Category: My Family

Without a family, one seldom thinks long term

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YOU can’t be happy… IF she’s not HAPPY!

When Laura is happy... the world is a brighter and more wonderful place.... so I keep it that way!A wiser and much older man once gave me a piece of golden advice after reflecting on his happy and successful life… it didn’t mean much to me then… because I was only 10 years old, but I promised to file it away until such time as it may be of use.

He said,” You can never be happy , if she is not happy.” I won’t say that I have always remembered his advice… but it has kept me from falling into those mantraps that few marriages ever survive.

Now, I think most people realize that you really don’t make anyone happy in this world by giving them everything they ever wanted. You make them happy by creating an environment and providing the tools and resources that aid any person in achieving their personal goals.

Laura passed on an article entitled, “Spouse’s Personality May be Hazardous to your health.” As you will discover, the article deals with how the personality of a ‘patient’ recovering from a health issue directly affects the emotional happiness of the caregiving spouse. 

there is a little bright eyed 'BooThe most important lesson of this study is a simple one: “Optimism in one spouse appeared to have beneficial effects for the partner.” So, there are many things one can do to lighten the mood in a home… here are just a few:

1) Allow the sun into the home… keep the windows open.

2) Place fresh flowers in the most heavily used parts of your home.

3) Keep the environment pleasant… light music, ample reading material and a willingness to talk and listen.

4) Bake and cook what others enjoy. All homes feel better with fresh bread in the oven…. the smell is enticing and unmistakeable.

When a family member is down… it’s up to everyone — including the one afflicted — to keep the mood light.

Roger Freberg

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Be Prepared… even Dad’s are asked about Fashion

even Dad's are asked about fashion.... 

Every once in a while… and it doesn’t happen very often … Dad’s may be asked to make a fashion recommendation. Be afraid…. be very afraid. Any comment like, ‘whatever’ or ” ask your mom, I don’t have any idea about this sort of stuff’ will land you perminantly in the pit of loneliness and isolation. 

View this as an opportunity to express yourself… even if you are wrong.. the women in your life will love you for it… there is no down side here…. except, love and admiration doesn’t come cheap. Now is the time to make your move … there are many sales going on and what woman doesn’t love a sale? How do I know this? Aaaaah, I do read style.com.

The payoff is the ‘fashonistas’ at Style.com let you know when the designer ‘stuff’ goes 65% off (more or less) at the major retailers. This is very important for dad’s who are used to paying $15 for a three pack of their own boxers. 

For example, the “Giorgio Armani Embroidered Jacquard Pumps” that I have pictured above were $575.00 at Neiman Marcus… now $288.00. Now, I do also like the red dress by Michael Kors  ( actually I like most of his ‘stuff’… and it comes in Black also)… was $1095.00 and now is only $383.00 at Bergdorf Goodman.   

Getting advice from NigelWith a wife and three daughters, it’s nice when I can play their ‘Nigel’ and obtain a smile ( Nigel was the fashion guru who advised the main character in the Devil wore Prada).

Roger Freberg

PS. Karen loved the shoes and bought a pair… but everyone loved hearing about the sales.

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2007 Spring Colors and where they came from!

Pantone Colors for Spring 2007

 Okay, all of you ‘fashionistas’ out there… ever wonder where your colors come from? Do you have any idea of how they were developed? How one designer communicates his color needs to a source?

It was years ago in New York City, but I remember having a bunch of color chips in my office and talking over the phone with a supplier and saying… ” I need Pantone Color 2024 (for example) .” We each knew EXACTLY what the other was talking about.

However, I never knew that Pantone was the ground zero for the discussion of what were going to be the ‘in colors’ for the new season…. here’s a not-so-sneak peek for the fashionable colors of Spring 2007… personally, I like Pantone 16-1720 “Strawberry Ice.” 

Funny how these things come about,

 Roger Freberg

PS… My Birthday color is “Hibiscus”…. find your birthday’s color

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the Need for Privacy

Gate leading from Inner courtyard to the 'neighborhood.'One of the problems in today’s architectural plans for residential communities and business environments is the disregard for the occasional need for individual privacy.

Webster defines Privacy thusly:
 
1 a : the quality or state of being apart from company or observation : SECLUSION

1 b : freedom from unauthorized intrusion 

 2 — archaic : a place of seclusion

3  — a private matter   

The important aspects of the definition — to me — are: ” a place of seclusion” and “freedom from … intrusion” 
 
Designs proliferate making workplaces more and more ‘Dilbert-Like’. Other efforts requiring ‘porches’ for homes to aid in positive social interactions with neighbors are misguided at best. Obviously some companies have recognized the shortcomings of the past and have attempted to address the need for ‘quiet’… such as Google. Although they haven’t escaped their “Dilbert’ foundation, they are taking many steps in the right direction as a relatively comfortable place to work.

Although America may never — hopefully — evolve back into the surrounded homes with the inner courtyards that are so common elsewhere in the world, the need for privacy… if not safety… becomes an area of developing interest. Companies are just falling all over themselves trying to sell you industrial or home security devices. Although ‘security’ is certainly an issue in our modern world… ‘privacy’ is what it’s really all about.

Now, a locked gate may not keep out emergency staff (they’ll just go through your fence), the police (same tactic as mentioned earlier) or the more accomplished intruder, but it does make the traveling sales person pause as well as the unwelcomed visitor. Now, here is a little advice… if you do put up a gate… do not add a bell or intercom or you’ve defeated the purpose of having a gate in the first place. The idea is to lock it… when you want to enjoy some peace and quiet.

It is amazing how taking a few small steps can make your world seem a lot more restful… a locked gate and an an unlisted phone number are two big steps… then sit back and enjoy your Sunday newspaper.

Roger Freberg

PS. Just the other day, dressed in my morning bathrobe, I looked out my window and saw a saleman at the front gate who was frantically trying to get my attention… I stopped… waved… and sat down in my big comfortable chair and thoroughly enjoyed my morning cup of coffee.