Friday, July 27, 2012

They're All Alike

Today I travelled up to Queens for "the works".  That includes a trim, touch-up and highlighting. Today, it also included a new style since I got tired of the old one.  I've been going to Connie for about 20 years since she rescued me from a gentle home perm which left my hair in a wild mess of tight kinky curls. 

Connie gave me a good cut and I've been going to her ever since.  I now travel 70 miles each way, but it's well worth it.  Just the other day one of my neighbors complimented me on my hair and wanted to know where I went.  When I told her, she decided she liked her own hair.

Anyway, Connie and I were talking with another hairdresser, Stella, whose husband owns the shop.  When Connie mentioned that her husband is working the 4 to midnight shift, Stella's eyes lit up with envy.  All three of us agreed that that was a wonderful shift.  It actually gave us some time on our own to do whatever.

It seems that all husbands, no matter their nationality (Stella's - Russian, Conie's - Italian and mine - Irish) just seem to want their wives to sit with them when they are watching TV.  It's not enough to be in the same room, we have to be doing the same thing - watching TV.  Of course, if we wanted company and they wanted to go out or work on a project, they would do what they wanted to do.

I'm just so glad to know that I wasn't the only one.

As I was leaving the shop, two of Connie's customers came in.  They both commented on how wonderful my hair looked.  That made me feel good because I needed a change and it was a good one..

Monday, July 16, 2012

Efficiency Makes You Fat

I've never believed people who said that as you get older your metabolism begins to slow down and you gain weight.  There were times in my 50s when I was much more active than when I was in my 20s and yet I had trouble keeping my weight down.  No, I think (besides the obvious that you may eat more) that you gain weight because you're more efficient.

Think about it, you're older, you're wiser.  You may have more to do, so you plan your time better.  Instead of, say filing one piece of paper, you wait until you have several.  Then you pull a chair over to your cabinet and file your papers.  If you were filing one piece at a time, think of the walking you could be doing.

When I lived in Queens, I had a two story house.  I did what all the "experts" said to do.  Instead of making several trips upstairs to put things away, I stacked them on the stairs and brought a bunch up at once, thereby saving several trips and not burning calories.

It's even worse here with everything on one floor.  I empty the trash baskets all at the same time and bring it to the garage all at once.  How much more exercise would I get if I emptied one basket at a time and brought it to the garage.

Hmm, I think I'll try this.  How many calories will I burn by hanging my clothes in the closet, one piece at a time?

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Brownies

I am so proud of myself.

Back in the middle of June I wrote that I had baked some brownies and froze most of them, two to a baggie.  Last week I ate the last of them.

I must say they were delicious.  I realize that instead of slicing off a bit whenever I passed them, I was able to actually sit down and savor the deliciousness of the chocolate chips.  I would take them out of the freezer, let them thaw a little.  Then I poured myself a cup of coffee and took the time to really taste them.

They were so good and now that I know I can control myself by freezing them, I think I'll bake some more.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Taxes

I just heard a  bit of the president's speech in which he claimed to have cut taxes for the middle class.  I don't know about that, I haven't seen any tax cut.  I did fine one humorous spot.  When the president claimed to reduce taxes on the middle class there was silence from the audience.  He had to repeat that claim and I guess then the "applause" sign went up.

My one question to the Republicans is this.  When are you going to counter the president's claim that we had a surplus during the Clinton administration?  Yes, we did have a surplus then, but that was also a time of Republican controlled congress and the Contract with America which cut costs, including some entitlement programs.  They MUST put the emphasis on that.

It was during the Bush administration's last two years under a Democraticall controlled congress that our deficit got much higher.

Let's see - Republican congress = deficit reduction, Democrat controlled congress = deficit increase.

Which is better?

Saturday, July 7, 2012

The Epitome of Laziness

The other day I thought Crash and Burn needed more exercise.  One of the problems I have with them when they play is that they spend a lot of time stalking a toy and I don't have the patience to hold or move a toy for them.  While I was picking up some food for them, I saw a toy could be used automatically.  All it needed was some batteries and I could set the timer for it to move for up to two hours.

Of course, the day I brought it home they practically ignored it, but today I caught Crash playing with it.  I turned it on and watched her.  Of course, I also had to take a video of her playing.  This is how she gets her exercise.


I had trouble downloading the video, but you can follow this link and see it.




ENJOY!


Friday, July 6, 2012

Blame President Truman

That's where it started.  About 6 years ago when I took my cross-country drive, I found myself in Missouri, Independence to be exact.  I thought to myself, since I'm so close, I should visit President Truman's library.  That started my obsession/interest in presidential homes and libraries.

So far, I've only visited two others - the Kennedy Library in Massachusetts and Sagamore Hill, the home of Teddy Roosevelt.  They have been interesting trips and I've learned a few things.

In the next few weeks I hope to visit Gettysburg and the Eisenhower Farm.  That will make four homes or libraries.  I'm trying to  put a few days together to visit Hyde Park, the home of FDR.

When I was in high school, I visited Mount Vernon, George Washington's home.  I really can't count that since I was very young at the time and didn't fully appreciate the history.

I've got to get a list of nearby presidential homes in the east so I can make a good historical road trip.  Maybe next year I'll plan a trip to California for the Reagan and Nixon Libraries and then to Texas for three libraries - LBJ and the two presidents Bush.

Does anyone out there know of any other presidential homes or libraries?

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Cats

This is something only a cat lover/owner would understand.

To begin, last year because of my back problems, I treated myself to a sleep number bed.  It's been very good, I can now sleep without pain.  Getting up is another thing.  But I digress.

One day, a few weeks ago, I felt my bed getting softer and I heard the clicking that happens when you let out the air.  After I got up and loosened all those tight joints I moved my bed and checked all the connections.  Everything was in place, I couldn't find anything wrong.  So I just readjusted my numbers and went about my day.

This morning I woke up to the sound of my bed getting firmer.  This time, I was more observant.  There was Crash sitting on the remote.  Apparently this remote is very sensitive.  I always keep it control side down on my end table since many years ago another cat, Midnight, used to turn the TV on in the middle of the night by walking/sitting on the remote.

I guess if I want to sleep undisturbed I'll have to put the remote in the drawer at night.  I can't ban the cats from my bedroom because they would want in at 3:00 am and would cry and scratch the door until I let them in.

They're not too spoiled.