You never stop learning. I'm glad there's no homework at this stage of the game. Here are a few of the things I learned in 2012:
1. Honey Boo Boo is not cute.
2. Everybody loves "Downton Abbey."
3. The new "Two and a Half Men" is just as funny as the old "Two and a Half Men."
4. There aren't enough hours in the day when you are retired.
5. Dog biscuits don't have much flavor.
6. Eating out is not as appealing as it used to be.
7. There is little worse than one of Hillary Clinton's bad hair days.
8. The end of the world is never coming, so be responsible and take care of this Earth.
9. Blogging rarely makes anyone famous, but you'll force yourself to write a few times each week. You'll have fun and keep up with the kooky news. You might even amaze, amuse, and astound your friends.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
What Happened to "What's Your Sign?"
"What's a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?"
"Where have you been all my life?"
"I hope you know CPR, because you take my breath away"
"What's your credit score?"
Okay, so it's not a pick up line yet, but I just read that the under 40 crowd is asking for credit scores on first dates. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/perfect-10-never-mind-ask-015017521.html It seems those with good credit don't want to be unequally yoked to those with poor credit. Perhaps this latest recession and the practice of airing way too much on Facebook and Twitter (and possibly blogs) has made some people bold enough to ask really personal questions, and convinced those questioned that they should answer.
First dates are really interviews. Each party sizes the other up in terms of good looks, chemistry, social status, and mutual interests. For some, the process of dating is an end unto itself. For most though, dating is the screening and selection process for finding a mate. I read an article written by a woman who had more than a hundred first dates over the course of a year or two. Her goal was to find a husband, settle down, and raise a family. She announced to dates right off the bat that she was looking for a husband, not playing the field. I've also heard about people for whom having children is a top priority. Suitors not interested in children needn't plan on a second date.
If dating proceeds to marriage, what could be the undoing of the relationship? Well, most arguments are over money. Maybe asking for a credit score up front is a smart idea, before you are so involved you feel like you can't walk away. Usually the party with the good credit is the one doing the asking. Just consider that the person questioned might lie. To quote the TV character Dr. Gregory House, "Everybody lies." They do. They really do. By the time you gain access to your true love's credit card statements, you might already be married. What if a man claiming to have a score of 790 asks a woman with a score of 835 to reveal her number? She might be suspicious that she has just shared drinks and dinner with a con man. She might throw out any number lower than his, or even make herself look irresponsible to determine if he likes her or her credit worthiness. Everybody lies.
If having healthy finances is your deal breaker, go ahead and ask during that first date. Blurt it out as long as you are prepared for any number of reactions and as long as you are willing to be known as the ass who asks people their credit scores. It's a better idea, if you like a person, to get to know them and their credit score over time.
"Where have you been all my life?"
"I hope you know CPR, because you take my breath away"
"What's your credit score?"
Okay, so it's not a pick up line yet, but I just read that the under 40 crowd is asking for credit scores on first dates. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/perfect-10-never-mind-ask-015017521.html It seems those with good credit don't want to be unequally yoked to those with poor credit. Perhaps this latest recession and the practice of airing way too much on Facebook and Twitter (and possibly blogs) has made some people bold enough to ask really personal questions, and convinced those questioned that they should answer.
First dates are really interviews. Each party sizes the other up in terms of good looks, chemistry, social status, and mutual interests. For some, the process of dating is an end unto itself. For most though, dating is the screening and selection process for finding a mate. I read an article written by a woman who had more than a hundred first dates over the course of a year or two. Her goal was to find a husband, settle down, and raise a family. She announced to dates right off the bat that she was looking for a husband, not playing the field. I've also heard about people for whom having children is a top priority. Suitors not interested in children needn't plan on a second date.
If dating proceeds to marriage, what could be the undoing of the relationship? Well, most arguments are over money. Maybe asking for a credit score up front is a smart idea, before you are so involved you feel like you can't walk away. Usually the party with the good credit is the one doing the asking. Just consider that the person questioned might lie. To quote the TV character Dr. Gregory House, "Everybody lies." They do. They really do. By the time you gain access to your true love's credit card statements, you might already be married. What if a man claiming to have a score of 790 asks a woman with a score of 835 to reveal her number? She might be suspicious that she has just shared drinks and dinner with a con man. She might throw out any number lower than his, or even make herself look irresponsible to determine if he likes her or her credit worthiness. Everybody lies.
If having healthy finances is your deal breaker, go ahead and ask during that first date. Blurt it out as long as you are prepared for any number of reactions and as long as you are willing to be known as the ass who asks people their credit scores. It's a better idea, if you like a person, to get to know them and their credit score over time.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Post Apocalypse
The world is still spinning. Life goes on. Since I'll be around to enjoy it, I decided to apply a decal to my bathroom wall. That was the final step toward completing my homage to canines theme in the hall bath.
I ordered the decal online from Dali Decals. http://dalidecals.com/ They have a huge assortment of decals from which to choose, or they can do custom orders. I decided I wanted to use Lord Byron's quote about dogs, "In life the firmest friend, the first to welcome, foremost to defend." As I plowed through the multitude of fonts from which to chose, I discovered one called Byron. A check of Lord Byron's signature indicated that this font is actually a reproduction of the poet's handwriting. How cool would it be to quote the Baron in his own handwriting? Next, I had to decide where to place the decal and how large to make it. If the room were configured differently, I might have run the quote along the top of one wall, like a wall paper border. That idea wasn't working, so I decided to hide the decal behind the door. Though it reflects a bit in the mirror, one has to go into the bathroom and close the door to read the writing on the wall.
The customer service people at Dali Decal were quick to respond to my every question. They confirmed and reconfirmed the layout of the words, the punctuation, and the sizing of the decal. It arrived within a few days, and it was perfect. The decal comes with installation instructions and a little plastic squeegee tool for smoothing out air bubbles. The Dali site also has a video showing how to install decals.
Wall words, like star decor, aren't for everybody, but I like the decal. Maybe it will keep me from repainting quite so frequently. Mike hopes.
I ordered the decal online from Dali Decals. http://dalidecals.com/ They have a huge assortment of decals from which to choose, or they can do custom orders. I decided I wanted to use Lord Byron's quote about dogs, "In life the firmest friend, the first to welcome, foremost to defend." As I plowed through the multitude of fonts from which to chose, I discovered one called Byron. A check of Lord Byron's signature indicated that this font is actually a reproduction of the poet's handwriting. How cool would it be to quote the Baron in his own handwriting? Next, I had to decide where to place the decal and how large to make it. If the room were configured differently, I might have run the quote along the top of one wall, like a wall paper border. That idea wasn't working, so I decided to hide the decal behind the door. Though it reflects a bit in the mirror, one has to go into the bathroom and close the door to read the writing on the wall.
The customer service people at Dali Decal were quick to respond to my every question. They confirmed and reconfirmed the layout of the words, the punctuation, and the sizing of the decal. It arrived within a few days, and it was perfect. The decal comes with installation instructions and a little plastic squeegee tool for smoothing out air bubbles. The Dali site also has a video showing how to install decals.
Wall words, like star decor, aren't for everybody, but I like the decal. Maybe it will keep me from repainting quite so frequently. Mike hopes.
 |
| Sorry about the reflections and glare. |
 |
| This looks like Mardi flying through the back yard. |
Friday, December 21, 2012
The End of the World
Today is supposed to be the end of the world, or maybe it's just the end of a cycle. Or maybe it's not the end of anything, just another day that the earth completes a rotation.
I did contemplate beginnings and endings today. There's the end of childhood innocence, the end of our school days, divorce, retirement, the death of our parents or a spouse. With every ending, except our death, we get to begin again. New journeys bring new knowledge, new experiences, new responsibilities. We don't have to wait for the universe to force a situation on us. We can make our own new beginnings by changing jobs, quitting that bad habit, or improving our diet and doing exercise.
Don't wait until New Year's Day to make a resolution. Start now. And if the world ends at midnight, you only had to go without chocolate for a few hours!
Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsxavPANO8s
I did contemplate beginnings and endings today. There's the end of childhood innocence, the end of our school days, divorce, retirement, the death of our parents or a spouse. With every ending, except our death, we get to begin again. New journeys bring new knowledge, new experiences, new responsibilities. We don't have to wait for the universe to force a situation on us. We can make our own new beginnings by changing jobs, quitting that bad habit, or improving our diet and doing exercise.
Don't wait until New Year's Day to make a resolution. Start now. And if the world ends at midnight, you only had to go without chocolate for a few hours!
Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsxavPANO8s
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Copy Cat Mickey Gilley's Vegetarian Chili
I cook vegetarian entrées when my veg friends come for lunch. I decided to try to reproduce the vegetarian chili I had at Mickey Gilley's Restaurant in Las Vegas. The menu listed some of the ingredients. I identified several other ingredients as I ate. The rest of it, I would have to improvise.
This is my version:
2 Carrots - I julienned, you could dice.
1 Medium Onion, chopped
2 Stalks of Celery, chopped
1 Large Red Bell Pepper, chopped
2 Medium, Green Long Hot Peppers, chopped - Remove the seeds and disgard.
1 Can Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Can Pink Beans, rinsed and drained
1 Can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
3- 14-1/2 ounce (by weight) Cans of Vegetable Broth
2 - 14-1/2 ounce (by weight) Cans of Diced Tomatoes - I used Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes with no extra seasonings.
1-1/2 Tsp. Cumin Seeds
1/2 Tsp. Ground Cumin
1/8 Cup + 1 Tbs. Chili Powder
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 Tbs. Flour
Canola or Olive Oil
Pour some oil into a big pot and heat. Add carrots, onion, celery, red and green peppers and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add vegetable broth and tomatoes and stir. Add the beans and stir. Add the spices and garlic and stir again. Simmer for 30 minutes. Get a small container with a lid. Put the flour in the container, add about 4 ounces of cold water and shake the living daylights out of it. Pour this liquid thickener into the chili. Stir constantly as the chili gently bubbles. You might have to turn up the heat a tad. Cook and stir for about 10 minutes. Your chili is done, but you might want to serve it the next day. Dishes like this always taste better the next day.
I served my chili with brown rice and corn muffins. You could add saltines, tortilla chips, shreaded cheese, or sour cream. My friend brought iced tea flavored for the Christmas season. In addition to the regular tea bags, she added one Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea bag. So much better than the beer I had with my original Gilley's chili!
Try this one. It's yummy.
 |
| Mickey's Chili |
This is my version:
2 Carrots - I julienned, you could dice.
1 Medium Onion, chopped
2 Stalks of Celery, chopped
1 Large Red Bell Pepper, chopped
2 Medium, Green Long Hot Peppers, chopped - Remove the seeds and disgard.
1 Can Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed
1 Can Pink Beans, rinsed and drained
1 Can Black Beans, rinsed and drained
3- 14-1/2 ounce (by weight) Cans of Vegetable Broth
2 - 14-1/2 ounce (by weight) Cans of Diced Tomatoes - I used Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes with no extra seasonings.
1-1/2 Tsp. Cumin Seeds
1/2 Tsp. Ground Cumin
1/8 Cup + 1 Tbs. Chili Powder
1/2 Tsp. Black Pepper
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
2 Tbs. Flour
Canola or Olive Oil
Pour some oil into a big pot and heat. Add carrots, onion, celery, red and green peppers and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add vegetable broth and tomatoes and stir. Add the beans and stir. Add the spices and garlic and stir again. Simmer for 30 minutes. Get a small container with a lid. Put the flour in the container, add about 4 ounces of cold water and shake the living daylights out of it. Pour this liquid thickener into the chili. Stir constantly as the chili gently bubbles. You might have to turn up the heat a tad. Cook and stir for about 10 minutes. Your chili is done, but you might want to serve it the next day. Dishes like this always taste better the next day.
I served my chili with brown rice and corn muffins. You could add saltines, tortilla chips, shreaded cheese, or sour cream. My friend brought iced tea flavored for the Christmas season. In addition to the regular tea bags, she added one Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea bag. So much better than the beer I had with my original Gilley's chili!
Try this one. It's yummy.
 |
| My Chili with Brown Rice, Mini Corn Muffins, and Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Iced Tea |
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Ha, Ha
I've been reading A Prairie Home Companion Pretty Good Joke Book. Some of them are real groaners. Some are pretty good. They have a whole section of Iowa jokes. Who knew? The winner of Survivor Philippines is from Iowa. If you've won a million dollars, you should be able to take a joke, so here goes:
Why don't they take coffee breaks in Iowa?
It takes too long to retrain them.
What do they call 100 John Deeres circling a McDonald's in Iowa?
Prom night.
Did you hear about the skeleton they found in the closet on the Iowa State campus last weekend?
He was the winner of the 1965 hide-and-seek contest.
How about the Iowan who went to the library and checked out a book called How to Hug?
He got home and found out it was volume seven of the encyclopedia.
And in the interest of fairness:
The reason New Yorkers are depressed is because the light at the end of the tunnel is New Jersey.
Ba-dum ching!
Why don't they take coffee breaks in Iowa?
It takes too long to retrain them.
What do they call 100 John Deeres circling a McDonald's in Iowa?
Prom night.
Did you hear about the skeleton they found in the closet on the Iowa State campus last weekend?
He was the winner of the 1965 hide-and-seek contest.
How about the Iowan who went to the library and checked out a book called How to Hug?
He got home and found out it was volume seven of the encyclopedia.
And in the interest of fairness:
The reason New Yorkers are depressed is because the light at the end of the tunnel is New Jersey.
Ba-dum ching!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Feminism and the Top Ten
I'm a feminist. Not just a yeah-I-agree-with-that-in-theory kind of feminist, but a card carrying, bra burning, I-can-do-anything-you-can-do-better kind of feminist. Is this still necessary? Have we reached the day of true equality for both men and women? Should I throw out that copy of Our Bodies, Ourselves that I've had since college? I entertained these somewhat weighty thoughts after listening to Pink on the car radio.
My, how song lyrics have changed since I attended a school dance. Remember Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel" and Lesley Gore's "It's My Party?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWBljCO0JQk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYJyVEUaC4 Don't you want to smack those two back to reality? Thank Goddess that Miss Gore had a change of heart with her 1964 release, "You Don't Own Me." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNb-8gLcXLs Also in 1964, Gale Garnett sang about limiting love affairs to 365 days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxZI0Cxaq20 I wonder if she would have considered renegotiating the contract at the end of the year? She could have kept her feminist dignity and her man that way.
Lot's of people think Helen Reddy's "I am Woman" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMESM8JKOg was the first feminist anthem. She released this song in 1972. Just a month before, John Lennon released "Woman Is the Nigger of the World." With a title like that, it's easy to see how Helen made number one, and John's song went pretty much nowhere. Still he made a point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS78MX8Zmdk
Coming back to present day, I was listening to Pink. Whether it's "Stupid Girls," or "Trouble," Pink is no Shelley Fabares sitting around mooning over a dreamy Johnny Angel. She might "Try" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCDVfMz15M or she might blow the loser one last kiss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOlYDcuyrbo . She's a wife and a mother, and her boobs are natural. Pink, Alecia Beth Moore, was born in 1979, perhaps the child of a feminist mother.
The road to success is rarely easy for men or women. Maybe things aren't truly equal, but I think it's getting closer. When that day comes women AND men can be anything they want to be.
My, how song lyrics have changed since I attended a school dance. Remember Shelley Fabares' "Johnny Angel" and Lesley Gore's "It's My Party?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWBljCO0JQk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsYJyVEUaC4 Don't you want to smack those two back to reality? Thank Goddess that Miss Gore had a change of heart with her 1964 release, "You Don't Own Me." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNb-8gLcXLs Also in 1964, Gale Garnett sang about limiting love affairs to 365 days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxZI0Cxaq20 I wonder if she would have considered renegotiating the contract at the end of the year? She could have kept her feminist dignity and her man that way.
Lot's of people think Helen Reddy's "I am Woman" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGMESM8JKOg was the first feminist anthem. She released this song in 1972. Just a month before, John Lennon released "Woman Is the Nigger of the World." With a title like that, it's easy to see how Helen made number one, and John's song went pretty much nowhere. Still he made a point. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS78MX8Zmdk
Coming back to present day, I was listening to Pink. Whether it's "Stupid Girls," or "Trouble," Pink is no Shelley Fabares sitting around mooning over a dreamy Johnny Angel. She might "Try" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTCDVfMz15M or she might blow the loser one last kiss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOlYDcuyrbo . She's a wife and a mother, and her boobs are natural. Pink, Alecia Beth Moore, was born in 1979, perhaps the child of a feminist mother.
The road to success is rarely easy for men or women. Maybe things aren't truly equal, but I think it's getting closer. When that day comes women AND men can be anything they want to be.
Friday, December 14, 2012
Painting
When did people start painting their walls? I suppose most people would point out the cave paintings from 20,000 years ago. Maybe that was early home decor. Maybe it was graffiti born out of some boring hours stuck in a hole in the ground. Painting the interior of your home is for looks, but also serves to seal and protect the interior surfaces. Though the rich painted before this, regular folks didn't paint their walls until the 1800's. That was when Henry Alden Sherwin found he could mix zinc oxide (a white pigment) with linseed oil to produce white paint. By adding various pigments, Sherwin and his partner Edward Williams, created a rainbow of colors. Mixing paint to create colors was a time consuming and messy job, so people loved the Sherwin Williams product. By the 1880's the masses were covering everything in paint - walls, wood trim, even the furniture. http://www.uselessinformation.org/paint/index.html
Mr. Sherwin and Mr. Williams have consigned me to a tiny, private hell. There are an infinite number of colors from which to chose. There are dozens of shades of white. There's matte finish, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and glossy. Mike and I have been in this house three years, and most of the walls have been painted three times. Not only does one have to find the perfect shade for a room, but colors from room to room must flow. Just when you thing you've nailed it, when you think you are on trend, the Pottery Barn catalog switches back to using white walls in their photographs.
So, now you know why "Happy in Hainesport" has been on hiatus. I've been color scheming and slapping paint from those little sample cans on the walls. I promised Mike I would be done before Christmas so, "Roll 'em!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdKiINy4ICQ
Mr. Sherwin and Mr. Williams have consigned me to a tiny, private hell. There are an infinite number of colors from which to chose. There are dozens of shades of white. There's matte finish, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and glossy. Mike and I have been in this house three years, and most of the walls have been painted three times. Not only does one have to find the perfect shade for a room, but colors from room to room must flow. Just when you thing you've nailed it, when you think you are on trend, the Pottery Barn catalog switches back to using white walls in their photographs.
So, now you know why "Happy in Hainesport" has been on hiatus. I've been color scheming and slapping paint from those little sample cans on the walls. I promised Mike I would be done before Christmas so, "Roll 'em!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdKiINy4ICQ
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Smithville Mansion
One of my favorite places is Smithville Park. My favorite part of Smithville Park is the Mansion, former home of Hezekiah B. Smith. Mr. Smith was "an inventor, politician, industrialist, and bigamist" (a quote from the Eastampton Township website). http://www.eastampton.com/content/77/default.aspx Mr. Smith held over forty patents. He was a one term United States Congressman, and he served two years as a New Jersey Senator. He developed his property into a modern industrial village containing a school, shops, a factory, and a foundry. There was a park and a picnic grove. There were cultural events, even opera, to enrich the worker's lives. Most notable men seem to have their quirks. In Smith's case, he took up with his second wife without having legally divorced his first wife. He also had a pet moose. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hezekiah_Bradley_Smith
The Smithville Mansion is a work in progress. The Friends of the Mansion work throughout the year raising funds for the ongoing restoration of the building. Each year at Christmas time local garden clubs decide on a holiday theme, and they decorate the place to the nines. Then the Mansion is open for the holiday season for tours and teas. This year's theme is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. You can drop by on weekday afternoons. Tour times are 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.,
and 300 p.m. Adult tickets cost $7.00 ($6.00 for seniors). Check the schedule for weekend times, candlelight tours and tours that include tea. http://www.smithvillemansion.org/
Besides tour revenue, the Friends operate a holiday boutique. They sell seasonal items and handmade crafts. There are two raffles this year - one for a handmade quilt and the other for a Christmas angel figure. I pull a few shifts at the boutique, so I can assure you that they have some lovely and unique items.
The Smithville Mansion is a work in progress. The Friends of the Mansion work throughout the year raising funds for the ongoing restoration of the building. Each year at Christmas time local garden clubs decide on a holiday theme, and they decorate the place to the nines. Then the Mansion is open for the holiday season for tours and teas. This year's theme is 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. You can drop by on weekday afternoons. Tour times are 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m.,
and 300 p.m. Adult tickets cost $7.00 ($6.00 for seniors). Check the schedule for weekend times, candlelight tours and tours that include tea. http://www.smithvillemansion.org/
Besides tour revenue, the Friends operate a holiday boutique. They sell seasonal items and handmade crafts. There are two raffles this year - one for a handmade quilt and the other for a Christmas angel figure. I pull a few shifts at the boutique, so I can assure you that they have some lovely and unique items.
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| The quilt hanging on the wall (upper right side) could be yours for the price of a raffle ticket. |
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Darn It!
Who darns socks these days? I do. Mike has some Field and Stream Brand socks that he likes to wear around the house. Since he has turned socks into slippers, he has worn a hole in each heel. He has not been able to find the same socks since the original purchase, so the other day, he asked me to darn his socks. It's a good thing Mom taught me how to darn many years ago.
It's a chicken and egg kind of thing. Did people stop darning socks because manufacturers stopped making darning thread? Or did manufacturers stop making darning thread because no one darns socks? Whatever the answer, the thread is nearly impossible to find, even on the internet. The closest I came was a bunch of "vintage" darning thread. That stuff could have been fifty years old and dry rotted. Embroidery floss fills in very nicely for darning thread. It is multi-stranded, it comes in many colors, and it is 100% cotton.
The next hurdle to getting started is finding a darning egg (some people use a mushroom shaded tool). It's basically a wooden egg on a stick. I inherited my mother's darning egg. You insert the egg into the sock. The egg allows you to repair the hole while holding the sock in its natural, rounded shape. If you can't find a darning egg, you can use a L'eggs stocking container. Oh, wait, when did they stop making those? You could use an incandescent light bulb, but there is a chance of breaking it, and they are going to stop making those one of these days! Try an plastic Easter egg or a ball. Hey, try a hard boiled egg!
If you can't find a darning needle, use a blunt tipped needle with a big eye. Darning is just re-weaving the part of the sock that has worn away. Remember, don't make any knots. Weave the thread in and out a few times, then cut it off . Knots can rub and give the wearer blisters. Here's a video that shows the process:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nY1jTVyBE0
Let's revive the old skills. Let's make things last. Let's get our money's worth out of socks.
That said, does anyone out there know where I can find Field and Stream Brand socks?
It's a chicken and egg kind of thing. Did people stop darning socks because manufacturers stopped making darning thread? Or did manufacturers stop making darning thread because no one darns socks? Whatever the answer, the thread is nearly impossible to find, even on the internet. The closest I came was a bunch of "vintage" darning thread. That stuff could have been fifty years old and dry rotted. Embroidery floss fills in very nicely for darning thread. It is multi-stranded, it comes in many colors, and it is 100% cotton.
The next hurdle to getting started is finding a darning egg (some people use a mushroom shaded tool). It's basically a wooden egg on a stick. I inherited my mother's darning egg. You insert the egg into the sock. The egg allows you to repair the hole while holding the sock in its natural, rounded shape. If you can't find a darning egg, you can use a L'eggs stocking container. Oh, wait, when did they stop making those? You could use an incandescent light bulb, but there is a chance of breaking it, and they are going to stop making those one of these days! Try an plastic Easter egg or a ball. Hey, try a hard boiled egg!
 |
| Darning Egg |
If you can't find a darning needle, use a blunt tipped needle with a big eye. Darning is just re-weaving the part of the sock that has worn away. Remember, don't make any knots. Weave the thread in and out a few times, then cut it off . Knots can rub and give the wearer blisters. Here's a video that shows the process:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nY1jTVyBE0
Let's revive the old skills. Let's make things last. Let's get our money's worth out of socks.
That said, does anyone out there know where I can find Field and Stream Brand socks?
Friday, November 30, 2012
The Humor (and the Dangers) of Eating Too Fast
This video is all over the internet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZobqUJvb9A
With the help of a cordless drill, the young man in the video strips the kernels off an ear of corn in record time.
There are pie eating contests and hot dog eating contests. I suppose they do little harm if done once per year at the county fair. Routinely wolfing down meals is a bad practice, though. In fact, some health professions say eating too fast leads to an early grave. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2064544/Why-eating-quickly-fast-track-early-grave.html
People who eat quickly tend to be overweight. Being overweight can lead to diabetes. Before they even know it, fast eaters have consumed too many calories. That's because it takes twenty minutes after eating for digestive processes to tell the brain you are full. If you eat slowly, your brain will get the message you are full on less food. There is actually a talking dinner plate that warns diners to eat slowly. Bitching Betty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitching_Betty) in a dinner plate. I wonder how many people who bought the plate ended up executing Betty in the dishwasher. People who eat quickly also tend to develop acid reflux, and that can lead to esophageal cancer. The least dangerous but most offensive side effect of fast eating is gulping air along with the food. Those people tend to be gassy.
So, if you want to curb your tendency to inhale your meals, take some mellow advice from Simon and Garfunkel. Just adjust the lyrics to "The 59th Street Bridge Song" a little bit -
Slow down, you eat too fast
You got to make this mealtime last
Don't eat us out of house and home
Don't dine and dash, and you'll feel groovy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBQxG0Z72qM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZobqUJvb9A
With the help of a cordless drill, the young man in the video strips the kernels off an ear of corn in record time.
There are pie eating contests and hot dog eating contests. I suppose they do little harm if done once per year at the county fair. Routinely wolfing down meals is a bad practice, though. In fact, some health professions say eating too fast leads to an early grave. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2064544/Why-eating-quickly-fast-track-early-grave.html
People who eat quickly tend to be overweight. Being overweight can lead to diabetes. Before they even know it, fast eaters have consumed too many calories. That's because it takes twenty minutes after eating for digestive processes to tell the brain you are full. If you eat slowly, your brain will get the message you are full on less food. There is actually a talking dinner plate that warns diners to eat slowly. Bitching Betty (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitching_Betty) in a dinner plate. I wonder how many people who bought the plate ended up executing Betty in the dishwasher. People who eat quickly also tend to develop acid reflux, and that can lead to esophageal cancer. The least dangerous but most offensive side effect of fast eating is gulping air along with the food. Those people tend to be gassy.
So, if you want to curb your tendency to inhale your meals, take some mellow advice from Simon and Garfunkel. Just adjust the lyrics to "The 59th Street Bridge Song" a little bit -
Slow down, you eat too fast
You got to make this mealtime last
Don't eat us out of house and home
Don't dine and dash, and you'll feel groovy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBQxG0Z72qM
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
More on Pillows
I posted an entry on June 4, 2012 about making pillow cases for people undergoing cancer treatment. I also like to make pillow cases for healthy kids - my cousins in France. Their parents tell me the children enjoy the themed fabrics.
I found a cotton fabric with a jig-saw puzzle theme. I whipped up a pillow case and found a way cool 3-D puzzle appropriate for a seven year old.
The sock monkey fabric accompanied (what else?) a sock money.
This work shop print complements the real, child sized tools a certain little boy will receive.
I found a cotton fabric with a jig-saw puzzle theme. I whipped up a pillow case and found a way cool 3-D puzzle appropriate for a seven year old.
 |
| Puzzle Fabric Showing Decorative Hem Stitch |
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| The puzzle snaps together to make a sphere. |
The sock monkey fabric accompanied (what else?) a sock money.
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| Sock Monkey Fabric with a Heart Hem Stitch |
 |
| And Sock Monkey |
This work shop print complements the real, child sized tools a certain little boy will receive.
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| Work Shop Print |
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| Of course, adult supervision is required! Joyeux Noël |
Monday, November 19, 2012
Thanksgiving Blessing
When you think of Thanksgiving, do
you conjure up a mental image of a Norman Rockwell painting? Do you envision your entire extended family,
full of good cheer, assembled around the table, smiling broadly in anticipation
of the feast? Or do you do you relive a
Thanksgiving horror story? Back when I
was working, I asked my coworkers to recount their Thanksgivings gone awry.
Some of their stories were merely amusing anecdotes with no real damage
done. After too many glasses of
Riesling, one host cooked the turkey up-side-down. Everybody had a laugh before flipping the
main course and carving it up. Another
absent minded cook left the giblets in the bird finding them, still wrapped in
paper, when she unloaded the stuffing. Almost
every year a women’s magazine or day time TV cook recommends roasting turkeys for
hours and hours at a very low temperature.
One of my coworkers tested this method only to learn that the meat falls
off the bones and the skeleton collapses.
That year their holiday main course was a tasty, but unattractive pile.
Thanksgiving pulls families together from far and wide. People feel obligated to spend the day with
relatives when they should have stayed home.
My own horror story occurred the year my sister announced her second
pregnancy by throwing up at the table. Worse
than this, one family’s nightmare occurred when the grandmother, taxed beyond
her limits by holiday travel, suffered a heart attack. Grandmom had just signed a “Do Not
Resuscitate” order. While the EMT’s
worked on Granny, her daughter demanded that she be allowed to die. The old lady survived and, hopefully, was
comforted by the fact that her child was willing to carry out her final
wishes.
Sometimes the traditional turkey meets a fate worse than roasting. Erma Bombeck told of setting the oven to
self-clean and incinerating her entrée. I
recommend locking up the pets. One of my
respondents told me that their eighteen-pound gobbler was reduced to an
eighteen-ounce carcass by the family dog when the cook went upstairs to take a
shower. In another household, Fido
grabbed a bird twice his size, dragged it down the steps, and wrestled it through
the doggie door and into the back yard.
A brave uncle gave chase, and a tug-of-war ensued. Finally, the uncle appeared in the kitchen
with the thieving dog under his arm, the turkey still dangling from its mouth.
This is the time of year to thank God for
our good fortune and to wish each other the best in the coming year. But for some of us a Thanksgiving blessing
might be, “May your turkey always be properly thawed. May you never drop it and watch horrified as
it skids across the dining room floor. May you never lose your giblets. And if you do, may you have a hearty laugh about it for years to come."
HAPPY TURKEY DAY, EVERYONE
Friday, November 16, 2012
What the Heck ...
I just read this article about 50,000 starfish washing up on a beach in Ireland. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/why-are-50000-starfish-washing-up-on-irelands-shoreline/ That had to stink! I've seen dried starfish for sale in shops in places like the Florida keys. A really enterprising person could have gone out to that beach with a wheel barrow and gathered up a small fortune. Here's how to dry starfish: http://www.mademan.com/mm/how-preserve-starfish.html
The challenge would be finding a place big enough to lay them flat while they dry and far enough away from people so the smell wouldn't offend the neighbors.
Having stuff wash up onto the beach is interesting, but having stuff fall out of the sky is more interesting. Here's a piece I did for writing class on that subject:
It rained apples on Monday evening, December 12. 2011on a stretch of road in Coundon, Coventry, England. They were everywhere, some intact while some were reduced to slippery blobs. Fall is apple season, but what happened here?
Apples aren't the first things to drop from the heavens, nor are they the most unusual. While it has never rained cats and dogs, and single girls have never been granted a shower of handsome men, it has rained spiders, worms, fish, and frogs. In 1997, the crew of a Japanese fishing boat was jailed when they reported a cow fell from the sky and sank their boat. They were vindicated two weeks later when the Russian Air Force admitted that the crew of one of its planes had stolen a cow and loaded it into their plane. The farm animal was so terrified that it thrashed about threatening to crash the plane. Rather than crash, the crew decided to jettison the cow from 30,000 feet.
Some other types of unnatural precipitation include a blood shower in La Sierra, Choco, Columbia, in 2008, and jelly-like stuff that landed in the grass in Scotland in 2009. Scientists verified that the red downpour in Columbia was truly blood. The local priest said this was a sign from God that people should turn from their evil ways. The jiggly puddles in Scotland have never been identified. One theory is that a buzzard flock ate something indigestible and, while in flight, vomited en masse.
The best possible cloudburst, in my opinion, happened in Germany in 2007. A motorist saw paper bills swirling when she glanced into her rear view mirror. She stopped her car and tried to gather the cash. There was just too much, so she went to the local police to stake her claim. Unfortunately, the area had been picked clean by the time she returned.
There are many explanations for these weird deluges. Ice (and frozen potty water from the lavatories) can fall from passing planes. In the cases of dropping dinero, there could be an altruistic aerialist. That's what happened in Rome in 1976. The generous pilot was never identified. But let's skip to things like frogs and fish. These showers are surprisingly common and have an accepted scientific explanation. Sometimes when storms pass over bodies of water, swirling winds cause water spouts to rise, bringing up wildlife along with the water. Later, the storm's hitchhikers drop as the storm moves over land. In the case of England's apples, the theory is that a mini-tornado picked up the apples from an orchard, then dropped them on the highway in Coundon.
So, don't stay inside watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Mealballs" the next time it rains. Put up your umbrella to deflect falling frogs and wear boots in case you have to slog through slime. You could discover anything from diamonds to dust bunnies in the next drencher.
The challenge would be finding a place big enough to lay them flat while they dry and far enough away from people so the smell wouldn't offend the neighbors.
Having stuff wash up onto the beach is interesting, but having stuff fall out of the sky is more interesting. Here's a piece I did for writing class on that subject:
It rained apples on Monday evening, December 12. 2011on a stretch of road in Coundon, Coventry, England. They were everywhere, some intact while some were reduced to slippery blobs. Fall is apple season, but what happened here?
Apples aren't the first things to drop from the heavens, nor are they the most unusual. While it has never rained cats and dogs, and single girls have never been granted a shower of handsome men, it has rained spiders, worms, fish, and frogs. In 1997, the crew of a Japanese fishing boat was jailed when they reported a cow fell from the sky and sank their boat. They were vindicated two weeks later when the Russian Air Force admitted that the crew of one of its planes had stolen a cow and loaded it into their plane. The farm animal was so terrified that it thrashed about threatening to crash the plane. Rather than crash, the crew decided to jettison the cow from 30,000 feet.
Some other types of unnatural precipitation include a blood shower in La Sierra, Choco, Columbia, in 2008, and jelly-like stuff that landed in the grass in Scotland in 2009. Scientists verified that the red downpour in Columbia was truly blood. The local priest said this was a sign from God that people should turn from their evil ways. The jiggly puddles in Scotland have never been identified. One theory is that a buzzard flock ate something indigestible and, while in flight, vomited en masse.
The best possible cloudburst, in my opinion, happened in Germany in 2007. A motorist saw paper bills swirling when she glanced into her rear view mirror. She stopped her car and tried to gather the cash. There was just too much, so she went to the local police to stake her claim. Unfortunately, the area had been picked clean by the time she returned.
There are many explanations for these weird deluges. Ice (and frozen potty water from the lavatories) can fall from passing planes. In the cases of dropping dinero, there could be an altruistic aerialist. That's what happened in Rome in 1976. The generous pilot was never identified. But let's skip to things like frogs and fish. These showers are surprisingly common and have an accepted scientific explanation. Sometimes when storms pass over bodies of water, swirling winds cause water spouts to rise, bringing up wildlife along with the water. Later, the storm's hitchhikers drop as the storm moves over land. In the case of England's apples, the theory is that a mini-tornado picked up the apples from an orchard, then dropped them on the highway in Coundon.
So, don't stay inside watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Mealballs" the next time it rains. Put up your umbrella to deflect falling frogs and wear boots in case you have to slog through slime. You could discover anything from diamonds to dust bunnies in the next drencher.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Button, Button
I needed buttons for a sewing project. Instead of going to the store, I went to the button jar. That's where I put the extra buttons that come with new clothes. It's also the place where I collect buttons cut off of old clothes. Here's a portion of something I did for my creative writing class -
My grandmother's button box was an endless source of entertainment for my sister and me. Grandmom would lay newspapers on her kitchen table before dumping the old cookie tin that held decades' worth of salvaged buttons. Then, with wide, sweeping arm motions, we spread the buttons. Dramatic gestures seemed appropriate.
When we were very young, we counted buttons or sorted them by color or size. As we got older, and our girlie self images developed, we draped ourselves in strands of same colored buttons my grandmother had strung together. We imagined that we wore pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets. We piled up the gold and silver buttons, lifting hands full of them, letting them fall through our fingers. We were pirates digging into a treasure chest of coins. The buttons with rhinestone centers were fabulous jewels. The old, rough looking ones made out of oyster shell became wampum. I was an Indian princess, and my father, the chief, was negotiating with a handsome explorer who wanted my hand in marriage.
My favorite buttons, the ones I sought out and turned over in my hands each time we brought out the button box, were the ones taken from the army uniforms. My grandfather had served in World War I. The buttons were all that remained of his uniform. My bachelor uncle, who lived with my grandparents, and often supervised our button adventures, contributed his World War II uniform buttons to the collection. My grandmother showed us my uncle's military portrait, and we compared the loose buttons to the ones in the picture.
Another source of button entertainment came from my grandfather. He made a simple toy using a length of string and the biggest button he could find. He put the string through the two button holes, tied it, and looped it around his middle fingers. With a little twirling to get things started, he got the button zinging along the string as he moved his hands close together and pulled them apart. A button on a string beat pulling the strings of all the Chatty Cathy's in the world, at least until my sister and I got home and saw some Mattel commercials on the television ...
If you want to confuse the grandkids this Christmas, put a big button in their stocking. Then, teach then to make a toy with a button and string. Or get everybody together and play a game of Button, Button, Who's Got the Button. In case you need a few pointers, here's how to accomplish these two tasks:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Dancing-Button
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button,_Button,_Who's_Got_the_Button%3F
My grandmother's button box was an endless source of entertainment for my sister and me. Grandmom would lay newspapers on her kitchen table before dumping the old cookie tin that held decades' worth of salvaged buttons. Then, with wide, sweeping arm motions, we spread the buttons. Dramatic gestures seemed appropriate.
When we were very young, we counted buttons or sorted them by color or size. As we got older, and our girlie self images developed, we draped ourselves in strands of same colored buttons my grandmother had strung together. We imagined that we wore pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets. We piled up the gold and silver buttons, lifting hands full of them, letting them fall through our fingers. We were pirates digging into a treasure chest of coins. The buttons with rhinestone centers were fabulous jewels. The old, rough looking ones made out of oyster shell became wampum. I was an Indian princess, and my father, the chief, was negotiating with a handsome explorer who wanted my hand in marriage.
My favorite buttons, the ones I sought out and turned over in my hands each time we brought out the button box, were the ones taken from the army uniforms. My grandfather had served in World War I. The buttons were all that remained of his uniform. My bachelor uncle, who lived with my grandparents, and often supervised our button adventures, contributed his World War II uniform buttons to the collection. My grandmother showed us my uncle's military portrait, and we compared the loose buttons to the ones in the picture.
Another source of button entertainment came from my grandfather. He made a simple toy using a length of string and the biggest button he could find. He put the string through the two button holes, tied it, and looped it around his middle fingers. With a little twirling to get things started, he got the button zinging along the string as he moved his hands close together and pulled them apart. A button on a string beat pulling the strings of all the Chatty Cathy's in the world, at least until my sister and I got home and saw some Mattel commercials on the television ...
If you want to confuse the grandkids this Christmas, put a big button in their stocking. Then, teach then to make a toy with a button and string. Or get everybody together and play a game of Button, Button, Who's Got the Button. In case you need a few pointers, here's how to accomplish these two tasks:
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Dancing-Button
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button,_Button,_Who's_Got_the_Button%3F
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
A Different Look at Infidelity
There's a whole lot of hanky-panky going on these days with the whole Petraeus/Broadwell scandal. Then there are the related murky dealings of Jill Kelley and her FBI friend, Jill Kelley and General John Allen, Jill Kelly and her twin sister's custody battle, and Jill Kelley's indebtedness and money problems. I think Jill Kelley is probably a lot more interesting than Patreaus and Broadwell.
Today, I read an article about the United States first sex scandal - the affair between Alexander Hamilton and Maria Reynolds. http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2012/11/current-petraeus-affair-has-nothing-on-nation%E2%80%99s-first-sex-scandal/ So, this stuff has been going on forever.
Who would be immune to the charms of a beautiful woman? Dudley Dooright would never cheat on Nell. Dagwood Bumstead wouldn't get up off the couch to chase a skirt. On the other hand, you probably couldn't trust Dobie Gillis as far as you could throw him. Who could resist a handsome, powerful man? Ginger was a slut, and Mary Ann might have been if she just had a chance. Nancy Drew was not going to go behind Ned's back. What would Olive Oyl do?
O² was a bit fickle. Bluto might have turned her head if Popeye hadn't interceeded. Suddenly, I had to know Olive Oyl's whole story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Oyl She was created in 1919 by Elzie Crisler Segar for his comic strip "Thimble Theater." She was the main character for ten years until Popeye became more popular. Before she and Popeye hooked up, Olive was engaged to Harold Hamgravy. Olive came from a big family. Cole Oyl and Nana Oyl were her parents. Castor Oyl was her brother. There were more relatives:
Cylinda Oyl - Sister-in-law
Deisel Oyl and Violet Oyl - Nieces
Otto Oyl and Lubry Kent Oyl - Uncles
Sutra Oyl - Cousin
Yep, Olive Oyl's head could be turned. It's for the best that she and Popeye never married. Once, they came pretty close, though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS584Omhzw0
Today, I read an article about the United States first sex scandal - the affair between Alexander Hamilton and Maria Reynolds. http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2012/11/current-petraeus-affair-has-nothing-on-nation%E2%80%99s-first-sex-scandal/ So, this stuff has been going on forever.
Who would be immune to the charms of a beautiful woman? Dudley Dooright would never cheat on Nell. Dagwood Bumstead wouldn't get up off the couch to chase a skirt. On the other hand, you probably couldn't trust Dobie Gillis as far as you could throw him. Who could resist a handsome, powerful man? Ginger was a slut, and Mary Ann might have been if she just had a chance. Nancy Drew was not going to go behind Ned's back. What would Olive Oyl do?
O² was a bit fickle. Bluto might have turned her head if Popeye hadn't interceeded. Suddenly, I had to know Olive Oyl's whole story. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olive_Oyl She was created in 1919 by Elzie Crisler Segar for his comic strip "Thimble Theater." She was the main character for ten years until Popeye became more popular. Before she and Popeye hooked up, Olive was engaged to Harold Hamgravy. Olive came from a big family. Cole Oyl and Nana Oyl were her parents. Castor Oyl was her brother. There were more relatives:
Cylinda Oyl - Sister-in-law
Deisel Oyl and Violet Oyl - Nieces
Otto Oyl and Lubry Kent Oyl - Uncles
Sutra Oyl - Cousin
Yep, Olive Oyl's head could be turned. It's for the best that she and Popeye never married. Once, they came pretty close, though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS584Omhzw0
Monday, November 12, 2012
Holey Broadloom
Sacrebleu, the dog chewed a hole in the rug. This is the second hole. The first time I thought she was licking the coffee table leg. On closer inspection, I realized she was pulling out the pile around the leg. I moved the table over a smidge and covered the damage. The other day, I heard a snapping sound. The little mutt lifted the edge of the area rug, and it snapped back against the floor each time she pulled out some yarn.
I had been thinking about how to fix rugs since the first episode. I couldn't hide the damage this time, so I had to come up with a solution or buy a new rug.
It struck me that embroidery floss comes in every color under the sun. Embroidery floss is cotton, and my rug is wool. Embroidery floss also has a sheen. Still, it might work. I took the fibers I had pried from the dog's jaws, and I went to Joann. I found a color that was pretty close to Chewed Area #2. Chewed Area #1 was black. I decided the first repair would be Chewed Area #1, the spot under the coffee table leg. If I made a mess, I could slide the table back over it. Things turned out okay, so I had the courage to tackle the dog's second transgression.
Here's how Chewed Area #1 turned out:
I had been thinking about how to fix rugs since the first episode. I couldn't hide the damage this time, so I had to come up with a solution or buy a new rug.
 |
| There's a lot going on in this rug - so many colors. If you look hard, you'll see the little perpetrator on the left side of the sofa |
It struck me that embroidery floss comes in every color under the sun. Embroidery floss is cotton, and my rug is wool. Embroidery floss also has a sheen. Still, it might work. I took the fibers I had pried from the dog's jaws, and I went to Joann. I found a color that was pretty close to Chewed Area #2. Chewed Area #1 was black. I decided the first repair would be Chewed Area #1, the spot under the coffee table leg. If I made a mess, I could slide the table back over it. Things turned out okay, so I had the courage to tackle the dog's second transgression.
 |
| I threaded a carpet needle with all six strands of embroidery floss. I poked the needle down through the rug and brought it back to the front side a short distance from the first hole. I cut the floss and knotted it. I did this lots of times until the bald spot was filled with long fringe. |
 |
| Getting there. |
 |
| Done. Time to trim. I used a comb to blend the fibers as I trimmed. |
 |
| Not a perfect match, but good enough. If you're not looking for it, you won't notice the repair. |
Here's how Chewed Area #1 turned out:
 |
| Not so big as Chewed Area #2 |
 |
| Now I can move the table! |
Friday, November 9, 2012
Green Bean Casserole
It's time to plan Thanksgiving dinner. Many of you have moved on from the traditional Thanksgiving green bean casserole to the delicious taste and eye popping colors of Wegman's vegetable medleys. Change is good, but tradition is warm and comforting. It's just a shame that Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup is loaded with sodium and fat.
Last year, I found a recipe for a healthier version of the old standard. Here goes:
3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 medium sweet onion (half diced, half thinly sliced), divided
8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup low-fat milk
3 tablespoons dry sherry (see Ingredient Note)
1 pound frozen French-cut green beans (about 4 cups)
1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons buttermilk powder (see Ingredient Note)
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and slightly translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, thyme and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the mushroom juices are almost evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle 1/3 cup flour over the vegetables; stir to coat. Add milk and sherry and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Stir in green beans and return to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute. Stir in sour cream and buttermilk powder. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
3. Whisk the remaining 1/3 cup flour, paprika, garlic powder and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow dish. Add sliced onion; toss to coat. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion along with any remaining flour mixture and cook, turning once or twice, until golden and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes. Spread the onion topping over the casserole.
4. Bake the casserole until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Makes 6 servings, about 3/4 cup each.
Per serving: 212 calories; 10 g fat (2 g sat, 5 g mono); 10 mg cholesterol; 23 g carbohydrate; 7 g protein; 3 g fiber; 533 mg sodium; 259 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Calcium (16% daily value).
1 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 fat
Check out the blog entry from April 26, 2012 for healthier dessert recipes, especially Crustless Pumpkin Pie.
Last year, I found a recipe for a healthier version of the old standard. Here goes:
3 tablespoons canola oil, divided
1 medium sweet onion (half diced, half thinly sliced), divided
8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
2/3 cup all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup low-fat milk
3 tablespoons dry sherry (see Ingredient Note)
1 pound frozen French-cut green beans (about 4 cups)
1/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons buttermilk powder (see Ingredient Note)
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a 2 1/2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring often, until softened and slightly translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, thyme and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the mushroom juices are almost evaporated, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle 1/3 cup flour over the vegetables; stir to coat. Add milk and sherry and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Stir in green beans and return to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute. Stir in sour cream and buttermilk powder. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.
3. Whisk the remaining 1/3 cup flour, paprika, garlic powder and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow dish. Add sliced onion; toss to coat. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion along with any remaining flour mixture and cook, turning once or twice, until golden and crispy, 4 to 5 minutes. Spread the onion topping over the casserole.
4. Bake the casserole until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Makes 6 servings, about 3/4 cup each.
Per serving: 212 calories; 10 g fat (2 g sat, 5 g mono); 10 mg cholesterol; 23 g carbohydrate; 7 g protein; 3 g fiber; 533 mg sodium; 259 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Calcium (16% daily value).
1 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 fat
Check out the blog entry from April 26, 2012 for healthier dessert recipes, especially Crustless Pumpkin Pie.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Picky, Picky, Picky
Did you see the news story about the woman who eats only milk, white bread, and french fries? http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/adult-picky-eater-will-only-consume-three-kinds-of-food.html Marla Lopez is an adult picky eater. The psychologists are saying she might have a real biological component to her problems, and it might not all be in her head. Let me sound off on this one. It is all in her head, and there are a variety of ways it got in there. It seems to me that people can only be fussy about what they eat when food is plentiful. As a child, I was constantly reminded about the poor, starving children in India when I balked about eating certain foods. I am certain that those children ate everything on their plates, and they were eating Indian food (something the majority of Americans won't touch with a ten foot pole).
Another place where kids ate what was put in front of them was the Fiji Islands. Eating disorders were unheard of until 1995. Television came to Fiji in 1995, and by 1998 girls began rejecting the previously desirable plump body type. They wanted to be skinny like the girls they saw on television. http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/180/6/509.full Plump was also the ideal in Africa. When Miss Nigeria consistently came home a loser in beauty pageants, someone got the idea, from watching African satellite television, that a lighter skinned girl with thin hips might fare better. Agbani Darego fit the new ideal. After winning Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2001, she went on to win the 2001 Miss World title. She became the first native African to win who was not of European descent. Now Nigerian girls want to be as thin as Miss Darego. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agbani_Darego
It's easy to blame television and fashion magazines for young people's obsession with body image. I think picky eating can be also be blamed on the example set at the table at home. What do you suppose Marla Lopez served her kids? How do you think they would have reacted if she gave them baked chicken, yams, and broccoli while she chowed down on a bag of french fries? I'm not saying picky eaters always have picky parents. I'm saying picky parents can't expect much better from their kids if they set a bad example.
Ms. Lopez says her narrow food preferences are embarrassing. Yet, not embarrassing enough to make her eat a salad. I really think she has never been hungry enough to swallow a brussels sprout. She doesn't know what she's missing.
Another place where kids ate what was put in front of them was the Fiji Islands. Eating disorders were unheard of until 1995. Television came to Fiji in 1995, and by 1998 girls began rejecting the previously desirable plump body type. They wanted to be skinny like the girls they saw on television. http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/180/6/509.full Plump was also the ideal in Africa. When Miss Nigeria consistently came home a loser in beauty pageants, someone got the idea, from watching African satellite television, that a lighter skinned girl with thin hips might fare better. Agbani Darego fit the new ideal. After winning Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2001, she went on to win the 2001 Miss World title. She became the first native African to win who was not of European descent. Now Nigerian girls want to be as thin as Miss Darego. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agbani_Darego
It's easy to blame television and fashion magazines for young people's obsession with body image. I think picky eating can be also be blamed on the example set at the table at home. What do you suppose Marla Lopez served her kids? How do you think they would have reacted if she gave them baked chicken, yams, and broccoli while she chowed down on a bag of french fries? I'm not saying picky eaters always have picky parents. I'm saying picky parents can't expect much better from their kids if they set a bad example.
Ms. Lopez says her narrow food preferences are embarrassing. Yet, not embarrassing enough to make her eat a salad. I really think she has never been hungry enough to swallow a brussels sprout. She doesn't know what she's missing.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Tattoo Me
Since publishing this entry, Tattoo artist Patrick has relocated to Florida.
Tattooing has never been more popular. Just who gets tattoos? The Pew Research Center is a reliable source, and they say -
14% of Americans in all age groups have a tattoo
40% of adults in the 26-40 age group have at least one tattoo
http://pewresearch.org/databank/dailynumber/?NumberID=237
But what about the over 40 crowd? Fifteen percent of Baby Boomers (44-64) and 6% of those 64 and over have tattoos. Mimi Rosenthal is 101 and she has three tattoos. She got her first at age 95. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/01/many-women-get-tattoos-po_n_889026.html
Once you've reached a certain age, the old arguments against tattoos go out the window. How will it look when you are older? In Ms. Rosenthal's case, I'm sure the ink looks great. The tattoo is going to be there for the rest of your life. A sixty year old is keenly aware of what "the rest of one's life" means. You're following the herd. Yeah, the herd of 15%.
All of the above is a lead in to this - I just got my first tattoo. It took years for me to work up the nerve to do it. My reservations all stemmed from fear of blood born pathogens. I had to be convinced that getting tattooed was safe. My fears were laid to rest when I learned that tattoo shops in Burlington and Camden Counties are inspected by the local Boards of Health. All that remained was to select a shop. I read a lot of online reviews, plowed through lots of websites, and decided on Patrick Tattoo located in West Collingswood Heights.
Patrick is the owner and sole artist at his shop. Half the time his shop is open to the public and the other half is for private tattooing sessions. I went in for a consultation during the public hours. Patrick explained his shop's sanitation policy, designed my tattoo, and (here's the really cool part) applied a temporary tattoo, so I could try things out before I made the commitment. There was no pressure. Patrick sent me home to think about the tattoo and invited me to follow up with the Camden County Health Department if I wanted to check his credentials. Since I'm obsessed with my physical well being, I did call the Health Department. They couldn't say enough good things about Patrick. Decision made. http://tattooartist.com/
My appointment was completely private. It took about a half hour to complete my tattoo. The process barely hurt due to the gobs of numbing cream I applied a couple of hours before tattooing started. Once the cream wore off it hurt for a day or two - no big deal really. The itchy, healing part was more annoying than the pain.
The statistics also say that 29% of people with tattoos say their tattoos make them feel rebellious. I confess to feeling a little like an outlaw. Additionally, thirty one percent of people with tattoos say their tattoos make them feel more sexy. http://www.statisticbrain.com/tattoo-statistics/ You've got me there, too. The last time I felt this liberated, I was sixteen and I sneaked out with my girlfriend and her mother to get my ears pierced.
A little tattoo humor -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9x1YgjUoXk
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Boo 2
Scary stuff wasn't so scary fifty years ago. We didn't have "Poltergeist," and "Paranormal Activity" and all those "Dateline" shows that take you into the minds of serial killers. We had cheesy horror movies like "The Fly." We also had cheesy TV hosts that introduced the late night fright fests.
Does anybody remember Roland (pronounced Ro-land, with the accent on the second syllable)? I lived for those nights I was able to stay up late to watch "Shock Theater." Roland had a lab assistant named Igor. We named our English Bulldog after Igor. John Zacherle is the real life person behind Roland. He's still alive and looks darned good for being age 94.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Zacherle
And what about Stella? "Saturday Night Dead" aired after "Saturday Night Live" from 1984 to 1990. The hostess, the "Maneater from Manayunk," was Karen Scioli. I just friended her on Facebook.
http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/bp/karenscioli.html
I also got a kick out of Mystery Science Theater. This show was on the air until 1999. Though there are still horror hosts introducing B-movies in some areas of the country, the genre is gone from local broadcasting. I miss it. I'd give a whole bag of candy to the person who comes to my door dressed up as Roland or Stella.
Does anybody remember Roland (pronounced Ro-land, with the accent on the second syllable)? I lived for those nights I was able to stay up late to watch "Shock Theater." Roland had a lab assistant named Igor. We named our English Bulldog after Igor. John Zacherle is the real life person behind Roland. He's still alive and looks darned good for being age 94.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Zacherle
 |
| John Zacherle as Roland |
And what about Stella? "Saturday Night Dead" aired after "Saturday Night Live" from 1984 to 1990. The hostess, the "Maneater from Manayunk," was Karen Scioli. I just friended her on Facebook.
http://www.broadcastpioneers.com/bp/karenscioli.html
 |
| Karen Scioli as Stella |
I also got a kick out of Mystery Science Theater. This show was on the air until 1999. Though there are still horror hosts introducing B-movies in some areas of the country, the genre is gone from local broadcasting. I miss it. I'd give a whole bag of candy to the person who comes to my door dressed up as Roland or Stella.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sandy
I hope you charged up the laptop, netbook, ipod, or iPhone. At the very least, I hope you have some fresh batteries in that big, old boom box that collects dust on the shelf in the garage. We're stuck inside for at least two days and it's time to rock.
The Scorpions - Rock You Like a Hurricane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXLfsJDEWGY
Neil Young - Like A Hurricane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeaGThqYgkc&feature=related
Alice Cooper - Hurricane Years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVYjzvchPPo
This one is for Christian Thoma, CCR's biggest fan in France -
Who'll Stop the rain? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIPan-rEQJA
And since I really go way back - The Hollies - Bus Stop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiGjSQmKqos Today, that umbrella would be inside out and the bus wouldn't come.
How about The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3rnxQBizoU
Stay safe, stay inside. The nice thing is you don't have to stay sober. Wine goes nicely with hurricanes. They're predicting the sun will finally shine on Saturday. I'll see you outside for the clean up.
The Scorpions - Rock You Like a Hurricane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXLfsJDEWGY
Neil Young - Like A Hurricane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeaGThqYgkc&feature=related
Alice Cooper - Hurricane Years http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVYjzvchPPo
This one is for Christian Thoma, CCR's biggest fan in France -
Who'll Stop the rain? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIPan-rEQJA
And since I really go way back - The Hollies - Bus Stop - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiGjSQmKqos Today, that umbrella would be inside out and the bus wouldn't come.
How about The Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3rnxQBizoU
Stay safe, stay inside. The nice thing is you don't have to stay sober. Wine goes nicely with hurricanes. They're predicting the sun will finally shine on Saturday. I'll see you outside for the clean up.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Smells of Rats
That's how Mma Makutsi described bush tea in the third book in the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series. I just finished Book #6. It's high time I tried some bush tea. But where do you get the stuff? It's not on the shelf at Shop Rite.
According to what I read online, bush tea, red tea, or rooibos tea is full of antioxidants and is caffeine free. The tea is brewed from the oxidized leaves and stems of the rooibos shrub. This is a broom-like plant that reminds me of the scotch broom plants you can buy at Lowe's. Once red tea was popular only in southern Africa. Now it has caught on around the world. In fact, the best quality tea is exported, leaving the lesser blends for the locals. The taste of bush tea is described as nutty, fruity, even citrusy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos
I decided to check with my favorite online tea merchant, Mighty Leaf Tea Company. They sell pure, organic rooibos tea, so I placed my order. http://www.mightyleaf.com/index.cfm
I approached my pouch of tea like a CSI. It was reddish brown. I inhaled deeply. It smelled like the loose tobacco my grandfather used to roll his own cigarettes. I didn't detect the odor of rodents. The directions specified one rounded teaspoon of loose tea per 12 ounces of boiled water. I threw the tea in a teapot and poured in the hot water. After five minutes, I poured the red liquid through a strainer and into a mug. I sipped. It had a nice, smooth, mild taste. It tasted like unsweetened tea. I added some honey and enjoyed this new tea experience.
For just a moment I felt like a No. 1 Lady Detective taking a break from sleuthing. I did solve a mystery of sorts - the great bush tea mystery. Now I know how it looks, smells, and tastes. There's no mystery though when it comes to the power of reading. Books open up whole new worlds. They expand your horizons until you can see all the way to Africa.
According to what I read online, bush tea, red tea, or rooibos tea is full of antioxidants and is caffeine free. The tea is brewed from the oxidized leaves and stems of the rooibos shrub. This is a broom-like plant that reminds me of the scotch broom plants you can buy at Lowe's. Once red tea was popular only in southern Africa. Now it has caught on around the world. In fact, the best quality tea is exported, leaving the lesser blends for the locals. The taste of bush tea is described as nutty, fruity, even citrusy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos
 |
| Rooibos plants |
 |
| Red Tea |
I decided to check with my favorite online tea merchant, Mighty Leaf Tea Company. They sell pure, organic rooibos tea, so I placed my order. http://www.mightyleaf.com/index.cfm
I approached my pouch of tea like a CSI. It was reddish brown. I inhaled deeply. It smelled like the loose tobacco my grandfather used to roll his own cigarettes. I didn't detect the odor of rodents. The directions specified one rounded teaspoon of loose tea per 12 ounces of boiled water. I threw the tea in a teapot and poured in the hot water. After five minutes, I poured the red liquid through a strainer and into a mug. I sipped. It had a nice, smooth, mild taste. It tasted like unsweetened tea. I added some honey and enjoyed this new tea experience.
For just a moment I felt like a No. 1 Lady Detective taking a break from sleuthing. I did solve a mystery of sorts - the great bush tea mystery. Now I know how it looks, smells, and tastes. There's no mystery though when it comes to the power of reading. Books open up whole new worlds. They expand your horizons until you can see all the way to Africa.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Yes, Master
If you read yesterday's blog entry, you know I don't read my Bible. Rachel Held Evans has been reading the Good Book. She decided to live for one year according to the Bible's rules for women. She blogged about it. Then she turned the blog into a book. http://shine.yahoo.com/photos/rachel-held-evans-woman-living-slideshow/-photo-2524083-181000106.html#crsl=%252Fphotos%252Frachel-held-evans-woman-living-slideshow%252F-photo-2524073-181000767.html
Ms. Evans, a self proclaimed liberated woman, says she performed a lot of "crazy stunts" during her year long experiment. In the end though, she says she really wanted to get at how we interpret and apply the scriptures. Some of her stunts included:
1) Not cutting her hair for the entire year
2) Sewing her own clothes
3) Setting up a jar into which she deposited pennies whenever she gossiped, nagged, complained, or engaged in anything other than polite conversation
4) Sitting on the roof of her house for one minute for every infraction that caused her to put a penny into the jar
5) Sleeping in a tent during her monthly period
6) Learning how to celebrate and cook for the Jewish holidays
7) Ordering a mechanical baby (Ms. Evans is childless) in order to explore the Bible's directions for motherhood
8) Addressing her husband as "Master"
9) Holding a sign proclaiming her husband as "awesome" as she stood on a highway at the entrance to her town
Evidently, that hair issue sure is a big deal with God and man. Shortly after Mike and I got married, I cut my hair. Mike begged for me to grow it back. Since, in my case, short hair was a lot more work than long hair, Mike got his wish. I sewed my clothes in high school, but these days, it's cheaper to go to Kohl's. There wouldn't be enough pennies in my change purse to feed a penny jar. I'm pretty good at keeping gossiping and nagging to a minimum, but swearing and complaining occur quite frequently. I wouldn't have a problem standing on the corner of Rt. 38 and the Rt 541 By-Pass holding a sign proclaiming Mike awesome. It is what it is. I don't know about addressing Mike as "Master." He might laugh it off. But what if he gets a fifty-shades-of-grey kick out of it?
Ms. Evans, a self proclaimed liberated woman, says she performed a lot of "crazy stunts" during her year long experiment. In the end though, she says she really wanted to get at how we interpret and apply the scriptures. Some of her stunts included:
1) Not cutting her hair for the entire year
2) Sewing her own clothes
3) Setting up a jar into which she deposited pennies whenever she gossiped, nagged, complained, or engaged in anything other than polite conversation
4) Sitting on the roof of her house for one minute for every infraction that caused her to put a penny into the jar
5) Sleeping in a tent during her monthly period
6) Learning how to celebrate and cook for the Jewish holidays
7) Ordering a mechanical baby (Ms. Evans is childless) in order to explore the Bible's directions for motherhood
8) Addressing her husband as "Master"
9) Holding a sign proclaiming her husband as "awesome" as she stood on a highway at the entrance to her town
Evidently, that hair issue sure is a big deal with God and man. Shortly after Mike and I got married, I cut my hair. Mike begged for me to grow it back. Since, in my case, short hair was a lot more work than long hair, Mike got his wish. I sewed my clothes in high school, but these days, it's cheaper to go to Kohl's. There wouldn't be enough pennies in my change purse to feed a penny jar. I'm pretty good at keeping gossiping and nagging to a minimum, but swearing and complaining occur quite frequently. I wouldn't have a problem standing on the corner of Rt. 38 and the Rt 541 By-Pass holding a sign proclaiming Mike awesome. It is what it is. I don't know about addressing Mike as "Master." He might laugh it off. But what if he gets a fifty-shades-of-grey kick out of it?
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Boo!
I'm all out of ideas this year, but I threw a fun Halloween luncheon last October. The food was standard fare - no eye of newt or slimy stuff. The decorations were dollar store chic.
Mulled Cider - I heated up a half gallon of cider, added a couple of tablespoons of cinnamon, about a teaspoon of ground cloves, and a teaspoon of ground nutmeg. I added a sliced up orange and simmered for about 20 minutes. When it cooled to the point of being nice and warm, I transferred it to the wine bottles.
Halloween is the one time of year I can let my true nature out.
It was a little toil, not much trouble, and a really fun afternoon.
 |
| Dollar store ravens and rubbery bats hung with fishing line added that certain something to the dining room fixture. |
 |
| I wrapped old wine bottles with strips of fabric to "mummify" them. Those glue on eyeballs are fun. We kept it non-alcoholic and drank mulled cider. The black goblets are from the dollar store. You can't really see the centerpiece. It's a bunch of dead silk roses from the clearance bin at Michael's. I had to pay full price for a big black and silver bow. Darn it! |
Mulled Cider - I heated up a half gallon of cider, added a couple of tablespoons of cinnamon, about a teaspoon of ground cloves, and a teaspoon of ground nutmeg. I added a sliced up orange and simmered for about 20 minutes. When it cooled to the point of being nice and warm, I transferred it to the wine bottles.
 |
| I bought the black sheer fabric with flocked bats at Joann. I layered it over a beige table cloth. I made the purple napkins from 100% cotton, also from Joann. I had 40% off coupons, of course. |
Halloween is the one time of year I can let my true nature out.
It was a little toil, not much trouble, and a really fun afternoon.
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Message in a Film Canister
On September 8, 2012, hiker Larry Wright found a message in a film canister while hiking in Sequoia National Park. Mr. Wright began looking for Tim Taylor, the 13 year old boy who wrote the message in 1972.
http://news.yahoo.com/hike-becomes-quest-writer-decades-old-letter-193624434--abc-news-topstories.html
By October 8, 2012, Larry Wright and Tim Taylor, now a 53 year old San Diego County Superior Court judge, had connected, thanks mostly to the story getting out on the internet. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/hikers-note-brings-two-families-together-40-years-later.html Since the mountain peak where Mr. Taylor left his message, and Mr. Wright found it, is unnamed, Mr. Taylor was hoping that it might be designated Taylor-Wright Peak. That would be nice.
People have been tossing messages into the unknown for more than 2,000 years. The Greeks tossed messages in bottles into the Mediterranean in 310 B.C. They wanted to prove that the Mediterranean Sea was fed by waters from the Atlantic Ocean. The English navy used messages in bottles to report sensitive military information. Queen Elizabeth I established the position of "Uncorker of the Ocean Bottles," making it a crime, punishable by death, for anyone but the Uncorker to open these military communiqués. The oldest message in a bottle ever found was thrown into the ocean in 1914 and discovered 98 years later in 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_in_a_bottle
Modern communication has made the world a smaller, knowable place. Bottle lobbing (or film canister dropping) is a romantic activity these days - people just want to connect with other people. Here are some very interesting stories of what can happen when we rely on the cosmos to make a connection: http://blogs.static.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/36541.html Literature, movies, and music have used the bottle tossing theme. Nicholas Sparks wrote a novel titled Message in a Bottle, and Kevin Costner played the lead in the movie based on the book. The Police had their first hit song in 1979. You guessed it - "Message in a Bottle."
If you are a traditionalist and you need a few pointers, there is a website that teaches how to properly prepare a bottled dispatch. http://www.ehow.com/how_4431974_send-message-bottle.html On the other end of the spectrum, there is Virtual Ocean, a website that allows you to cast your message into their site, Facebook, and Twitter. From there, it's anybody's guest who might pick it up. Some people scrawl messages on bathroom walls. Others write on dollar bills.
I like the idea of sending messages up attached to helium filled balloons. It's a game of chance, and I think balloon messages might have a better chance of being found. I found just such a balloon a few years back. I put fear of ticks aside and crawled into some shrubs along the side of the road to retrieve a deflated yellow balloon. The attached tag contained information that this balloon was released by a second grader at a Pennsylvania school. There was a request that the finder return the tag along with naming the location where the balloon landed. Also requested - the name of the finder's favorite book. I began to feel the heavy weight of adult responsibility. What should I say was my favorite book? When we were kids in Sunday School, we were strongly encouraged to say our favorite book was the Bible. To have said that when I was a child would have been a lie, and it would be just as big a lie to say it as an adult. Second graders are smarter than when I was a kid. They don't read that boring Dick, Jane and Sally stuff. They have probably grown tired of the Dr. Seuss books they have been hearing since their daycare days. What book could I, an adult, select to which a second grader could relate? I decided to say my favorite book was the dictionary. All you need to use the dictionary is a little phonics background to help in locating words. This lexicon would shed meaning on the many words a second grader might not know. It would contain proper spelling, synonyms, and antonyms. The dictionary could be used for playing word games with friends. I decided to let the kids figure this one out on their own: the dictionary was a place where you could obtain juvenile amusement by looking up words like "ass" and "damn."
I enjoyed this opportunity to be someone's cosmic muffin. The dictionary is still my favorite book. I use it for just about every blog entry. These days it contains a lot more slang and swear words. I'll bet you can find the definition of "wussy" in the latest edition of Merriam-Webster.
http://news.yahoo.com/hike-becomes-quest-writer-decades-old-letter-193624434--abc-news-topstories.html
By October 8, 2012, Larry Wright and Tim Taylor, now a 53 year old San Diego County Superior Court judge, had connected, thanks mostly to the story getting out on the internet. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/hikers-note-brings-two-families-together-40-years-later.html Since the mountain peak where Mr. Taylor left his message, and Mr. Wright found it, is unnamed, Mr. Taylor was hoping that it might be designated Taylor-Wright Peak. That would be nice.
People have been tossing messages into the unknown for more than 2,000 years. The Greeks tossed messages in bottles into the Mediterranean in 310 B.C. They wanted to prove that the Mediterranean Sea was fed by waters from the Atlantic Ocean. The English navy used messages in bottles to report sensitive military information. Queen Elizabeth I established the position of "Uncorker of the Ocean Bottles," making it a crime, punishable by death, for anyone but the Uncorker to open these military communiqués. The oldest message in a bottle ever found was thrown into the ocean in 1914 and discovered 98 years later in 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Message_in_a_bottle
Modern communication has made the world a smaller, knowable place. Bottle lobbing (or film canister dropping) is a romantic activity these days - people just want to connect with other people. Here are some very interesting stories of what can happen when we rely on the cosmos to make a connection: http://blogs.static.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/36541.html Literature, movies, and music have used the bottle tossing theme. Nicholas Sparks wrote a novel titled Message in a Bottle, and Kevin Costner played the lead in the movie based on the book. The Police had their first hit song in 1979. You guessed it - "Message in a Bottle."
If you are a traditionalist and you need a few pointers, there is a website that teaches how to properly prepare a bottled dispatch. http://www.ehow.com/how_4431974_send-message-bottle.html On the other end of the spectrum, there is Virtual Ocean, a website that allows you to cast your message into their site, Facebook, and Twitter. From there, it's anybody's guest who might pick it up. Some people scrawl messages on bathroom walls. Others write on dollar bills.
I like the idea of sending messages up attached to helium filled balloons. It's a game of chance, and I think balloon messages might have a better chance of being found. I found just such a balloon a few years back. I put fear of ticks aside and crawled into some shrubs along the side of the road to retrieve a deflated yellow balloon. The attached tag contained information that this balloon was released by a second grader at a Pennsylvania school. There was a request that the finder return the tag along with naming the location where the balloon landed. Also requested - the name of the finder's favorite book. I began to feel the heavy weight of adult responsibility. What should I say was my favorite book? When we were kids in Sunday School, we were strongly encouraged to say our favorite book was the Bible. To have said that when I was a child would have been a lie, and it would be just as big a lie to say it as an adult. Second graders are smarter than when I was a kid. They don't read that boring Dick, Jane and Sally stuff. They have probably grown tired of the Dr. Seuss books they have been hearing since their daycare days. What book could I, an adult, select to which a second grader could relate? I decided to say my favorite book was the dictionary. All you need to use the dictionary is a little phonics background to help in locating words. This lexicon would shed meaning on the many words a second grader might not know. It would contain proper spelling, synonyms, and antonyms. The dictionary could be used for playing word games with friends. I decided to let the kids figure this one out on their own: the dictionary was a place where you could obtain juvenile amusement by looking up words like "ass" and "damn."
I enjoyed this opportunity to be someone's cosmic muffin. The dictionary is still my favorite book. I use it for just about every blog entry. These days it contains a lot more slang and swear words. I'll bet you can find the definition of "wussy" in the latest edition of Merriam-Webster.
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Solving The World's Problems
There are always people out there who are hard at work solving the world's problems. Izhar Gafni, an Israeli industrial designer and amateur cyclist, has just completed a successful prototype of a cardboard bicycle. The bike goes into production in a few months. This bicycle is strong, weatherproof, and will cost about $20.00. Since production grants to factories and advertising on the bikes in the form of decals will bring production costs down to zero, the $20.00 price would go to the retailers handling the bikes. Most of the time, the two-wheelers would be handed out for free. The bikes also have a mounting for an electric motor that operates on a daily charging. The cardboard bike could eliminate a lot of traffic and pollution in cities. It would be especially welcome in poor places like Africa where people desperately need cheap transportation. http://news.yahoo.com/cardboard-bicycle-change-world-says-israeli-inventor-090732689.html
I don't have engineering skills or a science background. I don't have a ton of money to throw at a social problem. I am, however, full of ideas. My blog entry from July 23, 2012 featured a competition for one square meter houses.
Knowing about these small houses, and also knowing that Nanook lived snugly in an igloo, gave me an idea. Could the problem of homeless people freezing to death be solved by either passing out portable shelters or setting up these shelters in an open area?
There was a local homeless guy who kept all his worldly goods in a rolling Rubbermaid® tote. Wouldn't it be possible to increase the size of this container on wheels, add some insulation between the two plastic walls, and add an air vent? Wouldn't it even be possible to run some electric heating elements through the walls or floor of the container so that it could be plugged in like an electric blanket? These lockers would be a snap to keep clean - just use a little disinfectant and hose them out.
A couple of people have suggested housing the homeless in dog houses. This idea was met with plenty of opposition. Some say it's demeaning to put a human in a large dog house. One guy raised the roof of a dog house, thinking the structure would be less demeaning, and he was told that his new building looked like an outhouse. That design was also too demeaning for human habitation. The proponents of dog house living suspect that the real reason politicians refuse to embrace this solution is because no one wants the homeless in their community. If it's too cold, and a few homeless people die on a freezing night, maybe all the homeless will move on.
http://articles.dailypress.com/2010-12-21/news/dp-nws-tamara-cold-1222-20101221_1_doghouses-homeless-man-empty-house
http://articles.dailypress.com/2010-12-30/news/dp-nws-tamara-doghouse-1231-20101230_1_doghouse-blankets-jim-rudisill
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-04-23/news/mn-1752_1_doghouse-homeless-man-shelter
I know, from working twenty-five years at the Board of Social Services, there are quite a few homeless people in Burlington County. Most of them want to get back into a standard housing situation - an apartment or a house. However, there are people who will never live under a roof. You'll never be able to coax them to come in from outside. Maybe these folks could pick up a portable shelter at a county facility, use it for as long as they want, and return it when they no longer need it. This has to be better than huddling under a wet blanket inside a cardboard box. Does anybody else see any merit to this idea?
 |
| The cardboard is cut and layered in a special way, then soaked in organic materials that make it waterproof and fire resistant. Finally, it's coated with lacquer paint. |
I don't have engineering skills or a science background. I don't have a ton of money to throw at a social problem. I am, however, full of ideas. My blog entry from July 23, 2012 featured a competition for one square meter houses.
Knowing about these small houses, and also knowing that Nanook lived snugly in an igloo, gave me an idea. Could the problem of homeless people freezing to death be solved by either passing out portable shelters or setting up these shelters in an open area?
There was a local homeless guy who kept all his worldly goods in a rolling Rubbermaid® tote. Wouldn't it be possible to increase the size of this container on wheels, add some insulation between the two plastic walls, and add an air vent? Wouldn't it even be possible to run some electric heating elements through the walls or floor of the container so that it could be plugged in like an electric blanket? These lockers would be a snap to keep clean - just use a little disinfectant and hose them out.
A couple of people have suggested housing the homeless in dog houses. This idea was met with plenty of opposition. Some say it's demeaning to put a human in a large dog house. One guy raised the roof of a dog house, thinking the structure would be less demeaning, and he was told that his new building looked like an outhouse. That design was also too demeaning for human habitation. The proponents of dog house living suspect that the real reason politicians refuse to embrace this solution is because no one wants the homeless in their community. If it's too cold, and a few homeless people die on a freezing night, maybe all the homeless will move on.
http://articles.dailypress.com/2010-12-21/news/dp-nws-tamara-cold-1222-20101221_1_doghouses-homeless-man-empty-house
http://articles.dailypress.com/2010-12-30/news/dp-nws-tamara-doghouse-1231-20101230_1_doghouse-blankets-jim-rudisill
http://articles.latimes.com/1989-04-23/news/mn-1752_1_doghouse-homeless-man-shelter
I know, from working twenty-five years at the Board of Social Services, there are quite a few homeless people in Burlington County. Most of them want to get back into a standard housing situation - an apartment or a house. However, there are people who will never live under a roof. You'll never be able to coax them to come in from outside. Maybe these folks could pick up a portable shelter at a county facility, use it for as long as they want, and return it when they no longer need it. This has to be better than huddling under a wet blanket inside a cardboard box. Does anybody else see any merit to this idea?
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