Author Archives: Kerch McConlogue

Calculators on line

I was trying to figure out the conversion from ounces to mililiters. I was looking at some cool little bottles I’ve been using to keep my assorted vitamins and old people medications straight. American Science and Surplus has all kinds of stuff you didn’t know you needed including these great little glass bottles.

I searched Google for a site to convert ml to oz I turned up a bunch of sites with conversion functions. Then I noticed in big type right up there at the top 1 ml = 0.0338140226 US fluid ounces and a link for more information about the Google calculator.

I checked that out. Did you know you could just enter some math equation into the Google search bar and get an answer? Who knew?

Where the heck was that when I was a kid? Oh wait, the first computer I ever saw was a big as a house and you asked it questions by means of punched cards. As I write this, it sounds a bit like a sophisticated Ouiji board. That just doesn’t seem right!

Oh well.. Lucky for kids these days.

I’m 50 and I don’t need this $#^%!

The fashion industry is really beginning to get it. Older women, with money, have a place on the fashion runway. Most (OK, maybe just many) 50+ women would look a bit clownish in the newest fashions I’ve been seeing in my newspaper during this run up to the big fashion shows this year. But we have money. And we don’t want to wear all that polyester that seemed to make up such a huge part of our past wardrobe possibilities.

So now, GAP, the perennial purveyor of “in clothes” for the +/- 20 somethings has Forth & Towne, their new chain aimed at 35-plus women. But if as they say, 40 is the new 30, then what’s the point of a new GAP for 35 — er 25? — year-olds.

From the article in MediaPost Publications MediaPost’s Marketing Daily

In their 40s, women are going through all kinds of angst about their age, and about wanting to look younger. But by the time they turn 50, women are much happier with who they are.

Here’s what I think is really juicy about that..
It’s not just that at 50 women are happier with who we are, it’s about having the confidence to know that what is, is. And, wherever you go, there you are. You can’t control what you can’t — so make the most of what you’ve got. (OK, enough with the cliches already, I apologize.)

This is not about settling. I haven’t given up. I just try to see the tornadoes a little sooner. Experience reminds me that I WILL get sucked in. So I need my brain to tell me to move the heck outta the way…. faster than I did the last time.

What does your body feel like when your personal tornado is coming? What if you paid attention to that before it hit you over the head with a 2×4?
How do you know when you’re gonna get trapped again? I’d love to hear about it.
Drop me a note, leave me a comment.

Thanks

Schedule II meds to be prescribed in 90 day lots!

Good news, good news.

According to a statement by the DEA:

Today, DEA is unveiling a proposed rule that will make it easier for patients with chronic pain or other chronic conditions, to avoid multiple trips to a physician. It will allow a physician to prescribe up to a 90-day supply of Schedule II controlled substances during a single office visit, where medically appropriate.

What great news for people with ADHD who just plain forget to go to the doctor’s every month, who forget to go to the pharmacy when they know they’re running low. What great news for mothers who wind up paying, on O SO many levels, for kids that run out.

Thank you, DEA. Seems like you’re doing the right thing.

Deciding what to acquire

New stuff has a way of sneaking into my house. Some stuff, I pretend I don’t know where it came from. Some stuff was a gift. Some stuff, I just felt sure I needed to own.

I just read Andrea Lee’s blog on Shopping | Rethunk She makes the point: Go to the mall and pretend you are at a really cool museum.

Back in my previous life as an artist, I went to trade shows regularly. And everybody had the coolest stuff. In the beginning, I probably spent more money than I made, until I came up with my personal dedication to the notion of “appreciating without having to own.”

You go to a museum and don’t feel compelled to bring home the pictures from the wall. (And if you do, those guys with guns at the entrance do a pretty good job of dissuading you from the act.)

Sometimes, armed with my mantra, I shop at places like Pier 1 and other specialty stores. But I specifically look for the cool thing I might just know I need to buy. And then work back thru my mental inventory of what I already have and decide what might do that same thing — if it were just moved to someplace else.

Couple the appreciating without having to own with re-purposing what I already have is a great way to, at least, keep from adding to my personal pile of too much stuff.

If you want me to thank you, give me your address.

I’m on a roll here with things that bug me.
Here’s another one.
… people who don’t put their physical address on their business cards.

I figure this is some kind of hedge against random people showing up at your home. It must be your home you’re protecting, otherwise, why hide the address?

Before I was a coach, I was an artist. I made painted papercuttings and sold them to craftshops across the country and at craft fairs up and down the east coast. I always had my street address on those cards.. and by the way, I’ve always worked from home.

Back in the day, there was no internet open to the general public. So your phone number and address were the only way clients might find a professional.

In almost 30 years, I never had a person randomly show up on my doorstep. But in the ten years since I have more or less retired from that business, I’ve had a pretty fair number of people call or write because they kept my business card and now, years after we met, they want to buy something or ask about something. What kind of connection might THAT be worth?

Sometimes they want something I still have around. Sometimes they want something I could make up relatively easily. And it always connects me to someone I once met.

Connection is a very nice thing.

But over the last couple of years, I’ve gotten way too many cards with no physical address. Miserable dictu — that’s Latin, means “terrible to say”.. or as I recall anyway — most of the cards I get without addresses are from women. HMMM, Do I think you are professional? Or scared of the public?

Why does it matter to me?
When I meet new people, I like to drop them a note and make another connection after that initial hand shake. Perhaps, (“Although it’s hard to believe,” she said smiling) I didn’t make a big enough impression so they don’t recognize my email address.

Perhaps a hundred people will be sending that person an email. So why bother to open mine?

I like to send post cards. My own personal post card, with my logo, address, tag line, etc. It also has a place for a HAND WRITTEN NOTE! Imagine! And I like to write with a fountain pen! Think my note will stand out? You bet.
Think you’ll get one, if I don’t have your address? Nope.

Hey, try this, send me a note with your street address, and I’ll send you a post card!
Really.
And, hey, if you’re doing it right, your street address is already in your signature file so you only have to click that button and we’re good to go!

I’m waiting to hear from you.

kerch