The photoshoot was supposed to capture an Air Force One look alike with lower Manhattan as a backdrop. The problem? No one was informed that the photoshoot was going to take place. Thousands of New Yorkers were sent into panic when they saw the low flying 747 being trailed by an F16 jet. The images were eirily similar to those of September 11, 2001. Office buildings were emptied and people ran through the streets as the pandimonium spread. Michael Bloomberg, New York City mayor, expressed his fustration at not being informed of the event and the Director of the White House Military Office, Lois Caldera, has since apologized.

Several other photoshoots similar to this one were scheduled in Washington D.C., but have now been cancelled.

I am curious as to how anyone could not forsee the potential problems a photoshoot like this would cause. Though the incident is not a catastophe, it does represent some degree of carelessness by those in charge. It also serves as proof that the events of 9/11 is still fresh in the memory of New Yorkers and Americans everywhere.

(To view video from the Today Show click here.)

I will be starting an internship with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Tampa, FL this summer. The Make-A-Wish Foundation provides children facing terminal illnesses with the opportunity to live their dreams. A trip to Disney World is the most popular wish Make-A-Wish receives. Other wishes range from being a police officer for a day to meeting a favorite athlete.  I was considering my internship and all that this foundation does and I couldn’t help but wonder what my wish would be.

Surely it has changed over time. I would have wanted a pony when I was five, when I was sixteen it would have been a brand new Range Rover.  Now my wish would be to travel. I would want a month long vacation to visit New Zealand, Australia, and Italy.

It is no easy to task to pick one single thing and not second guess that decision. Think about it, if you were allowed one with (and knew with certainty that wish would come true) what would you wish for?

Susy Squash has been practicing magic since she was five months old. This self-taught illusionist aspires to be considered as talented as Houdini. She is already selling out local venues and is in conversation with Ceaser’s Palace to arrange a permanent show there.

“I love to captivate audiences with magic tricks,” said Squash. “Everyone is trying to figure out the secret behind what I just did and only I knew how it happened.”

Squash has said that she hopes to be recognized not only for being the youngest ever master magician but also for being the first female to reach that status.

“All famous magicians in history have been men,” said Squash. “It is time to break that barrier and show that women can be equally talented with magic.”

Planning a wedding is no small task. There are countless details to consider and an endless to-do list. Fortunately brides everywhere are finding help from The Knot. The Knot is a website devoted to helping brides stay trend savvy and organized. The Knot helps manage every aspect of wedding planning. From providing lists of local vendors to offering hundreds of decor ideas to outlining  proper wedding etiquette.

Should you book a florist eight or three months in advance? The Knot can help. When you sign up for an account on The Knot it asks for a wedding date, then it begins a countdown to your wedding day. Based on the countdown, The Knot updates a checklist of things that you should have accomplished.

On a tight budget? Use The Knot’s budgetor to help allocate your spending based on your total budget. Need help organizing a guest list? The Knot’s guest list manager can help with that. Trying to find a photographer or reception site near you? The Knot provides a list of hundreds of vendors in your area.

My favorite feature of The Knot is the real wedding photos. There are hundreds of slide shows from actual weddings that members can view.Editors from The Knot highlight great style ideas from each wedding. Gathering inspiration from other brides makes planning your own wedding so much easier.

Joining the knot is free, and you don’t even have to be a bride to enjoy it. If you know someone getting married you can sign up and gather ideas for them. There is even a section for men, both grooms and guys that are ready to pop the question can get helpful advice from The Knot.

So brides, its time to ditch that five-pound planning book you have been lugging around. When it comes to wedding planning The Knot takes the cake.

(Already married or having a baby? Check out The Nest, a site by The Knot that focuses on married and home life; or The Bump, a site designed for new parents.)

Much of our time is spent with people. Friends, family, classmates, and co-workers surround us daily. This is not bad. Communicating with others helps make us who we are. Having great friends and an exciting social life is a rewarding investment. These experiences are arguably good for us. However interaction with people, even the ones we like, is draining

So, in the car by myself, sunroof open with my ipod on shuffle, singing obnoxiously loud, I got some much needed “me” time. I did not stress about the homework I wasn’t getting done. I did not worry about the economy. I was not concerned that it has been two weeks since my last workout. And, best of all, I didn’t owe a second of my time to anyone.

Find some time this week to take your own drive. Plug in your ipod or crank up the radio and sing along. Environmentalists will argue that this is bad for the environment. It is, but it is great for your soul. Go ahead, grab some “you” time, and you will quickly realize how much you have missed it. 

(fog index 7.7)

This episode raised some issues about contentment. Are we quick to celebrate someone else’s success as long as their goals are not the same as ours? Are we happy for others as long as they didn’t get our dream? Our six-figure job, or brand new car or house on the beach. Is contentment really that fleeting?

I think yes.

It is not impossible for us to be happy for a friend that beats us to our dreams. It just takes extra effort. It is more natural to become jealous or to become discontent with our own lives. How do we overcome that? We learn to be happy with our life. We learn that our own fulfillment and contentment cannot determined by comparison with others. This, however, takes some work.

Don’t Worry! Be Happy…and Healthy! is the title of an article outlining the health benefits of being happy. The article outlines four components of happiness; enjoyment, contentment, willingness, and gratefulness. These four qualities are something we can all work to strengthen in our own lives.

So, evalate your current level of happiness. Ivillage has a Happiness Test that will do exactly that. Once you are aware of how happy you currently are determine what you can focus on to become happier. Particularly focus on becoming more content. In doing this you will find that being happy for others comes more naturally. You will also find that others’ success doesn’t make your life any less appealing.

(fog index 8.9)

Choosing a Method
Self-tanners come in a variety of forms. There are sprays, lotions, foam and gels. Sprays are often streaky. Foams and gels work well for instant results and for people who are already slightly tan. I prefer Gradual self-tanning lotion (Dove Daily Glow Moisturizer is my favorite). These types of lotions contain a very small amount of fake tanner. This means the color appears gradually through repeated use. These work very well for fair skin. Buy a shade darker than you need for overnight results.

Application
It is important to exfoliate before applying self-tanner. This will help your tan appear deeper and more even as well as extend life. Rub a regular lotion into hands, elbows, knees and feet before applying fake tanner. This will help prevent lines or dark spots in these areas. If using spray apply quickly and evenly. Be careful of stepping in overspray which will turn the bottom of your feet orange. If using foam or gel apply quickly and in a circular motion. Wash hands immediately (pay special attention to scrubbing fingernails to avoid turning them brown). Do not shower, swim, or get wet for at least seven hours to allow tan to set.
Do not apply fake tanner in the morning. This will leave you feeling sticky and smelly all day. It is best to apply at night. By the time you wake up the tan has set and you can shower immediately.

Maintenance
Moisturizing is crucial. A fake tan will last longer when it is moisturized, so apply lotion daily. A gradually tanning lotion can be applied daily or every other day. The color is subtle and re-application does not cause streaking. Sprays, gels and foams can be applied every 5-7 days. If these are applied too often the tan will become orange and streaky.

(fog index- 6.8)

Lauer received no sympathy for his unfortunate injury upon his return. Instead he became the butt of countless jokes. The crew and crowd sported antlers all morning, the Good Morning America Show sent Matt a personalized crossing sign, and several celebrities news figures poked fun at the host. Lauer took it all in stride and even seemed to enjoy some of the fun.

Two valuable life lessons can be learned from Lauers circumstance.
Lesson 1: Learn to laugh at yourself. Taking life too seriously will make life drab. It is okay to shake it off and find the humor in your own mishaps.
Lesson 2: Always wear a bicycle helmet. Deers are everywhere and it is better to be safe than sorry.

fog index 6.6

(To read more about Lauer’s injury and the jokes that followed visit http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/03/26/1866758.aspx)

-Do not call your server “waitress.” Either pay attention at the introduction, or read the name tag. If that is too difficult a simple “ma’am” will do fine.
-Use your words. Do not point to the menu when your waitress is taking your order. This makes you appear rude.
-Do not ask for straws before your waitress has even finished passing out drinks. There is a 99% chance she has straws on the tray, but can only do one thing at a time.
-If you are a completely miserable acting, sounding or looking person then stay home.
-When your waitress asks, “How are you this evening?” do not stare at her blankly. Answer the question, and here is a crazy thought, ask how she is doing in return.
-Save the cheesy pick up lines. Your waitress is busy, she doesn’t have time to flirt with you.
-Do not leave a “How to find Jesus” pamphlet in the black book when you leave. Jesus is great, but money is preferred.

Please consider these guidelines the next time you dine out, your waitress will thank you.

(from anonymous servers at Olive Garden in Sebring, FL)

fog index 7.2

I went to the doctor Monday and the first thing she said to me when she walked in the room is, “You are probably exactly what my 2-year-old daughter will look like in twenty years. She has bright red hair, blue eyes and fair skin.” The doctor proceeded to tell me that she has to lather her child in sunscreen every day because her skin is so sensitive to the sun. Then she vented for five minutes about strangers speaking to her about her daughters hair. “Random people in the mall just come up to me and tell me all about their redheaded family members,” she said, “no one does that to blondes or brunettes!”

Perhaps the doctor never realized how natural it was to do this. After all, that is exactly what she was doing.

Fog index: 12.3