30 June 2005
Check this out
There are some very creative people over at Crafster. Voting has just started for their second craft challenge. This time the participants had to create a new outfit from items found at a local thrift store. The budget was $10 and people made some attractive ensembles. Go take a look!
Bewitched? Not quite.
All the reviews I heard and read warned me that Bewitched was not a very good movie, but I didn't listen. Perhaps I was blinded by my affection for the original series or the prospect of seeing the lovely Nicole Kidman in pretty clothes. Nicole Kidman and magic went together so well in Practical Magic. What could go wrong? Ugh, I had to ask.
Will Ferrell plays Jack, a has-been actor who agrees to star as Darren in a modern version of the beloved TV series "Bewitched". Since that role was basically the straight man on the show, Jack insists that a newcomer be cast as Samantha so that he will be sharing the spotlight as little as possible. Nicole Kidman plays Isabel, a real witch who has been sheltered by her parents and therefore knows very little about the mortal world including the magical TV show. Boy meets girl, boy casts girl in his show, mild giggles ensue.
The TV show-within-a-movie premise was an interesting way to do a remake, but I don't think they did enough with it. The same thing could be said about a lot of the elements of this movie. Instead of committing to one direction, the movie gave me little glimpses of the different ways it could have gone. They could have shown more of Isabel as a fish out of water in mortal society. Several characters from the original show were jumping into real life, but why or how wasn't made clear. The memorabilia from the show is communicating with Isabel, but the audience isn't let in on what is being said. The whole movie felt like a TV pilot with promises of goodies to come.
Then there were the supporting actors that got too little screen time. Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine -- none of them were fleshed out or given enough to do. Amy Sedaris does a perfect impersonation of Mrs. Kravitz but her role was less than two minutes! Michael Caine plays Isabel's father, but I found myself wishing that they had given Isabel an on-screen mother instead because he seemed useless.
One person I could have used a lot less of was Will Ferrell. What made me think that I could sit through 90 minutes of him when I can't even watch a short interview with him? His style of humor reminds me a lot of Jim Carrey, another actor I can't watch. Physical comedy bores me. ABM had the opposite opinion; he could have used more Ferrell and less Kidman. The stylist and set designer are both to be commended because Nicole Kidman's wardrobe and her house were beautiful, but they weren't enough to distract us from the fact that Ms. Kidman was whispering through the whole movie. Several times, Isabel the actress asks Samantha what she would do, but I think Nicole the actress was channeling Marilyn Monroe rather than Elizabeth Montgomery.
All in all, I wish I had waited for the movie to come out on DVD. The worst part is that I only see one or two movies a year in the theatre. Past theatre-worthy movies have been American Beauty and The First Wives' Club, to name a couple. I hate that I added this movie to that list.
Will Ferrell plays Jack, a has-been actor who agrees to star as Darren in a modern version of the beloved TV series "Bewitched". Since that role was basically the straight man on the show, Jack insists that a newcomer be cast as Samantha so that he will be sharing the spotlight as little as possible. Nicole Kidman plays Isabel, a real witch who has been sheltered by her parents and therefore knows very little about the mortal world including the magical TV show. Boy meets girl, boy casts girl in his show, mild giggles ensue.
The TV show-within-a-movie premise was an interesting way to do a remake, but I don't think they did enough with it. The same thing could be said about a lot of the elements of this movie. Instead of committing to one direction, the movie gave me little glimpses of the different ways it could have gone. They could have shown more of Isabel as a fish out of water in mortal society. Several characters from the original show were jumping into real life, but why or how wasn't made clear. The memorabilia from the show is communicating with Isabel, but the audience isn't let in on what is being said. The whole movie felt like a TV pilot with promises of goodies to come.
Then there were the supporting actors that got too little screen time. Kristin Chenoweth, Michael Caine, Shirley MacLaine -- none of them were fleshed out or given enough to do. Amy Sedaris does a perfect impersonation of Mrs. Kravitz but her role was less than two minutes! Michael Caine plays Isabel's father, but I found myself wishing that they had given Isabel an on-screen mother instead because he seemed useless.
One person I could have used a lot less of was Will Ferrell. What made me think that I could sit through 90 minutes of him when I can't even watch a short interview with him? His style of humor reminds me a lot of Jim Carrey, another actor I can't watch. Physical comedy bores me. ABM had the opposite opinion; he could have used more Ferrell and less Kidman. The stylist and set designer are both to be commended because Nicole Kidman's wardrobe and her house were beautiful, but they weren't enough to distract us from the fact that Ms. Kidman was whispering through the whole movie. Several times, Isabel the actress asks Samantha what she would do, but I think Nicole the actress was channeling Marilyn Monroe rather than Elizabeth Montgomery.
All in all, I wish I had waited for the movie to come out on DVD. The worst part is that I only see one or two movies a year in the theatre. Past theatre-worthy movies have been American Beauty and The First Wives' Club, to name a couple. I hate that I added this movie to that list.
29 June 2005
Podcast Talk: The Dorktones
Let me start off by saying I am aware that the rest of the podcasting world is talking about iTunes 4.9 and its new podcast functionality. I'm going to hold off on discussing iTunes and Odeo (which sent out invitations for its beta a few days ago) because I haven't had time to use either application very much. The upcoming holiday weekend should give me plenty of time to play on the computer, so I will probably bore you with my opinion next week.
This is the time of month when I have worn out my welcome at Launch radio and I start looking for another online music option that isn't going to irritate me. I haven't had much luck finding music podcasts that I like. Part of it is due to my desire to stay within my musical comfort zone. Much of what is available in the podosphere is independent music, or "podsafe" music. Until recently, however, the independent music I'd heard was so grating that it made Hole sound like the Andrews Sisters. I want to hear some good music in a style that isn't totally foreign to me. Enter The Dorktones podcast.
The Dorktones are a retro-1960s band from the Netherlands, but the show doesn't feature their music. This is a weekly one-hour podcast all about the rare soul, surf, and powerpop gems that their DJ manages to unearth. Although most of the music was recorded in the 1960s, DJ WJ will toss in songs from any decade if they fit the vibe. A recent theme show (#18) on psychedelic music has some "groovy" commercials thrown in, and it is a hoot. Even the artwork on the site has that 1960s feel. The DJ's accent was a little difficult for me to understand at first, but he doesn't talk that much so it isn't distracting. This show is an all-around good time.
This is the time of month when I have worn out my welcome at Launch radio and I start looking for another online music option that isn't going to irritate me. I haven't had much luck finding music podcasts that I like. Part of it is due to my desire to stay within my musical comfort zone. Much of what is available in the podosphere is independent music, or "podsafe" music. Until recently, however, the independent music I'd heard was so grating that it made Hole sound like the Andrews Sisters. I want to hear some good music in a style that isn't totally foreign to me. Enter The Dorktones podcast.
The Dorktones are a retro-1960s band from the Netherlands, but the show doesn't feature their music. This is a weekly one-hour podcast all about the rare soul, surf, and powerpop gems that their DJ manages to unearth. Although most of the music was recorded in the 1960s, DJ WJ will toss in songs from any decade if they fit the vibe. A recent theme show (#18) on psychedelic music has some "groovy" commercials thrown in, and it is a hoot. Even the artwork on the site has that 1960s feel. The DJ's accent was a little difficult for me to understand at first, but he doesn't talk that much so it isn't distracting. This show is an all-around good time.
28 June 2005
Here's a look at the start of my next baby sweater. It is a newborn pullover knit in a checkerboard pattern. The yarn is some ancient Wendy DK wool (not superwash), as you can tell from that lovely dusty rose color that was so popular in the 1980s. The pattern is easy enough for me to do on the go, but I may have to get a different yarn. I got this in a grab bag and I understand now why the previous owner let it go. Every 12 inches or so, there is a break in the yarn. At first I thought it was just one ball, but all three balls seem to have these splits. It is very frustrating to deal with, but the purpose of knitting baby items was to use up the small amounts of yarn that I have. What am I going to do with this stuff? Do I slog through and deal with the breaks or do I throw it out?
Here is my second baby sweater. I created it using the Rae Creedle newborn pattern that has been floating around the internet for the past several years. It is all garter stitch and knit from cuff to cuff. I've knit several sweaters using this pattern, but it has been a while and I don't remember them being as shapeless as this one. Either my memory is faulty or I used a smaller needle last time. I doubt I'll be knitting this pattern again, though. I want to start challenging myself more.
On teaching others to knit
Jenifer commented last week that most of the people she taught to knit have not stuck with it. Among the 45 or so "students" I've had over the past few years, I've had my share of dropouts, too. The first few times I taught an adult how to knit, I was so happy to be sharing something that excites me that I think I overwhelmed them. I also tended to be very rigid. I would insist that the student make a long swatch with garter, stockinette, seed stitch, etc. Then I would teach them about reading patterns, buying yarn, checking gauge -- all before they actually started a project. No wonder I turned them off!
These days, if someone wants me to teach them how to knit I find out why they want to knit and use that to teach them the basic skills. For instance, my current student wanted to learn to knit so that she could make baby gifts for a few of her friends. I started her on a basic diagonal garter stitch baby blanket. She learned the basic knit stitch while still feeling like she was meeting her goal. Also, the boucle yarn she chose was great for hiding her mistakes :-). I've found that the people I teach using a project seem to stick with knitting longer.
This brings me to a question for my fellow knitters. If you are helping a newbie with a pattern that you have never done, do you knit it along with them? The aforementioned student wants to knit the Cleo halter from Knitty. Frankly, I am not always good at visualizing what needs to be done in a pattern without needles and yarn in my hands. This means that I will probably end up knitting a sample Cleo so that I can help her through any problems she has. Of course, I don't think I have any yarn appropriate for the pattern and I am on a yarn diet so this will either be a woolen Cleo or an ugly scrap Cleo. Stay tuned!
These days, if someone wants me to teach them how to knit I find out why they want to knit and use that to teach them the basic skills. For instance, my current student wanted to learn to knit so that she could make baby gifts for a few of her friends. I started her on a basic diagonal garter stitch baby blanket. She learned the basic knit stitch while still feeling like she was meeting her goal. Also, the boucle yarn she chose was great for hiding her mistakes :-). I've found that the people I teach using a project seem to stick with knitting longer.
This brings me to a question for my fellow knitters. If you are helping a newbie with a pattern that you have never done, do you knit it along with them? The aforementioned student wants to knit the Cleo halter from Knitty. Frankly, I am not always good at visualizing what needs to be done in a pattern without needles and yarn in my hands. This means that I will probably end up knitting a sample Cleo so that I can help her through any problems she has. Of course, I don't think I have any yarn appropriate for the pattern and I am on a yarn diet so this will either be a woolen Cleo or an ugly scrap Cleo. Stay tuned!
26 June 2005
I want to be Stan Lee
No, I don't really want to be an 83-year-old white man. However, I do want to have his vibrancy when I reach his age. I was watching a show about the making of the Fantastic Four videogame, and of course they interviewed Stan Lee since he created the original comic book in 1961. He mentioned that he played the finished game for two hours! That is my dream. I want to spend my retirement reading, knitting, playing videogames, dancing, and having sex. That is my whole motivation behind getting healthy -- I want to enjoy my old age like a kid!
25 June 2005
Health Update
This was not a good health week for me -- but then do I ever have a good health week? Even on my good weeks, there is plenty of room for improvement. Anyway, I only exercised 33 minutes (on Monday). I just couldn't face exercise the rest of the week. Intellectually, I know that exercise is good for relieving stress but I would rather wallow in my bed with the TV blaring. So I gave myself permission to do that this week and now I feel better.
Meanwhile, ABM has started on his plan to make healthier choices. First up -- weaning himself off sodas. I'm hoping I can get him to try the Leslie Sansone video since it is too hot to walk outside during the summer. If I he likes it, then he can do it with me and I won't have an excuse for not exercising on Thursdays and Fridays (his days off).
My breakfast this morning reinforced the saying, "Size matters". The same packet of oatmeal that I eat Monday through Friday didn't look as satisfying today. Why? Because on weekdays I prepare my breakfast at work and I make my oatmeal in a little styrofoam cup. Today, that same amount of oatmeal in a cereal bowl didn't look as filling. Using smaller plates and bowls is a suggestion that all the diet books give, but it really hit home this morning.
Meanwhile, ABM has started on his plan to make healthier choices. First up -- weaning himself off sodas. I'm hoping I can get him to try the Leslie Sansone video since it is too hot to walk outside during the summer. If I he likes it, then he can do it with me and I won't have an excuse for not exercising on Thursdays and Fridays (his days off).
My breakfast this morning reinforced the saying, "Size matters". The same packet of oatmeal that I eat Monday through Friday didn't look as satisfying today. Why? Because on weekdays I prepare my breakfast at work and I make my oatmeal in a little styrofoam cup. Today, that same amount of oatmeal in a cereal bowl didn't look as filling. Using smaller plates and bowls is a suggestion that all the diet books give, but it really hit home this morning.
24 June 2005
On Buying Books
The woman that I ride to work with (who hereafter shall be known as Susie Q so I don't have to keep referring to her that way) was kind enough to take me to the library today. I had to pay $19 in overdue fines before I could check out my large stack of books, and this sparked a discussion about buying books. Susie Q mentioned that as a kid, one of the things she looked forward to doing as an adult was owning books rather than buying them from the library. I, on the other hand, had very little desire to own books as long as I had access to them. Between the school library and the local branch, I had plenty of reading material as a young person.
Nowadays I find that I want to buy books more than I did before. I think this attitude shift started with homeschooling. When I taught M, I used a very literature-intensive curriculum called Sonlight. A lot of the books were classics that I had trouble finding at the library; either it wasn't part of the collection or all the copies were checked out because the public school had assigned the same books. After one frustrating year of trying to rearrange the lesson plan to fit the books I had available, I started buying some of them. Now I have several good books on hand for C1, who is a voracious reader.
Another reason for buying books is my taste in reading material. As a teenager, I hated being mainstream so I always read books and magazines that no one else in my peer group had ever heard of. This guaranteed that my choices were always available. Thanks to satellite TV and the internet, my little town isn't the backwater it used to be. When I decided to read the Harry Potter books several years ago (only the first two or three had been published when I first heard of them), I thought that I was ahead of the curve here and wouldn't have any trouble picking them up at the library. How wrong I was! The local library had 15 copies of each book and couldn't keep them on the shelves. By the time the fifth book was on its way, I didn't even bother trying to check it out -- I preordered it! I'm going to preorder the sixth book next week and I will probably buy the three Ann Brashares books because I couldn't get any of them at the library today.
My taste has changed to include more non-fiction, as well. These days I think I read more how-to books than anything else, and those are the kinds of things that you really want to own because you refer to them often. There is a gardening book that I have checked out every spring. One of these days, the library is going to cull that book from their selection and then where would I be? Buying non-fiction can be addictive, though, as any knitter knows. It is easy to want to own every new knitting book that comes out!
Nowadays I find that I want to buy books more than I did before. I think this attitude shift started with homeschooling. When I taught M, I used a very literature-intensive curriculum called Sonlight. A lot of the books were classics that I had trouble finding at the library; either it wasn't part of the collection or all the copies were checked out because the public school had assigned the same books. After one frustrating year of trying to rearrange the lesson plan to fit the books I had available, I started buying some of them. Now I have several good books on hand for C1, who is a voracious reader.
Another reason for buying books is my taste in reading material. As a teenager, I hated being mainstream so I always read books and magazines that no one else in my peer group had ever heard of. This guaranteed that my choices were always available. Thanks to satellite TV and the internet, my little town isn't the backwater it used to be. When I decided to read the Harry Potter books several years ago (only the first two or three had been published when I first heard of them), I thought that I was ahead of the curve here and wouldn't have any trouble picking them up at the library. How wrong I was! The local library had 15 copies of each book and couldn't keep them on the shelves. By the time the fifth book was on its way, I didn't even bother trying to check it out -- I preordered it! I'm going to preorder the sixth book next week and I will probably buy the three Ann Brashares books because I couldn't get any of them at the library today.
My taste has changed to include more non-fiction, as well. These days I think I read more how-to books than anything else, and those are the kinds of things that you really want to own because you refer to them often. There is a gardening book that I have checked out every spring. One of these days, the library is going to cull that book from their selection and then where would I be? Buying non-fiction can be addictive, though, as any knitter knows. It is easy to want to own every new knitting book that comes out!
23 June 2005
Podcast Talk: The Dice Tower; Knitting Disaster
I'm sorry about yesterday, guys. I totally forgot it was Wednesday and I didn't post my Podcast Talk. Bad blogger, baaaad blogger!
This week I have been listening to The Dice Tower. The show's name has been changed three times: first it was The Tom and Joe Audio Show, then it was Panzers and Pieces, but I think they have settled on The Dice Tower as their name. It is presented by two people who are well-known in the online community of boardgamers, Tom Vasel and Joe Steadman. Mr. Vasel has done over 300 reviews of Eurogames, while Mr. Steadman is a devotee of wargames and miniatures. They both teach at a Christian school in Korea and use games as a way to fellowship with students, American soldiers, and other families. Developing a sort of game ministry is something that I can only dream of doing, so I love to hear them talk about it. Don't think that it is an overly religious podcast, however. These guys are passionate about their games and that is the main focus of the show.
The feed URL was not the easiest thing to find. The show is hosted on the Gamefest website and the episodes can be found under The Gamewire's Special Features to be downloaded individually, but I couldn't find a button or a link to subscribe to the feed. I originally heard about the show from Boardgames to Go, but I found the feed URL by accident while I was browsing some of the smaller podcast directories looking for new shows. Hopefully, they will get themselves listed on Podcast Alley or Podcast Pickle soon so more people can discover them.
This is a long show (about 90 minutes) and they post a new episode weekly, although they will be going biweekly during the summer while Mr. Steadman visits the States. My favorite segment is the Top 10 list. I've picked up several ideas from their Top 10 Card Games list and I can't wait to hear them discuss their Top 10 Gateway Games. Mr. Vasel and Mr. Steadman don't just rattle off a list of games. They also tell you about their experiences with the games and what settings the games seem to work best in. My least favorite segments are when they try to do a little comedy, such as playing a wargame with Darth Vader.
This is a fairly new podcast with only six episodes available, so now is a good time to get caught up.
-------------------------------------------------
Remember when I mentioned that I taught one of my coworkers how to knit? She was working on a diagonal baby blanket and came close to completing it in record time for a first project. Unfortunately, her dog decided to do a bit of work on it as well. He tore it to shreds! This could have been a disaster because in my experience, a newbie doesn't get hooked on the craft if they have trouble finishing their first project. Luckily, she had another project going at the same time so she just switched over. Such knitterly behavior -- I'm so proud!
This week I have been listening to The Dice Tower. The show's name has been changed three times: first it was The Tom and Joe Audio Show, then it was Panzers and Pieces, but I think they have settled on The Dice Tower as their name. It is presented by two people who are well-known in the online community of boardgamers, Tom Vasel and Joe Steadman. Mr. Vasel has done over 300 reviews of Eurogames, while Mr. Steadman is a devotee of wargames and miniatures. They both teach at a Christian school in Korea and use games as a way to fellowship with students, American soldiers, and other families. Developing a sort of game ministry is something that I can only dream of doing, so I love to hear them talk about it. Don't think that it is an overly religious podcast, however. These guys are passionate about their games and that is the main focus of the show.
The feed URL was not the easiest thing to find. The show is hosted on the Gamefest website and the episodes can be found under The Gamewire's Special Features to be downloaded individually, but I couldn't find a button or a link to subscribe to the feed. I originally heard about the show from Boardgames to Go, but I found the feed URL by accident while I was browsing some of the smaller podcast directories looking for new shows. Hopefully, they will get themselves listed on Podcast Alley or Podcast Pickle soon so more people can discover them.
This is a long show (about 90 minutes) and they post a new episode weekly, although they will be going biweekly during the summer while Mr. Steadman visits the States. My favorite segment is the Top 10 list. I've picked up several ideas from their Top 10 Card Games list and I can't wait to hear them discuss their Top 10 Gateway Games. Mr. Vasel and Mr. Steadman don't just rattle off a list of games. They also tell you about their experiences with the games and what settings the games seem to work best in. My least favorite segments are when they try to do a little comedy, such as playing a wargame with Darth Vader.
This is a fairly new podcast with only six episodes available, so now is a good time to get caught up.
-------------------------------------------------
Remember when I mentioned that I taught one of my coworkers how to knit? She was working on a diagonal baby blanket and came close to completing it in record time for a first project. Unfortunately, her dog decided to do a bit of work on it as well. He tore it to shreds! This could have been a disaster because in my experience, a newbie doesn't get hooked on the craft if they have trouble finishing their first project. Luckily, she had another project going at the same time so she just switched over. Such knitterly behavior -- I'm so proud!
22 June 2005
Here's what you get when I am still too cranky to write a real post
 I am an Asteroid.I am a drifter. I go where life leads, which makes me usually a very calm and content sort of person. That or thoroughly apathetic. Usually I keep on doing whatever I'm doing, and it takes something special to make me change my mind. What Video Game Character Are You? |
21 June 2005
Miss Cranky Pants
I'm a bit cranky this afternoon, so a long post would probably be cathartic for me but boring for you. Luckily, my foul mood showed up on the day that the kids go to the MIL's house so I can be pissy all by myself. I was hoping to have my latest baby sweater finished in time to post a pic today, but that was not to be. Perhaps I'll have something to show tomorrow.
20 June 2005
Walk Away the Pounds
Exercise: 33 minutes (Leslie Sansone)
Have you guys tried any of the routines from Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds series? For those who aren't familiar with it, her routines are based on walking in place and the focus is on how many miles you've walked. In all the tapes I've seen, Ms. Sansone uses four basic steps so they are just right for uncoordinated people like me. The amazing thing is that she has taken this simple concept and repackaged it twenty different ways. I'm not criticizing her, though. These workouts are ideal for someone who doesn't want to overanalyze their fitness regimen. One of my friends is a devotee of in-home walking and lent me her three-mile video. I popped it in, put the TV on mute, and listened to Pop Goes the Culture while I walked. I concentrated just enough to make sure that I was keeping the same pace as the video, but that's it. It is the next best thing to a treadmill, which is near the top of my short list of preferred exercise options. You can visit the site and see a preview if you want to get a feel for the routine.
Have you guys tried any of the routines from Leslie Sansone's Walk Away the Pounds series? For those who aren't familiar with it, her routines are based on walking in place and the focus is on how many miles you've walked. In all the tapes I've seen, Ms. Sansone uses four basic steps so they are just right for uncoordinated people like me. The amazing thing is that she has taken this simple concept and repackaged it twenty different ways. I'm not criticizing her, though. These workouts are ideal for someone who doesn't want to overanalyze their fitness regimen. One of my friends is a devotee of in-home walking and lent me her three-mile video. I popped it in, put the TV on mute, and listened to Pop Goes the Culture while I walked. I concentrated just enough to make sure that I was keeping the same pace as the video, but that's it. It is the next best thing to a treadmill, which is near the top of my short list of preferred exercise options. You can visit the site and see a preview if you want to get a feel for the routine.
19 June 2005
Check out this neat music video
I found the link to the video on the Coverville site. I just love techy stuff!
"Feel the Machine" by The Chalets (QuickTime MOV)
"Feel the Machine" by The Chalets (QuickTime MOV)
18 June 2005
Health Update
Nothing much to post today. My exercise total for this week is one hour and 15 minutes. I thought that I would manage a bit more, but I have trouble making myself exercise on the weekends. This is one mental block that I have to eliminate because it will be difficult to make any progress if I only exercise a few days a week.
ABM has announced, yet again, that he is going to start a new diet on Monday. I should be supportive, but I feel like he is going in the wrong direction. Like many Americans, he is always searching for the magic solution to weight loss. In my opinion, the only thing that is going to work for either of us is learning how to work within the construct of our lives. Allow me to be real for a moment. We ain't gonna be countin' points, makin' low-carb meals, or juicin' anything. In a perfect world we'd have a deluxe workout space in the basement and a personal trainer, but that ain't happenin' either. Our budget won't allow us to go to diet doctors or buy Lean Cuisines indefinitely. Bottom line, we have to eat smaller portions and move our butts more often. Hopefully, ABM will get that this time.
ABM has announced, yet again, that he is going to start a new diet on Monday. I should be supportive, but I feel like he is going in the wrong direction. Like many Americans, he is always searching for the magic solution to weight loss. In my opinion, the only thing that is going to work for either of us is learning how to work within the construct of our lives. Allow me to be real for a moment. We ain't gonna be countin' points, makin' low-carb meals, or juicin' anything. In a perfect world we'd have a deluxe workout space in the basement and a personal trainer, but that ain't happenin' either. Our budget won't allow us to go to diet doctors or buy Lean Cuisines indefinitely. Bottom line, we have to eat smaller portions and move our butts more often. Hopefully, ABM will get that this time.
17 June 2005
This is how I know that ABM likes being married to a wannabe geek
ABM is on his way home from seeing Batman Begins. He loved the movie so much that he called me to check the internet for the possibility of a sequel. Now would he have been able to do that if he wasn't married to the research queen?
Phone It In Phriday
Here's a more upbeat audio post than my last one. It is a little PG-13 toward the end, but I don't think it will make anyone blush :-).
16 June 2005
Knitting Geegaws
Exercise: 20 pushups, 25 situps
Two days of working my quads and my glutes is enough for me. I couldn't do a third day in a row because I am barely walking now. Besides, my upper body isn't getting enough attention.
Catherine recently had a post about how appealing knitting accessories can be. I tend to be a minimalist knitter. There are no beaded stitch markers in my knitting bag. Heck, I don't even have a stylish knitting bag. I'd rather spend my meager budget on needles, yarn, and patterns. ABM, however, is trying to be a considerate gift buyer so he is starting to get me knitting-related items. Several months ago he bought me this tally set. I just pulled them out of the drawer the other day, and now I am trying to figure out why I have never used these things before. They are great! In the past, I've tried using a Kacha counter and a pegboard counter with little success. Neither one of these worked for me because I do the majority of my knitting on the go and the numbers would change or the pegs would fall out while they were rolling around in my bag. These tally things are great because they slide right onto my needle and the dials are stiff enough to stay put until I mean to turn them. I will be relying on pencil and paper much less now!
Two days of working my quads and my glutes is enough for me. I couldn't do a third day in a row because I am barely walking now. Besides, my upper body isn't getting enough attention.
Catherine recently had a post about how appealing knitting accessories can be. I tend to be a minimalist knitter. There are no beaded stitch markers in my knitting bag. Heck, I don't even have a stylish knitting bag. I'd rather spend my meager budget on needles, yarn, and patterns. ABM, however, is trying to be a considerate gift buyer so he is starting to get me knitting-related items. Several months ago he bought me this tally set. I just pulled them out of the drawer the other day, and now I am trying to figure out why I have never used these things before. They are great! In the past, I've tried using a Kacha counter and a pegboard counter with little success. Neither one of these worked for me because I do the majority of my knitting on the go and the numbers would change or the pegs would fall out while they were rolling around in my bag. These tally things are great because they slide right onto my needle and the dials are stiff enough to stay put until I mean to turn them. I will be relying on pencil and paper much less now!
15 June 2005
Podcast Talk: Croncast, Family Tech Show
Exercise: 25 min. (Caribbean Workout on FitTV)
My quads and glutes are still sore from yesterday, but I forced myself to exercise. It is easier for me to push myself if I don't know what is coming up next, so I turned on FitTV. I didn't make it all the way through, but I got a good workout. When you can smell the perfume that you thought wore off earlier in the day, then you know you are working up a good sweat!
My podcasting listening experience has been frustrating this week. The IT department at my job has put an internet monitoring program in place and the sites it blocks seem to be rather random. I just found out Monday that I can no longer access Croncast from work. This is a great show that makes me laugh every single time I listen to it. The presenters are a husband and wife, Betsy and Kris, and they discuss everyday couple stuff -- household chores, childrearing, shopping, etc. -- but they are SO funny. Betsy has a Goodwill fetish that she discusses on almost every show, and the stories of how they don't fit into their middle-class suburban neighborhood have me covering my mouth so that I don't laugh out loud. It is not 100% work-safe but it isn't nearly as bad as Dawn and Drew or similar shows with a guy-girl team. I don't understand why it got blocked. Now I'll have to download it to my mp3 player from home and take it to work with me.
Speaking of mp3 players, that was the other source of my frustration. I was trying to load Family Tech Show onto my player, but Windows Media Player kept telling me that there was something wrong with the file. When I listened to it from work today, I think I know the problem. Each show is three hours' long! My player doesn't have that much space on it. I finally got a chance to listen to the show, and it wasn't what I expected. This is one of those conventional radio shows that has just been transferred to a podcast, complete with commercials. The "family" comes in because the guy-gal team are married, and they also use reviews from their eight-year-old daughter. It's not bad, but it doesn't feel as intimate as the homegrown shows that I have been listening to for the past several weeks. This show is going on the bottom of my list for those days when I have run out of my regular shows to listen to.
My quads and glutes are still sore from yesterday, but I forced myself to exercise. It is easier for me to push myself if I don't know what is coming up next, so I turned on FitTV. I didn't make it all the way through, but I got a good workout. When you can smell the perfume that you thought wore off earlier in the day, then you know you are working up a good sweat!
My podcasting listening experience has been frustrating this week. The IT department at my job has put an internet monitoring program in place and the sites it blocks seem to be rather random. I just found out Monday that I can no longer access Croncast from work. This is a great show that makes me laugh every single time I listen to it. The presenters are a husband and wife, Betsy and Kris, and they discuss everyday couple stuff -- household chores, childrearing, shopping, etc. -- but they are SO funny. Betsy has a Goodwill fetish that she discusses on almost every show, and the stories of how they don't fit into their middle-class suburban neighborhood have me covering my mouth so that I don't laugh out loud. It is not 100% work-safe but it isn't nearly as bad as Dawn and Drew or similar shows with a guy-girl team. I don't understand why it got blocked. Now I'll have to download it to my mp3 player from home and take it to work with me.
Speaking of mp3 players, that was the other source of my frustration. I was trying to load Family Tech Show onto my player, but Windows Media Player kept telling me that there was something wrong with the file. When I listened to it from work today, I think I know the problem. Each show is three hours' long! My player doesn't have that much space on it. I finally got a chance to listen to the show, and it wasn't what I expected. This is one of those conventional radio shows that has just been transferred to a podcast, complete with commercials. The "family" comes in because the guy-gal team are married, and they also use reviews from their eight-year-old daughter. It's not bad, but it doesn't feel as intimate as the homegrown shows that I have been listening to for the past several weeks. This show is going on the bottom of my list for those days when I have run out of my regular shows to listen to.
14 June 2005
Exercise: 15 min. (Tamilee Webb -- Buns)
Today's workout wasn't as long as yesterday's session, but I worked harder. After two sets of squats and lunges my legs were shaky and my butt was sore. The problem is that after doing this routine once, I take a while to go back to it because I remember how sore it makes me. My goal is to do it at least one more time this week.
Now, let's get on to what I've almost been knitting lately:
Here's the progress on the newborn sweater. There isn't much because I didn't work on it over the weekend. I taught one of my coworkers to knit on Friday and I ended up lending her the needle I was using for this project. The needles she had were totally inappropriate for the yarn that she bought and I could see that she was getting frustrated. Once I shifted her project (a diagonal garter-stitch baby blanket) onto my size 10.5 circular, she was able to knit without splitting the yarn. By the time I saw her on Monday, she had knit half the blanket and was ready for me to teach her to decrease! She also bought her own needle and returned mine; ABM would have given me a big "I told you so" because I've lost needles to students before.
This is what I worked on while I was waiting to get my other needle back. A couple weeks' ago I picked out five yarns that have been marinating in my stashette and left them in plain sight by my bed. My goal was to knit up these yarns before moving on to anything else, and I thought that looking at them every day would give me some ideas. Since I am still on this baby kick, I cast on for a cardigan using a Debbie Bliss pattern. Here is a close-up of the yarn:
I know it is blurry, but hopefully you can see a bit of the slubbiness. This yarn is a cotton/acrylic/viscose/silk blend prooduced in Switzerland. It is a thick-and-thin yarn where the thin is almost fingering weight and the thick is a little more than DK weight. The yarn is called Nancy and I don't know how old it is but I have had it for at least five years. I'm using US size 3 needles, which is weird for me because I try to avoid anything smaller than size 8 unless I am knitting socks. The yarn is knitting up into such a pleasant fabric that I think I would rather turn it into a tank top. I only have 460 meters of this stuff so I'm pretty sure that won't make a tank for me, but I might be able to make one for M. She's still miffed that I made a halter for C2, so I should make her something. Ugh -- more pattern hunting!
Do you see how I am getting further and further from my afghan goal? It is almost July and I haven't even started. However, Timothy has posted an intriguing pattern for a baby afghan on his blog (scroll down past the Memorial Day session report). It is tempting, but I don't have any baby yarn on hand. Perhaps I'll use the yarn I have and call it a lap throw.
Today's workout wasn't as long as yesterday's session, but I worked harder. After two sets of squats and lunges my legs were shaky and my butt was sore. The problem is that after doing this routine once, I take a while to go back to it because I remember how sore it makes me. My goal is to do it at least one more time this week.
Now, let's get on to what I've almost been knitting lately:
Here's the progress on the newborn sweater. There isn't much because I didn't work on it over the weekend. I taught one of my coworkers to knit on Friday and I ended up lending her the needle I was using for this project. The needles she had were totally inappropriate for the yarn that she bought and I could see that she was getting frustrated. Once I shifted her project (a diagonal garter-stitch baby blanket) onto my size 10.5 circular, she was able to knit without splitting the yarn. By the time I saw her on Monday, she had knit half the blanket and was ready for me to teach her to decrease! She also bought her own needle and returned mine; ABM would have given me a big "I told you so" because I've lost needles to students before.
This is what I worked on while I was waiting to get my other needle back. A couple weeks' ago I picked out five yarns that have been marinating in my stashette and left them in plain sight by my bed. My goal was to knit up these yarns before moving on to anything else, and I thought that looking at them every day would give me some ideas. Since I am still on this baby kick, I cast on for a cardigan using a Debbie Bliss pattern. Here is a close-up of the yarn:
I know it is blurry, but hopefully you can see a bit of the slubbiness. This yarn is a cotton/acrylic/viscose/silk blend prooduced in Switzerland. It is a thick-and-thin yarn where the thin is almost fingering weight and the thick is a little more than DK weight. The yarn is called Nancy and I don't know how old it is but I have had it for at least five years. I'm using US size 3 needles, which is weird for me because I try to avoid anything smaller than size 8 unless I am knitting socks. The yarn is knitting up into such a pleasant fabric that I think I would rather turn it into a tank top. I only have 460 meters of this stuff so I'm pretty sure that won't make a tank for me, but I might be able to make one for M. She's still miffed that I made a halter for C2, so I should make her something. Ugh -- more pattern hunting!
Do you see how I am getting further and further from my afghan goal? It is almost July and I haven't even started. However, Timothy has posted an intriguing pattern for a baby afghan on his blog (scroll down past the Memorial Day session report). It is tempting, but I don't have any baby yarn on hand. Perhaps I'll use the yarn I have and call it a lap throw.
13 June 2005
Summertime, and the TV is cheesy
Exercise: 30 min (calisthenics/dancing)
It was a challenge to get myself to move today. I haven't exercised for the past three days, and it is always difficult for me to get back into the swing if I miss even one day. I couldn't face any of my DVDs, so I did a 15-minute routine that I found in O magazine (crunches, lunges, tricep work -- the usual) and followed that up with 15 minutes of dancing to music videos and then some stretching. I wish I had recorded Daddy Long Legs when it was on this weekend because there is a dance routine in that movie that would have given me a real workout!
Have any of you been sucked in by the slate of summer reality shows? I'm a TV junkie so I will watch practically anything, but I am trying to be more discriminating in my choices. When I saw the previews for Strip Search and Kept on VH1, I told myself that they were both a miss. However, when faced with mountains of laundry to fold my viewing standards quickly crumbled. Both of these shows are standard reality fare: get a group of guys in a house where they will be eliminated one by one as they compete for a job opportunity (on the former, it is a spot in a Las Vegas all-male revue; on the latter, it is a chance to be Jerry Hall's boy toy). The guys on Strip Search are average, while the guys on Kept are true eye candy. There is the requisite bickering that is every bit as bitchy as what you would expect to see in a house full of women. Luckily, the challenges aren't quite as goofy as those seen on other shows. Yes, I've added both of these silly shows to my season pass.
Another show that critics thought was going to be cheesy was Beauty and the Geek. Apparently anything associated with Ashton Kutcher can't be good in their minds. Well, I think that this show is cute. The contestants truly seem to be learning from each other. The producers take care to show the contestants in a favorable light instead cutting together the footage in a way that could be very embarrassing. I don't have patience for shows like Hell's Kitchen where the entertainment is derived from watching the contestants be humiliated by the presenter and each other.
It was a challenge to get myself to move today. I haven't exercised for the past three days, and it is always difficult for me to get back into the swing if I miss even one day. I couldn't face any of my DVDs, so I did a 15-minute routine that I found in O magazine (crunches, lunges, tricep work -- the usual) and followed that up with 15 minutes of dancing to music videos and then some stretching. I wish I had recorded Daddy Long Legs when it was on this weekend because there is a dance routine in that movie that would have given me a real workout!
Have any of you been sucked in by the slate of summer reality shows? I'm a TV junkie so I will watch practically anything, but I am trying to be more discriminating in my choices. When I saw the previews for Strip Search and Kept on VH1, I told myself that they were both a miss. However, when faced with mountains of laundry to fold my viewing standards quickly crumbled. Both of these shows are standard reality fare: get a group of guys in a house where they will be eliminated one by one as they compete for a job opportunity (on the former, it is a spot in a Las Vegas all-male revue; on the latter, it is a chance to be Jerry Hall's boy toy). The guys on Strip Search are average, while the guys on Kept are true eye candy. There is the requisite bickering that is every bit as bitchy as what you would expect to see in a house full of women. Luckily, the challenges aren't quite as goofy as those seen on other shows. Yes, I've added both of these silly shows to my season pass.
Another show that critics thought was going to be cheesy was Beauty and the Geek. Apparently anything associated with Ashton Kutcher can't be good in their minds. Well, I think that this show is cute. The contestants truly seem to be learning from each other. The producers take care to show the contestants in a favorable light instead cutting together the footage in a way that could be very embarrassing. I don't have patience for shows like Hell's Kitchen where the entertainment is derived from watching the contestants be humiliated by the presenter and each other.
11 June 2005
Health Update
That's it! I'm ready to go into denial mode. I am up two pounds this week. I do not want to look at the scale any more. I may even take it out of my bathroom. Despite increasing my exercise this week (one hour and 25 minutes total), I still gained weight. Either I need more exercise or I am getting too old to eat what I want and let aerobics take care of burning it off. It worked for me three years' ago, but I guess three years can make a big difference.
The bright side of this penny is that I've felt pretty good this week. I hate to acknowledge the benefits of exercise because that would be too close to saying I like exercise, which I definitely do not. The closest I come to enjoying it is liking the way I look when I execute a dance move gracefully. There's no denying, however, that my mood tends to be brighter and I interact with other people more easily when I am shaking my bon-bon regularly.
What is this week's plan? I will try to increase my exercise total to two hours. I've pretty much given up on altering my diet. With five other people in this house, I can't make radical changes to our grocery list without opposition. Coming home from work and standing in my kitchen for 30 minutes to come up with a cheap yet healthy meal is not something I am willing to do. Exercising and watching my portion sizes is all I can manage.
09 June 2005
ABM's birthday update
Exercise: 15 min. (Carmen Electra #1)
ABM is off today, which usually means I would skip my exercise session. However, I didn't want to lose my momentum so I had a short session today. If it hadn't been raining, I would have stretched it out by using the trampoline. Perhaps I'll have a chance to do that tomorrow.
For all the worrying I did, ABM seemed to like his birthday presents. He probably would have preferred something from the hardware store, but we've both agreed that it is better if I leave the tool-buying to him.
I discovered that we have a comics shop in my little town. This is a real shop devoted to comics as opposed to a single rack at the Media Play. ABM seemed to be the most excited about this gift. Neither one of us has read a comic in at least 10 years, but I thought he might like to start. I only went in for the book on the left, which is the first book of the new X-Men Hellions mini-series. Then I spottted the $1 boxes, filled with comics that were between 2 and 20 years old. There were so many X-Men back issues from different series that I couldn't make a decision. I'll have to go back another day when I have more time and cash in my pocket.
After having no luck finding piano software at Best Buy, I started looking for games. There was no chance of finding games like Carcasonne or Settlers of Catan around here, so I did the best I could. Pit was purchased on a friend's recommendation; I liked the idea of buying a game that has been playing in family rooms for the past 100 years. ABM is a fan of CSI, but the game looked lame so I bought a mystery puzzle instead. You read the book, put together the jigsaw puzzle, then search the picture for clues to solve the crime. Trouble was on sale and I thought that it would be a good game for him to play with the kids. Word Thief looked like it would be more interesting than Scrabble and a refreshing change from Mexican train dominoes, which is what we played with our friends the last few times we had them over.
ABM is off today, which usually means I would skip my exercise session. However, I didn't want to lose my momentum so I had a short session today. If it hadn't been raining, I would have stretched it out by using the trampoline. Perhaps I'll have a chance to do that tomorrow.
For all the worrying I did, ABM seemed to like his birthday presents. He probably would have preferred something from the hardware store, but we've both agreed that it is better if I leave the tool-buying to him.
I discovered that we have a comics shop in my little town. This is a real shop devoted to comics as opposed to a single rack at the Media Play. ABM seemed to be the most excited about this gift. Neither one of us has read a comic in at least 10 years, but I thought he might like to start. I only went in for the book on the left, which is the first book of the new X-Men Hellions mini-series. Then I spottted the $1 boxes, filled with comics that were between 2 and 20 years old. There were so many X-Men back issues from different series that I couldn't make a decision. I'll have to go back another day when I have more time and cash in my pocket.
After having no luck finding piano software at Best Buy, I started looking for games. There was no chance of finding games like Carcasonne or Settlers of Catan around here, so I did the best I could. Pit was purchased on a friend's recommendation; I liked the idea of buying a game that has been playing in family rooms for the past 100 years. ABM is a fan of CSI, but the game looked lame so I bought a mystery puzzle instead. You read the book, put together the jigsaw puzzle, then search the picture for clues to solve the crime. Trouble was on sale and I thought that it would be a good game for him to play with the kids. Word Thief looked like it would be more interesting than Scrabble and a refreshing change from Mexican train dominoes, which is what we played with our friends the last few times we had them over.
08 June 2005
Podcast Talk: Geek Fu Action Grip
Exercise: 30 min. (Honey Kalaria)
Third exercise day in a row! What is my motivation? Let's just say that it takes flexibility and stamina to perform my "wifely duties" at peak efficiency. For some people, it's health concerns; I guess I'm just a bit more crass.
There are only a few podcasts that make me laugh out loud, and one of them is Geek Fu Action Grip. I'm attracted to this blog for many reasons. The presenter, Mur Lafferty, is a girl. Not only that, she is a geek girl which definitely appeals to a geek wannabe like myself. It gets better -- a geek girl from North Carolina who can write a witty essay. I have been listening to her for several months and she gets smoother and more relaxed from week to week. It's like rooting for the home team when I listen to her.
Ms. Lafferty's show isn't terribly long and doesn't have a set theme, like a gaming or music podcast. She shares tidbits from her life as a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer and then ends the show by reading one of her essays. They are all so good that I can't even pick a favorite. This is another show where the subject matter is so interesting that I don't miss the banter between two people.
As far as practical matters are concerned: the sound quality is good and Ms. Lafferty edits her shows quite a bit so that the listeners are treated to a smooth podcast. In the beginning she aimed for a 10-minute weekly show, but lately it has been stretching closer to 20 minutes. In my opinion, this is an improvement because she sounds less flustered and rushed on the longer shows. All in all, a good show to add to your aggregator.
Third exercise day in a row! What is my motivation? Let's just say that it takes flexibility and stamina to perform my "wifely duties" at peak efficiency. For some people, it's health concerns; I guess I'm just a bit more crass.
There are only a few podcasts that make me laugh out loud, and one of them is Geek Fu Action Grip. I'm attracted to this blog for many reasons. The presenter, Mur Lafferty, is a girl. Not only that, she is a geek girl which definitely appeals to a geek wannabe like myself. It gets better -- a geek girl from North Carolina who can write a witty essay. I have been listening to her for several months and she gets smoother and more relaxed from week to week. It's like rooting for the home team when I listen to her.
Ms. Lafferty's show isn't terribly long and doesn't have a set theme, like a gaming or music podcast. She shares tidbits from her life as a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer and then ends the show by reading one of her essays. They are all so good that I can't even pick a favorite. This is another show where the subject matter is so interesting that I don't miss the banter between two people.
As far as practical matters are concerned: the sound quality is good and Ms. Lafferty edits her shows quite a bit so that the listeners are treated to a smooth podcast. In the beginning she aimed for a 10-minute weekly show, but lately it has been stretching closer to 20 minutes. In my opinion, this is an improvement because she sounds less flustered and rushed on the longer shows. All in all, a good show to add to your aggregator.
07 June 2005
Exercise: 20 min.
This doesn't look like much, does it? I told you guys that I am a slow knitter. Photo day isn't going to be too exciting around here! This is the start of another sweater familiar to the online community, the easy cuff-to-cuff newborn sweater designed by Rae Creedle. I know that I am supposed to be knitting afghans, but I'm in the mood to make baby stuff. I could knit baby blankets and still stick to my goal, but none of the yarn I have is soft enough. Before I buy any more yarn, I need to get rid of some of the oddballs that I have. So I figured baby stuff would be the best way to put them to good use. Did you follow any of that :-) ?
This doesn't look like much, does it? I told you guys that I am a slow knitter. Photo day isn't going to be too exciting around here! This is the start of another sweater familiar to the online community, the easy cuff-to-cuff newborn sweater designed by Rae Creedle. I know that I am supposed to be knitting afghans, but I'm in the mood to make baby stuff. I could knit baby blankets and still stick to my goal, but none of the yarn I have is soft enough. Before I buy any more yarn, I need to get rid of some of the oddballs that I have. So I figured baby stuff would be the best way to put them to good use. Did you follow any of that :-) ?
Those of you who have been part of the online knititng community for a while probably recognized this sweater instantly. Yes, I have been working on a Five-Hour Baby Sweater for the past ten days. Since I only knit about 30 minutes a day, it really didn't take that long. The yarn is Bernat Denim Style (cotton/acrylic) and I think I used one ball; it was leftover from another project so I am not totally sure.
I can't believe it
| Your IQ Is 90 |
 Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Above Average Your General Knowledge is Below Average |
I know that this isn't a real IQ test, but I can't believe that I would get an above-average math score on any test. I'm the model for the "I Hate Math" Barbie! It doesn't surprise me that I scored low on the logical part because I alway manage to go the long way round to do something; the simple, logical method seldom occurs to me. I am a bit disappointed in my below-average general knowledge, although I can't say that I am surprised. For the past several years, I have felt like the knowledge I once had is slowly seeping out of my brain. Right now I would not be able to name the governor of my state or the mayor of my town. I watched the first episode of Beauty and the Geek the other day and I couldn't answer half of the 5th-grade questions that they posed to the girls. That's why I miss homeschooling; I felt like I had permission to take time away from housework to learn stuff.
06 June 2005
"The 4400" is back!
Exercise: 20 min. (Honey Kalaria's Bollywood Workout)
I made it all the way through the beginner workout on the Honey Kalaria DVD today! There were a few moves that I couldn't keep repeating (the video showed eight reps but I could only do four so I marched in place) and on some moves I could only do the arms or the legs but not both together. Still, I stuck it out until the cool down. This routine brings out the intensity in me because I'm so busy trying to get the motions right that I work up a sweat.
ABM and I are so excited because we are about to get our sci-fi fix again. The 4400 is back on USA Network! The first episode of the second season was last night, but if you have a TiVo you may be able to catch it when it is rebroadcast a couple afternoons this week. If you missed the five-episode miniseries that aired last July, go to the official site and read up on the synopses. Basically, 4400 people who have disappeared over the past 50 years are all dumped back in the present day by a comet that touches down on an American beach. None of them have aged and they have no memory of who took them or where they have been. Homeland Security has been given the task of figuring it all out. It is a well-written story that has you on the edge of your seat but not so much that you feel stressed out by the end of the hour (unlike John Grisham movies which give me neck strain from all the jaw-clenching I do while I am watching them.) Do yourself a favor and check it out.
**UPDATE**: I just saw on the official site that the first season of The 4400 is available on DVD. Have I mentioned how much I love TV on DVD?
I made it all the way through the beginner workout on the Honey Kalaria DVD today! There were a few moves that I couldn't keep repeating (the video showed eight reps but I could only do four so I marched in place) and on some moves I could only do the arms or the legs but not both together. Still, I stuck it out until the cool down. This routine brings out the intensity in me because I'm so busy trying to get the motions right that I work up a sweat.
ABM and I are so excited because we are about to get our sci-fi fix again. The 4400 is back on USA Network! The first episode of the second season was last night, but if you have a TiVo you may be able to catch it when it is rebroadcast a couple afternoons this week. If you missed the five-episode miniseries that aired last July, go to the official site and read up on the synopses. Basically, 4400 people who have disappeared over the past 50 years are all dumped back in the present day by a comet that touches down on an American beach. None of them have aged and they have no memory of who took them or where they have been. Homeland Security has been given the task of figuring it all out. It is a well-written story that has you on the edge of your seat but not so much that you feel stressed out by the end of the hour (unlike John Grisham movies which give me neck strain from all the jaw-clenching I do while I am watching them.) Do yourself a favor and check it out.
**UPDATE**: I just saw on the official site that the first season of The 4400 is available on DVD. Have I mentioned how much I love TV on DVD?
04 June 2005
See, I do knit! I know that readers who have visited in the past few days may not think so due to the lack of photos, so I thought I'd toss one up here. This is the halter that took me almost three weeks to complete. I was concerned that it might be too small for C1. As it turned out, it is too BIG for C1; this is C2 modeling it.
Health Update
No need to bother with the graphic; I am still at 259. I feel better about it this week, though, because I got in a bit more exercise. My total exercise minutes is 52, up from 45 last week. That means I moved my arse two weeks in a row! Instead of obsessing about exercising in the perfect conditions, I'm trying to just move in whatever way fits my circumstances that day. Yesterday, it was cool and breezy and the trampoline sounded like a good idea. It didn't take long for my calves to start hurting, but I stretched the workout with some moves from the Honey Kalaria video. As the commercial says, Just Do It!
03 June 2005
This is what happens when I shop
Exercise: 17 min. (trampoline)
Yesterday, I went shopping for ABM's birthday presents. Today, I spent most of the morning with my stomach in knots. Those of you who have known me a while recognize the problem right away. I can't spend money. It makes me ill if I spend more than $20 on something that isn't food or underwear. Sometimes even a lesser amount will cause me anxiety. Prices like $4.50 for cold cream and $7 for hair removal cream are difficult for me to swallow. You would think that I grew up during the Depression for all the hand wringing I do before I get to the cash register.
An added dimension to this anxiety is my uncertainty about how ABM will receive the gifts. There was an item that I was certain he would like but it wasn't available locally. Giving him an IOU wasn't an option that I was comfortable with because I've been slack in the past and barely acknowledged his birthday during the troubled years of our marriage. An IOU would feel like another empty promise. Instead, I bought some things that he probably wouldn't think to get himself but I think he'll like it once he uses them. I spent about $80 altogether, which is a bit of a strain on our tight budget. Each of the kids has something to give him; they didn't pick the items out, but they are all things that will promote father-child togetherness.
I'm almost calm now. I just keep reminding myself that I have the receipt and he can take all of it back if he wants!
Yesterday, I went shopping for ABM's birthday presents. Today, I spent most of the morning with my stomach in knots. Those of you who have known me a while recognize the problem right away. I can't spend money. It makes me ill if I spend more than $20 on something that isn't food or underwear. Sometimes even a lesser amount will cause me anxiety. Prices like $4.50 for cold cream and $7 for hair removal cream are difficult for me to swallow. You would think that I grew up during the Depression for all the hand wringing I do before I get to the cash register.
An added dimension to this anxiety is my uncertainty about how ABM will receive the gifts. There was an item that I was certain he would like but it wasn't available locally. Giving him an IOU wasn't an option that I was comfortable with because I've been slack in the past and barely acknowledged his birthday during the troubled years of our marriage. An IOU would feel like another empty promise. Instead, I bought some things that he probably wouldn't think to get himself but I think he'll like it once he uses them. I spent about $80 altogether, which is a bit of a strain on our tight budget. Each of the kids has something to give him; they didn't pick the items out, but they are all things that will promote father-child togetherness.
I'm almost calm now. I just keep reminding myself that I have the receipt and he can take all of it back if he wants!
02 June 2005
01 June 2005
Podcast/Game Talk: Boardgames to Go
Exercise: none
When I was a young adult, I stumbled across a magazine called Games. It was mainly a puzzle magazine, but it also included short reviews and articles about board games. Through this publication, I learned that games I grew up with like Scrabble and Life are not what people are talking about when they list "board games" as one of their hobbies. Monopoly is a bit closer, but it is still lightweight compared to what are commonly known as German games or family strategy games. I was intrigued, but I didn't have anyone to play such games with so I didn't look into the scene further.
Now, fifteen years later, I'm searching for ways to socialize with my husband and other couples that don't involve going to the movies every weekend. Being the oddball that I am, I want to provide an experience for our friends that is different from what they would get at someone else's house. Into my head popped family strategy games. We have already had success playing games like Monopoly and dominoes at our dinner parties, so now I want to branch out into games that aren't commonly available at Toys 'R' Us. Where did I turn for information? My current obsession, of course -- podcasting.
Video game shows dominate the gaming category on most podcast directories, but there are a few out there that are dedicated to strategy games. One that has captivated me is Boardgames to Go. I tend to shy away from podcasts that involve just a single person talking, but Mark Johnson is engaging because he is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his hobby. Even if you know next to nothing about these games, he gives you a sense of how the gameplay flows and makes you want to go out and buy one right away. Mr. Johnson has been podcasting since March and I have listened to almost all of the archived shows. They seem to fall into two categories. He alternates between session reports, which are accounts of his weekly game nights, and theme shows on subjects such as game awards. For those who are interested in getting started in this hobby, the 28 May show is a good primer on what strategy gaming is, what it isn't, and what games are good for newbies. Check out the show and tell Mark where you heard about it!
**UPDATE**: Mr. Johnson has updated his blog and put a permanent link to his boardgaming primer at the top of the page. Now you have no excuse -- go learn about these games!
When I was a young adult, I stumbled across a magazine called Games. It was mainly a puzzle magazine, but it also included short reviews and articles about board games. Through this publication, I learned that games I grew up with like Scrabble and Life are not what people are talking about when they list "board games" as one of their hobbies. Monopoly is a bit closer, but it is still lightweight compared to what are commonly known as German games or family strategy games. I was intrigued, but I didn't have anyone to play such games with so I didn't look into the scene further.
Now, fifteen years later, I'm searching for ways to socialize with my husband and other couples that don't involve going to the movies every weekend. Being the oddball that I am, I want to provide an experience for our friends that is different from what they would get at someone else's house. Into my head popped family strategy games. We have already had success playing games like Monopoly and dominoes at our dinner parties, so now I want to branch out into games that aren't commonly available at Toys 'R' Us. Where did I turn for information? My current obsession, of course -- podcasting.
Video game shows dominate the gaming category on most podcast directories, but there are a few out there that are dedicated to strategy games. One that has captivated me is Boardgames to Go. I tend to shy away from podcasts that involve just a single person talking, but Mark Johnson is engaging because he is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his hobby. Even if you know next to nothing about these games, he gives you a sense of how the gameplay flows and makes you want to go out and buy one right away. Mr. Johnson has been podcasting since March and I have listened to almost all of the archived shows. They seem to fall into two categories. He alternates between session reports, which are accounts of his weekly game nights, and theme shows on subjects such as game awards. For those who are interested in getting started in this hobby, the 28 May show is a good primer on what strategy gaming is, what it isn't, and what games are good for newbies. Check out the show and tell Mark where you heard about it!
**UPDATE**: Mr. Johnson has updated his blog and put a permanent link to his boardgaming primer at the top of the page. Now you have no excuse -- go learn about these games!
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