I recently invested in an inexpensive electric toothbrush, and used it for the first time tonight. I know what some must be thinking: Why did you buy an electric toothbrush? And others: What took you so long?
I bought an ET because I wanted my teeth to feel really polished and clean. I waited so long because they are obnoxiously loud in a way that makes them, well, obnoxious. But after using it tonight, I suppose I could put up with the noise because my teeth feel squeaky!
Now I'm wondering, however. I have a thirst for knowledge, one that requires I ask weird questions and know the answer to even the lamest of questions. So, what is the proper way to use an ET? Do you just sort of move it lazily about? Is there a count for each section of teeth? What would get me the most benefit out of it?
I must know!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Batteries
I read somewhere that introverts and extroverts have batteries, but they charge them in different ways. An extrovert's battery is charged when they are the center of things, when they are in a crowd and loving it. An introvert, however, needs solitude in order to recharge their batteries.
It's a pretty good analogy, and I feel that it is definitely accurate. I am an introvert, and even when I'm around a small group of close friends, I get to a point where I would prefer to go home, cuddle up in bed and read a book or veg in front of the TV and watch something from my Netflix cue. Get me around a larger group of people, and I hit that threshold pretty soon - and it's no longer a preference, but a strong urge. I would go so far as to say that I'm quite miserable after an hour in a large group.
Most people don't get this need for solitude, this feeling of emotional exhaustion after having talked, smiled, and socialized for long periods of time. I even feel a bit abnormal, although I know people just like myself. It's just introversion, that's all. I am very blessed to have married a husband that a) is not a party animal, and b) understands me and my need for solitude, most of the time. I love being around him, and often miss him during the day, but sometimes if I've been home all day and still don't feel like doing much of anything, he wonders why I feel the need to stay cooped up.
Sometimes, my batteries need a longer charge, that's all.
Friday, May 27, 2011
What I Wouldn't Do . . .
Since we've been pet sitting - again- for the past two weeks, and I've been out of school, and hubs's car is on the fritz, he's been using my car, and I've been staying home, entertaining myself with computer games, Facebook, and Netflix. This morning I got up, started up my game, and checked my e-mail and Google Reader, as usual. I then picked out a movie I might enjoy, and started that up, as well. That's when my computer died.
You see, my computer is over two years old, so the battery is pretty much useless. If my laptop comes unplugged, the laptop dies. It's REALLY easy to unplug the laptop, especially since the charging port is malfunctioning so the cord has to be positioned *just* right. After a few minutes of muttering and waiting for my laptop to load up - I was happy to find I managed to get my headphones working - I realized that for some reason, my dear lappy wasn't connecting to the internet the way it should automatically. I figured I could go in and do it manually. But no. For some reason, the network was not being detected.
I fiddled with it for awhile, and then realizing this might be a Code Red, called hubby, who works IT. No answer. I tried locating the WiFi hub, to no avail. Another call to hubby, plus a text, and I was all but frantic. What was I going to do for six hours without the internet?!!!??
I consoled myself with the fact that my Nook was still working, and therefore I was not completely bereft of entertainment, but I really wanted my internet back. I remembered, then, that they have their DVD player hooked up to the internet to access Netflix (I know this will be hard to understand, but I prefer watching Netflix on my laptop). I dragged a TV dinner table over next to the TV, and plugged my laptop into the internet old-school style. It worked, of course. But what to use as a chair? I tried an actual computer chair, but I'm very short and it was way too high, and I am too light to push it down, so that idea was out. I then decided that I could drag an old 70's upholstered rocking chair over to my laptop (seriously, this thing could go for a pretty penny on Ebay). After much muscling of a chair that weighs about half of one of me, I settled in, happy as a clam.
I love you, Internet.
Monday, May 23, 2011
My Guide to Surviving in a Bad Horror Movie
Lately I've been into watching scary movies. I've always enjoyed zombie movies, but I've been getting a kick out of supernatural horror recently as well. I've noticed some tropes lately in all of my recent movies that really just grate on my nerves. If I were in such a situation, I would at least try to keep thinking logically. Heck, it'd be a good exercise in staying calm! So, here are the standard fall backs in many a horror film that really just grinds my gears -also, I tend to yell my advice at the characters, so I'll be giving you a taste of that, too.
1. The You're-Obviously Being Herded trope: Oh, what's that? Every door you've tried is locked but this one? Three men are closing in on you and the only direction you can see to go is toward that creepy house over there? You're being herded, like cattle or sheep or any other dumb animal that doesn't realize it's doomed. What I would do about it - take a quick inventory of my surroundings. Are there other options? Is there something I can use as a weapon? Am I faster than my pursuers? Am I smarter than my pursuers? All of these tidbits could keep someone from running into a house possessed by the Ghost of Hannibal Lecter.
2. The He-Seems-So-Nice trope: There is usually some guy that seems extra cool and nice; always there to comfort you when you run screaming from the image in the mirror that smiles when you don't. And then there's the creepy guy that gives you cryptic messages, seems like he hasn't had his meds in awhile, and randomly shows up when you least expect it. Inevitably, because it's human nature, the main character will gladly accept the help of Mr. Nice Guy and shun Creeper Dude. What I would do - trust neither of them. Listen to the "cryptic messages" because even if he IS the bad guy, he almost always gives you hints that come in handy later. But seriously, if Mr. Nice Guy "suggests" he stay over "just to make sure you're safe" tell him no thanks and kick him to the curb. Make sure you have a gun on you first, or a knife at the very least.
3. The I'm-Going-Crazy trope: All of this crazy weird stuff is happening, no one will believe you, you must be crazy, right? Well, probably, but just do what you need to do to survive for the moment and worry about your lithium dosage later. Most of the time the main character lets anyone talk them into the idea that they're crazy, and then it turns out they're totally right, there IS a vengeful demon that wants to kill you, and now you're unprepared. It's OK to be a little crazy and a lot prepared, that's my motto.
4. The I'm-a-Stupid-Bimbo trope: There's no hope for you. Scream, run around, lock yourself in a room without an escape plan. You're going to die anyway.
5. The Bathroom trope: It always happens in the bathroom. It's probably ghosts favorite place to hang out. The main character usually takes a steaming hot bath to "unwind" because everything that's happening is obviously due to stress, and she winds up almost drowned or killed in some weird, unexplainable way. What I would do - take fast showers with a baseball bat very close by. Same with bathroom duties. Do not look in a mirror, because that's where they shut themselves in. Pee like the wind, baseball bat handy. Oh, and keep your wardrobe comfy, season specific, and stretchy. You need to be able to run, and camp outside in case you get chased into some woods, and no one wants to be stuck in the woods in a skimpy tank top when it hits 30 degrees out there.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Zombie Apocalypse Playlist!
OK, so I took this from a site my sister shared called ondtcreepy.livejournal.com, and I thought it seemed fun. The idea: shuffle your favorite playlist.
1st - the overall theme for the apocalypse.
2nd- What plays when you kill your first zombie.
3rd - plays when getting chased by a horde.
4th - plays when you have to kill your loved one (it happens to everyone when the Apocalypse comes).
5th- plays when you find a group of survivors.
6th - plays when you meet a new love interest.
7th - plays when you have to make your final stand.
8th - plays when you *think* you've survived it all.
9th - plays when you discover a bite mark upon your person.
And 10th - End credits! My playlist will never seem so epic! Here we go!!
1. Digging my Own Grave - Thrice (Nice beginning!)
2. Gunpowder and Lead - Miranda Lambert [Killing my first zombie!] (YES!)
3. Viva la Vida - Coldplay [running from a horde] (I can see that)
4. This Ain't a Scene - Fall Out Boy (Well, it makes killing my loved one seem less sad)
5. I hope This Gets to You - The Daylights [Found survivors] (How is this working so well? "I've been searchin'. . . I knew I found what I was looking for. . . etc.)
6. The Call - Regina Spektor [A sweet song, for when I meet my "new love interest"]
7. Crushcrushcrush - Paramore [FINAL STAND!]
8. Playing God - Paramore [I *think* I made it!] (Seriously, it's like I already made my playlist for the apocalypse)
9. Half-Truism - The Offspring [Found my bite mark] ("If we don't make it alright, then it's a helluva good day to die!)
10. Hope - Jack Johnson [And scene!] (My story ends on hope. There WILL be a cure and I will save the world!)
Wow. That's awesome. I'm going to listen to these songs, and imagine myself in the zombie apocalypse movie of my life, and it's going to be EPIC!
Friday, May 20, 2011
What a Character
Many times I find myself identifying with the quirkiest of characters: in TV shows and movies of course. Books present me with someone, but if I can't relate, then the book is not for me. But there was one series that i read as a teen where I related to the main character in ways that were astonishing. Reading her physical description was enough to make me think someone had spied on me; I could have been her twin. Add in the attitude, and we were literature sisters. The series went to TV, but I never got a chance to watch it, until I found it on Netflix. And now I am hooked! At first, I didn't like it. It was nothing like I imagined. It took the main character, Jesse Mastriani, and placed her in a just-after-college setting. And she was nothing like I imagined, which can be quite annoying when a book goes TV or movie on you. But! I've grown to like the characters as themselves, and not just as I saw them once upon a time, and I'm now almost finished with the 2nd season.
Now comes the part about quirky characters. My favorite character happens to be their
supervisor, Assistant director John Pollock. At first, he came over as cocky and selfish. And he is that. His image in the force means a lot to him. He's stubborn and rude, intimidating and demanding. On top of that, he takes a lot of the credit for himself. But, he is amazingly smart: he has some tidbit to say on any and all subjects, and he finds ways to OK things he knows are right, without actually letting down his guard and seeming all warm and cuddly. I like that. He's really grown on me as a character. Witty, smart, tough. He's kind of a jerk, but that's part of his style.
If you want to check out the show, it's called Missing, based on the books by Meg Cabot writing as Jenny Carol - the 1-800-Where-R-You series.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Celebrating Being Over-Achievers
Why does the phrase "over-achiever" manage to convey such disdain, an image of someone with dark straight hair pulled back severely into a velvety headband, primly sitting (with perfect posture, of course) over a pile of books they are methodically going through as they do every evening, sans friends, in order to make the highest A's possible? That's not the image you get? Oh, well. . .
I still say the term "over-achiever" has ridiculously abysmal connotations. I am proud to say that I would put myself in that category. So when final grades were posted, I peered at them with trepidation. Not out of fear that I may not have passed a class: oh no. I knew I passed them all. But if I had made a B? I would have been furious! I know I sound like a person with a high perfection model here, but I will write down what I told my hubby: I did not work and study for a B in any of my classes, I worked for an A.
And I got all A's. And so did hubs! Because we are smart, really. I sometimes have a sneaking suspicion that the professors' vital life force has been stamped out due to the crushing nature of the average college student's desire for learning anything other than how to make the perfect Jagerbomb, and the professors now teach with such low expectations, even the kid who came to class once and failed that test will make at least a D. If the professor sees a particular sparkle in the eye of a young pupil, if he hears a particularly witty or insightful comment, or at least a student that uses the correct jargon, that is an automatic A. My suspicions don't stop me from working hard, anyway.
So, yesterday, Matt and I went to dinner and a movie for finally being able to breathe after the semester. Pasta at Johnny Carino's and (non-3D) Thor were good rewards. So was the cherry chocolate ice cream we bought afterward and ate while we watched anime together.
As for Thor, his character was great. The right amount of cockiness, the right amount of humility, the right amount of self-sacrifice. Loki. . . mmm, not so much. He was just sort of somber and emo, not the Loki I ever had prancing about in my head when I heard the name.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
I Am a Chef!
My hubby worked all day today, and is now fulfilling his calling by going to a meeting at church that probably won't end until 9, so I thought of a bevy of things that I could do to contribute to the family life and well-being. I started by looking for temporary job opportunities. Not easy, considering it will have to work around my school schedule, and I can only be an employee for about 6 months since we'll be moving in January. Then, I went online and did a bit of research, finding a website that allows me to brainstorm a shopping list before we go to the store. This is important, considering that a lot of times we forget we need something or we end up buying something we need, but didn't put on the list. (If it's not on the list, it annoys me when we have to buy it. It must be on the list!!!) Then I found that I can shop online for deals and steals, and print coupons for my local grocery store. I saved each of these sites in my bookmarks. Now I feel competent in being able to save us some money. Then, I cooked dinner!
This is not something to be read and overlooked. I do not cook. I hate cooking, and I often injure myself in the process. But again, I wanted to let Matt sit and enjoy his moments off. So, I threw together some healthy pasta (gross! No matter what people tell you, wheat pasta is never delicious). I browned some pork sausage and threw it in with some tomato sauce. All of this was random foodstuffs I found around the house we're once again pet sitting. At the last minute, I threw a couple of tiny cans of corn in the empty pasta pot and heated it up with some butter and salt. Served it up, and got a good review (from a scale of 1 to 5, one being inedible and 5 being delicious, I got a 4 - pretty good).
I also fed all of the animals and water every dead plant that is around, because they apparently need watering. All in all, I felt satisfied, knowing that I was doing what I could to contribute.
"I try to be my best." - Dollhouse
OMG, Pwnies!
A few weekends ago, Matt had a work thing. I'm not really sure what else to call it. Just a work sponsored get together for all employees. He was given free tickets, and we were on our way! Since I didn't know what to expect, I had no expectations one way or the other of the day would be. Until we pulled into the parking lot, and he said, "Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention. There's pony rides."
SQUEE!!!! I immediately became over-excited and planned out my day. "Ok, first we get some food, then I get to ride a pony!" I had a delicious chili cheese dog, and then I went back outside, where I let the tiny children go first on the pony rides while I amused myself with a tiny goat and a small pot bellied pig. After trying to convince hubs to let us get the pig (only $60!), we went back inside to do other things until the pony ride line went down.
Like a kid in a candy store, I went about looking at the different booths. Unfortunately, most of them were for children 10 and under (they had signs! :( ). I found one booth offering free caricature drawings, of which I made hubby sit through. Another one let me get my face painted with a large and awesome four leaf clover. Back outside, I got to ride Daphne, a beautiful blonde and tan pony. She was the smallest one, but they assured me I would not hurt her. Lol. It helps that I weigh about as much as a ten year old. We played Bingo last; we lost. I was frustrated, and Matt was amused at how competitive I was over the whole ordeal. I honestly would have stolen his board if he'd gotten Bingo. :P
It was a fantastic day. I told Matt that I felt bad for dragging him around to things I wanted to do and not really letting him do anything, but he said there was nothing he'd like to do, so he was just letting me have my fun day. :)
Pwnies!!!!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Busy Bee
I've been really busy with school and whatnot lately, it seems, and for that reason I haven't gotten to read as much as I would like to. Which makes me sad. But, I am currently reading a book (a real book! A dead tree, with its accompanying sounds of pages turning, smells of ink and paper, book!) called English Trifle. I am really enjoying the book; its such a nice read. The main character, Sadie, is a bit older, but she is very easy to relate to as she is young at heart. With her culinary skills, and her penchant for getting into sticky situations, not to mention her laudable curiosity, she weaves her way stubbornly through snobby English aristocracy to solve the unexpected murder of one of the "staff" of a noble family. I placed staff in quotations, because apparently the staff and the nobles/guests of nobles most decidedly do not mix, and so this murder is at first ignored! Also, they think she and her daughter are gold diggers and merely want to stay and insinuate themselves into the family. What better way to do that than to lie about a murder, right? *cough*Brits are stupid*cough*. Another plus: this book shares Sadie's recipes for everything from English Trifle to Wake 'Em Up Casserole, so it also serves as a cookbook. Yay!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Fallacy of Fashion
I've just discovered the amazing entertainment I derive from reading the descriptions of clothes, home decor, accessories, etc. in catalogues. Can I have the job of making clothes seem tranformative?
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Creativity
I decided to see what this polyvore.com thing was all about, et viola! A bit of randomness to show how I see myself. This is abstract, so don't think too hard about it! ;)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Fashion
I have a lot of passions, not all of them exactly geeky. For instance, cute shoes. Which sort of leads into my post: I've been making note of different fashions around my little city, and I've decided that I'm going to try to guess What's Hot for Spring! Seriously, if I'm right, I might have a gift or something. I'll deserve to be on retainer as a consultant for some fashion magazine, and they will pay me in cute shoes and Dr. Pepper.
First up: what I have deemed as Neon Chic!
Pairing bright colors with neutral tones for really cute, eye-catching outfits and accessories. I took note of this first when I passed by a girl sporting a super cute pair of sunglasses, in neon yellow. I hate neon colors, but these rocked! Then, not long after, a woman wearing a sort of lime green blouse, with a cute beige pencil skirt and beige leather pumps walked by. I can see this catching on quick!
Next: Roman Cute Shoes
This strappy style can dress up an outfit, or just make it flirty. And it's everywhere!
And last but not least: Free Flowing Tops!
Pair these with more form fitting skirts or leggings, and you are ready to be the hottest thing to walk the sidewalks, whether it's in the university, or while shopping for more clothes in a chic boutique! (By the way, ignore some of the models. They make the cute clothes look less cute. Just notice the clothes!!)
Well, what do YOU think is going to be fashions hottest new thing?
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
That's the Word
Ever since I can remember, I've had this insatiable curiosity to explore things. When I was very small, I climbed around with my sister in an old creek behind our house, finding rocks, holes, and new places to look at. If it seemed out of reach, I would try to reach it through any way I could, including shimmying across fallen tree trunks and jumping onto half-submerged rocks. Unbelievably, I only fell twice. Once, when I was four. Another time, when I got distracted. That was a larger tumble, but I stood up from the bottom of the creek (having just rolled down many feet of large boulders and jagged rocky outcroppings) and simply said I was okay. No blood, no broken bones, no pain.
When I was seven my family went to visit friends in Utah. We climbed up canyon walls and crawled through tunnels; looked around small caves; explored old Native American dwellings with other folk there for the touristy stuff. At one point, our dads and all of us girls went all over exploring on our own on a separate day. The one moment that sticks in my mind the most is when I looked to the horizon and asked what "those buildings" were. They were Native American houses, built right into the rock wall of a mountain. Excited, I asked if we could go see. Next thing I remember, we were on our way. Through tall brush that reached my waist, until we came to a barbed wire fence and a sign. NO TRESPASSING. Ha. My dad and his friend held the barbed wire and helped us girls climb or crawl over and through the fence, then stepped over it themselves and followed. We had been walking a few minutes;we were getting so close! And I was so excited. Then we heard gun shots. I don't remember what was said or how we got back to the fence, but I remember being picked up and practically tossed over the barbed wire. We made it back to the car, and I laughed, exclaiming, "That was *awesome*!" Our dads laughed at fearless Geek Girl.
When I moved to my current home city, a friend of mine told me of a haunted, abandoned building. All set to go, we made it almost there. There was a catch, however. He stopped the car beside an old house and got out. I followed his example and got out of the car I was in. My sister, the driver, refused to budge. Apparently, we had to walk from where we were. I almost grabbed a flash flight from him, but then my sister insisted she would stay. She was too freaked out. Well, one does not leave a sister behind. So, we got back in the cars and left. I still want to go check that place out. . .
Recently, we took a tour of an old battleship here in town. Of course, there are dozens of sectioned off hallways, doorways, stairways, and rooms. At one point, I was craning my neck, struggling to see down one darkened, roped off hallway. DO NOT CROSS. "What do you think is down there," I asked my dad. He gave a nonchalant shrug and replied, "Go see." So I did.
Not long after I went on my little exploring mission, one minute tops, a voice on the intercom announced that we cannot cross ropes and chains. "This is for your safety." We laughed.
The point of all this is, I've always had this penchant for getting into new places, exploring, discovering. And there's a word for the hobby now! Urban Exploration. ;)
Monday, April 18, 2011
There's an App for That
- Workouts - Workouts is a collection of 5 and 10 minute workout videos from Youtube. You choose which one you want to use, and go to town. My current faves out of the long list is the 5 minute warm-up, the 5 minute butt workout, the 5 minute kick-boxing cardio, and the 10 minute no equipment workout. On top of these awesome, provided videos, it has 10 or so spaces where you can link your very own personal Youtube favorite workout; then just open the app, tap on your video, and away it goes!
- Waterlogged - Waterlogged is pretty simple. You can take a picture of your favorite glass or mug, input how many ounces it holds, and save it. When you use your glass, you go to the app, tap "record drink" and find your glass. Tap record again, et viola! It shows you how much water you have had, and how much more you need to go to reach the recommended 64 ounces. It even has a tall glass that visually adds "water" so you can see how far you've come. It also provides you with a reminder at the time specified: I set mine for the afternoon because that's when I'm least likely to drink it. My personal best? 21 ounces. Lol. That's almost there! :P
- Healthy Eating - Healthy Eating concentrates more on eat your food groups, instead of calories, carbs, etc. I went online to find my recommended intake of calories. You set that sucker up, and it shows you your food groups and how much you need in your diet to meet your dietary needs. It even gives you an idea of what a serving is, and helpful "favorites" to give you something to try. To record what you've eaten, just tap the picture: the apple to record your fruits, the carrot to record your veggies, and so. I like it because I can see my goal being achieved right in front of me.
- Optumize Me - Optumize Me (I'm spelling it the way THEY spell it, so leave it alone!)is more of a social app. Other users come up with "challenges." You can choose to join the challenges, and record your progress. The app will give you awards for achieving different things, and shows your progress via a progress bar under each challenge you belong to. Currently, I am doing the "H2You challenge" - drink 64 ounces a day (because, why not feel accomplished TWICE?), the "Sleep Early" challenge - go to bed every night before midnight for a year. This one has been tough, but I've managed well so far; the "Park Further" challenge - Just park in the first spot you come to, basically causing you to walk further to reach class, the store, or whatever; the "Cleaning" challenge - clean your house for four hours every week. Cleaning is not only a good form of productive exercise, your house will always look good! I actually love this app and have recently joined a new challenge on positive thinking, which will start in 2 days.
- Last, but not least, is the Passometer. The Passometer is just a pedometer; it counts your steps, it times you, it shows how fast you are walking currently and your average pace in mph, it shows you how many calories you've burned during that walk, and the distance in feet you have gone. Today, I walked a collective 1022 steps, burning 20.35 calories, at an average speed of 1.39 mph (a lot of times I had to slow down, because I use stairs.) I walked half a mile. Not bad, considering it was all my normal walking that I do to get to and from classes and work. Also, it didn't record my steps when I got to school because I pushed the wrong button, so it's a little off today.
I'm allowed to have a goal, reasonable or not!
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