Free Housecleaning For Women With Cancer

I friend sent me this wonderful website. Sometimes when I get crazed about the world "going to hell in a hand basket" I see things like this and it renews my faith in mankind (and womankind).
Here is an organization that will come to clean your house when you are having chemotherapy for cancer. All you need to do is sign up and have your doctor fax confirmation that you are receiving treatment. This organization will come to clean you home once a month for four months.

http://www.cleaningforareason.org/

God Bless Them!

Citrus

WOW! Now is the time of year in Arizona when citrus is king. The fruit is literally dropping off the trees. It is so colorful, juicy and sweet. Plus the trees are all ready blooming for next year's crop. The orange blossom fragrance in the air is intoxicating.

The sunshine is glorious. The citrus abundant. Sounds like spring to me!

Chaos To Order

Businesses to get you organized are sprouting up all over. Look at the TV any given day and on at least one talk show they are talking about organizing, cleaning and/or hoarding.

We are approaching time to do some spring cleaning. You can tell as the days get longer and the spots on the windows are more evident. It's time to start with that glass cleaner and go from there.

Chaos To Order is a company that has been around for over 20 years. They have a blog and twitter so you can check them out whenever you need a boost to get you going.

Here are some hints that help me:
1. Prioritize; I can't do it all in one day, so what's it going to be today?
2. Set a timer and do what you can in that given time.
3. Focus on one room at a time. If my vases are accumulating, clean the laundry room where I keep them, sort them out and continue cleaning until the timer rings.

Friends

When we were just out of college we were searching for the American dream, thinking of tilling the land and being a "Country Boy" a la John Denver. This was when flashing the peace symbol and saying "far out" was a way of life.

We landed in Benson, MN, a town of 3,500 people. Foxtrot Freddie was the country doc. I made our our sons' baby food, sewed the kid's clothes, cooked dinner from scratch every night and our husbands came home for lunch. The drugstore had a soda fountain, the grocery store had a charge system, written on ledger cards and there was one stop light in town. There was one movie theater and when we asked the owner if he had coffee at the concession stand, he went out and bought a Mr. Coffee, made some just for us and brought it into the theater with a smile. We filled out gas tank once a month, because every place we needed to go was in a three block radius.

But what made this town so incredible were the people.It brings tears to my eyes to think of these good people, some brought homemade cookies on a cloudy day or silly napkins from the local drug store (which served more like a general store). Someone cleaned snow off our driveway for 5 years and we never did find out who it was. Then there were friends, who became our confidants and our support system when we had kids, when we wanted a "girl's night" when the guys wanted a some time to chill, when we schemed special theme nights. These special friends, still keep in touch today, after 33 years. I just received a photo from one of these friends today. It was their grandson's baptism. It reminded me of the love shared between them and how happy I am for them. That is what a friend is, to help them through the tough times and share the joy during the good times. I am so blessed to be their friend.

Starbucks Blunder

If you have read any of my blog, you know I am a Starbucks fan. I own Starbucks stock. I love Starbucks coffee, I go there everyday, I know my baristas, my baristas know me. I know other regulars, other regulars know me. It is my small town within a big town.

However, I am a stickler for the rules. The rules say, keep a restaurant clean and follow health department rules. I know health department rules, had to learn them when I worked for USDA. So, imagine my disgust when my own personal Starbucks is not keeping up their end of the bargain.

The barista petted a dog, outside, another regular's gorgeous pet. No problem there, but for God's sake wash your hands afterwards and before you hit the barista bar again.

Secondly, there is no storing dust pans and brooms on the counter, under the oven. YUKKO!

Lastly, no dogs (except service animals) allowed in restaurants. Sorry Fido, the doggie bowl is outside.

So, readers, it's up to us. This is common sense, don't let things slide if you know better. This little Starbucks location will know better soon after this blog post, a surprise visit by the Maricopa County Health Department who also received the photos and dialogue and Starbucks Corporate since I forwarded the issues and photos to them.

El Chorro Lodge

The joys of living in a resort destination are many, the sun, the dry climate, the restaurants, the golf courses, the shopping, and the unique places to sight see, it makes for fun days.

Today I took a client to the El Chorro Lodge. For those of you who may have visited Phoenix (AKA The Valley of the Sun) you have heard of El Chorro Lodge. It was built originally as a girl's school in the early 1930's. It later became a restaurant with awesome sunset views of Phoenix greatest landmark, Camelback Mountain. However, even it's world famous "sticky buns" couldn't keep this dinosaur going in the current difficult economic times. El Chorro closed last spring.

As luck would have it, new owners bought the place, spiffed it up and kept some of the favorites including the famous sticky buns.

The place is magnificent! What a joy to have in the city. The food is terrific, the wait staff cheery and efficient and the views breathtaking.