Some of you readers (all 5 of you) may remember a post last summer about a squirrel I saw giving birth. Well, I had to include an update about what I heard on the radio today.
Apparently, 3 baby squirrels were found who had been abandoned, or had fallen out of the nest or something, and someone had the brilliant idea - get this - to give the squirrels to a Poodle named Pixie to nurse back to health! She had just had her own puppies, and was still nursing them, so they just did a bait and switch on the poodle. And I guess they got raised by this dog for like a month and now they're ready to be released back into the wild.
WHA?!?!?!
Is that not the craziest thing you've ever heard? I had so many questions: first of all - what about those sharp squirrel teeth? ouch! Maybe they don't grow in for a while. Second - who the hell came up with this idea? Third - is this going to totally mess with the squirrels sense of what's what in the wild? Or mess with Pixie's?
It's certainly messing with mine.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Pumping Iron (metaphorically of course!)
I went to the gym after work today. I wanted to "go to the gym" in the sense that I wanted to be able to say on Tuesday that I had gone, but I didn't actually want to DO anything. But, my wise friend Shaina once told me a great trick - that you just tell yourself that you'll go for 15 minutes. So there's no pressure, no mandatory outcome; you just go to the gym and be there for 15 minutes - the idea being that once you're on the treadmill for 15 minutes you'll think "Well, I'm already here so why not do 15 more?" etc. My sister thought that idea was "bullshit", and had the opinion that "If I'm only going there for 15 minutes, what's the freakin' point?" Which makes sense, but I think she was being a little literal. Sorry Em.
So I decided to be really easy on myself, and not have any expectations but just do whatever I could do and leave it at that. I think I literally lapped the gym 3 full times (yes, Perky on the treadmill, I've already walked past you twice - get over it!) until I landed on something I actually wanted to do. It's one of my exercises from physical therapy that I do with a big rubber band in the hallway. Not in some actually workout space but in this hallway. I think I like to do these because everyone looks at me like I'm a weirdo, although all I'm actually doing is side-stepping down a hall with a big rubber band. Oh, and sweating profusely of course.
People often just freeze when they see me. Like they don't know which way to go around me, and so they just freeze like I'm some out-of-control piece of equipment that might hit them if they get too close to it. Granted I'm a little uncoordinated but I'm moving about 4 inches per step. It's like the slow-motion steam roller standoff in Austin Powers. So anyways, that put me in a good mood, so I did my hamstring curls with the big ball. Then I did some abs on the big ball but that's hard to do without flashing your crotch to the whole gym is it not? So anyway, I just did one little exercise after the other, and next thing you know, I'd done all of them! (Well - except for the one-legged toe touches because I have terrible balance and look like an absolute GIMP doing those and so never do in public. Unless I'm waiting for a bus but that's because it looks like I'm falling into traffic and drivers get nervous. Ha!)
Moral of the story - the 15 minute thing really does work. Second Moral of the story - A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
So I decided to be really easy on myself, and not have any expectations but just do whatever I could do and leave it at that. I think I literally lapped the gym 3 full times (yes, Perky on the treadmill, I've already walked past you twice - get over it!) until I landed on something I actually wanted to do. It's one of my exercises from physical therapy that I do with a big rubber band in the hallway. Not in some actually workout space but in this hallway. I think I like to do these because everyone looks at me like I'm a weirdo, although all I'm actually doing is side-stepping down a hall with a big rubber band. Oh, and sweating profusely of course.
People often just freeze when they see me. Like they don't know which way to go around me, and so they just freeze like I'm some out-of-control piece of equipment that might hit them if they get too close to it. Granted I'm a little uncoordinated but I'm moving about 4 inches per step. It's like the slow-motion steam roller standoff in Austin Powers. So anyways, that put me in a good mood, so I did my hamstring curls with the big ball. Then I did some abs on the big ball but that's hard to do without flashing your crotch to the whole gym is it not? So anyway, I just did one little exercise after the other, and next thing you know, I'd done all of them! (Well - except for the one-legged toe touches because I have terrible balance and look like an absolute GIMP doing those and so never do in public. Unless I'm waiting for a bus but that's because it looks like I'm falling into traffic and drivers get nervous. Ha!)
Moral of the story - the 15 minute thing really does work. Second Moral of the story - A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Standing at the fork in the road
If you haven't seen Idlewild, the Outkast Musical, you are missing out on something really cool. Good music, a flashy production, Andre 3000 being totally "deep", and a hilarious animated rooster, second only in animated rooster movie fame to Chanticleer from Rock-A-Doodle. (The line "We're trapped like rats!" had me laughing for most of 1991.)
No, I didn't recently see Idlewild - I OBVIOUSLY saw it opening day back in 2006, having planned to go see it opening day for weeks beforehand. If I remember correctly there were less than 6 of us in the whole theater - but it was also daytime during a workday. But I started thinking about Idlewild in the car on Monday, and how I wished other favorite musicians would do movie musicals.
Enrique Iglesias kind of did one - but he wasn't really the star of Once Upon A Time in Mexico, and it wasn't a musical so I guess that doesn't count. Madonna did Evita which I loved at the time, and have loved every other time I've seen it, but she didn't create it herself. Pretty sure I saw that one opening night too. What I was thinking in the car was that I would really love to see Indigo Girls: The Musical. How awesome would that be?? It would have angry daughters, rebellious Angelenos, and a Chickenman. I hope they are reading this blog - Hey Emily and Amy! Think about it!
No, I didn't recently see Idlewild - I OBVIOUSLY saw it opening day back in 2006, having planned to go see it opening day for weeks beforehand. If I remember correctly there were less than 6 of us in the whole theater - but it was also daytime during a workday. But I started thinking about Idlewild in the car on Monday, and how I wished other favorite musicians would do movie musicals.
Enrique Iglesias kind of did one - but he wasn't really the star of Once Upon A Time in Mexico, and it wasn't a musical so I guess that doesn't count. Madonna did Evita which I loved at the time, and have loved every other time I've seen it, but she didn't create it herself. Pretty sure I saw that one opening night too. What I was thinking in the car was that I would really love to see Indigo Girls: The Musical. How awesome would that be?? It would have angry daughters, rebellious Angelenos, and a Chickenman. I hope they are reading this blog - Hey Emily and Amy! Think about it!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
signs!
So I've noticed two signs lately that I thought deserve mention on here. The first (and I will try and add a picture later) was one I parked next to when I was in Fredericksburg last Friday with my friend Andrea. Now, I have long held that Fredericksburg, VA is THE cutest down in America, and I challenge you to visit and not agree with me. Andrea became a believer after our little afternoon at Sammy T's. Can't visit but want more proof? Here is what the sign said:
City of Fredericksburg Department of Public Education
(and underneath)
Word of the Month
(and this is the WOTM that was hanging underneath the sign): Kindness
!!!
I think the world needs more signs like this. What an odd, but touching little message, no?
The second sign was not so uplifting. I was at the library, and spotted it on the community bulletin board. I took a photo of it with my phone because I just thought "Someone else has GOT to see this".
It said: "Do your child need tutoring in reading and math?"
Really? AND the best part was that it had little tabs at the bottom with the tutor's name and number, and all but 1 was missing! I thought to myself that I've just discovered an incredible market - 10+ people want to hire this person to teach their children! WHY am I not getting in on the action?
Durham Public Library Word of the Month: Proofreading
City of Fredericksburg Department of Public Education
(and underneath)
Word of the Month
(and this is the WOTM that was hanging underneath the sign): Kindness
!!!
I think the world needs more signs like this. What an odd, but touching little message, no?
The second sign was not so uplifting. I was at the library, and spotted it on the community bulletin board. I took a photo of it with my phone because I just thought "Someone else has GOT to see this".
It said: "Do your child need tutoring in reading and math?"
Really? AND the best part was that it had little tabs at the bottom with the tutor's name and number, and all but 1 was missing! I thought to myself that I've just discovered an incredible market - 10+ people want to hire this person to teach their children! WHY am I not getting in on the action?
Durham Public Library Word of the Month: Proofreading
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Life echoing art
When I log in to my ING account, I have to do the following:
1) type in my customer number
2) answer two questions like "who is your mother's mother" or "what was your high school mascot"
3) correctly identify my secret picture
4) correctly identify my secret word
I LOVE doing this - and i think it's because i LOVE obstacle courses. Always have - you can make up an obstacle course under virtually any circumstances, and as a kid, I did just that.
The ultimate obstacle course, of course (!!), is the one from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Indy has to 1) avoid getting his head chopped off by the crazy gauntlet of swords and blades, 2) spell out God's name (in GREEK - duh!), and then, my favorite part, 3) pick out Jesus's cup from the last supper. I freakin' love this part of the movie.
And every time I successfully traverse the minefield of my ING account, I feel a little like I am in that movie and just found the cup of eternal life.
1) type in my customer number
2) answer two questions like "who is your mother's mother" or "what was your high school mascot"
3) correctly identify my secret picture
4) correctly identify my secret word
I LOVE doing this - and i think it's because i LOVE obstacle courses. Always have - you can make up an obstacle course under virtually any circumstances, and as a kid, I did just that.
The ultimate obstacle course, of course (!!), is the one from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Indy has to 1) avoid getting his head chopped off by the crazy gauntlet of swords and blades, 2) spell out God's name (in GREEK - duh!), and then, my favorite part, 3) pick out Jesus's cup from the last supper. I freakin' love this part of the movie.
And every time I successfully traverse the minefield of my ING account, I feel a little like I am in that movie and just found the cup of eternal life.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
fat tax
So I read in the paper today that NC is going to start implementing increased health insurance fees for state employees who smoke or who have a BMI over 40. How about that? I keep going back and forth on how I feel about this. Is it totally unfair? Does it discriminate about fat people and addicts? Does it discriminate against the poor who don't have access to healthy food and can't afford gym memberships? Or don't have anything but convenience stores from which to buy food in their neighborhood?
I was born with a high metabolism, and I'm naturally thin. I can sit around and eat taco bell all day and not work out, and sure, I'll pack on a few (anyone who saw me at the senior prom would know that!) but I won't get a BMI over 40 that's for sure. So how is that fair?
BUT, when I was filling out insurance info for my new job, I saw how men pay nearly HALF of what women pay for the insurance program at my office. It isn't until women reach 50 I think that they pay less than men. So obviously it's luck of the draw if you're born a man or woman, and that discrepancy is allowed - based on the cost of care.
If you're going to charge people more for voluntarily (quotes around that or no quotes) putting themselves in a position where they will likely require more medical care, why not bump up the charges when someone becomes pregnant? Seriously. That situation will definitely put you in the hospital.
Thoughts?
I was born with a high metabolism, and I'm naturally thin. I can sit around and eat taco bell all day and not work out, and sure, I'll pack on a few (anyone who saw me at the senior prom would know that!) but I won't get a BMI over 40 that's for sure. So how is that fair?
BUT, when I was filling out insurance info for my new job, I saw how men pay nearly HALF of what women pay for the insurance program at my office. It isn't until women reach 50 I think that they pay less than men. So obviously it's luck of the draw if you're born a man or woman, and that discrepancy is allowed - based on the cost of care.
If you're going to charge people more for voluntarily (quotes around that or no quotes) putting themselves in a position where they will likely require more medical care, why not bump up the charges when someone becomes pregnant? Seriously. That situation will definitely put you in the hospital.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
security
transition... transition. I keep hearing this word in my head to the tune of "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof. And I like to think that mine would be just a little easier if I had some Jewish grandma's nagging me or a joyful Papa in the barn. Alas.
So I am now in Durham, as of 9 days ago. I am in a beautiful old house, built in 1907 my new roommate tells me, in what I might describe as a "transitional" neighborhood. Prior to my arrival my roommate had a security system installed after a shooting at the nearby library freaked her out. (Um.. guys - you can put the guns down - the books are FREE) This thing is rapidly becoming the bane of my existence. This morning for instance, I came downstairs and squared my shoulders with the little meter on the wall and just stared at it. Is it OFF + code? Do I type the code first? If I pick the wrong one, will I get another chance to disarm or will the cops come? Should I wake my roommate up to ask her this? I finally decide the "safe" solution is to turn the thing off, and then turn it back on again so I can leave. Wrong option - I got out okay but when Clare got up, she set it off - doh!
At my old house, we had a tv, dvd player, dvr, xbox, and a wii all set up on an (I'm told) elegant and easy system with one remote for everything. You could watch regular tv, watch a recorded show, pull a Netflix movie up, play a video game, and access someone's computer files all using one remote, and while sitting on the couch with your feet up. Or at least that was the IDEA. For me, I nearly always had a problem with it. For example, there were three (3!!) seperate ways to turn up the volume (which was never loud enough for me... we Brandeses like it loud!). These were the tv volume, cable volume, and "auxilary" volume. Having lived with this system for over a year and having been trained on its use 20+ times, I admit I don't know how to turn up auxilary volume. Of course all of this hassle would only happen if I could actually find the remote. When I couldn't, I would throw an honest-to-god, if-this-ever-got-out-on-youtube-i'd-lose-all-my-friends tantrum while I tore apart the living room looking for it. Am I alone in this? NOTHING gets me fired up so fast, and so explosively like a missing remote - I suspect there are those of you out there who would admit the same.
So what's up with these buttons that leaves me so stumped? Have I become so used to having a little "answer bubble" pop up every time I see a button that they have lost meaning outside that context? Maybe it's button-overload. I like to think it's just that I'm a "people person", but I suspect it's that the buttons and codes just don't have enough tangible meaning for me to bother remembering them.
So I am now in Durham, as of 9 days ago. I am in a beautiful old house, built in 1907 my new roommate tells me, in what I might describe as a "transitional" neighborhood. Prior to my arrival my roommate had a security system installed after a shooting at the nearby library freaked her out. (Um.. guys - you can put the guns down - the books are FREE) This thing is rapidly becoming the bane of my existence. This morning for instance, I came downstairs and squared my shoulders with the little meter on the wall and just stared at it. Is it OFF + code? Do I type the code first? If I pick the wrong one, will I get another chance to disarm or will the cops come? Should I wake my roommate up to ask her this? I finally decide the "safe" solution is to turn the thing off, and then turn it back on again so I can leave. Wrong option - I got out okay but when Clare got up, she set it off - doh!
At my old house, we had a tv, dvd player, dvr, xbox, and a wii all set up on an (I'm told) elegant and easy system with one remote for everything. You could watch regular tv, watch a recorded show, pull a Netflix movie up, play a video game, and access someone's computer files all using one remote, and while sitting on the couch with your feet up. Or at least that was the IDEA. For me, I nearly always had a problem with it. For example, there were three (3!!) seperate ways to turn up the volume (which was never loud enough for me... we Brandeses like it loud!). These were the tv volume, cable volume, and "auxilary" volume. Having lived with this system for over a year and having been trained on its use 20+ times, I admit I don't know how to turn up auxilary volume. Of course all of this hassle would only happen if I could actually find the remote. When I couldn't, I would throw an honest-to-god, if-this-ever-got-out-on-youtube-i'd-lose-all-my-friends tantrum while I tore apart the living room looking for it. Am I alone in this? NOTHING gets me fired up so fast, and so explosively like a missing remote - I suspect there are those of you out there who would admit the same.
So what's up with these buttons that leaves me so stumped? Have I become so used to having a little "answer bubble" pop up every time I see a button that they have lost meaning outside that context? Maybe it's button-overload. I like to think it's just that I'm a "people person", but I suspect it's that the buttons and codes just don't have enough tangible meaning for me to bother remembering them.
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