My fantasy job would be to travel with "Saveur" magazine. When I stopped at a yard sale today, I found a pile of free "Saveur" magazines. I had my 4:00 cup of coffee with cream beside me as I started to peruse the pages.

Ah yes, off to Providence, Rhode Island to experience the Italian-American neighborhood. I'd dine at the Old Canteen and start with the Shrimp Fra Diavolo (shrimp in spicy tomato sauce served over pasta) and end with Fancy Spumoni with Balsamic Syrup at Camille's. I'd learn to make potato gnocchies and bring home some sfogliatelle (crunchy shell-shaped pastries filled with sweetened ricotta) for Big Fred.

While heading East, I'd make a trip to France, to visit Chablis wine country. I'd sample wine from barrels in their wine cellars and taste their celebrated Raveneau Clos (Grand Cru) 1999 at $125 a bottle.

I'd jet back to the states and visit the Gioia Cheese Company in California and buy Vito Girardi's burrata. This is handmade mozzarella which is molded around curds and cream. It comes in 1 pound balls and is highly perishable, so we would have to make tomato sandwiches with it before e it went bad. If it is April, I could take in the Asparagus Festival in Stockton where folks eat more than 20,000 pounds of tender asparagus spears over three days. Wheeeew!

While in the festival mood, I could attend the National Corn Bread Festival in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee. I'd bring home a cast-iron skillet for NB, because this is the home of the leading American manufacturer of cast-iron skillets.

I'd be the Alton Brown (Food Network) of GT County. I'd have to learn all of those types of pastas-angel hair, bowtie, macaroni, twisties. I'd learn to sniff and swish wine. I'd eat pine nuts and pan fried sweet breads with chablis sauce. I'd...........I'd be fat!!!

And I've only read one magazine.

Rules for Survival, free advice that I have passed on to anyone who will listen. It has been helpful as I have moved from place to place. Use the 5 rule survival system when you move to a new town or city. It's a way to be proactive for yourself and your family.

Rule #1-find a Free Clinic (the missing rule).When Big Fred and I lived on the farm, we didn't have health insurance. In fact, we had to sell livestock to spring me from the hospital when NB was born. So, with a little child, and all of the baby shots, I went to the health clinic where the fee was minimal. Yes, I had to wait, but so did many other people. I have no qualms about getting health care in this fashion. Then when we moved from the country to the city, I looked for the free clinic- you know, women's issues, colds, fevers, and any other emergency. I even checked out the dental schools for lower rates. When you don't have insurance, the tendency is to home medicate, and sometimes, that can be disastrous. Rule #1 helps cut down on anxiety.

Rule # 2-find Goodwill, St. Vincent de Paul, Salvation Army, or other quality thrift shops. If money is an issue, and for most of us it is, thrift shopping is the way to go. Check out these stores for cleaning and household items-a mop, a broom, dish drainer, silverware, dishes, bathroom items. For a small amount of money, the house can be fashionably furnished. And families can have clothing galore. I usually stop at shoes unless they are brand new. With the savings, kids should get new shoes that fit their feet. School supplies,office supplies, toys, games, books, magazines, and music are all available. Here's a place that children can get that toy that costs a fortune. I have bought many beautiful gifts at these places. The good thing is that many of these stores now have a return policy so I don't have to spend the whole day trying on clothes. If you have the ready cash flow, kids clothes can be purchased and tried on at home at their leisure. Downside, most clothes have to be tried on and it takes time to look through everything. There is no reason for kids wearing raggy, too small clothes. And yes, a great place to find clothes for special occasions for kids who just grow out of fancy dresses and blazers. The fun is in the find and the bargain.

Rule # 3- find the public library. Wow, a whole world open and usually free. Books, games, magazines, puppets, puzzles, music, a copy machine and Internet access. Most libraries offer storytime, summer reading clubs, homework help, classes, art lectures, and adult reading groups. Of course, you need the non-possession philosophy. The idea of borrowing not owning is hard for some people. It eliminates stacks of once read magazines and overflowing bookshelves. It's a great place to socialize. When I lived on Mackinac Island, it was a lifesaver. When I lived in Howell, I volunteered to help with storytime. It was my first stop to find new friends for myself and NB. I'm a big library fan.

Rule#4- seek out the local event calendar. Many events are again, free. Music on the lawn, art openings, guided walks, travel lectures. Most every weekend has something going on that doesn't cost money. Maybe a little gas, but that's a given. Ride your bike, walk.

Rule#5. Find a place that is natural. Look for a park, a beach, a riverside, a garden. Try for someplace quiet. Hopefully, it's a place where the sun can shine through, maybe have some birds. We all need a place that brings us close to nature. We need to nurture our spiritual side.

So, 5 Rules for Survival. Advice given freely to anyone who will listen or read. Pass it on to your kids.

44 Scotland Street, by Alexander McCall Smith, is a fun read. The story is based on the colorful characters who live in a townhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is about , Bertie, a 5 year old, who is his mother's "project", Pat, a twenty year old, who is trying to find her place and works at an art gallery, Domenica, their 6oish eccentric widow neighbor, and Bruce (Pat's flatmate) who mostly thinks about himself.

The story deals with friendship, intrigue, vanity, loneliness, and ordinary events in lives that intertwine. Smith gives a good picture of Edinburgh society and human nature.

This story was first published, chapter by chapter, in "The Scotsman" newspaper. The serial writing helps the book move along quickly. In fact, I found it helpful because I had chores to do, so I could easily keep up with the characters even with that " stop and start" type of reading.

I'm now reading Expresso Tales which is the next book in this series. Not too heavy, funny, the same characters, and a clever twist here and there. I got a really big kick out of Smith's No1 Ladies Detective Agency series. I'm enjoying this series, but I don't think it matches up to Ladies Detective Agency especially when it comes to humor. Still, it is a fun read.

Rise up, Moms. Rebel! I just finished reading the New York Times article titled "Back to School Fashion"http://shopping.aol.com/pages/Kids-Fashions/20209?ncid=AOLCOMMshopDYNLprim0001. It was informative and extremely sad. I usually don't rant ( I leave that to mamak), but the whole idea of fashion world marketing focus on under 9 year olds, is truly appalling.

We, women and men, have worked so hard to raise the status of women and children around the world. We had the Women's Rights Movement to bring equality in pay and opportunity in the workplace. It brought attention to issues such as sexual harrassment and sexual violence. We have Title 9, in schools, to give equal opportunity to girls in sports. We have women astronauts, women ambassadors, women in high government positions, women fighting in wars (God help them), and rising hopes for a female U.S. President. We got rid of smoking ads and billboards. All of this to help raise the self-esteem of girls to fight drug and alcohol addiction, to fight anorexia and bulimia, to fight wife and child abuse, to raise the health and worth of our children. And now, according to this article, girls need fashion and glam to "be". It says,"Kids from the very beginning are learning that your self worth depends on what you have and how the market evaluates you."

The article also mentions that fashion for the under 9 year old is not sexy but is provocative. So what is that suppose to mean.?!! Do you want your third grader looking provocative? Now, I'm not against cute clothes on children, fun nail polish and such, but I thought children (and adults) were to dress appropriately for the situation. Belly shirts use to mean that the little kid was growing out of their clothes and I loved My Little Kitty because it was so sweet. I thought when you let your child dress themselves and they came out in plaids and strips, you had them chose again. That was helping them become independent. Boy, am I naive!

The idea of little girls being a fashion replica of mommy is a step backward. We have battled the idea that children are just a small sized grown-up with grown-up expectations. Children have worked in the factories and fields for centuries- conceived for this purpose. Our society continues to devalue children and exploit them.

Even a Project Runway Barbie! I'm not saying that the adults have to stop watching this show. I'm not saying we have to stop liking attractive clothes. I'm saying, balance. Moms, do you want your little child to appear "provocative"? Am I just being an "old frump"? I'll see the "haves" and "have nots" when I go to school next week. :C

Rule #2 in survival advice is to find the Goodwill or thrift shops. Today I went to our local Goodwill and got great buys on ladies clothes. I found a pair of sage green slacks and a very nice black jacket for colder weather. I'm trying to upgrade my wardrobe, so I was very selective. I also bought some clothes that I think will be great for one of my friends. And they were really cheap. I glanced at the kid's clothes and there were racks and racks. I mean from baby to teens. I quickly went through the household items and finally bought a notebook for $.50. I don't need any kitchen stuff, so I put the treasures back that were in my cart- a blue glazed planter and a large oval wicker picnic basket. I cruised through the kid's toys- there was a ton. I passed up supplies that I could have used for school, but I really have enough and nothing caught my eye. I browsed through the books, but since Rule #3 in survival advice is to use the library, I didn't look too closely. Well, I got bargain entertainment, stuck to my budget, and perhaps helped a friend by being her personal shopper. Rule #2 in survival advice means that if you shop at thrift stores, you and your family can have very nice clothes, get toys, books, household items including furniture, at a reasonable price, and can be entertained to boot. It may not be the way to go for everyone, but it works for me.

I know you shouldn't get attached to things, but I love my house. So, here are 10+ things you need to know about my abode so maybe you'll understand my attachment.
1. The kitchen part of my house is hand-hewn cedar logs that are over 150 years old. (Photo is similar to the original 18x20 cabin).
2. My house has gone through numerous changes. Three generations of my family have lived in the log structure. My grandparents lived in it when they were first married. My dad tore the cabin down, moved it to the present site, and reassembled it. Many families lived in it after my parents moved to the big house next door. It stood empty for a number of years before we moved in.
2.5 The log part was completely gutted - renovation included a cement floor in the basement, stairs leading to the basement, a completely new wall and floor structure, a loft over the kitchen, and a new roof system. It's the kitchen and dining area.
3. The living room floor is southern yellow pine and the boards sat in the living room drying for about 2 years. The kitchen has cherry floors, but we couldn't afford that wood when we did the living room.
3.5. BF was not a carpenter when he added our living room and bedroom above.
4. At one time, we had two stairs going to the second floor: one in the kitchen and one in the living room. Before that we had a ladder that went straight up the wall into the bedroom upstairs.
5. My bathroom is glorious. The new room (the old one is another complete story) went through stages called the blue tarp wall, foil walls, and the pink stage (insulation). The two man sit tub went in first. Even though I thought it was extravagant, soaking in it is divine.
6. We recently put tile in the entry and only weeks ago put knobs and handles on the kitchen cupboards.
7. We burned wood for a long time and had two woodstoves. Big Fred wanted to put a cookstove in the kitchen which I agreed to if he could find a turquoise stove. Thankfully, he never found one. My first kitchen stove was my grandma's old electric stove. We still have a woodstove in the living room incase of bad winter weather.
8. I used an ironing board for a kitchen counter for 11 years. When I designed the kitchen, the counter is where I use to stand when I had the ironing board.
9. Big Fred built a large bay window onto our living room which we called the Christmas tree room. Since we didn't have flooring we nailed the tree stand to the floor. It is now where our desk and computer sits with a great view of the garden, the birdfeeder, and the fields beyond.
10. My house will never be finished. The upstairs is painted, but needs carpet. BF has put floor to ceiling bookshelves in the guest room (NB's old room) and has built doors for the closet. So, the upstairs needs much, much work.
11. That's only the beginning.

Big Fred is a carpenter. He works on fancy/sometimes million dollar houses for a living and just doesn't want to do the same things all weekend. Besides, our house is old, out of square, and needs lots of everything, and most projects can't be finished over a weekend. On the positive side, it is very unique and comfortable. Anyone who comes here will say that our house is a "home sweet home". I lovingly agree.

Raining outside, room decorated inside, welcome-welcome. Husband, son, mother, sister, sister's husband, niece, niece and husband, two favorite aunts, two favorite uncles, childhood friends, teacher friends, longtime friends, new teachers, old teachers, retired teachers, colleagues, principal, superintendent. Laughter, jokes, stories shared, stories corrected, celebrations remembered, kisses, hugs, everyone talking at once. Speeches, more jokes, smiles, bows, a toast, over 35 years teaching, a standing ovation. Tears, hugs, smiles, laughter. Food and drinks. Opening gifts and gifts, a beautiful mantle clock in appreciation, a penny collection for future drinks, a penny collection for the retirement fund, good wishes, good company, good bye, thank you, I'm so glad you could come. I' m so blessed. Thank you Creator. Thank you everyone. Thank you sister-cousin. Thank you family and friends. Thank you for sharing this celebration with me. Thank you for sharing my recent retirement. It was a grand party. I can't stop smiling.