great free app I should have? Hook me up. I'm ready.
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once. ~Jennifer Yane
Have you ever seen those little airport spas? I always wondered who in the heck uses them? Who has time to have spa treatments at an airport?
Well, apparently I do. I'm in Jacksonville, Florida for a family wedding. I arrived at the Jacksonville airport two hours before my daughter. I'd been up since 5 am. Hmm...what to do. Then I see it; the spa that I could never imagine using at an airport.
My nails are a mess and I think what the heck. And besides, it's a first. (My daughter says it's a weenie first. I was too tired to come up with something more adventurous today.)
So, it turns out the airport spa is a pretty good thing.
Tomorrow's wedding is going to be pretty interesting. Should be a good first there.
Are you up for a fight? Because I’m telling you, right up front, it’s a fight to get from where you are to what you want. That battle is with yourself. - Judith Sills, Ph.d. Author -The Comfort Trap or What if You're Riding a Dead Horse
I've been thinking about what's behind doing all these "firsts". What's driving me? Why is important to do "firsts" in your life?
Psychologist and best selling author Judith Sills has assured me I'm not crazy. There is something vitally important about doing "firsts" in your life.
This was our conversation this afternoon.
You may recognize Judith. She's often a contributor on the Today Show, she writes a column for "Psychology Today" and she's written six books, (one of them a New York Times best seller). If you'd like to learn more about her check her out at http://www.judithsills.com/.
So honored to have her as my first expert "guest" on this blog.
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras
Whoever said you can't teach an old dog new tricks is just wrong. It doesn't matter whether you are actually talking about dogs or people.
But for the purpose of today's first, I taught my dog Angel a new trick. She's about 12 years old. I haven't taught her a new trick since she was a puppy. (Everything she knows she learned in puppygarten)
Anyway, I found this trick online: How to teach your dog to "high-five". Check it out.
I think she got it. Okay, maybe we need to work on that one a little.
But even dogs need to do a First every once in a while. I swear she looked a little younger and had a little more pep in her step.
Next week? Jumping through hoops. Not sure if that will be me or the dog.
Up to this point, you all have been subjected to my raw amateur flip camera videos.
Bad news: I will remain, (for the most part) my own photographer for this blog.
Good news: Today I started to learn how to edit the video so you don't have to watch all of my bungling, shakey moves.
I decided to work with video I took from the Mayan home we visited a couple days ago near Coba, Mexico. I think it's pretty fascinating. (Or I'm just making you watch my boring vacation movies!)
There's basically one cement floor room with sleeping hammocks, a cooking fire, some jewelry and wood trinkets for the tourists. Animals of every sort roam freely in and out.
I felt awkward and uncomfortable going on this part of the "tour" and watching these lives on "display". The trade off, I'm sure, is the little bit of money we left behind in exchange for some homemade crafts.
I was told the children in this family don't go to school. The country doesn't require it. The family basically hunts and eats off the land. No electricity or running water. Amazingly, we were told the life span of the typical Mayan living like this is well into their 80's. The medical doctors on our tour were stunned. Healthcare is generally taken care of by the village spiritual leader.
A world away from the finest resorts just miles down the road.
Anyway, that's my little educational travel video for today. Hopefully, new, improved, edited videos on oneyearoffirsts coming soon for your viewing pleasure.
When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. ~Susan Heller
The "excellente", "muy bien" vacation in Mexico continues. ( This is pretty much the extent of my Spanish vocabulary and I use these words in addition to "ola" dozens of times a day, because the Mexican people we've met are so nice they are always saying "ola" and asking how you are. If you do not answer "excellente" or "muy bien" , they want to know why you are not "muy bien" so I now automatically say "muy bien". Si. Gracias for continuing to read this. )
I've always wanted to zip line through the trees somewhere. So, when I heard about this kind of natural water park, zip line adventure place called XPLOR nearby, I said sign me up. My husband Phil did the camera work.
You see what I mean about the "ola", "muy bien" thing? It goes on like that all day. Anyway, zip lining was a blast. At XPLOR we must have gone on about a dozen different lines and some of them spashed us into the water. (Notice my lovely hair) Here's one of the landings.
I don't know why I wasn't scared. I'm usually not crazy about heights but this didn't bother me at all.
We also went swimming in water running through underground caves, and took an ATV through some jungle paths. But the zip lining was an exhilarting first.
Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly. ~Author Unknown
Driving the speed limit is nearly impossible! AND people get pretty ticked at you.
I was driving to the gym this morning around 8:30 on a 25 mph side street. I was driving the speed limit. A woman driving behind me was right on my tail, clearly crazed I was going so slow. Turns out she was going to the gym too. (she pass me in the parking lot.)
I really can't throw stones. On another day, I might be the crazed driver. Here I am trying to go 50 mph on 76 East headed into Philadelphia.
The thing is, all day long I kept forgetting I was supposed to go the speed limit for my "first." I would catch myself after driving for a few minutes and realize I was always almost 10 miles above the speed limit.
Yep. I'm a habitual speeder. I also think it's a little dangerous to drive slower than everyone else. Not to mention the fact there are some really nutty drivers out there.
I actually thought there was some road rage going on this morning when the driver was on my bumper. But then I eyed her in my rearview mirror, sized her up and knew, she was just late for her spin class. The worst she could do is throw her water bottle at me.
The word aerobics came about when the gym instructors got together and said, "If we're going to charge $10 an hour, we can't call it jumping up and down." ~Rita Rudner
It's very hard for me to explain a Power Plate Workout. I can only say I kept thinking about those old hotel beds that you would put a dime in and it would vibrate.
Lionel Braunecker shows Loraine Ballard Morrill and me how it works at the Bala Cynwyd Aquatic and Fitness Center.
It's weird. The plate vibrates. Your body vibrates. Your brain rattles a little. You work out in 30 second intervals for about 30 minutes.
It's supposed to give you similar results as lifting weights for an hour. It's hard but not like lifting weights.
While we were vibrating away, a guy came up and said all his muscles were sore two days after his power plate workout. He can't wait to do it again. He raved about the workout.
Hmm. It's so different than anything I'm used to I don't know what to think. I kind of feel silly. I'll let you know if I feel anything else.
Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death. ~Anaïs Nin
You might be surprised when I tell you I have never kept a diary. I've never kept a journal. Yes, I write for a living, but I've never seen the need to just write for myself. I've always liked writing for anaudience. An audience that can immediately respond. (Thus, you see why I like this blogging thing.)
Still, it's become apparent to me, this needs to change. Last Saturday I went to a meditation/journaling class without a journal. I scribbled in my reporters notebook. Something was just so wrong about that. Everyone else opened beautiful well worn journals. (yes, I had journal envy) It occured to me these personal books are treasures to come back to and read to see where you've been.
A friend of mine recently pointed out this Year of Firsts is very much a journey. And this journey needs a daily journal. Beyond what I write for you to read, there's a voice inside me thinking a lot about what's behind this blog. I guess I need a place to put it down even if it's just chicken scratch nonsense.
So you are my witness. Here it is.
I have terrible handwriting which is why I learned to type in fourth grade. These days, there's hardly a need to write something out. But writing by hand feels organic, pure in some way. It's so personal, your writing by your hand.
Today I wrote about a few things I've learned in these last 52 days of Firsts.
-It is possible to keep your car clean. - Some days I have no idea what First I'm going to do, but one always comes like a door opening. I just have to walk through. -Doing Firsts every day is like using a new muscle. I feel stronger and more confident the more I "use" it. - Some of the best firsts happen when someone shares their passion with me.
Things like that. Random thoughts or pieces of thoughts taking me somewhere or just in circles. Anyway, glad you are on this journey with me. Thank you for your input, your ideas and your encouragement to keep going.
Go out and find your first. I'd love to hear about it. Email me at luann.cahn@nbcuni.com
As long as we live, there is never enough singing. ~Martin Luther
So my husband's New York City 60th Birthday present extravaganza continued today. We went to see the Broadway Show Jersey Boys.
Afterwards, I convinced Phil to sing asong from the show with me, publicly, on West52nd street, outside the August Wilson Theater. (It's the closest we'll ever get to singing on Broadway)
Hey, I was into it. No one even stopped to stare. It's New York after all. (no applause either)
We met Michelle Owens Wilbekin and Patricia Thompson on the street. They took the video of us singing and told us they came in from the Bronx for the show. Patricia's favorite song was "Dawn". ( "Dawn I'm no good for you"...hm, hm, hm...no idea what the words are.)
Last night Eric Clapton. Today Jersey Boys. I think Phil was surprised how moved he was by the musical based on the true story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
What a weekend. Back on the train. Back home. We're beat but still singing..."Sher - er-er -er ery baby, Sherry baby,Sher-er-ry won't you come out tonight....."
Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth
Some Firsts are fine experiences, but you know it is a one time only experience. This morning (7:30 am to be exact) I know I came to a First where I felt I was destined to be and I will be again.
Many people might find a meditation and journaling class as different, new agey and out of the box as I found interpretative dance a couple weeks ago.
But for me, walking into Jennifer Schelter's class at Yoga Schelter in Philadelphia felt like warmsunshine. Though I'd never met anyone in the group (except Jennifer) before this morning, I knew I was safe and at home in this small circle of writers.
I didn't know the format of the class. I only knew I'd been thinking about this for months. I knew that I was interested in journaling, maybe meditating and finding out what this was about.
I always struggle with quieting my mind, but it wasn't hard this morning perhaps because I was half asleep. And after some time, Jennifer asked us to write...really whatever came to us. I started writing about how it feels every day to wake up and know I'm going to do a First.
What I didn't expect was we were all asked to share what we wrote. The words, feelings and thoughts that came out of the others in the class were so wonderful. At times i laughed and almost moved to cry. I felt like a child so happy to discover something unexpected that just touched me so.
My own offering was taken in and welcomed, encouraged. I left feeling light and grateful. A first that felt like a fit. So nice.
The future is always beginning now. ~Mark Strand, Reasons for Moving
Is it KARMIC or what?? On the 43rd day of this One Year of Firsts blog, I had the opportunity to go to the 43rd floor of Comcast Headquarters in Philadelphia. ( I swear, I didn't plan this). Take a look.
This is a view from Ralph's Cafe, named after Comcast Founder Ralph Roberts. Can you imagine eating lunch here every day? Nice huh? (Bet they don't serve peanut butter and tuna here though. if confused see yesterday's post).
Yes, this is where all the Comcast employees in Philadelphia's tallest building dine while they look out over the city. It is pretty Comcastic!
I should tell you, in case you don't know, this is home to my future employers. Comcast isbuying all of NBC which includes NBC10. I just happened to be in the building today to help with an interview. I thought it would be a fun first to see the view everyone raves about. I now see why.
All I can say is, I can't wait for my own employee pass to eat at Ralph's Cafe.
Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love. ~Charlie Brown
Yes, I know. Gross! Peanut Butter and Tuna ! But seriously. There was not much else left in the fridge. I didn't go shopping with everyone else before the blizzard because I was coveringthe blizzard. (Not asking for pity, just trying to explain the insanity.)
Amazingly, I actually found a recipe on line combining the two unlikely ingredients in a sandwich. So, here we go.
In case you're wondering: 3 oz of tuna mixed with 2 tablsps of mayo. spread a tablespoon of peanut butter on two slices of lightly toasted bread, put tuna mix in middle of sandwich and enjoy! Now for the taste test.
Meanwhile, I can not repeat what my husband said when I told him that's what I was fixing fordinner. He still isn't home. He must have stopped to get something to eat.
(Sorry about cutting my head off. I'm my own photog tonight.) My dog loves tuna fish and was very happy when some of this concoction dropped (accidentally, i swear) on the floor.
Something about this reminded me of some weird tuna casserole. In fact I was thinking some crushed potato chips would be a good addition to this sandwich. I sense, it's the kind of thing you can eat and it will stay with you a long time. You won't feel the need to eat for awhile.
It's really not gross. I just don't know if I would call it yummy! If rations are low and it's all you've got , it will definitely get you through a blizzard. But next time, I think I'll find a way to get to the grocery store.
A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water. ~Carl Reiner
If you're an adult over 30, when was the last time you made a snow angel?? Me? Can't even remember. Maybe third grade when my family briefly lived in Indianapolis and through a winter I'll never forget. But the point is, today's Adultsnow angel is a First.
I took the only "kid" left in the house who wanted to go outside to play to help me.
Even my dog looks confused? "You're in the snow?",she's thinking "Are you sick?"
It actually felt good to look up and feel the snow falling on my face. AHHH.
Play in the snow??? Oh gosh. When my daughter was little I went on plenty of sledding and snow man making adventures but I probably did more watching, encouraging, picture taking, hot chocolate making than in the snow participating.
And by the way, I salute every tv reporter out there today (I actually feel a little guilty I'm not out there with them.) Working snow days as a reporter is a hard, long cold day documenting other people playing (or getting stuck ).
I've done far more work than play in the snow, which is probably why I'm not used to seeing two feet of snow and thinking "oh fun!". It may take a little practice. And with the way this winter is going , who knows, I could get plenty.
Angel however innately gets snow and enjoys eating it with a side of "stick" (or is it schtick)
One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time. ~André Gide
Due to a big snowstorm heading our way, thefirst I had planned was cancelled. (First cancellation does not count as a First)
So I decided it was time to do something I've been meaning to do. Watch an episode of MTV'S Jersey Shore.
This episode Ronnie spent the night in jail, Snookie breaks down because she doesn't have a date and Pauly D and the Situation try to cheer her up.
Really???? This is what America is wrapped up in??? ....
I have to tell you I forced myself to watch more than ten minutes of this thing. If this is a hit, there must be some entertainment value here.
When Snookie starts crying because her ex was being mean, I have to admit was hooked a little. Okay, what woman doesn't relate to some guy rejecting her. Then of course she gets into the hot tub with the Situation and there's a situation.
I know the Italian stereotypes in this reality shore version of Real Life are hard and often unflattering. But it's an interesting cast. You can't forget these characters.
I can truly say that this is the first and last time I will watch Jersey Shore. I've seen enough to say I've seen it.
I just had to know what everyone was talking about. .
