The Matter of Clothes

I have a bone to pick. It is bad enough our clothes mostly are made in China, Vietnam or in some gawd forsaken sweat shop, but now it is a matter of finding 100% cotton. This takes us to the realization of our farmlands and how the clothes industry has dismissed the breathability and health of cotton, instead opting to produce the petroleum saturated synthetic fabrics. And how do you feel with those fabrics on your body on a hot day in the city?

We can all thank God for the online purchasing power but yet, even online our available purchases are nill. I spent a good portion of a day just searching for one thing. It could be comfortable, wide width sandals with toe enclosures to protect my fragile toenails or it could be cotton nightgowns. It could be cotton tops that do not mimic a European housekeeper with a babouska or it could be cotton crop pants that has a little spandex. Forget about linen. Although linen is a true commodity long lost to the era's of the past. Linen is made from flax. I found some beautiful cotton tops ranging in prices I dare not repeat that would shock you into the next century. These brands come with an entitlement and a price that goes up into the high hundreds every year. That statement alone should give us pause.

The synthetic fabrics are toxic to our skin, our body. Polyester has reigned supreme now in all stores and especially plus size departments. There is no draw there for me. I used to shop the clearance rack at Nordstroms and that is a tragedy now. They have gone to polyester hell. Let me expound on the negative effects of polyester. They are unsaturated resins. Normally you would find these resins in sheet molding compounds, wall panels reinforced with fiberglass and in the toner of laser printers. Polyester resins are flammable. The care of those resins are done with gloves and a chemical respirator. That is the backstory.
http://www.ehow.com/about_6504388_polyester-respiratory-breathing-problems.html
The above link came to my attention.

Is your bedroom making you sick? That was another headline related to polyester brands of sheets. I buy 100% cotton sheets. This is where you lay your body 8 plus hours a day! Now I have since learned that even cotton is mostly treated with pesticides and the goal is to find organic cotton sheets. I know Company Store does have them online or in catalog. Virtually all bed sheets that say "easy care" and crease resistant and perma press are treated with formaldehyde.

Polyester fabrics when thrown away, will just sit in the dump and never breakdown. That got my attention! All that soft fleece polyester that is so cheap on the dollar is actually recycled plastic bottles. Patagonia brand is a scheme on that. They tout eco friendly but it is recycled polyester!
Any man made fabric is made from petrochemicals and contains plastics. It is finished off with formaldehydes. This has always been a concern of eco-friendly advocates, let alone health experts. Be mindful that alot of polyester fabrics are now blended with some cotton and you can be fooled. Wool presents another problem: organophosphate via sheep dip.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2860731.stm
Organophosphates, which are used in sheep dip, have been linked to excessive tiredness, headaches, limb pains, disturbed sleep, poor concentration, mood changes, and suicidal thoughts.

The chemicals are also at the centre of controversy over the mysterious illness suffered by veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.


My goal is to find organic cotton growers for fabrics that do not use pesticides. Also bamboo clothing is anti-microbial. Hemp clothing is making a revival. You can find at the HEMP store, Clothing works, Hemp Trading Company.

Rayon commonly called viscose, is made from cellulose which comes from plants. However, because of the wood pulp of the eucalyptus trees draws up alot of water, the wood pulp is treated with hazardous chemicals like caustic soda and sulphuric acid.

We can get all fired up about eco-friendly products and yet forget to put natural fibers on our body in the form of clothes or shoes on our feet. We can survive the onslaught of this synthetic race to create more havoc in our bodies with chemicals IF we get smarter.

Bettye Cart

The Shadow does not hold

sway yet not over you,

not over me.

Elvish Lang

Lord of the Rings

End of 2012

I am remiss in getting back to this blog because I had to learn and re-learn certain technical elements since Picasa web albums are now my storage unit. I finally sorted all the jibber jabber chaos to codify my already stored pictures into a new album so I could post the image on my blog. If it weren't for all the troubleshooting forums and help centers ( which one needs help to figure out the help centers) I wouldn't be able to share so here goes everyone while I catch you 'all up.

Christmas took a detour this year - a round about way to connect since Sister Cath and family took off to a deliriously happy adventure through Italy.



We lived vicariously through their undaunting trip from delayed starts, missed flights and circadian rhythms off as they landed in Paris to Rome to Florence Tuscany then on to Venice to ring in the new year. The slideshows helped us feel the spirit of not just Christmas in Europe but their embracing of it.

The kids on break from college and work had one blast after another. Cathy made sure they checked off historical sights and museums on the long list. They ate their way into holiday oblivion. Just to mention, I am forever indebted to my sister for carrying from Rome to Florence to Venice to Paris to LAX a most delicious, still fresh and soft, a baked panettone from the shops of Rome. The big hat box was not even dented. I can imagine the care it took at every stop. Thats real love folks.

Our favorite and only son Jason arrived by train on Christmas day and we spent the hours before we joined the rest of the family at Mom's.

Let's all just give thanks that our flu bug and coughing is now at rest and we have crazy beach weather of cold, rain and fog this January 2013.

Thanksgiving Reunion 2012

Friday, November 23 was our appointed day at Clubhouse #3 in Laguna Woods. Mom couldn't capture the very Thanksgiving day so she opted for second best. It was the same banquet room we used for Dad's 90th birthday and one other Thanksgiving a while back. It had the big restaurant size kitchen and all the tables and chairs. We settled for the room.

We also decided to do a reunion with Aunt Sara and Uncle Charley's side of the family who we love and cannot gather with unless there is a wedding or funeral, so we had extra joy to celebrate about. Food was over-plentiful and desserts glared back. A tipsy of wine and appetizers and alot of standing around. By the time we settled into our chairs we piled on obscene amounts of turkey, potato puff, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams, vegetables, sausage and peppers, pasta ( two kinds), salad. butternut squash and extras. If I were to rate the best of the best on the main food line I would say potato puff, my gourmet stuffing ( Bobby Flay I bow to you), and the salads. I loved the yam casserole as well. Mom's caponata was the main event at the appetizer table and a famous artichoke dip. Mare's carrot soup in the crockpot was a humongous hit.

The event pulled off by Mare was an event. She decorated in harvest colors and the kitchen was swarming with hands washing and preparing. I counted 34 people but I could be missing some. Not all could be present.
Some of the pics below:

I plant Mary Ellen's smiling face first since she was the creator and coordinator of the event. She was a veteran for decades serving the Szabo clan in their huge events. Natch. She was the one.

Mom, our matriarch was shuttled over to the clubhouse to oversee the family. Here she is cuddling to her son, Frank, our Bro.

The next wise and wonderful is Aunt Conny, who lives in our lives. My Larry, the honorable Dr. Larry, sits close.

Dr. Phil, our Bro arrived with wine in hand. He is 59 yrs young. I stare at his youthful appearance and know he received the genes we all wished for.

Time to honor the generations in this picture. Uncle Charley, in the middle, who is now inching towards 86 yrs old, still culturally and musically in the zone, an avid enthusiast of critical thinking, and the arts. His constant love of painting keep him forever young and we bow to his genius. To the right, my old and constant cyber friend and brother in laughable crime is Jack Tulanian, cousin Sandy's spouse. Yes, the story goes I knew Jack before Sandy did. They brought forth a precious daughter Amari, bright and beautiful. To the left, is Donna, my baby sis who is forever dancing and on stage whether in a theater or not. Her youthful appearance says there is hope for a Convertino after 50.

Nice pic of three generations. Aunt Sara to the right is the last of the sisters trio. She is into life and all it can offer saying her social calendar is full to the brim! Maria her middle daughter, my cousin stands behind her graciously beautiful daughter Sara. Sara is married with two gorgeous children, Michael (6) and Maddy ( 4). Both children eagerly came to all of us, unknowingly and hugged us. That speaks volumes of how family is prioritized in her parental teachings. Sara announced she is pregnant with her third baby. Yea!

Nadine, a consummate Mom and wife, is recovering from her October back surgery. She is doing well and her son, Tim standing here is making sure she does not overdo. Beautiful boy. Tall like his Dad. Nadine is our precious gem in our family.

The boys, er, uhm, the Men. Attorney Tim Peabody is center, Nadine's hubby, and to the right, Jay Bagnall, Rosanne's sweetheart. Mike Navarro to the left, still surfing and working out and getting younger with Dr. Larry's help.

Here is our Ro. Aunt Sara's daughter, Jay's wife and mother to three of the kids who could not make the event, Erica, Jamie and family and Bren. Rosanne is one of those people who can do anything and make it look easy. She was Mare's right hand in the kitchen.

Cathy my sis center and to the right Appelusa, Jason's longtime GF and Jason , my son, to the left. Appelusa teaches skating and does photography (head shots for young actors) and Jason well, you name it. Artistic endeavors, directing, editing, scriptwriting and recently, architectural renderings for a huge sculpture. All of his aspirations are shooting stars.

Cathy's kids. Dean to the left, home from Chapman University and had just finished his soccer season. Gina, home from freshman year at San Diego State as a coxsain on Crew. She is loving college but can't wait to cook again with Aunt Bettye. Marc, the man is following the same track as Dad, Mike. He is involved with Commercial real estate work. Warms all of our hearts to have them with us together. We are loving their company so much.

Okay, okay. Someone else took this picture of me, Jason and Appel.  Here I am flushed from the heat, hair curling infinitum.

The kids table. Nika, my niece on the left, Amari, my cousin next to her ( Sandy and Jack's child) and the far two on the right, Kelly and Matt, Nadine and Tim's kids. Adorable! Nika has a serious bond with Amari and they so love each other.

Marc and Lea. Lea is Mare and Phil's oldest daughter. Jenna could not make it but Councilman-to-be-Matt stopped in for some dinner. I am remiss with a picture of him but check out my past blogs to see him.

Newcomers to my blog! Chris on the left, who is the love of cousin Maria's life, a good man and happy to have him in our family. Jesse on the right is the proud Papa of Maddy, Michael and baby X, Sara's ( Maria's daughter) hubby.

Cousins in a row. Phil Szabo in the background, Mare's husband, then Ro, Mare and Cathy at the stove preparing the food.


Now we are faced with digestive enzymes, naps and slow moving activities to help counter the meal. Maybe the idea of a Black Friday is, lights out! Blackout! However, in its final hour, we gave thanks to all of us with the glorious prayerful words of Phil, those here and departed, especially for JoLynn's Dad passing and Tim's Dad passing, oddly on the same day. I missed a picture with JoLynn, but here is one from a month ago.

JoLynn, Frank's wife is a blessed one in our family. Her compassion, love and courage is exemplary. Frank and Jo came alone as Joey and Katie, Katie and Drew were in Tennessee starting their life and Christy, pregnant with twins, and Tim had another commitment to Tim's Mom.



Distract the Mind: Go to Fashion!

Some fashion trends last such a short time you begin to wonder if your purchase will ever be worn again. I look at the styles that abhore me, like the shortened skirts and blouses in front while the back hangs like a poor construction. Or the short jackets with underneath blouses lagging below. The shoes that are dangerously high to create a splintering bones lest they trip and fall. The raucous colors that urge everyone to buy. ( I have Mediterranean skin that casts a glow that orange and yellow simply do not aesthetically enhance.)

Then I look at the traditional styles that stay forever. I recall those with Princess Diana and now I am renewed looking at Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. Her style warms me and for such a young woman can restore the hope in young women everywhere.

So please tell me what happened to hats? We gloried in hats, both men and women pre-war and post war days then nothing. Now we have the sloppy look not just to keep warm but to remain hip. Part of clubbing or groupies. It does not synch up with the kind of clothing you want to remember. It is simply a statement of this is who I am today and don't mess with me. Rather, Kate portrays a look of this is who I am as a statement of dignity, formality, design. She is Project Runway with an aire of respectability. Yet, Kate can look fetching in zara jeans and Le Chameau boots in the outdoor wild as well as wearing English designed outfits with waist cinching belts and arresting jewelry and accessorizing impeccably. Is she leading by example? Maybe not in our nation, but in European circles she does. We westerners have dialed in to the age be it pioneer, western, change of century, challenging runway art. We move in the circles of what "others" trail and on occasion, we do see some wild, crazy, non-harmonious outfits in our day.

Kate goes to formal events. She celebrates others victories. She goes to tea.
We pick up our kids, go to work, have weekend BBQ parties in the backyard, slouch on the sofa watching reality television. We don't have a stylist pampering us and choosing outfits that enhance our figures or hats that hide our gray hair. LOL. It's an interesting idea to take on English culture. After all, they have an investment in our territory. Didn't they start the idea of taxation during the American Revolution? Ah, yes. Well. Money makes the world go round and it buys beautiful clothes.

Now I should think about Men's fashion. Where shall I begin?



East Coast Traumatized

From my West Coast perspective it would seem New York is a bramble bush of bad karma. This time it radiated to surrounding areas and devastation that was painful to watch. This last decade was filled with pain and it has left its mark among us.

This was not an act of God. Who started that phrase? Do you know it is voiced in legal circles? What God would forge this upon its own? No God I would call Creator of all the heavens. We have birthed a conglomeration of gods here among our living. They play with science and switches and weaponry and the like. They fight among themselves singing a repetitious karaoke of global warming, yet what truth exists about our poles lies hidden in a nest of cavernous distortions. Our storms are getting bigger and more monstrous. Our floodings more treacherous. Our rebuilding much slower or not at all. Detroit stands as a monument to negligence and apathy. New Orleans stands as a cruel cruel joke with dismissiveness to have not corrected the waterways until it was too late; to even think to build upon a sea coast without armor or elevation. We all gloried in the idea that water next to residences was quaint and lovely. Yet, no one is prepared for the ghoulish activities that crush hopes and architecture. Where is the planning? Have we not learned from the countless hurricanes in Florida?

Now we face homeless and jobless individuals that may not be able to restore. Money will go to the most important areas of commerce. People cannot sustain a ray of hope for very long because the climatic change never stops. The parts of our nation that still weep over towns that were wiped out from tornadoes ( who talks about that anymore?), the damage from any kind of flooding that brings diseased sea creatures and mold to structures, weaking any kind of infrastructure for all time. All the mini Fukushima's. Will there be enough of a loan from banks to these people to rebuild? How many nuclear reactor's were in the path of this storm? Well, 14 plants were put on alert when Hurricane Irene blew through last August.

Funds? They found that 25% of the funding to Fukushima was spent on unrelated projects. This kind of greed and mismanagement and betrayal continues to exist whereever there is disastrous need. I fear for these folks. I fear for all citizens who believe they are safe. No one is safe and yet, we present a pose of being the umbrella for all those who come and want to be safe. The storm is not over. It is just the calm before the storm for us on the West wing of this country. We are not that naive to think only the midwest, the northeast, the south are the only victims of climatic change.



Underwater, fallen trees, piers demolished, boardwalks in pieces, no gasoline, shelters for homeless, unlivable homes, businesses destroyed, searching for food in a store with a flashlight, transportation either under a river of water or completely gone, fires from hot wires, cars stuck in sand, roads buckled from the force of a wave and undrivable. Debris and stagnant water with creeping disease, below freezing temperatures and more storms on the way.

My cousin Joe is in Syracuse and was free from the rage. My Uncle Mario only had clean up on his front lawn. Our family is safe.

We pray for these citizens who are only victims

of an unworthy assault.

Bragging about my Nieces and Nephews

 Johanah, my brother Phil's child, has matured into a beauty in her 20's. She is here very happy indeed with her boyfriend.

My nephew Joey, my brother Frank's child, and newly aquired niece Katie, just married. Joey is enrolled in Vanderbuilt in Tennessee on a scholarship to study Theology and teach. His goal is PhD.

My nephew Dean, my sister Cathy's second son, is on the soccer field at Chapman University, studying under a soccer scholarship. Dean is adored by all.

My Goddaughter, Nika, my sister Donna's child, is our angel. She is now enrolled in junior year high school at Dana Hills in Dana Point and is currently in chamber choir, always aspiring in musical productions on stage and preparing her mind for pre-med.

Cousin Johanah joins our other angel in this picture, Gina, my sister Cathy's girl. Gina has accomplished nerve wracking jaunts on the open sea with crew in Newport Beach and after those years enrolled in San Diego State University as a coxsain on the crew team with partial scholarship. Gina misses us all and we send cyber hugs.

There are the boys. Marc and Dean, sister Cathy's sons. Mark is working in the field of commercial real estate and still very much a part of our family gatherings. Dean is enrolled in Chapman University.

Jenna and Lea in background, my sister Mary Ellen's girls. Jenna is a creator of the most interesting and eye popping photography. Lea is a working girl, and an expert in organizing catering. Cathy my sis in the foreground.

My nephew Matt, my sister Mary Ellen's son, has finished many years with LA City Hall, working as Deputy Chief of Staff for the LA mayor. Right now, he is campaigning for an LA City Council seat for District 13. Vote Matt in 2013!
http://www.voteszabo.com/

Christy (married to Tim) is my brother Frank's girl, now is pregnant with twins!



Katie (married to Drew) ( bro Frank's daughter) who recently married is living in Tennessee.

Let's just add one more. My kid. Jason will turn 37 this November( lives with longtime GF Appelusa) and in the throes of juggling independent photoshoots, small film gigs and screenwriting. His creativity is mind boggling. http://www.nooring.com/NOORING_PRODUCTIONS.html