Monday, November 5, 2012

Digitally Archive Precious Photos and Important Documents

I hear this over and over from clients..."oh I didn't back up my computer....all my photos were in a box...I lost my paperwork...I'm crushed...I don't have any photos of memories from my past...they were destroyed".  I see it on the news during devastating times....thousands and thousands of people who lose precious photos and are broken hearted;  documents that can't be duplicated, or if they can, take weeks and months of precious time and lots of red tape to replace.  It doesn't have to be this way.....If you don't want to lose your important documents and sentimental photos and videos...please take the time to scan and digitally archive your precious memories. It's such a simple thing to do...it just takes a little time every day to get it done. Make sure you triple save it...whether on portable external hard drives kept in a waterproof case, on DVDs also kept in water proof cases and/or on an internet cloud.  Make sure you put them in 3 different places with easy access so in times of emergency, you can grab it. This way, you will ALWAYS have a copy on hand no matter what happens. Please...make the time...or hire someone to get it done for you...you'll be glad you did!

©2012 Rebecca Dru  All Rights Reserved

STOP

Stop…whatever you’re doing…whomever you’re criticizing…or judging…or yelling…or complaining about….just Stop….for a moment…take a deep breath…appreciate that you’re alive…be grateful…   ©2011 Rebecca Dru Photography All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Post Physical Therapy!!

On Jan 25th, I had knee surgery to clean up a multitude of tears in the cartilage in my right knee.  While not a huge fan of surgery, it was time to deal with the pain and the inability to function in terms of my lessening mobility.  Dr. Louis Kwong juxtaposed it to a ripped fingernail; if you don't even it out and file it down, the tearing continues until there's nothing left but chronic pain.

I began Physical Therapy (PT) a week later at Joel Scherr, RPT, Inc (in the West Cedar Sinai Medical Tower) with Ernie de la Torre.  I was weak and severely out of shape....beyond what I thought...

I'm thrilled to be able to use my precor elliptical 546 again adding 5 min. increments every few days...today I start at 35 minutes. I already have my big ball for my mini-squats (That doesn't sound right!).. my resistance bands and free weights; I'll use the bottom landing instead of buying a STEP for now.... I just got my multi-position slant stretch board for my calves, legs and back.... I have a REBOUNDER mini-trampoline for jogging and my Pro Fitter Physio Kit for continuing to strengthen my legs and gluts, both due in any day...and now I just have to look into bungee cords for some other forms of strength training.  The only thing missing is Ernie....my Physical Therapist.  Upon viewing Ernie's pix on FB, my husband stated," Oh, no wonder you like going to PT, he looks like a Playboy!!"  Yes, Honey, he does...but a very married one. 


Here's to building strength and maintaining it!


©2012 Rebecca Dru  All Rights Reserved

I choose "Happy"

It takes more effort to be miserable than to be happy and yet so many people choose misery....  Choose Happy...small steps...start finding moments in your day that lift you... focus on them....laugh...heartily...let go of those who drag you down....get rid of the chaos... Find creative outlets; write...draw...paint...snap pix...sing...and laugh, laugh some more... I choose happy!!

©2012 Rebecca Dru  All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Want to learn a new language?

Do you want to learn a new language...not sure how to go about it?  A dear friend of mine who teaches languages...in fact, was my French teacher in 7th grade (A LONG time ago...), suggested to us, when wanting to learn Italian, to label, in Italian, every single item in our home with stickies.  This way, every time we looked at something, we'd see and say the Italian word and start to use it.  Then...learn some verbs, even if you get the tense wrong, start to use it to put sentences together with the items around your home.  Eventually, you'll start thinking in that language.  Lastly, find people in your neighborhood who speak the language and try using it with them....or go visit that country where they speak the language, if you have the opportunity...and use it.  You'll  start to get the hang of it.  Every time my daughter visits a country, she takes a course in the language there so she can keep building up her skills and apply it while there.  Little by little you'll become proficient!!

Monday, May 21, 2012

My Rant of The Day: INVESTING

When FB had their IPO...I had lots of people asking me if I was going to invest....and I thought long and hard about it but decided they were way overpriced...I mean WAY overpriced.  Had they opened at $8/share, I would've dove in for the long term.... but they were 5x's that amount..no thanks.  With millions of people on FB....they have definite potential... but for now, it's all air right now.

So here's the way I have always looked at investing; Investing in the stock market is a legal form of gambling....if you're going to put money into it, don't put it in unless you have it (don't borrow from someone) and be prepared to lose it, so it's not going to make you or break you. 

Remember the stock market is a roller coaster;  It's great when the stocks you buy go up....but they also go down; it's all cyclical. Use your head and do your homework; Just because people hype a stock, doesn't mean that you buy it..that's why they're hyping it..they convince you to buy and then they sell...you've lost and they've made a bloody fortune.  

Read...Read...Read....the internet makes it easy now inform yourself, financially.  I read everything I could....every publication out there... this was after I asked a relative, who's livelihood is in the NY Financial District, to help me and he refused...I educated myself. Then, and only then should you think of investing.   

I, personally, will never use a "financial advisor"...because in the end, if you're up on everything...they don't know anymore than you do...and now you've entrusted someone else with your money.  Good luck!

©2012 Rebecca Dru All Rights Reserved

Beauty on my Balcony

Well...we may not have been able to see the Solar Eclipse from West Hollywood today...but we could still enjoy the sun....
©2012 Rebecca Dru  All Rights Reserved


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Seafood taco from Primetime Cuisine on Wheels

Yesterday, Lovey and I went to LACMA for a lecture on Latin American Art and then enjoyed the exhibits pertaining to the lecture (will get to that in a different posting).  Being that we keep saying we're going to try the food trucks, this was a perfect opportunity as they're always lined up on Wilshire Blvd across the street from the museum.  One thing I always do with truck owners/cooks/chefs...whatever label they give themselves...is..I want to know from where they got their passion to cook and how they have developed their palate. So as I visited the trucks, I asked. I'm only featuring one of the 3 we tried (too full to go on)...because they're the only one whose food fit their passion.  

The first truck is called Primetime Cuisine on Wheels; the owners of the truck are from Mexico. The husband handles the orders and the business and his wife cooks...and boy does she!  She's from a town near the sea outside of Mexico City..next time, I'll remember... (as I want to know what region they come from and are they seaside or inland). We're going to make this one our stop next Saturday...and try some of their other dishes... (and we promised the Hungarian Hamburger guy we'd try a burger and goulash too...  

We also tried the Korean NY Galbi Truck, did not like at all...and the Cali Bhan Mi Truck...his flavor was good but his execution was lousy..the veggies inside were too thickly cut, and his pork was dry and tough which made it unpleasant to eat.  I asked him about how he got into this type of Vietnamese cooking...and at first he seemed incensed that I would ask him..but..I like to know about people's passions....his was from eating it in San Jose....but never had he gone to Vietnam or really studied it.  His bread was good..his spices and flavors were good....I just wish he'd learn how to cook the pork for it...and slice his vegetables thinly...if not via knife..then get a mandolin.  These things make a difference.  I can only wish him well..but I will not be returning...nor will I recommend it.

Okay..so let's get back to the Mexican.....
The first truck we came upon was Primetime Cuisine on Wheels which was strictly Mexican (as opposed to a fusion) so we went up to the window and asked what is their specialty; seafood, with the fried crispy shell....so I ordered only one taco to taste.
I'm not going to go into a food writer's dissertation here...it's plain and simple...OMG...OMG....SCRUMPTIOUS...YUMMILICIOUS... I should've trusted my taste buds and not bothered with the other trucks...and just ordered more from them....perhaps next Saturday, I'll see you there!


©2012 Rebecca Dru   All Rights Reserved

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Whenever I Go to a New Doctor, I Say This.....


I hear a lot of people complaining about their doctors...never questioning them on treatments or if they don't quite understand something or feeling less than. Remember, you're paying for a service, you should feel comfortable with whomever you choose.  Don't be afraid to ask questions, to be informed about every aspect of whatever your issue is.  Don't be afraid to say something if you feel intimidated by your doctor.  Here's the way I see it....

Whenever I go to a new doctor, I always start with this....
"Hello Doctor, It's nice to meet you.  I need to say a few things first.   Firstly, I'm not a big fan of doctors...I've had some horrible experiences, so this is what I need from you.  I need a doctor who will treat me with respect; a doctor with a heart, who's kind, caring and compassionate.  I need a doctor who'll speak to me in layman's terms and explain everthing to me so I understand exactly what's going on.   I need a doctor who is a human being and doesn't think he's god.  If you can give me that and your time, then let's continue.  If not, I'll turn around and walk out the door." Generally, it catches them so off guard that they soften right up and are totally different than had I not said this.

Don't ever be afraid to speak up!!

Sunday, April 15, 2012

First...let's get down to business....If you live in CA..please make an effort to sign this!

Since this is a California Ballot Initiative, we need in-person, physical signatures. We cannot gather online and have until April22nd to gather 800,000 signatures to get this on the 2012 California Ballot. California registered voters can go to http://www.labelgmos.org/ and find their local area leader and find out where they can sign. :) Thanks for being aware and helping spread the word.

Do you ever think about what you're putting into your mouth....and I don't mean going to extreme's...just basic things...processed things...  Here's just an example..  Ethanol and Shellac are common ingredients in processed food, chocolate, candy and confections... read on to see what these.  Next time you think about eating a candy bar, a breakfast bar...snack food...put on your glasses (if you need them) and read away....I think you might be horrified by what you see and think twice about putting it in your mouth...something fresh... organic, non-GMO might be a better alternative.... 

Ethanol within the human body is converted into acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase and then into acetic acid by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. The product of the first step of this breakdown, acetaldehyde, is more toxic than ethanol. Acetaldehyde has been shown to increase the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, multiple forms of cancer, and alcoholism.

Shellac is a brittle or flaky secretion of the insect Kerria lacca, found in the forests of Assam and Thailand. Shellac is considered edible and it is sometimes used as a glazing agent on pills and candies. This coating may not be considered as vegetarian as it may, and probably does, contain crushed insects. In the tablet manufacture trade, it is sometimes referred to as "beetlejuice" for this reason. Shellac is known to cause allergies on contact, resulting in skin irritations.

©2012 Rebecca Dru  All Rights Reserved

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Rebeccadru on Redbubble.com



Started a new page on Redbubble.com... posting my favorite shots I've taken over the years.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

To the "Entertainers" out there and the people who mimic them...."Conversate" is NOT a word. The correct word is "converse". It takes less time to write, less time to say.... Learn it!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Do you pick it up or pass it by?

I was brought up to believe in the value of every coin....and we collect over $100 in coins every year just along our walks...sometimes it puzzles me how many coins we find as though someone just emptied out their pockets at the mere annoyance of coins.


Curious....if you see a coin on the ground...be it a penny, nickel, dime or quarter....do you pick it up or pass it by?

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Today, as we returned home from our walk with the dogs, I found $60 today wrapped up in an ATM slip that someone obviously dropped walking up my street... some would say...keep it....but I feel it necessary to go to the bank to return it to the rightful owner seeing as their bank balance wasn't too high..that could be a day's pay....

What would you do?