Friday Fun: Party Time!

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by Charlotte Juggler

May and June mark the beginning of summer and also a new beginning for many people. Graduations, weddings, backyard barbecues and picnics are on the horizon.  Casual family affairs, black tie and rustic chic weddings, clambakes and crab boils. While it’s not very Totebaggy, I am looking forward to viewing the party scenes in The Great Gatsby.

Totebaggers, what is the most memorable celebration you have been to or hosted? Any party dishes to share? Any regional celebrations special to your area of the country? Do you like large parties or small? Don’t be a party pooper, don your party hat and dancing shoes, time to paaarty !!!

Coffee Talk: Drastic Measures

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by L

Angelina Jolie wrote an interesting op-ed in the New York Times last week about her decision to have a double mastectomy because of her risk for breast cancer (her mother died of breast cancer and she tested positive for the genetic mutation).

Totebaggers, would you consider being tested for your genetic risk for certain diseases or conditions?  Would you ever undertake preventative measures as drastic as Ms. Jolie did?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/14/opinion/my-medical-choice.html?hp

Ask The Totebag: Hiatus Calling!

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by Moxiemom

It appears that my husband will have a couple of months off this summer between jobs. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the kids are great ages (11 and 13).  We would love to use the opportunity to do a big trip and are considering New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii.  I wanted to go to Africa, but DH nixed that.

Totebaggers, have any of you done something like this?  Where would you recommend we go?

Coffee Talk: High School Graduation Rates

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by Portia

I have to confess that I was not aware until recently that more than 20% of the US teen population does not graduate from high school within four years of starting the ninth grade. (A few years ago the measurement of graduation rates was changed to this easily verifiable  statistic).

This summary from US News is a good starting point:

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/03/07/high-school-graduation-rates-must-climb-higher

Also in more detail, the PBS link below (despite the slanted title) offers a lot of hope on how progress is being made.  There is a transcript below the video that is easy to skim.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/american-graduate/jan-june13/amgrad_04-11.html

Eight Things Really Successful People Do

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by Laura Davenport, aka WhiteFluffyIcing

I’m a bit of a Covey disciple, so articles like this one from Business Insider will generally get a mouse-click from me.

It lays out eight simple traits of really successful people.  The goodies are in the details, of course, but here’s the list:

1. Make Materialism Irrelevant

2. Enhance Knowledge

3. Manage Relationship Expectations

4. Practice Emotional Self-Awareness

5. Commit to a Physical Ideal

6. Gain Clarity About Spirituality

7. Adhere to a Code of Ethics

8. Focus on Time Efficiency

I’ll just come right out and tell you that I’m terrible at #3.  I mean, I really really stink.  I have the tremendous fortune of having tons of family and friends nearby, and it’s not that I can’t say no to them (I’m actually pretty good at that) — I don’t want to.

Lately I’ve been slipping on #5 too, but I seem to be headed in the right direction.  During the recent very difficult years of my life, I put my physical well-being on the back-burner, and I’ve had a heckuva time getting back on track.

Totebaggers, at which of the items on this list do you excel? With which do you struggle?  How would you improve this list?

Friday Fun: History + Reading + Travel

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by Charlotte Juggler

I just finished reading “Land of Lincoln” by Andrew Ferguson, a book recommended by Tucker. I also recently viewed Steven Spielberg’s “Lincoln”, starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Both the book and movie offer interesting insights into our famous sixteenth president.

My son has written about Mr. Lincoln twice for school, with other kids wanting to trade the lesser known presidents they were assigned for Mr. Lincoln. My kids were introduced to other famous historical figures by the book “John, Paul, George and Ben” by Lane Smith.

Some of us have gone or have kids going on school trips to cities filled with history — Washington and Boston being top destinations. At lunchtime in downtown Boston, I often crossed paths with guides in historical costume leading groups of tourists.

Totebaggers, who are your favorite historical figures and why? (That sounds like a school assignment.)  What historical places are worth visiting ? Museums, battlefields, heritage trails….

The author of “Land of Lincoln” took his children to places where Lincoln lived crisscrossing several states. The kids were not amused but they did learn something. Summer is coming… historical driving vacation anyone?