Caution Thrown to the Wind for This Column

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Rio Rancho section Saturday, February 26, 2011

Has the warmer weather brightened up your days lately? Just to feel the warmth of the sun on your back, and breathe in 60-degree air brings back memories of last summer, pinkish sunsets, burgers on the grill and Gordon Lightfoot on the stereo.

But don't let this springlike weather fool you; it's just the calm before the storm. March is such a changeable month: We can see warm temperatures or late season snowstorms. We are turning on the heat in our cars in the morning and the air conditioning in the afternoon. I say March is going to live up to its reputation by coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb.

An idiom is a figurative expression, word or phrase. How many idioms did you notice in that previous paragraph?

There seems to be a significant amount of idioms having to do with weather. The majority of idioms characterize either very low or very high temperatures. And extremely high temperatures, for instance, are described as hot as in hell, right?

I threw caution to the wind and tried to find as many weather related idioms as I could, and courtesy of usingenglish.com, I had it made in the shade. May the following weather related idioms take you by storm.

If something happens unexpectedly and suddenly, it is a bolt from the blue.

If someone chases rainbows, they try to do something that they will never achieve.

If you are on cloud nine, you are extremely happy.

If a cloud of suspicion hangs over an individual, it means that they are not believed or are distrusted.

If you can see a problem ahead, you can call it a cloud on the horizon.

If something or someone is having a dry spell, they aren't being as successful as they normally are.

A fair-weather friend is the type who is always there when times are good but forgets about you when things get difficult or problems crop up.

If you get wind of something, you hear or learn about it.

If something or someone moves like greased lightning, they move very fast indeed.

If a person has their head in the clouds, they have unrealistic, impractical ideas.

If you hit rough weather, you experience difficulties or problems.

If you're in a fog, you are confused, dazed or unaware.

Into each life some rain must fall. This means that bad or unfortunate things will happen to everyone sometime.

When it rains it pours, means that when things go wrong, they go very wrong.

If everything has frozen in winter, then Jack Frost has visited.

If someone rains on your parade, they ruin your pleasure or your plans.

If someone is seven sheets to the wind, they are very drunk.

When you shoot the breeze, you chat in a relaxed way.

If someone steals your thunder, they take the credit and praise for something you did.

When people throw caution to the wind, they take a great risk.

If you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather.

If you weather a storm, you get through a crisis or hard times.

Quote of the Week: "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: When it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." — Charles Dickens.

Make Your Pledge To Walk for This Good Cause

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Rio Rancho section, Saturday, February 19, 2011


It has been said that Donald Trump, the New York real estate tycoon, suffers from more than a bad haircut; his known extreme cleanliness makes him more than a germaphobe. His behavior supports a mental disorder diagnosis called OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The recent tragedy in Tucson brought mental illness to the forefront once again. Reports surfaced that the suspected gunman was acting erratically the weeks before he killed nine people outside of a Safeway. An extreme difference from Donald Trump's excessive hand-washing, yes, but both are mental illnesses nonetheless.

Anxiety, attention deficit disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, autism, bulimia, anorexia and schizophrenia; all very common and all categorized as mental illnesses.

It is well documented that poet Sylvia Plath, author Charles Dickens, playwright Tennessee Williams and President Abraham Lincoln were all known to suffer from depression. Depression has touched my life in a number of ways, with relatives and loved ones suffering from this devastating illness.

If you have not been afflicted with any of these mental illnesses, chances are you know someone who has. Maybe it is the word "disease" that throws people off. When they think diseases, they think of infectious diseases like measles, meningitis and tuberculosis. And when someone says "mental illness," well, then surely they must be talking about someone who is really "crazy." Not true, my friends.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 26 percent of Americans 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.

NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The nation's largest grass-roots organization is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. It is gearing up for its only fundraiser of the year, and it wants your support by walking 3.7 miles to prove it.

According to Marilyn Salzman, president of NAMI Westside Affiliate (2010-12) and the 2011 N.M. Walk manager, 90 percent of the money raised here stays in New Mexico. "The money we make from the 5K is used to help fund our programs, which promote awareness, anti-stigma and advocacy for the mentally ill community and their families," Salzman said.

Last year, NAMI Westside received almost $4,000, which went to aid recovery, support and education programs right here in town. According to the NAMI NM website, the current total pledged for this year's walk is already up to $38,187. And with 85 days yet to go, they are hoping to meet their goal of $150,000.

The NAMI walk this year is Saturday, May 14, at Albuquerque Academy. Don't we all go out for our walks, jogs or bike rides on Saturday mornings anyway? Why not walk for a good cause instead of around your block this one time?

Get a team together, or get your family together and sign up at www.nami.org/namiwalks/nmd. Then send your friends and co-workers to the website where they will find you and make a donation in your name.

The stigma is slowly dissolving as awareness of mental illnesses grows. People are slowly becoming more accepting and supportive of programs like NAMI. Like the slogan says, NAMIWalks — Changing Minds ... One Step at a Time.

For more information, call 505-203-7179 or visit www.nami.org/namiwalks/nm.

Quote of the week: "In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is the power to do it." — Marianne Williamson, author.

Caveat Emptor Should Be My Middle Name

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Rio Rancho section Saturday, February 12, 2011

It all started over a year ago when I was trying to sell my Jeep Commander. I was told I would get more money for it if I sold it myself rather than go through a dealership. And since the goal is always to make smart money decisions, I was going to go with that.

I cleaned the Jeep until it sparkled like new. I spent the money to fix all of the chips in the windshield, something I wouldn't do if I was going to a dealership. Plus, I even changed the oil. And then my mother called. "You don't know how to sell a car yourself. What if they come to your house and steal your car? And how will you handle the paperwork," she questioned.

With my mother pointing out the obvious, I then drove down to a dealership and traded the Jeep in for a lesser used car. It took me weeks to get over feeling like an idiot for spending over $200 on an oil change, chip repair and a full tank of gas, just to give it to a dealership. Live and learn. Unfortunately, this scene would play out again and again in the months to come.

I am sure this one has happened to others; I simply can't be alone. How many times have you taken your whole family out to see a full-priced movie, and a week later the movie is showing at the dollar theater? I would have gladly waited a week and cut the tab had I known "The Social Network" was in its last week at the cineplex. Live and learn.

When it comes to buying airline tickets, does it matter when you make your purchase?

I have to head back to the Midwest soon and have been watching the ticket prices fluctuate daily, even hourly. I was just about to click BUY when my sister called me. She said she had heard that the best day to purchase airline tickets was Tuesdays at 3 p.m. So, I waited until Tuesday and paid more than I would have on Sunday when I wanted to click BUY originally. Just shoot me.

My favorite has to be what happened to me last Wednesday. I had to get my and my daughter's driver's licenses renewed, so I decided to try the new express place on Southern Boulevard.

When we walked in there were only two other people in line. I noticed a sign on the wall that stated they were not a state agency and there might be a fee up to $24.95. I figured that fee would surely be for something big like a commercial driver's license, handicap placard and a couple of truck registrations; mine would probably be around $3.

Upon taking our pictures and the vision test, the very friendly clerk asked us the pertinent questions, processed our paperwork and ran my total. "That will be $89.17," she said.

"What?" I asked in shock. "How much were the licenses?"

Turns out the licenses were the normal $18 each. But there is a "convenience fee" of $24.95 per transaction. "Well, that must be why you are not busy," I said trying to keep my cool. "Oh, we get very busy," the friendly clerk said.

I left feeling like I had a sign taped to my back with big letters that read: KICK ME.

Caveat emptor my friends. But sometimes timing and convenience are everything.

Quote of the Week: "There are more fools among buyers than among sellers." — Proverb

Chilly Reception to Deep Freeze

As appeared in the Albuquerque Journal Rio Rancho section February 05, 2011

Casa Vieja, Corrales

The frigid weather we have had this past week has been rather enjoyable. Why, you ask? Because one, we don't get subzero temperatures very often in Rio Rancho, and isn't variety the spice of life? And two, unlike the marathon winters in the gray Northern states, we know it is not going to last.

I found it rather curious that we would have a natural gas shortage this week, a rather substantial one, bad enough for Gov. Susana Martinez to declare a state of emergency the other day. Gas and electricity shortage? I think too many people are cooped up in their homes running their heaters and doing too many loads of laundry at the same time.

It doesn't take long for cabin fever to set in, especially with three consecutive days of no school, and I am not talking just the students. Let's face it, we are running short on more than just natural gas and electricity.

I would venture to guess the grocery stores are running short of El Paso refried beans, El Pinto salsa and Albuquerque Tortilla Co. tortillas. The cold weather and slick streets have kept us confined to our homes and forced us to cook for ourselves rather than enjoying a meal out. There's nothing like roasted mushroom soup and fish tostadas from Casa Vieja in Corrales. When will life get back to normal?

I can vouch for this one, since I have been there three times this past week, but Hastings has been short on its new releases. Seems everyone had the same idea for passing the time at home by watching movies. Having been stuck inside, what better than to snuggle up and watch some good movies with your main squeeze? Come to think of it, if there is a shortage of movie rentals, there must be a shortage of popcorn and good red wine, as well.

And not that I am making any connections here, but when school is closed for three days, the extended togetherness of personalities can sometimes lead to a shortness of senses of humor. For some reason a simple request like, "Will you feed the dog," all of a sudden gets you scathing glares as if you had said, "Will you wash the car, shampoo the carpet and weed the backyard before you make me lunch?"

In the Southwest, the freezing temperatures and snow-covered streets are few and far between compared with our neighbors to the north. I can remember my school days in Michigan when I had to walk a mile to school, in 3 feet of snow, uphill, both ways.

What there isn't a shortage of is bored kids, and parents worrying if they will come home from sledding with a broken arm and a chipped front tooth. Let's get them back in school where the only shortage is in free time.

Quote of the Week: "Getting an inch of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery." — Bill Watterson, American author of the comic strip "Calvin & Hobbes."