Why don't they ever have a listing for grilled foods? I grill a lot, and grilling is quite a bit less fattening than FRYING foods. Where is the fitday main office located? Weird stuff on that site, but is missing common foods. No boneless beef ribs, which is what I am wanting to grill tonight. I have no idea how many calories are in beef ribs (I don't use BBQ sauce, just a ton of spices).
And yet they have boiled cow's head, and oxtail soup...
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Monday, June 05, 2006
Update
Boy injured during Frontier Days parade
He was run over by the trailer that the tractor was pulling. Maybe I misunderstood what my mom said about his injuries, but I didn't think the tire had run over his head, which is what the article says (of course, KCCI has no follow-up).
Anyway, Mom said she'd call when she has more news.
He was run over by the trailer that the tractor was pulling. Maybe I misunderstood what my mom said about his injuries, but I didn't think the tire had run over his head, which is what the article says (of course, KCCI has no follow-up).
Anyway, Mom said she'd call when she has more news.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
The Loft is up!
My back and arms hurt, but it was worth it!
Now, I can switch out my old box spring for my son's newer one, and I can use his headboard on my bed, too. The old bed frame is going to the trash, and we just took the top shelf of my son's old computer desk, and moved it under the loft. He has space for his computer, and a desk for doing his homework.
Tomorrow night, we will finish figuring out where everything is going to go.
Now, I can switch out my old box spring for my son's newer one, and I can use his headboard on my bed, too. The old bed frame is going to the trash, and we just took the top shelf of my son's old computer desk, and moved it under the loft. He has space for his computer, and a desk for doing his homework.
Tomorrow night, we will finish figuring out where everything is going to go.
From the "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" Department
I should never go to Goodwill on a whim.
It all started because I wanted to find a small chest of drawers to put in my closet to hold my costuming fabric (my room is overrun with sewing stuff!).
They did not have what I was looking for, but I did spot something else I had been wanting to buy for my son for a loooong time.
You see, my son's bedroom is painfully small. It is about 10'x12', but it has high ceilings, like the rest of the apartment.
So, when I saw that silver loft (two of them, actually) sitting in Goodwill, my mind started churning. I looked carefully at the construction of the loft. Would it come apart? Yes... Would the pieces fit in my car? Well... lashed into the trunk, yes it might...
The price was right, so I asked the cashier if they could take apart the loft, and if so, I'd be interested in buying it.
30 minutes later, it is sitting in my living room. My son, having been alerted by a phone call, started cleaning his room, and shoving things into his closet to get them out of the way. He was soooooooooo excited, that he's been voluntarily helping out. The individual pieces are not heavy, but he will definitely be a huge help once we start putting it together.
The problem is that we have a computer desk to take apart and take to the dumpster, as this loft has a built-in desk (which is very cool!).
Oh, and we have some butterfly stickers to remove from it, too...
It's not perfect, but it will make a huge difference in his room!
yay!!!!
It all started because I wanted to find a small chest of drawers to put in my closet to hold my costuming fabric (my room is overrun with sewing stuff!).
They did not have what I was looking for, but I did spot something else I had been wanting to buy for my son for a loooong time.
You see, my son's bedroom is painfully small. It is about 10'x12', but it has high ceilings, like the rest of the apartment.
So, when I saw that silver loft (two of them, actually) sitting in Goodwill, my mind started churning. I looked carefully at the construction of the loft. Would it come apart? Yes... Would the pieces fit in my car? Well... lashed into the trunk, yes it might...
The price was right, so I asked the cashier if they could take apart the loft, and if so, I'd be interested in buying it.
30 minutes later, it is sitting in my living room. My son, having been alerted by a phone call, started cleaning his room, and shoving things into his closet to get them out of the way. He was soooooooooo excited, that he's been voluntarily helping out. The individual pieces are not heavy, but he will definitely be a huge help once we start putting it together.
The problem is that we have a computer desk to take apart and take to the dumpster, as this loft has a built-in desk (which is very cool!).
Oh, and we have some butterfly stickers to remove from it, too...
It's not perfect, but it will make a huge difference in his room!
yay!!!!
Stubborn
My son is in his room, where he has been for the last 30 minutes, grounded from everything electronic until he does one small thing for me.
The problem, you see, is that my son hates to write. Specifically, he hates the physical process of writing (or typing). All I asked him to do was to write thank you notes. I have been asking twice weekly since April (!!!!!!), and my temper was stretched this afternoon by a call from my mother who, among other things, asked me if my son had received a birthday card from my granny.
I immediately got out the cards again, and asked him to sit down and write Granny a note, because it was AWFUL that this had gone on so long, and that I was NOT going to write them for him.
I had to threaten no TV to get him to do it. And he wrote a bit, leaving out "Granny" and "Love," and wrote the wrong day when we'd see her.
The problems began when I asked nicely for the corrections.
Finally, after having to raise my voice, and getting yelled at in return, I grounded him, sent him to his room, and feverishly took all of the toys he had scattered about the living room and shoved the toys into his room after him. "Don't come out until you are ready to finish that note properly, and can stop being so rude! Think about it - 30 seconds to finish that card, or being grounded?" I yelled after him.
Normally, I DON'T YELL! I can't remember the last time I yelled, before a couple of months ago (the pre-teen era is bringing out the worst!). I know this is a normal part of growing up for him, being sulky and angst-laden, but I hate being yelled at, which is why I don't yell normally. Getting yelled at makes me so angry that I could scream in frustration. I usually try to suck it up, remain calm, and try to use logic, or just ignore him (he hates being ignored, and will usually snap out of his temper right away when I turn my back and walk off).
I feel awful, because I yelled at him, but it was necessary. He cannot continue to behave this way, if I am going to get through the teen years with my sanity intact. He can't walk all over me, because I am the parent. I don't believe in physical punishment, and I think that yelling is almost as bad. But I choose yelling over the alternative.
And after half an hour in his room, sulking, while I was starting this post, I heard him walk out of his room, go to the table, and finish the card.
Now, if only I could get him to finish the others... (so if you haven't received a thank-you note yet, this is why...)
The problem, you see, is that my son hates to write. Specifically, he hates the physical process of writing (or typing). All I asked him to do was to write thank you notes. I have been asking twice weekly since April (!!!!!!), and my temper was stretched this afternoon by a call from my mother who, among other things, asked me if my son had received a birthday card from my granny.
I immediately got out the cards again, and asked him to sit down and write Granny a note, because it was AWFUL that this had gone on so long, and that I was NOT going to write them for him.
I had to threaten no TV to get him to do it. And he wrote a bit, leaving out "Granny" and "Love," and wrote the wrong day when we'd see her.
The problems began when I asked nicely for the corrections.
Finally, after having to raise my voice, and getting yelled at in return, I grounded him, sent him to his room, and feverishly took all of the toys he had scattered about the living room and shoved the toys into his room after him. "Don't come out until you are ready to finish that note properly, and can stop being so rude! Think about it - 30 seconds to finish that card, or being grounded?" I yelled after him.
Normally, I DON'T YELL! I can't remember the last time I yelled, before a couple of months ago (the pre-teen era is bringing out the worst!). I know this is a normal part of growing up for him, being sulky and angst-laden, but I hate being yelled at, which is why I don't yell normally. Getting yelled at makes me so angry that I could scream in frustration. I usually try to suck it up, remain calm, and try to use logic, or just ignore him (he hates being ignored, and will usually snap out of his temper right away when I turn my back and walk off).
I feel awful, because I yelled at him, but it was necessary. He cannot continue to behave this way, if I am going to get through the teen years with my sanity intact. He can't walk all over me, because I am the parent. I don't believe in physical punishment, and I think that yelling is almost as bad. But I choose yelling over the alternative.
And after half an hour in his room, sulking, while I was starting this post, I heard him walk out of his room, go to the table, and finish the card.
Now, if only I could get him to finish the others... (so if you haven't received a thank-you note yet, this is why...)
Bad News
Fort Dodge Child Injured In Parade
My mother called me to tell me that the child who was hurt is my cousin's son. He is in the children's hospital in Des Moines, and is extremely lucky to not have been hurt worse than he was.
My family life is a huge soap opera, and to explain further would have this blog become completely unbelievable, rather than just midly ridiculous. I just hope that he recovers quickly...
My mother called me to tell me that the child who was hurt is my cousin's son. He is in the children's hospital in Des Moines, and is extremely lucky to not have been hurt worse than he was.
My family life is a huge soap opera, and to explain further would have this blog become completely unbelievable, rather than just midly ridiculous. I just hope that he recovers quickly...
Urg.
I hate it when plans fall through...
Movie Star and her boyfriend are no longer going out to eat with us tonight. Which means there is no reason left for my son and I to go out to eat. Because honestly, with my son's attitude lately, he'd complain about everything, and would insist on fast food instead of Hickory Park.
So, new plans are: we are staying home unless we can convince someone else to go with us, so that my son can be all "teen-angsty" in the corner while I have someone to talk to.
I hate it when my sisters cancel! Yes, we could go over to Kim's this afternoon when Movie Star and by BF get there, and play with my nephew, but at this point I don't feel like going. Grouchy me.
I think we'll hang out around the pool, maybe.
Movie Star and her boyfriend are no longer going out to eat with us tonight. Which means there is no reason left for my son and I to go out to eat. Because honestly, with my son's attitude lately, he'd complain about everything, and would insist on fast food instead of Hickory Park.
So, new plans are: we are staying home unless we can convince someone else to go with us, so that my son can be all "teen-angsty" in the corner while I have someone to talk to.
I hate it when my sisters cancel! Yes, we could go over to Kim's this afternoon when Movie Star and by BF get there, and play with my nephew, but at this point I don't feel like going. Grouchy me.
I think we'll hang out around the pool, maybe.
I burned HOW many calories?
So, on the fitday site, you can choose the activities that you do during the day, and it tells you how many calories that particular activity burns.
I went back to yesterday's entry, and selected all of the household activities that I did, just to see what happened.
When I just had the swimming on the list (6 minutes each of the four strokes), I had burned 190 calories.
After adding all of the laundry, the cooking, the grocery shopping, the dish washing (yes, I washed by hand yesterday for some reason), the stair climbing, and the making my bed, I had brought that total up to 350 calories burned.
Cool!
Yes, making my bed only burned 2 calories...
I went back to yesterday's entry, and selected all of the household activities that I did, just to see what happened.
When I just had the swimming on the list (6 minutes each of the four strokes), I had burned 190 calories.
After adding all of the laundry, the cooking, the grocery shopping, the dish washing (yes, I washed by hand yesterday for some reason), the stair climbing, and the making my bed, I had brought that total up to 350 calories burned.
Cool!
Yes, making my bed only burned 2 calories...
Wild
My moss roses have EXPLODED! I had planted two flats of moss roses, spindly little things, with hardly any blooms, a little over two weeks ago.
The pot is now FULL of lovely, healthy, gorgeously bright moss roses. When I dead head them, there are usually two or more buds left behind on the same stem, so they reproduce quite abundently.
All of the seed flowers that I planted are now sprouted, although it looks like some of the seeds from one had been blown into the morning glory planter. Time will tell what they are...
My petunias are also doing well, but my son's salvia is still spindly, with weak flowers, and I may have to look up how to fix that.
The moss roses are definitely the star of the deck this year, with the petunias a close second (usually the petunias take over, because I always buy too many, and end up with about 4-5 pots of just petunias).
If I had a garden... I'd be dangerous!
The pot is now FULL of lovely, healthy, gorgeously bright moss roses. When I dead head them, there are usually two or more buds left behind on the same stem, so they reproduce quite abundently.
All of the seed flowers that I planted are now sprouted, although it looks like some of the seeds from one had been blown into the morning glory planter. Time will tell what they are...
My petunias are also doing well, but my son's salvia is still spindly, with weak flowers, and I may have to look up how to fix that.
The moss roses are definitely the star of the deck this year, with the petunias a close second (usually the petunias take over, because I always buy too many, and end up with about 4-5 pots of just petunias).
If I had a garden... I'd be dangerous!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Shocking news for the evening...
My son actually ate asparagus at dinner.
I repeat... HE VOLUNTARILY ATE ASPARAGUS!!!!!
I was so excited that I called my mom and dad and left a message...
I repeat... HE VOLUNTARILY ATE ASPARAGUS!!!!!
I was so excited that I called my mom and dad and left a message...
Pool
Just in from an hour spent in the pool.
I just love having a pool in our complex!!!!
I spent about 25 minutes doing laps, and I can definitely feel it. I am also slightly dehydrated, as I can tell from the lovely headache that is kicking in...
Disbelievers of evolution should spend time in the water, floating on your back, feeling the silk of the water through your fingers as you stare into the blue of the sky. There's a reason the majority of us love the water, and spend a good portion of our summers in or near it.
I slathered on the sunscreen, but I can already feel that it was not enough. I am getting a sick headache, too.
Time for tylenol, and to make dinner!
I just love having a pool in our complex!!!!
I spent about 25 minutes doing laps, and I can definitely feel it. I am also slightly dehydrated, as I can tell from the lovely headache that is kicking in...
Disbelievers of evolution should spend time in the water, floating on your back, feeling the silk of the water through your fingers as you stare into the blue of the sky. There's a reason the majority of us love the water, and spend a good portion of our summers in or near it.
I slathered on the sunscreen, but I can already feel that it was not enough. I am getting a sick headache, too.
Time for tylenol, and to make dinner!
Angry
Last night, sound asleep in my bed after reading until midnight, I was woken by a bunch of drunken idiots in the parking lot of my apartment building at around 2:15 am.
Some a$$wipe kids had let their drunken bar trawl land here, complete with all that entails. "Don't pee on my car tires!!!!" was the phrase that woke me up fully, even though the overloud laughter and talking had intruded earlier. I don't even want to know what all happened. At around 3 am, I finally was awake enough to get up and close my window.
But I could still hear it.
I debated calling the cops, but since I had no idea which of the kids actually lives here, and I was too groggy to even figure out what number to call, I just suffered in silence (actually, I tried yelling out the window, but they were making too much noise to hear me).
Finally, I got back to sleep around 4.
When I woke up this morning, they had thrown a chip bag, and an empty beer case onto the roof of the garage. Beer bottles in the grass. Other garbage in the parking lot.
I am taking the car to get it washed this morning, just in case.
Not. Happy. At. All.
Stuff like this doesn't happen in my neighborhood!
Some a$$wipe kids had let their drunken bar trawl land here, complete with all that entails. "Don't pee on my car tires!!!!" was the phrase that woke me up fully, even though the overloud laughter and talking had intruded earlier. I don't even want to know what all happened. At around 3 am, I finally was awake enough to get up and close my window.
But I could still hear it.
I debated calling the cops, but since I had no idea which of the kids actually lives here, and I was too groggy to even figure out what number to call, I just suffered in silence (actually, I tried yelling out the window, but they were making too much noise to hear me).
Finally, I got back to sleep around 4.
When I woke up this morning, they had thrown a chip bag, and an empty beer case onto the roof of the garage. Beer bottles in the grass. Other garbage in the parking lot.
I am taking the car to get it washed this morning, just in case.
Not. Happy. At. All.
Stuff like this doesn't happen in my neighborhood!
Friday, June 02, 2006
Void
When I was costuming furiously in anticipation for the Iowa Renaissance Faire, and the Nebraska Renaissance Faire, an evening at home, just hanging out doing nothing seemed like heaven.
The reality is that my son is in his room building a gigantic Hot Wheels track that spans pretty much the entire room, and I was on the couch, trying to start to read How to Make an American Quilt after finishing "Solar Lottery", by Philip K. Dick.
Yes, I am bored already.
I suppose that I could start the closet organization project, but from experience, I know that if I start now, I will be up until 1 am, at which point I will discover that I have to put everything back into the closet in order to have somewhere to sleep.
So, here I am. Online again.
Nothing going on.
Nothing to do.
The reality is that my son is in his room building a gigantic Hot Wheels track that spans pretty much the entire room, and I was on the couch, trying to start to read How to Make an American Quilt after finishing "Solar Lottery", by Philip K. Dick.
Yes, I am bored already.
I suppose that I could start the closet organization project, but from experience, I know that if I start now, I will be up until 1 am, at which point I will discover that I have to put everything back into the closet in order to have somewhere to sleep.
So, here I am. Online again.
Nothing going on.
Nothing to do.
Great. Another Post off into the Bermuda Triangle of the Blogosphere...
So, at lunch, while eating my very healthy salad, I wrote a post about my plans for the weekend. (Clean out my closet, basically).
And it's gone. Never got posted. I had used a widget that I had used in the past without problems, but this time, "Posting Successful" must have meant, "I will now erase your post while making you believe it actually worked."
Oh well.
So, instead of my overly long post about cleaning out the detrius of a thousand lives (okay, one life, but I have a LOT of STUFF), I will simply say, "I am going to clean out my closet. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid."
And it's gone. Never got posted. I had used a widget that I had used in the past without problems, but this time, "Posting Successful" must have meant, "I will now erase your post while making you believe it actually worked."
Oh well.
So, instead of my overly long post about cleaning out the detrius of a thousand lives (okay, one life, but I have a LOT of STUFF), I will simply say, "I am going to clean out my closet. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid."
Thursday, June 01, 2006
WHY did the S'mores stuff have to come home with ME????
I had three. I am still under 1700 calories for the day, but THREE S'MORES???!?!?!?!?!?
Ren Faire and the Garb Snark: A Treatise on How to Play Well with Others
I belong to a Yahoo! Group for Margo Anderson's Patterns. I would dearly, dearly love to own Margo's patterns, as they are the Holy Grail of the Elizabethan Costuming world, but they are too expensive for me right now (car, car, car). Clothing made with her patterns is head and shoulders above the rest, and stands out from the crowd.
Now, awhile ago, last week before I even left for Nebraska, there was an ongoing thread about Garb Snarks/Authenticity Mavens (and another nasty name which I will not share here). People were sharing stories about being snarked, and how awful it made them feel when they were first starting out to have their lovely-to-them garb cut to pieces by someone who thought she knew it all. Many of them were so incensed that they flung themselves into research to prove the snarks wrong (and some did indeed prove the GS very wrong). People were sharing witty comebacks, stories of helping others who were snarked, and so on.
But then things started getting ugly.
A certain person kept trying to get the last word in, basically telling the people who had been snarked, and stood up for themselves, backed up with research, that they were the rude ones, and that the snarks were only trying to help.
Except they usually aren't being helpful so much as wanting to appear superior to the newbies, or even more experienced costumers. I doubt anyone would mistake a nasty comment in a snide tone of voice for a helpful suggestion.
It really made me sad that a lovely, helpful listserv degenerated into a slugfest over who was right and who was wrong. It is a fact that there are people (women, usually) who take it upon themselves to be the authority on garb, even if they don't know a quarter of what they think they know.
Things get passed around as gospel, with no sources to back up the "truth," and the myths are perpetuated among the ren-faire/SCA world for decades sometimes. But some people hear it once, and never think to question it, even when the truth is staring them in the face (i.e. portraits and other paintings).
I had a great time talking about costuming with some of the other ladies at the Nebraska Faire. I saw a lot of garb that wasn't "period correct" but everyone looked like they were having a wonderful time, so who cares? Nicer people I have never met!!!! I saw some ideas I want to test, for comfort, as well as a gorgeous Margo worn by Lady Giles, who was nice enough to explain to people the clothing she was wearingm and the purpose of it. And yes, she was very accurately gowned (in a Margo!), and did not stint on the accessories (I recognized a Sapphire and Sage girdle, and other jewels).
Now, not everyone can afford to dress noble. And honestly, it is a LOT of fun being a Pirate/Privateer. So much, that I will probably only do the noble thing if I am paid very well by others to do it for them, or for a costume party where I want to feel gorgeous and win the prize.
Was I period correct for this faire? Heck no!!! But I like my costume quite a bit. I know that I can sew gorgeous gowns, but when I put on a ladies gown, my personality changes to match. Faire is more fun as a pirate - trust me!!!!
So, to all of the snarks and the snarked... count to ten before you speak. If you want to help someone, make sure that they WANT to be helped first. I would never comment on a person's garb unless I saw that it had been ripped, in which case I would offer my help and a sewing kit to fix it pronto. People go to faire to feel good, not to be perfectly accurate. How much fun would the faire be without pirates, Saxons, trolls, fairies, and the like?
Not fun at all.
Now, awhile ago, last week before I even left for Nebraska, there was an ongoing thread about Garb Snarks/Authenticity Mavens (and another nasty name which I will not share here). People were sharing stories about being snarked, and how awful it made them feel when they were first starting out to have their lovely-to-them garb cut to pieces by someone who thought she knew it all. Many of them were so incensed that they flung themselves into research to prove the snarks wrong (and some did indeed prove the GS very wrong). People were sharing witty comebacks, stories of helping others who were snarked, and so on.
But then things started getting ugly.
A certain person kept trying to get the last word in, basically telling the people who had been snarked, and stood up for themselves, backed up with research, that they were the rude ones, and that the snarks were only trying to help.
Except they usually aren't being helpful so much as wanting to appear superior to the newbies, or even more experienced costumers. I doubt anyone would mistake a nasty comment in a snide tone of voice for a helpful suggestion.
It really made me sad that a lovely, helpful listserv degenerated into a slugfest over who was right and who was wrong. It is a fact that there are people (women, usually) who take it upon themselves to be the authority on garb, even if they don't know a quarter of what they think they know.
Things get passed around as gospel, with no sources to back up the "truth," and the myths are perpetuated among the ren-faire/SCA world for decades sometimes. But some people hear it once, and never think to question it, even when the truth is staring them in the face (i.e. portraits and other paintings).
I had a great time talking about costuming with some of the other ladies at the Nebraska Faire. I saw a lot of garb that wasn't "period correct" but everyone looked like they were having a wonderful time, so who cares? Nicer people I have never met!!!! I saw some ideas I want to test, for comfort, as well as a gorgeous Margo worn by Lady Giles, who was nice enough to explain to people the clothing she was wearingm and the purpose of it. And yes, she was very accurately gowned (in a Margo!), and did not stint on the accessories (I recognized a Sapphire and Sage girdle, and other jewels).
Now, not everyone can afford to dress noble. And honestly, it is a LOT of fun being a Pirate/Privateer. So much, that I will probably only do the noble thing if I am paid very well by others to do it for them, or for a costume party where I want to feel gorgeous and win the prize.
Was I period correct for this faire? Heck no!!! But I like my costume quite a bit. I know that I can sew gorgeous gowns, but when I put on a ladies gown, my personality changes to match. Faire is more fun as a pirate - trust me!!!!
So, to all of the snarks and the snarked... count to ten before you speak. If you want to help someone, make sure that they WANT to be helped first. I would never comment on a person's garb unless I saw that it had been ripped, in which case I would offer my help and a sewing kit to fix it pronto. People go to faire to feel good, not to be perfectly accurate. How much fun would the faire be without pirates, Saxons, trolls, fairies, and the like?
Not fun at all.
Yucky
My sunburn blistered, and it itches like CRAZY!!!!! Just across my chest - my shoulders are still red, but not peeling. I repeat, I was wearing a long sleeved shirt, and what I thought was an appropriate amount of sunscreen on my chest.
Owie!!!!
Owie!!!!
Lunch.
Exhibit #1: Cafe Salad
I used only half of the dressing, and left behind most of the olives, tomatoes and feta. Still yummy!
I used only half of the dressing, and left behind most of the olives, tomatoes and feta. Still yummy!
Pictures!
As promised, here are some pictures from this weekend. I don't have many, as it is hard to work and get pictures, even during breaks.
Nebraska Renaissance Festival 2006
Update: AtTheFaire.com has posted pictures, and boy is there a really, really bad one of me in the bunch. Ug. Here's a decent one, though: Look at these good looking people!
Nebraska Renaissance Festival 2006
Update: AtTheFaire.com has posted pictures, and boy is there a really, really bad one of me in the bunch. Ug. Here's a decent one, though: Look at these good looking people!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)