Like No Place Else: Zack's Club 54

Tea Time

written by nicki sooter wilcoxson

In an earlier post I wrote about Barnes and Noble and bookstores in general as being “Like No Place Else” for me. I explained that for a place to be designated as “like no place else” it had to be a place that evoked an emotional response that pulled me to return over and over. In other words, I have to love going there. Now, so that we are all on the same page, let me explain that for you to visualize “Zack’s” (unless you live in Lubbock or Amarillo) you have to know that Zack’s Club is a fitness center, so you can substitute in Curves, Gold’s, Yoga Class, Pilates, or whatever fitness/health club or class that you belong to or enjoy doing. We just happen to belong to Zack’s. If I lived in the Dallas area, I might join Life Time Fitness.

I have always been one of those “strange” adults that really likes working out. Over the years I have taken Jazzercise, Aerobics of all kinds, and Yoga lessons, but it wasn’t until the last few years that I became interested in working out with weights and strength training, along with cardio. I suspect that it is because I have the beginnings of osteoporosis and I realize now how important it is to engage in weight bearing activities for that very reason. As I have said before when Jim and I both retired we made a deal with one another to become work-out partners to encourage each other to continue doing what we need to do to be healthy “seniors”. Happily we have maintained our work out schedule-going to Zack’s 3 to 5 times a week. As a coach, Jim was very interested in strength training for his basketball players and had increased his knowledge of the various exercises, routines, and workout plans to maximize muscle building, flexibility and strength training so he is able to guide me with a plan for weights, and I encourage him to do more cardio.

While we realize that we could work out at home because we have some of the needed equipment, the fact is that working out in a gym or fitness center has more benefits for us and we have grown to love Zack’s—the site for our continuing fitness workouts. It goes without saying that at Zack’s we have all of the equipment that we need at our finger tips as well as trainers and experts who are there to help when needed. In fact Jim has become a trainer himself, working with kids on strength training and basketball skills. We get up and go in the mornings so we have become pretty well acquainted with the group that I will call the AM crowd. It is amazing how static this group of people has remained over the years. Many of them are seniors like us who are dedicated to maintaining healthy bodies. Though we don’t know everyone by name, we know faces well enough that if someone is “missing” for an abnormal period of time, he/she is missed. We have even made a good friend or two as a result of being part of the AM crowd.

Being a member and coming to the gym regularly has served to allow me to engage in one of my favorite past times as a people-watcher. I am convinced that the membership at Zack’s like most other gyms is a microcosm of Amarillo or any community. We see all ages of adults, all races, and certainly both genders. We see doctors, preachers, lawyers, teachers, contractors, stay at home moms and dads, retirees, and a huge range of other jobs and careers represented. Of course, there are ALL body types from the most in shape to the most out of shape. There are the young men and women with the perfectly in shape bodies and the “bare” minimum of the cutest work out clothing and, of course, the requisite blond pony tail or cap. These guys and gals never sweat! There are lots of us regular types who struggle with our weight and work hard to stay in shape. There are a few of us who sweat A LOT. We see the obsessed body builders with huge muscles and the young women who spend hours on the machines engaged in cardio to the point of obsession. Additionally, there are all ability levels, coordinated and uncoordinated. Thankfully, there is an unwritten and unspoken code that no matter the age, size, shape, or ability level of each person he/she is supported and encouraged for whatever exercise or activity being done. Happily there is a wide range of activities from swimming to weight lifting, to spinning classes and other group classes. There is something for everyone!

I truly believe that our fitness clubs and activities are an integral part of our overall well-being. They meet the physical needs of most of their members and as an added benefit the social needs of many of the individual members are met. There is plenty of time for socializing and interaction between work outs and after working out the coffee pot is always there for a quick cup and a few stories before heading home. (No tea there yet, but I am working on it!) There is a fitness place that will meet the needs of every person. If you haven’t found yours yet, get up off the couch and get going! Truly the first step is the hardest.

As for the sweat that rolls down my face, my hair, and soaks my clothes, I say, BRING IT!

There is nothing like it and for Jim and me; Zack’s is “Like No Place Else.”

Like No Place Else

Tea Time

written by Nicki Wilcoxson

Jim and I consider ourselves to be very fortunate to have a Chili’s Restaurant located a short distance from our house. When we want to eat in a restaurant, but we don’t want to go too far, Chili’s is often the perfect solution. Not only is it nearby, we actually like the food and find it to be very consistent no matter what we choose to order. Even more important is the fact that Chili’s has the best iced tea ever! Recently, as we sat waiting for our food, I found myself drawn to a slogan painted on the wall. I am sure it has been there for a long time, but this time when I looked at it, I actually took notice. I am always on the lookout for something that will serve as an inspiration for a topic to use in writing the next post, and I knew immediately that I would be able to use the Chili’s slogan, “Like no place else!”

When I had time, I started a list of places that could fit into the category of “Like no place else” and before I knew it, my list was long. Blog readers will be happy to know that I have been able to divide the list into several categories for future posts. These categories could include places for vacations, eating, shopping, towns/cities, and of course our homes. These are just a few of the many possibilities! One of my criteria for unique places is that they will be chosen for the effect that they have on me and hopefully others, too. In my opinion the selected “like no place else” should be places that draw us back time and time again because they exert an emotional pull or connection.

People who know me, know that I am an avid reader so while some readers will be surprised at my first choice for “Like no place else”, many will not. My first choice is Barnes and Noble! I love Barnes and Noble. In fact I love all bookstores including Book People in Austin, and Borders. I love all the bookstores I have never been to. I love bookstores that are yet to be opened. However, I have to admit that I really can’t pass by a Barnes and Noble, and I can’t go to Austin without a visit to Book People with its unique atmosphere and unique focus for its books and its own blog.. After all, Book People has made “Keeping Austin Weird” its goal!

Jim and I are drawn to visit Barnes and Noble quite often. It really is one of our favorite things to do. Upon entering the doors, we experience a delicious feast for the senses. I am not a coffee drinker, but oh the smell of coffee is so welcoming and comforting when we walk in that I am almost convinced to buy a cup at the in-store Starbuck’s. If I could only believe that it tastes as good as it smells! I never know where to look first—new arrivals, fiction, non-fiction, paperbacks, hardbacks, bargain books, greeting cards, puzzles, games, music, or magazines. My fingers literally itch to touch the smooth book covers and to turn the pages of each book (very carefully, of course.) My eyes are eager to read the book jackets and the enticing book summaries and reviews. I can hear the quiet or not so quiet conversations, maybe a poetry reading, and parents urging children to the children’s area to explore the books or to hear a favorite selection read. As I move around the huge room, I remain keenly aware of the large comfy chairs, tables, and benches that beckon customers to “sit a spell” and read.

Entering the doors ignites a sense of excitement or the keen awareness that comes when the “hunt has begun.” The challenge of finding a needed book or the knowledge that there are new books waiting for me to find them makes my pulse quicken. Who or what is waiting for me just around the corner, on the next shelf, or on the new books display? What a joy I experience when I find a new title written by a favorite author! I love fiction and I look forward to meeting new characters, seeing new places, solving mysteries, crying a little, and having a new adventure. Discovering a new author is a wondrous event!

I explore BN very methodically on each visit. If I need a greeting card, I go to that area first (saving the best for last), I slowly move through the new books section, making note of everything I want to read in the future. I pass by the non-fiction sections unless I have something specific to look for; my destination is first and foremost the mystery books. I hold my breath as I skim the new mystery book section, once again making notes about new books and pulling new paperback books that I want to purchase and read. (I never buy hardbacks.) I do a walk through of the mystery and general fiction sections paying special attention to favorite authors—always looking for the unread (by me). From there I am off to children’s books. Because I am a children’s book junkie I will occasionally buy a book that I find especially well illustrated. My final destination is usually the magazine section where I have to be really careful not to buy everything I see. I love magazines, too!

Now in case you think that people are standing back watching a crazy woman in a bookstore, I assure you that to the outside world I appear sane and sedate. I have never danced the happy dance in BN even though I would love to at times, and I have never made any little children cry in the children’s book section!

In the meantime, Jim has gone for coffee and then he spends the rest of his time looking for new golf related books and pouring over physical fitness books. He has no qualms about buying hardback books and is accruing books at an alarming rate. Soon we will have to buy a larger house just for his books. Eventually one of us will find the other; then we move to the purchase line, and leave the store clutching our purchases, eagerly anticipating the time that we can immerse ourselves in our treasures.

Now, I am sure that you are all wondering what I do with the notes that I took about new books that I plan to read. There is still one unmentioned, but related “like no place else”. That would be the public library! I have to tell you that I love libraries, too! Nothing like them anywhere! I take my list of books and put myself on the reserve lists anticipating the joy and pleasure I feel when I receive a call from the library telling me it is my turn to check out a treasured book, read it, enjoy it, savor it ALL FOR FREE!

So for my first choice of “Like no place else” I am happy to share my love for Barnes and Noble and for all the other book stores and public libraries for all the reasons mentioned above. I love the idea that they are the homes of so many of my best friends, my favorite places, and one of my greatest loves and past times—reading books.

I look forward to sharing more of my favorite places that are like no other!

FYI, the "books" scattered around the post are books I am looking forward to reading soon!!

Worth Sharing!!! In a comment to this post Jennifer mentioned her favorite bookstore, The Tattered Cover Book Store in Denver. I have been there before, too, and it is truly a "Like No Place Else" bookstore. The atmosphere is wonderful and it fits the category of drawing a person back time after time. The service is first class and the building is filled with history. I have discovered that they have a blog entitled "Between the Covers". Be sure to check out Jennifer's comment as well as the web page for Tattered Cover and for the blog Between the Covers. Thank you Jennifer for reminding me of this true treasure among bookstores!.

Gifts: It’s the Little Things

Tea Time

By Nicki Wilcoxson

In case you have missed the weather over the last few days, you might not be aware that Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle were once again the recipients of the unpredictability of Mother Nature. As of yesterday, March 27, our city had received over a foot of snow along with high winds resulting in high drifts and the necessity for a day off from school on Friday and the unscheduled closing of many businesses and highways in and out of Amarillo. Most residents took the late arriving snowfall in stride and relished the chance for an unexpected day off. Nearly everyone I have spoken to mentioned spending the day in pajamas, watching movies, making snow ice cream, reading, or relaxing and just generally being grateful for the gift of time. Today, Saturday, there seemed to be no great rush to resume a hurried pace of life—no rush to get cars out of the garage or to shovel snow. Amazingly, even with the huge amount of snow dumped on us, by early afternoon, the big meltdown was well under way, with the snow disappearing and melting into the ground at a high rate of speed. There is thankfulness for the gift of moisture we have gotten for the first time since October and anticipation that the grass and plants will have a jump start to a healthier beginning for spring. Now it appears that March will go “out like a lamb.” Of course, that remains to be seen since April Fool’s Day is on the horizon.

During spring break, March 14 through 20, Jim and I returned to Phoenix, taking our grandson, Jordie, back to the MLB spring training for the teams in the Cactus League. This year we were seasoned visitors for the event, and we took advantage of the gift of our learning experiences from last year. We found a hotel more centrally located to some of the ballparks where we planned to attend games. We stayed in Phoenix the whole time rather than staying in Tucson part of the time, even though we missed seeing my brother and family and missed out on being in Tucson which we really prefer to Phoenix. Less travel was our goal to ensure that we had a more relaxing time. Happily, we had more family members with us, Cole, our youngest grandson, and his parents. This year our son-in-law and the two grandsons were able to attend most games with Jim, leaving time for me and daughter Kim to enjoy a day or two of mall shopping which was great fun for me. With the weather being practically perfect, spending time with family, and enjoying great baseball, great food, and shopping, a good time was had by all.

With that having been said, I want to share a few of the unexpected events that made the trip first rate. Because we flew out of Albuquerque, we had extra time in the Albuquerque airport before flying to Phoenix. I love airport shops and I love to browse through them looking for the new and unexpected. I feel that this time I hit the jackpot! While passing one small shop filled with jewelry and other items, I was suddenly drawn to a display of books and unusual works of art. I tried to pass (really I did!), but I kept returning to take another look. Small, thin, brightly colored books demanded my attention. It was then that I discovered Brian Andreas, who is described as a fiber artist, sculptor, and storyteller. I found that I was immediately hooked as I browsed through the books, pouring over the small stories to be found in words and drawings on each page. In the introduction to his book, Hearing Voices, he states that, “I’ve been hearing voices for a long time now……….The voices I hear are soft voices, filled with sunlight & the warmth of the earth……” I gave myself the gift of two of his books and spent the rest of my time in the airport reading, laughing, and urging Jim to read many of the stories with me. Since then I have found much more to enjoy and share. Time well spent!! The gift that keeps on giving!!

Another gift that made our hearts swell was the gift of knowledge that grandson # 1 shared with grandson #2. Jordie is a pitcher on his baseball team and for years he has worked to perfect his craft through lessons and practice. Cole is just beginning that dreaded year in kids’ baseball when the switch is made from coach pitch to kid pitch. Cole wants to try his hand at pitching so Jordie took time to work with Cole on some of the beginning pitching techniques that he has learned over the years. All of us adults saw in Jordie an unexpected aptitude or gift for patience in working with his young cousin. We couldn’t help but be very proud of both boys for recognizing that each of them has the capability for giving and receiving in the relationship!

Both boys like baseball. Jordie in particular has an amazing knowledge of the game and of the Major League players. Spring training games are much more relaxed than regular games. There is plenty of time to watch the players warm up, play, and some of the members of the teams are even willing to take time to talk to the fans—particularly the children. Cole very quickly figured out that it was a coup to catch a foul ball and he was not shy about running for the balls and doing his best to catch one. He is a little guy, but he is really quick in darting over and down the rows to get to the balls. On one occasion a player tossed a ball to him in the stands as he stood on the first row. He was thrilled and determined to get an autograph from the player in question. After the game, he called the player over and not only did he get an autograph on the ball and on his mitt, he was absolutely overwhelmed when the young player handed him a bat to keep. You would have thought he had been given a million dollars. In his eyes the guy was a hero.

Cole’s proud dad, Vince, says it best, “And then (Cole) got his mitt and ball signed by another player Adam Pavkovich who also pulled out Eric Aybar's ( LA Angel's Starting Second Baseman) custom bat and just gave it to him. He was thrilled (me too).”

On that day, he received not only the gifts of the ball and the bat, but the gift of affirmation that he mattered as a fan and to the player. Before we left to come home, the bat was FedExed to Flower Mound to be there for Cole since it wouldn’t fit on the plane. The rest of us received the gift of that big old smile on Cole’s face.

Finally, remembering the learning experiences that were the result of our being lost the entire time we were in Phoenix last year, Jim and I gave ourselves the gift of a GPS system. We were not lost even once this year so for that, we give the GPS system our vote as the one of the “greatest inventions since sliced bread!” Don’t leave home without it!

Recently, I have not given much attention to my everyday gift to myself which is, of course, the gift of great tea. Hope you enjoy your drink of choice as much as I do mine and that you make every little gift count.

To enjoy a bit of Brian Andreas click on the link below.

Real Limit by StoryPeeps

In Like a Lion

Tea Time
Written by Nicki Wilcoxson

When one hears the word “spring” as in “Spring has Sprung” I imagine that there are many words and concepts that spring to mind—tulips, daffodils, crocus, rain, Easter, Easter eggs, pastels, beautiful spring days, spring break, warmer weather and all the pleasant feelings that are associated with the end of winter, cold, snow, and ice. If you are currently experiencing any or all of those wonderful feelings (even though it isn’t technically spring”) and you have been plunged into a frenzy of spring cleaning, open windows, and the reappearance of summer clothing, then you probably don’t live in the Texas Panhandle. Most of us have always heard that March comes in “like a lion and goes out like a lamb” and that is most assuredly the way it is in Amarillo and surrounding areas. The lion is roaring very loudly outside my house today!

March is without a doubt my least favorite times of the year and that feeling applies all too often to spring in general. I think that for me, March of 2009 has all the makings of an especially unpleasant time. In other words, I have a really “frowny” face when I think about it. We have not had rain since October, and as for snow, well, there were no snow days, sledding, snowmen, or snowball fights in Amarillo this winter. I bought a pair of Ugg boots with the idea that they would be so warm and cozy for the cold snowy days to come and I have to say that was not money well spent (in more ways than one if you know what I mean). I wore them once, for heavens sake!” Yes, we have had some cold days, but not enough to even kill the flies. I expect to see a mosquito at any moment.

Obviously, the lack of needed cold weather and snow, has made many people here very happy. Golfers are at the top of the list along with people who work outdoors. February was an especially glorious month and I don’t mean that as a compliment. On my calendar, February stands for days with snow, warm fires in the fireplace, and hot chocolate (perhaps I should say, hot tea because this is TEA TIME). I love my coat, gloves, and scarf. All winter long, I saw people dressed in shorts, short sleeves, and even flip-flops while I wore jeans, sweater, and a jacket. What is wrong with these people??? Just because it is 70 or 80 degrees doesn’t mean it is time to “dress down” does it?

I can best describe the weather in March here in the Panhandle as mercurial (changeable; volatile; fickle; flighty; erratic). March is just a big “tease”. The temperature can jump from 50 or less on one day to 80 or more the next and then back to cold. It is necessary to keep clothing from the winter wardrobe ready at a moment's notice and the summer wardrobe unpacked (if you ever packed it away) hanging close by—freezing in the morning and too warm in the afternoon. Days that start out with the wind calm and steady often end with gale force winds of 35 to even 50 or 60 mph. I hate it when the weather man talks about those highs and lows and dry lines that ebb and flow across us. Rain and snow fall on other towns and cities, but not here.

Because of the “drought” when the wind does sweep across the Panhandle, it is filled with sand and dirt and tumble weeds that roll down the alley and streets, packing tightly next to our fences, and houses. We can only hope for a change in the wind direction before we have to be the one to haul them who knows where! It is like playing tumble weed volleyball with our neighbors in Dumas or Lubbock. Spring Cleaning just doesn’t happen in March! When doors are opened, dead leaves and grass blow in and demand to be “swiffered” one more time. Fine layers of dust on the furniture lend themselves to someone finger printing, “dust me” for all to see. (not in my house, of course! LoL or maybe that would be like a “grim grin”.) And then, as if March feels remorseful for its bad behavior, he (I think of March as male) gives us a deceptively lovely break in the form of a day of exceptional beauty and blesses us with lovely early daffodils, hyacinths, and crocus all of which will be ripped to shreds when the wind and dirt decide to whip and sandpaper them the next day.

March also brings the much anticipated Spring Break. School children and parents look forward to being outside, working in the yard, and the opportunity for children to have a prelude to summer. All too often, the reality of these carefree days are dashed as long delayed snow and ice sweep from the north to be followed by wonderful weather the next week when children are once again back in school and locked in classrooms. All in all it seems that planning a ski vacation to New Mexico or Colorado would be preferable to enduring a week at home with cranky kids. Oh Mercurial March….. What have you wrought upon us? I mean really, who wants to wear Uggs in March! I just say, “ugh” instead.

Sadly, March is also the time of year when young athletes find themselves freezing on the tracks, baseball fields and golf courses—that is when they aren’t sweltering on the unseasonably hot days. Spectators at track meets and baseball games travel with blankets, coats, and hats to fling around themselves just when the weather men predicted warm and we were given cold instead.

That the “time change” demanding that we spring forward comes March 8 is only fitting. Perhaps just one more inconvenience to add to an already not so delightful month.

On the other hand, maybe March has to be March with all of its uncertainty so we can appreciate April all the more. When March blesses us with those beautiful days, we can take the time to stop and look for the hints of beauty that are still covered and pushing to get past the leftover leaves in the flower beds. Gently we can remove the debris and remnants of dead plants to make way for the living and growing. We can take deep breaths of clean air (when the wind isn’t blowing) and fill our bodies and minds with the promise of more to come. When the wind blows I need to remember that with wind comes an abundance of wind energy! We can be thankful for the snow and rain even if they come during spring break because we so badly need them and the kids can love building the snowmen in March just as much as they would have in December or January. We can be thankful that our young athletes are strong and resilient enough to persevere through the bad weather and that we fans are willing to stand watch and cheer even when it means we have to be strong and resilient, too. And, when the dust and dirt fill my house day after day, it’s probably only because I love to clean house often. Okay, maybe that is a stretch! This year we can even trust that March will be willing to bless us by going out like a lamb! I won’t even mention the threats of tornadoes and destructive hail and wind that come with the rest of spring.

The bottom line is that this cranky old lady needs to do a hand stand so the frown becomes a smile and count my blessings instead of cursing poor misunderstood mercurial March.

Oh my, did I forget to mention the appropriately named March Madness? Let the games begin!

Talking Technology: Twitters, Tweets, and Facebook

Tea Time

Written by Nicki Wilcoxson

Because it is getting to be late evening, I am now enjoying my last cup of tea for the day. This is the time for a hot cup of green tea-decaffeinated. I hope you will join me as I prepare to spend a little time with one of my favorite topics, the wildly changing, but totally fascinating world of technology.

I have long since ceased to be shocked or totally amazed by what I can do or what I can find on a computer connected to the Internet. Instead I find myself constantly challenged and sometimes struggling to keep up with an ever changing and burgeoning Internet/technology vocabulary that at times seems to makes no sense at all. Over a period of time, I have come face to face with such words as widget, apps, blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds, tags, and furl just to name a few. Additionally, I find myself using a whole new set of words or non-words when I am engaged in email, text messaging and even blogging, posting, publishing or other forms of communication on the Web or cell phones. What a headache it must be for English teachers of today to convince students to spell “correctly,” to use complete sentences, and to punctuate correctly! But as Jennifer would remind me, “I digress”.

The technology related words that I want to focus on with this cup of tea are colorful and close to my heart as a bird lover, “Twitter” “Tweeter,” and “Tweet.” These words relate directly to the newly evolving social Web. Whereas in the beginning the Internet was used by individuals in isolation—searching via powerful search engines that sent “spiders” speeding around the Internet searching for the desired key words or information, today the key word for Internet use could be “social.” As author Will Richardson states in his book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Web Tools for Classrooms,"the biggest most sweeping change in our relationship with the Internet …is the ability to share and connect and create with many, many others of like minds and interests.” “The social Web says that we have many friends out there just waiting to be found and connected to, and those friends have other friends (friends of a friend or FOAF) who can just as easily connect with us and point us to new and interesting information or learning.” (pp.89-90) Enter, blogs and blogging, and now Twitter and Tweeter and Tweet. All of these apps (applications) are defined as social software.

Twitter is a free social messaging utility for staying connected in “real time.”

Tweeter is a Twitter interface that allows the user to post new “tweets” through possibly the Internet’s most popular social program (along with You Tube and Blogger), Facebook.

Twitterific is the Twitter version for the iPhone

One explanation for this wildly popular program is that people are compelled to make connections or to reconnect with the people in their lives. While Blogger serves much the same purpose as Facebook by providing a vehicle for reconnecting and communicating through posting and commenting, it is not done in “real time.” Users are often reluctant to write or to share on a blog for a variety of reasons. In using Twitter as its foundation, Facebook has adopted a key element of communication via “tweetering” and that is the need to answer only one question (tweet)! “What are you doing right now?” This one question can be answered once a day or as often as desired. The rationale is that answering this one question will often bring comments and questions from friends, family, and strangers that lead to getting to know one another in most unexpected and interesting ways. Most communication is short and informational or fun.

For example, if I tweet or answer the Facebook question, What are you doing right now? , by writing, “Nicki is reading The Shack.” Someone in my network might comment, “I’ve read that too and it is great.What else do you like to read?” The tweeting can progress from there with everyone in the network learning more about each other through short comments and discussions.

Now that we are all thoroughly confused, let me emphasize some points. It is NOT necessary to know about Twitter or any of the Tweets, or Tweeters at all. Facebook does it for you and here are the basics:

1) As humans we are social beings. We want or need to be part of a group (s), network, or community. At some point in our lives we often feel a need to connect or re-connect with family, friends, and even strangers. We want to be known or acknowledged. We want to connect with other like-minded people. We often feel isolated in our world. We seek ways to communicate.

2) Facebook by using social software has devised an easy and interesting way for the users of the program to accomplish connecting and communicating with friends, family, and strangers.

3) Facebook has an amazing number of features that allow security for users as well as the ability to build networks of only the people users want to have access to personal information.

4) Facebook facilitates conversation and communication between users by asking one simple question, “What are you doing right now?”

5) Facebook communication is done in real time when users are logged on to the Facebook. Chatting is another option for users.

6) Facebook members can personalize individual home pages by decorating or adding numerous features to their own “walls”.

7) Facebook offers members or users multiple options for sharing of all kinds.

8) Networks of friends, family, and strangers are done by invitation only with the option to accept or decline.

9) For the new user, patience and a willingness to learn and explore are needed. Take baby steps and don’t get frustrated.

10) When all else fails, call in the grandkids or teens in the family or neighborhood for a lesson.

My immediate family including our girls, our sons-in-law, our grandson, their aunts, uncles, cousins, old and current classmates, friends (old and new) have become Facebook users. I lurk (read without commenting) on their “walls” quite often and it is amazing how much they are learning about one another and their lives today. The atmosphere is supportive and fun. My son-in-law working in Norway for 2 weeks keeps us constantly updated on what he is doing and seeing. Our grandson, Jordie, is building a list of relatives, many of whom he has never met, and has become very interested in finding how everyone is related. He is asking questions and is pretty fascinated to learn that he has after all a much bigger family than he ever dreamed. I see adults—old and young—communicating with one another and getting acquainted.

So why all the twitter and tweeter stuff? This is our world today. If we want to be a part of that world, if we want to keep up with our children and their children, if we want to reconnect and connect with friends and family and to meet new people, we have choices to make: To Blog or not To Blog; To Tweet and Twitter or not To Tweet and Twitter; To Network or not To Network; To Keep Up or not To Keep Up; To be A Part or To be Apart.

All of you with email will at some point, if you haven’t already, receive an invitation from someone you know or someone you love to become a part of a network, possibly Facebook. What choice will you make? Are you ready for a "twitter experience?"

My cup of tea is long gone and it time for this tweeter to find her nest. Have a tweeterific day!

Tea Time

Written by Nicki Wilcoxson

Greetings from the Wilcoxsons in Amarillo!! Hopefully it isn’t too late to wish each of you a happy 2009. Since my last post on Reflections in October of 2008, I have had time to be involved in multiple projects other than blogging Unfortunately, most of those projects revolved around Thanksgiving and Christmas—which by the way—were great family times and we enjoyed them very much. I say unfortunately because I still have multiple projects waiting to be done. Where does the time go and how do I get so little accomplished?

All of that having been said and requiring little or no contemplation or discussion, I want to say how excited we are to be back with a new blog that I sincerely hope will speak to all of you from the class of ’63 on at least some level of interest. One of the goals for “Voices” is to present a variety of posts written by several members of the Class of ’63. Some of us will have a series of posts and some will just share a post from time to time. Everyone is welcome to write and all that is required is to contact either Jennifer or myself so we can plan a time for you.

My series is going to be called “Tea Time”. I am a total tea freak and because it is my sole source of caffeine other than the occasional bite of chocolate, I look forward to and enjoy “tea time’ throughout the day. For those of you who must have your coffee, java, or cuppa joe, I give you permission to substitute the concept of a coffee break when I speak of tea time. Every one of us, and that includes retirees, find it nice to take a break from whatever chore, job, or work that we perform during the day. It is so nice to settle in a comfy chair in a comfy place and just chill for a time. “Tea Time” provides time for each of us to enjoy our drink of choice which for me is naturally, tea—hot or cold. Even better, how satisfying it can be to combine tea time with friends and good conversation or a good book, or just a quiet time for contemplation, meditating or writing. By now I hope you are beginning to get an idea of what you can expect from “Tea Time” on the blog. I invite you to fill your favorite mug or glass with tea (or coffee if you must), settle in your chair in front of your computer and take a break with me while we consider a variety of topics, issues, and ideas and enjoy our time together. We will find time to talk about a book or two, maybe an occasional movie, current events, and whatever else comes to my mind. Additionally, I will be compelled to share my latest “tea tip” or other tea related fact. I might even be persuaded to tell a joke or share a funny story, but be forewarned that I am the world’s worst teller of jokes!

Until next time, I leave you with the message on my favorite refrigerator magnet:Let the Voices be heard!!