Michiganders
For all those who had the pleasure and/or misfortune of ever living in Michigan (particularly in the West part of the state), you may be familiar with the lovely little town of Holland. Well, that's where I went to college, and every winter as I was sliding around in the streets, on the sidewalks, everywhere I went, I cursed the tulips (salt = dead tulips : dead tulips = no tulip time : no tulip time = no monday for holland). All but one year I was fortunate enough to escape before the wooden shoe tapping and constant parades of people dressed in authentic dutch costumes rattled the windows and the nerves of all the students stuck on campus for the summer sessions. However, my last year there, not only was I able to experience the above joys of living in Holland, but I also had a job giving tours of the windmill (the last to leave the Netherlands, as they are now considered national monuments...I know a hell of a lot more about it too, if you're interested...). ANYWAY, the reason I bring this up is that I found
this curious article about the Netherlands attempting to distance themselves from the "corny" image of tulips. It's funny too, because while working at the windmill, I encountered several native Hollanders (Hollandites?)(and I don't mean the Michigan kind) who said that they travel to the states for tulip time in Michigan, because it is the biggest tulip festival in the world (even bigger than anything they actually do IN the Netherlands). oh dear...
SO, if you're ever in the Holland area, anywhere near Windmill Island (yes, that's what it's called), check it out and think of me. :)
Weekend Update
For those who may be interested,
here is a story about how 'Farenheit 9/11' did this weekend. Apparently it topped box office records for a documentary opening weekend. Not surprising...
A group of firefighters returned to their station to find it on fire. Brilliant, ja? For the full story, go
here. (Thanks to Dennis for calling this to my attention).
Ah, Monday...what would we do without it(most likely go right from Sunday to Tuesday, I suppose)? This weekend (friday) we went and saw the aformentioned movie. It was the first time in a LONG time that I have gone with an organized group of people to see a movie (there were 8 of us). We had dinner, saw the movie, went out for a few drinks...sort of made a night of it. I think that I am just too lazy (and so are my friends!)...or that we all just get kind of lazy post-college or high school and stop having socially organized evenings (other than the occasional planned party). Perhaps with no parents and no children, we all are just free to be spontaneous in our social lives, going out if we feel like it and staying in if that suits us. I am finding that I enjoy this freedom (I have some restrictions in having a dog, of course). However, I've also found that I see people less without these planned events. Does it say something about me that I look forward to laundry nights, because that is a guaranteed time that I am going to see a friend? Honestly, looking forward to laundry????
In Phoenix, we used to go bowling every Thursday night. It was dollar nights, so all games were a buck and pitchers of Killian's were pretty cheap. We'd bowl from 9-12 most Thursdays, usually getting in 7-9 games. Good times. With Thursdays being my hump day (tues-sat schedule), this gave me something mid-week to look forward to. It was an evening when i KNEW i would be out doing something fun. while i'm not typically a structured person in that sense, I enjoyed routine of bowling. It's the same way I enjoy the routine of laundry (though this isn't nearly as set in stone as bowling was) every other week. I wouldn't mind getting together more often with a larger group of people just to catch a movie.
Overall, I got to see a lot of people this weekend, which doesn't always happen (especially in the summer while everyone is out of school -- drawbacks to being friends with mostly grad students). Despite having to work Saturday (don't get me started on that!), it was a really good weekend overall. Any fun weekend stories from any of you?
Permanent Midnight
It's almost 3am, and my dog wants to go out AGAIN!! ah well, that's what happens when we stay up that late.
ANYWAY, went to the theater this evening and saw "1776". The tickets were free from my boss, which is good because the show was far from great. It was surprising to me that the people in front of us had a 5 year old (or thereabouts) boy with them. Fortunately, he was relatively well behaved, only occasionally doing the little kid whisper (you know, the whisper that is just as loud as regular talking) or standing up or wiggling in his chair. Honestly though, he's 5 (ish)! A child that age doesn't typically have the attention span to sit through a 2.5 hour show, ESPECIALLY when there are no muppets, bright colors, or catchy songs involved (annoying songs that get stuck in your head are not the same as catchy). Anyway, I just don't get it. It seems like it would have been cheaper to pay for a babysitter than to spend the $45 on the ticket...
Hmm, what else has happened since I last posted (I had all kinds of things to say, and I sit down to type and forget them all!)...
Saw "Farenheit 9/11" last night. Excellent, excellent movie. The crowds were incredible last night, even for the shows around midnight. Of course, outside the theater one had to progress through a throng of those passing out pamphlets and trying to get signatures for a petition to put Ralph Nadir ont he ballot. Oh, and the Violin Lady was there!!!! ARGH! The first time I saw her, I ducked into B&N before violence could ensue. However, she followed me there (at least she wasn't playing in there though). The second time, it took all seven people with me to restrain me (well, not really, but this makes a better story) from shoving her bow "up her anus"!!! haha!!
Seriously though, I recommend the movie. I don't recommend the play we saw tonight. Oh, and I recommend blueberries...they're tasty. Goodnight. zzz.....
Quote of the Day
"no longer afraid of the dark
or midday shadows
nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate
nothing so childish
at a better pace
slower and more calculated
no chance of escape
now self-employed
concerned (but powerless)
an empowered & informed member of society (pragmatism not idealism)
will not cry in public"
_From 'fitter happier'
"OK Computer" -- Radiohead.
copyright 1997
The World I Know
Three items of business for today (or at least, for now).
1. When I started blogging, I needed to come up with some title fast, in order to begin. Obviously I have difficulty being creative under pressure. SO, now I am thinking of changing the title of my blog. I am open to (don't make me beg!) suggestions from anyone about what to call it. I thought about trying to get 'postulating' into the title, just because for reasons unbeknownst to me, i love that word. Anyway, all title suggestions are welcome and the postulating thing is certainly not a necessary criteria.
2. Check out
this article about Pittsburgh being (once again) the worst big city for singles, but still 'authentic' (somehow, this article doesn't make 'authentic' seem like a good thing). No wonder people are moving away so fast. Ah well...for now, I like it here.
3. Tonight is the opening of 'Farenheit 9/11', which I (along with several of my posse (that's right, you know who you are!)) will be attending. I just sincerely hope that Violin Lady is not playing outside the theater tonight. It might just taint the experience. What I really don't understand about Violin Lady is WHY EVERYONE PAYS HER SO MUCH TO PLAY WHEN SHE IS
TERRIBLE!!!!!!! And it only gets WORSE when she sings along. Seriously, I bet she makes more than I do in a day, just standing out there in her gypsy-like attire playing music (i use this term loosely) that makes my dog cringe. I suppose with the developments of modern pop music, I shouldn't be surprised by people not being able to distinguish good music from CRAP. ah well....
The Sound of Music
This week I started bringing CD's with me to work. I have been subjected to sitting at my desk staring at my computer for a couple of weeks now (mostly), as things have been slow with our subjects (I work in Neuropsych research, for those who don't know). So I've been messing around with people's brains (the images of their brains at least, but that just doesn't sound as cool). With no window in my office, there isn't much to provide me with those brief moments of respite that are so crucial to the preservation of one's sanity. SO, I've been listening to music. It's a wonder how much faster it makes the day go by.
It also keeps my mind from wandering to things that piss me off (not that I'm a person who gets easily pissed off, but it seems to happen often when I take the time read the news) or that disturb be greatly (again, this happens most often when I read the news). Then there are the minor annoyances that drift in and out of my mind, which probably make the best post-material, but I still prefer to listen to good music.
There is a local coffee shop on the block where I work that plays EXCELLENT music. I think the employees just get to put in whatever CD they want, and because it's not a big yuppie coffee chain like Starbucks, the employees tend to have good taste. I think a large part of the atmosphere that I love about that place is the music.
Panera...worst music ever. They play all the bad classical music that makes people think they hate classical music, when really they just have been forced to listen to stupid crap so much that they don't realize there is good classical music out there. Irritating...
The other day at dinner, I had the pleasure (please note sarcasm) of hearing "Have you ever really loved a woman", "Celebration", and some other bad song that I hadn't heard in years. I think I was able to tune out the rest by engaging in good conversation (or perhaps by indulging in the wonder that is the Max and Erma's chocolate chipped cookie).
SO, the question I pose to all of you today is this: What is the most ridiculous, worst, most surprising (pleasantly or otherwise), funny, or interesting song that you have ever heard in a public place?
Before Jon can beat me to this one, I will share one of mine:
In London, on a boat on the Thames, Jon and I heard a Musak (for those who may not know -- seriously elevatorized (woo hoo, good made up word!) version of a song) version of "Gangsta's Paradise". No one else on the boat seemed to catch the (here comes another one) ridiculosity of the song, but it did not escape our notice.
ooh ooh, speaking of made up words, I came up with a great one last night: dotation.
That is when one dotes on another, dotations are the result.
Okay, back to the question at hand...the songs. Share with me.
CAR INFO
As promised, here is the car for sale info (and I'm supposed to pass on the message that the sun roof is indeed fixed!!). :)
1988 Honda Accord LX-i
(the "i" is highest-end / fuel-injected model)
4 door luxury sedan
All options - power locks, steering, windows, sunroof, cruise control, alloy wheels, etc
Automatic transmission
NO RUST !!!!! Garage-kept, Excellent body/metallic blue paint/interior
Anti-theft / detachable Alpine/Polk audio system w/CD
135k miles = 9,000 miles/ year
Great gas mileage
2nd owner - both non-smoking
PA inspection to May 2005
All maintenance records - looks/runs great - legendary Honda reliability
Blue book value is $2,200
Price: $1,900 - FIRM
If there is any interest, you can email me or post in the comments, and I will pass on the message to the seller of the car. Oh, and I can attest to the description above and condition of the car. Spread the word if you know anyone who is interested!
Car Wash
As I was walking into work from the bus stop this morning, I noticed a flyer for a free car wash. Without even looking, I knew it was sponsored by some church (most likely Protestant) or another. What is it about the free car wash (donations accepted) that is such a huge fundraiser for churches? Does anyone else do car washes to raise money, or has car wash fundraising become some sort of divine rite? I can't say I can find anything particularly spiritual about washing cars...
Ah well, it's probably just that it's a particularly effective way to raise money without REALLY soliciting people (after all, it's free, right?).
Speaking of soliciting, I know of someone who is selling his car (in the Pittsburgh area), so if anyone is searching for a car, let me know. More info on the car will be posted later. :) Yes, my blog is a whore!!
I'm currently listening to The Cure, and they just informed me that Tuesday's great! woo hoo!! Ah...now we have moved on to a much more somber song ("Trust"). SO, before this post gets REALLY depressing, I shall leave you all for now.
Travesties
Today I lunched at Uncle Sam's (best Cheesesteak ever!) with Jon. While there, I had the misfortune of hearing 311's cover of The Cure's "Lovesong". *shudder* It pained me greatly. Then I was reminded (by Jon) of Puff Daddy's cover of Zeppelin's "Kashmir", and once again, I had to cringe.
Don't these artists have to get permission before doing a cover? What pains me even more is that I KNOW there are people out there who like the covers better...or even worse, have NO IDEA that they're covers at all and just assume they're listening to originals songs.
What's next?
Will Smith does "Lovecats"?
Eminem covering "When the Levee Breaks"?
I shudder to think.....
Poisoning Pigeons in the Park
In other news...
For the one year that I lived out in Phoenix, AZ, I was constantly on the lookout for elk. Everytime we drove north of the city, numerous signs warned us of the impending danger of elk leaping across the road. Sadly, I never did witness the wonderful sight of a REALLY large animal bounding majestically in front of my car. So, that makes me really jealous of
this kid, who got to have an elk jump through his bedroom window and run around his house!!
In my attempts to be somewhat politically active, I have decided to endorse
this new solution to reducing global warming. Damn all that belching livestock!!! It's all their fault that it gets so damn hot in the summer!
For any who have ever listened to Tom Lehr's song
Poisoning Pigeons in the Park", you will probably laugh at
this story about a bird lover who apparently killed 250 pigeons with tainted seed (whoa-oh-oh....tainted seed. Now I know I've got to....shut the hell up, i've got to......shut the hell up....).
And finally,
this story goes out to all those people I know (and I guess even those I don't know) who teach students of one age or another. If only you could make all your students write apologies in their own blood...
Okay, really, this is the last thing...I mean it this time.
Here is the quote of the day:
"All art is at once surface and symbol.
Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril.
Those who read the symbol do so at their peril.
It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.
Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital.
When critics disagree the artist is in accord with himself.
We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely.
All art is quite useless." -Oscar Wilde (preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray)
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
Dangerous Minds? Wasn't that some bad movie with Michelle Pfeiffer in it?
My confessions for today:
1. I have seen said movie with Michelle Pfeiffer.
2. I don't really have anything to post about today, so I'm just winging it right now.
3. While I didn't eat paste in kindergarten, I did eat the colorfully painted raw macaroni.
4. I've actually seen two movies starring Dolly Parton.
OH the EMBARASSMENT!
5. I'm fairly certain I spelled embarassment wrong. I've never been a great speller, though my grammar is usually okay.
6. I really do like Bon Jovi.
7. Once, when I worked at the movie theater, I lost a fake fingernail in someone's popcorn. There's a reason I never wear fake fingernails.....
8. I really haven't done anything very exciting and/or dangerous in my life. No skydiving, or bungee jumping...no serious drugs...no one night stands...
9. Despite the above, I have still been told that I'm going to hell. ah well....
10. I am now fairly certain that between my post yesterday and today I have reached new levels of pointless (and probably boring) ramblings. go me!!!
There is really nothing of note in the fun news for the day. I'm trying to avoid the depressing news in general, as I would prefer to be a bringer of....wow, there is really just no non-cheesy way to go from there. Basically, I just don't want to really bum you all out (woo hoo, go me and my mastery of the english language!).
I think my day was just off from the beginning when the smell of urine on the bus was just about enough to make me get off it and walk (WITH my band-aided, blistered feet and all!!). Why can't they spray buses with 'new car smell' air fresheners???
Ah, but I have cake to look forward to. For any who have never experienced orange cake, you must try it. It is sadly one of the most overlooked cake flavors there is. For a special summer treat, make it an orange jello cake (which is what I will be partaking in this evening). Cool Whip in place of frosting and VOILA! Tasty perfection.
They say it's your birthday....
It's my birthday too, yeah!
Ah, so yesterday was the big hike. Overall, good times were had and I'm pleased with my performance. Sore today, of course, and my feet are blistered like mad.
Reflections on reaching the big quarter of a century mark -- uh, no. I made an orange jello cake (my favorite birthday cake when i was young) for the first time in my life.
I'm going to Benihana for dinner. Yum. :) Love that place. Took it easy today; had a nice quiet day in. Good times were had by me.
Interesting people who share my birthday: Cyndi Lauper and Nicole Kidman. Quite a diverse crowd we make, no?
To all the fathers out there, happy father's day.
Um...okay, that's all. This is officially my most boring post to date. BUT, since it's my birthday, you all have to pretend that you were entertained!!!!
An American Tail
This is a true account of the events of the evening of Thursday, June 17th. While at times when telling stories, we are all prone to exaggeration, I promise that I will do no such thing here. This story is rated P-13 for violence and adult language.
For the past several months, the presence of mice in our apartment has been known to us. We are on the third floor of a house that is over 100 years old. Mice come as no surprise. So, they have been contained to one cabinet and one drawer, which we no longer use (for obvious reasons) and occasionally will come up under the stove. I had not seen any, but they leave their little dropping everywhere. They seem to go after Pancho's food (Pancho's my dog, for those who may not know).
So, being the kind-to-animals kind of girl that I am, I bought a couple of no-kill traps and put them out. The one under the mouse-infested cabinet ended up being covered in flour, as the mice got into the flour in that cabinet. After well over a month, I figured we weren't catching any in those traps, but I was hoping that meant they just didn't spend most of their time in our part of the house.
Yesterday, while my super, wonderful (after last night, I can't say enough good things about her) friend Michelle was over in the evening, we noticed a stench in the kitchen. Thinking it was the garbage disposal, I poured some baking soda down it and we were off. Michelle proceeded to leave and I went to make dinner. While going into the adjacent-to-mouse-infested-cabinet cabinet, I noticed the stench was strong. Glancing over, something moved in the trap. AH!!! right by my face (the memories still make me shudder). So I try to peer through the flour to get a better look, and I see one tiny little mouse moving around, and one tiny little mouse who doesn't look so good (and smells even worse).
So I run into the other room and call Michelle, who turns around and drives back. We proceed (by we, I mean Michelle) to put the trap in a cardboard box to drive it a couple of miles away to a park, where we plan to set the mouse free (the live one). Michelle confirms that the other one didn't survive the no-kill trap mechanism (something about a squished face, but this creeped us both out, and we tried not to think about it too much). We pull over on the edge of a park by a sidewalk. Running along the sidewalk is a three foot ledge and then a grassy hill (for those who know the area, this is right across from Phipp's Conservatory).
SO, we (and again by we I mean Michelle) set the trap on the ledge and open the top. Get out little mouse...run free. It can't get out. So, while I stand about 6 feet away, Michelle tips the trap up on end for the loan survivor to escape. We wait a few seconds, expecting it to crawl out, all cute and happy that we have spared its little life. It doesn't crawl out. It jumps. About six inches off the ground. SPROING! THEN, on reaching the edge of the ledge with its first bounce, it proceeds to LEAP again AT MICHELLE! She yips and runs, I run, we get in the car, we drive away, the trap (with not so alive mouse #2 still in it) still sitting on the ledge, the devil mouse running around somewhere...*shudder*. On the drive back to my place, we're all willies and nonsense. Wonderful, wonderful Michelle. It wasn't even her apartment, her trap, or her devil mouse.
As a good reporter of this story, I have obtained a direct quote from my fellow participant:
"I STILL have the willies. I don't care what anybody says, mice
are NOT supposed to jump like that! It must have been some fucked up frog/mouse hybrid that secretly escaped from some mad scientist's lab. BARF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" - Michelle C.
As these were baby mice, I can only conclude that
said mad scientist's lab must exist somewhere in the walls of the house in which I live.
*sigh* It saddens me that I cannot begin to express just how freaky and amusing this situation really was. But, if anyone in the area wishes to experience it firsthand, I will call you the next time we get mice in the (second) trap, as I'm sure Michelle will never again face the springy little demons of Beacon St.
Farenheit 911
Wow, I feel like today there is SO much to share...so you may all be inundated with lots of posts. Anyway, the first is regarding the movie Farenheit 911. Due to the large amount of protest that has arisen in response to this movie, Move On is gathering together people to pledge to see it sometime during opening weekend (the 25th of June). They want to show those protesting that there is widespread SUPPORT of this movie. If you're interested in making the pledge or just reading more about this particular initative, go
here.
To lighten the mood a bit, there were several amusing news stories today that I thought I'd share.
German 'Samurai' at Loose in the Woods Near Berlin
BERLIN (Reuters) - A camouflage-clad German man wielding a samurai sword attacked at least seven hikers in forests west of Berlin, performing sword tricks before ordering them to leave the woods, police said Friday.
German Dogs get their own Lederhosen
STRAUBING, Germany (Reuters) - Dogs in the German state of Bavaria can now blend in with the local Alpine scenery wearing the same traditional attire worn by their owners -- lederhosen.
Scientists Find Gene Cure for Cheating Lover Voles
LONDON (Reuters) - What would you give for a simple injection that would stop your lover from cheating? Well, at least it works for meadow voles.
A single gene inserted into the brain can change promiscuous male rodents into faithful, monogamous partners, scientists said Wednesday.
Inmate Escapes Jail While Rap Video Being Filmed.
ATLANTA - An unauthorized rap video was being filmed at the Fulton County Jail on the same night an inmate escaped for several hours.
A video for jailed rapper Clifford Harris, whose stage name is T-I, was being filmed Thursday night around the same time Cara Williams, dressed in medical scrubs, slipped out a door for employees.
Supersize Me
In sticking to the "short" theme of the day, here is a really short post. This is one of the (article-less) headlines from this week's
The Onion.
Michael Moore Kicking Self For Not Filming Last 600 Trips To McDonald's
Get Shorty
To continue the theme of moderately disturbing advances in modern science, the following article was in today's New York Times:
Good Results in Clinical Trial of Growth Drug
By LAWRENCE M. FISHER
Published: June 17, 2004
Research that the biotechnology giant Genentech began more than a decade ago could be on the verge of a major payoff - but not necessarily for Genentech.
A newly public biotechnology company, Tercica, which uses technology and patents it bought from Genentech, announced favorable results yesterday from a clinical trial of a human-growth drug for abnormally short children. The company said that patients given the drug through twice-a-day injections had, on average, grown about an inch more a year than they would have without the treatment.
Of course, what attracted me to this article was that I was an abnormally small child growing up (yes, yes, some may say I still am, but I am at least ON the growth charts now for my age!!). What I don't understand is, why is it bad to be abnormally short? Why spend $20,000 a year just to be a few inches taller?
When I was 6, concern for my lack of height led the doctors to give me a bone age test. This would tell them if I was just short because I had yet to grow (and therefore, WOULD grow to a relatively normal height) or whether I had some sort of congenital short disorder (sorry, don't remember the technical name for it) that would mean I would never reach my current soaring heights of 5 feet. They discovered it was the former. So, had it been the latter, would I have been taking growth hormone all my young life??? Strange...(and not Don or Mama). :)
Herbie Goes Bananas
So I was looking at silly European cars that I would want (provided I had
lots of money and space and free time). Here are some links to pics of a few :
Little Weird Red Car
Ignore the People...they just come with the picture (helps to get relative size of the car in mind, i guess).
Little Red Car that looks kind of like a Smart Car
I think this next one is my favorite:
Black Car - My favorite
Yellow Car
And these are all just from one website!! Oh the fun I could have driving around in silly little cars that are just my size. And then I could laugh at all my TALL friends who couldn't fit in my car. HAHAHAHAHA!!
East of Eden
There are those of you who know these stories, and for the repetition, I apologize. However, I feel inspired to share with you some "shannon-stories" of old (what i mean by "shannon-stories" are not stories ABOUT me, but stories that i TELL).
These come from when I was about five years old. I went to AM kindergarten, so my Mom had me at home in the afternoons. She is a hairdresser and has always had a beauty shop in our home. My job was to entertain the (usually older ladies) customers while they sat under the big '70's style blow dryers (olive green, of course). Sometimes I would play games with them, like checkers or connect four, and other times I would just chatter on about whatever (surprised?).
Back then, I still went to Sunday School on occasion, where we would read those comic book style Bible story books with the connect the dots puzzles and Noah's Ark mazes. Inspiring.
The ladies whose hair my mom would set and perm always loved to hear what I was learning about in Sunday school, and despite being horribly shy and quiet (HA!), I would tell them. My two favorite interpretations of Bible stories from back then include the following:
1) Jesus turned water into Booze. Mmm...booze.
2) God kicked Adam and Eve out of the Park.
I'm sure there were more, but these are the two that my Mom enjoys telling when she wants to make fun of me.
Another time, I was playing checkers with this 90-some year old Grandpa of the family whose hair my mom was cutting. After playing for several minutes, I stood up (to my full 2.5 feet) and yelled at him that I wouldn't play with him anymore because he cheated. Well....he did!!
Sadly, I can't show you my "Pop-Up Shannon" video. :) But I can say that I was the best damn 8-year-old lip-syncer of whitney houston in the history of elementary school talent shows!!!
So, in the spirit of embarassing things we said and did when we were children, share with me your stories (and Tiffanie, you're only allowed to tell stories about yourself and not about me!! If there is ANY mention of vampire squirrels, I will have to take my revenge!).
Newsies
Patients Control Video with Thought Alone in Study
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Using thought alone and with some electrodes placed on the surface of the brain, four volunteers were able to control a video game, U.S. researchers reported on Monday.
Simply by thinking the word "move," the volunteers played the simple video game, the researchers reported.
Wow. As cool as it is that we can understand enough about the brain to do this, it's also very frightening the power that it suggests. I'm not sure what to think of this. Mind-controlled video games are one thing, and I have no problem at that level. I just fear for how this technology is going to be used beyond video games.
Doctors Remove Rods from Man's Stomach
HANOI, Vietnam - Vietnamese doctors removed three metal construction rods from a man's stomach about a month after he swallowed them in a rice whiskey drinking challenge, an official said Monday.
People like this guy give alcohol a bad name.
The Bread My Sweet
Marathon Man Beats Horse
Over a 37 K race, a man FINALLY won in the epic man vs. horse event. Check out the story
here.
Wow, there is just nothing else all that interesting in the news. Some story about a man swallowing 160 bags of cocaine...but overall, it's a dull day in the news.
The other night I went to Panera for the first time in a while. To my horror and chagrin, I found that they have changed their bread recipes to be LOWER CARB!! It's freakin' Panera BREAD. BREAD!! bread=carbs
For those who are cutting carbs (those I now call Atkinarians), what the hell are they doing in Panera BREAD anyway?? It's bad enough that EVERYWHERE you go (including the shoe stores now, apparently), "Low Carb" is all around. Now, those of us who indulge in the delicious goodness of breads, pastas, potatoes, and other such carb-filled foods are having to suffer through low-carb bread. NO GOOD.
Moonlight Mile
In an email conversation with brizian (wow, that's a great name!), I got to thinking about the concept of distance, and how it has changed, for me, throughout the years. In elementary school, I had a friend who moved to Waukesha, WI. To me, that might as well have been Manitoba or New Mexico...it was all the same. Outside of the northern Chicago burbs was FAR. There was only NEAR and FAR (dammit, it's all Grover's fault!!!).
Then, I got my license. Suddenly, the 5 mile trip to the mall was nothing. The friends I had in other towns that were more than a few miles away were suddenly visitable. Near started to take on different dimensions. There was walkable-near, drivable-in-ten-minutes-near, drivable-in-an-hour-near, and FAR.
Then I went to college. Three hours away from home gave FAR a new dimension. It was near-far. 4 hour drive to Champaign-Urbana fell into this category as well. The 7-hour trip to Kentucky (from MI) was on the brink of FAR. Beyond that was just FAR. FAR became anything that required several hours on a plane or more than a full day of traveling the car to reach. 6-8 hours in the car is still near-far. Europe is FAR.
True, going back to being car-less and walking everywhere has certainly changed my perspective a bit, and now, most of my friends are spread across the country. The trip from the northern burbs to WI suddenly is a distance that I wish I could have between me and many of those people (because they smell....no seriously, i meant that it's SHORTER than the distance that now exists). AH well...
oh, oh...earlier when i was thinking about this it was far more interesting. I was going to put forth questions such as, why does distance seem to get (relatively shorter)as we get older? is it because we get taller? is it like our junior high seeming smaller because we've grown? (shut up shut up, i know that i haven't grown much since then! it still is pretty big, dammit!). ah well...i have fizzled.
i'm melting, i'm melting....
Airplane
Jon came across
this article the other day about a plane scare at Reagan's funeral. Ah, Kentucky politicians...gotta love 'em!
Here is a brief excerpt:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court were temporarily evacuated on Wednesday when a small plane entered restricted airspace during preparations for former President Ronald Reagan (news - web sites)'s funeral, Capitol Police and Court spokesmen said.
Authorities quickly declared the incident a false alarm and sounded an all-clear.
Officials said the alarm was sounded when the small plane, carrying Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher, entered restricted airspace.
Backdraft
Ah, yes, the inevitable fire drill. I work on the 8th floor of a building with three of the most dysfunctional elevators I have ever encountered. So about 45 minutes ago, the fire alarm went off. We got our keys together and started the long trek down the ridiculously humid, hot stairwell with hundreds of other people. About 6 minutes most alarm, we are at about the 5th floor (did I mention that our building is full of many out of shape people who wait ten minutes to take the elevator DOWN two floors?). Anyway, we go outside for the obligatory ten minutes or so before we get the "all clear" (anyone else having flashbacks to elementary school?). Then it's into the building.
Now, I would normally take the stairs up to avoid the long, LONG lines at the elevators. However, as mentioned before, the stairwell was about 85 degrees and and stiflingly (is that a word, or did i just make that up?) humid. And the temperature in the lobby area was really nice (not hot, like outside, not FREEZING like in my office). SO, my coworkers and I just waited, in no hurry to get upstairs. 45 minutes total from alarm time until the present. Good times.
Honestly, with all of the fire drills that we have all been subjected to at school, work, wherever (sometimes at home for those with safety conscious parents), if ever a REAL emergency were to occur, we'd be toast. Literally...human toast. There is no immediacy left to our reactions to fire alarms.
To make it even better in this particular building, the 6th and 7th floors house a schizophrenia clinic. So, there were (at least) 2 people who were having panic attacks because of the added bonus of fire alarm on top of paranoia. Who can blame them?
Anyway, after that brief reprieve, it's work as usual. Until next time, don't forget to close the doors, turn out the lights, and follow your fire marshal to the nearest exit.
The Shining
Flood of Blood on Highway in Berlin reminded me of that classic (and creepy) scene from The Shining. What a great movie.
What's great about this next story is not just that "Doh!" was voted as a top catch phrase, but that it's in the OED. This is the definition:
"Expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly or not as planned or that one has just said or done something foolish. Also implying that another person has said or done something foolish."
Doh!.
One more news story, and then it's on to more personal things for the day. More and more I find myself agreeing with the French...
Paris wants designer jeeps off the road.
Story of the day: I got off the bus this morning as usual, and this woman ahead of me put her sweater up over her head. It was a moment like on every sitcom or in every movie where a woman steps out into the rain and immediately pulls her sweater or coat up protectively over her head. The odd thing this morning was that it was a beautiful day. No rain, no wind...nothing. So the question is, what was she doing??? Any thoughts?
Once Upon a Time in Mexico
This headline alone is enough to make me laugh:
Man Charged with Chalupa Assault.
And continuing with the rampaging big cats stories:
Black Panther on the Loose.
Okay, here is the
recipe for the day (this is the home version of a dish called a Slinger Junior that is served in a restaurant in St. Louis...for a Slinger, double recipe):
1 burger patty (hamburger or turkey, whichever you prefer)
1 slice of cheese (orange cheese works best)
1 egg (prepared however you like it...fried is good)
1 can chili (again, turkey chili can be used here if you prefer)
Homefries (Tator Tots make a very good substitute)
Cook burger, put on plate (or bowl). Put cheese on burger. Cook egg, put on cheese.
Cook homefries (or tator tots) and put over the top of and around burger/cheese/egg.
Heat chili and poor over the top of everything. At this point, you should have what looks likes a huge plate (bowl) of chili. Eat with fork. YUM!!! :)
Thanks to Mike and Pete for introducing Jon to the slinger on his pilgramage to St. Louis, so that Jon was able to bring word of the slinger back to us. :)
Blazing Saddles
Or Blazing trails....
Today we went on a hike (part of the Rachel Carson Trail, which I will be tackling in two weeks). Here is the description:
Approx. 9.5 miles Difficulty level (1-10): 8
This hike begins in Springdale and immediately tackles the "roller coaster", followed by the hill of Mile 14, LaFever Hill, down Rich Hill, and then up to Emmerling Park and back down. Lots of hills on this one. For more info, visit
the Rachel Carson Trail website.
Yes, yes, not very exciting sounding I know....however, it was exciting. Most of the trail was REALLY muddy, with steep hills (much scrabbling and sliding was involved). There were a few sections where the trail was well beaten, but most involved treading through moderately trampled high grass or muddy paths through the woods...LOTS and LOTS of hills. So, I'm dead tired. And this was only 9.5 of the 34 miles! We'll see how many miles I go in two weeks. Not 34, I can guarantee that! (at least not this year)
Anyway, it's 9:20pm and I'm going to bed. I feel like I'm 8 and it's my bedtime. :) Goodnight.
To Die For
Ah, for anyone who had the (mis)fortune of seeing the above mentioned movie, you would know that it is about a female news anchor, and since this post is going to include the wacky news of the day, I thought it relevent (perhaps a stretch, but work with me here!).
Churchmen Upset Over Nude Cyclists
Reuters - Thu Jun 3,11:02 AM ET
A planned nudist bicycle tour in the Netherland's so called bible-belt has upset local churchmen who are holding their own youth charity bike ride the same day.
Go
here for full story.
U.S. Election: the Video Game
Reuters - Thu Jun 3, 8:59 AM ET
The typical video game calls for shooting aliens, racing cars and beating enemies into submission, but publisher Ubi Soft Entertainment has decided gamers may also enjoy stumping for votes at a nursing home somewhere in Ohio.
Go
here for this story.
Brooklyn Cheese Artist Makes Bed of Ham
NEW YORK - An artist best known for decorative cheese has broadened his palette, or palate, to ham. Cosimo Cavallaro, who once repainted a New York hotel room in melted mozzarella, has covered a bed in processed ham. "I feel like I am back in my mother's deli," the artist said Thursday.
Read full story
here.
For all those who have to ride the bus everyday (like me), you will perhaps understand this woman's actions:
Woman Allegedly Attacks Man for Singing
SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - And you thought Simon Cowell from "American Idol" was a tough critic on budding musicians. Endelecia Maria Lovato, 18, of West Valley City was charged Wednesday with felony aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing a man with her nail file because he was singing too loudly on a city bus.
Go
here to read the full account.
ONE MORE...this is a sort of follow-up on my previous posts about the rise of short skirts (particularly what I refer to as the "Paris-Hilton-Skirt").
Short skirts stir "animal instincts".
It appears now that I also know how to include some pictures in my posts (thank you Scott!), so I will hopefully be doing more of that in the future. That's it for now folks.
Rocky and Bullwinkle
Okay, I'm testing something out here:
Let me know if you can all see the picture. :) Thanks!
Insert interesting Title here
I love the Onion. One of my favorites sections is the opinions section (which always has the same six people, though their occupations differ from week to week). Check out this week's 'What do you think?' section
here.
In a related story (well, not really), I have found that coming up with Titles for my blog entries is becoming increasingly more difficult. Sometimes it's easy, like on those rare occasions when I actually have something to talk about! SO, I have decided that from now on, I'm just going to use titles of movies and/or books and/or music albums, groups, whatever. These titles may have absolutely nothing to do with the post itself (though I will try as often as I can to make them at least quasi-relevant). I ask that if anyone, in any given post, has better suggestions as to more appropriate titles (that conform to the criteria listed above), please share with me. Perhaps it will inspire me to see, read, or hear something i have not yet seen, read, or heard.
Alas, work and banana bread are calling to me. Happy Thursday.
Condoms to go
As a plan to try to increase the usage of condoms and decrease the growing rate of STD's, Sweden now has Condom Ambulances (reached by calling 696969). Go
here for the full story.
Ah, June at last. I'm a big fan of June for many reasons. It's the month in which I was born, of course, it's the month in which summer begins (and i'm sure that there are still some positive associations remaining from it being the month when school used to end for the summer), it's moving into the heart of the baseball season....so many good things about June. So, in honor of this festive month, I invite you all to share your favorite "June" stories.
Here are some (very short) memories of mine:
- Field day - did anyone else have this in elementary school? It was the last day or close to the last day of classes, and everyone went outside and played stupid games, like relay races involving running to a suitcase, putting on all of the clothes in the suitcase, taking off all of the clothes, putting them back in the suitcase, and tagging your next teammate. I always prefered that to the ones where you had to eat something really fast. I'm not very good at that.
- My favorite birthdays:
* 19th birthday - my sister got married on this day, and i got to have a whole table full of friends at the wedding. good times.
* 20th birthday - I was in Budapest, getting really drunk at a dance club.
* 21st birthday - as it was on a Tuesday and I was taking a summer school class, I went to the Indigo Girls concert at Ravinia.
* 18th birthday - Jon took me to see "Cabaret" for the first time. Awesome, awesome show.
These are, of course, the highlights, though there have been many great parties over the years, from the yard parties at my Mom's place (always a good time) to my "surprise" party at Whitney's (which I helped to plan) and my surprise (for real this time) party at Jackie's...the years have been good to me on my birthday. This year, I'll be in bed unable to move, because it's the day after the Rachel Carson Trail Challenge (there is a previous blog entry about this, if anyone is curious).
- Yard Parties (as mentioned before) typically took place in June. These were great (crap, i'm experienced deja vu now...if i've already talked about this, forgive me. i'm getting old). The trampoline, volley ball games, food, crazy people...what more could you ask for (well, booze, but at the time we were all too young and they were at my Mom's place!).
Hmm, I think that's enough for now. :) Better get some work done.
