Like mother, like daughter??

I just found this photo. Perhaps this gives a little insight into how I developed my quirky personality. My mother...dressed as Elvis with a blow-up electric guitar. God, she's awesome!

To the people who were in the bathroom before me, let's review...

OK, I see this all the time and NO WONDER people around my office get sick as often as they do. It makes me wanna barf a little bit when I see people who think that running their hands under the water for 5 seconds equates to washing their hands. If you've never seen the poster — DIRTY HANDS SPREAD DISEASE.

Maybe I'm overreacting a bit, but this is one of my biggest pet peeves. Do you really think I want your poo germs anywhere near me? My cousin will even go as far to tell people who haven't washed their hands to do so before they exit the bathroom. Good. You should be called out if you think you're above soap.

But for now, as a courtesy of both myself for posting it on this blog, and of the Mayo Clinic for being so wise to post it on their Web site, a tutorial on the proper way to wash your hands.

Proper hand-washing techniques
Good hand-washing techniques include washing your
hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are just as effective as soap and water in
cleaning your hands but aren't as good as alcohol-based sanitizers.

Antibacterial soaps have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, these soaps are no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soaps may lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the products' antimicrobial agents — making it even harder to kill these germs in the future. In general, regular soap is fine.

The combination of scrubbing your hands with soap — antibacterial or not — and
rinsing them with water loosens and removes bacteria from your hands.

Proper hand washing with soap and water Follow these instructions for washing with soap and water:

Wet your hands with warm, running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.
Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds.
Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.
Rinse well.
Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.
Use a towel to turn off the faucet.

When should you wash your hands? Although it's impossible to keep your bare hands germ-free, there are times when it's critical to wash your hands to limit the transfer of bacteria, viruses and other microbes.

Always wash your hands:

After using the toilet
After changing a diaper — wash the diaper-wearer's hands, too
After touching animals or animal waste
Before and after preparing food, especially before and immediately after handling raw meat, poultry or fish
Before eating
After blowing your nose
After coughing or sneezing
into your hands
Before and after treating wounds or cuts
Before and
after touching a sick or injured person
After handling garbage
Before
inserting or removing contact lenses
When using public restrooms, such as those in airports, train stations, bus stations
and restaurants

I know it's hard, but let's all try to remember the simple principles we learned pre-kindergarten and spend an extra 20 seconds scrubbing the plague off your hands. My immune system thanks you.

The truth is as bitter as the cold

At least some person in St. Louis figured out a good use for the space in Ballpark Village. And, killing two birds with one stone, found a way to make the most of the snow.





I'm not sure to credit for the photos. All I can say is I love you.

I have the best mother ever

So, after reading today's earlier post, my mom sent me this e-mail because she couldn't figure out how to post a comment:

YOU'RE SUCH AN AWESOME PERSON. I'M SO GLAD I WAS THE FIRST TO MEET YOU WHEN YOU WERE BORN. YOU REALLY ARE AN UNIQUE PERSON. I LOVE YOU! MOM

She's seriously the greatest ever. But it still feels like she's yelling at me when she types in all caps...

Sixteen Random Things About Me.

1. I'm handy with a razor blade. Having short hair makes it financially impossible to maintain my haircut by visiting a salon I would approve of as often as required. SO, out of necessity, I learned to cut my own hair. I use a straight razor. It does my head of hair good.

2. If I wasn't in public relations I would like to be a novelist. Or a rock star.

3. My shoe collection is ridiculous. I have more than 50 pairs, which is probably small compared to a lot of women. But, there are approximately 10 pairs I wear regularly. But I can't bring myself to get rid of the others.

4. I have outlaw in my genes. I am Jesse James' 9th cousin and I am very closely related to the Dalton Gang. Bang bang.

5. I've never worked with a better group of people and I'm not entirely sure I ever will.

6. When I get married, I think I want to elope.

7. About half of my wardrobe is made up of the color black.

8. Apparently, I intimidate people. Which always amazes me because I'm really quite nice.

9. I'm obsessed with anything vintage and have been ever since I was a kid. I own many vintage hats, gloves, and purses, and a mink stole (which I love but feel guilty about wearing).In fifth grade, I was Audrey Hepburn for Halloween. My favorite movie is Breakfast at Tiffanys. My cat's name is Holly Golightly. I love Ziegfeld Follies and burlesque. I think Dita Von Teese is the best thing to happen to fashion since Jackie Kennedy.

10. I live in St. Louis, but New York has my heart.

11. My taste in music is completely random. In my CD collection, you'll find the Distillers right next to Miles Davis.

12. When I was three, I cut off chunks of my growing out hair down to the scalp the night before a wedding. This is the earliest memory I have. I even remember my logic in doing so: My mom was asleep, my hair was in my eyes and bothering me and I didn't want to wake her because she looked so peaceful. So, I got the stool, climbed up to get the haircutting scissors that my mom specifically kept high to stay out of my reach, and proceeded to snip away -- three huge chunks. I had to wear a bonnet at the wedding. This probably foreshadowed my distaste for anything really frilly, my lifelong courtship with short hair, and my amateur career as a hairstylist.

13. In college, I started as an athletic training major and ended as a public relations major. Talk about an about face.

14. I had a major crush on Young Marlon Brando in high school.

15. I love my family more than I could ever put in words. My mom is my heart and I could never imagine life without her.

16. One of my favorite things in life is Earl Grey tea.