RoleMommy.com -- Blog: July 2006

Blog: July 2006

Tar-jay Oy Vey

Was in my favorite store today...Target (pronounced Tar-jay) and unfortunately, had a frightful experience. The store was great, cavernous, plenty of selection, prices just right, but it was the checkout counter that turned my stomach. You see, as the woman in front of me was about to swipe her credit card through the machine, the cashier decided to inspect her fingernails and then proceeded to scrape out the dirt from them while she was conducting the sale. Did she think that no one was looking at her? That's almost as gross as picking a winner while you're in the car stopped in traffic and you think no one's paying attention. Here's a tip to anyone in the service industry dealing with customers who are less than two feet away from you, if you wanna clean your nails on company time, then hit the bathroom or head out on your lunch break for a manicure. For nose pickers on the go...do it while you're doing over 60 MPH...it's hard to catch you in the act when you're going that fast.

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Posted in: Blog, Undercover Mom on 07/30/2006

MOM, PR GURU AND HUMANITARIAN

Pictured: Cal-A-Vie Spa in California

The Ultimate Destination for a Role Mommy Retreat

Simone Rathlé

Founder, Simoneink

When you first meet Simone Rathlé, who runs the Washington D.C. based boutique public relations consulting firm, simoneink, you are blown away by her tireless spirit, terrific sense of humor and savvy business sense. This amazing mom, who in her spare time makes adorable photo scrapbooks for friends and family, is at the top of her field in the world of resorts, restaurants and spas. Prior to launching her own company, Simone directed media relations for some of the world's most notable hotel corporations including the Orient Express Hotels, The Watergate Hotel and The Plaza Athenee in Paris, among many others. Today, at the helm of her own flourishing boutique agency, Simone's represents The Garrett Hotel Group which owns some of the most breathtaking resorts in the country, including The Point, in Saranac Lake, New York, consistently ranked #1 by the Zagat Guide to Top U.S. Resorts; Lake Placid Lodge; as well as The Inn of The Five Graces in Santa Fe. Simone also represents two New Orleans properties International House and Lost 523. For the Role Mommy in need of a retreat, Simone highly recommends her client, Cal-A-Vie, a luxury spa in Vista, California, complete with a new 17,000 square foot fitness center that was named #2 in the world among Top Destination Spas by Travel & Leisure Magazine. Simone also oversees publicity for several reknowned restaurants and chefs in Washington D.C. and New Orleans. This high energy mom is also an avid runner who has competed extensively, completing a marathon and winning the new York City Turkey Trot for her age category. A native of New Orleans, one of Simone's proudest accomplishments for 2005-2006 was helping to position New Orleans hurricane relief at the forefront of national news by developing two successful fundraisers entitled "Po' Boy Power!" for the benefit of Hurricane Katrina victims. She was also involved in raising funds for policemen and firemen in the city's devastated communities. Simone is truly a Role Mommy at home, on the career front and in places where she can help others with her "can do" attitude. For more information about Simone and the wonderful places she represents, visit her website at www.simonesez.com

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Posted in: Blog, Moms of Reinvention on 07/27/2006

LOST IN SUBURBIA? by Tracy Beckerman..The Fungus Among Us©.

I never thought I?d be one of those suburban moms who talked about cleaning problems, but I have to admit it; I have fungus issues. In the past, I think I?ve handled those pesky minor battles with mildewed tile grout, scummy shower curtain liners, and other assorted moldy nuisances with appropriate reactions. Tilex in hand, I spray like a maniac, and moments later, I am fungus-free. But one day, I happened to lift up the rubber bath mat in the kids? bathroom to rinse the tub after one of them took a particularly filthy bath, and saw black. Literally.The bottom of this formerly white bath mat was covered in a living, breathing black mold that pretty much, completely grossed me out.Now I don?t gross out easily. I routinely have to clean up after a dog, a lizard and a chinchilla, not to mention two kids and a husband, so being grossed out is something I?ve gotten used to. But this bath mat was beyond grossness. It was the bath mat from the black lagoon. An entire civilization of stinky fungus breeding in my bathtub. Mutant mold from outer space. I was sure if I didn?t get rid of it immediately, it would continue to multiply and grow until it enveloped my entire bathroom, then my house, and eventually, the world. Yes, it was my duty, as a member of the human race to kill it. Of course, at this point in the story, you?re probably wondering how, as a world-class homemaker, I managed to miss the underside of my kids? bathmat?I didn?t. The cleaning ladies did. I assumed they were routinely scouring under the bath mat and then returning it to its original location.But as Felix so wisely once said to Oscar in The Odd Couple, ?When You ?Assume,? you make an Ass of U and Me!?OK, so I?m an ass. And an ass with a disgusting bathmat, to boot. But rather than dwell on unconstructive negative self-blame, I decided to harness that self-disgust into some positive mold-ridding energy.So first I broke out the Tilex.(Note to self: Write letter to Tilex people that product doesn?t work on Mutant Mold from Outer Space).So then I tried some scouring powder. But still some of the mold survived the attack.(Note to self: Soft Scrub with Bleach stains expensive clothing).So then I whined.?I can?t get rid of the mold on the bathmat,? I cried to my husband one day.He gave me a blank stare.?So spend, what, like 79 cents and buy a new one,? he said matter-of-factly.?No, I like this one. And it?s not about the money, anyway,? I protested. ?I have to save this bathmat? and the world.?Another blank stare. I forgot? the mold may be from outer space, but men are from Mars and there was no way my husband was going to be able to process the magnitude of my crisis unless there was a trip to the hardware store involved.In desperation, I finally dumped the bathmat into the washing machine with detergent, bleach, and any other cleaning products I had in the laundry room that looked toxic; turned on the hot water, and waited.Half an hour later I took out the bathmat and the mold was gone,So was most of the bathmat.Pristine white and riddled with holes: It was now a bath-net.I appeared before my husband, sweaty and disheveled from my ordeal, clothes stained with scouring powder residue, holding the remains of my former bathmat.?I got good news and bad news,? I told my husband. ?The good news is I got the mold off the bathmat.??Thank God!!? he exclaimed in mock excitement.?The bad news is I killed the bath mat.??Sorry to hear that,? he said mournfully. ?But at least I saved us from the mutant mold,? I said cheerfully.He eyed me fearfully. ?Great. But now who?s going to save us from you?? ©2006, Beckerman. All rights reserved. For more LOST IN SURBURBIA columns, go to www.lostinsuburbia.net

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Posted in: Blog, Role Mommy Confessions on 07/26/2006

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