Food, Fires, and Fitness

Recent Reading

2009-08-25T11:42:00.001-07:00

I hit a personal record of reading the other day while travelling. 4
books in one 3-day trip. Actually, more like four books in two
cross-US flights. PHL (Philly) to PHX (Phoenix) to Spokane (GEG) and
back (in reverse order). I basically devoured the books I'd been
reading. In fact, I brought the first two with me from home, and was
fretting about finding more books to read on the flight home. Luckily
there was a happy, clean bookstore (Auntie's) at the Spokane airport.
*Phew* So…what was I reading you ask? Well, I read the following in
this order:

1. 'The Zookeeper's Wife' by Diane Ackerman
2. 'Same Kind of Different as Me' by Ron Hall / Denver Moore
3. 'I'm Looking Through You' by Jennifer Finney Boylan
4. 'The Art of Racing in the Rain' by Garth Stein

Out of those four, I'd rank them in this order: #4, #2, #3, #1. 'The
Art of Racing' was fantastic and told in a dog's POV. 'Same Kind of
Different' was a pretty fast read and was a pretty compelling tale of
two opposites befriending one another. The storyline surrounding
Denver's life was fascinating, as a modern day slave and homeless
person. The story took on a lot surrounding Evangelical Christianity
as it went on, but was well-woven into the writing. It wasn't overt
or preachy in any way; it basically told of compassion through
volunteering at a homeless shelter. 'I'm Looking Through You' was
interesting in that it was based in Philly neighborhood, the author is
originally from the Greater Philly area, and the author is
transgendered. Actually I feel somewhat thick for never having heard
of the author until reading this book, a memoir and account of the
author's childhood "haunted" home and "haunted" past. The author has
been on Oprah several times (go figure, I don't watch Oprah) as well
as Larry King Live and was parodied on SNL at one point. Last, 'The
Zookeeper's Wife.' It involved a fascinating subject (to me) – the
German occupation of Warsaw in WW2. The downside of the book was in
the details. I think the author got a bit involved in describing the
zoo and surroundings and didn't dig deeply enough its characters
(well, technically real-life characters, as the novel is an account of
real events). The novel did, however, show signs of hope in a very
bleak Poland during WW2. It also told of many secret networks of
normal people who made it their mission to rescue and/or hide
inhabitants of the Warsaw ghetto.

I really enjoy reading. Sometimes I don't get much of it in during
the week due to other commitments. I suppose I may just take time
away from electronic distractions and try to squeeze in more reading.
There's a lot of good books waiting to be read on my shelf right now
and a number on the way in the mail from Paperback Swap. I'm trying
to read through much of the NY Times trade fiction best seller list.
Trade fiction…i.e. snooty fiction, lol.

Just since I finished typing the above blog, I finished 'The Guernsey
Literary and Potato Peel Society' and started 'The Time Traveler's
Wife.' I'm on a reading roll, pretty much. I've forgotten how much I
enjoy reading. When I was a kid, I'd polish off a couple books in an
afternoon. I'd stash them in my school stuff and read them during
breaks. I'd read during recess (sometimes) if I didn't feel like
playing kickball. Luckily "young adult fiction" works were usually
fast reads. Especially the "Goosebumps" series ('member those
chillinz of the 90s?). Indeed they were cheesy and had predictable
endings, but I've a LOT of them - whatever was published between
1994-1997. In 1997 I thought they were "too easy and cheesy" and
switched to the works of horror master, Stephen King. I was then an
aide at the town library and spent an entire summer ('97) engrossed in
books, mostly by Stephen King, but I read a lot of others to keep
well-rounded (and um, sane). I continued on into the school year, 8th
grade, and used a number of the novels as book reports for English
class. I wonder if the teach thought I was a psycho. Your average
8th grader doesn't typically spend their time polishing off a 1090
page work in a week ('It'). I remember having to be careful about
divulging the subject information in some of my reports. I may have
just chosen different books entirely because a report would be graphic
regardless of how it was written. I read 'Gerald's Game' during the
school year and remember having to read something else for the report.
If you've read it, you know it deals with S&M and necrophilia quite
early in the book, so yeah, a book report? Totally out of the
question.

Maybe some would be surprised to learn I've read a lot of cheesy stuff
like "Goosebumps" in my time and still enjoy cheesy series-style
books. I loved the Harry Potter series, but I'm sure even a lot of
high-brow fiction readers will admit to enjoying it. It was a
well-written fantasy series, IMO. Because there's so many comparisons
between HP and the Twilight series (which I was vowing NOT to read
simply on account of its silly teenage popularity), I've requested the
first two books of the Twilight saga on Paperback Swap. Basically
I've caved into peer pressure on the web. Shameful, I know, but I am
interested to see what all the damn hype is about.

Sex and Doogie Howser

2009-08-13T09:46:00.001-07:00

There's some point in childhood where we can trace a strong awareness
of the opposite sex or "crushes" or what have you. We may also be
very aware of what sex is, but haven't really put two and two
together. I'd trace that moment back to watching an episode of Doogie
Howser, MD where the scene flips to a fantasy of Doogie's involving a
parody of the famous "Unchained melody" (pottery wheel) scene in
Ghost. NPH was and is a pretty attractive actor with boyish charm.
But no worries, dear boyfriend, NPH came out of the closet, of course.
So uh...why am I thinking about this? It all started on clicking
around on Wikipedia. Let's go through my thought process:

1. I wonder when "How I Met Your Mother" is starting back up on TV –
searched for HIMYM on Wiki
2. I then click the link to Neil Patrick Harris because I wondered how
old he was.
3. I remembered watching the entirety of DH, MD on TV as a kid and
clicked on its Wiki article to find out when it started.
4. 1989. THEN as I'm reading through I remembered the sexy flashback
episode that I mentioned above, but that episode wasn't until 1991.
5. Then, being the perv that I am, I HAD to go look it up on Youtube
and sure enough, someone uploaded it.
6. Of course, that got me to thinking about "gee, I should type a blog on this."
7. Here we are at my blog post.

So what other thought process does this lead me to? Doogie Howser,
MD, maybe you're the reason I'm a total pervert today. I dunno.
*High Five* to you buddy!

Speaking of DH, MD, does anyone else remember this particular episode?
Am I the only crazy one?

Weird news

2009-07-23T06:29:00.001-07:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while dear readers...I've been posting
over at my other blog. 'Cuz it's cooler n'at.

So I've seen some weird stuff lately in the news on CNN (no surprise,
really) and some things stood out.

I had to re-read this article twice -
http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/23/6-wounded-during-party-at-houston-campus/
- Article states 'Local rapper Trae Thompson performed, school
supplies were handed out, and HIV testing was performed.' Yes. I
like to go to a block party, then get blood drawn for HIV testing. I
mean, duh, right after I dig into the nachos man! So okay that was
oddity number one.

North Korea calls Hillary Clinton "a funny lady" and made scathing
remarks about her. And...your leader's velour sweatsuits AREN'T funny
North Korea? Wow.

Pretty much anything that's come out of the mouth of MJ's father Joe
recently has been comic genius, but sad at the same time.

The Taco Bell dog dies at 15 and receives about the same coverage as
Walter Kronkite's funeral. Wow that's fucked up.

Swine flu hits church wine. I certainly hope my dear mother read
this. She's been anti-church wine since well, since she became a
Catholic. I always avoided the stuff, too, and got chided for it a
few times. I mean come on! It's a glass full of germs, man! NOW I
HAVE BACK-UP! Thank you swine flu!

And lastly...healthcare. Is it a basic human right or a commodity
that you buy?

A very interesting debate indeed. I believe it is a right.

WTF was I thinking?

2009-07-01T11:22:00.001-07:00

Ever have one of those massive "WTF was I thinking" moments? You read
the URL for this blog and see "vegan." I was for a while. It didn't
work. It was just a bad choice all around. I spent too much time
thinking "oh no! that has milk fat in it!" or "what if this contains
animal product!?" Instant poor health!

I was soooo sooo wrong, dear readers. I seriously apologize here and
now if anyone read those posts and scratched their heads thinking "WTF
is this bitch rambling about?" Another preachy PETA goon? Ughhhhhh.

So I dropped the vegan thing. I resumed the eating of meat in summer
2008. Up until recently I've still been a bit of a whackjob regarding
calorie counting and low fat hooplah and all that bullshit. I had
read into a lot of science behind the eating of a higher, natural fat
diet (i.e. eat ALL real foods, no processed Franken-foods…btw…0%
dairy? Yeah, not real) and dismissed it as silly. Obviously
conventional wisdom and big gub'ment suggests we eat 6-11 servings of
grain each day, right? And..and processed foods with hidden sugars,
right?

I thought this was serious crazy talk when I first read it. Didn't
care. But in thinking logically, I've come back to it. Fatigue,
headaches, insatiable hunger, working out more and more each day…it's
not good. Diet certainly has to play a role in it. What if the
problem was closer linked to foods with crazy preservatives, unnatural
processing, or sugar? Makes some sense. What if a diet relying
heavily on carbs and very little on healthy fats and protein is NOT
good wisdom despite everything we hear about it today? I'm sick of
counting my calories and obsessing over a macronutrient ratio. I'm
sick of feeling tired. I'm sick of constantly sneezing and suffering
allergy problems. I used to think milk and meat were ALL my problem.
I was wrong. Way wrong. I started to research wheat intolerance. I
gave it up for one week. I felt much better, still not 100% though.
I put it back in my diet as a control the next week. Boom. Problems
return. I never tagged my digestive issues on wheat in the past as I
assumed it to be healthy and took the "well, what else am I going to
eat?" approach. I decided to take it even further and adopt a primal
diet for 30 days. High fat, reasonable protein, very low carb. Carb
intake comes from vegetables, nuts, seeds, and berries. Nuts and
seeds also contain fiber and healthy fat. No grains, no sugars
(outside of natural fructose in fruit or honey), no legumes, and no
crazy processed stuff. Processed as in, altered from its original
state in an unacceptable manner. Read the back of a typical bottle of
"healthy" Fat free salad dressing and you'll know to what I speak.

Thing is…it's not just a diet. It's a very logical lifestyle shift.
Fitness is to be made fun. Keep workouts short (under 45 mins) and
intense, Crossfit-style or using functional/natural weightlifting
and/or interval training. Lift heavy stuff. Go outside and play.
Don't stress if you don't workout. Just move around! Get some
sunlight. Try to stay away from endurance sports like long distance
running. Keep running short in sprinting or tabata interval style.
Try to reduce stress in your life and spend quality time with your
loved ones. Get off the internet and go outside or do some functional
work around your house! (uh yeah, I need to work on this). Think a
little more like a caveman instead of an executive.

Maybe I'm a little crazy for this. That's fine. I'm a little OFF to
begin with anyway. I've got some work to do here, though. I need to
throw the internet monkey off my back. It's time I could better be
spending with my boyfriend doing something fun. I've been going
outside to enjoy the weather much more. I have been doing shorter
workouts and loving it. I have been stressing less about what to eat.
It's more intuitive. And meat is really tasty (again WTF was I
thinking as a vegan?) I'm thinking more about the things that tether
us down and just add complication. A big one now for me are forums
and social networking like facebook and such. I need to get away from
this stuff as it's just addictive. I have an iPhone now and would
prefer just updating on the go. I don't want to be tied to 20
different forums and read a zillion emails. TV is the same. It's
funny how you realize how tied you are to the TV when it's "new show"
season. Now in the off-season I could really give a rat's behind
about watching the majority of what's on. I really like having the
Netflix service – when you want some R&R sit down and watch a good
movie or series. Pick a couple favorite shows and just stick with
them. It's nice.

It's funny how we just come to realize we're stressed out and not
making life enjoyable. I've been stressed out about losing weight and
showing progress and blah blah blah who cares. It's a good goal, but
it's one of those "me" goals that I shouldn't blather on about. I
need to focus on feeling good, healthy, and full of energy. I need to
be fun to be around, not some preachy bore. This struck me as I was
struggling in a firefighting drill last week. I just… I couldn't do
something and gave up. I got flustered and just walked away. It
seemed dramatic but it was really a battle of ego occurring in my
brain. I want to succeed, but I'm not sure I have the experience or
ability to do a task (that's probably seemingly simple to a seasoned
firefighter). I don't need to be embarrassed. I just need to can the
ego and ask for help. It got me so flustered I considered quitting.
Considering the time I've vested in learning all of this, that was a
STUPID idea and proof I shouldn't make decisions when completely
flustered. Firefighting is a FUN activity that gets me up off my bum
and active in the community. How cool is that? I'm not going to let
my own ignorance of some piece of equipment persuade me to quit! The
same as several months ago when I had put on weight and was
embarrassed that I could not lift some things. Know what? I busted
my ass the past couple months to get into shape and I can lift things
now! Fucking hooray! Life is good! I did something for me that
turned out well…but I don't want to live my life around workouts and
calorie counting. I just want to be active, have fun, and eat
wholesome foods.

So maybe I'm not crazy after all.

Cool things about owning a home and land

2009-06-30T06:57:00.001-07:00

As you may know, I rent. Normally I'm all "yay renting!" and "yay
for no mortgage!" and the like, but I think there's definitely a few
advantages to owning a home and/or land. This would preferably be a
home unattached to another home. That's common dahn here, dahn east,
n'at. (As an aside, I had a fire school instructor last night who
said "n'at" probably 100 times in one hour. Obviously he's a former
'Burgher. My Pittsburghese radar picked up on it fast.)

Anyway...awesome reasons to own your own property:

1. No noisy neighbors (I mean above or below you...not those that
live next door that are PITAs)
2. Having a private garage or driveway
3. Having a backyard and/or land and the privileges that come with it.
4. Being able to decorate and paint to your liking
5. Equity (well, we hope)
6. Pets!
7. Privacy
8. Freedom to add on or dig a pool

With having land and/or a backyard, you can accomplish good stuff:

1. Like I said, have a pool. Or pond. Or sauna.
2. Raise a large garden.
3. Have a small army of goats and chickens (awesome)
4. Store a boat or RV
5. Landscaping
6. Home carpentry projects (garage/basement also works)
7. Area for play. Adults can roll around in the grass and play catch
without it being perverted, yo.
8. Area for picnics and get-togethers.

So that being said am I gonna jump out and start house hunting? No.
Just wanted to point these things out.

An Old Favorite

2009-06-25T05:18:00.001-07:00

I discovered an old fave on Youtube :)

Happy Birthday Sir Paul!

2009-06-18T08:22:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday Paul McCartney.

I'd like to go see your concert at the Mets Stadium on July 17th or
18th, but would have to apply for a bank loan to get tickets. Most
people get loans for homes...but me, no. "Mr. Banker, I'd like this
loan to see a former Beatle in concert." Yeah, I'm sure that would
really fly in this economy!

So, to all of you who were able to snag tickets for this show, I envy
you. I'll be at home, conveniently 80 miles away from New York City
pouting and listening to Band on the Run.

Love,

Me.

PS - I am using my money on an iPhone today. Maybe instead of pouting
I will download a Beatles related app for said iPhone.

The iPhone Poll

2009-06-17T07:36:00.001-07:00

I'm taking a poll here...

SHOULD I GET AN iPHONE?

Leave a comment stating your views. As an aside - I'm already an AT&T
customer and will get somewhat shafted by upgrading my phone early.
Overall cost to me of said "shafting"? About $100 if I go with the
basic 3G model.

I now have an actual website

2009-06-12T09:21:00.001-07:00

Yes, that's right. With the help of my awesome boyfriend I now have a
real website free of "blogger" or "wordpress" in its domain name.

I also now have a home for all my random fitness related crap (life
hobby) that no one here probably wants to read about. Well, okay
maybe some want to read about it, so here it is:

Check it:

http://www.calorie-killers.com/

Before the title scares you off...there's some rationale. Actually
it's rationale that I should probably post right on the homepage but
haven't done it yet. The site is ultimately aimed at women looking to
get fit. Through a lot of trial and error, and a lot of blogging
about it, I've come to the ultimate conclusion that you won't see
results and you won't stay fit if you don't bring the intensity in
your workouts, have sound dietary knowledge, and know what your true
interests and goals are. Calorie killers? That's intense. That's
what workouts and activities SHOULD be. You SHOULD feel a burn. We
as women shouldn't be afraid of lifting weights, running, or
high-energy sports and activities.

So there you go.

It's also the reason I haven't been posting here much.

I'll still post normal stuff here for anyone interested. I'd like to
keep this site for reviews, cooking, and photography. Also just
normal happenings and humor.

Eat some walnuts

2009-06-04T11:38:00.001-07:00

From Dr. Andrew Weil's daily nutrition email:

<i>A mainstay of my dietary recommendations, walnuts are an excellent
choice when it comes to healthy snacking.

Walnuts:

1. Are a good vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids, protective
fats that promote cardiovascular health, help maintain optimal
cognitive function, and tone down inflammation.
2. Provide heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.
3. Contain ellagic acid, an antioxidant compound that helps support
a healthy immune system.
4. Yield high levels of l-arginine, an essential amino acid which
promotes healthy blood pressure.

Try adding walnuts to your hot or cold breakfast cereals, eat them as
a snack, use walnut oil in salad dressings, and add to pie crusts for
a nutritional boost. Try this delicious walnut recipe.</i>

My boyfriend abhors nuts in his brownies and basically any and all
foods. He enjoys making a point of this whenever family and friends
add nuts as a topping to brownies at social functions. I continually
tell him I'm not crazy for eating them nor are said makers of the
brownies. He is probably reading this post right now and thinking
about how much he hates walnuts and that Dr. Weil is a quack. But
see, I don't care because I still like walnuts and Dr. Weil is pretty
famous and a lot of people read his emails so...the walnut love is
being spread.

And as an aside, I was really confused when we were getting an Italian
ice/frozen yogurt last weekend at Rosemaries in lovely, downtown
Quakertown. On the sign stating all available toppings, it said "wet
walnuts." I wondered to myself...WTF is a wet walnut?

From Wikipedia, "Wet walnuts is a dessert topping made from walnuts
and maple syrup. Sometimes corn syrup is substituted for (or used in
combination with) the maple syrup. Wet walnut topping is similar in
some respects to pralines, except that the walnuts are always served
in syrup, rather than as individual pieces.

Wet walnuts are most commonly served with ice cream. They are often
available as an ice cream topping at ice cream parlors in the United
States."

Thank you Wikipedia. I apparently have been sheltered in my ice cream
parlor experience to this point. Unless Western Pennsylvania refers
to wet walnuts under a pseudonym...would anyone like a side of sticky
nuts, perhaps? :)

Hey Goat!

2009-06-02T10:59:00.001-07:00

I'm trying once again to reduce my dairy consumption. Some time ago,
I led a vegan diet. I don't want to go back to that diet at all, but
I would like to eliminate an offender from my diet…cow's milk. Now, I
don't drink cow's milk. I use it primarily in the form of cheese and
yogurt. I thought this was okay, but noticed I was still feeling
funky from the stuff. Lately I switched over to goat's milk cheese
and cut the yogurt from my daily intake. Goats are funny animals.
They happen to produce some awesome cheeses and yogurts. Thing is,
they may seem a little pungent to some at first. If you've had
reactions to cow's milk, try goat's milk. It's helped my stomach
immensely.

I also cut the biggest bloat offender from my diet entirely…protein
bars. Regardless of whether they were homemade or packaged, these
badasses weren't doing me any justice. Before anyone goes off on a
rant about how awesome protein bars are for their nutritional needs,
hold up, I get that. They may work wonders for others, but do jack
squat for me. I used to think they were awesome. Now that I'm not
consuming them, I feel better. I'm also back to losing weight. I
think the excess protein consumption may have played a role in my
seeming inability to drop weight the past few weeks. But don't go
throwing away your protein supplements. If they work, they work. If
they don't, try something else.

Before chucking the bars out the window, I found the shakes were even
worse. Whey protein supplements leave my stomach extremely unhappy.
The only time I use this stuff now is in tiny amounts. I add one
spoonful to a glass of apple juice as a post-workout recovery drink.
It's a small enough amount it doesn't screw with me. I still have a
giant tub of Optimum Nutrition Pro Complex lurking in the cupboard. I
think Chris will probably use it for smoothies and shakes. It didn't
seem to bother him at all. Humph…lucky!

Maybe my issues just come down to the fact that I can't follow high
protein diets for very long. Despite all the great recommendations in
the fitness world for more protein-rich diets, I'll be the odd one out
and disagree. I'm much happier and feel better while eating a diet
rich in whole grains, veggies, and fruits (read: healthy carbs). I
use whole foods such as lean meats, fish, nuts, goat's milk, soy and
legumes for natural protein sources. I don't have a huge daily
protein intake. Usually just by eating whole foods, my protein intake
ranges from 80-100 grams.

For the Love of Wii

2009-05-29T10:15:00.001-07:00

Yay for the Wii! Chris and I played a couple games on Wii Sports last night and I did a round on the Wii fit for 20 minutes. Both are fun, both are interactive and get your bum off the couch. Today, to add some more variety to the Wii experience, I purchased EA Sports Active. I'll review it once we give it a whirl. It's got some pretty stellar reviews on Amazon and elsewhere (minus the resistance band included with it...lame reviews, but it doesn't matter - I have my own high-power handy dandy band). I'm hoping to add a 30 day EA challenge on top of my last phase of P90X. Today is day 61 for P90X (technically P120X for me), so another 59 days left of Tony and the Gang. After that, I'm hoping to try Shaun T's Insanity (also by the makers of P90X). That is if Insanity is released on schedule by Beachbody. If not, I'll just continue my P90X round and add some P90X+ and One on One routines.

Anyway, back to the Wii. It's fun. I created Mii characters that resemble the posse from the Big Lebowski...the Jesus, Walter, Donnie, and of course, The Dude. Yes, I stole that idea from somewhere on the internet. Hey, why not. The Mii's join you in your Wii fit endeavors. So, often times I'm running alongside the Dude in the running challenge. Or Walter. That doesn't seem very likely...Walter running, I mean. So yeah, the Wii, good entertainment. The sports and fitness stuff is good for that purpose, but I'm interested in some fun games now. I'm thinking Wario or Raving Rabbits but I'm open to some other suggestions. I also saw a few boarding games that utilize the balance board; those also sound fun. Any suggestions out there? What are your Wii faves?

Camping, Centralia, and Habitat

2009-05-27T09:29:00.001-07:00

I went camping for the first time (ever) this weekend. By camping I mean actually camping outdoors in a tent away from home. I'm not counting hanging out in the backyard sleeping in a tent or hammock as camping. That's child's play…Surprising, right? You'd think a kid from Hickass, PA would have some camping experience under their belt at age 25. Well, not this one. Anyway, (semi)real camping was fun. I say semi because we had bathroom facilities available and a grouping of family campers also available for shelter from the rain. We stayed at a campground along the Susquehanna River, near Sunbury, PA. The weekend had some nice highlights – kayaking, waterskiing/tubing, and a lot of cookouts. Our tent site was on the bank of the river. Each morning had a pleasant wake up to foggy views of the river. It also usually included the sound of an asshat revving up his fishing boat like a Harley at 5am. Oh, and also the sound of geese. Honk honk. Geese rule. I didn't realize how shallow the river is. It's deceiving, really. Giant river. Only 8 foot deep in many mid-sections (at least in the area we were in). Some of the island areas were shallow enough to wade about in. Some were shallow enough to beach a kayak. Tubing was a blast. Waterskiing was a blast for Chris. I chickened out of the waterskiing. I may try again another time if I get the opportunity. Because of uh, recent surgeries, I didn't want to risk any potential infection and/or damage with a tumble or crash into the river. That would have led to a major bummer of a camping trip. Also during the course of the weekend we went to see Star Trek at a theater down the river (by car, not kayak, lol). I had to retype that sentence because I typed "Star Wars." No, no, the one with Spock, NOT Chewbacca. Good movie, even for a non-Trekkie.

Because we were out in Eastern PA's wilderness (aka Middle of Nowhere) along route 61, we got to pass through an interesting (read: odd) spot, Centralia. If you've followed my blog or photography for a bit, you may remember I took a detour back in 2007 while on a job-related trip to see the remains of Centralia, PA. July 2007 -> May 2009, it's basically the same. The crack in the abandoned highway seems to have shifted and the opening appears to be more significant. The opening was also producing much more steam/smoke this time around. There's still a bunch of trash in the crevice. We were walking up around a path that overlooks the highway and cemetery looking out for hot spots. None found. As we were walking down the trail, this group of hambeasts gives us this weird look and says "highway is this way." Thanks Captain Obvious. They followed us the entire way down the highway ruining the nice quiet ambience of the area with their yakking and cackling. We still got some nice shots, though. It's nicknamed the "Graffiti Highway," so of course there was some new, entertaining graffiti including a cartoonish, bubbled-lettered "Fuck" filled with polka dots. It really caught my eye, man. It leaped out and said "Fuck you!" …but make sure to be happy and have a nice day.

The town itself is vacant except for the handful of remaining residents. Only a few homes remain along with the former fire department building. We walked atop the smoldering hill behind the main street (with the bench). I hadn't walked up there previously. It was smoking a decent amount. The ground was extremely hot in several areas. Interesting enough, there's a huge row of power-generating windmills to the east of the town now. Maybe they've always been there but I didn't notice them in 2007. The two cemetaries seemed to be in better condition this time around, also. Considering it was Memorial Day, there was a lot more traffic flowing on Route 61 and the town didn't seem eerie at all. I suppose it was eerie to me out of the simple fact I was a) alone walking down the highway, b) there was no one around the town, and c) a storm was approaching. It was also hot and humid as bawls in July 2007.

Yesterday I was able to participate in the Lehigh Valley Habitat for Humanity. The organization is sponsoring quite a big project – an entire row of homes along James Street (I'm assuming it's a newly created street). They overlook the massive (remaining) expanse of Bethlehem Steel (aka "The Sands" Bethlehem…aka…place for people to blow their hard-earned dollar). The homes were in different stages of completion, so our group sort of hopped from one task in one home to something different in another. After hauling windows a bit, I started in with some insulation work. I've done it before so I stepped up and started installing it on the ceiling and walls alongside three coworkers. I did this for the remainder of my day's shift (as did my colleagues). I don't too many others were stepping up to do it…haha. I was happy to help in something I know how to do, but damn, I was itchy when I got home! We walked through a completed home at the end of the day. It seemed to be very well put together, had a gorgeous kitchen and patio, and ample space. The only odd thing we noticed was the laminate flooring. At first you think, "Ooh! Laminate!" then you walk on it and think, "whoa, something doesn't feel right here." It was as if the laminate had been placed with little or no sub-floor. Some of the rooms had a very noticeable slope. Another had major bumps and grooves and was extremely creaky. It's great to see all of the hard work put into the home, but wow, you really hope the eventual owners don't get into trouble or costly repair because of the flooring. Laminate is beautiful and durable, but only if it's installed with proper subfloor and all gaps or connections are sealed. I'm not sure that this will be the case with the entire row of homes. I sure hope not. I wonder if they can go back and consider a reasonable alternative, like a moderate Berber carpet. It tends to hide uneven or creaky floors much better. Outside of that, the kitchen, bathrooms, and entryway all had ceramic tile which looked magnificent. The differences between the tile and laminate were surprising…who knows. Having been involved with a couple Habitat builds out west, it's a great organization to give time to, especially if you enjoy home repair or have some contracting experience. It can also be a lot of fun if you're involved with a good group of people.

Fitness-crap-related-wise, I'm still trying to straighten out my recommended daily caloric intake. I'm nearing day 60 of P90X and I'm lagging a bit in the diet department. I've been cranking out the workouts, but ugh, they're only about 20% of the equation with diet being the other 80%. I've been toying around with calories a bit. Most BMR calculators don't seem to do a great job or provide much for recommendation. I went from the P90X-recommended 1800 calories per day diet down to 1500 calories per day to create a better deficit for weight loss last week. This worked well until I completely mucked up my diet over the holiday. I was doing well up until that point and basically left myself feeling bloated and tired at the end of the weekend. It is water weight that I will drop easily, but still, not good at all. At first, P90X was giving me awesome definition and I was losing body fat. I wasn't dropping weight and I still felt somewhat bulky and stuffed after most meals. I (obviously) struggle with weekend/holiday eating. I eat really well throughout the week but then allow too many sweets and treats on the weekend. The usual mentality is that one treat or "cheat" per week is okay, but anymore is overdoing it. You're also setting your body up for continued sugar addiction, if a sugary treat is your weakness. I know that in the past when I've had success with weight loss (aka dropping it and keeping it off), I've cut out ALL treats. I used to cut them out until I hit my goals, then allowed one cheat per week. That system worked out well. Now I just need to stick with it and determine which point of the weekend I will allow a treat. I've just gotta eat right and stick with it to reach my goals. It's not me being hard on myself, it's just setting up a healthier lifestyle is all.

Post ala email...finally!

2009-05-22T07:28:00.001-07:00

I finally remembered my blogger email address to use for email posts. Now I can actually stop being such a slacker and bring back daily posts on the blog! Yes! Hooray!

For anyone that stumbled upon this from Facebook or wherever and has wondered what the hell I've been up to the past few years, I've moved a lot in the past couple years. Really, I've become a pro at changing my address and no, I'm not doing it to bail on the rent. I went from my childhood home to college, from college back to home, from home back to college, then moved out on my own for the first time in 2004, into a small, single apartment on Hope Drive in Erie, PA. If you went to Behrend, you're probably familiar with Hope Drive. The street is just this dead end street lined with units of single apartments. It's somewhat bizarre in appearance and your backyard is that awesome retaining wall along the new(ish) Bayfront Connector. I lived at Hope Drive during Junior year, got sick of the small apartment and moved into a larger apartment with a roommate, Ms. Joell, during senior year. This apartment was pimp, but we had little control over the (FREE) heat and it was insanely hot at times. But wait, I'm not complaining about the heat just yet…After graduation, the internship I was holding onto went POOF and I moved back in with my parents (lucky them). I took a job a couple months later with a company in Meadville and continued to live with the rents. After about 6 months of living with the rents, I saved up enough to move into an apartment in Meadville. At first, I thought the place was great. Recently remodeled, nice digs, closet space, basement, mudroom, backyard garden potential…but it was cold. Really fucking cold, excuse my language. I was too quick to move in and overlooked the furnace. I looked at it and was given an approximate age of the thing, but that approximate age was about 20 years new. The damn thing was indeed 62 years old. It was around early October 2007 when I saw my upstairs neighbors moving out. I had just returned from a trip to Poland (Hej, hej) and remembered winter would be setting in. I stole the upstairs apartment from them and it was much warmer. Plus, it was much larger – 2 finished floors at the same price I had been paying for the one below! Yeah! After a while there I was trying to conserve some money and felt like a loner, so I got a roommate who was in the Jaycees with me. I met Chris from Q-town almost one year ago, and moved out of the apartment in early August. That was my biggest move…350 miles across the state of Pennsylvania. I moved in with Chris into his apartment located in a renovated 1920s factory. Late in 2008 we noticed we didn't have much space in our 1BR apartment. Haha, funny enough the upstairs neighbor was a'movin out. We swooped in and took the upstairs apartment. It features a stunning spiral staircase. (It's sure stunning but not when you knock your head into it.)

I was thinking about all the moving on my drive to work this morning. I'll count the moves:

1. Home to college dorm (2002)

2. College dorm to home (2003)

3. Home to college dorm (later 2003)

4. College dorm to Hope Drive (2004)

5. Hope Drive to Tanglewood (2005)

6. Tanglewood to home (2006)

7. Home to cold-ass apartment (2006)

8. Cold-ass apartment to upstairs apartment (2007)

9. Upstairs apartment to Quakertown apartment #1 (2008)

10. QT Apt #1 to Apt #2 (2009)

There you have it folks. I have moved ten times in seven years. If my parents have to haul another couch or mattress on my behalf, they have the right to strangle me and/or kick my roaming rear end.

I don't want to pack more stuff in boxes for a while. I also don't want to hear about this $8000.00 tax credit for prospective homeowners. Nope, nope, nope. Don't wanna hear it. Wouldn't be prudent. Don't wanna move. More importantly, based on the lessons learned from the subprime mortgage hullaballoo, I don't think home ownership is a super-fantastic idea at the current time if you still have some debt to pay down. Everyone wants a house, but dang, I just want some stability and an emergency savings fund. I don't want the nagging burden of a home right now. I don't want to lose my sweet ass on a mortgage. I don't want to buy into the ridiculous real estate and property taxes in the Quakertown area JUST YET. I want to have some savings set aside before making the jump into home ownership. I want to continue to make my credit score shine. It will amount to a much greater difference in cost of ownership over a 30 year loan. The average home around here goes for $200K or more, even in this crappy market. I wouldn't mind holding out and renting for a bit.

One Month

2009-05-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

...Since I last posted.

Since then I've finished two vehicle rescue classes. I started into the third one (third level, technically) and was interrupted by surgery. I had a LEEP procedure done. It's not heavy duty surgery, but I was under some doctor's orders to not lift anything or do anything crazy for one week. I thought I'd be able to just hang out on the sidelines, but no, the day of surgery I was damn tired. Two days later I was still pretty tired. It's been 6 days since the surgery and I feel much better. Took about 3-4 days to get back to my normal self. I'm back to working out, but no lifting yet. I won't be attempting that until Monday when I start Phase III of P90X. Oh yeah, by the way, still going strong with that, I'm happy to report. If you check out my Flickr page, you can see my Day 0 and Day 30 results. Today marked Day 50 in the program. Odd enough, I'm not bored with it as I was when I tried it for the first couple times. I guess it took a heckuva long time to grow on me.

Enough about that. Chris and I purchased a Wii a couple weeks ago. This was a pretty long and drawn out decision from a few months back where we were debating it but weren't sure whether it was a good idea. We played some Wii at a relatives house and Bam! Decision to buy one made. We also bought a Wii Fit. I'm currently trying to beat the Bubble race balance game and I'm sucking majorly at it. But I'll get better. One failure at a time, haha.

Okay, Okay, I Need to Post!

2009-04-18T04:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted here for well over a week. Let's just say that this site can't exactly be opened by some browsers and I keep forgetting to post via email. I can still open Gmail, but Blogger, well, different story. Let's just say anything related to "blog" is blocked in the corporate-sphere. This is good and bad. It's good because it eliminates that temptation to browse the internets and check the daily LOLCats over at ICanHasCheezburger. It's bad because I did follow some legit marketing and computer help blogs and now cannot access them. Some of my monthly company newsletter inspiration sources are also now blocked. Aaargh. I'm pretty sure Gmail will be the next victim. Then I'll really be screwed.

This is a quick post to say that things are well. Chris and I are in the middle of a six week vehicle rescue class at the fire department. It's a packed class. It's almost difficult to find something to do there's so many people at it. Total class length is 48 hours. At the end of it, you're certified (pending you pass the practical and written exams) as a Rescue operator. After this one, I still have to take the fundamental required course, Firefighter 1, checking in at around 140 hours. Part of me is looking forward to completing it and the other part is saying...holy shit! 140 hours! I'm back in college, dude!

Other than that I've been consistent in working out every morning at the asscrack of dawn with Tony Horton and the P90X crew. I finally realized that the problem wasn't so much my will to workout but rather...my diet sucked. Not that I eat unhealthy foods, but I don't eat a proper balance of foods. Athletic nutrition is fascinating. I've never gotten into this stuff to the extent I have in the past two weeks, but wow, let me tell you, I've been getting schooled on how bad my diet was before. My vegetarian times weren't awful, but they were too carb-laden and quite protein deficient. That's not much of a surprise to me. What was a surprise to me is how the foods I considered safe or healthy are not at all. So many supposed "okay" foods like protein bars and yogurts are really just sugar-laden candy. Ugh. And of course, the point of "eat your vegetables and fruits" still holds completely true and is basically the gospel. Vegetables are like your daily freebies and source of fiber and nutrients.

I scoffed a bit at the P90X nutrition guide and carb/protein/fat ratios when I first got the program. I'm sure you can find some blog posts with my discontent or whatever. Seriously, I should have just checked my ego at the door and listened. The program is very close to recommendations in many well-known athletic nutrition guides like Precision Nutrition by John Bernardi and Nutrient Timing by Ivy and Portman. I was severely underestimating my daily caloric need and was "bonking out" due to lack of nutrition. I was consuming about 1300-1450 calories when in reality I need about 1650-1750, depending on my activity level for the day. I was also not using my head in pre and post workout nutrition. Simply consuming 1/2 of a homemade protein square (oatmeal, protein powder, milk) before a workout and having a recovery drink (4:1 carbs to protein ratio) soon after has made a world of difference in my ability, longevity of workout, and recovery. I'm now able to complete the entire span of a workout without difficulty. I mean, I'm still sweating and having difficulty but that's expected. That's the right thing to be doing!

Proper eating takes a bit of time to implement, too. Last weekend was Easter and I didn't eat clean at all. Monday I got pretty serious with following the prescribed eating plan and I've noticed some massive gains and energy increase from that in just a couple days. Of course, I've also had some cravings, but they're going away as I continue to eat a clean diet. I now find myself reaching for turkey slices instead of sugary junk. That's good. That's also a TOTAL 180 from my vegetarian days, but I digress. Doesn't mean that I can't eat veggie burgers or tofu. They're still good options and provide a lot of protein. I just need to go easy on the carbs in the particular nutrition phase I'm in now.

So yeah, go figure. I think I'm doing something right before but I totally had it all wrong. Now I'm on the right path, at least. Today I'm off to find some stuff at IKEA and get some additional weights for my workout room.

Cheers!

Drink Your Vegetables

2009-04-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

I’m pretty good about getting my recommended (or more) servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Usually it’s about 50/50 between fruits and vegetables. I mean, I'm no Cookie monster, but I still need to actively TRY to consume more raw veggies daily. Because of the sugar content of fruit, I’m trying to tip the scales in favor of veggies, but they don’t make as good of snacking raw, IMO. They need a little topping, say, peanut butter, light ranch, or hummus. Unless they’re carrots. I love me some plain, raw carrots. Keeping this in mind, I’ve been looking around for a good veggie juice to add to my daily repertoire. Now, most would think “hey, just drink some V8 and get on with your life.” Alas, folks, I hate V8. I don’t like tomato juices. I like tomatoes, but I cannot stomach tomato or tomato-veggie juice. I know I am in need of a vegetable juice without tomatoes. Also one that’s reasonable in price and doesn’t require me to purchase a juice tiger (now known as the "power juicer") to concoct.

Anyway, this in mind, I was at Wegmans on Friday killing time before a lady doctor exam. Wegmans is my favorite grocery store and puts me in a happy place with its plethora of crazy ethnic foods, artisan breads, and hippie selections. I needed to be in a nice, happy place before a colposcopy exam. Ladies that have had one, well, yeah, you know. So, while at Wegmans I thought I’d check for some veggie juice. I first hit up the normal juice aisle to check and see if there was a V8 without tomatoes. There is one. It’s mixed with fruits. I’ve tried it before and found it too sweet for my tastes. Scratch that. I headed over to the organic-hippie food section and hit up the juice and tea aisle. Sure enough, there were several tomato-free veggie juice choices. The first I picked up was made by R.W. Knudsen Farms – Very Veggie Juice, Untomato flavor. I like that…Untomato. For those of us who don’t like that red nightshade in our drinks. I checked the ingredient list and it wasn’t very extensive. Only 5 or 6 veggies and fruits, which didn’t completely impress me. I glanced above and noticed a funky label sporting some Japanese characters. I recognized the brand name, Ito En, from Wegmans (massive) displays of their bottled tea. I’ve tried their tea and know it’s pretty fantastic for a bottled tea, so I picked up the Veggie drink and read the label. Ito En Veggie Shot contains an impressive blend of 20 vegetables (excluding tomato) with several natural fruit juices blended in for palatability. Nice. It included some normal fruits and veggies: sweet potato, carrots, red bell peppers, spinach, pumpkin, apples, grapes, lemon, lettuce, green beans, kale, asparagus and also had some oddballs like Japanese honewort and komatsuna. Calories per serving (8 oz): 80. Not bad. Not as good as tomato V8, but obviously that’s not an option. I decided to buy the product. At 3.99 per bottle and four servings per bottle, it’s about $1 per serving.

Now what you really want to know – how does it taste? Great. It’s a perfect blend of sweet and smooth with a slight spice. You can drink it plain, chilled or over ice. You can also make an awesome concoction like this one in your blender:

8 ounces Ito En Veggie Shot
1/3 cup frozen mixed berries
1 scoop Amazing Greens (greens supplement)

The smoothie is fantastic. I tried it this morning after my cardio workout. Wow. So tasty and energizing, I feel like I’m walking on sunshine. I have also achieved a nice serving of fruits and vegetables and a boost of vitamins and minerals. Mmm hmm, veggie juice problem solved. Next time I make it, I may be daring and add a handful of spinach. Watch out! My arms may bulge out like Popeye.

The TNSTAAFL Principle…and oops, you’ve been had!

2009-03-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

At some point in college, I remember Professor Jim Kurre discussing the importance of the “tanstaffle” or “There’s No Such Thing As a Free Lunch” principle. Nothing is free. Along the line, SOMEONE must pay for the good. I keep this principle in mind whenever I see “free trial” offers or other dubious freebies. I know freebies are tempting, but first consider the following:

1. Am I obligated to pay for this in the future? (as in: is this a limited time offer?)
2. What is the marketing pitch behind the free product? (what’s the marketing ploy involved?)
3. Is this a product I really need?
4. Is this a trial offer simply to spread the word about a new product? (Free product samples typically fall under this category. Samples are provided with the aim to “hook” the consumer to the product and make them loyal to the brand.)
5. Is this a subscription service or affiliated with a telemarketing firm?

Sure, you may ask for a trial offer, but you may then be plagued with an unexpected bill, unwanted marketing information, be it mail, telephone, or e-mail, or unwanted product delivered to your door. Oops! It wasn’t free! You’ve been had! Why am I writing any of this? I was moved by a number of comments listed on this blog post. I mean, not trying to mock anyone…but seriously, so many things could be avoided if people learned to put on the readin’ glasses and peruse the fine print. Subscriptions, product freebies, dirty opt-ins...they’re really not so bad if you just know the rules and risks of the game. Anyway, next up: Subscriptions: Be mindful of “convenience.”

Many companies offer subscription or refill plans based on your purchase history or expected usage. Coffee providers such as Boca Java, Gevallia, and Dunkin Donuts all offer a refill package. You set up the frequency and amount, and the company ships product and bills you accordingly. Remember, these products are shipped at your instruction. If you receive unwanted product, you did sign up to a shipping contract. Just keep that in mind. The same goes for vitamin subscriptions. Be careful what you wish for. Know your usage and know the cost. If fraudulent charges appear on your bank statement, be ready with evidence to dispute them. Free magazine subscriptions are a subject to themselves. If you want to play the ‘free’ offer game, know how long the trial is for and cancel beforehand. If you’re not a very punctilious person regarding bills or subscriptions, don’t even attempt this game. Even better, don’t buy product on a refill or subscription basis. Just make a note each month to re-order. Really, it ain’t that hard. Otherwise, you’ve just been had.

Another word of caution pertains to online clubs or memberships. Many well-meaning online groups try to ‘upsell’ to gold or high-level paid subscriptions. You must pay a fee to use forums or special website features. Many may also offer a regular monthly deduction to remain a member of the forum. Keep this in mind before subscribing: do you really need the upper level? Is a monthly forum charge really fair? Are you gaining valuable information from the forum or club that is not available for free elsewhere? This is very true for fitness forums. I’ve found that the upper level (paid) forums are usually a waste of money. I’m sure some will debate that highly, but hey, this is my blog. That’s my opinion. The only forum in which I pay for (well, paid for, as it’s a one-time shot) is SomethingAwful.com. Why did I pay? Because it’s an amazing forum for every subject under the sun filled with other cynical assholes just like myself. The fee helps maintain a robust forum and eliminate trolls. I’ll pay for a troll-free experience. Hear hear!

And outside of “online clubs” there are product clubs. Book clubs, CD clubs, DVD clubs…you name it, there’s a subscription club for it. Let me tell you my story of my first CD buying purchases. I was intrigued by a publicized offer for “12 free CDs” from BMG Music Service in a Rolling Stone magazine at age 12. Yes, seriously, I subscribed to Rolling Stone at age 12. I was a badass, man. Me, being a music aficionado (even at 12), decided this was awesome and signed up for it. I remained a member of BMG music until age 20. Through eight years of a music subscription service, I got some nice deals on CDs. Before half.com and Amazon, there were music clubs. Long-time members got some perks. There were also some seriously bum deals, though. BMG would send a CD each month regardless of whether you wanted it. I simply mailed back a card each month stating that I was not interested. I had two CD of the month selections mailed to me, which I forgot to deny in advance, and had to send back as “unwanted.” I really didn’t have too much issue with the service. In fact, I liked it. As half.com, eBay, and Amazon grew in popularity, and as I moved to the world of iPod and all things digital, I cancelled my club membership. I was also in college at that time, and did not want to deal with the card mail-back hassle. At this point in time, I will proclaim that a majority of club memberships are total crap and you can find the products much, much cheaper online used or new. There are a few notable exceptions to this, I’m sure, but for the most part, product/media clubs are more a hassle than you want to deal with.

Another fun topic is internet scams and miracle products. If it seems too good to be true, it most certainly is. If the price is way out of this world, well, it probably is. Is there a prince in Nigeria that really wants to give you $20000? No fucking way. Is Oprah’s miracle diet pill going to cure all your woes? Absolutely not. You won’t find a good get rich quick scheme. You won’t find a work at home job that pays insane money. You will not find a pill that magically increases the length of your penis. Most “work at home” ads lead you straight to dubious companies like Herbalife or Quixtar. If you want some fun reading, read up on those two companies. Hoo-eee I smell a big ole scam, Batman! If you want to make some insane money, you better be savvy with investing, my friend. You may also want to save your money, stop buying junk you don’t need, and learn about the miracle compound interest rate. If you want to lose weight, I don’t know how to break this to you, but a pill ain’t gonna do you shit. Even extensive surgical procedures don’t make you Madonna overnight. That kind of body takes some serious work. Scams prey upon your insecurities. They want you to spring hard-earned money into dubious products and services. Just keep that in mind the next time you see some questionable advertising. Otherwise, you just look like a fool who got scammed. And yeah, oops, you done been had.

Turbo Jam Rotation Review

2009-03-26T07:16:00.001-07:00

I posted a fitness regime a couple weeks ago using Turbo Jam. I’ve been sticking with it and have noticed I have more energy and stamina in my daily tasks. I haven’t missed a workout until this morning. Last night I had three cavities filled and woke up this morning with a massive head and toothache. I feel better now and will simply do my Turbo Jam workout after work. No biggie. Anyway, I like this rotation but it’s probably not sustainable for real results. I’m burning a pretty dismal amount of calories with a majority of the TJ routines. The exceptions to this are Cardio Parties 1-3. Those burn about 400-425 calories per session and are a LOT of fun. The ab jam (floor version) is also effective. The other 30 minute workouts aimed at quick cardio or strength aren’t up to my speed. They’re dancey and don’t focus enough on proper lifting form. They’re probably good for a beginner, but not for someone who is at an intermediate lifting level. They’re fun, but fun isn’t always effective. Chalene Johnson is a wonderful instructor and is very motivating. Her more intense cardio workouts are indeed her strength in the program. They keep your heart rate at a target level and consistently challenge you. They can also be done at different levels of fitness.

Along with TJ, I’ve been using several Tae Bo DVDs. For starters, the Cardio Circuits one and two are great to “get back into” Tae Bo. They cover the basics at a medium pace and typically burn about 300-400 calories per session. Because I’ve done each of these routines about five times now, I think I’ve graduated to a higher level. I tried Fat Blasting Cardio the other day using “Billy bands” which are basically toning bands which attach to your feet with weighted handles at the top. With the weights in the handles, I had a really challenging workout. It really beat my butt to be honest. This is a great workout to combine intense cardio with strength and toning moves.

The last DVD that I’ve also been using is Cathe Friedrich’s Kick, Punch, and Crunch. Out of all the others, this is the best. At 68 minutes long, it’s not a shy cardio workout. However, this is the best combination of cardio, toning, and hi/lo I’ve found (yet) in a kickboxing video. What’s even better is it’s not high impact or damaging to your joints. Because of the length of this one, it’s a good choice for the weekends. It’s a bit rough to do the thing in its entirety in the morning.

I have a feeling I was more out of shape than I realized when I started P90X in mid-February. Doing these cardio routines has made me aware of this fact. I haven’t been running in ages. I’m not sure how far I could go if I tried. That’s sad, considering I used to run 3-4 miles 3 times per week. Now I’d be lucky to run one. Ugh. The thought of running outside makes me happy but makes me concerned at the same time for the health of my knees. I don’t think my legs are strong enough yet to attempt a good run, nor do I think my cardio level is on par yet. I’ve got to build back up, but with caution. I know how much I can push myself and right now I think my intro to running should be via interval running on a treadmill at the Y. Otherwise, I’ll just screw my knees up until I build my strength. I got into running from being a totally couch potato back in 2005. It was quite an accomplishment. I really changed my appearance for the better and gained confidence. I’d love to have that same motivation to do it again. I’m just trying to find it…

Canadians and Donuts

2009-03-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

Chris and I watched Strange Brew on Sunday night. Technically Chris finished it and I only lasted through 60% of it before falling asleep. No sweat, I've seen it a few times.

Popular Canadian culture seems to love donuts. Strange Brew is a HUGE stereotype of this, but I've noticed it in How I Met Your Mother. There was an episode where Robin enters a Canadian bar and a dude offers her a donut (and beer) as a sign of hospitality.

I googled "Canadians and donuts" and it returned a fact (hopefully a true fact) from Wiki stating:

In Canada, the doughnut follows the same design as in the United States. Several stores including Tim Hortons, as well as some U.S. chains such as Dunkin' Donuts and Krispy Kreme, make the majority of their profits by selling donuts. Another Canadian variant is the Beaver tail (author side note: what the hell is this and why have I never heard of it until now!? Image courtesy of Canadian Design Group).

Per capita, Canadians consume the most doughnuts in the world, and Canada also has the most doughnut stores per capita.

One would think Canadians invented donuts from all this donut love. HOWEVER, this article from The Boston Globe shuts that theory down:

On the first page of University of Toronto historian Steve Penfold's new book, "The Donut: A Canadian History," actor Eugene Levy proclaims: "If there's one thing that is distinct, that is ours, that Canadians can claim as theirs, I'd say it's donuts." On that same page, a resident of Halifax, Nova Scotia, calls doughnuts "kind of a uniquely Canadian thing." Elsewhere in the book, doughnuts are called Canada's "national food" and "Canada's apple pie."
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But . . . doughnuts are about as Canadian as "Baywatch" and baseball, to name just two imports from the United States. In his book, Penfold explains that the New York-based Doughnut Company of America introduced the fatty little treats into Canada's mainstream in 1935. So how can a staple of American consumerism be the national food of Canada? "I don't think the fact that it's American makes it less Canadian," Penfold replied, elliptically. "A lot of our national identity is based on anti-Americanism. We both embrace America and reject it."

Another amusing section of the article comments on turf wars between Tim Hortons and Dunkin' Donuts:

Penfold also glosses over the transborder doughnut war being waged by Tim Hortons and Quincy-based Dunkin' Donuts. Dunkin' invaded Quebec in the late 1970s, eventually opening more than 150 stores. That number now stands at around 70, and Dunkin' will be cautious in adding Canadian locations, says chairman John Luther: "We are going to be taking it one store at a time." It goes without saying that Dunkin' does not trumpet its "America Runs on Dunkin' " slogan north of the 49th parallel.

In this area (SEPA), DD is king. Well, maybe not completely king when you factor in local donut joints (Yum Yum) but it is the recognized standard and official coffee of the Philadelphia Eagles. And hey, remember, America runs on Dunkin'. There is a DD location in pretty much every town here, seemingly as populous as Mickey D's locations. I have lived in an area with a growing Tim Hortons contingent (and a nonexistent DD presence), Erie...I'm talking to you, and TH is okay. Typical American that I am, I still prefer DD over TH. DD's coffee and sandwiches are just tastier, IMO.

Even more interesting is a theory I've come up with regarding Northwestern PA. DD hasn't thrived in the area. The closest location to Erie / Meadville (to my knowledge) is Sharon / Hermitage (near the Ohio border). There is also one in Jamestown, NY, which is about 35 miles Northwest of Erie. Krispy Kreme has seemed to thrive amongst the "pick up donuts at the local Sheetz" contingency, but the location in Erie seemed to be struggling any time I drove by it. Before I left the area, I noted an increased number of Tim Horton locations in Erie and rumors of one in the works in the Meadville area. Hmm...interesting. One donut joint survives, the others die. OR...is it the continued influence of Canadian tourism into Northwestern PA that has developed the taste preference of Tim Hortons? HMMM!? (it could also be the general public realized how shitty Krispy Kreme is and found Tim Horton's to be tastier...another thought).

A Lovely Little Saturday

2009-03-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

After living here for nearly 8 months, I finally decided to find the nearest outlet mall and revamp my wardrobe. Now, I know that it’s not a very frugal decision to take a drive to an outlet mall, but I really needed some new work clothing. Since I started a new job, I haven’t spent much money at all on my at-work wardrobe. Because the dress code wasn’t as strict at my last employer and I had to manage inventory and check in-shop jobs in a somewhat dirty manufacturing facility, my wardrobe wasn’t exactly top notch. I had some nice slacks and skirts from Banana Republic but was lacking in the shirt and top department. Luckily, the Philadelphia Premium Outlets are a mere 25 miles from the apartment. Score.

After parking my car in the parking lot, I was greeted by this scenery – the “cloud factory” (AKA nuclear power plant) of Limerick. Walking into the outlets, I soon realized they’re easier to navigate than the outlets of my previous years in the West at Grove City, PA. The parking is also a bit more friendly.

After checking the directory, I started my trip at Banana Republic. They were having some great sales and I stocked up on work essentials. The styles are very classic and attractive now. I’m liking that. After that, I walked over to the Gap Outlet. Again, I found a lot of good deals and enjoyed the styles in the store. I couldn’t believe my luck, actually. Normally I find it difficult to find things I really like.

I dropped off my stuff at the car and took a break heading into Starbucks for a hot tea. Have I ever mentioned that their London Fog (tea latte) is amazing? Okay, well I just did. Sometime during the enjoyment of my LF tea, I wandered into Neiman Marcus Last Call. Considering this place is normally referred to as “Needless Mark-up” I wasn’t surprised that the “last call” deals weren’t that great. HOWEVER, I was wandering around the housewares department and found a wonderful set of silver napkin rings featuring small mice atop a silver ring. The kicker - $29.00 marked down to $4.81. I found some cloth napkins packed away and would like to begin to use them to save on paper. These are a nice little garnish for them, I think, and cheap too.

After more wandering around, I checked out Champion / Hanes and bought some real workout apparel. You know, nice, breathable workout clothing that doesn’t look completely ratty and can possibly be worn outside the home? I always scoffed at nice workout stuff, but wow, mesh running shorts make a difference. They’re so much more comfy. Flexible (stretchy) t-shirts are also great. I can now go to the gym without looking like a vagrant. Awesome.

At some point in the day I purchased shoes at Famous Brand Footwear. I enjoy shoe shopping because I can typically find amazing discounts. Why do I find amazing discounts? Small feet, dude. I wear women’s 6-7. Typically the discount selection for size 6.5 is awesome. This was indeed the case on Saturday. I bought 3 pair of workplace casual / somewhat dressy shoes for $50. Not bad. I also purchased a pair of Naturalizer pumps later in the day for $22 marked down from $75.

At another point in the day I stopped into Rue 21. I quickly realized I look foolish and has-beenish attempting to wear clothing aimed at the teen market. I then scornfully marched my old ass over to Bass where I then felt…young. I used to hate Bass but it’s growing on me. They had some nice dress shirts there. But they didn’t have a single size small in the entire sale rack. Ugh. I tried, at least.

The real deal came to play at Claire’s. Normally I just brush this place off, but I realized some of my outfits would look better with a few accessories. Luckily, Claire’s was running a 10 clearance items for $10 sale. The clearance selection was awesome and wasn’t the bad leftovers, either. I think I picked up 30 pieces including necklaces, bracelets, hair accessories, belts, and earrings. At 25, I was the oldest person in the store. That’s freaking sad.

After all those deals and excitement, I drove home. I saw this as I was waiting to cross 309. It went low, almost dangerously low to 309. The van / trailer crew for it was just ahead of me. I could tell it was them as their van had a mini version of the balloon in the sky. Ahh, what a nice day :)

French Press Coffee - It's Green!

2009-03-19T04:36:00.000-07:00

I bought one of these on a whim two years ago. I had personally never made French pressed coffee, but decided to give it a whirl. Two years have passed and I love this nifty little gadget. Made by well-known brand Bodum, it’s held up very well to repeated use. I used to use it daily for a cup of coffee, but then switched to tea several months ago. It works well with both. It makes a wonderful cup of tea from loose leaves without heavy sediment at the base of your cup. Coffee still produces a bit of sediment (read: sludge) at the base of your mug but it stays at the bottom for the most part. I do get a craving for coffee here and there during the day and I think I’ll bring this from home to office. I used to keep it in the office in Meadville and would make cups of joe for myself and others in the office. It makes a strong, bold, European brew (read: grows hair on a frog) and not everyone is partial to it. However, you can adjust the strength by the amount of grounds added and the time you allow it to brew.

Getting back to the title, what do I mean by “green” coffee? Well, for starters, there’s less waste involved with a press. You simply add the coffee grounds to the glass, add hot water, then after several minutes of steeping, push the wire-mesh plunger to the base of the glass and voila! A fresh cup of coffee awaits you at the top. Presses are much easier for single cup use. You don’t require a separate, small coffee pot or single use brewer to make one cup of coffee. You don’t throw away “pods” or “K-cups” after each freshly brewed cup. You can also use a larger French press to make single servings. You just need to make sure your measurements are to your taste, of course.

It’s also a money saving tool. One day I noticed we had a Keurig K-cup machine in our office. I thought it may be a nice way to have a single cup of coffee here and there at work. I then checked the cost of Keurig K-cups. Hm, no thanks. They’re pretty expensive. They’re also very wasteful. The K-cup is typically a small plastic cup with foil lid. One of these per cup…that adds up. I’m not a total skeptic of Keurig, though. They do make similar machines which can utilize a reusable stainless mesh brewing cup. Unfortunately, the unit in our office does not.

If you want high quality coffee at your desk or home without the requirement of a coffee pot, check out the French press. It’s really great for offices which have policies against employees keeping their own mini-pot in their cube. May I also mention it’s a super idea for those of you which are required to pay into a monthly “coffee club” at work. Ours just took a hike to $20/month. For that kind of money, shoot, I’ll make my own!

IKEA for bathroom

2009-03-18T05:59:00.000-07:00

The above is a photo of the guest 1/2 bath. Using an IKEA Vurm wine bottle holder, I created a 4-towel holder (as originally seen on IKEAHacker). Utilizing Bygel rails and plastic containers, I created makeup/brush storage caddies. To the left (out of view) is another Bygel rail with one large Bygel metal baskets holding hair care products as well as a Bygel hook holding my hairdryer. It's very organized and suits me well when getting ready in the morning. I also have a Grundtal TP roll holder that's sitting on the counter waiting to be installed. Guess I better get on that...

New Computer AKA My Boyfriend Rules

2009-03-17T12:24:00.000-07:00

Note the brand spanking new monitor sitting on my desk in yesterday’s post of office photos. Attached to the monitor is a (good as) new computer! Thanks to my awesome boyfriend, I now have a desktop computer for my office. With some components he had hanging around his home office, he was able to turn an older Dell computer into a fully functioning unit. The computer is currently utilizing Linux (Ubuntu) as an operating system. I purchased a new 22” Samsung monitor from Newegg for less than $200 to complete the package. For the cost of a new monitor, I have a new computer. It’s a pretty good deal all around, if you ask me. I get a new computer. My boyfriend gets to do some fun computer construction. We put some computer parts hanging out on a shelf to good use. Yep, a win-win for all involved. Well, at least I think so, anyway! :)

So now, I have the best of three operating systems: Windows [desktop] PC (at work), Linux [desktop] and Mac[book Pro] at home. I’m now a wee bit of a nerd, eh? Oh, and if you’re interested, Newegg is having a ridiculous St. Pat’s Day (one day only!) sale. There’s a Hanns-G 19” LCD monitor on sale for 99 bucks. It’s an off brand but has some pretty great reviews. Sooo…if you’re in the market for a new monitor (or other electronics / computer components) check out Newegg today.

Turbo Jam Advanced Rip You Up Rotation - Modified

2009-03-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

WEEK 1
1. Cardio Party 3
2. 3T-Totally Tubular Turbo
3. Tae Bo Cardio Circuit 2 & Ab Jam
4. Fat Blaster
5. Cardio Party 2
6. Booty Sculpt & Tae Bo Cardio Circuit 1
7. Semi-Rest:Ab Jam - 10 minutes

WEEK 2:
1. Cardio Party 3 w/floor ver. of AB Jam
2. Booty Sculpt and Tae Bo Cardio Circuit 1
3. Cathe Friedrich’s Kick, Punch, & Crunch
4. Fat Blaster & 3T - Totally Tubular Turbo
5. Lower Body Jam
6. Cardio Party 2 & Ab Jam Standing and floor
7. Walk, bike, or hike

WEEK 3
1. Tae Bo Cardio Circuit 1 and Fat Blaster
2. Cathe Friedrich’s Kick, Punch, & Crunch
3. Turbo Sculpt & AB Jam floor version
4. Cardio Party 1
5. Fat Blaster and Ab Jam (standing)
6. Lower Body Jam & Cardio Party 3
7. Rest

WEEK 4
1. Cardio Party 1 & Turbo Sculpt
2. Pilates, yoga, or other light exertion
3. Cathe’s Kick, Punch, & Crunch
4. Fat Blaster and 3T-Totally Tubular Turbo
5. Cardio Party 2
6. Tae Bo Cardio Circuit 2
7. Lower Body Jam

Just posting this as a bookmark for myself and for others currently using Turbo Jam. Because I don't have a copy of Kick, Punch, & Jam out of the TJ lineup, I substituted Tae Bo and Cathe Friedrich DVDs. I'm currently doing this rotation and it's working well and keeping me motivated. Way more motivated than P90X...Wow.

A Much Improved Office

2009-03-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is a set of photos displaying my completed office. I'll be posting one room transformation each day this week.

My office is filled with IKEA stuff...oh my. The desk is a 4 x 4 IKEA Expedit shelf with attached Expedit desk add-on. To the side of the desk are two Andy metal drawer units stacked one on top of the other. The small bench is an IKEA Apa toybox which I currently have a stack of magazines, word puzzles, and books stashed. The chair is an IKEA Poang. If you go to an IKEA location, it's the one with the nutcrusher weight being dropped into it to display its superior chair performance. I used a 2 x 4 Expedit with Branas baskets to create a wardrobe of sorts. My office chair is a Gaiam fitness ball chair. Despite its odd appearance, it's great for the lower back. The funky paper lights are also from IKEA - one being the standing/floor type and the others are lantern style. Their name currently escapes me. The big open space that constitutes 1/2 of the room is my workout area. Next weekend's project is my DIY weight rack. I'm waiting for some better weather, as I'll have to take it outside or to the firehouse to paint it. Unless I want to huff paint fumes in the apartment. Ehh, probably not...

Apartment design by IKEA

2009-03-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

You’ll notice I keep Ikea Hacker in my side bar here. It’s one of my favorite places to lurk, actually. Really, IKEA itself is one of my favorite places to lurk around. I suppose I’m not “lurking” around, but rather hurriedly pushing a cart around trying to remember which bin or aisle whatever piece of furniture I had my eye on is located. Anyway, I went to the Conshohocken IKEA for the third time over the weekend. I’ve got to say, this IKEA location is much more convenient and easier to navigate than the Pittsburgh IKEA. I think Conshohocken is one of the older stores, but I’m not sure.

Right, so, Saturday I had a daytime date with my favorite Swedish home outfitter. This time around, I didn’t buy much in the line of furniture, but went more for the décor side of things. We were in need of some shelving solutions, wall and table decoration, mirrors, window coverings, plants, and small furniture pieces – side tables and a filing cabinet. For a reasonable price, I walked out with a fairly full cart of products. Outside of furniture, I haven’t REALLY gotten into décor pieces at IKEA. Typically, by the time I reach the area of the store containing candles, plants, and decorative art and vases, I’m burnt out and just want to go home. This time around, I didn’t linger very long on the display floor. I quickly breezed through it to get to the kitchen area, picked up 2 or 3 pieces and carried on to the marketplace. It was busy, but I was able to browse around and find a lot of interesting items.

The great thing about IKEA is the pricing. It’s quite affordable. Many may complain the articles are shoddy and of poor quality, but honestly, I’ve had few issues with their products. I could possibly understand the complaint if the item was used in a high-traffic or high-wear application. In the case of high-wear items like sofas, mattresses, or office chairs, I’d probably buy higher quality. But then again, IKEA does offer some reasonable products in these categories. In the case of lesser-wear furniture, IKEA products work well. I’ve only had issues with a couple IKEA items. I purchased some inexpensive shelving in college (Fjus, I believe) which turned out to be rather unattractive and wobbly. I purchased a Noresund nightstand at my last apartment in Meadville and its hardware was ill-fitting. Really, I like the stuff and it works well.

Because I’m a spazz for home decorating shows on TLC, Style, and HGTV, IKEA is obviously appealing. With its awesome displays and home set-ups on the display floor, you can garner a lot of decorating ideas from a visit to the store. Typically, I try to do my homework in advance and plan the rooms accordingly, using the IKEA website to pick and choose furnishings/décor. I like modern, simple, clean pieces. I dislike clutter, junky trinkets, and generally “ugly” design. I’ve also been trying to apply more and more tips I pick up from decluttering shows like Clean House and Clean Sweep to simplify our space and make it easier to find things. I used to be a fairly messy individual (but nowhere near the level of messiness as shown on Clean House…sweet Jesus I don’t know how those people can walk around their home), but I’ve become much, much better at home organization. Not only is organization functional, but organizational, simple design is very appealing and relaxing when entering a room.

I had a couple projects in mind when stepping into IKEA on Saturday:

• Give the bedroom a relaxing, complete appearance.
• Create a large photo collage in the living room hallway
• Create a wine glass rack / shelf for above the buffet and wine rack.
• Get some tabletop décor and plants for the offices and living room
• Spruce up the master bath
• Find a good shelf for cookbooks in the kitchen
• Finish the lighting in my office
• Find curtains / blinds

I accomplished all tasks on the lists except for “find blinds and curtains.” Fail. Home Depot has the exact blinds/shades I am looking for, but they didn’t have them available in the proper size. Well, actually they did, but they were sold out. They were also on clearance price. Major bummer.

What I will try to do in the next couple weeks is give small photo tutorials on each home project I complete. The bedroom project is about 90% complete. The kitchen is about 75% complete. I have a unique DIY project for a dumbbell rack which I will also unveil in the next few weeks. I also have the photo collage, which may take more than a few weeks. Basically I’m telling you if you’re not interested in home design and yuppie home fashion, don’t read my blog for a few weeks.

Workouts and Such

2009-03-06T09:48:00.000-08:00

A couple months ago, I purchased the 2 disk Turbo Jam Maximum results set on half.com on the cheap. I tried a few of the shorter workouts included, liked them, but then stopped and tried to convert back over to P90X. I lasted about 3 weeks with P90X. Right now, I’m just finding it unappealing. I don’t want to commit to it as a full-time program. I’ve still been popping in a couple of the P90X strength workouts, but I’ve switched my focus a little more to cardio. I started this week with just cardio. Tae Bo and Turbo Jam only. I’m really having a blast with it and gaining energy.

To keep motivated, I’ve accumulated a bit of an “arsenal” of kickboxing DVDs, mostly Tae Bo circuits. Because I really enjoy Turbo Jam, I decided to take it up a level and get the TJ “Elite” set of DVDs, which currently seem to hold better reviews than the Maximum Results set. If you’re interested in trying them, I also STRONGLY urge you to buy smart. Purchase them used or new on eBay, half.com, or Amazon only! Shipping is also much faster from private sellers on eBay or Amazon. Plus, you can score a much better price through private sellers. And seriously, don’t pirate them. They’re worthwhile programs, so pay for them! If you do decide to buy direct from Beachbody or Billy Blanks, just make sure to read the fine print or you may see some unwanted charges on your card. Just sayin’.

So much of being successful in fitness lies in your own personal motivation. If you’re not really feeling up to a workout or dislike it entirely, it’s pretty difficult to garner the motivation to do it. Plus, we’re all different. What may work for one person may not work well for another. As I move forward, I realize I should include more strenuous cardio or running into my daily routines. I know from experience that running did me well, but I overdid it and injured my knee. Likewise, I may REALLY enjoy cardio workouts, but I also need to incorporate a couple days of weight lifting to build strength and better my metabolism. I really made running and cardio work for me after college, but I didn’t learn to mix it up with strength. It left me with conditioned legs and a “skinny fat” upper body. By “skinny fat” I mean I was small but lacked muscular strength. I started to understand the “skinny fat” concept and bought P90X to help attain balance. It worked for a while, but then I missed running and missed kickboxing. Too much focus on weight lifting made me feel sluggish. The three intense weekly weight routines plus ab routines of P90X may have been bringing me down more than helping me. Their length, 65-70 minutes total per workout, just seems to be a little too long for my liking. I was attempting to do them in the morning, too. For a while, it was awesome. You have wonderful energy throughout the day. After some time, though, I began feeling sluggish throughout the day and found myself arriving late to work.

It amazes me how in one week I’ve picked my energy back up through cardio. At the middle of this week, I switched over to late afternoon workouts and cannot believe how much more motivated I feel and how many more calories I burn. My muscles aren’t starting cold and I’m able to eat a protein-filled snack one hour prior to working out. I don’t feel as tense or stiff the next day and I already feel the difference in energy. So far I’ve only been doing Turbo Jam or Tae Bo. I would like to add some strength to the mix. I think I will try Jari Love’s “Get Ripped” tonight. I was originally going to use P90X: Shoulders & Arms, but eh, I think I need a long break from it. I don’t want to get burnt out now. I also picked up a couple Cathe Friedrich strength routines. I’ll only incorporate one of these per week as they are TOUGH. Once I get more in shape, I’d like to consider adding a Cathe step workout here and there. Right now, I know they’re well above my fitness level.

Making Grains Fun

2009-02-26T05:14:00.000-08:00

I keep a lot of bulk grains in the cupboard - rice (jasmine, Texmati, pilaf, Basmati, wild), quinoa, couscous, bulgar wheat, and barley. I love eating the stuff, but there's times I have no idea how to cook it in a flavorful manner. Using the wonderful internet, I've found some excellent recipes for those grains hanging out in the cupboard. I'm going to give a couple tried and true recipes for each of the grains. Reading through these, I realize I haven't had some of these in some time. Hmm, they're getting added to the meal plan! I tried the quinoa recipe last night and it's absolutely fantastic. Also, as a tip, when buying your grains (or legumes), buy in bulk (dry) and store in glass or plastic containers.

Quinoa
Lemon and Herb Quinoa (delicious!)

Bulgar wheat
Traditional Taboulleh

Orzo
Greek Orzo Salad

Barley
Asian Bulgur, Barley, and Broccoli Stir Fry (note that the photo is one of mine!)

Brown (or any) Rice
Easy Stuffed Peppers

Couscous
Spicy Couscous

Chickpeas (I'll throw in a legume for fun)
Chana Masala

Lentils
French Lentil Soup

Jasmine Rice
Jasmine Pilaf

*Image courtesy of Greenpeace

Houseplants, Cavities, and Push-ups

2009-02-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

Because we have an apartment with big, sunny windows, we keep a fair amount of houseplants. I love houseplants, but haven't had much experience with them until now. Previously, my experience with horticulture involved an outdoor garden and flower beds. The indoor stuff is just a wee bit different. It's a bit more fussy than my pumpkin patch, IMO.

We have a stock of small to medium houseplants now hanging out on our windowsills. Two of them have been looking ill as of late. Chris, several weeks ago, noticed a web forming on a palm-type plant. Uh-oh. Turned out to be a common pest (mite). I noticed my other plant, which I got from my grandfather's funeral was looking a bit sickly. I wasn't sure what sort of houseplant it was when I received it, but after some perfunctory research on the internet, I found it. It's a croton. Not a crouton on your salad, but a croton. It was gorgeous when i received it - fiery colors, full foliage, a stunning plant. Now, not so much. As I've found, it's one of the toughest houseplants to raise. Bugger. I'm going to attempt to nurse it back to its former glory. It requires sunlight, humidity, continuous warmth, and lots of watering. Holy crap this plant was NOT designed for a PA winter!

Anyway, thanks to some very helpful guides online, I've determined I need to move the plants around to better suit their light exposure requirements. I also need to water the one plant (croton) much more often and make sure it doesn't catch a chill. Hooray for the internet!

I went to the dentist earlier today and found I need to have 2 cavities filled. I've never had cavities filled, so this basically blows. Luckily I now have dental insurance...otherwise, it would have blown even worse. Other than that, the exam went well.

I started day one of P90X today. Chest and Back. Considering I've done it a couple times before in the past few weeks, it wasn't so bad. I increased reps on a couple of the push-ups. I actually (gasp) enjoyed the push-ups this morning. The pull-ups, yeah, not so much!

I also made a stop at the Allentown DMV today to renew my license. I tried to do this over the weekend at the Dublin DMV, but the guy at the counter was extremely rude and condescending and because of my address change, I had to wait for new paperwork to come in the mail before I could get the camera card updated. Luckily, the staff at Allentown was friendly and helpful. I mean, I know DMV employees have a bad rap to begin with, but the guy at Dublin was a downright asshole. Thanks to the folks at Allentown for helping me out. Maybe, uh, give some pointers to the gentleman at Dublin, eh?

So now I have a shiny new driver's license. And I'm 25 now. So uh, I can rent cars, beach properties, and get better prices on my car insurance. Hmm, I liked the benefits of my 21st birthday MUCH better...

Thoughts from a P90X Failure

2009-02-24T07:31:00.001-08:00

I still get a massive amount of page views on this blog for my P90X posts. Obviously some folks made new years resolutions with Mr. Tony Horton.

I bought the program in the spring of 2007. I initially made it 45 or so days through (continuous, sticking to the program) and lost about 15 pounds and gained a fair amount of upper body strength. I hit a plateau at that point, got frustrated, and quit. I gave up and went back to my old routine of running. I didn't take before and after photos, sorry. I lack accountability, obviously. I tried it again in the latter part of 2008 and just couldn't complete it. I made up a lot of excuses and other bullshit, but when it comes down to it, I didn't put the effort into it. I didn't hold myself very accountable for the workouts outside of posting blurbs in this blog (which by the way, I totally feel like an ass for making a big "to do" about the program then never completing it). I also never really had a proper set up for the workout. Yeah, not good.

If you're in the same predicament, maybe you just won't finish the 90 days exactly according to plan. I've tried it, and I have a couple gripes with the program that basically prevent me from doing it to spec. I'm starting it again. I did a preliminary start two weeks ago, but realized I (again) wouldn't get far as I was missing some equipment (HR monitor) and wasn't tracking calories (an absolute must).

In start up, I know the following to be true:

I hate Yoga X. Let me say that again: I hate Yoga X. I will continue to act like a stubborn two year old and will not do this workout. You probably won't find this advice in many other places you happen to find on Google. Most people "dislike" the DVD but seem to only dispense the advice of "forget it and just push play." Most people that dispense advice on the subject want yoga simply for a workout and added flexibility and none of the new age (dirty hippie) reasons. I think the DVD is a weak link in the program and aggravates me instead of relaxes me. This DVD may get on your nerves, too. But then again, you may really like it. Good on you! I don't. I guess I'll substitute something else so I don't lose sight of progress because of this stumbling block.

Get the right equipment. It's key that you have easily usable weights. By easily usable I mean you have the weights you need, at hand, to do each workout. Because I'm cheap, I never really fixed this error. I was pausing the tape to fuck around with the weights and lost time. I've since fixed the problem. Go me! As for other equipment, I recommend using a pull up bar. The bands did little for me. I have one of the handy dandy Iron Gym removable doormount bars. It was a worthwhile purchase! I also recommend a good yoga mat (I have a $20 Gaiam one) and weightlifting gloves (especially when doing pull ups). One thing I skipped out on (due to the price) was a heart rate monitor. I'm a dumbass and had no idea these actually monitor your calories and give you a nifty read out that can be programmed into your computer. Basically, they're an awesome geek toy. I owned up and bought a Polar F6 yesterday from Amazon. I hope to have it soon. Everyone seems to recommend them, so hopefully it works well and keeps me on track.

Keep a workout space. This was something that was impossible during my last stint of P90X. We had a one bedroom apartment at the time and had to workout in front of the TV without much space to move. It's not really a dedicated space and equipment needed to be packed and put away at the end of each workout to avoid tripping on it. You make due with what you have, but man, it's much easier to work out in my own dedicated workout space (in my office) now.

Don't bonk on carb reduction. I don't follow the "one carb" and "one fruit" serving rule suggested in the diet plan. I won't be crass, but I'll just say that following the recommended plan (very high protein) causes me to be a little backed up, if you know what I mean.

Prepare foods in advance. I was really good about doing this the first go-round, then slacked off by the second. This is crucial to eating well. ALWAYS pack a lunch, always ensure you have healthful meals ready to go. This can seriously make or break your program. This is the BIGGEST thing I struggled with at the end of last year. I just got lazy. Laziness leads to take out. Take out leads to tight pants. So does holiday food. Attempting to start a round of P90X before the holidays may have been a little stupid on my part.

Take the damn photos. I didn't do this. I actually did this a couple weeks ago. Heck, I even started posting on the Beachbody forums. I was somewhat turned off by the Beachbody forums (initially) as they had more graphics and blingees than a fifteen year old's Myspace page, but now they're toned down. They are a good source of motivation and have a host of inspiring before and after photos. You can also use WOWY (Work out With You) to track your daily workouts and enter contests for prizes. This, along with TheDailyPlate (not typically recommended on the forums, but so much better than FitDay) are helpful.

I realized so many of the reasons why I've failed at this program could have been prevented from the start. I didn't want to start it again until I got myself into better habits, had a more organized living and workout space, and had a definite schedule I could stick with. I mean, I even started it a couple weeks ago THINKING I was ready, but I wasn't. I'm going to restart it tomorrow. It's Ash Wednesday. Outside of the religious sense, I think it's a good time for some renewal and sacrifice. It's also a really awesome time to politely turn down cookies, cake, and other crap that I can't seem to stop eating. It's culinary crack to me. If I start to eat the stuff, then I continue to get a jones for it and then I can't stop. If I'm eating more than one serving of that sugary goodness (well, badness actually) per week, I've got a problem. Sounds trite, but I bet other ladies know what I'm talking about. I downed a Birthday Cake Remix this weekend pretty fast. They're good, but damn, have you ever seen the calorie count on them? Oh my God. Don't look. It's awful. It's also my biggest downfall to weight loss and I need to STOP IT. Enough of the motivational bullshit, I just need to get to work on this. Who's with me?

Travels in Dutch Land

2009-02-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

Sorry for the absence, I've been out on some business trips the past week. The first was to the greater Chicago area and the second was to the greater Lancaster (PA) area. Y'know, land of the Amish...and awesomely fattening homemade foods.

A highlight of the first trip was seeing the full skylines of both New York City and Chicago within a few hours of one another. Awesome. How do you time it such that both cities are clear (weather-wise) and in your travel plans?

I tried two new chain restaurants on the Chicago trip - Maggiano's Little Italy and the Atlanta Bread Company. Maggiano's decor was IMPRESSIVE. Very grand, very opulent 40s mobster style. Lots of photos of Frank Sinatra on the wall. Their menu consisted of namely homestyle Italian pasta and meat dishes. I wasn't feeling anything heavy, so I ordered the fire roasted tomato soup and a chop salad. The soup was fantastic. The salad was, well, a chopped salad. Their homestyle Italian vinaigrette was good. Not too heavy, not too light. Funny, I've never heard of this place before. I checked the store locator and the closest is in King of Prussia. Might be a good meal choice if we happen to be at the mall. I'd give Maggiano's 4 out of 5 stars. Great service, great atmosphere, pretty decent menu, and reasonable prices. As a side note - the portion size on main dishes (which I did not order) is ridiculous. One pasta or meat dish is EASILY enough to feed two adults.

Atlanta Bread reminds me of Panera. Similar decor, similar menu, but waaaay better food. Wow. I got a bowl of French Onion soup and was actually impressed. I used to really love most of Panera's soup line-up, but the past few times I've been there it's been so-so. Their black bean soup used to be fantastic, but the last time I had it I was disappointed. I also had a simple Greek salad at ABC and enjoyed it as well. Again, better than Panera. Unfortunately, it seems the closest location is in New Jersey. We don't exactly venture into Jersey to catch a bite to eat.

The second trip of the week was to the Lancaster area, thus a driving trip. On my way home it was a beautiful day. Weather in the 40s, clear skies, not a lot of road traffic. I took a small detour and picked up groceries and pantry staples at Shady Maple near Blue Ball. Blue Ball...ahhh, that's dirty. Most people think of the Smorgasboard when they hear Shady Maple. However, in front of the gargantuan Smorgasboard are two stores - Shady Maple grocery and Good's Store (housewares, clothing, durable goods, tools, garden supplies). I go out of my way to get to this grocery store because their selection of local foods and meats is fantastic. They also have a pretty extensive selection of bulk goods pre-packaged in the back of the store. Their prices are superb, too. For example, one large container (4-5 servings) of Five Star Farms organic yogurt is 3.89. Comparable price at Giant stores: 5.75. As a note, if you've never tried this yogurt, find some. My mom recommended it to me from across the state. I read the back of the label and realized it's made about 30 or so miles from where I live in Phoenixville, PA. Awesome.

The drive home from Blue Ball was great. Being that it was a sunny day, it really illuminated all the farmland on the backroads home. Considering it was also my birthday on Friday, it made for a nice bit of relaxing "me time."

For my birthday dinner, Chris took me to Eastern Dragon, a local Chinese & Japanese restaurant. It's now my favorite in the area. He had a combo of shrimp and chicken General Tso's and I had a sushi plate. Hooray for sushi!

Saturday was the fire company banquet at the local Moose. I had been on the planning committee and had some work to do earlier in the day - setting up tables, centerpieces, etc. The even went really well. It seemed that everyone was having fun and there were a lot of compliments about the food. It's sort of amazing to see what sorts of attire people arrive in. You have a majority of the attendees dressed in semi-formal attire - shirts and ties, cocktail dresses, pants suits, etc. Then you have the other end of the spectrum who arrives in...a mismatched track suit. Stacy and Clinton would agree with me that this is what NOT TO WEAR to a dinner banquet. Have we really become such a "comfy" society that this is somehow acceptable?

Sunday we woke up late and attended a breakfast at the Haycock VFD. You can't go wrong with $6 buffet-style breakfast. Especially after some drinking the night before. Mmm...pancakes.

Fight the Power(s to be)

2009-02-12T05:10:00.001-08:00

This has nothing to do with Public Enemy, the title just expresses my white girl rage at credit card companies. Because of the wonderful economic downturn, lots of suckas ain't paying their credit cards. Major credit card companies are now sticking it to us cardholders by jacking up our rates, lowering our available credit, and changing our payment due dates (fuck you Chase). Some are also increasing minimum payments from 2% to 5% of the balance. That's one HELLUVA wake-up call when your bill suddenly spikes up!

I know, some suckas got us into this by charging everything and not being fiscally responsible. These same suckas may have also been prone to late payments. Some of us, even whilst carrying balances on cards, are able to pay them off on time each month. I've only had 2 late payments in my life. Out of sheer stupidity, really. Forgetting one was due, for one, and scheduling a payment on one one day past the due date without realizing it. Yeah, shit happens, right? Well now the credit card companies decided to rain shit down all over all of us.

I call bullshit. I've been working diligently to pay off balances accrued through college and unemployment times. I follow tips from frugal blogs, read "Everyday Cheapskate" by Mary Hunt each morning (and take advice from it!), cook at home to save money, have the Tightwad Gazette on order (as I understand it's the cream of the frugal crop), and I pay my bills in full and on time to avoid late fees. I also haven't used a credit card for some time now. Best way to pay 'em off is to keep them out of reach, eh? Yep. I have a good credit score. And now I get punished.

Last month I noticed my Chase minimum payment was doubled. It's not a high minimum to begin with and I pay over the minimum anyway, but it still pissed me off. Read this blog and the following comments and you'll see I'm not alone. This isn't some scheme to affect those with bad credit or poor payment history, this is fucking everyone over. So much for being a good consumer, right?

The only thing to do now is continue to aggressively pay down my debt. I've got much better financial habits than I did in college and am now following plans and guides to attain debt-free (or close) living (free of credit card debt, student loans, and car payments). The behavior of our credit industry sickens me. I'm past being angry with myself for making some stupid purchases in college - I get it, I learned my lesson and I'm paying for it. Luckily I've always paid for it on time and never had to resort to debt counseling or whatnot. Still, there seems to be little accountability in our banking and finance world, and now we, the consumers, are getting fucked.

I, for one, want to fight the power and stand up for my rights. If you see erroneous charges, interest rate hikes (outta nowhere), or super-increased minimum payments, CALL THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY AND FIGHT IT. See what you can do. You may not be able to fight it off completely, but you may be able to see a decrease or a less severe "punishment." If you feel there's been a severe breach of your credit terms, just call. It can't hurt.

The only positive I see in this pool of shit is that others, like me, are working aggressively to pay down credit card debt and avoid it.

Sam's Club Versus Costco...Showdown!

2009-02-11T05:37:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been contemplating a membership to a club store. It's okay to piggyback off of another membership for a while, but it can be difficult arranging schedules to shop at the same time. I think it may be best to just get our own membership. Now the tough decision is...which club? We have a handful of Sam's Club stores, and one Costco store about 20 minutes south. I'll list the Pros for each store:

Sam's Club PROS
1. Cheaper membership
2. 4 miles from my office
3. Easy parking
4. Offers oil changes / car service (good)
5. Now carries fair trade and organic brands (also very good)
6. Has a good selection of meats, fruits, and vegetables
7. Offers samples (free lunch)
8. Generous return policy

Sam's Club CONS
1. Not in the best area
2. Offers more commercial / office goods
3. Packages are sometimes TOO large
4. Less customer service
5. Only convenient if I'm there after work - weekends, it's super busy
6. Fewer membership add-ons and perks
7. Clothing is so-so (but they do have good prices on socks)
8. Closest location is not a large location, but a smaller one.

Costco PROS
1. Offers more luxury goods
2. Is in a more affluent area (not meant to be snobbish - it is)
3. Offers more common, household brands
4. Offers free samples (again, hello lunch)
5. Has a nice selection of DVDs and books
6. Location is fairly large
7. Nice selection of vegetables and fruits
8. Frozen selection is also very good

Costco CONS
1. Area is super congested
2. Parking lot is a pain in the ass
3. Can only go to this location on weekends
4. Did I mention traffic is hellish here?
5. Food deals aren't as great
6. Membership is more expensive
7. Family members already have a membership here
8. Probably wouldn't be too great for oil changes (again, congested)

At this point, I'm leaning toward Sam's Club. We have a tie to a membership with Costco, and if we really want, we can go there and shop. If we have a Sam's membership, we can do the same for someone else. My parents have been members of Sam's Club for a looooong time (since the early 90s, at least) and I'm more familiar with their brands and such. I've only been to Costco once so far. I didn't see massive differences in the products sold. The local Costco isn't a long drive, but it's a massive pain in the ass on the weekends. The store itself is busy, and traffic SUCKS in that area. The parking lot and store setup is a bit annoying, too. Sam's Club is set up similar to Wal-Mart. The parking lot isn't huge, but on lunch breaks or evenings, it's not near as congested as Costco. Unfortunately, it's sort of a weird drive to get over to Sam's Club after a workday. There's another about 8 miles east of my workplace which has shining reviews (it must be newer) so I suppose that's also a consideration.

I'm leaning toward Sam's...but feel free to discuss! (I uh, already gave you the topic)

Back to normal...with TV highlights!

2009-02-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

I must have shaken whatever stomach virus, gastroenteritis, plague I had last week. I feel much better. Now it’s back to the normal grind.

I don’t think I mentioned it, but we moved into a new apartment. Not feeling well coupled with boxes to unpack didn’t make a super week last week. We got some work done this weekend, namely in the kitchen, offices, and dining area. Having an organized, spacious kitchen is great. I planned things a little better this time and set it up in such a way that meal and food prep is a little more organized. Things are much easier to put away and I think this will help immensely in keeping things tidy. Now I can also get back to making homemade, healthful, tasty meals. I’ve gotten off course the past few weeks. I think I’m actually sick of Wawa food…yeah, it’s possible.

I’ve been a bit remiss in checking my Google blog stats. My number one search term is now “Duggar family.” I write one blog post about them and BAM! Everybody’s looking for it. There’s definitely NO way my commentary about their television show is a top pick for internet searches. There’s too many others out there with more uh, colorful opinions about the family. And the Gosselin family, too. You know, the other ginormous family featured on TLC? Apparently they, too, live in the great state of Pennsylvania. Until last week, I had never seen their show, Jon & Kate + 8. So I watched it, of course. They visited Dutch Wonderland. I remember doing that as a kid. But um, I remember it being a lot more awesome than what I saw on the screen. And I certainly remember it being a lot more awesome an experience than those kids were having. The screaming on that show just…ugh. I watched two episodes and shut the TV off. I don’t mind watching the Duggar family (fundamentalist nonsense aside), but this family. Sweet Christ, no. I can’t watch a half hour of it without my blood pressure shooting through the ceiling.

Yeah, I watched more television than normal last week. I also watched Nickelodeon on the late night simply because all other channels were broadcasting infomercials. It made me nostalgic watching Family Matters reruns. Those ended and turned over to some shitty cartoon, so I switched to MTV. I haven’t actively (I’m not counting passively watching it at the gym – I’m not in control of the channels there) watched MTV in, let’s say a year or so. Made was on. It’s one show that’s amusing, but at times, oh-so-annoying to view. Case in point: Two girly girls (best friends) aim to become survivalists. I don’t think either of them wanted to do this on their own, no. It had to be some sort of suggestion – like, what is the polar opposite of your self image now? You’re currently tanned, have extremely nice autos, and are dressed to the nines. You spend a lot of money on clothing. You bum your parents credit cards and enjoy your shoe collection. How abouts we send your asses packing into the woods and see how you fare. Spoiler alert: the girls get a wilderness coach and have the typical coaching sessions. The coach went waaay too easy on the one girl, who ends up dropping out of the running before the end of the show. She copped an attitude and left her friend in the dust, basically. She does apologize, but eh, not a very kind thing to do to your best friend, IMO. The other girl surprisingly goes to Alaska and does well with a two week wilderness experience. I was impressed that she pulled it off and hope she learned a few things on her way.

Then again...the participant did admit she needed to gain more control of her life and get “real world” skills. She may also want to consider not tanning every day of the week. Same for her buddy. I know that tanning bed is nice and warm and that tan hides your flaws, but uh, it’s turning you a very scary shade of brown. (Side note: Seeing it in HD on a large TV screen was even more painful. Hello? MTV? Could you turn down the color saturation!?) And after a couple years of that (daily) bad habit, welcome to wrinkles and a leathery complexion. I used to do that stuff maybe 1-2x per week late in my high school years and some of the way through college. It’s about as shitty for you as smoking. Plus, it’s an expensive habit and turns your skin a rather funky tone (and texture...ugh). And also, that expensive bronzer lotion stinks like hell post-tan. Gag a maggot. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat addictive (like they said) and you THINK it’s hiding your imperfections. Tanorexia. Even a doctor told me some acne sufferers will find relief with once per week tanning. I used that “advice” for a while. I don’t trust this doctor at all anymore. Even with a once per week habit, I was pretty damn dark. And I still had breakouts. Medical advice, my ass. By the way, here’s me (chubby and really fake). I don’t even want to imagine what I’d look like if I went everyday. I’d probably look like: A)George Hamilton B)this, C) a female Guido or D) worse than these girls on this Made show. Girls, seriously, if you’ve stumbled upon this blog – please, for the love of your skin (and appearance) don’t tan everyday!

It's Goin' Around

2009-02-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Ah yes, winter time sickness. Last year, maybe around March I experienced some fairly debilitating illness that landed me at home in bed for 2.5 days. The .5 was the afternoon I took from work when I realized the work bathrooms were waaaay too nasty to vomit in. I blame most of last year's illness on being stubborn and not getting a flu shot. Flu shot? Psssh yeah, I'm stronger than THAT! (HA! Wrong!)

Fast forward to November of this year when, like a good adult, I got a flu shot. I thought "oh yes, this is a good idea!" Well, it is, don't get me wrong, but it doesn't provide protection against the common cold or average stomach virus. I feel like I have some sort of hybrid of both right now. Hoarse voice, cough, stuffy head, nausea, and a funky, gurgling stomach (yeah, yeah, TMI). I can't really decide what exactly it is, but I haven't felt real super the past couple days. The nausea and stomach part didn't kick in until last night. I was just congested and hoarse over the weekend. I know chest colds have been going around, as have head colds. Chris had the latter - I'd say we shared that one (aw, how romantic!) As for this stomach issue - it's odd. It's as if I picked this up on top of my winding down chest cold. A couple guys at the firehouse last night were out due to this stomach bug, and a few had just recovered from it. It didn't sound pretty. Nor fun. More like a hot date with the toilet and a can of A-Treat Ginger ale. Or Coke classic. Y'know, whichever trips your trigger and stops your puking...or uh, pooping.

So for now, I'm going to sit here and finish my chicken soup and hope I don't have to run to the bathroom. There's honestly nothing worse than being sick in a public bathroom. Ew.

Taxes! Yay!

2009-01-28T11:13:00.000-08:00

I just proclaimed "Aww, sweet!" when the admin assistant dropped off my W2 form moments ago.

It's official: I am actually looking forward to preparing my taxes this year. Hooray for learning how to take advantage of deductions I'd been missing! Did you know you can claim mileage + moving fees when moving for a new job? Yup. You can also claim mileage for charitable activities. Don't forget to claim any unreimbursed medical expenses, also. If you're a volunteer firefighter, you can claim mileage on calls. Just make sure to keep an accurate record of your call attendance for the tax year, though. PA is also offering a $100 tax credit for volunteer firefighters to claim on their state taxes. More here.

I'm also happy I began to use TurboTax last year. It's a very handy tool for taxes when you're deduction-happy. Just make sure to keep all your papers and receipts in order and ready for when you begin entering on TurboTax.

Do you know if you're taking advantage of deductions? There are some good articles over at the FiveCentNickel to get you started. Also check TaxBrain's tax calculator for a preview of what your refund (or amount owed) will look like.

Duggars on TV

2009-01-24T11:43:00.000-08:00

I wasn't aware there's a new special on Discovery Health featuring the Duggar family...So you know, like a trainwreck, I can't look away. I'm watching it right now. It's, how do I say, amusing but disturbing. Does that make sense? It's fascinating to see how a household of 17 functions, but yet, it's also just a bit odd.

I don't think the family is hurting their children in any way. They're raising them in their belief system, and that's their right. I know some really hate their family system, but eh, I dunno. They seem to have a pretty happy household, albeit crowded and lacking privacy. I suppose what seems so wrong is while on the show just now, they displayed the family in their tour bus (of sorts) visiting the Creation Museum. Alright, it's their beliefs, I respect that, however, they spent time asking each child what they thought of the earth being 6000 years old. Each statement started with "well in the Bible..." or "Well, science isn't reliable..." THEN, right after, they ask people in the street (normal Joes) what they think of the same thing. "Uh, the world is much older than 6000 years. That's just common sense." Um, ouch? The way it was filmed just made the kids look like total idiots. I felt bad for them. It just seems like fast forward two years, they'll watch that and think "uh, wow, the public thinks we're sheltered rubes!" Just wasn't filmed in a respecting way I guess.

Side note: I read today that the Texas Board of Education recognizes the teaching of evolution in schools. Score one for science!

I can't help it that I'm a complete skeptic. I love science. I can't watch this stuff and keep a straight face. I have faith, but I'm a realist. Thank you mom and dad for teaching me about the dinosaurs and not injecting everything with religious propaganda. Thanks for sending me to Sunday school to learn some morals, but understand where to draw the line between reality and la-la land. And mom, thanks for keepin' it real and having one kid. Good grief. I don't want 1 let alone 18...

Edit: I don't know that the TV show was done to whore out the family image. I wonder if the family decided to do a TV special because the real estate business / renting commercial properties (I understand this is their livelihood) is slipping. I guess that makes sense with a $3000/month grocery bill (HOLY SHIT! I complain at $300!)

Post edit: Doin' Time, have you watched this show? You know you want to! :)

2nd Post edit: As I continue watching this, I'm gradually getting disgusted. The one who was married - yeah, his wife looks nervous as hell. Everyone is putting pressure on her about having a bunch of kids. Fuck that. Run girl! Run, run far away! Most scenes involving Jinger Duggar show she has a snarky sense of humor. I take back the above about "respect." I don't think the kids are feelin' it nor getting it.

The Front Street Cafe and Bistro

2009-01-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

Before I had officially moved to Quakertown and was visiting Chris for a weekend, we decided to try lunch at a nice cafe down the street - The Front Street Cafe and Bistro. I had a quesadilla and Chris had a burger. For seemingly normal, simple foods, the Bistro prepared them very well, and both of us were quite impressed.

Fast forward to last evening, when we decided to go out to dinner. We first drove all the way out to Center Valley to try the Copperhead Grille, as we had never been there. The sign outside read "UFC Championships, January 17, 10:00 PM, No Cover." The parking lot was jam-packed. Well, scratch that! We then thought "Hmm, what about Bubba's Potbelly Stove?" As we were driving outside of Coopersburg, we figured, "Nah, let's go somewhere else." So, we decided on The Front Street Cafe and Bistro.

Again, we were very pleased with our meal. Chris had the Tuscan Chicken entree, and I had the Chicken and Shrimp Piccata. We then had some of their (excellent) coffee, and each splurged on a dessert - creme brulee for me and chocolate mousse for Chris. (Yes, you did read that right, the health nut here does eat dessert occasionally.) Honestly, for a more upscale dining experience without the hefty price tag (or drive), The Front Street Cafe (Quakertown) is a good bet. If you are looking to have a bit of wine or beer with your meal, they're BYOB. The next time we decide to dine there, I think I'll bring along a bottle of vino for the occasion.

We had heard some rumors The Front Street Cafe was closing, but I'm not sure they're founded. I certainly hope they're not! I see on their website they're taking reservations for Valentine's Day dinner. Maybe I'll drop the hint we should go. Whoops, guess it's not a hint, considering a certain someone reads this blog...Hi Chris :)

Tae Bo - It's STILL Fun

2009-01-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

It’s the new year and fitness is all the rage, of course, thanks to new years resolutions. As a long-time user of fitness DVDs and exercise classes, I can usually sort out effective workouts from cheesy fads or overproduced hype. Just because it says “As Seen on TV” doesn’t mean it’s an ineffective fad. Take Tae Bo, for example. Its creator, Billy Blanks, has created a fitness empire, basically. This guy put aerobic kickboxing on the map. This guy actually got me interested in getting in shape. He was also the motivation for me to check out the kickboxing class at the Harborcreek YMCA, as well. (KC, if you’re reading this, I still have not found a kickboxing class as awesome as the one we used to go to at the Y, and it’s frustrating!)

I’ve purchased some fitness DVDs and programs over the past few years. I’ve really only posted full reviews and opinions regarding P90X on this blog, though. P90X (in all) is a worthwhile investment. Just make sure you’re ready for the commitment and have the ability to “bring it” as its creator, Tony Horton, says. As for Tae Bo, well, Tae Bo was the first video workout which piqued my interest. Some time in 2000, I received a pack of 2 or 3 (I can’t remember) Tae Bo VHS tapes as a gift. I believe it was the Tae Bo basic and Tae Bo intermediate workouts, with bonus 8 minute segment. This set was VERY popular at the time. Being somewhat out of shape (and lazy) at the time, it took some time for me to get into the tapes and reap their rewards. At the time, I think I was doing the longer cardio circuit 1-2 times per week with some random weightlifting and jumproping on off days. That was during high school, the time when I had limited (or no) access to a gym. Once I moved into the dorms at Penn State Behrend, I discovered something new and awesome: the Gym. First it was the Behrend gym, then it was also the local YMCA where I took classes (kickboxing, pilates, step) and ran / lifted in inclement weather. I didn’t own any workout videos at that time; my home workout consisted of strapping on some sneakers and running around the Mercyhurst campus (near my apartment at the time).

It’s been three years since I graduated college and I’ve really gotten into fitness videos. I workout in the early morning and don’t get many opportunities (due to the weather and schedule) to go for runs. I’ve been in the midst of a fitness program – The Red Carpet Ready Program – developed by Hollywood trainer, Valerie Waters. Her program is excellent, however, it leaves 3 days of the week where I need to come up with a good cardio workout. I have a maximum of 60 minutes each morning to complete a workout. At first, I used P90X Plyo X and P90X Kenpo X to fill the cardio gaps. They’re great, however, Kenpo isn’t enough of a true cardio challenge, and I’m a little bit sick of Plyo X. On a whim, I looked around for fitness video reviews through Amazon, Video Fitness, and Collage Video. I asked myself this: What do you enjoy doing? My answer: Kickboxing. I have a heckuva lot of fun doing aerobic kickboxing. I then checked out reviews on kickboxing DVDs on Video Fitness. There are a lot of kickboxing instructors out there! Sure enough, some of the best rated DVDs belonged to the Tae Bo series. With well over 30 titles, it’s no surprise, really. The last time I completed a Tae Bo workout was about 1 year ago – Celebrity Fit cardio. For some reason, I sold my copy on half.com before moving away (dumb), considering I really enjoyed it. I purchased a couple Tae Bo titles – Cardio Circuits 1 & 2, and Billy Blank’s Boot Camp series (not the elite – the Lower Body, Cardio, Abs, and Ultimate circuits).

I completed Cardio Circuit 1 on Tuesday morning. At 36 minutes, it’s not a long workout, but it’s sure effective! With series of punches, kicks, and squats, it got my heart rate up. It definitely did not disappoint. I was looking for something with intensity and kept my interest, and I think I’ve found it. Workouts from the Tae Bo series are definitely going to count for my cardio in the upcoming weeks! If you're sick of your overcrowded gym and want to work out at home, I recommend trying the Tae Bo series.

Next up (after I complete the entire set) is a review on Chalene Johnson's Turbo Jam.

The Endless Coffee Debate

2009-01-15T06:11:00.000-08:00

Should I drink that morning coffee? I've been asking myself this the past week. (I've also been staring at the photo above and thinking the coffee has a creepy smile.) On one hand, I love this stuff. On the other, it's making me jittery and not helping my stress levels at work. It's also left a bit of a strange feeling in my stomach in the early morning. The stuff is fine on the weekends. I don't drink it until later morning - 10:00 or so, and by then it seems I'm okay. I've got a hot breakfast in my stomach and it doesn't seem to irritate me as much. It also seems to be okay in the early evening, around 4:00 or so. I used to be able to consume some SERIOUS quantities of coffee in one sitting in college. I don't think my older, more mature and refined self can handle that crap.

I started drinking tea Monday morning after I finished the (very tasty) bag of "Trauma Mama" flavor Java Medic coffee I received as a Christmas gift from Chris' brother (exchange gift). Citron green tea, served with about 2 teaspoons of local honey, to be exact. My jitters are gone, that's for sure. My stress is still questionable - it's been a busy one here this week. My stomach is still sort of questionable, but I'm not sure if that's due to the absence of coffee (withdrawal symptoms) or something related to stress. It could be a combination of both. If there's one interesting thing I've noticed in giving up coffee, it's that I haven't had headaches as a withdrawal symptom (yet). When I tried this a few months ago, that was my main gripe, the headaches, that is.

Some of the reason for trying this again, in addition to the jitters and stomach reasons, involve vertigo. I've had chronic vertigo for most of my life (as far back as age 4 I had bad dizzy spells), related to some issues with my ears (balance, equilibrium). It's been shown that caffeine has a pretty negative effect on those with vertigo, causing increased inner ear symptoms, increased anxiety, and a greater chance of attack. After some other recent reading, I've also found salty foods are potential problems for those with vertigo. Water retention caused by excessively salty foods can lead to balance issues with the amount of liquid present in the inner ear. Honestly, had I not read that, I would not have made that connection.

Caffeine, unfortunately, is the one thing that helps me with hormonal migraines. Maybe not in the form of a caffeinated beverage, but rather, inside 2 Excedrin migraine tablets. I'll continue to take those as necessary. A little bit of vertigo is WAY better than a massive migraine headache.

So I guess the answer is this: don't rely on your coffee every morning. Switch to tea when possible, or test a cup of decaf (only the good kinds - Green Mountain, Dunkin, Java Medic, or Papa Nicholas). If you want the leaded stuff, leave it for the weekend and consume it in moderation, instead of 8 ounces, drink only 4. Another thought is to create your own blend - of 1/2 decaf and 1/2 mild-medium roast. Anyone else out there have any similar advice?

(As a side note on the tea: I drink green, white, herbal or rooibos (caff. free) in the morning and at times, drink a cup of black or oolong tea in the afternoon if I need a kick. Black tea typically has about half - give or take - the caffeine content of a cup of black coffee.)

I Love House

2009-01-14T06:27:00.001-08:00

I love the TV show House. I didn't really get into it until late in the game when I moved in with my boyfriend. I'm a bit mad at myself for not adding the previous seasons of House on DVD to my Netflix queue back in the days when I didn't have cable. No worry, though, all new and rerun episodes of House are recorded on DVR at our apartment now. Seriously, though, how did I miss out on this show until now? It's sarcastic, intelligent, interesting, and suspense-packed. When most television shows nowadays are reality b/s, crappy family comedy, boring crime drama or dancing/singing/ related (oh, you know what I speak of), this one stands out. I think House, along with the Office and NCIS have renewed my interest in television. There's a few others I watch on occasion with Chris - Survivorman, The Unit, How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, Flashpoint, Family Guy, Futurama, and a few other re-runs. They're all good and entertaining, but they don't stand out as much as the others.

Anyway, the reason for the post is the shirt above from ThinkGeek. Pure awesome. If you're a House fan, you get it.

Freakin' Sweet Kitchen Ideas

2009-01-12T07:31:00.001-08:00

Sometime over the holiday break, possibly on the day when I mistakenly stayed home on a "vacation" day (I wrote in "OFF WORK" for Dec. 31st in my planner, but didn't update it when I started a new job. Like an ass, I assumed wrongly!) I took a trip to Ollie's Bargain Outlet. The store can sometimes be characteristically dump-like, but occasionally you find some sweet (cheap) swag. Sweet find(s) of the day: Weight Watchers (Best of) Cookbook, Quick Fix Meals by Robin Miller (FoodTV), and The NEW Cookbook (Better Homes & Gardens, this one is CLASSIC). I got each of these for 5.99 or less! Most of these cookbooks retail for $15 or more on Amazon.com and have 4-5 star review ratings. Therefore, I scored big time. Hooray for Ollie's!

I sat down with one of my new cookbook finds - Quick Fix Meals by Robin Miller. In the book, she outlines her style of food prep involving lots of veggies and sauces. She recommends preparing any veggies, pasta, meats, or sauces on Sunday and having them in small containers or bags in the fridge, ready to go for weekday meals. Thus, when you get home on any given weekday, look in the fridge and voila! Your ingredients are prepped and ready to throw in a pan or in the stove. It's not like this concept is new or anything, but you know, sometimes I just don't plan ahead and seeing the nice photos of an organized fridge in the cookbook was enough inspiration for me to give it a shot. Yesterday I took the inspiration and chopped up all the fresh veggies I procured the day before at the Q-Mart (another post for another time), cooked and cooled some pasta, and made sure I had meat ready for a couple of the meals. It took about 3 hours in all because I had a crapload of veggies to chop for a recipe, but it was well worth the time.

If you're looking to prep in advance, I strongly recommend the following:

1. Lay out 2-3 cutting boards on your counters. Use separate boards for meat and veg. I like to use 2 large boards and one small board for herbs.

2. Invest in a salad spinner. Those of you who own one know the ease of quickly washing, drying, and storing a bag of prepared greens or lettuce.

3. Know your menu in advance. Strategically purchase your produce and meats to coordinate with your meal plan. Chop or prepare them as necessary for your recipes. If you have some unused stuff, throw it together in a bag and stuff it in the freezer - frozen meal in a bag! Also, keep your veggies chopped in advance for snacks or lunch items.

4. Have good, sharp knives on hand. Keep a couple lined up by your cutting boards for various tasks.

5. Invest in some Snapware containers. My most awesome boyfriend had a set of these in his kitchen when I moved in. They're great and are easily stored and stacked in the fridge. They also don't leave a gnarly taste on your food and can be frozen. Bonus!

6. Prepare and store sauces in advance. This is sort of a new one for me. I usually just make sauces or dressings the same time as dinner, but prepping them in advance isn't a bad idea.

7. Consider a mandoline slicer. I busted mine out last night to slice some carrots and cabbage for salad. It's a handy tool and easier than cutting with a knife.

8. Keep your most-used cookware and tools within easy storage and reach. This is easier said than done in a smaller kitchen. The apartment kitchen looks a little odd right now with a shelf containing a number of pots and pans decoratively stacked in it, but it's about the easiest means possible to store my cookware. I sort of had to eliminate the excuse of not putting it away in a timely manner after use and not being able to get some random pot and pan out for use without moving 20 other pots and pans. My tools are all in easy reach, hanging on handy railings form IKEA. I think that'll be my blog post idea for tommorrow - a photo of my setup.

9. Prep bowls aren't only for the professionals. I use and love my mixed set of stainless prep bowls from condiment size to oversized mixing bowl size. I keep 4 small bowls on hand. 4-6 is a good quantity to use for more complicated recipes.

10. Lay out your morning needs the night before. If there's something I need to prep for lunch in the morning, I try to have it as ready as possible the night before. Sometimes you just don't want a sandwich sitting in the fridge overnight. That's just my take.

New Sensation

2009-01-11T07:57:00.000-08:00

I suppose I'll jump on the party train and list my resolutions:

1. Bring your reusable shopping bags with you to the store! Seriously, I don't have a problem with plastic or paper bags, but those fuckers are piling up in my kitchen. Then, every time I go to the recycling bin at the store to unload them, that sucker is piled up with them, too! Frustrating! Along with that, I also need to remember to pick up a couple mesh bags for produce. Same principle.

2. Pack a healthy lunch/snacks every day of the week (give or take Friday) for myself and Chris. Helps the budget. We've been pretty good about this, but I got lax during the month of December.

3. Cook and prepare food ahead of time on the weekend. Just a timesaver method for healthier meals during the week. I've been good about this so far. I got a couple new cook books and have been trying new things. It's energizing and fun, in a way, to have a healthy and tasty meal every night in 30 minutes or less.

4. Get my stuff ready the night before so I'm not scrambling about in the morning. Again, common sense.

5. Workout everyday. This one has been so far, so good. I feel much better now after the holiday madness. I'm not aiming for some "go on a diet in the new year" bit. More on the side of, keep healthy habits and stick with them. Period. I've been fairly good the past few years, but like everyone, I have my slip ups. Just need to avoid them when possible.

6. Complete Firefighter 1. Can't complete this one until May. I'm signed up for the class but haven't heard anything back from Bucks County Comm. College. We'll see if I can get in the March-May session. I hope so. I'm looking forward to it.

7. Go to more fire calls. When available in the evenings and night, of course. Completing FF1 will help with this one.

8. Remember to take the recycling to the neighbor's house on Thursday. Sounds stupid, but we always forget...

9. Keep a budget and pay down debt. This has been ongoing and I've been doing well with it. I'm better tweaking my new budget for 2009 to be more realistic and not super strict. I do need to take more care with my grocery expense, though. It's gotten a little out of hand and I noticed I've had some waste accumulate in the fridge.

10. Contribute to savings. Again, ongoing. Just need to tweak my budget to better save money.

There you go, there are the things I hope to accomplish or continue in 2009. Pretty standard stuff, but as always, need to keep myself on task.

Happy Festivus from Us

2008-12-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

...in Northwestern PA. Back home for a few days for Christmas. Tomorrow a short trip to Edinboro and Erie is planned. Everyone is well, well-fed, and now, well-socked and well-clothed. Now there's a break in the action and I'm typing this on my parents' newly-cleaned, de-bugged, and fast computer. Anyways, Merry Christmas / Happy Hannukah and a Happy New Year to all!

(PS...Where is the snow? This nice, happy, sunny weather sucks.)

Christmas City and Haag's Hotel

2008-12-15T05:22:00.000-08:00

'Twas another busy weekend. Friday night was the office Christmas party. Good fun, but with over 700 in attendance, it was a little difficult to move about. Although the fun was scheduled until midnight, we left around 9:45. It was nice to go home and sleep, considering neither of us was feeling so great.

Saturday had an early start and a long drive along I-78 / 209 to Elizabethville, PA, with a stop on the way for (a giant) breakfast at Haag's Hotel in Shartlesville. Haag's is known for family-style Pennsylvania Dutch dining AKA really unhealthy food. Considering there was a large table of us, we got the family style breakfast. The food was decent. If you're a fan of breakfast meats, you'd get your money's worth. For $7.50, you get a course of breakfast foods including: tapioca pudding, applesauce, sugar cookies, eggs, bacon, toast, pancakes, scrapple, sausage, ham, creamed chipped beef (shit on a shingle), and home fries. At times, they also serve shoofly pie along with breakfast, but not on Saturday (a good thing, really). Out of all of that (like I said), the meats are good. The creamed chipped beef was my favorite. Scrapple...well, let's just say it's not my favorite. Chris loves it, though. Scrapple = King of mystery meat.

So, after the ginormous breakfast, we continued onto Elizabethville where we witnessed the best clothing store sign ever: Vergina - Misses and Womens Plus Clothing. Yes, we are perverts. We even stopped on the way home to take a photo of the sign. Elizabethville, the destination, is the home of a company who was working on one of the firetrucks, which we were picking up. On the way home, we took a few photos (like I mentioned) and made a stop in Pottsville. Good times.

Sunday, we went to Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem as planned. The place was nuts. No surprise there, though. It was a nice day to be out. Not too cold and sunny. We bought a few gifts, had lunch at Johnny's, walked around a bit more, and went home. Honestly, I'd love to be able to take more time on lunch breaks to go walk around the historic downtown/Moravian College area, but I can't. If I go, it's right after work, and unfortunately, the area can get quite congested.

It never ceases to amaze me how easily it is to find something to do. It's also pretty awesome having a partner to go sightseeing with :) Pick up a newspaper and you're bombarded with things to do. Compare that to back home, south of Erie, where you're scrambling to find new things to do or see. Now, Erie did hold a fair amount of things to do, but I didn't exactly want to drive 30 miles north every time I was bored. Now, even a 30 mile drive is a big thing, considering there's much more to do within a smaller radius. Also, there's rail/transit. It's nice to know a short drive to Lansdale or Colmar will connect you to SEPTA and on your way to Philly. Same for NYC. Good stuff.

Yarrr...invasion of the scurvy!

2008-12-12T07:17:00.000-08:00

Well, not the scurvy, but colds. ‘Tis the season to stock up on Kleenex, cough drops, and vitamin C. In order to lessen the severity of the symptoms, we picked up some Zicam and a humidifier last night. A humidifier is an excellent idea if you’re prone to sinus problems or colds in the cold weather. As an aside, Target also sells Crane brand humidifiers targeted at children in the shape of penguins, elephants, alligators, and frogs. I liked the penguin, but settled on the cheaper, plain-jane Vick’s cool-mist. I think the tank is easier to fill, anyway. Yeah, I know, I know, I'm no fun.

Tonight is my work’s Christmas party. The annual event where you’re just not quite sure who will make an ass of themselves. And this year I’m really not sure, because I really don’t know many people here well. Considering both Chris and I are sick, I don’t think drinking or debauchery will be in tonight’s forecast. I think going home early may be in the forecast, considering we need an early start for tomorrow’s activities with the fire company. Heavy eating will also not be in the forecast. This is a bonus for my weight loss plans, at least. In addition to a sore throat, my stomach feels uneasy. I think I’ll be getting a very plain cup of chicken noodle for my lunch today from the local Wawa. Any dairy or oily stuff and yeah…you don’t need the details.

I hope the yuck subsides somewhat Sunday. Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem is the destination for the day. That should finish up the remainder of my Christmas shopping. Outside of several gift cards. You really can't go wrong with artisan and local crafts as gifts. Support the local economy and get something very unique. Sounds good to me.

Holiday festivities and cutting back.

2008-12-10T07:26:00.000-08:00

It’s sort of interesting how down times give some relief at the holidays. A lot of individuals, businesses, and towns have scaled back celebrations and displays. Considering I usually take the ‘KISS principle’ to heart (by KISS, I’m not referring to the legendary glam rock band, but rather, the Keep It Simple Stupid principle) I’m pretty happy about simplification. No, I’m not Scrooge, but I do like to keep a budget at the holidays. Several gift exchanges I would have otherwise been privy to have been cut. My family has already said they’re not throwing a huge hooplah party on Christmas Eve, but rather a smaller gathering with munchies and a couple desserts. Good for the wallet, good for the waistline.

As for our own decorations and celebrations, we have a Christmas tree and some various decorations around the house. Most of my expense involved (reusable) craft items for several (reusable) wreaths and some wire to make a live wreath for the door. Chris’ mom gave us a box of (awesome) Christmas decorations, allowing us to decorate the apartment without spending a fortune. We did go chop down a Christmas tree at a local farm – Wata Farms / Bob White Acres near Spinnerstown. $35 for the tree, cart and saw provided at the entrance. I’d venture a guess it’s about 8.5-9 foot tall and narrow – a pretty good deal. It was fun to cut, too. I’ve never had a live tree until this year, so a new experience for me! We had a lot of ornaments to begin with, so we only picked up two boxes of new at Michael’s on 50% off sale. Other decorations include a couple jar candles also purchased on clearance at Michael’s. I’ll have to add a photo of the tree AKA “The Blue Light Special.” Again, it's the whole KISS principle. Decorate with what you have, get a few new things, but don't go overboard. I'm learning it as I go.

I don’t really feel stressed or overwhelmed at this point. Because we’re not hosting any get-togethers, there’s no stress to put forward a feast or bake a bunch of cookies or other fattening stuff. And that’s good, because I don’t like to keep all that stuff around the apartment. I have to make some dishes for a couple family get-togethers, but I have the option of making something healthy. I’ve put some weight back on because of my own poor eating habits and just need to kick myself back into gear with daily exercise and proper nutrition. No, it doesn’t mean I have to go absolutely crazy and avoid every single holiday pitfall, but I’ve gotta practice moderation and avoid the sweets when I can. Sometimes you just can’t, right? Almost seems rude not to have a small piece of pie, cookie, or what not. I don’t know, I think my issue is that I can’t be in the middle of some strict, lengthy, regiment all the time, but need to be more “freestyle” in my workouts and practice portion control. Again, it’s back to that whole KISS principle thing, I suppose. I'm going to set myself with a goal of 10 pounds loss in 6 weeks. For more on that, I created another blog for motivation. Motivation for myself, motivation for whoever reads it. I tried to do this in the past, but it just got all jumbled up in my normal entries. Now, they'll be kept out of here and in their own separate space. I'll continue to add recipes to this main blog, though, as I see fit. The blog is titled "Eat Your Vegetables" after all. :)

Christmas in NYC

2008-12-09T04:56:00.000-08:00

Finally, I got to see New York City. At Christmas time, to boot! Over the weekend, my boyfriend, his brother's family, and yours truly traveled via train to the Big Apple. It was especially crowded, considering the time of year, and that it was a Saturday, but it was still a lot of fun. Sights for the day were: NY Fire Museum, 34th & Broadway (shopping), Chinatown, Little Italy, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Madison Square Garden / Penn Station area. For photos, check out my Flickr page (click the picture display to your right to go there).

If the day wasn't awesome enough, just as we were approaching Radio City Music Hall and the ginormous Christmas display at Rockefeller Center, the first (real) snow of the season started to fall. How cool is that? I snapped a photo of the tree, but it's doing it very little justice. It's much, much more awesome in person, of course.

Some other firsts of the day included: trying mystery meat on a stick from a cart, fresh espresso and cannoli from a church's street fundraiser in Little Italy (awesome, by the way), seeing Rescue 1 zipping down the street (more of a highlight for Chris), and riding on the subway. Everyone gives you flack for riding on the subway, but damn, you get to where you're going fast and on the cheap. $7.50 for an unlimited metro card for a day. You honestly cannot beat that. I think I paid more for my MUNI ticket in SF, but I can't remember the exact price. Plus the ride into NYC on the NJ Transit was also a decent deal. $27.50 for two adult, round-trip tickets from Metro Park, NJ to Penn Station, NYC. Gotta love living on the Eastern Seaboard!

Definitely a good day and a good destination for a "day-trip". It'd be good to go back on a weekday when things aren't so crazy. Next up, I'd like to see Philly. That's an even closer (and cheaper) train ride. :)

Mackenzie Brothers 12 Days of Christmas

2008-12-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

If you've ever seen (and enjoyed) Strange Brew, well then, you might also like this song. And the end part, where some plans for a Mackenzie Brothers cartoon are revealed for 2009. (Edit: Recognize the voice of Bob Mackenzie? It's Dave Coulier from Full House fame.)

Merry Christmas, you hosers.

Black Friday and Turkey Weekend Recap

2008-12-01T07:32:00.000-08:00

I think this Black Friday thing was a good idea this year. There were some electronic/computer items I was in need of, but didn’t want to shell out major bucks. Chris and I also wanted to stock up on some useful items like memory cards and USB memory at a good price. Really, black Friday is only a good deal if you’re looking for gifts or things you actually need or use on a regular basis. If you’re just going out to buy things because they’re cheap…well, eh, it’s not such a good deal. I'm still convinced it's risky to go to most Wal-Mart or Toys 'R Us stores at their time of opening, though. We didn't get into any tricky crowd scenes (just long lines). Considering the general shittiness of holiday retail madness, I always tip a little extra when eating out at this time of year, and I'm patient and nice to retail employees. When I had an incorrect receipt at K-Mart the other day, I just calmly went to the service desk, inquired about it, and got a price check. Simple as that - no need to be an ass. I can't believe shoppers killed a Wal-Mart employee. I seriously hope it serves as an example to be more civil to others...retail workers are people just like you and me!

Our first destination was Staples at 6 AM. Well, technically, our first stop was at the Yum Yum Bake Shop for coffee and yumsters, but that’s beside the point. Anyway, we got to Staples about 10 minutes early, saw the line, and stayed in the car. We entered the store after the line dissipated, and moved toward the computer displays. Surprisingly, we found all the small items we wanted in a quick fashion – Christmas printer address labels (half-price), memory cards, and flash USB drives. I was looking for my big ticket item – a 640GB external hard drive. I’ve been putting off the purchase of this damn thing for over a year. I am in desperate need of a storage place and backup for my laptop. Definitely a necessary purchase. Anyway, the display was empty. Disappointed, we got into the [super long] checkout line. Near the end, we saw the employees running back behind the counter to grab big box items for customers. I stopped one employee carrying my coveted external hard drive and asked if there were any left. A minute later he went back and got me one from behind the counter. Staples strategy for the madness was to keep the items off the shelves and behind a counter to avoid insanity. Nice! So, I walked out with a 69.99 hard drive, a savings of 45.00 and a soon to be backed-up laptop waiting at home. Score!

Our second stop was where we hit jackpot. Radio Shack. Everyone forgets about Radio Shack! The store had one customer in it and an awesomely helpful staff. Chris found a Blu-Ray player for $199. It was a Samsung and he originally researched the Sony (which was featured in every other store’s doorbuster offers). Considering the chance of getting the Sony at a Doorbuster price was slim to none, he asked the clerk if he could use a computer to check out the Samsung specs and reviews on Amazon. Sure enough, he got behind the counter and checked it out. Satisfied, the Samsung player was added to the queue. Next, we picked out a joint Christmas gift – a USB record player. Yep! How cool is that? You can play and record your old albums directly onto a computer, separate the tracks, and remove pops and hisses. On sale for $80. The last score was a gift for my parents (not posting) that was also a sweet deal. For that awesome service, I think I may write a very positive letter to Radio Shack customer care. It’s well deserved.

A few more stops were made including Target, Best Buy, Kohl’s, Michael’s, and for me, the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley. I found a few clothing deals – jeans at Aeropostale, Doc Martens (gorgeous, comfy, and on sale) and Rocket Dog sneakers at Journeys, and some cargo pants at Old Navy for Chris. I also used a gift card to get some clothing deals at Target – a peacoat and several sweaters. I’ve been trolling around these stores for so long and this past weekend was the breaking point. I’ve had my eye on some new clothing and damn, it was such a good deal I couldn’t resist. Now I’m pretty set on sweaters, jeans, and slacks.

You may read the above and think, wow, what a bunch of selfish shoppers! Haha! No sir. I’ve been purchasing most Christmas gifts online, and already have some stowed away. I mostly have small gifts left to buy – stocking stuffers and such. Is your family the sort of family that buys one another toothpaste and canned goods? I don’t know, but mine is. We’re an odd bunch.

I’m going to troll around some of the Cyber Monday ads to see what I can find for my last few gifts. Some of the clothing stores are offering some great deals today. If you’re going to shop online, always check these before buying:

Retail me Not (I scored a coupon the other day for Aeropostale online)
Ebates (earn cash back, and yes, it actually works and is worthwhile for online shoppers)

Turkey Day was tasty at the boyfriend's family. We all ate too much and played games. Then we went to another gathering and ate some more (dessert) and Chris entertained us all on the piano with Billy Joel and Elton John favorites. Good times.

After the shopping frenzy on Friday, we headed out for the fire house to put up Christmas decorations. Before going there, we decided to go to the store to pick up some ingredients to make a homemade pizza for decorating fuel. No more than 5 steps into the store, we got a fire call. After a couple hours, we returned to the station, made some food, and stood around the kitchen eating. No decorating. Everyone was too pooped and it was too late.

Saturday was filled with fire calls - one after the other, basically. We got a break in the evening and stayed at the fire station to have dinner and watch a movie. Looks like decorating will be tonight instead.

Sunday was slow and rainy. We were supposed to go cut down our tree, but decided not to on account of the weather. That'll be next weekend, hopefully. We spent the rest of the day putting up other decorations, cleaning, and watching movies and TV specials on DVR.

All in all, it was a pretty good Thanksgiving holiday!

Turkey Day Leftovers

2008-11-26T11:27:00.000-08:00

Considering I’m eating meat again (right now on a sandwich), I get to eat turkey this year. This considered, my blog title isn't entirely accurate. I do STILL eat a lot of veggies, though. Anyway, Thanksgiving makes me think of the most orgasmic sandwich creation in the world: The Bobbie. The Bobbie can be purchased at Capriotti’s sub shop in Southeastern PA, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Arizona and Nevada. Considering most who read this blog are in Erie, PA, you cannot go to a Cap’s Shop. But no fear! I present you the DIY Bobbie, delicious as the real thing!

The DIY Bobbie
1 white (or wheat) 6” sub/hoagie roll – best if fresh from the bakery
1-2 servings cold, leftover turkey
½-3/4 cup leftover stuffing (I like it cold, but warm is okay, too)
½ cup leftover cranberry sauce (not the jelly stuff, the stuff with manly fruit chunks)
Mayo (quantity is at your discretion, and Hellman’s is better)
Salt / Pepper to taste

Cut sub/hoagie (repping both western PA and eastern PA terms here, read me) roll in half. Spread mayo on both sides of roll. Add cold turkey. Next add layer of stuffing. Next, spread a layer of cranberry sauce. Top with 2nd bread half. You’ve got a damn tasty sub/hoagie/sammich/what have you. You also now have a super way to use up that leftover turkey.

Leftover turkey – bones and all – is also really awesome cooked with some water, carrots, onions, celery, sage, thyme, pepper into a delicious broth. Slow cook it for 6-8 hours in a crock, strain the liquids, pick off the meat, serve with cooked dutch egg noodles for a tasty meal.

Paperback Swap

2008-11-20T09:48:00.000-08:00

I’ve been a pretty massive bookworm my entire life…except for maybe the college years when I was short on time for personal reading. I’ve amassed a decent collection of books over time, some of which I’ve read, some I haven’t…yet. Considering most books are one-time reads, they tend to pile up after a bit. About a year ago I was looking for ways to make the most out of my library...and I found an excellent solution: Paperback Swap! (Yes, this post is a shameless plug for a product, but hear me out, it’s worthwhile).

Paperback Swap is basically an online community of book swappers. You set up a bookshelf of your swappable books to earn swap credits. For each book you successfully send, you receive one credit. One credit is good for one book. Now, the cool thing is that you don’t have to do a two-way swap, meaning you send a book to one user, that same user must send a book to you. No. The credit system operates so that you can send books to anyone requesting them, and request books as you would like. Now, keep in mind, not all titles are immediately available. However, you can build a wish list, and you will be entered in a waiting list (so to speak) for your wish list book of choice. You can also keep a reminder list of available books you wish to request. You can also keep a running record of books you’ve read and swapped to avoid accidentally sending for a repeat title.

I still go to the library for some books – maybe some books I’d like to read that simply aren’t available on PS. I like PS for books that may take me longer than the library loan period to finish, or books simply to add to my bookshelf instead of purchasing them outright. Outside of cookbook purchases, or maybe a new release purchase here and there, I don’t purchase many books since I’ve started this program. I've definitely saved some money using it, and that's a good thing.

If you're interested in the site, click on the graphic above to find out more or sign-up.

Black Friday...WE ARE CRAZY

2008-11-19T12:46:00.000-08:00

So, due to the economic downturn and decreased consumer spending and all that huzzah, there are some seriously kickass/amazing/super-dooper/[insert exclamatory word here] sales going on in the retail sector. This means three things for me and significant other:

1. Christmas gifts on the cheap
2. Some possible new gadgets around the house
3. Some cheap winter clothing grabs

Because I'm sure everyone and their brother is shopping on the cheap this year, this also means:

1. A massive buttload of shoppers next Friday
2. Lines extending out the doors and nowhere to park
3. Serious migraines in store

Despite the caveats, we're going to brave the CRAZY and go out early. Even if we don't get our hands on some of the ridiculous advertised electronics deals, I'm sure there will be other useful deals available on routine (not as popular) items. And even more cool about all this...it was my boyfriend's idea!

If you're feeling CRAZY, and would like to get a sneak preview on available deals, go to: The Black Friday Deals Website

Sign up, create a shopping list, pick your deals, plan to help the economy, and pass the Motrin!

Time for Travel

2008-11-07T06:46:00.000-08:00

So I get to go on the first business trip of my new job on Monday. I get to leave super early from Philly, but this time around, I get an airport pickup! Yay!

Checking my flights, both appear to be on smaller, commuter aircraft. One connection. I know the smaller aircraft are noisy, but if there’s one thing I like about them, it’s this: valet checked luggage. I’m always happy to carry on or valet check luggage to avoid the baggage carousel nightmare. I think I’ll valet check my small wheelie luggage and carry my laptop/camera bag on the plane with me. It’s so much easier.

Considering I like to plan ahead, I’ve got to get my toiletries ready this weekend. I thank Lush soaps for introducing me to the genius invention of solid shampoo. Unfortunately, I don’t have Lush brand currently in stock in my bathroom but do have a bar of solid Jojoba solid shampoo. That’ll work for now. I also happily use mineral / powder makeup which is allowable. I use solid perfume (it resembles a lip balm). The only liquids it appears I will be required to check are toothpaste, mouthwash, hand lotion, and deodorant (unfortunately, mine is a liquid…’tis the only kind I really like that works for me).

So in other news…

The post-election South Park was a good laugh for me, being a fan of “Ocean’s Eleven” (oops, spoiler alert!). Newsweek has had some pretty interesting “behind the scenes” coverage of the campaign trails. I like what they’ve done. They’ve exposed the real, human side of the candidates. I mean that in a good way. I think as time goes on, we will go back to seeing the “real” McCain, the guy that stood fiercely for cutting waste in government. In his concession speech…that’s when the real McCain shone through. The guy that really did give a damn about cutting across party lines like he campaigned for in 2000. That’s the McCain that caused a rife in the Republican party. That's the McCain that didn't take a beating from the far right.

As for Obama, maybe we will start to see a more centrist Obama. I hope so. Campaign is over and now we're getting down to business. No need to get the far left on board, it's time to deliver. There is talk he will keep some White House staffers in the White House. With a Pelosi/Reid majority, he absolutely needs to have some balance. While I may have voted for Obama, it doesn’t mean that I’m not wary of Pelosi. It will be interesting to see.

And lastly, Palin. Is she somewhat intelligent and simply made a fool of by the media? With some time, could she be groomed into a more researched and informed woman regarding foreign affairs and governmental structure? Possibly. I think she was at a disadvantage with her educational background. Where everyone else in the spotlight had a legal background (Obama, Biden), had been in government for some time and learned the ropes (McCain, Biden), understood military strategy and foreign affairs through service and experience (McCain)…she had less in the education department and a disadvantage in terms of “hands-on” foreign affairs and federal government experience. While she may be a great mother and passionate about her religion and family values…passion and family governance are only pieces of a much larger pie of experience and qualification. This isn’t “picking on her” or throwing jabs, it’s simply making a point. I hope she uses her newfound fame to her advantage and learns from the experience gained in being the governor of Alaska. I think it may be beneficial for her and her family to stay out of the spotlight for a bit, as it may only bring more harm than good. Alternately, she could use her newfound fame to highlight causes she is passionate about or become an advocate for family or childrens’ groups.

If there’s one thing this past few months has taught me…it’s basically to let an argument boil over and let it go. Look at everyone jumping on the “OMG the stock marketz plummeted cuz of Obama” argument. At this point in time, I take little faith in the day to day happenings of the NYSE. It’ll recover. I believe the same thing happened in 2004, but the market wasn’t as volatile at the time to begin with. I had the same argument in 2004 when everyone began their "Oh noes, we're all screwed" asshattery about Bush. A drop today will be more drastic considering the events of the past two months. Don’t jump to conclusions just yet, folks. Hold on to your butts and don’t go about selling your stocks and donning a tinfoil hat. If there’s one thing I can pull from Macroeconomics 101 with Dr. Barry Weller (besides frustration in his exam format), it’s this: political cycles, market cycles, and their relation with the economy do not rely solely on superstition and calendar days. A typical up and down is in 4 years, and its positive or negative effect is not solely based on a political party.

Check this article from Pepperdine: http://gbr.pepperdine.edu/043/stocks.html

Check the “Percentage and Dollar Returns of Two Investment Strategies” chart.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Watch this video, it's great!

2008-11-03T09:06:00.001-08:00

McCain is a pretty funny guy. Guess he can laugh, too, along with all the Palin craziness.

The Day Before Election

2008-11-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

I’ve followed this whole damn election, all the bullshit, all the mudslinging, and I’ve chosen my candidate. I don’t really care for conspiracy theories that Obama is really the love child of Malcolm X, that Sarah Palin shits rainbows, that John McCain is really Rambo in disguise, or that Joe Biden is secretly having a gay affair with Bill Ayers. If that’s what your election coverage boiled down to, then wow, I’m really sorry for you. I’m truly sorry that your basis of a major political election is right off the cover of the National Enquirer. When it comes to issues of choice, my issues of choice are seemingly boring amidst all the ridiculous hype.

When it comes down to it, is either candidate going to magically decrease the gap between the wealthy and poor of our society? No. Will either candidate magically erase our duty to pay taxes? No. Will either candidate blow sunshine from their ass and make everyone in the world get along? No. Will either candidate ensure every person in America is without hunger, has healthcare, and a solid education? No. Will the candidate magically end the deep seated conflict in the middle east? Absolutely not. Will we ever agree on abortion? Probably not.

If this election has taught me anything, it’s taught me to watch my tongue. I’ve let it sound off a few times, and have remorse for doing so. If there’s one thing I can learn from my candidate of choice, it’s keeping calm in an ugly storm. I’m not going to better myself by picking an ugly verbal argument. Debate is one thing, a name calling fest is quite another. It’s only going to raise my blood pressure, stress me out, and leave me unhappy the rest of the day. I don’t like to go to bed at night hating on others. It’s not me – I’m one of those people that has some guilt issues. The only thing I can do is continually educate myself and strive to be a better person. I don’t think I’m going to solve anything by picking petty fights. I can just look at the other viewpoint and form a logical viewpoint in agreement or the opposite. There’s no need for me to get my temper up and burn bridges in the process.

I should hope that, regardless of the results of this election, that we at least try to get along. Healthy debate is one thing, fighting and name calling is quite another. Sure, I probably just sound like I’m up on a big soap box right now, but I’m serious (for once). I am really making quite a pledge to keep discussions civil, in real life or online. It doesn’t mean I won’t make a strong statement, no, but it will be civil. I am entitled to my opinion, just as you are entitled to yours. I can hear you out, but it doesn’t mean I must agree with you. That free speech thing, eh, it works both ways. Okay, off soap box...bet you're relieved!

All that said, I can still be sarcastic and humorous. Some might read it wrong, and I can't help that. It's not meant to be offensive, just laughing at stereotypes. But it’s just that, it’s meant for a laugh and a diversion from seriousness. I mean really, read that crap above. It’s all in humor. If I was actually taking that crap seriously, someone call the nuthouse and lock me up.

So, if there’s something I’m looking for in a candidate it’s this: the potential to unite the people. From Obama’s actions, plans, and words, I have garnered these as his items of change as a president:

A renaissance of education, scientific development, and technology.
The re-emergence of diplomacy.
A continued interest in alternate forms of energy.
A greater interest in our environment.
An interest in cleaning up the American act in the world market.
A re-emergence of common sense, conservation, and financial frugality.
The new face of the “nuclear family.”
A calm presence in a stormy world.
Faith in “humble beginnings.”

Whoever the victor tomorrow, I hope that there is some faith restored in our nation's leader. Those post 9/11 times taught us that we can get along if we put some differences aside. Doesn't mean we're going to agree on everything, no, but a little bit of "play nice" is refreshing. Maybe some others have learned the same.

So...you can agree or disagree all you want with the above post, but just remember to keep the comments civil.

Edit: Thanks to some awesome goons for summing up this fucking election.

(Funny note: John McCain caused Chris and I to be late for a birthday party on Saturday. His cavalcade was traveling north on 309 from his appearance at Penn Ridge to the Lehigh Valley Airport. We were back a ways in traffic but could see he had the window down and was waving. When we walked in late to the party and got questioned - "It was McCain's fault. Really. We swear.")

Rainy

2008-10-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

It’s raining cats and dogs outside. It’s sort of sloshy, heavy rain partially mixed with snowy stuff, although it’s not too cold – maybe 38 degrees or so. Some school a couple hours north of here cancelled school today for 2” of snow. Wimps.

I took the roundabout way into work today to avoid the heyday known as the McCain/Palin rally on Mill Street. Apparently they’re predicting a huge turnout from the Quakertown and surrounding areas. I don’t know where they’ll stand, though, there’s not much room in the venue and it’s not a nice one out there today. I’d be curious in attending, regardless of the fact I’m not voting for their ticket. I’d say McCain will say the same old, same old, and maybe Palin will denounce Stevens. Eh, who knows. I haven’t seen the Neo-con nuttery I was used to in Crawford County here. Seems to be a lot more civilized…traditional fiscal conservative voters and such. Don’t get me wrong, there’s always nutters. They flock at the Q-Mart. You know…they should all take a trip to the Q-Mart, which is closed today, unfortunately. Maybe they could find “Inbred Joe the Q-Martian” to give a campaign testimonial. Oh boy. That’d be some sweet press for Q-Town. The Q-Mart indeed, is the stuff of legends. Scary enough, I shop there some weekends! (Noon-time edit: The event has been cancelled due to the weather.)

This weather is making me crave soup. Every time I say I’m going to make a batch, I’m either tired or something else comes up. I’m hoping to make a batch tonight in the slow cooker and freeze it for subsequent meals. I’m craving black bean soup. I haven’t made it in a while. I may make a small batch for our dinner tonight. That with a salad, sounds good to me. Healthy eating…can be really tasty.

Halloween candy. I have no idea how many trick-or-treaters we’ll have at the apartment on Friday. So far, we have a 250 piece bag of Skittle/Laffy Taffy/Nerds/Twizzlers mix from Costco (give or take 20 pieces...you know, quality control and stuff) and a big barrel of Utz “Bats&Jacks” pretzel bags. Again, I have no clue if this is sufficient for our street. A couple guys at the firehouse said they were expecting droves. I don’t think our street will see droves, but I’m hoping we don’t run out. I’m also hoping we’re not stuck with a bunch of leftover candy. I don’t think candy jives with the P90X diet, though I’ve had a couple pieces here and there. I’d like to keep it at “couple pieces” and not “holy crap I just ate half the damn bag!”

Happenings

2008-10-27T13:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven’t been posting much lately, loyal readers! There’s been a lot going on ‘round these parts!

First off, P90X. I completed 36 days of P90X Lean, then switched over to P90X Classic. I’ve been doing Classic for 15 days. I’ve seen more results in 15 days than over the course of 36. Then again, I also decided to get strict in the past 15 days and stick with the P90X diet. Makes a BIG difference! To anyone else that’s considering a P90X program purchase, buy it, do it everyday, and follow the diet. Some days it ain’t no picnic, but if you stay with it, it’s worthwhile.

Second thing, I’ve been going to more fire calls. I admit - I was REALLY apprehensive at first on going out for calls. I still am, but I go. Even if I’m not able to participate, I can always observe and assist in retrieving / putting away equipment. I’m learning a lot of new things, procedures, how-to’s, and such. I’m probably driving Chris insane asking him questions, but I can’t help it, that’s one way I learn. I ask a lot of questions and am always observing. Trying things hands-on is also awesome practice, and drills/practices are great for that. I hope to start class – Firefighter 1 – at a local community college in the beginning of 2009. It’s a long class at 140 or so total hours, but is required/essential training.

Third thing, events associated with the fire company. See photo below. That was during yesterday’s Halloween Parade in Quakertown. The weather was mah-velous. Look at that shiny truck! (Chris is driving)

Fourth thing, TV. I think I went through TV withdrawal with not having it for nearly a year before moving here to Q-Town. Holy crap. Chris has a DVR and I've gotta say, we definitely use it! Lineup for the week: Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother (it's growing on me), NCIS, House (never knew how awesomely addictive this show is), The Office, Flashpoint, Family Guy, and the occasional Mythbusters. Makes for a nice evening relaxing on the couch, anyway.

And tonight...Drill (and probably cleaning at home)! Lots of happenings, but it's good to keep busy!

BLINK

2008-10-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Debate number 3. Yeah! Last one is complete!

"Joe the Plumber" was mentioned 25 times. WTF. Well, Joe, if you're a union plumber, shit, you probably make more than I do. Is he Joe Six-Pack!!??

McCain's incessant blinking was distracting. Is it a sign of weakness? I don't know, possibly. Kind of like his whistling while speaking. And maybe his inability to keep a reasonably straight face.

Obama needed a little more fire during that debate. He was a little flat the first half hour. I felt like he was continually defending himself until closer to the end. However, his continual ability to maintain his composure during a blatant attack is impressive.

I'm not a fan of Alito or Roberts, either...and this was supposed to piss off indie voters how?

The continual "pro-abortion" term McCain threw out somewhat made me think he was ready to glare at Obama and accuse him of eating unborn fetuses for supper. Point is, we're going to be divided on this issue no matter what. I'm not sure if independent voters lean toward pro-choice. My first instinct was to say yes, but, then again, there's a multitude of views on this. I do agree with the point that the state's one role in this is to not overturn Roe vs. Wade. It's more a matter (to me) of the protection of individual liberty.

Becoming a teacher simply because you are a veteran. When McCain first said that, I about did a double take. Whoa now. Allowing a potentially unqualified person skirt the qualifications process of becoming a teacher? PA teachers, did you do the same? I hope he is talking about Troops to Teachers and not simply some half-assed means of skirting the qualifications system. I think a change in wording may have been in order for that one...

Obama's huge talking point for families - parents actually giving a damn about their children. Yes. Points to him for coming out and saying that.

"Senator Government" Hahahahahahahahaaha....

Obama's charter school creation was shown to be exaggerated via FactCheck. That did sound a little fishy at the time (during the debate).

Vouchers aren't a sole solution...Continuing to bloat public education isn't necessarily a good solution, either...How many students struggle with school because of its environment? How often do other students create a poor environment? How aggravated do nerds like myself get trying to learn in a classroom filled with the "special" folk? How bogged down does a teacher get in simply trying to sort of behavorial problems of the "special" folk? How much money has been dumped into programs for the slow but not in acceleration of gifted students? Honors only high schools. Give incentive only to those who qualify. Those who qualify who have difficulty in paying tuition receiive assitance. Fuck the stupid. Someone has to say it.

Body language of the candidates and their wives. Anyone notice the serious distance between the McCains? Closeness, facial expression would tell you their marriage ain't so wonderful. Who's the real family role model? Hmmmmmmmmmm.

ACORN. How many times has voter fraud been used as a deterrant in an election against the Dems? Basically every election. Nothing new to see here...

Schleppin'

2008-10-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

I love Sarah Silverman's brand of comedy. So it's no surprise when I stumbled upon this video, I liked it:

She has a great ability to take the "race card" and make satire out of it. She also brings up a good point - voting for the comfortable, predictable candidate. Chris Rock also had a great line in his most recent stand-up tour regarding Obama - "That's about the blackest name I've ever heard in my life, Barack Obama and Dikembe Mutombo." Yeah, comfort zone. It's not racist. It's really a comfort zone of association. We tend to associate with those most like us. I like Sarah's comedic way of pointing out more similarities between Jewish grandparents and Obama. Good for a chuckle and some food for thought.

Sometimes you just need to

2008-10-08T12:10:00.001-07:00

In the midst of all this turmoil, I think we need to slow down, relax, and:

Stroke it.

P90X - Day 21

2008-10-01T09:40:00.001-07:00

Well, I stuck through it this far. I've kept to a schedule everyday, albeit it's not ALWAYS a P90X workout. I've decided to switch (again) from Lean to Classic during phase 2, but I'm a little uncertain if I should do the Plyometrics. If you'll remember from an earlier post, I had some issues with my knees and Plyo the last time I tried P90X. I got to day 42 or so and basically gave up due to the pain in my knees. I am thinking I may substitute either Amy Bento's "Hi-Lo" workout or Jari Love's "Get Ripped 1000" (I know it sounds pothead-ish, but it's a kickass workout).

I like that Classic offers 3 days of weight training versus 2 days used in Lean. I suppose you could say I'm doing a low-impact doubles version of P90X, as I have been using the ellipticals at the gym 2x per week. Just last week, I decided to run 1.25 miles on the treadmill at a 6.2 pace, which I haven't done in a while. My running really sucks now in comparison to where it was a year ago (4-5 miles, treadmill or terrain, moderate pace, 3x weekly). I'll be happy when I'm in the 2-3 mile run range again. I run or use the ellipticals on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Tuesday being a "rest" day, and Thursday being a weights day.

As for nutrition, I haven't been consistent. I've been fairly consistent Mondays through Thursdays, but ate poorly on the weekends. Not anyone's fault but mine. We went to a (ginormous) buffet this weekend in Dutch Country - Shady Maple - and naturally, I ate poorly. If you're at a giant smorgasbord filled with home cooking, uh, you're likely to overeat, and you're not overeating vegetables, most likely. So, the weekends are a challenge. I'm just too tempted to get high-sugar, refined carb, and high-fat treats and foods on the weekends. I just haven't been strict enough with myself to say no or limit the intake to a small amount. That, and I haven't been to a buffet in ages. Maybe I wasn't sure what to do with myself? I had also never had shoofly pie until this weekend. Chris and I bought one at a small, Amish bakery outside of Intercourse (heh heh) and that thing was delicious. We finished that sucker off in 3 days or so. I'm just one of those people that can't have that stuff around the house or I eat it. Especially Amish baked goods. Wow, they're tasty...but then I feel like crap a day after I eat them. It's a sugar rush, then a "ughhhhhhh..." feeling.

Once I move more into phase 2 and phase 3 of P90X, I'll have a little bit less restriction on my carb intake. That's good, because I really enjoy homemade bread. I haven't made any traditional (rising) bread since I've moved. It's a fun thing to make in the fall. Really, baking in general is fun for me in the fall and winter. Just because I'm watching my weight doesn't mean I (or Chris) have to suffer from a lack of baked goods around the apartment. There are healthy means of making traditional baked goods which toss out the "bad guy" ingredients like shortening, butter (real butter), heavy cream, refined sugar, corn syrup, etc. Homemade breads, muffins, cookies, granola, etc. can all be modified to taste good and be healthy, too. By taste good, I'm really not kidding. I used to take in vegan baked goods (cookies, muffins, dessert breads) into work and people downed them faster than regular cookies with no complaints. And, my former workplace wasn't exactly full of new age types. Just average people who don't typically eat vegan fare or "hippie" products. So, I'd say if they ate them and like them, most everyone would.

The Steaming Tea Kettle

2008-09-29T05:16:00.000-07:00

So uh, as a contrast to the typical recap of the debate of so and so said this wrong, and so and so doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground... I offer this (please excuse this being a text link, the vid link wouldn't work):

Click here...really, do it.

That's all I could think of while listening to McCain. He whistles more frequently when he's visibly angered. I thought it was hilarious, really. Barack should have stopped saying "Yes, John, I agree with you" and said "Jesus H, someone take the kettle off the stove!"

Yes, I'm an awful person. You don't need to comment telling me so.

I can't wait for the VP debates. I'm hoping for some more comic genius. Biden has enough speaking practice from running for the presidency umpteen times...and then there's Palin, who only reminds me of Frances McDormand in Fargo every damn time she opens her mouth. The Philly news (I moved, remember?) featured some small publicity stints about her stay here the past few days. Someone from the crowd yelled something to the tune of "can't you just answer the questions?" at her. They also interviewed several staunch conservatives/McCain supporters who agreed. They want to see her speak more. And hell, she should. Get out there and give "the straight talk" or whatever slogan that campaign is using. I don't know, unless she proves otherwise, I think the campaign would have done much better with someone else. Long before the VP announcement was official, I was hoping for a Condi Rice nomination. Despite her involvement with the crooked Bush administration, I still have a helluva lot more respect for her versus Palin. There's a SERIOUS difference between "oh yah I can see Russia from my kitchen, howzabout that!" and "I can speak Russian...bitch."

Now to me, that seems like a pretty easy choice, eh?

P90X: An Update

2008-09-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

I am on day 7 of P90X (Lean version). I used yesterday (instead of today) as my rest day, on account of the giving blood incident. I got up late yesterday morning and didn’t feel punchy enough for the Kenpo (kickboxing) workout. Punchy…get it? So, today I’m going to the gym after work to do 40 minutes of cardio and 10 minutes of light weightlifting. Tomorrow commences day 8, week 2 of P90X. Now that I’ve got the workout schedule down, I need to get a little more picky with the diet. I had some sugary stuff the day I gave blood, and one sugary item the day after (ice cream). Luckily I’m not craving any sweets today. I’ll just need to knock that off from now on. Acceptable sweets: small dark chocolate squares (serving 1-2 pieces), yogurt (Fage, if I feel like eating something higher in fat), espresso or flavored coffee, PB&J sandwich, granola, or fruit.

Another thing I’m thinking about is buying an iPod shuffle. My regular iPod is 60 GB and not exactly portable when working out or cleaning (makes cleaning way more fun, try it sometime). Plus, I just found out I can't put it on hold anymore. The switch doesn't work. Haven't found a way to remedy that yet short of going to the Apple store and doling out money. I see that 2GB iPod shuffles are only $69.00. With iTunes 7, I can share playlists from my library with the shuffle – workout playlists, etc. I also see they are offering new, colorful shuffles. That’s fun. I may be ordering one tonight or tomorrow. I think its portability will be a bonus when I’m at the gym or at home using P90X (I don't like the P90X music). I think my regular iPod may just stay hooked up at home to either of my 2 iPod sound docks. The shuffle may be easier for the morning commute playlist in my car. Plus, it's much less loss if it should be stolen or damaged.

Food for thought I guess. Anyone out there have any suggestions? I'm basically limiting myself to Apple products at the moment. I'm really in love with the iPod. I once had an iRiver and wasn't impressed.

Blood...Muahahahaha

2008-09-15T11:08:00.001-07:00

I donated blood today for the first time EVER. The workplace was running a drive and I decided, eh, what the hell, I should. I tried once in the past and was refused due to a low hemoglobin count (low iron), which is fairly common. This time around, I made sure to eat extra spinach and broccoli last week, and had some lean hamburger tacos last night. (Funny, you’d think a former vegetarian would really crave red meat. Me, meh, not so much outside of the occasional delicious Philly cheesesteak.)

So, uh, I was scheduled to donate at 9:20. I was a bit of a wreck about it. One thing I’m scared of are those darn pricky things they put in your finger for the hemoglobin. I’m sure they’re not called pricky things, but I’m too lazy to Google their actual name. So they prick my finger. Gaarrrrh. Ask me all the questions. Get my bags and donor equipment ready. Then I’m good to go. I get all hooked up. Didn’t watch it. Heh. Still a little nervous. Get strapped down. Woo hoo! Here we go… I feel kind of prickly and they tell me not to squeeze the little fist squeezer thing-me-bob (again, not technical here) so damn much because I’m gripping it like there’s no tomorrow. I looked over at my arm a bit. Wasn’t really bothered by it, but didn’t feel like staring it down. The donation process is pretty fast with me, only a few minutes. They take out the apparatus and put my arm in the air and all that jazz. Well as I put my arm down, not even bandaged yet at this point, I start to feel mega-queasy. Mind you, I’ve never passed out in my life. I came close once last year after having a colposcopy (detailed lady bits exam / biopsy). I start to kind of weave in and out of it. I sort of stutter to the attendant, “um, blargh, I feel funneh.” So a team of a couple of the attendants loads me with ice packs and covers me with a blanket, then tells me to try coughing and moving my legs about. I was trying to close my eyes or something and they told me to try to cough to keep with it and move the blood flow. I felt tingly as hell, could barely hear, and watched the color disappear from my legs (oooh creepy). Felt pretty craptacular in all. They gave me a vomit bag (just in case) – luckily I didn’t have to use it. After about 5 minutes of waving in and out I started to regain my temperature. They took my pulse right before while I was all shitty. It was like 75 over I don’t know. It was extremely low, anyway.

Soooooo….

I sat around in the chair for another 40 minutes. Not the best way to blow off work, but I got a coke and free time to listen to some sweet tunes and b/s with the other donors. The staff was pretty cool – they probably have this happen a lot, so no big deal. They checked my BP and pulse a couple more times, then allowed me to sit down and eat some vittles. I chose a pack of Fig Newtons. They’re delicious and I haven’t had them in AGES. I’m hoping it doesn’t deter me from donating again. I’d like to. It’s just going to be a little nerve-wracking, of course. I’m wondering if I should drink more fluids beforehand. Or eat something salty. Heh. My BP seemed lower than normal to begin with 116/86. I dunno. I’ll try donation again later in the wintertime. After I’ve been consuming a lot of delicious wintertime stew. Nom nom nom.

I still feel a little woozy. I feel like I need a good nap. That’s normal anyway. Could be the fact that I’m probably crashing from drinking a coke, a container of juice, and a hot chocolate. There’s a major sugar bonanza going on right now in mah tummeh. I’m happy I was able to give today. Even if I biffed out. Heh.

P90X Crap: You were warned

2008-09-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

So, since moving, I’ve gotten a bit sporadic (read: lazy) with my fitness routine. Last week, things started to pick up once again – Chris and I take walks around town several nights a week and toss the Frisbee around in the large yard across from the apartment. The ‘bee is some good, fun exercise. I had no idea! Anyway, I’ve noticed some weight gain (read: my clothes are fitting tight) and this isn’t good. My clothes need to fit properly and I’ve just been lazy with the move and all.

Because I spent $120 or so on the P90X set, I figure I’ll start with that. Being a cheap and all, I can’t let $120 worth of stuff go to waste. So, I’m doing it right this time. I’m trying the “P90X Lean” route and not switching over to Plyo. I am doing it in the AM. Why? I’m crazy and it’s easier to budget time (regardless) in the AM versus the PM. At least now it is. At the moment, I don’t have any meetings (read: Jaycees social outings involving going downtown to Chipper’s Pub) which would affect my ability to wake up early. Most days when I get out of work, I sure don’t feel like taking my 45 minute commute (in traffic…fucking traffic), coming home, doing P90X, getting sweaty, then having to fix dinner quickly. I think I will go to the gym a couple nights a week to jog / use the elliptical, though, to maintain my cardio. I’ve already been doing this – 2-3x weekly. I get a free gym membership at work and the gym is maybe 2.1 miles from the office. It’s a really nice place. No shortage of treadmills or ellipticals. Plus, I got a meeting with a personal trainer. And a body fat composition test! Bonus! Well, kind of bonus. It affirmed that I’m overweight. No use in complaining about it, just got to get my ass in gear…Anyway, I’m on Day 2 and sticking to things. So far, so good.

So um, here’s the problems I noticed the last time I did P90X. The program runs 90 days. I made it to day 42 and then got lazy and only did it every several days. Bad move on my part. Here’s what I noticed that I did wrong:

1. Waiting until afternoon to do the workouts. I just don’t have the concentration at the end of the work day. I enjoy walking or running at the end of the day, but not a lifting or yoga routine.

2. Doing the high impact version of Plyo. My knees hated me. This, in effect, messed with my running ability outside of P90X and my running slacked off. This could have been avoided if I – A) stayed with the Lean P90X (doesn’t utilize Plyo) or B) did the problem moves at a lower impact level.

3. Made protein shakes. I’m convinced whey protein messed with my stomach. I wasn’t seeing benefits…only a skeezy stomach and a headache (thank you aspartame! *shakes fist*). The decent mix that contains stevia (natural sweetener) is pricy and I wasn’t feeling like ordering 5 pounds of the stuff to not like it. I’ve had better luck with Green Smoothies, much to my boyfriend’s chagrin… “You’re drinking SPINACH!? WTF!”

4. Didn’t combine the workouts with a regular running / jogging / walking schedule. I combined the first several weeks of the workouts with walking to work. This lagged off as the weather got hotter and I drove to work. I also did not regularly run or jog around the neighborhood after work, as I had been doing previous to P90X. My running effectively SUCKED after day 42.

5. Skipped the yoga entirely. At 1.5 hours, I don’t like this workout. However, at the time, I didn’t have any other viable alternatives. The way I’ve structured my week this time, yoga falls on Sunday. I now have two power yoga dvds at 50 and 60 minutes running time, respectively. These and two Pilates dvds will be substituted for the 1.5 hour yoga workout.

6. Taking progress photos. I didn’t do that the last time. Chris is taking photos of me tonight in sports bra and shorts. He doesn't know this yet. Athletic prOn!!!! Now I can post my fat tummeh on the internetz! YESSSS!

7. Tracking progress and workout logs. Again, didn’t do this the last time. I have copies of the logs printed out and ready to go. I didn’t want to write on the original. They’re available online at a couple different sources.

There’s some other things I’ve noticed as well. I won’t follow the P90X diet, because I don’t like eating meat to the extent they recommend. I do eat some meat nowadays, but it’s sporadic, maybe 2-3x per week. It’s usually fish or chicken. My boyfriend probably wishes I would cook with more meat. Maybe. I’m just not entirely keen with the idea. Some of the dressings and salads listed in the book are good, though. They actually don’t taste like the “healthy” food they are. I should make them again.

I have to choose a workout plan that will fit in with my schedule in the upcoming months. I think AM sessions of P90X are probably the best option. They’re also doable when travelling. I don’t think I’ll be really travelling with work until December, but I need to ensure my workout plans fit in with future requirements. I’ll have a laptop with me, so all I’ll require are the DVDs and two resistance bands – light and heavy. Easy. I wanted to start a simple 3x3 routine, but then realized it may be difficult to do such a routine when I’m on the road. Most hotels have a treadmill or bike, but not all have a small weight room available. If I’m in a hotel in a more remote part of the globe, well, I’ll probably be lucky to have a communal bathroom. I’m happy I bought a super-dooper travel voltage adapter last year before going to Poland. I didn’t need it there, but it may come in handy in upcoming travels.

I know that the program works. I also know I don’t have to be anal retentive about following EXACTLY what the program recommends – i.e. supplements and diet. I just need to practice common sense and follow a healthful diet. For supplements, I take daily: 1 vegetarian multivitamin, 2 capsules NSI Glucosamine MSM, 2 Complete EFA softgels (essential fatty acids…for my fatty ass!), and 2 capsules psyllium fiber (haha…yeah, laugh if you will, but everyone must poop). On P90X days, I drink either a green smoothie as my recovery drink or a glass of natural orange juice (I am considering adding Greens+ to my juice to boost it at a recovery drink daily). The Green Smoothies are a bit of a pain in the rear and make a mess in the kitchen. Greens+ and lite V8 juice could be a viable option. I usually eat a breakfast of: small bowl oatmeal + one piece fruit OR small bowl of vanilla yogurt (not just any yogurt – Wegman’s SUPER yogurt – it wears a cape!) + muesli + sliced banana / fruit. On the weekends, Chris and I eat breakfast together. It typically consists of: whole wheat English muffin + scrambled eggs + fruit. This past weekend it consisted of glorious WAFFLE HOUSE cuisine. Yes, that’s right. I finally live within short driving distance of a WAFFLE HOUSE. It’s a dream come true. I get excited over small things, people.

So uh, I know everyone has been super excited reading that post! I’m sure it’s really only applicable to the P90X gurus, buffs, and wannabes like myself. Oh and I will post progress photos at day 7 of P90X. Because yeah, I can post all these words, but they're only that. I get extra motivated when my clothes fit better once again. Other people get motivated when they see someone successfully lose their tummeh by simply cleaning up their diet and getting off their rump. I just got a new camera…which probably deserves it’s very own post. Because it’s that awesome. Like me. Awesome.

(This post is now getting too motivational-speakerish...Thank you for getting to this point in the post. Carry on now.)

A Fishy Outrage

2008-09-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

Special afternoon blog post: THE FISHY OUTRAGE

So, I checked the Meadville Tribune today on my lunch break only to find a story regarding the new developments at the Linesville Spillway…and a backlash of poorly-spelled public opinion. Some time ago, the PA Game Commission announced a decision to only allow approved fish food pellets to be sold at the Linesville Spillway. If you’re not familiar with the Spillway, it’s a manmade structure on Pymatuning Lake with a heavy carp population. Its tagline is “Where the ducks walk on the fish.” Previously, you could buy inexpensive bags of stale bread to feed the fish. Since the pellet decision, the general public has been pissed. So pissed, that they held a public forum regarding the issue (this is what the newspaper story was based upon). 350 people attended this forum. 350! Yes! Apparently THIS is what’s important in the local community. The Tribune allows for readers to post comments. Amongst the drivel, I found this comment:

It's a money thing. Period.

A lot of money was spent on the area, and what's the best way to recoup the money? Sales. In this case, of fish food.

Is paying a nominal fee to feed ideal, controlled food to the fish that bad of an idea? No. There's no bread swimming in the water. It's not their natural food, nor does it contain ingredients natural to their diet, which the fish pellets would contain.

Then again, we're talking about an area that fights against flouride in the water, yet Appalachia has the highest rate of tooth loss in the nation. Logic doesn't ever really seem to win out here.

Residents fight for bread, against flouride, yet allow un-needed developments (ie: Parking decks downtown, Condos) to occur.

Residents allow the good ole boy network to run rampant, and don't use their voice to actually improve their area.

Junkyard going in next door? That's ok. Home heating prices going up again? Fine.

Can't feed stale bread to fish? OUTRAGE!

Very few in the area seem to care about their property value, or quality of life.

Let's see some public outcry to actually improve the area as a whole. And maybe, just MAYBE, the area could rebound to a place that would attract people to live there.

Posting date 9/10/2008 6:45 AM
Posted by Joe

I don’t know who this “Joe” fellow is, but he’s hit an excellent point. It’s amazing how you can get 350 people to show up for a meeting about fish food, but you cannot get that sort of attendance at community events and the like. You can’t even get most of the naysayers in Meadville and the surrounding area to support local businesses. You can’t get many people to take pride in their homes and local community.

For the fish food…the article, and apparently the forum, did a very poor job explaining the goose issue. Migratory wild birds (like geese) should not be fed in excess. They should not be fed at all by humans. Why is this? Because feeding these birds interrupts their migration patterns of the birds. Warnings to avoid feeding the wildlife – be it birds, bears, deer, or raccoons – are plastered all over most park wildlife centers, state park entrances, etc. Those animals are feral for a reason. If you want to feed animals, buy a pet or visit a zoo. I was always confused as to why they even allowed the fish to be fed. I went to the Spillway once as a kid with my grandparents. It was a fun day trip; great for kids. I do remember thinking, though, "how can these fish eat all this bread!? Don't they get fat or sick?" I knew that if I fed my fish at home the wrong food or too much food, they got sick (btw...fish are awesome pets for kids). Nonetheless, I would see a fish food pellet being much less attractive to migratory birds and being consumed primarily by the carp. Pellets supply more necessary (fish-specific) nutrients. You don't see people tossing about big bags of bread into a koi pond...this isn't much different. The absence of bread bags and excessive goose poop is also welcome. Considering the Spillway just recently went under a serious renovation and upgrade, I think there's some incentive to keep the nice, new facility attractive and clean.

For the locals... “Joe” makes a point here. There’s really something to be said about making the best of what you have. If you don’t take care of the community and your property, you can kiss tourism and growth goodbye. Who wants to move to an area filled with eyesores? People don’t visit the community from afar just to see those fish. You have to have multiple tourist draws. Unfortunately, Crawford County, outside of hunting and fishing, is lagging. There are some real gems in the community, like Allegheny College, the Market House, the Spillway/Pymatuning, Baldwin-Reynolds House, Erie Wildlife Refuge, and Conneaut Lake, to name a few. As a community, you need to support and promote these things; not bad mouth them and vandalize them. Same for properties. You don’t have to be wealthy or special to have a tidy property. You just need to beat that disease known as LAZY. Mow the lawn. Wash the windows. Plant flowers or a garden (then maintain them!). Patch and repair siding. Borrow a pressure washer and wash the siding. Get rid of that junk laying around! Scrap metal pays money!

It’s attitudes and news items like this that don’t reflect well on a community. Things like this motivated me to leave the area. I won’t speak ill of the area, but moreso of bad attitudes and unfriendly people living there. If you don’t want to think forward, positive, or for the better, then growth and development isn’t achieved. Not all change is bad.

So, fishies, how do those pellets taste?

Taxes, Campaigns, and Smoking Guns

2008-09-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

I don’t think I’ve reported on politics for a while. Guess it’s time to chime in with my two cents, like anyone really gives a damn…

I’ve basically removed myself from most news sources and blogs. Why? Rumours. Lies. Bullshit in general. I’ve been referring to VoteSmart and FactCheck much more these days. I’m sick of stupid rumor emails and typical scaremongering posts by media and bloggers with their heads straight up their asses. Of course there will be plenty of mudslinging in an election year, but it’s not gospel; it’s not fact. Simple logic will sort out most of the conspiracy. Mind you, I’m not completely removed from the media. I watched Obama on the O’Reilly factor. I keep in touch with CNN. I read the stupid scaremonger emails sent to me by “concerned” individuals. I usually then promptly go look them up on Snopes or a non-profit research agency and find them to be false. My favorite has been the damn tax email. If you’ve received it, it basically reads something like you will become broke and destitute if you vote for Obama, John McCain will eat taxes alive, etc etc etc. Well, it’s a clever slant, but it doesn’t cut the mustard. Of course Dems enjoy raising taxes. I, like many, don’t agree with many of the tax programs or sources of funding. However, I also like to keep my ducks in a row and understand TRULY what each candidates tax plan means for me and my wallet. Here’s a breakdown courtesy of Snopes and the American Tax Policy Center…

Yearly Household Income, McCain's Plan, Obama's Plan
Over 2.9M, -$269,364, +701885
603K and up, -$45,361, +115974
227K-603K, -$7,871, +12
161K-227K, -$4,380, -$2,789
112K-161K, -$2,614, -$2,204
66K-112K, -$1,009, -$1,290
38K-66K, -$319, -$1,042
19K-38K, -$113, -$892
Under 19K, -$19, -$567

In a nutshell, this is describing what would happen to your yearly tax bill with each proposed plan. This is also a bit of what O’Reilly was beating Obama up over in his interview. The other argument was regarding dividend taxes. Dividend taxes apply to households with $250,000.00 and up in yearly income. They are currently at 15%. O’Reilly was claiming Obama wished to raise this to 30%. Obama claims he will not increase the tax beyond 25%. Raising the tax beyond 20%, according to O’Reilly will discourage investment. This is the single time I may agree with O’Reilly. Yes, write that down. It will discourage investment. This isn’t applicable to me, since my income is not at $250,000.00. Really, much of the proposed tax changes are only applicable to 2-5% of the American population. As much as we all hate to admit it, we’re mostly little guys. We’re not millionaires. How this affects the big guys is questionable, though. There are pros and cons – discouraging investment, “socialist” ideals through wealth redistribution, etc. I think I’d be more in favor of a hybrid plan.

Another interesting figure, of course, has been Sarah Palin. I must say, there’s entirely too much bullshit about this woman out in the media. This has truly brought both the left-wing and right-wing nutjobs out to play. One of the best commentaries I’ve heard as of yet regarding Palin was given last night on the Colbert Report. Basically the idea is, Palin is a good role model and solid American citizen. The bad news? Assuming the average American woman will vote for Palin simply because she is a woman, mother, etc. is faulty. Many of us simply do not agree with her stances on issues. Her extreme right-wing politics are viewed as a turn off to many, not simply women. It seems, also, that there is a fair amount of negative press and blogging toward women who disagree with Palin. I’ve seen the word “Feminazi” thrown around just a bit too much as of late. I tend to get the opinion that if I don’t support Palin, I’m labeled as a Hilary Clinton supporter. WTF is that all about? I don’t see why it’s such a crime to disagree with some of Palin’s stances. I don’t mind McCain so much. He can swing moderate. His voting record shows this. Palin, on the other hand, would be more palatable to me if she was not vehemently right wing. I think she’s a good person and all, but when I look at her solely on her issues, geez, I’m a bit leery. No, I am not a hater or a feminist. I’m a moderate. Many other women in the United States are as well. Don’t expect us to fall head over heels for the campaign with the vagina. It’s just not that easy!

Also, on the subject of the smoking issue. I’ve always viewed this solely as a workplace hazard. I mean, think about it…we’re already heavily dictated on what we can and cannot do in public places and common courtesy. Many individuals already will not smoke directly in the presence of others because of the known, and heavily documented health hazards of second hand smoke. I know a lot of folks are up in arms about ‘their freedom’ being impinged. My suggestion? Well, first of all, cut the damn cigarettes. But seriously…go to a private club. If they allow smoking, you are choosing to pay for that club. Many savvy private clubs already offer non-smoking areas or have banned smoking entirely. Open spaces and common places shouldn’t be barraged by smoke. First and foremost we have a right to cleaner air. Factories, automobiles and other emission sources must be regulated to control the quality of the air. Why is indoor air drastically different? Another analogy to those complaining about their “freedom violations”…So you’re not allowed to smoke in public. You’re also not allowed to take a shit on a public sidewalk (not saying it’s not done, but if you’re caught your ass is, well, going to be fined) or piss in a public place. Smoking’s hazards are, quite honestly, more damaging to an individual than drinking a piss-laced beer or stepping in a pile of shit on the sidewalk. Piss-laced beer sure isn’t allowed in bars thanks to HACCP restrictions. Why should smoking be allowed?

Ryan Started the Fire

2008-09-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

Ahh, my wonderful boyfriend brought home a great treat last night. What's that you ask? Why, it was newly released "The Office - Season 4" DVD set. Yay! Funny enough, he got me into the office just a couple months ago. From the first episode I was hooked. I've watched every episode in succession. It's truly a great series, with great character casting. Plus, in just a couple weeks, Season 5 begins! Hooray! (If you read the title of this blog, it's an "Office" reference. Guess which episode...?)

Speaking of fires...

I submitted an application to join the Quakertown fire department on Tuesday. Hopefully I will be on my way to becoming a member soon. I'll have to go through a decent amount of classwork/training, of course. I decided to do it for a couple reasons. Instead of making a monetary memorial to the fire department which my grandfather belonged for 45 years until his recent passing, I thought actually becoming a volunteer firefighter was a much better memorial. Also, my boyfriend is captain of the local department. If I'm with him in the car when there's a call or whatnot, it'd be better to be able to also respond. Instead of just bumming around in the lounge at the department. Originally, I was going to join the auxiliary, but thought, what the heck, I'll have more fun as a fire fighter. So now, I have to wait to be approved and go through a physical and that fun stuff. Then it's on to training. Luckily, I live with a great teacher :)

Tea Party

2008-08-28T06:55:00.000-07:00

Lately, I’ve been drinking more tea than usual. I bought a Mrs. Tea iced tea maker one week ago, thus making it extremely easy to brew a container of tea, and avoid buying the store brand sugar-laden teas. I like my tea somewhat strong, with little or no sweetness. The only exception to the rule is chai. Chai is best served hot with sugar and cream. I can also mix and match blends, strengths, etc. It seems like another dumb invention, but it’s great when you’re a big fan of fresh-brewed iced tea. It’s also convenient for brewing large batches of loose-leaf tea. You can place a paper filter in the brewing cup on the pot and add the tea. Saves you from a big mess, really. I’m also contemplating the purchase of an additional small coffee press to use for brewing single cups of loose leaf tea. According to my Mom’s tea importer (yes, seriously, she imports tea from Britain), the press is a good way to brew and extract the full flavor of loose leaf tea, while avoiding massive sediment at the base of the cup. I have a small press for coffee, and I’d like to keep it specifically for that. Once the coffee oils are infused with the plastic on the press, it will leave an aftertaste if tea is brewed using it. Ever poured hot water from a carafe that’s been used namely for coffee? It gives off a strong coffee aftertaste in the hot water. It’s not pleasant. You’ve got to keep coffee and tea brewing devices separate.

I have a lot of bagged tea to use. It’s not the best of quality. It’s convenient at my desk at work, but at home, I prefer loose leaf. I only have two small containers of loose leaf left, both are almost empty. Once I finish the bagged teas, I’d like to only buy loose leaf for home. I’ve been looking about on the web for different potential tea vendors, but I’m not sure of the quality of some. Adagio seems popular, but I’ve never tried their teas. Murchie’s has excellent tea, however, the shipping can be steep. My Mom’s importer has a fairly impressive inventory list, but again, you have to order in mass quantity for affordability. I wouldn’t call myself a tea snob, but I can discern the good from the mediocre. I’m definitely open to suggestions for online (or brick & mortar) tea stores. I live in the Philly area now. There’s got to be something nearby.

I’ve been invited to a Tastefully Simple party. I’ve been to Pampered Chef parties, but never a TS party. The stuff looks tasty, but the prices seem a bit steep for a lot of the items. Some of the seasoning blends look tasty. I like items I can use in cooking, not necessarily the stand-alone desserts or products. Sometimes boxed items are great, but when you can make them from scratch for half the price, the scratch foods win. It’s about the same mentality I have with Pampered Chef. Yeah, this stuff is nice, but is it really justified? I can go out and buy a Caphalon pan for less than much of the PC cookware. Caphalon cookware is pretty much the Cadillac of cookware, IMO. I have three skillets now, and would like to upgrade the rest of my pots and pans in the next couple years. Caphalon, Le Creuset, and/or All-Clad would be nice. Expensive, yes, but considering that I cook a lot, they’re well worth the price tag. There’s certain household items I will splurge on. But, I have to justify the reason. If it’s a cooking item that will be used daily or near-daily, quality and durability are very important. I’d really like to have a house someday with a large kitchen. It slays me when I see people with huge, custom-designed kitchens who don’t cook. Oh man. Hand that over. Give it to this poor cook!

A Trip Home

2008-08-25T11:26:00.000-07:00

Chris and I made an unplanned trip home over the weekend for the calling hours and funeral of my grandfather. I was completely shocked when I received a phone call from my dad last Wednesday morning informing me of the bad news. It was unexpected, as he had not been sick, and I had seen him just before leaving for Quakertown two weeks ago. Tuesday afternoon/evening he was having difficulty eating and keeping food down. Things worsened quickly and he began to have severe pain and difficulty breathing. He was taken by ambulance to the Greenville hospital late Tuesday evening with a number of complications, suffered a heart attack, and soon after was induced into a coma. His wishes were not to be left on life support, and he passed away early Wednesday morning. The doctors said the cause of death was an enlarged/ruptured gallbladder. Once the toxins enter your system, they can cause a multitude of other problems. He did not want to fall into bad health and be forced into a care/nursing home situation. As difficult as his passing was, he did get his wish to not have any suffering. Calling hours were tough, and a lot of people showed to pay their respects. It was a sad weekend, and he will be missed by all.

While we were at home, we made a short trip to the Crawford County Fair to take a break and get out of my parents’ hair. Some hilarious photos were taken, which hopefully Chris will be posting on his blog. I also now have a sweet new photo for Facebook. Chris does, too. We both struck a friendship with “Grumpy” the horse, and of course, got photos with him. He doesn’t seem too grumpy in the photos. I think he liked us. You really can’t go wrong with a night at the fair. The mullet sightings, carnies, and goofy animals will lift your spirits no matter what.

I actually got up at 5 am today to work out. I felt pretty crappy yesterday from the combination of the weekends events, the long drive, and (really) poor eating while at home. Too many sweets…Ugh. With the stress of moving and everything else, I’ve been a bit lax about working out the past couple weeks. I did one of the P90X workouts and set up a morning (home) workout schedule for the next few weeks using P90X and other DVDs. I will go to the gym to run/jog on Tuesdays and Thursdays, then walk or bike around town on Mondays and Wednesdays. This is a sustainable plan for me, and possibly Chris. I have a complimentary membership to a gym in Bethlehem (and other locations) provided by my employer. It’s a great gym, but it gets to be a bit of a hassle going there every night of the week, as usually Mondays and Wednesdays are meeting nights for Chris, and I’d like to prepare a good, healthy dinner before he goes to his meetings. It’s easier if I take a walk around town after dinner on these nights. With doing workouts in the morning, it’s not necessary to do a hardcore running workout nightly. I should only run 2-3x weekly. Otherwise, it’s too much strain on the knees, and I get burnt out. I’m not following any P90X workout plans. I’m doing the workouts, but in my own choice of weekly order, and also with other choice workouts. I’d like to do this to eliminate burnout. It’s not that I didn’t like the workouts, it was that I didn’t like a few of them, and felt there were other (better) workouts which could be substituted. I also didn’t like doing the workouts in a specific order every day of the week. I will only do them on weekdays. I like having the option to have guided workouts at home, but don’t want to be constrained to a specific plan. This is also key when I (eventually) will be out on the road with work. Several of the P90X workouts are great, as they don’t require much besides a couple fitness bands and some workout space. I think this is the most sustainable, flexible solution. We’ll see how it goes.

Foods Meme

2008-08-20T06:35:00.000-07:00

I stole this from Eden...

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment at www.verygoodtaste.co.uk linking to your results.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue (Friggin delicious)
8. Carp (This is classic in Poland and something I should try)
9. Borscht (I make this regularly)
10. Baba ghanoush (MMMM)
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart (in Cleveland)
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream (a fave of mine)
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras (I REFUSE TO EAT THIS)
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper (dude I'm not THAT insane)
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas (I love these damn things)
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut (Even better, I grew up making this stuff)
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar (fuck Cognac)
37. Clotted cream tea (sounds interesting)
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (nasty)
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala (really tasty)
48. Eel (had it in some sushi combo)
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer (delish, but hard to find in western PA)
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal (blargh and it made me sick)
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV (North Country Brewery!!! 2 beer limit!)
59. Poutine (blargh, yes)
60. Carob chips (I also like Carob powder for baking)
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin (why would one eat clay?)
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake (Mmm carnie food)
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain (I like this)
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe (next time I'm in Europe...)
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill (ew)
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie (gross)
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum (I am now hungry for Thai)
82. Eggs Benedict (yummy)
83. Pocky (Woo! My old roommate got this at Wegman's once!)
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers (some taste like cinnamon - they're awesome)
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam (Insert Monty Python reference here)
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

No wonder my boyfriend thinks I'm a culinary weirdo...

Whining Is Relative

2008-08-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

So far, I've adjusted into the new digs pretty well. One thing I've noticed in particular is how bad people tend to whine about the state of the Southeastern PA economy. Granted, the economy as a whole isn't in the best state, but some areas are better off than others. Coming from a section of the state in decline, everything in this area is roses at this point for me.

Prior to moving here, I received a LOT of warnings from Western-folk that this area held a ludicrous standard of living and you'd need double the wages just to sustain the same standards. Not true. I am making higher wages, AND also holding a better standard of living. I am able to save and invest a more considerable portion of my wages than I was able to in Meadville. Rent can run 1.5x-3x higher. However, heating/utility bills tend to run a bit lower with milder winters. Gas is typically 10-15 cents cheaper per gallon. Grocery averages the same. In some cases, it's less. Entertainment and dining (upscale) runs much higher. Auto services are considerably higher. Haircuts/beauty services run about the same, surprisingly. I haven't personally dealt with real estate and property tax, but it runs much higher here. HOWEVER, homes are still able to "flip" their value and achieve a decent return on investment.

The one thing I've noticed complaints about in this area are available jobs. When I was in the job search phase, I had a huge number of hits, requests, and contacts. It took me one month to find my current position. That includes contact, interview, etc. I had spent some time browsing around the greater/urban Pittsburgh area about 6 months ago for positions and didn't find nearly as many as I did in this area. And, of course, I found many fewer positions in the Northwest corner two years ago during my initial post-college job search. It took me 3+ months to get into my job in Meadville. Coming from this, then coming here, it's a major change. Sometimes I want to tell people to be thankful there are still a multitude of job openings. It's still a growth area here. I guess you're not truly thankful for that unless you're entering from a declining/recessed area. It's all in the personal perspective, I think.

Because of the growth level of the area, there is (still) a lot of home and commercial development. On my way to work, I can count off multiple development sites - many of which are restaurants and new businesses. Amazing enough, the area also has a great deal of "mom & pop" establishments still in business, still thriving. I'd venture to say that higher income levels and the trend of "transplanting" former NYC and Philly urbanites in the area has helped the mom and pops stay open, however, there seems to be a greater desire for aesthetic appeal in many of the smaller towns, and local storefronts are very desirable. Meadville is on the right track with the downtown development, but folks, support it! You can have the downtown and Vernon Township, but the appeal of the downtown should be the first focus. It thrives on local patronage, and adds to the tourism and aesthetic appeal of the area. It's basically the "heart" of the city along with Allegheny College. It's the thing people actually WANT to see when they visit the area. It's unique, quaint, and picturesque. It would be great if the majority of the residents were able to see this instead of continually bashing the college and only supporting Vernon businesses. Tourism (outside of people making food breaks on I-79 at the Meadville exit) thrives on unique local sights and sounds. So much of the reason I left the area is because of the lack of this and also the negative attitudes of many of the residents. It was in fact turning me into a very cynical, negative person despite my best efforts to avoid it. If a community wants so badly to attract new and young talent into its workforce and civic groups, why do they do anything and everything to portray the opposite of this?

Blocked In

2008-08-04T04:58:00.000-07:00

Boy oh boy did I have a fun surprise when I returned home at 11:00 PM last night! No parking permitted on the length of my street. I have no off-street parking spot available. What a fun surprise! I parked on one of the steep, brick side streets running perpendicular to my street. Not a problem, really, except sometimes my e-brake gets stuck when parked on hills. Oh well. Fast forward to this morning as I’m getting in my car and heading to work. I roll on down the hill after a five minute battle with my stuck e-brake and head toward Walnut St. I get to the end of Walnut St., intersection of Grove St., only to find Grove St. ripped apart and completely closed off with paving equipment. Hm, okay. Considering there were no road closed signs on Walnut St., I had no idea. So, me and another two cars put it into reverse and turn around in a driveway. I go directly back the way I came, back onto Chestnut, and do a complete detour up and around by Leech Carbide to avoid the mess known as upper Chestnut. To my knowledge, W.L. Dunn is paving the section of my street from the Y at Alden to the dead end. This isn’t a problem except that my access streets are also closed due to paving and curb reconstruction. I could park over at the high school and walk, but again, I don’t have access streets unless they’re finished by the end of today. I think my hope is to park over at the old Talon complex. I need the exercise (walk) I suppose. Hmm. Still sucks, though.

I moved a carload down to Quakertown this weekend. Met my boyfriend’s parents and family for a dinner on Saturday night, which was very nice. We did a lot of cleaning, putting away things, etc. I have a lot of cleaning to do the next few days in Meadville. I came home to stuff ripped apart in the kitchen by the lovely cats. They’re great, but seriously they’re full of piss and vinegar. They don’t stay out of ANYTHING. I hope they didn’t tear through the stuff I had packed upstairs. I’ll have to check it when I get home tonight. Whenever it is that I can actually get to my house. I may have to park 2 miles away!

My car is LOADED

2008-07-31T05:08:00.000-07:00

My car is loaded and ready to go for the (first) move to Quakertown. I am going to load as much as I can this weekend, then take the remainder down next weekend in my boyfriend's truck (w/U-Haul trailer attached) and my car. I don't have a ridiculous amount of stuff, luckily. The worst items to pack/move are my clothing/books. I've thinned them out, but still. Ugh. A lot to deal with. They're out in my car right now. I have some DVDs and food items to load on my lunch break, then I'll head straight for I-80 after work.

Even if you work at cleaning all your things and weeding out unnecessary items, there's still a lot of STUFF laying around to pack. Luckily I don't have any large furniture to move. Just a lot of STUFF. As I said above, most of it's essential stuff (for me, anyway). Books, DVDs, clothing, kitchen gadgets, electronics...that sort of stuff. It looks tasteful and can easily fit on a bookshelf or into a cabinet, but damn it's a pain to pack. Especially kitchen stuff. It's bulky and somewhat labor-intense to pack with all the wrapping and careful packing placement. I won't be moving kitchen stuff this weekend. It will be packed into Rubbermaid totes and moved in the trailer next weekend.

So um...Last night I was putting some air in the car tires over at the local Country Fair. The place was packed. Apparently at 9:30 on a Wednesday night, the Co Fair is the place to be. I wasn't able to fill up with gas as all the pumps were taken. I'll just fill up at GetGo before leaving today. Not a big deal. Besides, I like GetGo better anyway. I know my mileage will be reduced with hauling all the stuff, so I may have to stop at my halfway point (Lamar exit) and fill up at the Pilot station (Yaaaay cheap gas). I can make the trip, one way, without using an entire tank of gas. I think I go through about 9.25 gallons in a one way trip. I will probably go through about 12.5 this time, with the weight of the car considered. It may not make that much of a dent, but I don't know. I'll have to see.

I'm moving

2008-07-24T15:56:00.000-07:00

Well, this is a short post, but I am relocating to the greater Philadelphia area in mid-August. I'll be taking a new job down/over there and moving closer to someone special.

I will have to eradicate some speech habits:

1. Needs washed. Correct form: Needs TO BE washed.
2. Let's go to the Sheetz. Correct form: Let's go to the Wawa.
3. Pop. Correct form: Soda.

I will probably convert over to one of the bloggers who says "well, only if Erie did this...(insert suggestion here) it could be more (insert adjective here)" I've already seen some pretty awesome towns in Bucks County. And some great small cities. I still love you Meadville/Erie, but I must be moving on at this point.

Life is Too Short

2008-07-14T05:52:00.000-07:00

...to deal with assholes.

I was happy to find a copy of “The No Asshole Rule” by Dr. Robert Sutton available on the shelf at the Meadville Public Library. I’ve been wanting to read this little book for some time, so of course, I checked it out.

So far, I’m about halfway through the book. It’s not a long book, but already packs a punch and offers a lot of advice and commiseration for the wounded at work.

Now, everyone can be an asshole at times. The book defines these moments as “temporary asshole” moments. Of course, a temp asshole will apologize for their actions and attempt to undo their wrongs. A “certified asshole” is someone with a consistent pattern of abusive or jerk-like behavior. A “flaming asshole” is basically an over-the-top, all-out abusive, hurtful person who offers no apologies and leaves many burnt bridges. Sometimes we have a bad day and may feel snappy or curt. Some of us, unfortunately, are stuck in a consistent pattern of bad days and along with hurting others, can also hurt a company’s finances or reputation.

Most all of us have dealt with assholes in the workplace. Some certified assholes can be controlled, managed, or coped with. Others, well, not so much. As I read the descriptions of certified assholes and their typical behavior, I thought of a few examples from former work situations.

As an intern at my first internship in college, I dealt with one particularly bad instance of poor behavior where I was sexually harassed. I did not report the instance as I was two weeks from leaving the position and did not want to cause a fuss. I really got along well with my boss and most all the employees. There were a few crass individuals in the area where my cubicle was located, unfortunately. This employer had some known similar problems internally with other employees. Some time after I left, I learned they had a major shake-up and a number of employees were let go. Bad situation, basically.

My second internship was a very eventful one – it was a great workplace and the only assholes I dealt with were typically customers, and this was only temporary. Anyone dealing in over-the-phone tech support will have their share of over-the-phone disgruntlement. When something doesn’t work the way you want it to, sometimes it’s easy to lose your cool. I will give a shout out to this particular employer – The Center for eBusiness and Advanced IT (eBizITPA) – is an awesome employer and should be recognized as such. They have a workplace that’s very friendly to the college intern and all-in-all a positive, modern, cooperative environment (A note to Behrend students – if you’re seeking a business/IT internship, this place rocks!). Kudos to you guys!

At another summertime position, I worked for a local bank (I will not name them). While the branch managers and IT staff were pretty awesome to deal with, I got a lot of shit from my coworkers. I’m quick with computers and techie-related items. I did mailings and other clerical tasks. I didn’t mind this – it was easy work, close to home, and I was paid pretty well for a summer job. The hours were also pretty sweet and I had a large mailing / processing room all to myself. One of the directors at the head branch noticed I had a knack for computers and invited me to learn how to use their system and do some additional processing work. Apparently this pissed off some of the coworkers, who then proceeded to talk down to me and treat me like a damn five year old. It wasn’t a happy environment from that point forward. I do understand I was a “young punk” college kid working with a group of older women, some without college degrees. In no way am I some snob or know-it-all in my daily behavior. There were good days and bad days here. I think I just didn’t fit into the culture of this particular location. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get anyone internally to move me to another location because I was so damn efficient at the mailings. They also cut my hours in half after I started. I rebelled by assisting my good friend from high school in some under the table labor. Story on that next…

I much more enjoyed cleaning college frat houses with my good buddy Michelle than working in and around assholes. Yes, I would rather clean vomit off the wall than deal with an asshole everyday. If this is not proof that assholes destroy your work environment, self esteem, and job satisfaction, I don’t know what is.

Going back even further into the vault…I had a co-op in high school with a local, let’s call it a historical research and engineering firm. By firm, there were only 3 total individuals employed. I was warned before starting this job that the boss was bizarre as fuck and a notorious closet homosexual. Honestly, I don’t care what he did in his personal life, as long as he kept it all business in the workplace. Damn thing is, he didn’t. He was crotchety, demeaning, and a flaming asshole at times with myself and his longtime admin assistant. I hope he paid her well because he dished her a LOT of shit everyday. It came to the point one day when he decided to fly off the handle, I threw it right back at him. He had a lot of questionable photos of young boys (which I had the unfortunate task of labeling and cataloging in his photo collection…ugh…fuck that was nasty) and I threatened to report him for pedophilia. We had a pretty awesome working relationship after that. IN FACT, I was able to work off-site at one of his peers’ manufacturing plants using their computer imaging system. That was full of WIN. Awesome people at that location, no creepy boss, and flexible hours. Yes, full of win.

A point that I’ve noticed in my work history is this – and I don’t think the book touches enough on it or gets it wrong…I’ve had continual problems with older, male managers or senior colleagues giving me guff. Not just run of the mill “get this done” guff, but as you can see above and in some other instances, some creepy and uncalled-for guff. Is this because they assume I cannot stand up for myself and my convictions? Do they get off on issuing petty threats or harassment to females? They create a seriously shit work environment and destroy trust and their own managerial ability. If you’re going to act like a creep, pervert, or overbearing jerk, I am not going to be very comfortable around you. I will probably invest a lot of time in CYA activity and lose my productivity level. This sort of poor behavior encourages a workplace based on fear, vulnerability, and distrust. Despite my bouncy personality and general good-natured abilities, I’ve noticed feeling jittery, nervous, and uncomfortable if I encounter a bad situation at work.

I checked the book out as assistance in dealing with difficult situations. I don’t normally run to any self-help section, but this book caught my eye a while ago, actually, over a year ago after dealing with a difficult work situation. The thing is, I find the majority of my workplace agreeable. There are some individuals that have a persistence in making others’ workplace lives stressful and joyless. The small actions of a small percentage of people can amount to a much greater effect on ones’ personality than many, many acts of kindness. Basically, a small bit of asinine behavior can go a long way and hurt a great deal.

I want to learn how to combat this type of behavior in a conscious, constructive, and positive manner. Sometimes an attack just leaves me feeling cynical and jaded about my career. It’s really unfortunate. I want to learn how to be a positive employee and kill with kindness. Job satisfaction is closely related with work environment. It’s not all about the Benjamins. Look at how much time we spend at our place of work. Wouldn’t we be a lot happier people if that place was a positive environment to be in? Wouldn't we be happy if the assholes, mindfuckers, jerks, scumbags, and the like ceased their bullying and became more positive people? A lot of times, changing a work environment starts with the attitudes of those in it. The book is a big stepping stone for me to be more assertive and to seek ideas in creating a more civil work surrounding.

Now, I’m no HR person. I don’t know how I can be convincing to a top level manager regarding a more Zen-like work environment or a "no asshole policy" as the book suggests. I think sometimes the change begins with me. Promoting a continually positive attitude despite challenges or stress is my number one step. I am already positive, but sometimes have a tendency to become quiet, withdrawn, or distant. I understand this is, at times, the result of the unfriendly actions of others. What’s the best thing for me to do? Keep my chin up. I also would like to develop more assertive abilities in constructively confronting poor actions of others. If someone displays asshole behavior, I’m quite sick of submitting to it. I need to stand up for what I believe in…and what do I believe in? A happier workplace.

Because really, life is too short to deal with assholes everyday. You can’t always control your environment, but you can make positive changes to influence it.

Like a Pesky Fly

2008-07-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

I’ve been inspired to write this post by Emma over at Eriepressible. She recently wrote a post about annoying chain emails. I’m victim to chain emails on a daily basis at work. Some of these I don’t honestly mind. Occasionally some colleagues will find a short, sarcastic quote, comic, or photo related to work frustration, stupid people, etc. that gives a good laugh and is refreshing to read. The key here is that the email is short, not graphic intense, and aimed at a particular audience. I think much of the problem with spam or chain emails is that the sender truly doesn’t consider their audience before sending an email. I’m going to examine the various types of emails and my typical complaints with them…

The Religious Fanaticism Email
You know, the ones that put you on a guilt trip for not following a faith or not attending church or the like? Or maybe ones that tell you Jesus doesn’t love you unless you read and forward the email? Ugh. Jesus doesn’t have time to monitor everyone’s stupid emails. If the email also includes a “send this to x amount of people to show your faith, blah blah blah” I cringe. Faith and religion are personal things. Please don’t send unsolicited religious advice or evangelize to me in my email inbox. You have your views, I have mine. If you want to share your views, maybe post them in a personal blog, religious forum or journal and/or attend religious studies or discussion. These places are friendly to your ideas. Some people, especially family, have a difficult time in understanding that other family members may not share their religious views. Some family members may go out of their way to impose their views on other family members. Please be polite and realize others may have a different point of view than you and that by imposing your views or attempting a guilt trip on your relatives, you’re not very polite and are touching a sensitive nerve.

The Political Email
This one is tricky. I have sent a couple political cartoons and news clips as forwards. The key to these is KNOW THY AUDIENCE. Do not send mass chain emails of your political viewpoints, quips about current political events, or candidate promotions to everyone in your address book. This is rude and you may strike a very bad nerve. This seems to be the fastest way for people around my office to piss others off. I’ve seen some serious petty arguments start amongst employees because of poorly forwarded political emails. If you send anything political around the office, keep it mild-mannered. Don’t send controversial crap or you may start a serious problem. If you choose to send something hard-hitting, send it ONLY to those you know well and share the same political views as you. Again, please be polite and considerate. If you don’t agree with someone’s political views, don’t blast them with an email against their views. Try having a friendly chat or debate with this person at their discretion, instead.

The Friendship and Dating Chain Mail
Send this back to me and 10 other people if you are my true friend or want a happy love life. No. Just no. Don’t fall to this crap. Don’t send this crap, please. I will delete these immediately and request the sender that I value them as a friend, but to politely stop sending these.

The ZOMG I sent this to 20 people and won $20 Email
No. No. No. Email cannot be tracked and this is bullshit. Don’t send this shit for the love of all that’s holy. If you believe this crap, you’re a total idiot and need some intervention via email response.

The Awkward Photo/Cartoon/Joke Email
This is truly a “know your audience” situation. I’ve received a few questionable photo emails at work that made me very uncomfortable. One particular email had to do with male infants and toddlers entitled “Men are all alike” or something to that effect. It featured some very questionable photos of young kids peeing, breastfeeding, and doing other generally questionable stuff in little or no clothing. The email made me really uncomfortable and I was embarrassed to receive it. It wasn’t cute, in fact it was creepy and pedophile-like. I have the same feelings about receiving emails of sexual nature from family or friends. It can be very awkward to read XXX jokes sent by a family member or colleague. This is stuff that really shouldn’t be shared with just anyone. Amongst close friends or girlfriends, sure, okay, because we know each other very well and can discuss personal issues and have. That’s one thing. From extended family? Ew, that’s weird.

Urban Legend Emails
I don’t know why people still send these. There are so many great resources to check before hitting that send button, folks. Just do a google search or check Snopes.com before sending this crap. Thank you. I will refute these emails and respond back with a Snopes link. I don’t care if people take that in an offensive manner. They should know better to begin with.

Phone text forwards
If there’s one thing that agitates me more than anything, it’s these. These clog my phone’s message inbox and waste my allowable amount of incoming messages. Unlike email, I pay to have a messaging plan on my phone. Your spam REALLY pisses me off and I will tell you about it via phone call. I haven’t received any of these for a while, because I’ve called out every single sender and told them to stop. I am sure I was quickly labeled as a nasty bitch, but um yeah, don’t care.

In dealing with these emails, here are some tips...
1. If you decide to forward an email, please delete the forward information, i.e. previous senders' emails and use the bcc function on your email.
2. If you send a graphic heavy email, try to use a zip file for the images.
3. If you're dealing with a pesky repeat offender of poor choice email forwards, respond to them in a polite and courteous manner and state that while you value their friendship, you simply don't have time to read or respond to email forwards.
4. If you continue to have issues with a forwarder, just forward their emails straight to the spam folder.
5. Always consider your audience before sending an email. This goes for all correspondence, not just forwards.

Some Updates

2008-07-11T05:16:00.000-07:00

Yes, I realize I’ve been a bit of a slacker lately about posting in my blog. I do apologize, but I’ve been very busy.

I started dating someone wonderful who happens to live on the opposite side of our great wide state. It’s a long drive to see him (5.5 hours), but it’s well worth the miles and the insane cost 'o fuel. I drove to see him over the 4th, and will be going back next weekend. We’ll be going to HersheyPark next weekend with a couple other friends. Boyfriend, coasters, chocolate, ahh good times. Long distance relationships are tough, but this one is a good thing. His hometown is looking awful good. Oh and on that note - Erie, PA leaders - take a drive down to Bucks County and see some good examples on how to make towns aesthetically appealing.

I donated to my first political campaign ever. Normally I’m not for doing this, but I wanted to make a statement and decided to make a statement with my checkbook. Granted, I didn’t donate some crazy amount, but hey, every bit counts.

Last weekend, while in Bucks County visiting my boyfriend, we drove around to all the covered bridges of Bucks. If you’ve never done this, I do recommend it. It’s a really nice afternoon drive, not a lot of miles, and some gorgeous scenery (click here for some beautiful examples). We also stopped at the Sand Castle Winery along the Delaware River, went for a tour, and sampled some vino. It’s a fairly unique winery that sits off the road, atop a hill. They had a nice selection of wines, some of which I found better than Erie varieties, others not so much. I’m still partial to our Lake Erie semi-sweet wines. Really, nothing beats them. Also, nothing beats their price. You really can’t go wrong with an $8 bottle from Mazza Vineyards or Penn Shore.

I broke down and bought a new cell phone. My AT&T contract was nearing its two year expiry and my Motorola Razr was becoming spotty with its service and battery life. I chose the LG Shine as a replacement. I received it yesterday. So far, so good. Overall, I’ve been fairly pleased with AT&T. I know some people dislike them, but I can’t beat the monthly rate on my plan and also the rollover minutes option. I’ve accumulated something in the lines of 2,900 rollover minutes. Obviously, I don’t use my phone an awful lot, regardless of it being my primary / home phone line.

I had started the P90X program back in May. I kept with it (as prescribed) for about 5 weeks. I tried to incorporate it with biking / running, but found my knees were flaring up and my running really fell off the deep end. I took a couple weeks as a break and took it easy, only doing some of the workouts, no running, no biking. I was still having knee problems. After mixing and matching the workouts, I’ve come to this conclusion: Plyometrics and the Legs & Back workout are hell for my knees. The balance lunges, and most of the moves in Plyo are basically are horrid idea for me. Really, it’s no skin off my back because running and biking do a swell job at keeping my legs shapely. Adding P90X to the mix only irritated my knees and gave me too-bulky thighs. On the flip side, the other workouts of P90X are pretty stellar and I will continue to do these 2-3 nights per week. I really enjoy Core Synergistics, Shoulders & Arms, and Chest & Triceps. The Ab Ripper X is a good ab workout, but I tend to like more of an Iso ab workout – pilates or yoga style. I noticed the Ripper was giving my abs a bulky appearance and not the tone, flat appearance I get more from pilates. Basically I can’t give enough praise to the arm workouts / push-up workouts of P90X. I can now do a heckuva lot more pushups now than at the start of the program. I need to get back on the P90X bandwagon and incorporate the arm workouts twice weekly into my weekly running/pilates/yoga routine. I think this will be the most appropriate mix for me. I like the program as a whole, but found I needed to tweak it to my specific needs.

Hmm, other than that I've been continually entertained by my roommate's cats. This morning they were having an all out battle in the hallway. They're half sisters and have similar markings and coloration. The younger and smaller one sticks to me like glue and basically eats anything and everything I'm preparing in the kitchen. This includes, but is not limited to red peppers, spaghetti sauce, sour cream, protein shakes, soy milk, ice cream, sherbet, pretzels, raisins, cheese, tuna, mayo, and basically whatever else is sitting out on the counter. They greet me at the door when I arrive home and donate their hair to my clothing and possessions. I love them dearly and feed them treats when they're well behaved. Okay, I feed them treats even if they are acting up and/or attempting to drink from the toilet. They're just too lovable!

An elusive, dangerous creature, that one is…

2008-07-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Considering a lot of folks my age in are in the hype of wedding planning, as someone who hasn’t planned a wedding nor been asked to assist in planning one…I ponder…how far is too far? How far do you go to get on the nerves of your friends and family?

This topic has originated from discussions with a close friend about a wedding in which she is planning and participating in. It’s the first wedding she has been asked to be a part of (part of the bridal party – maid of honor). Her friend graciously asked her to handle the bridal shower (along with her mother) and a few other events. Her friend insisted the shower be at a specific location in a specific room. Considering my good friend is well-organized and a fantastic planner, she booked the room, food, and laid down a fairly steep deposit. She calls back to confirm the reservation a week later and finds the venue placed them in another room without telling them. This should be a minor setback – the other room is just as nice and offers the same catering. She proceeds to call the bride about the change. The bride screams at her on the phone and calls her incompetent. This brings me to my topic…What in the bloody hell gives you the right to carry on like a small baby throwing a temper tantrum? Why do I constantly see wedding planning as a source of frustration and family/friend fights. Why would you jeopardize a friendship over the planning of a freaking get-together!? Where is the logic here, folks?

I feel for my friend. She has taken her time, effort, and finances to plan this event and additional pre-wedding events. I think one should be grateful to have a friend these days who is gracious enough to do so. So why would you fly off the handle?

I think she may come to the realization she’s not dealing with her friend, but rather, Bridezilla. As the title states, a dangerous creature that Bridezilla is. Bred from fairy tales, Bridezilla erupts into action when her storybook day doesn’t go her way. Bridezilla stomps her personal finances into the ground and stops at nothing to have that 8-tiered, professionally decorated wedding cake shrine. Like a junkie needing a fix, Bridezilla devours every wedding planning magazine and attends every wedding show available. I’m exaggerating here, but you get the point. She needn’t let her friend’s psycho personality in this life phase ruin a friendship. However, she may also want to “call out” her friend’s flamboyant antics and hope to strike a compromise.

I think under any event planning circumstance, everyone wants perfection. Everyone wants things to work out well. We must understand in planning, however, the scope must not be out of reach. Perfection isn’t truly possible, but a good outcome most certainly is. We need to be reasonable, maintain a budget, and strike compromise with those involved. We also need to be cognizant of keeping a level head, an organized schedule, and established channels of communication. We need to understand conflict will arise, but can be dealt with accordingly. These are lessons I’ve come to learn in project management in my career. They can easily be applied to my personal life, as well. When I see “Bridezilla” programs or hear my friends’ horror stories, well, I feel the need to give someone the “practicality” beatdown. There's a lot more people involved in the wedding process than you, honey! And constantly taking your shit ain't gonna work!

Coming from a large family, I’ve been to my share of weddings, graduation parties, etc. If there’s anything I’ve learned from these, it’s the lesson of “don’t get ahead of yourself.” Apply the KISS principle. That is, Keep It Simple, Stupid! Most every horror story I see or read about weddings takes the KISS principle and tramples it. The more planning an event requires, the greater the complexity, the greater the finance and effort involved. If you are limited on resources, do not do well with planning, or lack the drive or financial abilities, do not go in over your head. Do not make unreasonable demands on your friends and family.

Also, keep your damn cool! Hold your horses. Don’t blow off steam on people you love. Calm it down, shut your mouth, and learn to compromise or effectively handle a dispute. Effective is NOT screaming at someone on the phone or punching them in the nose. Sorry. I know it’s tempting, but don’t do it. You just look like a spoiled brat.

Seriously, if the above two items were applied to any of those damn Bridezilla episodes, the show wouldn’t exist. It’s sound advice for my friend’s friend, too. If she’s open to listening, that is. She should check out some great resources online, like Indiebride, for example. I’m not a bride, but me (and my mom) have found some great info on there for wedding gifts and bridal shower tips (other family members). So much of what is lacking in today’s society is proper etiquette, and it most definitely shows with those planning weddings. It’s helpful to read, too, as anyone who is invited to be in wedding parties, bachelorette parties, and the like. It’s nice to know there are others out there frustrated with the overblown modern weddings. We understand it’s a special day, but the demands placed on the guests and bridal party can be absolutely absurd. Sometimes looking at the financial figures of the average wedding makes me want to kick something. If you’re the same way, you’d probably enjoy reading the content on Indiebride.com. It may also provide a great resource for my friend in how to handle her current situation. If you’re in the same situation, check it out! It may save your sanity!

Time for some ham! Sort of...

2008-07-02T05:27:00.001-07:00

I've given into eating meat again. Not very often - maybe 2-4x per week. Dinner time only. Fish, mainly. I eat salmon once per week, also one can of white albacore tuna, and typically a small piece of all natural chicken or lean turkey. I try to avoid red meat unless I happen to be out at a restaurant. I may purchase a package of lean bison meat. It's lean, locally raised, and makes a mean, healthy burger. I've noticed in doing this I've reduced my carb craving and seem to be losing some weight. I was at the point of a "plateau" of sorts in my fitness progress. I don't know if it's my body type or what, but soy substitutes don't always agree with me and at times give me a very upset stomach. This presents a problem in obtaining a protein source. Tofu, especially. I can only eat a small amount of the stuff or I get a funky stomach. For a long time I was told, eh, ride it out and your body will adjust. Well, mine never did. Tempeh tends to do the same as tofu to me. Upset stomach. Soymilk is okay, so long as I only drink one glass per day. I noticed eating one cup of yogurt per day has also helped some of my digestive issues. The biggest and best thing I've been doing (lately) is eating raw fruits and veggies at every meal and as snacks. It's the biggest energy burst possible. Plus, many raw fruits and veggies are regularly available at the local market. Awesome.

I feel almost like a hypocrite in eating meat once again, but in the process of not eating it for a year, I realize that I may have had difficulties eating it in the past because I was making it the focus of my meal - i.e. too large a portion size. If I balance it and make it an equal part of dinner, it's much better. I think this may be the better balance for my body - eating small portions of meat, but not relying on it as a staple food source. If anything, this whole experience has also taught me to be responsible in my grocery purchasing. By not making meat the center of my diet, I am not completely reliant upon it, and can easily go without. I do believe we all have a responsibility to reduce our consumption of meat and make it a happier balance of meat and other food groups. Our population and ecosystem cannot be supported on heavy meat diets as we currently are. I think limiting my consumption to only 2-4x weekly is fairly responsible. That's not much when you think about it. Also consider I am consuming small portions, and usually with larger portions of vegetables, grains, and/or legumes. I will only buy all-natural, grain fed meats. I've always stuck with that principle, though. Being the typical country kid, it just tastes better to me.

As for dairy and eggs, I have been consuming these for a while. I don't buy milk, but I do consume yogurt, kefir, and some low fat cheeses. I buy organic whenever possible. I buy my eggs at the local market and know the source. It's a local farm and I'm happy to support their operations. They really are free-range eggs, so it's not some marketing gimmick.

Maybe the argument isn't about completely eliminating meat from your diet, it may just be about eating what is responsible, healthy, and works for you. Some may be able to easily lead a vegan or vegetarian existence. Me, well, I'm having a tough time with it, as it feels to carb-laden. Some weeks will probably pass where I avoid meat entirely, and others where I consume a bit. It's sometimes refreshing to know I can keep my options open at this point. Options including delicious ham!!!!

If ur in mah blog readin mah thotz...

2008-06-24T12:09:00.000-07:00

Leave ur thotz on this plz.

I'm thinking of framing it in a perfectly square frame. Black. Question is, how do I matte it? With white? Too stark? I'm at a bit of a loss here. Your thoughts and suggestions are very welcome.

Eat Your Steak, but Don't Drink the Beer

2008-06-13T08:31:00.000-07:00

I ate a steak last night. There, I admitted it. I felt like a pervert meandering around the meat case. My eyes were darting nervously. It was like being a preacher in an adult bookstore. But I bought it anyway...I caved. I carefully soaked it in white wine, fresh mashed garlic cloves, red pepper, lemon juice, and a hint of Worcestershire. It was delicious. I am a hypocrite. To make up for it, the rest of dinner was vegetables. Delicious, tasty, grilled vegetables. And another thing…charcoal grilling is seriously awesome. I got some mesquite briquettes last night. Wow. The steak and veg were delicious and slightly smoky. The steak could have been just a pinch more rare, but I’m not complaining. I’ll get it right the next time. Me and the roommate drank Shiraz with the steak. Delicious, peppery, a good choice. We felt so aristocratic.

I am hungry again for steak. It’s funny and ironic that my blog is entitled “eat your vegetables,” yet I am drooling for steak. I suck. Does this mean an inevitable return to meat and an end to my blog? Stay tuned...

Somehow in the course of dinner and sitting around, the dinner party (it was a half-assed birthday party for my coworker) consumed multiple beers and vodka and cokes (once the guest of honor showed up)…and…wait for it…

CHELADA

I DRANK CHELADA

I DID NOT VOMIT!

Chelada is:
1. REALLY salty
2. Nasty pink in color
3. Better with lime and hot sauce and over ice
4. Slightly metallic tasting
5. half full of shitty Bud Light. But I knew this to begin with, of course.
6. Fishy. It would be decent without the clam juice. This is honestly what ruins the experience entirely. You think at first that it’s refreshing, not bad. Then you’re hit with this shitty aftertaste of clams and dirty socks. It’s not pleasant. No amount of lime juice can save it. I would seriously venture that beer and spicy V8 with some lime, may actually be tasty. Maybe with a hint of Absolute Peppar added. Rolling in sodium, yes, but possibly tasty.

Chelada is better for:
1. Soaking meat in as a marinade
2. NOT DRINKING

Please enjoy Chelada responsibly…by not putting it anywhere near your mouth.

If you happen to ingest Chelada by accident, please seek help (in your fridge). Consumption of 8 ounces of a delicious Great Lakes Eliot Ness is recommended for rapid recovery.

Beating the Heat

2008-06-09T05:40:00.000-07:00

This weekend was hot. The apartment stayed at a consistent 88 degrees with sticky air and two upset and restless kitties. I don't blame them. It sucked inside. I spent a good part of Sunday in the garden, achieving a nice sunburn on my back. Yeah, go me. I also had a serious fit of allergies this weekend, requiring a box of kleenex in close range at all times. I took some homeopathic meds, and they require a few days consistent use to really kick in. They're starting to work, but I'm wondering if they're not quite strong enough for my mega seasonal allergies.

When it gets this hot, I basically lose my appetite. I got home Saturday afternoon from a short trip to Ohio and decided I should do some P90X and a run. I got the hour long P90X stint done, then proceeded to go for a run. Considering the heat and my probable lack of nutrients for the day, I didn't have much of a long or successful run. I may have run a mile, if that. Not good.

Situations like these call for smoothies. Smoothies can be made quickly in your home blender with quite simple ingredients. I drank one after my failed run and felt much better. Some key ingredients for a healthy smoothie:

- Milk (soy, rice, whatever floats your boat)
- Yogurt / Kefir
- Ice (If you like a frozen texture)
- Fruit (I always add a banana for thickness)
- Vanilla / flavoring
- Protein / vitamin powder (for an extra boost)
- Juice
- Coconut milk
- Sugar / sweetener (just a small pinch if needed)
- Flaxmeal

I like to keep bananas in the freezer for these. Adding a frozen banana gives the smoothie an ice cream-like texture. It's also a nice way to utilize bananas that may be over ripe or close to going bad. Chop up some fresh strawberries and add them with a frozen banana, a little vanilla soymilk, couple ice cubes, a tiny pinch of sweetener, and a few drops of vanilla. Wow. It's filling, helps cool you off, and tastes like a dairy isle concoction. Another favorite of mine is a homemade orange Julius. Mix soy milk, ice, several spoons of orange juice concentrate, a few drops vanilla extract, a pinch of sugar in a blender. Just like the real thing, but without the $4 price tag.

Hooray for smoothies!

FYI...New piccy

2008-06-04T19:01:00.000-07:00

URGENT NEWS STORY

I have taken a new photo of myself!

Speaking in Tongues

2008-06-02T07:23:00.000-07:00

They say some of the best means of learning a language is to fully immerse yourself in it. This is fairly easy with Spanish or French in the US, as they’re fairly common in the media, etc. Try learning a language such as Polish, which is only common in certain areas of the US. I’ve heard it’s helpful to listen to music or movies in the language in question. I’ve seen a handful of Polish movies…basically, I’ve watched nearly all the available titles on Netflix that were worth watching – Miś (The Teddy Bear), Rozmówe Kontrolwane (Calls Controlled, the follow-up to Miś), A Short Film About Love (part of the Decalogue), etc. I have some music in Polish on my iPod. The problem with some of the music is that you’re really only learning phrases and/or slang, depending on the genre of music. I find the best place to find media is YouTube. As of late, I’ve found an astounding number of audio and video clips (overdubbed) in Polish. I started with old cartoons – Disney movies and the like – simply because of familiarity with the English versions. It’s allowing me to become more comfortable with common pronunciation and phrase usage. Don’t get me wrong – some of the clips have absolutely terrible overdub and cause me to laugh my ass off, but hey, it makes learning fun, I suppose.

If you’re curious…

Hakuna Matata (Król Leo)

Merry Unbirthday

Scene from Miś
(A little background - Miś portrays early 80s Communist bloc Poland. Miś is basically an ironic comedy about the depravity of living conditions, centering around a man who gets conned by his (ex)wife)

And oh yeah, for all you ErieBloggers who will get this joke...Gdzie jest szynka? (Where's the HAM?) :)

All About Inka

2008-05-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

I get a serious amount of hits on this blog for Inka, the Polish coffee substitute. So, I’m going to dedicate this post to Inka.

Po Polsku / In English (from label):

Inka
Łagodny smak natury (Pleasing natural flavor)

Inka łączy w sobie najzdrowsze właściwości dojrzałych zbóż i cykorii. (Inka is a healthy blend of grains and chicory). Jest stworzona wyłącznie z naturalnych składników, nie zawiera żadnych substancji dodatkowych. (It is made from natural ingredients only, with no added fillers).

Aby otrzymać pyszny napój wystarczy: (Instructions for use)

1. Wsypać do filiżanki 1-2 tyżeczki Inki. (Place 1-2 spoonfuls Inka in cup.)
2. Zalać gorącą wodą. (Add hot water)
3. Dodać mleko lub śmietankę. (Add milk or sugar)

Inkę można również przyrządzić zlaewając kawę samym mlekiem lub zimną wodą. (It is also possible to make Inka with warm milk or chilled water.)

Składniki: jęczmień, żyto, cykoria, burak cukrowy – prażone (zboża – 72%)
(Ingredients: Barley, Rye, Chicory, Beet root – (72% roasted))

Pytania? (Questions)
Serwis konsumereta biogran (Biogran customer service)
Infolina: 0-801 14 64 71

Producent:
Biogran Sp. Zo.o.
Ul. Piłsudskeigo 1
32-050 Skawina

Dystrybutor na terenie Polski:
The Lorenz Bahlsen Snack-World Sp. Zo.o.
Ul. Rolna 6, Sady k/Poznania, 62-080 Tarnowo Podgórne

http://www.inka.pl (Above image courtesy of Biogran.pl)

Smacznego!!!

Walking the Line...or the Sidewalk

2008-05-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

I used to get angry at drivers who cut me off while walking across the street. Really angry. To the point where I stopped walking after a couple close calls last year. This year, I’ve had some more close calls. I deal with them in this way…Get safely across the street, hope that the offenders’ window is down, and insult their family and their driving skills. 4 out of 5 encounters were women on their cell phones. TEXTING. Texting while driving through an intersection. Wow, ladies, you’re a giant lawsuit waiting to happen. The sad thing about the American legal system is it would most likely award your negligent ass and completely screw mine over with the medical bills caused by getting rolled over your car!

Normally I feel very peaceful while walking. There are a few exceptions to this rule. While walking past an entry for a fast food establishment or retail outlet, I encounter a lot of “fast turnin’ dumbasses.” Especially by McDonald’s. Christ on a whole-wheat cracker, can you SLOW DOWN AND PAY ATTENTION? Just drive like a sane human being and don’t drive over the curb at 55 miles an hour just to get your damn Big Mac. Retail outlets are no better. The worst are the exits for drive-thru pharmacies. I GOT ME MEDS! TIME TO HIT THE ROAD, JACK! Gah. I also had a close call in Erie the other night whilst walking back to my car after spending some time at the Boardwalk. A car swerved right toward my path in the parking garage. Of course, at the split second of that occurring, I thought "OK, Who'd I piss off NOW?" Right after that, I realized it was a joke played on me by a car filled with pop-collared douchebags. I hope the driver got a DUI. Now THAT would be funny.

Granted, for every shithead on the road, there’s another awesome driver who actually knows to yield to pedestrians at major intersections downtown. And walkers, if you encounter such an awesome driver, give them a nod or wave to recognize their efforts.

There’s also rude walkers giving the rest of us a bad name, too. The sorts that jaywalk out in front of moving traffic. Walkers who don’t want to acknowledge drivers’ eye contact, etc. If you expect courtesy from drivers, show the same courtesy in return. Follow the traffic laws – walk on the right side of the road, and cross in designated crosswalks when possible – especially on busy streets.

I’m happy I’ve been sticking with walking this year. I walk everywhere I can, and that’s a lot of places, trust me.

Is your neighborhood walkable?

Check this out - http://www.walkscore.com/

Fun With Yogurt

2008-05-25T12:32:00.001-07:00

I've been buying large containers of vanilla or plain yogurt lately. It's the only organic sort the store actually carries. It's good, but it's boring. It's just...yogurt. Not yogurt the all-powerful or all-knowing. Just yogurt. So I need to mix it up to enhance the yogurt goodness. I think I concocted one of the best things ever just 20 minutes ago...

Behold...

Pumpkin and yogurt goodness

1 cup yogurt (plain or vanilla)
3/4 cup pumpkin puree (canned)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. sugar (brown or raw)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all together. Makes 2 servings.

Effing delicious. If you don't have the pumpkin, forego the pumpkin and cinnamon, mix the rest with applesauce or dip apples in it. So good. So easy.

Online Dating, FTW!

2008-05-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

I’m a big geek. I enjoy social networking sites, online dating sites, and forums. Namely, GoTeamInternet (social), OKCupid (dating), LinkedIn (professional development) and the somethingawful forums (self-explanatory). I have met people from the internet in person. I have actually flown across the great US to hang out with people I met on Consumating (now GoTeamInternet). I’ve also went on dates with guys I met on OKCupid. In fact, I dated one guy for 5 months thanks to OKCupid. I’ve met up with people from Facebook to sell or swap books and class notes while in college. As time progresses, I may go to a somethingawful “goon” meet-up. I’m new to the site. Anyway, my point is…I obviously have no problem with meeting online people IRL. A majority of society deems this lame, pathetic, scary, stupid, what have you. I call bullshit.

The local dating scene sucks. The majority of Meadville and its surrounding areas do not have many young, available bachelors worth dating. There, I said it. I’ve went on a lot of shitty dates. Several recently. Several of these young men I met IRL, not online. One turned out to be a racist redneck who “didn’t come from no fuckin’ monkey.” OBVIOUSLY, we have religious and political differences, as well as a large gap in education. When it comes to actually dating someone, I can rub off as an elitist. Life is too short to slum around. Hanging out with local ignorant rednecks may be fun at a bonfire, but not on a date. For the tenth effing time, I don’t give a rat’s ass about your gun collection! Your favorite artist of all time is Merle Haggard? Oh fuck. We’ve got a problem.

With the great wonders of online dating and social networking, I can meet people I otherwise may not meet who are like-minded and don’t brag about the deerhead hanging on their wall 24/7. Basically, I can meet other cynical assholes, nerds, elitists, and generally awesome people from around the globe. Some of these people are so awesome, meeting them IRL is called for. This is when things get sticky. Anyone further than a “local” radius whom I’ve met online, I’ve talked to for a good span of time – more than a few months. The great thing about social networking is that there’s not just you and the other person like many dating sites. You have other people who personally know the person(s) you are meeting and can verify they are A)Real and B)Not a serial killer. You can probably also track numerous photos of said person in Flickr, check their Facebook, Myspace, what have you. Googling their name also works well. There are still some concerns on top of that, but hey, I’m a risk-taker and I’ve had no problems so far. I don’t have problems until…

“How did you meet?” Ahh, yes, the problem of encountering public opinion. I used to make up some elaborate schemes to tell people. Anymore, I just casually say “online.” I seriously don’t give a fuck, and here’s why…It’s better to establish a lengthy connection of actually TALKING and LISTENING to a person you’re interested in before dating. Meeting people in bars, yeah, not so good. Meeting people in clubs or related organizations can be okay, but do remember, you have to deal with them. Similar to dating a coworker…sometimes it works and sometimes it’s disaster. So, to me, online dating makes sense. I like OKCupid’s algorithmic style of matching in percentages. If you’ve never used OKC, check it out. You answer situational questions, and based on your responses, match tallies are calculated between you and potential dating partners. Kinda cool, eh? Similar to the premise at eHarmony, but a little more fun. If you look at my matches and their percentages as related to distances, all of my BEST matches live 250 or more miles away from my current location in Meadville. This, again, verifies the above statement about lack of savvy men. Now, that’s not completely fair, of course, as not every single guy has an OKCupid account. Regardless, there is a trend. Anyway, I think this is a decent system of finding compatible mates or people to hang out with (you’re compared in terms of match, friend %, and enemy % on OKC). I don’t see it as being taboo, and really wish many others would look at it differently.

Think of this…you’d like to be with someone who can share in your interests and teach you new things. You can’t guarantee that such a person exists within your social circle or local area. Or, if your local area is large (an urban or metro area), you just may have a difficult time finding someone. With social networking, a lot of the guesswork is removed. It’s helpful for dating and finding likewise people in your area. It’s very helpful for a new professional who may be new to an area. Not everyone online is a stalker, predator, or pedophile. Most people on the internet are just like you and I. Bored and looking for something to do. If you look around in the RIGHT places on the net, you may just find some decent people. It’s great for anyone – maybe you’re looking for dating, maybe you’re looking for a social group, maybe you’re looking for a hobby group, etc.

Fact of the matter is, it shouldn’t be taboo. It’s the way of the future. Maybe this will help in lowering our current divorce rate and creating meaningful groups of friends and discussion groups. One can only hope!

One is NOT Lonely

2008-05-20T06:24:00.000-07:00

I’m an only child. I cannot count how many times I’ve heard the “poor you” or “you must be spoiled rotten.” I enjoyed NOT having siblings. I learned to be independent and into my adulthood, have no problem living alone, traveling alone, learning alone, etc. If I should choose to reproduce, I’d like just one child. Just one. No more. I’m a strong proponent of sub-replacement rate fertility. I think the only reason I should reproduce is the fact I have a sharp brain, would hope to reproduce with an intelligent guy and create the next child prodigy.

I think you’ll find there will be (and are) a lot of only children popping up in the world, so cut the jokes. It’s quite the thing in Europe, Russia (despite Vladimir's proposed stimulus to parents), and China (obviously). There will also be a higher demand for contraception, tubal litigations, and vasectomies. I should hope medical coverage promotes and covers more forms of contraception, including IUDs. Compared to the rest of the world, the US lags behind in the use of copper and hormonal IUDs. They’re typically a more sustainable contraceptive, as they last for up to ten years.

Why don’t I advocate popping out as many as you can? Well, these days it doesn’t make much sense. In the “good ole days,” children were conceived with the hopes of providing manual labor. Children were also conceived due to a lack of various contraceptive options. Besides the Amish and Quiverfull, I can’t think of too many social circles which actively encourage having an army of children. It’s too costly to the parents, a burden on others (John Q. Taxpayer), and (I know some may disagree) a burden on the environment. If you’d like to disagree about that, which I’m sure many would, I’m sure I could write an essay to you on the (poor) sustainability of our current eating habits and consumption, as related to a demand curve with an increased supply of mouths to feed (2-6X replacement rate fertility, especially in impoverished African nations), but I'll spare you and save that for later.

I’d like to use this opportunity to thank my parents for being a savvy couple in the early 1980s. In a return to Conservatism in the Reagan-era, they did something awesomely liberal in having JUST ONE child. They both worked and I grew up with many children my own age at preschool. I also spent time with my grandparents (mum’s side). Despite the fact I have no siblings, I am a socially outgoing person. Because BOTH my parents worked, they were able to afford to raise a child and provide a good home, as well as family vacations, etc. My parents will also be able to retire at a comfortable age, as they have BOTH been contributing to their various funds and 401K plans. In having only one child, they were able to do all of this and not lose their minds. Props to them.

I’d like to give a big thank you to my parents. They both worked. I went to preschool and public school. I went to a state college. I was still loved and given attention. I am not a fuck-up. I’m not lonely. I am not a spoiled brat. I have a high IQ and a great work ethic. I should hope that if I ever have a child, they can stand up and say the same things, loud and proud.

Only children...UNITE!

Kenpo and Potsmoke

2008-05-19T10:20:00.001-07:00

I’m really not digging Kenpo X. I did it this morning as I didn’t do it on Saturday or Sunday. I’ll be doubling up today with Kenpo this morning and Yoga tonight. It’s rest week. Anyways, this just isn’t doing it for me. I’m used to a continual kickboxing routine. This one has too many pauses and seems to lack the cardio and resistance oomph that my kickboxing classes at the gym have had. I’ve left those classes feeling absolutely whooped, but refreshed. The only thing I can think to do to better this Kenpo routine is to wear ankle and wrist weights for resistance. In addition, I may add another 35 to 45 minute Tae Bo workout before doing this one. Otherwise, “it just don’t cut the mustard.”

I think today is day 22. I’ll be doing Yoga X tonight after work. I like Yoga. It feels nice. I find my chi. Om.

This cold weather isn’t making me so happy. It was cold and windy on my lunch break today. Luckily the sun poked out near the last stint of my walk. I hope it warms up a bit this weekend, as I’m scheduled for a cookout at Lake Erie. Chances are it won’t and it will be a chilly cookout. Oh well.

Oh and here’s a fun update on the downstairs neighbors…Saturday night we (as in a friend and I) smelled pot smoke drifting up through the vents. Anyone who was looking for some second hand high should have been in my living room. The ganja odor was running rampant. So rampant I lit a stick of patchouli incense to hide it. It didn’t really work. My living room smells like stale smoke and patchouli now. I wish the weather would warm up a bit so that I can open the windows to air it all out! I'm not trying to be a square here and ruin their little toking event, but um, seriously dudes...there's a back porch. It's cut off from the rest of the house. Go smoke out there.

So...Yinz guys smokin' sum paht? Better knock it off n'at!

Chutnified

2008-05-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

I love mustard. I love all kinds of mustard - honey, dijon, horseradish, tangy, spicy, brown, dill, classic, what have you. I enjoy it on pretzels, faux meat, sandwiches, as salad dressing, as a dip, etc. Lately, I've been eating a lot of sandwiches with mustard. Yesterday, I wanted to change things up a bit. I tried something new on my daily faux meat and cheese sandwich...you ready for it?

Chutney, baby. Mint chutney.

I'm a lover of Indian foods, and I picked a jar of this strange green concoction up while in Wexford at Indian Spices. It's spicy, funky, and delicious. It also contains coriander and green chili. It has some zing, let me tell you. It goes well as a topping on naan or rice. It also makes a MEAN, lean sandwich spread.

Let me show you my sandwich...Look at that goodness:

So, if you're looking for something different - try chutney. There are many kinds. Check at Wegman's. If you're going to use the mint, I also recommend adding sun-dried tomatoes or sliced tomatoes to the sandwich. It's pretty much amazing.

As the furnace runs...

2008-05-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

Is it really cold enough right now to justify running your furnace? It’s been around 50-55 degrees the past few days, and my apartment has been at a steady 68-71 degrees, no heat running whatsoever. My downstairs neighbors have had their furnace running non-stop (literally). As to why, I haven’t the slightest. Like my appropriate LOLCat above, I putz on a swetter wen itz cold. I suck it up and face the music. Heat is expensive. Don’t abuse it.

Now, as you may recall, I used to live in the unit directly below my current unit. It has an old furnace, a Lenox Aireflo, which was, with no doubt in my mind, present in the home’s original construction in the mid 1940s. The unit runs, but barely. I had a furnace technician from GHAC look at it and say “yep, this thing shouldn’t be running – better make sure you have a carbon monoxide detector.” This lovely furnace was the sole reason I moved upstairs. It was okay at first, but then it started going downhill. A few nights, it just randomly shut off. The damn thing kept getting worse and worse. Noisier, less efficient, and it gave off dust like no one’s business. I have allergies, and quite frankly, I don’t want to spend a whole winter breathing that shit into my lungs, new furnace filter or no, it didn’t help. After I moved out, the downstairs unit has sat vacant until last week. I moved out in mid-October 2007. The unit has been vacant for about 8.5 months. While I am happy that a tenant is now occupying the unit below, I am still concerned about the furnace. My downstairs rooms (my unit occupies the 2nd and 3rd floors) have reeked lately when I’ve had the windows closed during the day. I’d lay some money down the scent is coming out of the vents from the problem furnace downstairs. The inspection of the furnaces is the responsibility of the tenants. Considering that is not my unit, I am not responsible for its inspection. I had my own furnace inspected in late November 2007, and it passed with flying colors. The other unit, however, who knows?

The question here is...Should I approach the downstairs tenants about this? I highly doubt this issue was raised with them in the initial meetings with the landlord. The unit sat vacant for 8.5 months – I can’t blame the landlord(s) for desperately wanting a tenant. However, the unit needs inspected, the tenants need a carbon monoxide detector present, and a new air filter must be placed in the furnace. In order to even access the basement, I am technically “trespassing” in the way the locks are set up on the basement access door. I have filters, tools, and repair kits that are still in the basement. The air filter is somewhat tricky to replace on the furnace. Plus, the access door likes to randomly fall off and clang on the cement floor. What a joy to wake to in the middle of the night, I tell you. I’ve seen the tenants outside once and they barely spoke to me. It’s been well over 1.5 years of living in this apartment unit, and quite frankly, I’m sick of the maintenance drama. I’ve raised the safety issue of the furnace with the landlord only to get a response of “oh, we know, we’ll replace it later.” It’s really not that old. Oh really? Well, a call to Lenox with the extremely dated serial number will tell you how old the unit is. It will also tell you that this type of Aireflo unit was made for a certain span of time – oh yes, the same span of time which coincides with many baby boomers birthdays. I also had a nice chat with two of the repair guys who claim if several of the parts go bad on the furnace, it’s done. You just can’t retrofit them or repair them anymore. 30 years is considered old for a furnace. 63!? That’s ancient. Am I insane for flagging a safety issue here? This seems like common sense to me. Maybe common sense about home repair and safety is NOT SO COMMON.

Anyway, I’m running low on sleep and feeling tired and slightly cranky about this. If anyone out there has a mind for HVAC issues and/or tenant-landlord relations, shoot me an email or leave a comment. I don’t want to over complicate an issue, but this is getting out of hand.

Adventures in Yoga

2008-05-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

Day 18, Week 3 of P90X; it’s the third round of Yoga X. I’ve made some noticeable improvement – i.e. not falling on my ass continually. I only fell twice this morning – great success! One of those times, I was in a wheel and attempted to raise my right leg into the air. WHAM! Back on the mat, try, try again. I did not try again and just kept my wheel. Despite the flops, yoga is helping my lower back immensely. I had dabbled in Pilates and very basic yoga in the past, but this is taking it up a few notches. This workout is inspiring me to try a few of the intermediate yoga workouts by Shiva Rea (again). I didn’t build up my basics enough in my past attempts and failed at the intermediate level. Just like anything else, with time and practice, you’ll improve. Just stick with it and BREATHE. :)

I thought I was flexible before, but now, I’m noticing small improvements. I could easily touch my toes. Now I can lay my hands flat and go a little further than that some days. I seem to have better balance and posture when seated at work. I’m sure my funky fitness ball chair helps, too. (I’m bouncing as I type this. Boing. Boing. Boing.) However, I cannot do a headstand for the life of me. This is a new goal – gaining the ability to perform a headstand. Then, if I get even more adventurous, I’d like to be able to hold a handstand.

I’m also noticing, not with Yoga only, but with the entire program, my decreased stress levels. I’m not sure if it’s the gained confidence or improvement in health, or a combination of factors, but something is reducing my stress levels. I feel more calm; more able to shake things off. Suddenly, someone or something at work that was previously a GIANT pain in my arse, is but a mere twinge. I’ve noticed, also, walking to and from work is helpful for stress. In walking, I get a solid 20 minutes to reflect, listen to music, and, when it’s present, enjoy the sun. It also adds a nice break in my day when I walk during my lunch break. The lunch walk isn’t as relaxing, though, as there are more cars, and I tend to feel slightly on the defensive. Always watchin’ out for the boneheads, of course.

(As an aside, one more tip for any P90X-ers out there…When you’re doing the Ab Ripper X workout, if you’re a little bored or feel it dragging, go for the “Silent with cues” option on the menu, pop on some headphones, and get into your own music zone. I noticed the workout FLEW by when I did this. I'm switching over to P90X Classic, so I'll have more of the ABX weekly - the music idea will DEFINITELY help me out.)

Strange Brew

2008-05-14T06:09:00.000-07:00

I’m reading Aluminum Now this morning at work and see an article entitled “New Aluminum Packages Help Target Latino Beverage Market” featuring two photos of attractively packaged beer – Dos Equis Lager (yum) and Chelada - Bud Light & Clamato (oh the horror). This may be the most vile combination I’ve ever heard of. According to the article, Chelada is best served in a goblet, garnished with a celery stalk or lime slice. I think you could garnish that baby with a hundred dollar bill and it would still look (and smell) nasty. The article also states the concoction is now being marketed along the southern US border in convenience and grocery stores, no doubt, to appeal to the strong Latino population.

For all the Latino cuisine I’ve familiarized myself with, I have never heard of this trend. I’ve heard of “red beer” which consists of tomato juice, bloody mary mix, or V8 mixed with beer. I was not much a fan of red beer when I tried it. I suppose this is just a twist on red beer. With clam juice. Ugh. Added lime juice, Tabasco, Absolut Peppar, OK! Clam juice? Nasty. I guess if I’m getting a jones for a salty, tomato-flavored beverage, I’ll go whip up a bloody mary.

If there’s anyone reading this who has tried this concoction, please report your findings. Did you like it? Did you hurl? Do you want to hurl thinking about this concoction?

This stuff makes Drew Carey’s “Buzz Beer” look saintly in comparison. I'll stick with my Negro Modelo for now, thanks.