Having a Little Perspective, and Remaining Positive

 The past month was a tough one for me on a personal basis. A few years ago I was diagnosed with HPV. Not uncommon, but while most individuals manage to shake it off in a year or so, mine was a persistent little bugger, and it has refused to leave me. I have had to undergo a procedure called a colposcopy, for several years. Without going into too much detail, it is painful and uncomfortable. The reason for doing this, is to determine if the cells in my cervix are healthy or if they are developing precancerous tendencies. To my dismay this last test showed up positive, which is something I had feared ever since I started having to do these tests. 

The good news is that it is not something that has progressed to a degree where my life is at risk, but the possibility of this has been weighing on me for such a long time that it has definitely taken a toll on me mentally. I can, thankfully, have a procedure that if successful, will allow me to get back to normal, whatever that is. 

One of the things that this has put in perspective, and almost confirmed for me is that feeling of how transient our existence is, and how much we need to make sure we live our life to the fullest. I hope you who still garce my blog by reading my sporadic writing spells, will take heed of my words. Do not put off doing things that will bring you joy. Make a list and start checking off things as you do them. We have no idea how long we have in this amazing place we call home. Enjoy its beauty. Love the people in your life fully and without holding back. That is all.

The Argentinian Adventure

 One of the main reasons I started writing this blog was to keep in touch with, and share experiences of living in the Middle East with my family (and my ex's as well), because they were worried about us going to live so far away. However, it was also about celebrating being adventurous and enjoying this beautiful planet we live in. To that point, I want to share the most recent adventure I got to take part in, with my most favorite people in the world, my mom and my daughter. 

During the end of year holidays, my daughter and I had the privilege of going to Argentina, to spend Christmas and bring in 2023 with my mom and her husband. One of the things we got to do was to visit Calafate, which is way south almost to the tip of South America. The reason this area is so special is because it holds a national park that is home to some 40 something glaciers. 

On our trip we got to take a boat tour around Lake Argentina which allowed us to view glaciers from both far and near. The ones we had to view from afar were shrinking, and were considered unstable because they were no longer in contact with the bedrock of the lake. An effect of global warming. We also got to get up close to one of the most famous glaciers in the park called Perito Moreno in honor of the scientist who discovered it. My daughter and I also had the distinct privilege of getting to hike on this glacier. 

To say that this was an incredible experience, would not do justice to what we saw and felt. To be in the presence of these massive forms and learn of their formation and constant motion, even if unperceived by the naked eye, is humbling. In the scope of the length of time they have been part of this world, in comparison to how long we have been around, you realize that we owe it to our planet to do better to conserve resources and help preserve all the places that are just as incredible as the Calafate is. 

Ok enough of my narrative. Here are some pictures which are not too bad, but that really don't do justice to what being there in person is like. This is something that if you have a chance, you should definitely go do.

Eco-friendly Odor Protection - The Trials

 I know it has been a while since my last post. I have no excuse to offer. Life has been interesting and I dedicated my energy to other endeavors, but I always come back here. 

One of the things I had been focusing on was trying to reduce the amount of plastic I bring into my home. I did actually start testing products, and as you might have guessed, yep deodorants were among those products. I tried three different brands and am happy to say I did actually wind up finding one that I am staying with, but first let me fill you in on my research. 

The first deodorant I tried was Bite's Neroli scented bar. It boasts being plastic free, including the refill, and packaging it is sent in. They did deliver on that aspect, but after two weeks of using it i started developing irritation, and unfortunately my love affair with this one was very short lived. I had to go back to Suave for the time being, but I was not about to give up yet. 

The second bar I tried was a brand called Hey Humans. I found it by chance at my local Walgreens. It was resting there on the shelves, all cardboard clad and beautiful, beconing to me from among all its plastic dressed counterparts. I of course happily bought it and was super excited because its Rosewater Ginger scent was beautiful. Unfortunately this one was another short lived affair. I developed the same irritation as with Bite's offering.

I was feeling pretty crest fallen. Was I doomed to keep having to rely on mainstream deodorant brands and their plastic packaging? I could not find anything until one fine day I saw an add for Native. I was a bit skeptical at first, but I also was holding on to hope that maybe, just maybe, this time it would work out. Two weeks went by without any irritation developing, then weeks 3 and 4 went by and I knew I had a keeper. Now my daughter and I have our new favorite deodorant, and the best part is that it is plastic free. They offer five different scents but the ones in the picture below are our favorites. If you too are looking to start your journey into reducing the plastic intake in your life, this is definitely one thing I can recommend. For my next endeavor, I will review some plastic free toothpaste options. Stay tuned.

Picture Day: The US As Seen From Above

 I had to fly from New York to California for work. I am not fond of flying, mostly because I find airports annoying. The long security lines are one thing, but overall what I hate most is watching other people's lack of common sense and self awareness. However if you give me a window seat I can easily forget all the crap, and immerse myself in the beautiful landscapes. Here are some pictures I took on the trips to and from home to where the company I work for is based.

Trying Out Products For A Greener Planet

I have been giving a lot of thought to the whole environmentally friendly aspect of things. Particularly in regard to reducing my impact on the use of plastic in my daily life. I figure that it is literally time for me to put my money where my mouth is, because let's face it, going green is not necessarily cheap, but more expensive would be to not take care of the only home we have.  However, there are so many brands out there peddling their wares, claiming to be able to help, that it begs the question, where to even start, and furthermore, with which brand? 

I have decided to become a guinea pig of some sort, and test run each brand for at least a month to give them a fair chance at showing me that they have the best and most sustainable products in each of the following categories:

Toilet paper

Laundry

General cleaning

Bathroom cleaning

Shampoo and conditioner

Waste management (trash bags and such)

Make up and personal care

First up will be the following brands:

Grove for toilet paper

Blue land for general & bathroom cleaning products.

Bite for dental  care and deodorant

Earth Breeze for laundry

I will report back in about a month on these. Even if I don't wind up liking them, at least it will get me on my way to reducing the amount of plastic packaging I deal with in my daily life. Here's to a greener future.

Laughing Out Loud and The Shows That Made Me Do It

I am a big proponent of having laughter be part of my day, especially these days when so much seems to be happening that can feel overwhelming, and sometimes even depressing. Since I don't get to see my friends as often as I wish and my daughter isn't always around to provide her unique perspective on life I have to rely on my TV or podcasts to provide that kind of entertainment. Today I wanted to share a few Netflix shows that have made me laugh out loud lately. 

Let's start with "The Way of The House Husband". This show takes ridiculously silly to a whole new level. The premise of the show is how a trained Japanese assassin copes with life as a civilian and husband after he decides to retire. I got a good ab workout watching this one and definitely recommend it if you need a little levity in your life. 

Next up "Aggretsuko" which is adorable, enervating, and hilarious, simultaneously. The show is a joint venture between Sanrio and Netflix, which means there is plenty of cute merch as a result. The show itself is about a mild mannered accounting department employee, who has to deal with the misogynist ways of her boss, while also searching for her ideal match amongst a sea of unsuitable men (the enervating part). The funny part is in how she actually vents out her frustration. I won't give too much away except to say that karaoke can definitely be the cure for many things. 

Last but not least is "The Disastrous Life of Saiki K." A hilarious dive into the mayhem lived by a high school student who happens to also have all sorts of psychic abilities. The secondary characters add a lot of color to this story for sure. Recommend it highly for those of you who find yourself wistfully thinking about what you would do if you had a super power. 

I hope these help you get through the doldrums with a smile on your face. 

 

Picture Day : Why I Love Where I Live

 Here are some images of some fun and beautiful things I saw this week. The first two are of some funky topiary things I saw at the American Dream Mall in NJ. Then there is this tree on the property where I live that had the most stunning looking leaves, that it made me stop on my tracks. The last two are of my commute back home last night on the ferry. The skyline of New York City is always stunning, add to that a gorgeous sunset, and it is perfection. Just wanted to share it all.