Reinvent Yourself: Relive Summer with an Easy Sangria Recipe

GTO's Thoughts:

I get into these moods.

Maybe once or twice a year.

Where I just need to remember summer.

Usually it's in September, October or November.

Winter is approaching.

June, July & August have faded into sweet memory.

My tan is long gone.

My skin barely remembers being licked by the warmth of the sun.

I barely put a dent in my bottle of sunscreen this year.

I didn't get enough time in my brother's pool.

I didn't get enough sand, didn't get enough surf.

And - dammit! - I have no memories of a sweet summer romance.

My John Travolta did not meet his Olivia Newton-John.
My Frankie Avalon did not find his Annette Funicello.
My Barbara Hershey never became the wind beneath her Bette Midler's wings.

Those warm, sunny months have come and gone, all in the blink of an eye.

And I miss them.

But there are a number of ways to remember summer.

You could try losing your $500 Nike glasses in the waves of Ocean City, Maryland in July 2012.

Like I did!

OR -

Even better,

Ignore the lessons of Ocean City 2012!

And lose another pair of $500 glasses in the gorgeous waters of Playa Paraíso in Mexico's Riviera Maya in July 2017. **

Yep! That's what I did!

So the summers of 2012 and 2017 are LOCKED in my brain!

For.

Life.

And as winter approaches in the Northeastern United States, how do I relive such wonderful summer memories as losing $1000 in prescription eyewear to the oceans of the world?!

I GET DRUNK  (ha)

What helps me get drunk are sweet and colorful adult beverages!

THIS is where SANGRIA comes in, because:

SANGRIA TASTES LIKE SUMMER.

I make it from time to time when I'm desperately trying to hold onto summer for a few cold, getting colder, weekends this time of year.

It's easy to make sangria.

WINE + FRUIT = SANGRIA

It's quick, delicious and refreshing.

If you don't like fruit, you're outta luck. More for me.

If you click on my photo below, you'll be taken to my 60-second easy sangria recipe.

Easy Sangria Recipe - Greg's Helpful Videos

** Upon losing expensive eyewear for the 2nd time in five years, I was completely and utterly embarrassed.

My family was there to witness it BOTH times!

And I was also very angry at myself.

SO ANGRY.

And there was swearing to be had.

Lots of swearing.

Lots of LOUD swearing.

And there were children everywhere!

And. I. Didn't. Care.

I was swearing with no thought of social decorum.

I was uttering profanities in the clear, warm waters of Mexico,

(Proud of myself, I am not.)

BUT -

After about 15 minutes, I finally calmed down and surrendered to the situation.

It was simple: I was going to be legally blind for my entire vacation in Mexico.

And then!

My brother, Doug, stepped on something buried in the sand near the shore.

He reached down, expecting to be bit by a crustacean, but instead he found my glasses.

It was amazing. Really amazing.

I'm still blown away by it.

My brother found my glasses!

They could have gone deeper into the Caribbean Sea.

They could have gone parallel to the shore.

Never getting closer, never getting further away, just keep moving to the right. Or to the left.

They also could have drifted just a few feet away from where I had lost them to the large wave.

Into water that was too deep to gain footing.

But -

They headed towards shore.

Where my brother was able to find them.

Amazing.

So,

As I sip my sangria,

This is one of the great memories I'll relive from the summer of 2017.

Thanks for reading!

GTO

What are your memories from the summer of 2017?

Reinvent Yourself: Help Others Solve Netflix Silverlight Error N8010.

GTO's Thoughts:

I was having trouble getting Netflix to work on my MacBook.

I kept getting Silverlight Error N8010.

Which means Safari's Private Browsing Mode was supposedly restricting Netflix from storing settings on my computer.

But there was more to it than that!

I finally figured everything out, made a quick video, and wanted to pass it along.

Just click the photo and you'll be taken to my YouTube video (3 min).

If this solution helps you, let me know. Thanks, GTO.

Using Safari to Watch Netflix? Getting Silverlight-Netflix Error N8010? Here's a FIX!

25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself: Form a Board of Advisers

Just as a corporation has a team of people who represent an array of specialties - marketing, finance, sales - an individual should have a similar set of personal advisers, according to Marti Smye, author of Is It Too Late to Run Away and Join the Circus?  (MacMillan, 1998).

This informal board should be made up of friends whom you respect and admire, whose opinions you value, and who would be willing to offer you their counsel when you need it.

[From "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000,
edited by Greg Olszewski]

Reinvent Yourself: A Motivational Lament

Why are my moments of highest motivation always, ALWAYS, just before I have to go to work - or just before I go to bed?

A smart friend of mine suggested that maybe it's a survival reflex. That our subconscious knows that's the only safe time to inspire us because it's the easiest kind of motivation to get out of.

"You have energy. You could start that thing you wanted to start. But darn! - you have to go to work! Oh well, we'll get 'em later, Tiger. Have a great day!"

"Thanks, subconscious! You have a great day too."

And you work.

And you intend to give that thing you wanted to start another go.

But at the end of the day, a funny thing happens.

Your work is done, you've eaten, spent time with the family & friends and now, now it's time for sweet sleep.

You've waited all day for this. The stress is gone. You're relaxed. Your inhibitions are down. You're in the twilight of consciousness, drifting off, and..

BAM!

A great idea hits you!

And your subconscious knew one was coming all along. But it reminds you:

"You have energy. You could start that thing you wanted to start. But darn! you have to sleep! Oh well, we'll get 'em later, Tiger. Have a great night!"

"Darn you, subconscious. Right again. You have a great night too!"

So you'll give that thing you wanted to start another go.

In the morning. Before work.

But for now, zzzz :: drool :: zzzz :: snore :: zzzz!

Go the Distance

If you're up for more than a volunteer vacation, try two years with the Peace Corps. From teaching marketing in Romania to math in South Africa, the Peace Corps allows you to learn new skills and use your talents in challenging settings. Roughly 7 percent of Peace Corps volunteers are 50 and over (800-424-8580; www.peacecorps.gov).

[Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Take a Vacation

Before you make a career change, try working in the field as a volunteer (www.aarp.org/makeadifference/volunteer).
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VolunteerMatch lists thousands of nonprofit groups seeking volunteers (http://www.volunteermatch.org/).
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Volunteers of America organizes service trips in national parks and forests (http://www.voa.org/).
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Minnesota-based Global Volunteers arranges assignments for social and economic development projects throughout the world
(800-487-1074; http://www.globalvolunteers.org/).
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Volunteer Vacations (Chicago Review Press, 1999), by Bill McMillon, contains profiles of nearly 300 organizations that sponsor volunteer travel opportunities. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Study With a Master

A more formal way to learn about a career is by becoming an apprentice. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, apprentice programs are available for more than 825 occupations, from accordion maker to x-ray equipment tester. Visit the Web site of the Labor Department's Employment & Training Administration, www.doleta.gov/atels_bat. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Visit a Job Site

Wondering what it's like to be an architect? Or a physician's assistant? Spend a day with one. Contact the trade association for the field you're interested in to learn if job shadowing is available. See the Encyclopedia of Associations in the reference section of your local library. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Take a Hike

How you handle a wilderness challenge can tell you a lot about your ability to cope with life. Voyageur Outward Bound School (now part of Outward Bound Wilderness) offers a Life Career Renewal program that's designed for those seeking renewed energy and a new direction. The course runs from seven to 14 days at locations in Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, and Texas.

A recent check of OBW's website showed a list of many other available locations (including Alaska, Colorado, Utah, and Florida, as well as the Caribbean and South America). Call toll-free 866-467-7651 or check http://www.outwardboundwilderness.org/index.html.

[Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Unleash Your Inner Artist

Live Art, a two-week creativity spa located in the village of Soreze in the south of France, offers personalized daily art instruction amid breathtaking sunflower fields and vineyards. Visit http://www.artfully.com/. (Alternate URL www.artfully.com/soreze). [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Hop on a Hog - or Sail Through the Fog

Nothing like hitting the open road on a big bike to clear one's head. You can rent a Harley in California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin through Street Eagle Motorcycle Rentals, (800) 717-7970; www.streeteagle.com. Additional state and European rentals are offered through Eaglerider Rentals & Tours, (888) 900-9901; www.eaglerider.com.

Or go around the world on a freighter. It worked for Douglas Fetherling, author of Running Away to Sea (McClelland & Stewart, 1999), who during a period of personal turmoil decided to spend four months on a converted Russian ice-breaker traveling to the South Pacific and back. Try TravLtips Cruise & Freighter Travel Association, (800) 872-8584; info@travltips.com. Find additional listings for freighter travel at www.freighterworld.com.

[Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Take a Sabbatical

Getting away from work for an extended period, often with pay, may not be as tough to arrange as you think. Six Months Off by Hope Dlugozima, James Scott, and David Sharp (Henry Holt, 1996) is a how-to book for those who need more than a summer vacation. It contains more than 200 interviews with people who have had productive sabbaticals. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Try the Abbey Road

Looking for some quiet time? Most monasteries ask for complete silence or at least have silent hours. Attendance at services is usually optional; guests often spend much of their time in their rooms reading, or taking in the beauty of the grounds. For monasteries in the U.S., check out the guidebook Sanctuaries (Bell Tower, 1996). For an international listing of retreat centers, try www.asrenewal.org or www.retreatsonline.com; if you are interested in Zen centers, try http://www.buddhanet.net/whats_r.htm. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Find Meaning and Money

That's the philosophy at www.fastcompany.com, a Web site spawned by Fast Company magazine. Links include Your Calling and Brand You. Also check out the mother of all job sites, www.monster.com, a nationwide database of job openings with articles such as "The Ten Worst Mistakes Career-Changers Make" and a Cost of Living Calculator for those considering relocating. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Learn the Inns and Outs

If you've ever dreamed of opening a bed and breakfast (and who hasn't?), contact Bed & Breakfast Inns Online (www.bbonline.com), which offers books and seminars for aspiring innkeepers. It also features a four-week Internet course ("Becoming an Innkeeper") with such questions as: "Your brochure says you don't accept pets. A guest arrives and introduces you to his poodle and then to his wife. Do you take them in?" [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Hey, Teach

George Washington University in the District of Columbia is among the growing number of universities offering accelerated graduate programs for adults who want to switch to teaching careers. GW offers a series of programs, including the Fairfax Transition to Teaching, that will jump-start your career in secondary education in as little as 12-months. Additional schools can be found through The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. They publish a guide to college programs in teacher preparation (202-466-7496; http://ncate.org/). [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Feed Your Head

The Cambridge Center for Adult Education is a pioneer in the field of life-long learning, offering personal and professional development courses for more than 60 years in Harvard Square ("Our Fair City"), Massachusetts (617-547-6789; http://www.ccae.org/). A handful of well-known people (including Car Talk's Tappert Brothers) have taken classes and/or taught there.

Nonprofit Elderhostel provides one- to four-week learning adventures for people 55 and older at universities, national parks, museums, and other sites in the U.S., Canada, and 80 other countries (800-454-5768; http://www.elderhostel.org/). They have some great offerings.

[Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski.]

Take Stock

The Marylhurst University Life Planning and Career Development Program in Portland, Oregon, is geared to adults in transition. It focuses on evaluating strengths and preferences, creating a vision,
and developing a new life plan (800.634.9982, ext. 6260; on the web
http://www.marylhurst.edu/learningassessment/lifeplanning.php). [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski]

GTO's Thoughts: A program like Marylhurst's would certainly be helpful to a lot of people. I did some digging and found that my local community college (CCAC) offers a 2-credit course on this very subject. Perhaps you could check with your local college.

Couldn't hurt.

My alma mater, Penn State, offers lifetime career services to alumni. Current students also have the opportunity to use their resources. The website is http://www.sa.psu.edu/career/. Job fairs are held at least twice a year and the University also keeps extensive job listings online through their Nittany Lion Recruiting site - http://www.sa.psu.edu/career/nlr/.

If you're a PSU alum in need of a new career, definitely check those sites out.

But there's a ton of other job resources online. Aside from Monster.com, another website I tried was LiveCareer.com. Their Career Interest Test was fun, informative, and free. (You'll have to pay for an expanded report.) But it's definitely worth checking out.

Of course, an obvious suggestion is to try Googling/Yahooing/
Dogpiling "new career" or "career change" for more ideas.

Let me know what you find!
GTO

March to the Beat of a Different Drum

Careers for Nonconformists by Sandra Gurvis (Marlowe & Company, 1999) highlights 75 colorful jobs ranging from food stylist to tattoo artist to music promoter. It also contains tips on how to thrive, with profiles of 30 people who have succeeded in unusual endeavors. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski]

Hire a Personal Coach

Need someone to push you toward your goals? Like a fitness trainer, a personal coach stays on your case and keeps you on track, checking in weekly by phone, in person, or via e-mail. Visit www.coachu.com, a site that also contains information about coaching as a career. [Source: "25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself" originally published in Modern Maturity January - February 2000, transcribed by Greg Olszewski]