PortaPocket Notebook

The Oscars are coming!  And with it, an excessively long and drawn out awards ceremony that almost certainly leaves some starlets a bit starved for some food (if not attention ;).

A delectable dinner's divine, but when served much too late, it leaves Hollywood stomachs rumbling and a feeling of can't-we-just-get-this- over-with itis. Stop the madness!

Your secret weapon's locked and loaded... and delivers that sugar punch when you need it most.  See? 

My oh my...SO much to celebrate...so little time! ;)

Hope you all enjoyed the fun last weekend, and (perhaps) a work-free Monday :)

We'll be watching the Grammys tonight... seeing if maybe LL Cool J has to take a selfie (where IS he putting that giant smartphone, exactly?) ...or perhaps Taylor Swift has a mic pack fly off mid-set or something...lol! (she'd obviously need to get hooked up to PortaPocket, then... STAT!) 

It's always enjoyable to see and hear the fab tunes of today, and realize the joy that artists bring us. So who are you rooting for this eve? ...May your favorites win!

It's Super Bowl Sunday in the USA!  

Who do you think will win?  It's Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos vs the upstart Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. For me, it's a toss up and a game I really don't mind who comes out on top. Just as long as it's competitive and fun to watch :)

Even though my fav team the Bears are out this year, at least both teams on the field today have some Bears connection, having been previously coached by our current Head, John Fox! ;) And of course there's Ron Rivera. Now the successful 3-time NFC South Champion Head Coach of the Panthers, he was also one of the famed Super Bowl XX Champion 1985 Chicago Bears.

But maybe the 'winner' will actually be the commercials...because everyone knows the advertisers spend BIG bucks outdueling each other to see who has the best spot. ;)

Or, how about the winner is YOU. Because now you can always hands-free carry what you NEED, so you never have to lose your important items again...AND you can get into the stadiums despite the NFL Bag Ban.  woo hoo!!!!  It's #PortaPocket ...for the WIN!! xoxo

News for the Australian Open comes word that a spectator collapsed while watching the match. Potentially had an anaphylactic shock. This is what happened next:

@keenatGCB:  Epipen thrown through 3 sets of hands from top of Hisense Arena to reach collapsed spectator #AusOpen fans really are world's best..she's ok

@lukegriffo:  Another eventful shift at Hisense. Patrons services Staff should be praised how they handled the situation. Whoever threw the epipen

Whether she ultimately needed the meds or not...goes to show the importance of ALWAYS being prepared.

Please.

Don't leave home without wearing what you NEED.

 

Love,

PortaPocket

Learning of David Bowie's passing brought back memories of a different age. It was an age of innocence and creativity. It was my teen years. And David Bowie sang to me, no matter how hard my day or how difficult navigation was through all those adolescent minefields. He would always bring me joy.

So hard to fathom this singular talent is no longer with us...at least in this life as we know it. But we are blessed to have witnessed his colorful characters over the years, and are privileged to hold onto his art... in our hearts and our minds.

Life is short.
But his legacy lives.

Ground Control yearns for you.

God speed, Major Tom.

They grow up soooo fast...

Just the other day, my just-turned 11 year old 5th grader had a program in school presented by the Robert Crown Center for Health Education. I think it's excellent that schools include workshops that give girls information and suggestions on how to cope during these nuanced times. Young girls often feel a little uncertain about the changes going on in their bodies and can feel a little self conscious. 

I remember how my friends and I used to hide a tampon or pad up our sleeve or stashed it in a pencil case during those times of the month...not really the best way at times ;/ Just my luck to have it fail me at the most inopportune time... like when the boy I had a crush on was around! 

Now at least I can have my daughter confident that she'll never have to endure these vagaries of childhood and enjoy more peace of mind. Perhaps Robert Crown Centers will share our practical solution with other school girls so they can enjoy the benefits, too.

What did you do to carry your fem hygiene products when you were in school?
How did  that work out for you?
Please let us know and comment below ~ 

Did you see that SuperGirl post Serena made on facebook? She'd been in a restaurant and some dude stole her cell while it was sitting on a chair. Not to be denied, our heroine rushed out, confronted the perp and got her property back. Phew! Even got a standing O when she returned to the eatery. But oh my...why? Not why about the ovation...that was totally deserved! Good for her not to be victimized... But why did it happen at all? Because her cell was ....over...... there. Ripe for the pickings ;/

And then...there was the Jack attack. Not a physical one, but the rant on clothing designers singer Jack Johnson made via twitter:
Jack JohnsonVerified account‏@JackJackJohnson
WHAT IS WRONG WITH PANTS DESIGNERS IM SO FRUSTRATED OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE CHANGING WORLD DAMNIT
Jack JohnsonVerified account‏@JackJackJohnson
SHALLOW POCKETS SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE 99% OF PHONE OWNERS HAVE PHONES TALLER THAN 4 INCHES WHY'S HALF MY PHONE STICKING OUT MY POCKET

Just like you and I. 
We're all just people.
With all the same problems.

Meanwhile, we think we might know a way to give Serena and Jack some relief.

What do you think? 

BOO!!

So maybe you heard Kelly Ripa from LIVE with Kelly and Michael talk about money all covered with boob sweat, or Tyra Banks of The Fab Life dishing about all those germs that are on your purse...

So many creepy crawly things out there that can give you pause...

at least minimization of these problems is possible.  thankfully!! 

No bones about it. ;)

After a century of futility, is 2015 finally the year? Chicago's north side has long been known for bleeding blue over baseball, but are the Cubbies finally heading to the World Series? Only time will tell.

The Cubs just topped their arch rivals the St. Louis Cardinals to advance to the NLCS championship series....starting this weekend. They just discovered they'll be taking on the New York Mets, starting in the Big Apple. I really don't think it matters much which team they'll play...the momentum and excitement they're feeling is off the charts! We can't wait to see what happens next.

Bring it ON!!

in a week or so we're heading to Las Vegas to participate in our first Sweet Adelines International Convention and Competition!  So exited to be part of this very exciting event and are looking forward to sharing how PortaPocket can make performance life easier for singers who need microphone packs or just their ID and cards so they won't have to leave them somewhere backstage.

This all brings back memories for me as I used to sing as a youngster. I was a member of what then was called the Glen Ellyn Children's Chorus (now known as Anima) and we were fortunate to participate in many concerts on such revered stages as those at Orchestra Hall, Chicago, and Carnegie Hall, New York. We even got to travel to England and sang at Ely Cathedral and some other incredible venues. Such a treat!

Looking back, I remember how us kids used to think how much work it was to go to 3 hour rehearsals several times a week, but boy am I grateful. How many people can have the joy of knowing they were on stage in glorious concert halls and under the direction of master maestros as Sir Georg Solti, Daniel Barenboim, and James Levine? No...now I know how lucky I was to have those experiences and wouldn't trade them for anything.

Here's to the artists of the world! Long may their voices light up our lives with song.

xoxo

Took the little one (or, not so little!) to New York... and saw the same kind of problems that grace the sidewalks here in sweet home Chicago. It's a global situation...and it's not going away.

Cell phones sticking out...

ready to fall.

or get lost or stolen...

get cracked or broken.

Ah yes...the beat goes on...!

How often to you see cell phones sticking of people's pockets, too?