Helpful hint: wrap skirt + windy day + 4 bags of groceries = bad idea
However, it did result in my inventing something: a button at about knee
level on the outside edge of a wrap skirt! Unfortunately, I don't know how
to make buttonholes. Fortunately, I think my mommy does. Yes, I'm so inept
at the whole "physically making stuff" thing that I still have to go crying
to my mommy when I want to alter a garment.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
It seems that, through jurilinguistic fluke , same-sex marriage is legal in
Ontario, but same-sex divorce is not.
That has me wondering: how do people who are opposed to same-sex marriage
feel about same-sex divorce? What about people who are opposed to same-sex
marriage but are also opposed to divorce in general?
Ontario, but same-sex divorce is not.
That has me wondering: how do people who are opposed to same-sex marriage
feel about same-sex divorce? What about people who are opposed to same-sex
marriage but are also opposed to divorce in general?
Things they should invent: exercise television. All exercise shows, all the time. Not shows about exercising, shows where the people on TV are exercising and the viewer at home is supposed to follow along.
Why? Well, I find that for myself, personally, the only way I can get myself to exercise is by following exercise shows on TV. I like doing this because I can exercise in the privacy of my own home, there's little to no cost for me, and the exercises presented are sufficiently random so I don't have to do the same thing every day and I don't always know what's coming. I know exercise shows aren't the best workouts in the world, but they are the only ones that I end up actually doing, so that makes them the best option.
Now I can't be the only one who feels this way about exercising. I'm sure there are a lot of people who wouldn't mind having the opportunity to exercise in the privacy of their own homes, at their leisure. However, in my area at least, exercise shows are only on TV at one specific time, around 6:00 a.m. Now this happens to fit into my schedule, but I'm sure there are some people who have to leave the house early or work shifts or whatnot and simply can't make the time to exercise at that particular time of day. This is where Exercise Television comes in.
Exercise Television would show only exercise shows, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There would be strict alternation between shows featuring cardio, strength, and flexibility exercises, so if the viewer watches for any 90 straight minutes they'd get all three. There would be maybe three 8-hour cycles or four 6-hour cycles every day, so if someone wants to catch a particular show they have several opportunities, but no one episode would be shown two days in a row so viewers don't find themselves doing the exact same thing every day. The channel could pad out their programming by buying up old PBS exercise shows that are all retro 70s or 80s but still perfectly good exercise. They could show commercials only between the shows so as not to interrupt anyone's workout. If necessary, they could even become a pay channel - I'm sure people who are interested would pay something like $5 per month to be able to exercise at home at any time of the day. What would be better is if whatever gov't department or agency is responsible for getting Canadians to exercise (those demons who came up with Canada Fitness!) subsidized this channel and made sure it was broadcast on every television service.
Why? Well, I find that for myself, personally, the only way I can get myself to exercise is by following exercise shows on TV. I like doing this because I can exercise in the privacy of my own home, there's little to no cost for me, and the exercises presented are sufficiently random so I don't have to do the same thing every day and I don't always know what's coming. I know exercise shows aren't the best workouts in the world, but they are the only ones that I end up actually doing, so that makes them the best option.
Now I can't be the only one who feels this way about exercising. I'm sure there are a lot of people who wouldn't mind having the opportunity to exercise in the privacy of their own homes, at their leisure. However, in my area at least, exercise shows are only on TV at one specific time, around 6:00 a.m. Now this happens to fit into my schedule, but I'm sure there are some people who have to leave the house early or work shifts or whatnot and simply can't make the time to exercise at that particular time of day. This is where Exercise Television comes in.
Exercise Television would show only exercise shows, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There would be strict alternation between shows featuring cardio, strength, and flexibility exercises, so if the viewer watches for any 90 straight minutes they'd get all three. There would be maybe three 8-hour cycles or four 6-hour cycles every day, so if someone wants to catch a particular show they have several opportunities, but no one episode would be shown two days in a row so viewers don't find themselves doing the exact same thing every day. The channel could pad out their programming by buying up old PBS exercise shows that are all retro 70s or 80s but still perfectly good exercise. They could show commercials only between the shows so as not to interrupt anyone's workout. If necessary, they could even become a pay channel - I'm sure people who are interested would pay something like $5 per month to be able to exercise at home at any time of the day. What would be better is if whatever gov't department or agency is responsible for getting Canadians to exercise (those demons who came up with Canada Fitness!) subsidized this channel and made sure it was broadcast on every television service.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Reasons why I am grumpy:
1. Everyone gets to be nocturnal except me.
2. I have a zit in my eyebrow, which not only hurts but also messes up my
eyebrow grooming. Not to mention that I should have outgrown zits by now.
3. I bought the wrong shampoo.
4. There was apparently a torrential thunderstorm this afternoon and I
missed the whole thing except for a few thunderclaps because there is no
window in my office.
5. Various political things I can't discuss here.
6. Every day when I go to collect my morning newspaper, the carpet outside
my apartments looks more and more unravelled. I have no idea how this is
happening. It looks like it's my fault because it's right outside my
apartment, but it isn't - I never even walk on that section of the carpet!
1. Everyone gets to be nocturnal except me.
2. I have a zit in my eyebrow, which not only hurts but also messes up my
eyebrow grooming. Not to mention that I should have outgrown zits by now.
3. I bought the wrong shampoo.
4. There was apparently a torrential thunderstorm this afternoon and I
missed the whole thing except for a few thunderclaps because there is no
window in my office.
5. Various political things I can't discuss here.
6. Every day when I go to collect my morning newspaper, the carpet outside
my apartments looks more and more unravelled. I have no idea how this is
happening. It looks like it's my fault because it's right outside my
apartment, but it isn't - I never even walk on that section of the carpet!
Sunday, July 18, 2004
So I'm buying some items in a lingerie store. As the cashier goes through her normal transaction spiel, she asks me "Did you find the right sizes?"
This is a very strange question to ask in a lingerie store. Lingerie is a very finicky item of clothing that only works if it's the right size. Why would I be buying things if I didn't find the right sizes? Do they think someone's going to say "Actually, you were plum out of 36D, so I decided to make due with this 32A instead." I wonder what they were thinking when they put that in the script?
However, I am very happy. I got two bras for only $32, and I spent less than 30 minutes in the store. Some La Senza products have small cup sizes, so if you happen to be a half size like me, going to La Senza and getting an item in the larger cup size might help.
This is a very strange question to ask in a lingerie store. Lingerie is a very finicky item of clothing that only works if it's the right size. Why would I be buying things if I didn't find the right sizes? Do they think someone's going to say "Actually, you were plum out of 36D, so I decided to make due with this 32A instead." I wonder what they were thinking when they put that in the script?
However, I am very happy. I got two bras for only $32, and I spent less than 30 minutes in the store. Some La Senza products have small cup sizes, so if you happen to be a half size like me, going to La Senza and getting an item in the larger cup size might help.
Someone remind me in mid-August to sign up for my class at U of T please?
Now that I've sorted out the application process and been accepted and decoded the calendar and taken a brief detour to drool over the assortment of linguistics courses available, I have no need to think about it until my enrolment date, and if anything else requiring my attention comes up between now and then I might forget about it completely!
Now that I've sorted out the application process and been accepted and decoded the calendar and taken a brief detour to drool over the assortment of linguistics courses available, I have no need to think about it until my enrolment date, and if anything else requiring my attention comes up between now and then I might forget about it completely!
Saturday, July 17, 2004
I try to blog about any new products and services I've tried that I either
like or don't like, but I keep forgetting to blog about my best discovery in
recent weeks: CBC Radio One.
I've never been too fond of radio in general; I find most radio programming
either obnoxious or dull, and hold a particular animosity towards radio
commercials. However, I do find it's the best thing to wake up to in the
morning because it eases me out of sleep more gently than an alarm. For
years I never listened to CBC because I have it mentally associated with
long, nauseating car rides, but when I was in Quebec in June I needed a
radio station to wake up to and found myself faced with a dial full of
unfamiliar stations and no internet on which to look them up, so I tuned in
to the English CBC just because I knew they have higher standards than most
commercial radio, so I would hear pertinent news and weather, with no
obnoxious commercials or crude hosts.
What I heard was the most relevant newscast I've heard in ages, weather at
frequent intervals, local election coverage that was interesting to me even
though this wasn't my riding, and NO COMMERCIALS except for paid political
broadcasts.
I was particularly happy with the way they covered local election issues and
the way they did news - they have a knack for touching upon all the stories
that are interesting to me - so I decided to set my radio to CBC once I got
home and listen to them for the rest of the election. The election finished
weeks ago, and I'm still listening! Every single topic they discuss is
interesting, and they leave me wanting more rather than droning on and on
for far too long. Their news coverage touches on all the developments in
the stories that are most important to me - they mention Maher Arar almost
every single day, and on days when nothing is happening with him they
mention why nothing is happening, unlike certain newspapers that just ignore
it when nothing is happening. Their traffic coverage includes mentions of
any TTC delays! Their sports coverage even touches on more interesting
things like Euro Cup and Tour de France and Olympic trials rather than just
rattling off professional sports scores, or going way overboard with
analysis.
Basically it's the first time I've ever listened to a radio station and felt
like I'm the target demographic, like they actively want me, personally, to
be listening. So I'm going to keep listening.
like or don't like, but I keep forgetting to blog about my best discovery in
recent weeks: CBC Radio One.
I've never been too fond of radio in general; I find most radio programming
either obnoxious or dull, and hold a particular animosity towards radio
commercials. However, I do find it's the best thing to wake up to in the
morning because it eases me out of sleep more gently than an alarm. For
years I never listened to CBC because I have it mentally associated with
long, nauseating car rides, but when I was in Quebec in June I needed a
radio station to wake up to and found myself faced with a dial full of
unfamiliar stations and no internet on which to look them up, so I tuned in
to the English CBC just because I knew they have higher standards than most
commercial radio, so I would hear pertinent news and weather, with no
obnoxious commercials or crude hosts.
What I heard was the most relevant newscast I've heard in ages, weather at
frequent intervals, local election coverage that was interesting to me even
though this wasn't my riding, and NO COMMERCIALS except for paid political
broadcasts.
I was particularly happy with the way they covered local election issues and
the way they did news - they have a knack for touching upon all the stories
that are interesting to me - so I decided to set my radio to CBC once I got
home and listen to them for the rest of the election. The election finished
weeks ago, and I'm still listening! Every single topic they discuss is
interesting, and they leave me wanting more rather than droning on and on
for far too long. Their news coverage touches on all the developments in
the stories that are most important to me - they mention Maher Arar almost
every single day, and on days when nothing is happening with him they
mention why nothing is happening, unlike certain newspapers that just ignore
it when nothing is happening. Their traffic coverage includes mentions of
any TTC delays! Their sports coverage even touches on more interesting
things like Euro Cup and Tour de France and Olympic trials rather than just
rattling off professional sports scores, or going way overboard with
analysis.
Basically it's the first time I've ever listened to a radio station and felt
like I'm the target demographic, like they actively want me, personally, to
be listening. So I'm going to keep listening.
Friday, July 16, 2004
Two random things I've been wondering:
1. What are the origins of pressing the palms of one's hands together to signify prayer? I know that this gesture exists in xianity and in yoga, so it can't be religion-specific...
2. I read that they film five episodes of Jeopardy! in one day. Has anyone noticed if the returning contestant (or Alex Trebeck) wear the same outfit for two episodes in a row?
1. What are the origins of pressing the palms of one's hands together to signify prayer? I know that this gesture exists in xianity and in yoga, so it can't be religion-specific...
2. I read that they film five episodes of Jeopardy! in one day. Has anyone noticed if the returning contestant (or Alex Trebeck) wear the same outfit for two episodes in a row?
Thursday, July 15, 2004
I've been using the Reach Access flosser for a couple of weeks now, and it works in that I actually do floss with it. BUT but but . . . since I started flossing, I've noticed that the gap between my two front teeth, which I got orthodontically removed in high school, has started to return! Right now it's not too big, it's maybe one third of a millimetre, it's the smallest possible gap that could be there and look like a gap, but it's there! GAH! I thought flossing was supposed to be good for you! So now I don't know what to do. I still wear my retainer for about 15 hours per week, but maybe it isn't working any more. I'll have to find an orthodontist and see about getting my retainer adjusted, because I'm sure as hell not going to start wearing braces again! I get mistaken for a student enough as it is!
Wednesday, July 14, 2004
There's a doggie in my building with whom I'm vaguely acquainted. He's a big doggie, white with brown spots. He likes bananas, is afraid of elevators, and always takes the time to thoroughly sniff my shopping bags, even when they contain nothing but clothing or household cleaning products.
Today, as I headed from the mailroom to the elevators, I heard frantic barking interspersed with whimpering. Doggie was scared of something, but trying to frighten it away with his big dog status. I went to see what was going on, and saw Doggie being walked into the building while someone else carried a houseplant into the building. Doggie didn't like the houseplant and somehow felt threatened by it, so he was trying to scare it away before it got him, while his humans tried to explain that it's only a plant.
Today, as I headed from the mailroom to the elevators, I heard frantic barking interspersed with whimpering. Doggie was scared of something, but trying to frighten it away with his big dog status. I went to see what was going on, and saw Doggie being walked into the building while someone else carried a houseplant into the building. Doggie didn't like the houseplant and somehow felt threatened by it, so he was trying to scare it away before it got him, while his humans tried to explain that it's only a plant.
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
This always always happens: It's evening. I'm starting to nod off while reading. I figure this is a sign I should just go straight to bed, get an hour or two extra sleep, and feel bright and fresh the next morning. I drag myself off the couch and set about doing the most necessary aspects of my bedtime routine. But somehow, doing these few necessary tasks wakes me up. And gives me a sudden craving for soup. And makes me think of something to write that I really should get down before bed. And isn't the internet interesting today! And, oh, look, MASH is on! And let's just get this game to a point where we can save it and pick up easily next time...and suddenly it's midnight and I have to get up in 5.5 hours.
The Stowaway by Robert Hough is, in a word, amazing. Some stowaways are found on board a container ship, and, to the crew's shock and horror, the officers respond by setting them adrift in a makeshift raft, sending them to certain death. When another stowaway is found, the crew is compelled to keep him alive and hidden from the officers, knowing full well that if their plan is found out they will be the next ones thrown overboard. The result is a dark, tense, dramatic thriller that has you holding your breath every time you turn a page, and would be the perfect candidate for the next thriller-on-a-boat movie.
When I came to the end of the book, I was surprised to find out that it was based on a true story, the Maersk Dubai! Everything actually happened, only the character of the stowaway was changed because the author couldn't get an interview with the real stowaway.
The author also gets bonus points for accurately portraying language gaps and conversations between two people for whom English is a second language, which many authors seem to have trouble with.
When I came to the end of the book, I was surprised to find out that it was based on a true story, the Maersk Dubai! Everything actually happened, only the character of the stowaway was changed because the author couldn't get an interview with the real stowaway.
The author also gets bonus points for accurately portraying language gaps and conversations between two people for whom English is a second language, which many authors seem to have trouble with.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Sunday, July 11, 2004
A way to add a bit more surreality to your blogging experience:
1. Log into Blogger
2. Click on the link on the right that says "Edit Profile".
3. Click on the checkbox at the top that says "Share my profile".
4. Fill out the profile however you want.
5. The very last item in the profile is "Random Question". Answer this question.
6. Check the box beneath the random question that says "Give me a new question".
7. Click on Save Profile.
8. You should get a green message that says "Your setting have been saved." Click on the "View Updated Profile" link next to this message.
If all goes well, the Random Question was replaced with a new question when you saved your profile, and the new question appears on your profile with the answer that your provided to the old question.
1. Log into Blogger
2. Click on the link on the right that says "Edit Profile".
3. Click on the checkbox at the top that says "Share my profile".
4. Fill out the profile however you want.
5. The very last item in the profile is "Random Question". Answer this question.
6. Check the box beneath the random question that says "Give me a new question".
7. Click on Save Profile.
8. You should get a green message that says "Your setting have been saved." Click on the "View Updated Profile" link next to this message.
If all goes well, the Random Question was replaced with a new question when you saved your profile, and the new question appears on your profile with the answer that your provided to the old question.
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