I have been in pain for three days. I did something to my shoulder that I can not pin point and walked around unable to do practically anything with my left arm. I put on heating pads, got massaged, used the shower massage, took aspirin, – nothing worked. Then I remembered something, . . .

A few months ago my dear hubby had some middle of the back pain and I didn’t know what to do for him as it was in such an odd area. Out of nowhere I remembered that I had an unopened bag of Dead Sea mud from my trip to Israel 10 years ago. I figured mud can’t go bad (right?), so I heated some up in the microwave and smeared it on his back.  Then I ran a hot bath and poured in a few cups of Epsom salts. Once the mud was dry I made him soak in the bath for about 15 minutes, then take a quick shower. Right afterwards, he looked at me shocked and said,”It’s gone. The pain is gone!” I said something smug, like, “Well of course it is. I take good care of you honey.” (On occasion that’s true.) Then completely forgot the entire incident.

I can’t believe that while riddled with pain I could have forgotten this. Once my memory kicked in I busted out the mud, had hubby heat it up, smeared it all over my neck and shoulder, ran a Epsom salt bath, and dove in. Did it work?

Like a charm!!!!

I can not believe it! I can’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner and I am blown away that it worked in 15 minutes! Listen to me carefully as I tell you this.

No. Pain. At. All.

That’s right. I walked around in constant pain for THREE days. After the mud, no pain at all.

There is absolutely no reason for me to be so surprised having been to the Dead Sea myself and already been the recipient of it’s incredible healing capabilities. I’ve told many people the story of how I got into a bit of a brawl with a stray cat while at the top of Mount Masada and ended up with many deep scratches down my arm. That afternoon I went to the Dead Sea and after bathing in it, (and yes, it was painful at first to bathe my cut up arm in the saltiest of waters), I came out with a healed arm. No scratches, no scars, no nothing.

I know you’re thinking, ‘Yeah, right’, and I understand. If someone told me this story I would think they were completely making it up. Mainly because I am the least superstitious person I know. I don’t believe in ghosts, or worry when I spill salt, or think there is any such thing as luck – good or bad -, curses, hexes, and voodoo is the biggest bunch of nonsense I have ever heard, and do not even get me started on holy water. PUH – LEEZ. I do however believe in miracles and the hand of GOD, but my story qualifies as neither of those all too rare and magnificent occurrences. The healing powers of the Dead Sea are legendary and the subject of many scientific studies. It’s been found to be healing of a variety of ailments.

If you ever have the chance to make it to Israel, I highly recommend it. A stunningly beautiful country with an incredible history. If you do happen to make it please be sure not to miss the Dead Sea. It is an incredible experience in and of itself.

If you’ve had a Dead Sea experience, or any natural healing experience, please leave a comment! We’d love to hear about it!

We all love a bargain. I must admit that I am a particularly difficult shopper. I don’t like to buy most things brand new if at all possible, (other than the obvious of course – underwear, mattress, etc.), in keeping with a sustainable lifestyle. My husband and I therefore frequent our neighborhood second hand stores like Goodwill. While in North Carolina a couple of weeks ago we saw the local Goodwill and decided to stop in just to look around. Am I glad we did as we found this little beauty from another era!

I’ve been looking for hard luggage for ages, and this even had the keys included! It’s not precisely what I imagined of course. I was thinking more along the lines of a Marilyn Monroesque red, or even leopard print, full set, all monogrammed and 1950’s looking. But it’s adorable, and GREEN in more ways than one! (Even my incredibly fashion forward sister approves!) Such a silly thing but it made my entire week. The price for this little slice of happiness? Three dollars. Indulgent, no?

Ten reasons why I should live near my sister as told by my fabulous sister herself.

1. Your sister is awesome. (She totally is!)

2. She can make you laugh in person instead of over the phone while standing far away so she doesn’t catch your cold. (It was the FLU!)

3. Because separating siblings is just WRONG! (Speak it Sis!)

4. Because falling asleep while on the phone is less likely to happen in person. (Possibly.)

5. Because our first Skype attempt failed so miserably. (5 minutes that incited hours of laughter!)

6. Because someone has to teach me how to drive. (Us New Yorkers sometimes never learn due to the best public transportation system in the world. Can’t wait to get my sis behind the wheel of a stick shift!)

7. Because I will one day have so much extra room in my guest house. (And I of course, shall ride her coat tails!)

8. Because our brother is too heavy to lift by myself and kidnapping him and forcing him to hang out with us is a two person job. (Together we shall drag our workaholic bro out to party!)

9. Because someone has to laugh at your ‘Being married has really cut down on my dating’ joke. (Well it has. And that joke is DAMN funny.)

10. Because fun people should be with other fun people doing fun things. (Heck yeah!)

Seriously. My sister ROCKS!

Sniffing out bombs and drugs. Finding missing people. Chasing bad guys. Helping the disabled. Detecting illnesses. Rehabilitating inmates. Fighting alongside our soldiers at war. Protecting us. Loving us unconditionally.

One day just isn’t enough!

It has been a week now and I am still suffering through the flu. My sister insists that it’s not the flu but just a cold and if it WAS the flu blah, blah, blah. My sister also insists that some of my jokes aren’t funny and we ALL know how deluded that line of thinking is.

My husband, who knows I hate taking any medications at all, keeps insisting that I take some cold medicine.

“It’ll make you feel better.”

“NO!”

“Just take it and it’ll help you get better faster.”

“I am not taking it. Leave me alone already.”

“Here, I got you some cold medicine.”

“You don’t care about me!”

Yeah, he was obviously being completely unreasonable. You’d think I was just lazing about the house, hair frazzled, eyes glazed over, complaining constantly about how miserable I am in a voice resembling that of a cackling old witch while leaving a trail of dirty tissues in my wake.

That is actually what I’m doing (in between sneezing and coughing constantly), but that is seriously not the point.

In sickness and in health my man. Deal with it.

It’s one thing for you to see that the toilet is having some problems and run off to the hardware store to get the supplies to fix it, and then do. I certainly could have done it myself, after all I have a household fix-it book and did this sort of thing when I lived alone. Still, it’s just so great to not HAVE to do it. My appreciation is vast.

It is a whole other thing entirely for you, my amazing husband, to then take it upon yourself (with no prompting from me I swear!), to get all the laundry done. Personally, laundry is one of my most disliked chores, and you know that, and decided to relieve me of that silly burden. Wow.

There is very little I wouldn’t do for you now. Well played.

It is a cold, sleet filled night in December of aught three. My friend Reny and I are on the bus headed downtown on Central Park West to attend a party. Reny is going on at length about something or the other and I happen to look up as an older gentleman and his wife head down the aisle towards us as they exit. I immediately recognize the gentleman as John Lithgow. That’s right, John Lithgow.  Affair with Debra Winger in ‘Terms Of Endearment’, no-Kevin-Bacon-goofy-dancing-allowed preacher of “Footloose’, the ‘Trinity Killer’ of Dexter, John Lithgow. I start to elbow Reny who completely ignores the ever increasing force of my repeated gut jabs. Mr. Lithgow exits the bus and I say, “Reny look! It’s John Lithgow!” and Reny exclaims loudly, “Hey look, it IS John Lithgow! Taking the bus like any normal person!” We wave through the window like total dorks at John Lithgow and his wife, who are ever so kind and indulgent enough to wave back at us, – the two grown adult, born and bred New Yorkers, acting like sad little fan weenies – and then it happens, . . .

The bus driver, who should be watching the sleet covered road and NOT paying attention to passengers way in the back of the bus, PULLS THE BUS OVER. Right there, on the corner, somewhere in the West 50’s, in front of GOD and everyone. I. want. to die. I literally sink in my seat. I am mortified that I have brought a well known actor’s presence to the attention of everyone on the bus, including the city worker who cares not about road conditions or keeping to schedule. So uncool not New York of me. I look around wildly for a hole to crawl into that does not appear.

Thankfully John Lithgow is incredibly gracious and kindly reboards the bus to give ‘I’ll park my bus anywhere’ driver-man an autograph, and wave to passengers. As opposed to say, throwing a handful of stink bombs in our general direction and running like mad. Clearly Mr. Lithgow does not travel prepared.

The bus finally continues it’s route as Reny suffers through my red faced repeated wailing of, “I can’t believe he pulled the bus over!” all the way to our stop.

They’ll all think twice before taking a bus ride with me again.

We all love Britney. Don’t lie. You love her, and we know you love her. And why not? She’s got “The Britness”. She just does.

You do not have “The Britness”. Just stop.

I keep saying “I can’t stand Reality TV!”, and then I catch myself watching it. Second tier reality at that. ‘Hell’s Kitchen’, ‘Teen Mom’, ‘Wife Swap’, – it’s a sickness.

NOT ‘American Idol’. Never. That show is actually sick.

People that create incredible drama out of absolute nonsense are one of my bigger pet peeves. I have a million of them. Pet peeves that is.

‘Fight Club’ may just be the most awesome movie ever.

I do have a list and I tend to it carefully. You’re not getting away with anything, you’re not forgotten, I’m not putting it aside. Tremble and wait.

Puppies are love.

Watch the light change with dawn

Make strong, scorching, wonderful cup of tea

Gaze at slumbering Pit Bulls curled around one another

Listen to sweet puppy snores

Breathe

WHY is this not a federal holiday?! The shortsightedness is astounding.