This was a week of trying to figure out how to get to Boston, other than driving or taking the train.  I was trying to figure out how to recover, get motivated again, and begin a 4+ month chunk of my life dedicated to training for what may be my last marathon.  I know…”never say never.”  But as of right now, I need a break from all the miles.  I want to get back to running fast again.

A quick explanation…there is a difference between running a fast marathon and “running fast again.”  Marathon training actually makes you slower.  You train yourself to run a certain pace that will allow you to finish 26.2 miles.  That pace may be 6 minutes a mile for some and 10 minutes a mile for others.  When you train for a 5k, that 6 minute pace will have to be 5 minutes a mile for the 5k and you naturally train yourself to run faster to compete at a 5k level.  Last night I realized I missed that faster pace.

I grew up as a miler and eventually did 5k’s to help my mile races (on the track).  I always said when I can’t run fast anymore, I would run marathons…sort of by default.  Other than a forced attempt when I was 31…more about that at a later date, I waited until I wasn’t maintaing a 4:30+ mile and my body needed a change.  So perhaps I need that change again…wow, the parallels between running and relationships pretty much guarantees I’ll be in relationship counseling for the rest of my life!

Anyway, last night was the start of a new training session at Urban.  It meant an all out 1200m time trial to see where we all stood.  In other words, the time trial gives information to the coaches so that they can base our workout pace throughout this next 2+ month session.  I had no idea where I was in terms of my speed as most athletes don’t know.  That’s why this workout or test is so important.  The toughest part is running it at night (dark) and having to really watch the road…the last thing you wanna’ do is stumble or fall…you can’t recover from a stumble at 1200m.

So off we went last night.  We had a good crew.  Simon, Gerson, Steve, and I took it out.  I felt that familiar “burn” in the back of my throat and the refrigerator on my back towards the end.  When you race a mile or less, you can feel good and within 10 seconds, you can go into oxygen debt.  You can’t get enough oxygen in you and you are literally gasping for a breath.  It’s different than marathon.  With the marathon, you are never out of breath…you just run out of fuel and that causes your legs to feel like rubber or completely lock up.  I hope that kinda’ explains the difference between the two races….Anyway, I finished in 3:42, which equates to a 4:56 mile, assuming I could maintain that pace fro another 400m.  Even if I lost a few seconds, it’s safe to say I am close to a 5 minute mile.  Does that satisfy me?  No way!  But it felt so good to run that fast…it got me thinking that if I started training for my specialty (mile), the thought of running back in the 4:40 range seemed intriguing to me at the very least.

For now, I will take one event at a time.  This Boston Marathon thing is something I am committed to and it’s time to get down to the business of training.  As of now, I am not giving up drinking and certainly not Pop Tarts.  I have not missed a Pop Tart session since the day after NYC.  That is pure discipline and dedication.  Talk about the perfect breakfast food…there is no effort involved…just open the package and it’s “Instant Utopia” which the faux frosting and yummy imitation fruit filling…it’s almost as good as……..and you don’t have to talk and cuddle afterwards.

See you this Sunday at the 10k in “The Park….”

http://alphainventions.com/

…and on Day 2 of the world’s only virtual advent calendar with humorous commentaries on insane Christmas singles behind the doors, here’s the sound of, well, a man who’s been ostracised from society singing about something that may or may not possibly be in some way connected to Christmas maybe but nobody’s entirely sure…

Day 2 of the NTDWU Advent Calendar of utter pop tat and its my turn to surprise Tim with a bit of Christmas themed audio buried in six metric tons of Poundland wrapping paper. And does it get any more fitting for our needs than the bewildering “Riding A Reindeer” by Jonathan King?

Avoiding the sort of sneery rubbish that lesser podcasts might trade in, join us as we try to carbon date this whilst saying boo to Esther Rantzen, remembering Pop Tarts, ponder potential double entendres, somehow get round to discussing nuclear based thriller Threads and wondering “WHEN RELEASE?” for “I Slap Your Reindeer (Theme From Entertainment Lapland)”…

“Abdul is thinking about Couscous and Sports…”

Download the mp3 version here.

And to see the original without us gabbing over the top of it…

We need to talk.  I have a confession to make.    I’m no longer in love with you.   You did nothing wrong.  In fact, you were always there for me when I needed you.  Straight out of the box, or my favorite, toasted.  It’s me.  Not you.  No, no it’s all my fault.  See, I’ve found someone else.  I’ve found someone else to replace your ooey, gooey goodness.  And I couldn’t be anymore flipping happy about it! 

I’ve found me.  Maybe not the whole-I’m-the-best-woman/mom/wife/friend-I-can-be-me, but I’m getting close.  I catch little glimpses of her throughout the day.  Today I saw her on the playground with my little girl.  Sliding down the slide and hefting herself up steps and over rope bridges.  I saw her yesterday when I got home from work and instead of wanting to lay down and take a nap, I saw her pull weeds and mow the lawn. 

I guess what I’m trying to tell you is that I can no longer be your girl.  I can no longer take you home with me because honestly, I don’t want you there.  When I get the craving for something sweet you’re no longer the one I reach for.  I’d rather have a bowl of strawberries or some yogurt.  I’ve moved on and I think you should too.    I know you hate to be alone but you’ll find somebody else soon.  After all,  misery loves company.

Hugs & Health,

Michelle

The angst of decision making can, at times, be overwhelming. Where should I study? What should my major be? What kind of career do I want and what track am I on? Should I marry, and if so, who? Pop Tarts or Toaster Strudel? Recently, the multimedia online magazine, FLYP, highlighted a piece on decision making and the human brain entitled, “Make Up Your Mind.” The basic premise of the piece is based on a study by the University of Rochester asserting that the brain is hardwired to make the best decision possible and that decisions made at the subconscious or “gut” level are often more reliable than decisions made with significant deliberation. You can check it out by following or copy/pasting this link:

http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/35/#4/1

Participants in the study were asked to observe complicated phenomena, then with little time to evaluate their observations, make a decision and give a conclusion. The studies suggested that more optimal decisions were made with the information at hand with less deliberation. The article then extrapolates that larger decisions such as which house or car to buy, or who you should marry would better be made with less deliberation and more at a gut level…

Really?

That’s interesting because with little deliberation, my gut level response to this assertion is that it’s bunk.

To be sure, as the piece mentions, we make countless reliable subconscious decisions throughout the course of our day. They are nearly automatic functions such as opening the correct cupboard to get out the appropriate bowl for our Fruity Pebbles. But can that really be extrapolated into larger, course of life affecting decisions? (At this point all you chaos theorists can just relax about the universal significance of every action) I think the conclusions of these studies and this piece draw out a couple of questions.

First, what is the purpose of deliberation? The studies cited suggest that deliberation is the process whereby data is evaluated and acted upon. It is suggested that all relevant data is gathered subconsciously then evaluated and computed subconsciously by the brain for the optimal response. It is then implied that our deliberation only takes into account conscious observations, leaving out data that should be considered. However, within the study is the claim that our brains subconsciously make the optimal decision with “the information at hand”. So perhaps deliberation should allow for additional insights to inform our initial observations. In which case deliberation is paramount to making a decision that is not just optimal at the moment, with the information at hand, but is most beneficial for the long term.

Second, how is “optimal” evaluated? In controlled, measureable clinical studies, “optimal” must be quantifiable, and variables must be restricted. All gatherable information must be gatherable at the time of the study so that a rubric of “optimal” may be possible. But isn’t “optimal” a determination largely based on a person’s presuppositions and worldview, regardless of the accuracy of those presuppositions against reality? “Optimal” then becomes an exclusively individual evaluation that is determined and restricted by the subject’s own brain based only on the information it has gathered in its own time, place and interpretation of experiences and has little to no clinical objectivity whereby a rubric could be constructed and measure could be made.

Additionally, any clinical research inherently has a difficulty taking into consideration spiritual realities that cannot be quantified in a lab. The Apostle Paul cautions the Ephesian believers not to live the way they did before their faith in Christ, following “deceitful desires.” Another presupposition of this study is that our subconscious observations and interpretations are accurate to reality and not swayed by our own spiritual condition. When our spiritual condition is considered, not only is deliberation not obstructive to “optimal” decision making, but it is imperative. Each of us must take time to consider the veracity of our observations and interpretations thereof. I believe this is why the same Paul implores the Roman believers to renew their minds so as to test and approve – determine as “optimal” – God’s will and not simply our brain’s mechanical functions operating under the influence of deceitful desires.

So what is a Biblical response to this? I think it’s to take all of these things into account. There are ways in which we ought to put a little more stock into our initial processing of information and ability to make reliable snap decisions. However, when considering large scale decisions of life and future, prayerful deliberation in a faith community is imperative. We must be patient and willing to prayerfully mull over the information at hand, seeking spiritual wisdom to determine the actual reliability of our observation and interpretation and not disregard our ability to deceive ourselves simply to indulge desires. We must be willing to subject the information at hand to other and Biblical information in order to compile as extensive database as possible from which to decide what is truly “optimal.” We must also be willing and subject our processing to others who will participate in the process with us, showing us our blind spots and deceptions, adding wisdom and alternate perspectives. The book of Proverbs alone is replete with admonition to this end. I think the whole of ancient Hebrew wisdom literature and Apostolic instruction would defy any other understanding of wise decision making.

Remember how I’ve said in the past that I totally dig FB ’cause I get to see all the “dip-shites” and anti-semites (that were cruel to me) that are soooo out of shape that I actually smile in the morning.  Plus, I don’t have to send money anymore to those “Tammy Faye Ministries”  praying for painful injuries to them….it’s been a win-win situation for me!  Thank you FB.  But since that 26.2 race, my own health was “sucking wind” literally…and an old friend Jamie mentioned “did you go to the doc yet?”

I had it all planned…wait a day…say yes…but I knew she would know I didn’t go…don’t ask me how…she would know.  She’s married and she know’s how guys don’t go to doctors and certainly don’t use road maps (in front of women).  With the Garmin’s, now it seems safe for guys to let down their guard and take directions…GUYS…IT’S STILL A MAP!!  I am sure a women is sitting at the head of Garmin smiling…..they have outwitted us again!!

So, yesterday I was staying home and coughing like a 2 pack a day kinda guy.  It’s the kind of cough that I wanted to hang a cigarette off the side and play the part….oh yeah, my side-kick Samara was home as she was under the weather as well.  It was gonna be good, The Sponge Bob Movie for the 10th time, bonding with my daughter.  When we’re together, we can talk about anything and I encourage her to ask away until we get to the development of “boobs” and why boys don’t “get them” or something along that line and then I realize time is short and these are moments that are to be cherished indeed.  BTW, my answer of “they would never go to school or to work” fortunately falls on deaf ears.

But by 8am, work was calling, frantic as the DataBase Server was down.  That’s great…I told them I could not come in 101+ fever.  They were fine with me coming in.  The DB was more important (apparently) than the health of the other employees or patients.  DID YOU THINK I FORGOT ABOUT JAMIE?  Ya’ see my doctor is a block away from work…ahhhh, make appointment and see my UK speaking doctor.

It wasn’t until I was at work and trying to move around that I realized how exhausted I was.  Of course I jump started the DB Server.  To bore you, it’s an older FileMaker 6 Server.  Anyway, Samara made some new friends and then we were off to the doctor.  When I’m in the waiting room, I feel like I’m waiting for The Late Show Curtain to open.  The anticipation….and there…in his Welsh glory is my doctor….and he has grown the same beard as me…clearly to impress me…

I tell him I’m not sure if I have the Flu…RED FLAG, SIRENS, FLASHING LIGHTS…he immediately brings me to another room and we both have to wear masks…Samara is over playing with the scale (no mask), so to me it’s all BS.  He checks my breathing and then tells me he wants to swab my my nostrils.  ”Daddy, maybe he’ll pick a winner.”  Lesson: Be careful what you teach your kids.  …well, he should of said, he wanted to swab the back of my eyeballs as that is what it felt like.  It wasn’t painful, but I could tell, I was not going to be moving from that position…he had full control of me with just a swab.  So, after he was done, he gave me my sample and wrote some scripts…told me to head to NYU hospital to drop off my “snot” (not his words) and to get a chest x-ray as he thought I might have pneumonia.

Yeah right…I know the routine…more money wasted….   Samara was a champ and was excited to go to the x-ray facility at NYU.  It was like a field trip for her, as that was how I tried to present it…I would have been bored, but she loved it and saw the X-Rays come up on the computer as they were being taken.  We then dropped off my “nose goblins” and then I explained to Samara that 6 years ago was the happiest day of my life.  ”Why daddy?”  Because, you were born here  It was one of those special moments that I will always remember where I was when I told her…priceless…

As of today, I do have pneumonia, according to the “Tom Jones” of doctors.  Still waiting on the Flu (nasal) results.  Go figure…I workout, take good care of myself, only recently went back to Pop Tarts and I have pneumonia??  Ummm, I can think of a whole bunch that should have it….who knows, maybe all the anti-bacterial stuff didn’t work…well, clearly it didn’t…just gotta ride this out and look forward to getting back to running…

See you in the doctors office….thanks again Jamie….

Including two pop tarts.

Pop-tarts:

There’s nothing really negative to say about the ad itself. It’s cutesy and the kid’s dances are kinda funny the first time. My complaint is that it’s Pop-tarts. Don’t try and suggest that Pop-tarts are a healthy alternative for breakfast. That kid ain’t dancing ’cause he’s happy. He’s hopped up on sugar. Now here on Halloween* I don’t want to suggest that I’m against sugar related products. I just think it’s time to end the charade. Everyone knows it’s worthless food. No one cares. Market it like a candy bar, not as something a mother would be thrilled to give her children.

Aside from that it’s a great ad. Cartoons… sugar… dancing- it’s all there. Perfect Saturday morning fodder.

*I’m long since passed trick or treating, but I still think Pop-tarts are a pretty crummy thing to hand out.

Happy Halloween from Courtney Friel, Fox News’ Morticia! Dressed in black, the former blond bikini Maxim model, seemingly, came back to life on the Live Desk today after her disappearance on September 3 (according to Inside Cable News).* However, like an apparition, her presence was strangely short-lived after she introduced a sound bite mid-story that failed to materialize.

Welcome back, Courtney! Maybe, you can stick around for a while next time.

*Live Desk – 10/30/09 (@2:37 p.m. ET)

One of the saddest things in the world is an empty pop-tart package after you’ve eaten the pop-tarts.  God I love pop-tarts.

We celebrated Emily’s birthday last night with breakup music (?), cookie cake (2/3 frosting, 1/3 cookie), and strawberry pop-tarts (!), as per the birthday girl’s request.  This is why I’m friends with Emily.  (If Emily is reading: this and many other reasons, far too numerous to encompass in a mere blog post…)

One of the happiest things in the world is the (literally) warm fuzzy feeling of brand new sweatpants, especially on a cold gray day.

I bought my new sweatpants before going to my first class of badminton, which I was a little nervous about because it’s like… my first real PE class here.  I shouldn’t have worried.  Nothing, nothing is worse than high school PE class.

It helps that I have some friends in the class, including yet another blog creeper (hey there), and not all of them are badminton pros, so I needn’t have my meager reserves of self-esteem depleted every Tuesday and Thursday.  Also badminton is fun!  And the rackets don’t all suck ass, and it’s only twice a week, and we’re only doing badminton and not floor hockey or softball or seven units of handball as well.  Did I mention that it’s better than high school PE class?

It’s also laundry day, but I’m feeling lazy, so instead of air-drying and making an ordeal of the project, I’m actually using a dryer.  Sorry environment!  Sorry bank account!

Anyway, in other news, I have math homework that needs doing.

Believe it. You can make homemade pop tarts. No more Kellogg’s. Not even Nature’s Path. You can now have your very own pop tarts come right out of the oven (or reheat them in a toaster). Imagine thinly rolled pie dough filled with your favorite filling, accompanied by a cup of morning tea. Well, stop imagining and get rollin’! It’s a bit time consuming but completely worth the effort. You’ll be greatly rewarded in the end!

Ingredients
Source: Adapted from: King Arthur Flour and The Recipe Girl

pastry
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 T. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 large egg
2 T. milk

cinnamon sugar filling
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon, to taste
4 tsp. flour
1 large egg, to brush on pastry before filling

maple glaze
1/3 cup powdered sugar, sifted
2 T. maple syrup
(for regular vanilla glaze, leave out maple and add 2 T. milk, 1/2 tsp of vanilla, then more to taste)

fruit filling
3/4 cup raspberry jam
1 T. cornstarch
1 T. cold water

Directions
pastry
1. Whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt. Pour into food processor, add butter and pulse until the mixture holds together when you squeeze it, with pecan-sized lumps of butter still visible. Pour mixture back into bowl.
2. Mix the egg and milk, and add it to the dough, combining just until everything is cohesive.
3. Divide the dough in half. Shape each half into a rough 3″ x 5″ rectangle, smoothing the edges. Refrigerate a couple hours, overnight or up to 2 days.

filling
1. for the cinnamon sugar: Whisk together the sugar, cinnamon, and flour in a small bowl, set aside.
2. For the fruit: Mix water and cornstarch in small bowl. Add fruit preserves. Bring the mixture to a boil, and simmer, stirring, for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, and set aside to cool.

final assembly
1. If the dough has been chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and allow it to soften and become workable, about 15 to 30 minutes. Place one piece on a lightly floured work surface, and roll it into a rectangle about 1/8″ thick, large enough that you can trim it to an even 9x 12. Laying a 9 x 13 pan or small baking sheet atop the dough will give you an idea if you’ve rolled it large enough.
2. Gently slice sheet of dough into thirds lengthwise and widthwise; you’ll see nine little rectangles.
3. Beat the egg, and brush it over the entire surface of the dough. Place a heaping tablespoon of filling into the center of every other rectangle. Place the second sheet of dough atop the first, using a fork to press firmly around the edge of the rectangle, sealing the dough well on all sides.
4. Gently place the tarts on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Prick the top of each tart multiple times with a fork; you want to make sure steam can escape, or the tarts will become billowy pillows rather than flat toaster pastries. Refrigerate the tarts (they don’t need to be covered) for 30 minutes, while you preheat your oven to 350.
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4 for second half of dough.
6. Remove the tarts from fridge, and bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until they’re a light golden brown. Remove them from the oven, and allow them to cool on the pan.
7. While pop tarts are cooking and cooling, make the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar and maple syrup in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle over pop tarts when completely cool.

Voila!

Kiwi's must now fight to keep New Zealand free.

4:00AM Friday Oct 23, 2009
By Patrick Gower

Sweeping powers to spy, bug conversations and hack into private computers could be given to a web of state agencies as diverse as Inland Revenue and the Meat Board

The Human Rights Commission yesterday warned Parliament of the “chilling” implications of a proposed law that would see the intrusive powers usually only available to the police extended to all agencies with enforcement responsibilities.

It said that under the law, council dog control officers would be able to enter homes to install a surveillance device and the Commerce Commission would be able to detain people.

Inland Revenue would get the powers to assist its tax investigations, while the Meat Board would get them to enforce breaches of export rules.

The Human Rights Commission chief commissioner, Rosslyn Noonan, said the Search Surveillance Bill was giving the powers away to a “grab-bag of every possible agency”.

It is the second major public watchdog to issue a warning about the bill after the Privacy Commissioner last week said it needed more safeguards.

Ms Noonan said the Government needed to justify to the public why it was giving the powers to each agency.

She said while the police were largely respected by the public, and subject to scrutiny and constraints, “most of these other agencies the community as a whole would notknow who they are – and suddenly they are all getting these powers”.

Can Rossyln Noonan Save New Zealand?

Ms Noonan told the justice and electoral select committee search and surveillance were among the state’s most coercive powers and open to abuse if sufficient human rights safeguards are not put in place.

The New Zealand Law Society also objected to the expansion of the powers, citing how the Overseas Investment Office or the Environmental Risk Management Authority could “remotely and covertly access an IT network”.

National MP Chester Borrows, who chairs the select committee, told the Herald it also heard from Law Commission deputy president Warren Young, who wrote the bill and disagreed with the submitters.

He said Dr Young believed it did not give agencies any added powers but merely prescribed how they used what they already had.

Mr Borrows said if that was the intent, the submitters’ views meantthe bill was obviously so unclearthat it would need to be amended.

Ms Noonan raised concerns about the bill’s effect on journalists and their commitment to protecting sources.

She said the bill needed to more explicitly preserve the tradition that journalists should be able to protect confidential sources unless otherwise ordered by a judge.

WHAT’S IN THE BILL

THE POWERS:

Video surveillance, watching private activity on private property, installing tracking devices, detaining people during a search, power to stop vehicles without a warrant for a search, warrantless seizure of “items in plain view”, power to hack into computers remotely, power to detain anyone at scene of search.

WHO WILL GET THEM:

Every agency with enforcement responsibilities, such as: Inland Revenue, Meat Board, local councils, Overseas Investment Office, Accident Compensation Corporation, Environment Risk Management Authority, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Pork Industry Board.

Source: Human Rights Commission, New Zealand Law Society.

Here is a list of the loot I received by mail this week!

• Homemade for the Holidays Recipe Brochure – This brochure has five holiday recipes (I can’t wait to try the Dark Chocolate Lava Drops!). It also has a coupon for $0.55 off two (2) packages of Land O Lakes Butter. Join the Simple Rewards® Club to request the Homemade for the Holidays recipe brochure.
• Back-to-School Basics Planning Calendar and Coupons from Nestle – This planning calendar comes with $20 in Nestle savings, including: Save $2 when you buy two (2) Edy’s® or Dreyer’s Dibs®, Save $1 when you buy one (1) Stouffer’s® Party Size Entrée, Save $1 when you buy two (2) Stouffer’s® French Bread Pizza items, Save $1 when you buy two (2) Nestle® Juicy Juice® All Natural 100% Juice items, Save $1 when you buy two (2) Nestle® Coffee-Mate® Liquid Creamers, 16 oz. or larger, and more!! Expiration dates: 8/1/2009 – 12/31/2009 and 1/1/2010 – 7/31/2010. Fill out this form to receive yours! (Although its not quite “back-to-school” anymore, it isn’t too late to sign up!)
• Home Made Simple Coupon Booklet – This booklet has over $35 in savings, including Save $5 on any one Swiffer® Sweeper Vac® Starter Kit, Buy a Sweeper Starter Kit and Get a FREE REFILL, Save $1 on any one Febreze® Candle, and many more! Sign up here to receive your booklet!
• Juicy Juice Water Bottle - Register with Juicy Juice to receive your FREE 14oz/400ml reusable bottle! This could make a great stocking stuffer!
• Pop-Tarts Sprinklings – I joined Pop-Tarts Sprinklings and received a kids activity, a coupon for $0.55 off one (1) 8-ct package of Blueberry Muffin Pop-Tarts, and a coupon for a FREE 8-ct package of Blueberry Muffin Pop-Tarts! Sign up here for Pop-Tarts Sprinklings.
• Mario Badescu FREE SAMPLES - I signed up for the Mario Badescu newsletter and received SEVEN FREE SAMPES! I don’t think the website mentioned the samples, so I was very surprised to receive them. I can’t wait to try them out. This would also make a great stocking stuffer or addition to a “pampering” gift basket.

I can’t wait to see what I get next week!!

By now you have been inundated with news about flu.  Asian flu, swine flu, one flu over the cuckoo’s nest; if it’s a noun, it’s probably a flu.  Well, in the interest of vindicating the poor pig, I bring you the pork stew. It also has enough tasty accoutrement that it actually may help build the immune system*, thusly vanquishing those nasty flu germs.  Or… the garlic will keep people away from you, and by default reduce the chance you might encounter said germies.

The stew is cooking for now, so I can’t say if it’s a winner or not, but the house smells good. Take that for what it’s worth….

In a slow cooker, put in…

3 big Russet potatoes, washed and cut into bigger than bite sized chunks

4 carrots, peeled and chopped into bite sized chunks

6 pearl onions, no skin thank you very much

6 cloves of garlic, pressed.

1 Tablespoon of whole peppercorns

1 1/2 c. Chicken broth

Pork tenderloin, whatever size suits you, cut into big chunks

Basil, sprinkled on the pork

Slow cooked overnight.  Serve with pop tarts for breakfast.

Okay, the last part was a stretch, but you COULD have pop tarts for breakfast while you watch the stew cook.

Hello, taste buds! Run, germs, run!

* The author of this post is not a medical doctor, not qualified in any way, shape or form to dispense advice on how to build the immune system.  It’s a crap shoot, people. Too much garlic will, however, make people think twice about hanging around you.

Do you think that Pop Tarts and Coke for breakfast contribute to success in school?

I’m thinking beyond the nutritional worthlessness of those two foods.

So, I have been thinking a ton about money. Budgets, specifically. And priorities. Also, pop tarts vs. Toaster Strudel, but that’s a different post altogether.

(Also, hi, if you’re here it’s because I lured you here with my promise of chocolate candy and water bras. Unfortunately, all that’s rally here is a bunch of possibly boring words. I have copied over some of my favorite posts from my current blog and have decided to keep a public blog as well. Why? Why blog publicly when one has a perfectly good private blog that has been operational for over 4 years? Because I am an attention whore. That is all.)

What was I talking about? Right, money. I am an individual who has 3 jobs as I write this. I also have a child and responsibilities that are non money related. To be fair, 2 of my 3 jobs are not even part time, but they require work, none the less. Even with all of this, the truth is we are barely making it. Us and the rest of America. So, I have decided that I need to check out my budget and start making cuts. In an effort to do this, I have been checking out some different frugal blogs for ideas and pictures to steal. Ok, maybe not really pictures. There are a ton of these blogs out there and some of them are really interesting. For example:

However, here is the difference I am finding between myself and many of the authors of these blogs. It seems that many of them chose to quit their jobs to stay home with kids, or other such noble endeavors. I, on the other hand, work like someone is going to take it away from me. This is not a statement on these other blog authors, it is a statement on me. I have always considered the term “stay at home” mom to be kind of an insult. I have STAYED home before. Those women work harder than I EVER will, with all three of my jobs. Raising kids is serious business and it’s hard work, with little thanks. I, on the other hand, get the nice little break of going to work. Yet these people are making it and we are struggling. Hmmmm….

I think there is something to be said for motivation. These other blog authors had something to motivate them to budget. That is, whittling away at their expenses served a greater good that went beyond making ends meet. And I think that is my problem. I am working, doing everything I am supposed to do and still crawling. So the idea of cutting my cable turns me off because we don’t do much else for entertainment. I have several other examples of this kind of thinking but I will spare you the details.

So. I have come to the conclusion that I need some motivation that matters to me. I will never be the mother who stays home, so the idea of cutting back so we can live on one income is not happening. Maybe cutting back so we can put anything I make in savings? That would be nice… Maybe save for an actual vacation, something my son has never had? I don’t know.

So, in conclusion, pop tarts are WAY better than toaster strudel because they leave less mess.

Good morning! So obviously the blog is in transition/rebranding mode, but stick with me. I promise, the content will still be fab! In the spirit of telling it like it is, I’ve decided to do just that. Every day I’ll pick something to
tell you the truth about. Trust me, you’ll like it. (Photos coming soon.) These posts I’ll consider my “soft opening” until I get the blog appearance where I want it to be. The grand opening post is coming soon, with the Truth about your Twenties. I hope you’re sooooo excited! (I am!)

Ok, so the truth about breakfast. (Insert yummy, delicious picture of oatmeal here). I love breakfast. I seriously could eat it all day. Breakfast for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I love it. But really I love the healthy stuff. Whipped banana oatmeal is my favorite. I cook it with half a banana mixed in, add peanut butter and the rest of the banana on top and it’s seriously heaven in my mouth. If you haven’t tried it, you should, immediately.

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I completely agree. I think people that skip breakfast are stupid. Really, really, really stupid. You end up eating MORE calories throughout the day.

And all breakfasts aren’t created equal. This morning over my oatmeal bliss, my mom and I saw an ad for Pop-Tarts. I think the line went something like “When you give your kids Pop-Tarts you’re,” and well, we filled in the blank ourselves. Let’s see you’re filling your kid with refined sugar, empty carbs and calories! Now, I will admit that I ate my fair share of Pop-Tarts and other bad for you breakfasts. But once I educated myself about food you can bet the Pop-Tarts went out the window.

The truth is you should always eat breakfast. But choose wisely. And by wisely, I don’t mean you have to eat cardboard-tasting crap. Throw away the Pop-Tarts and get creative with some healthy favorites (like oatmeal). There’s lots of ways to make your healthy breakfast interesting, filling and delicious.

This submission from Davinia came with only the caption “why I love grocery shopping and waking up late.” I love both of those things too, but all my first meal consists of in the morning is two luke warm cherry Pop Tarts. Something isn’t adding up….

So the weather has taken a turn for the worse here in lovely Tulsa, and by worse I mean unsanely cold.  I’m not going to be able to trick or treat in my Wham hot shorts like I had planned to and oh that is a bummer for all involved I assure you.

As much as I um, dislike the cold, I’ve had dreams of living in Norway recently, so I dunno. 

A few things are going to help me make it through the winter and I’d like to point them out because they are so near to my heart.

The first is Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries cereal and Frosted Cherry Pop Tarts.  You see, I’m not much of a cereal eater by any means, but they had the old Cap’n on special at the local grocery store so I stocked up on it and now I cannot get enough.  As for the Pop Tarts, well I have always loved those, so much so that I once explained my love for them at a Wal-Mart late on Saturday night after I’d drank oh I dunno…four or five Patron shots.  The mixture of cold cereal and warm Pop Tart leads to a perfect comfort food combination.

Another thing that you need on your winter survival kit is beer.  I suggest mixing it up a  bit with beer as well.  Since Oklahoma has an embargo on real American beer, for the most part, I go international.  Get yourself a six pack of Molson Canadian and my new favorite beer – Tona from Nicaragua – and call it a night.

Some people do not believe in karma but I assure you it may exist.  For instance, after a minor argument with a manager at the River Spirit Casino over the set up of the B-52s concert I went to a few weeks back, a very kind person gave me their standby ticket.  As luck would have it, my ticket placed me front row center stage so I could get my new wave pop groove on.  The band puts on an amazing performance and their first two albums are true gems that do not get enough play, it was nice to hear a few songs from those albums as well as some newer tracks and radio singles.

Was talking comic books with some friends a few weeks back and someone told me that Michael Turner (famous for his work on Fathom and Witchblade, among others) had passed away to cancer last year.  This touched me because I spent a good half hour just hanging with the guy at a convention a few years ago as part of a VIP dinner I had purchased – he was a real laid back down to earth guy and I had asked him to draw a Punisher sketch for me.  He told me he had never drawn the Punisher and didn’t want to let me down.  I then asked if he could at least draw the Punisher skull symbol from his costume and he painstakingly tried his best to fulfill my request, but when he was done he apologized and said that I now had ‘perhaps the worst sketch he had ever drawn!’  We got a big laugh out of it and kept on talking comics and life until the event we were at was over.  Thanks for the memories Michael, you will never be forgotten.

In closing, here is what I will look like until March – take good care folks.  Stay warm.

Almost without any hesitation I order the most spicy dish on the menu when I’m out at a restaurant. The feeling, smell, and allure of spices  is so insaciable and exciting that the taste has grown an almost cult obsession among food-lovers. Websites like ScottRobertsWeb.com, Spicyfoodrecipes.com, and Fiery Foods all follow the tastes to an almost religious extent.

In my all-out pursuit of unique and inquisitive tastes I have taken to the world of spicy food more so than any other. And when I (and for that matter anyone else) is home and looking for something, anything to eat that doesn’t involve a microwave or entail the idea of “poverty” in the name (I’m talking to you, Pop Tarts), taking the spicy route is usually a suitable alternative.

Now to be fair out of all the meats that are sitting in a college apartment (if any) it’s unlikely that it would be any kind of seafood. Shrimp is not the cheapest meat in the grocery store and the tastes (some how) just aren’t for everyone, but for those who adore the flavors like I do, going any long periods of time without it is just – well, it sucks. Those in money shortage should look for frozen shrimp when purchasing. And so, as I sat impatiently bored and hungry, I prepared one of my personal favorite dishes, what I call “Hot Bastard Shrimp.”

The recipe is a deviation of Shrimp Fra Diavolo, a spicy Italian dish served with pasta. The “Bastard” version can be served with or without pasta, but to really taste the full-effect try it without. The recipe is as follows:

Ingredients –

Raw, peeled shrimp – 10 per person; (1) crushed garlic clove; (1-2) diced chili peppers (Chile, Jalapeno, ect.); diced parsley; (1/2) white onion, de-bulbed, diced or cut length-wise; (4-6) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved or cut into quarters; salt; black pepper; chili powder; crushed red pepper flakes; lime (or lemon) juice; olive oil; butter.

• Thaw (if needed) and peel the shrimp accordingly, removing the skin and legs. Leave the tails on if desired.
• Add one crushed garlic clove, diced parsley, 1/2 diced white onion, tomatoes, diced chili pepper(s)  salt, black pepper, chili powder, and crushed red pepper in a medium-large sized bowl. Add shrimp and mix ingredients.
• Heat a skillet to medium heat with a teaspoon of butter, 1-2 table spoons of olive oil, salt, and black pepper. Add ingredients.
• Watch shrimp carefully. Done in 8-10 minutes, or until all shrimp have a nice orange-ish coat.
• Serve.

Spicy Bastards

Careful: The food is (or at least should be) generally spicy. You may wanna drink milk with this.

The SEXY List…
1. “Boom” by Anjulie
2. Mike Snow
3. Jack Black Lip Balm
4. Luxury Flannels
5. Louis Vuitton Men’s Wool Scarfs
6. Original Levi’s Denim Jackets
7. Louis Vuitton Mahina Purses
8. THE HOTEL at Mandalay Bay
9. Bling and Cloud Juice Bottled Water
10. Sugar Daddy Candy
11. Cinnamon Pop Tarts
12. “Dry” by Augusten Burroughs
13. “Tulsa” a book of photography by Larry Clark
14. “Party Monster”
15. “Cloudy With a Side of Meatballs”
16. “Staunton Hill”
17. Couture Halloween Costumes
18. Kitson LA
19. Men’s Style.com
20. Peepshow with Holly Madison in Vegas
21. Jesus Luz at Fashion Week
22. Sophia Vergera
23. Monster Quest on The History Channel
24. Chelsea Handler AND Chelsea Lately…of course!