Sunday, December 27, 2009
Coffee Date Pix
A couple photos from a recent coffee date with our friend Dana. I must be honest and admit that I'm posting these because I think this is one of those rare photos where I look pretty good (Bryony is always cute so I post as many of her as I want), so I'm going to milk it for all I can.
Taking It At Face Value
A couple years ago, Adam went on a two-week deployment with the Navy and was put up in barracks with several other servicemembers. Adam arrived at the barracks first, and, on a whim, decided to try an experiment. He gathered the pillows from all the beds and proceeded to place them at the foot of each of the beds. Based on the arrangement, location and positioning of the beds, it was obvious where the "head" and "foot" of each bed were. However, as Adam had predicted, all of his roommates upon entering the room, lay down on the bed foot-to-head in agreement with where the pillow was placed. None of them questioned their sleeping arrangement, not even when Adam was sleeping in the complete opposite (and arguably, the "right") direction. Now some might say that Adam is weird or had too much time on his hands. He would say that he was proving a theory--that people are all too often ready to just accept what is told or shown to them. Sure, the direction you sleep in is a relatively trivial issue; however, it could be said that this is indicative of a much larger issue at hand. In short, people don't question the situation they are placed in, and subsequently, we become a very complacent people.
Americans, I've found, don't always see the value in travelling outside of the country. We have a beautiful nation, no doubt, but one of the best things about seeing the rest of the world is learning how others see you, and how they see themselves. I was abundantly surprised during my time living in England by how Brits and other Europeans are much more likely to challenge the information their news media and politicians feed them. I once heard that in France, the government fears the people more than the people fear the government, but that it's the opposite in the U.S. One example of this is bioengineered foods, or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). I had never even heard of such a thing until I lived overseas. One of my French friends told me how Americans eat foods that are spliced and diced with different genes (for example, tomatoes that are engineered with bovine growth hormones). I was repulsed by the idea, but had no idea what he was talking about. Europeans not only are aware of GMO's, but refuse to eat them, and require their governments to identify genetically modified foods. Why don't we as Americans demand this of our Food and Drug Administration? Are we that trusting of our government? Do we not care what we eat? Or are we too lax to demand the information that we deserve to know? I often wonder why we are so ready to just take things at face value, why we fail to question, look deeper, seek the truth, not just the truth-as-they-tell-us. Are we really that afraid to find things out for ourselves? Or are we just that lazy?
Americans, I've found, don't always see the value in travelling outside of the country. We have a beautiful nation, no doubt, but one of the best things about seeing the rest of the world is learning how others see you, and how they see themselves. I was abundantly surprised during my time living in England by how Brits and other Europeans are much more likely to challenge the information their news media and politicians feed them. I once heard that in France, the government fears the people more than the people fear the government, but that it's the opposite in the U.S. One example of this is bioengineered foods, or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). I had never even heard of such a thing until I lived overseas. One of my French friends told me how Americans eat foods that are spliced and diced with different genes (for example, tomatoes that are engineered with bovine growth hormones). I was repulsed by the idea, but had no idea what he was talking about. Europeans not only are aware of GMO's, but refuse to eat them, and require their governments to identify genetically modified foods. Why don't we as Americans demand this of our Food and Drug Administration? Are we that trusting of our government? Do we not care what we eat? Or are we too lax to demand the information that we deserve to know? I often wonder why we are so ready to just take things at face value, why we fail to question, look deeper, seek the truth, not just the truth-as-they-tell-us. Are we really that afraid to find things out for ourselves? Or are we just that lazy?
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Closure, Sorta
So, the mystery of Sleazy Cafe Man (SCM) has been solved...kind of. Still no information as to the whys or the hows, but at least we now know the "what happened"?
http://www.kpic.com/news/local/79538792.html
http://www.kpic.com/news/local/79538792.html
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Truth About Cats And Dogs
Ladies and gentlemen...!!!
In this corner...
Man's best friend, the most loyal of companions, the protector, the security blanket, the jogging partner, the car passenger...ladies and gentlemen, the DOG!!!
And in this corner...
The graceful, the independent, the chic, the clever, the hunter...ladies and gentlemen, the CAT!!!
DING! ROUND ONE!
To be fair, I have had dogs for the last ten years of my life. While I always thought I was a dog-or-cat person, deep down I've always known I like dogs more. That being said, I've always enjoyed being around my friends' cats. So when Greg House came our way, it was a fairly natural assumption on my part that he would fit in well with our lifestyle. After all, dogs come with their own requisites--walks at the park, poop patrol over the lawn, rushing home from work and social outings to let them out, cleaning up accidents...how difficult can a cat be?
ROUND TWO!
I was impressed that Greg was litter trained, but that's not the same thing as being efficient at it. He usually knows to use the box, but often when he does, he shoots and misses; but bullseye on the wall! Or during his attempts to cover up his daily releases, he ends up kicking them out of the box, little balls of kitty-litter-clad fun all over the basement floor. Oh, and of course I'm the one lucky enough to get the cat with the queasy stomach, so oftentimes I'm privy to the runny piles of poo...and lo and behold, this all takes place in the house. Meanwhile,
dogs = pick up poo in plastic bag and drop in trash.
ROUND THREE!
Dogs are needy animals, hence the whole "good companion" thing. Supposedly, cats are independent, self-sufficient animals that prefer to curl up with you on their own time. I like needy animals; it makes me feel wanted. And that's why I liked Greg House from the very beginning. The little guy literally jumped into my lap the moment I first saw him. I didn't realize how very needy he'd be, though. While my terrier is content to lie on the couch next to me while I'm watching TV, knitting or talking on the phone, the cat has to be on me...all the time. It can be flattering to be wanted, loved and needed so much, but it can also be exhausting and annoying, especially when you're needed, wanted and loved by an infant, too.
ROUND FOUR!
I freely admit that this could just be my issue, but...why do cats seem to always manage to put their butt holes right in your face? Tails straight up in the air, cat climbing all over you...and butt hole face on. Even the smallest dogs seem to be able to keep their butts out of your face when they're on your lap.
ROUND FOUR!
Adam and I have travelled with our dogs the entire time we've had them. While it can be frustrating at times--dog smell in the car, dog hair entwined in the carseat fabric, water dishes spilled--there was a comfort knowing that our furry kids could accompany us on our trips instead of being left behind at a kennel. We thought the same would be true with our cat. Ummm...not so much. How do thee annoy we? Let me count the ways:
1) filthy stinking litter box in the passenger seat foot well
2) stopping at rest stops to clean out said litter box
3) cat walking all over the car (and all over us) during trip
4) cat meowing incessantly for no known reason
5) cat jumping from front seat to backseat window ledge, flying over heads and baby's car seat
6) cat walking on baby's head and requiring a swift swat on the backside in response.
TOTAL KNOCK OUT!
Don't get me wrong; I love my cat. I just wish that he were a little bit more loveable sometimes. Maybe it's just going to take a little bit more time for us to adjust to each other. Or maybe I'll teach him how to bark.
In this corner...
Man's best friend, the most loyal of companions, the protector, the security blanket, the jogging partner, the car passenger...ladies and gentlemen, the DOG!!!
And in this corner...
The graceful, the independent, the chic, the clever, the hunter...ladies and gentlemen, the CAT!!!
DING! ROUND ONE!
To be fair, I have had dogs for the last ten years of my life. While I always thought I was a dog-or-cat person, deep down I've always known I like dogs more. That being said, I've always enjoyed being around my friends' cats. So when Greg House came our way, it was a fairly natural assumption on my part that he would fit in well with our lifestyle. After all, dogs come with their own requisites--walks at the park, poop patrol over the lawn, rushing home from work and social outings to let them out, cleaning up accidents...how difficult can a cat be?
ROUND TWO!
I was impressed that Greg was litter trained, but that's not the same thing as being efficient at it. He usually knows to use the box, but often when he does, he shoots and misses; but bullseye on the wall! Or during his attempts to cover up his daily releases, he ends up kicking them out of the box, little balls of kitty-litter-clad fun all over the basement floor. Oh, and of course I'm the one lucky enough to get the cat with the queasy stomach, so oftentimes I'm privy to the runny piles of poo...and lo and behold, this all takes place in the house. Meanwhile,
dogs = pick up poo in plastic bag and drop in trash.
ROUND THREE!
Dogs are needy animals, hence the whole "good companion" thing. Supposedly, cats are independent, self-sufficient animals that prefer to curl up with you on their own time. I like needy animals; it makes me feel wanted. And that's why I liked Greg House from the very beginning. The little guy literally jumped into my lap the moment I first saw him. I didn't realize how very needy he'd be, though. While my terrier is content to lie on the couch next to me while I'm watching TV, knitting or talking on the phone, the cat has to be on me...all the time. It can be flattering to be wanted, loved and needed so much, but it can also be exhausting and annoying, especially when you're needed, wanted and loved by an infant, too.
ROUND FOUR!
I freely admit that this could just be my issue, but...why do cats seem to always manage to put their butt holes right in your face? Tails straight up in the air, cat climbing all over you...and butt hole face on. Even the smallest dogs seem to be able to keep their butts out of your face when they're on your lap.
ROUND FOUR!
Adam and I have travelled with our dogs the entire time we've had them. While it can be frustrating at times--dog smell in the car, dog hair entwined in the carseat fabric, water dishes spilled--there was a comfort knowing that our furry kids could accompany us on our trips instead of being left behind at a kennel. We thought the same would be true with our cat. Ummm...not so much. How do thee annoy we? Let me count the ways:
1) filthy stinking litter box in the passenger seat foot well
2) stopping at rest stops to clean out said litter box
3) cat walking all over the car (and all over us) during trip
4) cat meowing incessantly for no known reason
5) cat jumping from front seat to backseat window ledge, flying over heads and baby's car seat
6) cat walking on baby's head and requiring a swift swat on the backside in response.
TOTAL KNOCK OUT!
Don't get me wrong; I love my cat. I just wish that he were a little bit more loveable sometimes. Maybe it's just going to take a little bit more time for us to adjust to each other. Or maybe I'll teach him how to bark.
Pic of the Week
I woke up yesterday morning looking like this. Yes, I typically look puffy and dreadful in the morning, but not usually this bad. I think my cornea got a mild scratch the night before and so my eye got swollen. I had Adam take a picture because I figured it was blog material.
Monday, December 7, 2009
The Macabre In Me
I've always been really interested in murder-mysteries. During the '90s, my favorite show was "Unsolved Mysteries"; there was nothing better than watching Robert Stack in his trench coat, looking ominously down into the camera as he talked of missing people, mysterious deaths and unidentified bodies. Before that, I loved "Murder, She Wrote" and "Matlock". I just have a morbid fascination with the idea of mystery and intrigue.
These days my fascination takes me to watching shows like "Medium", "48 Hours Mystery" and "Dateline NBC Mystery". In fact, the perfect evening for me would be take-out dinner, a glass of wine, a happily sleeping baby and a marathon of these shows. Crazy, right? Well, perhaps the most disturbing of all my favorite shows is CBS's "Criminal Minds", about a team of FBI criminal profilers. It's a fantastic show, but they portray some of the most heinous crimes imaginable--cutting off victims' faces, holding people hostage before eventually eating them, kidnapping children to introduce them into an ancient rite of prepubsecent marriage. Yeah, I have to wonder who the writers are to think of up this stuff. They are either near-crazy themselves or just extremely creative. Or perhaps, both.
I started thinking about my own relationships with these shows a few weeks ago. One night, as I was doing a channel scan for my TV converter box, I was delighted to find that we were now receiving four additional channels. One of them, the ION channel, airs two back-to-back episodes of "Criminal Minds" every weeknight. Watching some of the early episodes, I noticed that Mandy Patinkin (aka, "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!" from "The Princess Bride") was one of the original characters. I started to wonder why he left, only to be replaced by Joe Mantegna's character. After doing some wikipedia digging, I found that Mandy Patinkin was so disturbed by the material on the show that he could no longer play the character. He explained that it wasn't worth it to him to study horrible crimes, even fake ones, just for the purpose of making a tv show. He also said that he can't understand how the viewing audience could find this type of stuff entertainment.
That hit me. How is it that I am so extremely interested in murder? Part of me is a little more paranoid than most that I will be the victim of crime; I'm sure this is because I spend so much of my time watching grisly, gruesome images on tv. Is something wrong with me that I find this stuff entertaining television?
Right now, I'm in a hotelroom and I've pretty much got the TV set on the A&E channel, which airs several episodes of "Criminal Minds" everyday. I've got a happily napping baby, quiet pets, lemonade and lunch. Unfortunately, I'm having a perfect afternoon.
These days my fascination takes me to watching shows like "Medium", "48 Hours Mystery" and "Dateline NBC Mystery". In fact, the perfect evening for me would be take-out dinner, a glass of wine, a happily sleeping baby and a marathon of these shows. Crazy, right? Well, perhaps the most disturbing of all my favorite shows is CBS's "Criminal Minds", about a team of FBI criminal profilers. It's a fantastic show, but they portray some of the most heinous crimes imaginable--cutting off victims' faces, holding people hostage before eventually eating them, kidnapping children to introduce them into an ancient rite of prepubsecent marriage. Yeah, I have to wonder who the writers are to think of up this stuff. They are either near-crazy themselves or just extremely creative. Or perhaps, both.
I started thinking about my own relationships with these shows a few weeks ago. One night, as I was doing a channel scan for my TV converter box, I was delighted to find that we were now receiving four additional channels. One of them, the ION channel, airs two back-to-back episodes of "Criminal Minds" every weeknight. Watching some of the early episodes, I noticed that Mandy Patinkin (aka, "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!" from "The Princess Bride") was one of the original characters. I started to wonder why he left, only to be replaced by Joe Mantegna's character. After doing some wikipedia digging, I found that Mandy Patinkin was so disturbed by the material on the show that he could no longer play the character. He explained that it wasn't worth it to him to study horrible crimes, even fake ones, just for the purpose of making a tv show. He also said that he can't understand how the viewing audience could find this type of stuff entertainment.
That hit me. How is it that I am so extremely interested in murder? Part of me is a little more paranoid than most that I will be the victim of crime; I'm sure this is because I spend so much of my time watching grisly, gruesome images on tv. Is something wrong with me that I find this stuff entertaining television?
Right now, I'm in a hotelroom and I've pretty much got the TV set on the A&E channel, which airs several episodes of "Criminal Minds" everyday. I've got a happily napping baby, quiet pets, lemonade and lunch. Unfortunately, I'm having a perfect afternoon.
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