Women’s Independent Press

by Suzy Fiori

 

* =  the asterisk    The asterisk is sometimes called a star or splat has a multitude of uses and when you                       see it you know that there is something else going on with whatever it is sitting beside.

 

/  =   a forward slash   The slash is a sign used as a punctuation mark and for a variety of other purposes.

-          used in some abbreviations  such as w/ (with) and w/o (without)

-          used to denote (often mutually exclusive) alternatives, such as in male/female

-          used between numbers it means division

-          used in computer language

-          Bunches of other names and use

@  =  the at sign     Universally used in most languages to mean at, each at, at  around .

 

#  =  the number sign or the pound sign    When it precedes a number, it is read as “number”, as in “a #2 pencil”.  However, when it follows a number it is read as “pounds” referring to the unit of weight, as in “5# of sugar”.

%  =  the percent sign    The symbol  is used to indicate a percentage (that the preceding number is divided by one hundred).

 

*/@#%  =  needs no explanation or definition

Proof that the sum is greater than the parts.

 

By Barbara Schwarck, PCC, MPIA

The end of a year can have an emotional pull in polarized directions.  To our left we see our accomplishments, celebrated victories, new friendships and relationships and to our right we see heartbreaks and incompletions.  Depending on your personal wiring you will tend to keep one side closer to your vest.  But regardless of your focus, I recommend you take five minutes and make a list of all your accomplishments including the areas of relationships, spirituality, recreation, wellness, family, health, etc.  All too often we forget to include these areas and instead focus on things such as raises, new cars, vacations and weight loss. 

 

Then take another piece of paper out or use you electronic device of choice to make another list citing the areas that are worthy of improvement.  What did get done but not in the way you would have like to have seen it?  What could you have done better?  Make a list of the important items using the same areas you used above and be creative in your approach to improvement.  Maybe you could have asked for assistance.  Maybe your goals were not realistic or you lost focus.  Last but not least, make a list of all those items that did not get done or were bumped off the list. 

 

The other emotional pull at the end of the year or end of a period or an era is naturally towards our future.  Be intentional and take some concerted time and think carefully about the goals you put on this list.  What do you want?  What is your vision for yourself, your family or your department?  Where are you headed in your life?  I know these are big questions but it is important to take time to think about it.  The only difference between us and our four legged friends is the fact that we can dream and create visions.  Let’s use this wonderful gift that we have.

 

It helps to break goals down into time periods.  What are you going to accomplish within the next two months, six months and 12 months?  Do you need to access any resources to be successful?  Do your wants and goals align with who you are and your values?

 

Be specific.  If you want to lose weight (and that is the most popular goal on Americans’ lists), be specific about the amount and the time period.  How are you going to do it?  Are you going to start exercising, eat sensibly, join a diet program, and work with a partner?

 

Whatever you do, it is not important to be perfect.  Just take a piece of paper and get started.  Pick something small, be specific and break the action steps into bite-size pieces and you can’t go wrong.

 

Global Executive Coach and President of Clear Intentions International (CII), Barbara Schwarck has coached hundreds of executives, leaders and entrepreneurs from around the globe to be truly exceptional through a unique methodology using Neuro Emotional Coaching™– executive coaching combined with neuroscience and its implications for change and leadership.  CII is a people development company offering executive coaching, leadership training and assessment services for professionals, public servants, global leaders and influencers who want to free themselves from emotional and behavioral patterns that prevent them from being truly exceptional.

 

By LeeAnn Stuever

Social Security Manager in Downtown Pittsburgh

 

The holiday season is, for many people the busiest time of year with gift lists and to-do lists, feast planning and party preparation. The busy schedule, like the gift lists, often can get out of hand.

 

If you’re planning on retiring sometime early in the new year, we suggest you wrap up your retirement application now before wrapping any holiday gifts. It’s so easy and can take as little as 15 minutes. Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.

 

Our website makes the retirement application process quick, easy, and secure.  In most cases, once your application is submitted electronically, you’re done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if any further information is needed.

 

Before you start your application, you may want to spend a few minutes to get an estimate of your retirement benefit at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. The Retirement Estimator uses your personal employment history to estimate your retirement benefit.

 

Then, jump right into the retirement application. You can use the online application to apply for Social Security retirement or spouses benefits if you:

·         Are at least 61 years and 9 months old;

·         Want to start your benefits in the next four months; and

·         Live in the United States.

 

 

 

 

 

Before filing online for retirement, we suggest you have the following information on hand:

·         Your date and place of birth and Social Security number;

·         Your bank or financial institution’s routing transit number and the account number, for direct deposit of your benefits;

·         The amount of money earned last year and this year. If you are filing for benefits in the months of September through December, you also will need to estimate next year’s earnings;

·         The name and address of your employer(s) for this year and last year;

·         The beginning and ending dates of any active U.S. military service you had before 1968;

·         The name, Social Security number, and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse. You also should know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if appropriate); and

·         A copy of your Social Security Statement.

 

Even if you don’t have all the information we need at your fingertips, you should go ahead and apply now.

Applying online means there is no need for you to go to a Social Security office or wait for a scheduled appointment with a Social Security representative. Besides, retiring online is so easy. You can apply in as little as 15 minutes. That translates to more time for holiday shopping and activities.

 

So beat the holiday rush and wrap up your retirement application today at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.

 

Kooking For Katie

 

Well this December, Katie is turning 25 years old. Where did the time go? So for this  month’s column, it brought me back to when I first stated “kooking” for Katie.

 

 WhenKatie  first started eating “real” food, I would buy oatmeal and later those crackers that she could munch on and oh yes, those Honey Nut Cheerios.  But being a Buffalo girl that was a no brainer.  Yes, Cheerios are made in Buffalo.

 

But for fruits and veggies, it was much easier to  cook them, freeze them in small quantities and then heat them up when it was time for lunch or dinner.  To me this was easier, because I liked to cook and I liked to know what was going into Katie. It is  best to feed your child one specific food for a week to make sure they have no allergies or adverse reaction.

 

Baby Food*

 

Vegetables - Pick a vegetable….. peas, carrots, potatoes.  Veggies that are more mild

 

Fruits - apples, peaches, plums, bananas,  or pears

 

Wash the veggies or fruits, peel them, cut them in smaller pieces, steam them until they are soft and can be pureed in a food processor or blender.

 

 Place the pureed vegetables or fruit in ice cube trays.  Then place in freezer.

 

When meal time rolls around, pop out one or two veggie or fruit cubes.

Heat in the microwave or on the stove top.

 

Feed your child one veggie or fruit for a week. Then the next week try something different. When you know  that your child tolerates the fruit or veggies, you can mix different combinations  to make a new  taste.. Peas/Carrots,  Apples/Plums; Apples/Bananas.  Bananas tend to brown when frozen but they still taste good.

 

If you want to introduce your baby to meats  you can use the same procedure. Cook the meat, puree it in the food processor or blender, store and freeze in ice cube tray.  When meal time approaches, cook one of two cubes. 

 

Twenty five years later, I am still “Kooking for Katie” but proud to say that Katie has become a great cook too. This  past Thanksgiving, my husband and I were able to spend time with here at her homein Northern Virginia…. and the apple pie was delicious