Wenzer's Addictions

Tubby Tuesday: Lying scale is lying

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:24:00 +0000

Updated picture. I guess I'll post my pic updates on Tuesdays, and since I'm still taking them in front of the tub it will be Tubby Tuesday.

Today: (ignore the bad hair)

Compared to January 3:

The scale is floating around 177. Damn liar scale. The tape measure is showing me numbers I last saw when I weighed nearly 10 pounds less. I have lost an inch off my waist in the last 6 days alone. And half an inch off my butt in the same time frame.

Brain bowl, and paleo progress

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:06:00 +0000

Will and his team didn't make it to the elimination round at Brain Bowl, but he said he had fun. I'm glad he had fun. I managed to keep my sanity despite chaperoning a bunch of middle schoolers.

I managed to stay mostly on track with paleo. The Paleo Kits helped. They tasted pretty good too.

Today's picture:

(3 weeks ago, for comparison:)

I brought knitting with me to Boulder (hexipuffs) but didn't knit at all. My wrist has been hurting which makes it kinda hard to knit. Then I rearranged office furniture yesterday, which didn't help matters much. I probably just need to get a splint on this wrist and immobilize it, but I'm resisting. (It's been bothering since probably October.)

Paleo-a-Go-Go

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:42:00 +0000

So this weekend I will be going out of town as Will has a Brain Bowl competition Saturday. I made the mistake of volunteering to chaperone. Friday night will feature a trip to... Dave and Buster's. Oh yay.

There is some Paleo-ish stuff on the menu at D&B's (mostly steaks), but just in case I am bringing along some provisions...

I'm gonna go boil some eggs in a minute, and pack them in my Tony Stewart cooler bag.

Plus, I bought this:

from Steve's Original. It's kinda spendy, but I figured I'd give it a try. At least it'll give me something to eat whilst the kids are knocking themselves out.

I bought the sample pack, which contains all the lovely things in the picture. More specifically, it contains:

1 Original Large Paleokit (jerky, nuts, and berries)

1 Grassfed Small PaleoKit

1 GrassFed Just Jerky (self explanatory)

1 PaleoKrunch Bar (Grainless granola bar made with coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, and honey)

1 PaleoKrunch Original Flavor Cereal (Grainless granola cereal made with coconut, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, and honey)

1 Coconut Small PaleoKit (jerky, coconuts, and strawberries)

I'll report back on how I survive a weekend with a bunch of middle schoolers.

If I survive.

This one's for you, Brian

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:16:00 +0000

And any of my other faithful readers (both of you! Thanks for reading!) who are wondering what the hell this Paleo/Primal thing I keep nattering about is.

In a nutshell, Paleo/Primal/ancestral eating means eating as closely as possible to how people likely ate before the agricultural revolution. Back in the day (Fred and Wilma's day, that is) it is believed that people ate mostly meat, bugs 'n' grubs (yum!), fish, and whatever in-season fruits and veggies they could gather. And many anthropologists argue that Paleolithic humans were likely healthier than humans since the agricultural revolution - bigger skeletons, bigger braincases (a sign of bigger brains), stronger bones, virtually no cavities.

Aaaand then the agricultural revolution came along, between 10,000 years ago (e.g. Mesopotamia) and 5,000 years ago (eastern North America). Grains, starchy veggies, and more grains. This led to civilization, and art, and culture, and all that. It also led to poorer health - weaker bones, higher infant mortality, cavities, blah blah blah.

And then along came the Great Corn Explosion of the 1970's to the present. High fructose corn syrup in eVeRyThiNg! Yay!

Soooo..... we're fat, sick, diabetic (Paula Deen, I'm looking at you here), still getting heart disease despite 50 years of being preached the low-fat gospel.

Enter ancestral eating. There's a plethora of studies suggesting that hunter-gatherer populations have lower rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease etc. than agricultural populations. I won't bore you with this, go read Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes.

Robb Wolf's website has a good overview of Paleo. I'll let him explain it. He's a strength coach and gym owner who used to be a biochemist, and who credits paleo eating with his return to health after several years of sickness and poor health when he was following a vegan diet.

There's a bunch of other good resources. Loren Cordain, Mark Sisson, Sarah Fragoso for starters.

Happy reading!

2 weeks in.

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:14:00 +0000

First off, let me just say that I detest Manchester Orchestra. SiriusXM Alt Nation is playing "Virgin" right now, and I REALLY HATE THIS SONG. :::grits teeth whilst waiting for end of song:::

OK, good. The song is finally over.

Anyway.

So this was my day 2 photo (1/3/12). Remember this lovely pic?

This is from day 12 (1/13/12): Different sweater, but same pants.

Still pudgy, but not as bad. And NO, I was NOT standing in the bathtub!

I also decided to get on the scale Saturday. I hadn't weighed when I started, but am reasonably sure I was somewhere in the 180's. (I didn't weigh because I knew I'd get depressed.)

Saturday's weight: 176.0. So at least I have a definite number.

Also I have more energy, and fewer headaches.

Entering week 3 of Les Mills Pump. My knees are feeling a lot better.

I'm seeing improvements all the time.

Now SiriusXM is playing Beck. Lots better than Man Orchestra.

Rascal, or How Diet Affects Kittehs

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Here is Rascal. I took this picture yesterday. He was sitting on my desk glaring balefully at the dog.

Rascal used to be overweight. He weighed 15 pounds on a frame that should carry more like 11 or 12 pounds.

And he ate dry cat food.

Then last summer I noticed he was losing weight, drinking a lot of water (and peeing a lot), and his fur was stiff. At first I didn't pay too much attention to the drinking and peeing, after all it was summer and it was HOT.

Then one day I discovered that he'd, um, found a non-litter box area to be his new bathroom. That's when I decided he needed to go to the vet.

He was down to 10 pounds. His glucose was in the 500's.

Yeah.

The vet put him on insulin and special low-carb food.

Diabetic cats can sometimes go into remission with treatment, and Rascal went into remission very quickly. He's been off the insulin for about 3 months now, still eats the low-carb food, and his glucose has consistently been around 80 for the past several months. His fur is soft, silky and pettable. His weight is around 11 pounds and has stayed pretty stable.

Proof that cats need to eat what they're evolutionarily meant to eat.

So that got me thinking. If cats get sick on food they're not evolved to eat, and if they do well on food they are evolved to eat, shouldn't humans be the same?

One week in

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:48:00 +0000

One week in, and I would say the biggest challenge is revamping my cooking. And, well, actually cooking. I'd gotten pretty lazy and on too many evenings was ordering delivery, or going out to eat, or nuking crap-in-a-box. But now I'm actually back to trying to buy whole food and actually cook it.

I think it's because after 5 days I was getting tired of the same 3 things, since I really didn't know what else to eat.

Enter Paleo/Primal cookbooks and cooking blogs.

I've spent a chunk of the past few days reading Paleo Comfort Foods, Primal Blueprint Quick and Easy Meals (I'm all about the quick and easy!), and Everyday Paleo. Today I tried the Sauteed Apples from Paleo Comfort Foods. Mmm.... Good, and easy! Tonight I make Mashed Cauliflower to go with the locally grown, certified organic, 100% grass fed pot roast I have in the crockpot...

The other thing this week has been a low energy level. I think most of that is because it's January, and early January and I do not get along.

Jeans are a bit looser, though. That is a good thing.

Today was a good day to take Daisy for a walk. Sunny, not much wind, about 40 degrees. Long walk, about an hour.

I need to finish the Calorimetry I started a week or so ago. I've only got a few rows left. Then I will have a matching Calorimetry and Malagaiter, yay! And I should have enough yarn left for a pair of fingerless mitts.

Oh, to be a cat; and, Kitchen Purge

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:29:00 +0000

Molly is sitting on a chair near me, looking very regal. I want to be a house cat. I want to have food served to me without my having to do anything. I want to sleep 20 hours a day. I want to be petted when I want petted.

Alas, I am a human.

Anyway, day 3 of being back to Paleo/Primal eating. Day 3 of the Primal Blueprint 21-Day Transformation. (gack) Who makes up these titles? Day 1 was the dreaded Kitchen Purge. Let's just say that the fridge is a hella lot cleaner than it was before I started the Kitchen Purge. There's still some non-Paleo/Primal stuff to get rid of, but the next Kitchen Purge will be on like day 18 or something like that.

Today, day 3, consists of such things as Avoiding Industrial Food and Doing Primal Essential Movements. I had eggs scrambled with spinach and feta cheese for breakfast. Technically, cheese isn't Paleo but I figure this week I will allow some dairy, then ease it out. Can't give everything up at once... Lunch was a grilled salmon salad. I haven't decided what to make for dinner yet.

At least red wine and dark chocolate are allowed on occasion, even if Paleolithic Woman didn't consume those (how did she survive?). I don't think I could survive without either...

Also today was day 3 of the new Les Mills Pump home program, based on the BodyPump classes. I'll linky to Les Mills Pump in a later post (right now it's only available to Team Beachbody members and Beachbody coaches).

Cats of course don't have to worry about Paleo or BodyPump or anything like that. Molly says it is time to pet her. She has moved from the chair to my lap.

Well, let's try this again.

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:04:00 +0000

I have neglected this for almost two years. Time to start it up again.

I restarted Primal/Paleo eating yesterday (well, actually I did the kitchen purge and some shopping Sunday). I did Primal for awhile last summer and it really worked, then fell off the wagon. Let's try this again.

I took this picture today to submit to Mark's Daily Apple's New Year challenge. Blurgh.

The next picture will be better...

I want to get back into the black jeans I haven't worn for, oh, about 3 years now...

It's not how you start, it's how you finish

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:05:00 +0000

Latest cool Nike commercial:

Music: "Ali in the Jungle" by the Hours

Ravelympics

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:56:00 +0000

My Ravelympics projects:

For Team Fast Girls Knit Left, entered in WIP Dancing: This is a cardigan in Noro Silk Garden. I started it last summer, kinda flamed out sometime in November. The fronts are done except for the button bands, the back is about 3/4 done. Have not gotten to sleeves yet.

For Team Wyoming, entered in WIP Dancing: This is a throw made in Mountain Colors, Moguls and Mohair. I started it in fall 2007?? Dang, it was shortly after I had the tonsilyanktomy in Oct 2007... I forget when I flamed out on it. It's been quite awhile however.

For Team Daughters of the Whore of Babylon, entered in the Flying Camel Spin event: These fibers are from a Spinning Loft sampler.

Check back for updates...

What a difference 8 pounds makes

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:23:00 +0000

That's what I've lost in the past month. I already look thinner, I don't have to fight my jeans to get them on...

I still have a ways to go, but am making good progress.

I need to get going on my knitting. I haven't been doing much lately. Been busy with work, and ultra tired when I get home. I've had way too many trials in the past few weeks. Next week looks pretty peaceful though... (and being busy is good for the bank balance... especially now that I'm being more of a hardass on getting paid...)

I have one afghan square going for the Rav go fast. knit left. Speedweeks Victory Junction project. Started it last night. That's about the only knitting I've done in the past few weeks. I'll go work on it in a little while, after dinner. I want to get another square or two done in addition to the one I cast on last night. Then the Ravelympics start in a week... WIP Dancing and Flying Camel Spin are on tap...

And NASCAR is back in action! w00t!!!

Rascal is cuddled up next to the computer. Prolly 'cuz it's warm.

Silly cat

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:52:00 +0000

So I'm sitting in bed, reading The Omnivore's Dilemma and eating a purple sludge made of milk and frozen berries (strawberries, blueberries, a few raspberries and blackberries), and Molly sees that I am holding a dish and a spoon. Her mental computation: dish + spoon = TREAT!!!

So she marches up, sits on my book, and meows cutely up at me. Thereby keeping me from reading.

She is saved by 1) her cuteness, and 2) the fact that I am on the chapter about "The Ethics of Eating Animals."

I should note that when I finished the purple sludge and set the bowl down, she was unimpressed by the purple sludge residue. I, on the other hand, thought the purple sludge was quite good.

A letter from Satan

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:00:00 +0000

Dear Pat Robertson,

I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action.

But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake.

Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll.

You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.

Best, Satan

(from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune)

To help contribute to Haiti relief: clicky here

Pat Robertson at the pearly gates...

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:01:00 +0000

Taken from LJ’s metaquotes community:

Pat: My LORD, I am HERE to reCEIVE my just REWARD!

God: WHO ARE YOU AGAIN?

Pat: Why, my Lord, I am Pat Robertson! I tirelessly did your work and preached your word all my life! I’m your Number One Fan!

God: NO, SORRY, NOT RINGING ANY BELLS. MAYBE WE MET DOING TSUNAMI RELIEF IN 2004?

Pat: No, my Lord, I know that’s a trick question. You sent that wave to punish the heathens and their immorality!

God: I DID? HUH. DID WE MEET DOING AID WORK AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA?

Pat: Why, no, God, I couldn’t help those people! That hurricane was a judgment on the wicked!

God: MAYBE I SAW YOUR NAME ON THE RED CROSS DONATIONS LIST FOR HAITI?

Pat: But they made a pact with the DEVIL!

God: YOU KNOW, PAT, ALL THE PEOPLE TOO EVIL FOR YOU TO HELP WERE BROWN-SKINNED. ISN’T THAT A FUNNY COINCIDENCE?

Pat: That’s not true! I also condemned the gays and pointed out that AIDS was your plague on their child-molesting ways.

God: …

Pat: beams So you SEE, I have COME to take my rightful PLACE at your right HAND!

God: ABOUT THAT…YOU CAN’T ACTUALLY COME IN.

Pat: What? You mean you want me to take Saint Peter’s place, deciding who comes in and who stays out? I can do that! I have a very clear understanding on the sort of riff raff we shouldn’t let in! You can trust me not to let the sinners in, Lord!

God: WELL, NO, APPARENTLY YOU DON’T. BECAUSE YOU ARE THE SORT OF RIFF RAFF WE DON’T LET IN. REMEMBER ALL THAT HATE, ALL THAT JUDGMENT YOU PREACHED?

Pat: Absolutely! It came straight from the Bible.

God: YOU KEEP USING THAT BOOK. I DO NOT THINK IT MEANS WHAT YOU THINK IT MEANS.

Pat: You quote “The Princess Bride”?

God: I WROTE “THE PRINCESS BRIDE”.

Pat: I think I’m starting to understand.

God: LITTLE TOO LATE FOR THAT NOW. YOU’RE HEADED DOWNSTAIRS. OH, AND TELL FALWELL TO STOP STALKING ME ON FACEBOOK. IT’S CREEPY AND I’M NOT GOING TO FRIEND HIM BACK.

(Oh... and for Haiti relief... here's a linky to the United Church of Christ One Great Hour of Sharing Haiti relief page...)

January, again

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:06:00 +0000

For some reason the late sunrises aren't bothering me this year like they usually do. Usually around this time I'm stalking the paper to see when sunrise actually starts getting a nanosecond earlier. (the latest sunrise is actually like January 11, not December 21. Go figure.)

I got back on track with eating right, although I still have yet to go to Weight Watchers and weigh in properly. Rascal has a vet appointment Saturday morning so I might run by WW after his appointment... or I might wait until next week and miss the New Year's rush... I do know about what I weigh thanks to Wii Fit. And I've got about 25 pounds to get rid of. le sigh

Also got back to the gym. I want to get semi-serious about swimming and want to actually complete the 0 to 1650 program. There's now a preamble - 0 to 700, so I'm using that to work up to the 0 to 1650 (which is actually 700 to 1650).

I also just joined two Solosez weight loss support groups, both of which were formed today... one on Google Groups and the other on Sparkpeople.

I feel so much better when I eat right and exercise regularly. I have more energy, my moods are better, etc. I don't know why I got so far off track with both eating and exercising.

Bah, humbug, get me on a flight to Pandora

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:08:00 +0000

I am so not in the Christmas spirit. Not really sure why. The extent of my decorating this year was to finally put the tree up last Sunday (the 13th). I still haven't finished Christmas shopping, altho a trip to the mall tonight should pretty much take care of that.

Of course, I could have gotten more done this past weekend if I hadn't gone to Avatar... twice...

...and I'll prolly go see it AGAIN...

We got Starbucks, favorite drivers...

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:34:00 +0000

So according to some guy in Seattle, NASCAR fans wouldn't know a venti mocha frappuccino if it bit them on the rear. Apparently we are all trailer trash whose entire wardrobe cost less than said frappuccino, except for the merchandise advertising our love for our favorite driver, and who can't imagine using a Starbucks cup for anything other than a receptacle for chew.

Well then. Apparently Mr. Seattle Know-it-All hasn't sat down with Purdue grad Ryan Newman lately, or asked Elliott Sadler about his basketball career (shortened by a knee injury) at James Madison University, or queried Darian Grubb about how his mechanical engineering degree from Virginia Tech helps him make Smoke's car as good as possible, or indeed made any effort to find people who have an education and love stock car racin'.

I suppose we're not allowed to enjoy wine either? Should I be cancelling my Wine Spectator subscription now? And cancelling my wine clubs? Apparently my palate should not extend beyond Coors Light.

Or...

...maybe we should just take it upon ourselves to educate the poor sod, who clearly is missing out on the finer things in life. Seattle Dude, wanna join us at Daytona? I'll bring a nice Malbec and my espresso machine for tailgating.

Smoke gets in your eyes...

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:57:00 +0000

Qiviut/wool smoke ring:

Cashmere/silk/alpaca smoke ring: (I can't remember what pattern this was)

Whoever isn't working...

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:26:00 +0000

So after reading one too many health insurance thread on Ravelry, I got to thinking (yeah I know, scary thought). I've seen several health insurance arguments against a robust public option or other public health insurance, usually based around the following: "Health insurance is important enough to me that I've always made sure I was in a job that had good health insurance." The implication of course being, "if it were really important to you, you'd have good health insurance through your job too, and if you're too lazy to go out and get a job with good bennies, that's not my problem..."

That got me thinking about 2 Thess. 3:10, which says: "While we were with you, we gave you the order: 'Whoever doesn't want to work shouldn't be allowed to eat.'" (GWT) This has become a popular verse among conservatives opposed to government-funded social service programs. It's been cropping up in the health insurance debate.

But what does that verse mean? What did it mean when 2 Thessalonians was written?

I've been reading through The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church's Conservative Icon by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan. Borg and Crossan argue that Christian communities in Paul's day were "share communities," that is, "communities in which there was a sharing of material as well as spiritual resources" (Kindle loc. 2756-58). The author of 2 Thessalonians, according to Borg and Crosssan, was addressing the problem of freeloaders. They write that freeloaders are a problem that "often occurs in share communities" because such people think it's a good deal - "hey I don't have to do much and I'll get taken care of." (Kindle loc. 2773-76.)

Read in context, the statement "whoever doesn't work, shouldn't eat" makes more sense:

[W]e worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.

2 Thess. 3:8b-13 (NIV) (emphasis mine). The author is saying, "Dude, some among you are taking unfair advantage of the rest of you. They're perfectly capable of working but they're too darn lazy. They need to get off their duffs and help contribute to the good of the community." But listen to what he's NOT saying. He's NOT saying, "Dude, there are some people who don't have it as good as you because they can't work or their jobs aren't as good as yours. You don't have an obligation to help those guys out 'cuz they're no better than the free-lunch crowd."

Elsewhere in the letters traditionally attributed to Paul, there are references to the community being charged with helping those who can't do for themselves. E.g., 1 Tim. 5:3, 5, 9-10. So 2 Thess. 3:10 really shouldn't be read to say that those who can't earn their keep, shouldn't be supported by the community.

There are plenty of people who work hard, work long hours, but can't get ahead because their pay is low and their benefits are negligible or non-existent. There are plenty of other people who can't find a decent job in the current economy. Should society refuse to help these people just because, for whatever reason, they're not working at a high-paying job with great benefits? Should society punish their children because the parents aren't riding the gravy train? How is it consistent with Jesus' word to say, "I got mine, you best work harder to get yours, if you don't it's your own damn fault, and I have no obligation to help you out"?

Respect the Spindle - Update

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:45:00 +0000

I ordered a copy.

The Swine-ish Flu Chronicles

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:19:00 +0000

OK. I don't know for sure that I had swine flu. I wasn't tested. But my doc said my symptoms were consistent with novel H1N1.

That was nearly a week ago.

I'm still tired, sluggish, somewhat nauseated, and completely unmotivated to do anything.

So here's the symptoms, as I experienced them: really really tired (do I have to open my eyes? That takes so much energy), achiness (someone get the number of the freight train that hit me), nausea and loss of appetite, headache, and a lovely dry hacking cough. Apparently the nausea and the dry hacking cough were what made the doc decide it was most likely novel H1N1 and not seasonal flu.

I was too tired to knit, much less spin.

I fell asleep watching Sprint Cup practice on Friday. And again during qualifying.

I think I fell asleep sometime during the UW-New Mexico game.

It's been a week, and I still have the cough. Sounds like I may have the cough for awhile yet.

Disaster Porn!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:22:00 +0000

OK, so after a Ravelry thread about Conservapedia's misbegotten plot to rewrite the Bible to make it, um, not liberal (huh?) which got threadjacked into a sort of discussion of Roland Emmerich's latest disaster porn 2012, I went searching for 2012 trailers for fun watching.

This parody is made of win...

I ganked that video from this automotive blog post that advises that, when California falls into the sea, you'll be wanting a Lincoln Town Car. I dunno. Seeing some of the actual CGI-enhanced footage from 2012, I'm thinking you don't want a real long vehicle that could potentially slide into a huge crevasse. You want something small and mean and bad fast. Or at least you want a Sprint Cup driver behind the wheel. Or the best of both worlds, a small, mean, bad fast car with a Cup driver behind the wheel. Oh Tony...

BTW the music from that parody is "Okey Dokey" and "Bongolia" by Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band.

You're welcome.

A Choppy, Yet Insincere, Apology

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:04:00 +0000

So I've had the Riverboat Gamblers stuck in my head lately.

Which gets me thinking.

What's up with all the rudeness lately? Yanno, Addison Graves "Joe" "How Many Diseases Can I Be Named After" Wilson, Kanye West, Serena Williams.

Granted, I'm hardly the first to address the Trifecta of Rudeness. The Chicago Tribune, Crain's New York Business, Andy Borowitz, and the Seattle Times, among bazillions of others, clearly beat me to the punch. But still, here I am...

One would think Joe Wilson's behavior would have won him no fans. Especially since he refuses to apologize on the Congressional floor. But a simple search of Facebook groups shows no dearth of pro-Joe Wilson groups, lauding him for Standing Up to Da Man, Speaking Truth to Power, blah blah blah. And he's apparently received over $2 million in campaign contributions since exposing himself as a total asshat. TWO. FREAKIN'. MILLION. WTF? Explain?

Kanye West got promptly turned into an internet meme. Regardless whether he continues to get laughed at or not, his next album will doubtless go multi-platinum.

And Serena will continue to grace the tennis courts and draw crowds, no doubt.

Hm. A trend here?

Maybe the problem here is - NO FREAKIN' CONSEQUENCES FOR ACTING LIKE SPOILED BRATS???!?!?!??!?!?!

(P.S. The actual title of the Riverboat Gamblers' song is "A Choppy, Yet Sincere, Apology." Just in case you were wondering.)

Oh and I know I still need to post pics of my qiviut smoke ring. I took pics, I'm just too lazy to download them to The Beast. It will happen. At some point. I promise.

Someone please tell me...

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:04:00 +0000

...how a lavender fluid can somehow turn my hair auburn?

I'm touching up (OK, completely redoing) my hair color. I'm about 3 weeks overdue, so I decided fine, just redo the whole thing. L'Oreal Excellence, color 5RB. So you all know my secret. Not that I've ever kept it a secret, mind you...

What I can't figure out is this.

You mix the color with the base. It looks lavender right after you mix it. Just exactly how does that become reddish-brown? WTFOMGBBQ? Let's just say chemistry wasn't my favorite subject in school...

So anyhoo.

I missed the Sprint Cup race last night because of coming back from Laramie (the Texas game). I forgot to set the DVR, plus I kind of figured that by the time I got home I was going to be too tired to watch anyway, what with having to get up for soccer today. As for soccer, Will's team finished second in their division at this weekend's tournament. I don't have pictures unfortunately. Next weekend I need to take pictures.

I finally blocked the smoke ring I made with the qiviut/wool blend I bought in Alberta. Pictures will go up next time. Pattern here.

Thinking about getting this book: Respect The Spindle: Spin Infinite Yarns With One Amazing Tool by Abby Franquemont. Signed copies (once the book is released) are available on Abby's site...

RESPECT THE SPINDLE! RESPECT IT!!!

Which reminds me... I think I have a prospective victim or two to asspinerate... hehehe...