LD, Wrinkles, Elvis and Learning

The Prairie Crocus is still enjoying working at London Drugs. Not enough hours yet, but as we get closer to Christmas, the hours will increase. I am learning new things about cosmetics companies and not all of it is good. Some companies make outrageous claims for their products which are easily disproved. Many of them have "scientific evidence" of the efficacy of their products on their websites. Someone should tell those companies that a report paid for by the company is not scientific evidence, no matter how many dermatologists sign the report. If it's not published in a bona fide professional journal, it isn't valid science. And, of course, a healthy skepticism is warranted for any website. Any fool can create a website. Or a blog! Even a transplanted prairie crocus!

That being said, there are still some cosmetic products that can improve the skin. Most of the good ones contain ingredients that have been around in one form or another for hundreds of years. Madame Dubarry was known for her skin softening milk baths. But none of them can take away years of neglect or sun damage. Not one of them will get rid of deep wrinkles. As one ages, one's skin gets old! To all you young women out there: the number one skin ager is the sun. Forget the suntan. It's a baaaaaad thing. Stay out of the sun as much as you can and use sunscreen and your skin will stay more beautiful longer. Oh, and don't smoke. That's the number two ager of skin. Not to mention its other deleterious effects. If you are not afraid of lung cancer, be afraid of wrinkles! Although she quit ten years ago (it's never too late) the Prairie Crocus is still suffering the effects on her face of smoking for many years. Be wiser than I and you will look younger.

Last Friday the Crocus went to see live theatre with her sister and sister's husband. The play was called "Bathroom Humour." It was a farce set in the 1980's. Remember the big hair with the teased up bangs! The big shoulder pads! The parties fueled by alcohol and chemicals! Yes, it certainly brought back memories. The play was quite enjoyable. There was even an Elvis impersonator. Hilarious.

In keeping with her belief that learning never stops, the Prairie Crocus is going back to school. She is going to study "Teaching English as a Second Language" at Vancouver Community College. The course runs from the middle of January to the middle of February, all day, five days a week. After that the Crocus might just be looking for a part-time job teaching at a language school here. And, who knows, maybe even going for short term jobs overseas sometime in the future. But I plan to keep my job at London Drugs. For a while at least.

I am going to Victoria tomorrow for the rest of the week. Visiting my mother-in-law (89th birthday tomorrow), and brother and sister-in-law. Should be fun.

Bye to all. Tata...and take care...and Peace.

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. ~Mark Twain, Following the Equator

Remember, Coen Brothers, Workin' At the Drug Store

Remember the veterans today. We owe them for their sacrifices.

The Prairie Crocus is enjoying working at London Drugs in the cosmetics department. The other people who work there are very friendly and welcoming. We certainly get some colourful customers. There is one man who came in the other night about a half hour before closing. His clothes are all too big for him and were held together with huge safety pins. He dropped the names of the former manager and current manager of the cosmetics probably to establish that he was harmless. Then he proceeded to talk my ear off about global warming, the weather, the windstorm last year, his father taking up Spanish in his later years, living in a foreign country. It was random and non-stop! I was pretty much a captive audience. Lotsa nodding and smiling on my part. There should be a bonus for dealing with boring customers!

Last night I went to the restaurant where my daughter works and had my usual halibut dinner. Great! Then we went out for a couple of drinks after she was finished work. I'm hoping to have my fabulous daughter and her talented husband over for dinner tomorrow.

I went to see "No Country For Old Men." The Coen brothers were up to their usual tricks. Just when I think I've got them figured out, they do something surprising. It was a very dark thriller. Tommy Lee Jones' performance was terrific. I'm thinking Oscar nomination. Javier Bardem also did a great job in the character of a cool killer. But this movie was not one of my favourites. I found the ending unsatisfying. If you like the Coen brothers you might like this one but I caution those who don't like "weird" movies.

Got to go and get ready for work. I work today from 5:00 till 10:00. I'll be getting double time as it's a statutory holiday! Woo hoo! Keep well.

In war, there are no unwounded soldiers. ~José Narosky

Flu Shot, Transplants, Turning back Time

I went to my doctor's office to get the flu shot. Why are there so many sick people in doctors' offices! I probably picked up a few new germs from all the coughing and hacking.

While I was there I was reading a local newspaper called Metro. Here are the headlines from the first two pages: COP CAR CRASH KILLS 2 and VGH(Vancouver General Hospital) SCORES PERFECT 10 WITH TRANSPLANT RECORD. Tears came to my eyes as I realized those two stories were related. Two young men in their twenties died as a result of a high speed crash with an RCMP car that was responding to a call about a suicidal woman. In the second story, surgeons performed a record-breaking 10 organ transplants in a 24 hour period. The hospital, of course, can't reveal who the donors of the organs were, but I think one quote from the story clinched it for me: "... the hospital was pressed for time because organs from the two donors could only be stored for a few hours." So, there was grief and sadness for two
families and happiness and relief for ten families. Too bad the happiness depended on someone else's grief.

I passed my "drug test" with a very good score. I begin my first shift at the London Drugs store this afternoon. Where else could I get a job in which I could chat with people all day about something I like and get paid for it? And only a block from my apartment! Whoopee!

My darling daughter and her handsome husband return from their holiday tomorrow. Yeah!

One of my nieces is moving into a new house in the Courtney area of Vancouver Island and starting a new job. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law are helping her get unpacked. All the best in the new house!

Here it is, a new month already! How time flies! Don't forget to turn your clocks back tomorrow night. We gain an hour. What will you do with yours?

Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending. ~Author Unknown