Bogieblog

Spider Talk

Cop Car has some great posts on spiders and their silk.

I have a strang relationship with spiders - I really don't like them, but I do like that they mostly feast on bugs, so I tolerate them. Mostly I let them be, if they let me be and don't try to arrange a surprise, up close, visit. I even let them live in the shower stall, although some overstep their bounds and are sucked up by the vacuum, or flushed down the drain.

But, If I could train my spiders to make awesome garments like what is showcased in Cop Car's posts, I might just build them their own room.

Not Diets and Exercise

Why do people jump to the conclusion you are on a diet if you refuse chips with a meal, or volunteer calorie information? I had three people ask if I was on a diet Wednesday, just because of those two things.

First Case: I had made popcorn Tuesday afternoon and the other woman who works in my area, said how good it smelled. I let her have a handful and she brought some pack of popcorn in on Wednesday, offering to share it. I asked if she got the 100 calorie pack, and she said it was the snack size - and what, "are you on a diet?" No, I just try to be aware of what I am eating. Although popcorn can be a somewhat healthy snack, most people buy the regular bags of popcorn and eat most of it. Well, those bags can be up to 500 colories (and be meant as 5-6 servings). I get the 100 calorie pack as it makes sure I don't mindlessly overeat.

Second Case: A former co-worker took me to lunch at a well known sandwich chain, and I had pre-scouted the offerings online. I had decided what I wanted, and looked at the nutritional information. It hit me that the bread, for that particular sandwich was loaded with 1200 mg sodium (that is 1/2 recommended salt for a day - and that was only the bread). I don't like a lot of salt, so looked at the bread substitutions I could make. The whole grain bread was only at 360 mg and as a bonus, it cut off 200 calories.

So, when we got there, I ordered the sandwich with the substitution. The former co-worker asked about the bread, and I explained about the sodium and calorie difference. Then I was asked if I wanted chips. No, thanks. The cashier said oh, you are on a diet and want an apple. Yes, I would like the apple, no, I'm not on a diet. Geeze, I just don't really like chips all that much, and they usually have too much salt for my tastes. 

When we got to the table, my former co-worker said that I didn't need to be on a diet. Once again I explained that I'm not on a diet, I just like to make informed choices. I've been trying to eat fairly healthily for the last 10 years. I don't do diets very well because I like food, and I don't do well with deprivation. If I gain weight (more accurately, if my clothes get tight), I move more, I don't go on a diet.

Which, by the way, I have been - moving more that is. I work out with weights for half an hour or so in the morning before getting ready for work (I've been doing this for about 15 years). I don't really have anyplace to walk at lunch, expecially this time of year, so the weight I gained during the holidays was just staying put - and to be honest, there are a few more pounds, than just those that I gained this season, that I could stand to lose. A national chain was advertising a deal for a year membership for $99. On December 30th I signed up; A couple of days later the trainer helped develop a plan, showed my how to use the machines, and now I'm a non-lunky gym rat.  

Several times a week during lunch, I go across the street and do some cardio (eliptical or arc trainer) and more weight training for another 30 minutes of exercise. Wednesday nights I have designated as my late night, and go to the gym after work. I have really enjoyed getting away at lunch and it is very handy being across the street. The machines they have are really cool, and a great rotation from my freeweights and Weider machine I have at home.

So, no, I'm not on a damn diet. For all those that say I don't need to be on a diet (or watch what I eat) - if I just ate anything I wanted, or that was put in front of me, I would definitely need to be on a diet. And, looking at the gym goers, at least 70% are those that are much like me, in decent (or better) shape, just trying to stay healthy.

Much Ado

We had a bit of excitement at the house last night. Karen was over and we had a late dinner. After dinner we started watching a show that we had taped last week. Shortly after that, I looked over at her, and she was leaning forward in her chair, looking very pae. I asked if she was alright, and she said she wasn't sure.

She started swaying, so I jumped up off the couch to hold her up and keep her from falling to the floor. A told WS that I needed him to help get her on the floor, but as he came over I reallized that she had totally blacked out and told WS to dial 9-1-1.

She was out for a minute or two, then came to enough to lay down on the floor. Once the Deering Rescue showed up, she was feeling a bit better, but still woozy. They checked her out and found nothing really wrong with her except her blood sugar was a bit on the low side. We gave her some juice and then told her in no-uncertain terms she was spending the night.

She has been under a lot of stress lately, so she figures between that, a couple of light drinks (she normally doesn't drink) and sitting next to the woodstove (pretty warm there), they all added up to too much for her to handle. She had bee thinking about leaving a couple of minutes before the episode occurred, so we were really happy she wasn't driving at the time.

She got up this morning feeling much better, and left a short time ago. Glad to see her recovered.

Thanks again to Deering Police and Rescue - about this time last year they were here for WS's asthma attack; no offence guys, but let's not make this a regular, yearly visit!

Your Browsing is being Watched

Google is keeping tabs on your browsing habits (click link to see yours). Is that a big revelation - no (or, I should hope not anyway). Ruth found that Google somehow missed that she has a gun habit, it didn't miss my "hunting and shooting" predilection though.

However, it somehow missed my motorcycle mania (geeze, I only go to several forums/blogs/websites on/for bikes). It also somehow missed my affection for cats too, even though it figured out I liked dogs.

And, Google committed the biggest sin, it tacked on an estimated 6+ years onto a woman's age. On the other hand, seeing that it called Ruth the same age group, maybe it thinks everyone is between 55 and 64.

 

 Update:

It occurred to me that I use 2 different computers in the house (desk top and laptop). The previous results are for the desk top, the following are for the laptop.

Notice that they get the motorcycle thing and get my age group correct. They have also noticed the yard work thing BUT they think I am a male.

Hu, just highlights the differences on what use I put each computer to and the apparent fact that I act female when on the desktop and act male when on the laptop.

Song of the Times

So I know the sopa/PIPA ado is done (for now, until Congress reworks it and hopes no one is paying attention except the PACS), but I just came across this on New Jovian Thunderbolt, and had to share.

 

Birdie Gets A Shower

I clean Birdie's cage on a regular basis, but a lot of times it is just the lower half. Every tow months or so, I clean the whole thing which can be interesting since Birdie is a true homebody and will not get out of the cage, except by accident. He will not allow me to remove him from the cage (although he will get on my finger if he accidently gets out of the cage - which is truly accidental as he doesn't mean to get out and doesn't want out).

Birdie is a not-too-bright bird that is befuddled by the cage door being open; he has a hard time deciding how to navigate around it on the way to the food bowl. On one occasion, years ago, he actually climbed out and onto the top of the cage (by accident I assure you) and he couldn't figure out how to climb back down to the open door. So, it is for the best that he doesn't like to get out of his cage.

So, the challenge is to clean the cage while he is still in it. I take everything out except for one small perch, whcih is where Birdie stays until I put the cage back together. I take off the bottom pieces and clean them in the tub, drain the water, and then it is time for the wire portion.

The cage barely fits into the bathtub, but once in there I use the shower hose to rinse off the wires. Then I use a plain (no soap) scrubber sponge to remove any residue. Lastly, I clean the bird. Birdie loves a shower, so I decrease the pressure, bring the hose head below Birdies perch and arch the the water towards him.

 

 

 

That is both of our favorite parts of cleaning the cage - Birdie looks so content as he bobs and weaves his head around to get it in just the right position (sometimes in the water, sometimes out of the water stream). The last picture says it all - ahh, the perfect position.

Group Cat Picture

Late afternoon or early evening, Shadow and Fuzzy get their "treat", about a Tablespoon of canned food each. Shadow and Fuzzy will tolerate eating beside each other at this one time of day. Tory does not usually indulge in canned food, he just isn't interested. However, one afternoon, he was up on the table and decided he wanted a little of the good stuff, so the configuration of cats had to be adjusted.

Foreground: Shadow (black cat); Background: Tory on the left (standing) and Fuzzy on the right.

Note that Birdie is watching the goings on as he knows that he gets his treats next (okay, just more seed, but it is a mixture for wild birds, not his normal cockatiel mixture).

Okay, after making you look at cat butts, I'l give you a cat face. Instead of jumping up on the platform the water is kept on, Fuzzy dows yoga stretching to get to the water - that is his main form of exercise.

In case you didn't notice, his paw is actually in the water, and yes, he does that almost every time.

Of course he has so much hair between the eight or so toes he has on each paw, that he probably doesn't even realize that the paw is in the water. And yes, he does leave fairly large water marks wherever he walks afterwards. But, he is so darn cute that I can't get upset over that little detail!

Festive Scenting

Wow, 22 days into the month and I haven't posted any pictures - I know because I had to make a new folder for 2012 pictures on my computer. So Let's get to it:

Earlier this month, I decided to take all the remnants of candles and create a new candle. In the batch was a complete green candle that I had sitting on the wood stove while the woodstove was going. That had the desired effect of releaseing the scent, but on a weekend long burn (during the week it is only at night), most of the wax melted and the wick dripped to the bottom of the wax.

Then there was a previously mixed candle (which mixture turned purple) in shich the wax in the middle melted, but not the sides. It had melted several inches down, so I chipped off the wax pieces from the sides and added that. There were also several scentless, white tea lights that I wanted to use up, so mixing them with scented wax seemed reasonable. I had bought wick material so all I needed to do was gather some patience and start melting.

I tried the microwave first, but didn't like how hot the glass jar I was using was getting with very little meltage of wax. So, I placed the glass container in a pan of water and heated it on the stove. Since I didn't want the candle to turn out brownish, from mixing several different colors, I melted each of the colors seperately (except when adding the white tea lights). After each color was poured into the new candle jar, I would place it outside to solidify while melting the next batch.

After way too long, I ended up with a decorative candle that will be used some day (we have lots of candles that are either new or in good shape):

Okay, so the color combination leaves a bit to be desired, but it is on the festive side, and who really looks at candles anyway? They are for imparting a nice scent (or getting rid of yucky scents), so it will do very well for my purposes.

Game Day Commercial Preview

According to the Weekend Pundit, this will be an ad airing during the Super Bowl. You need to have the speakers on (no, there aren't any loud noise surprises), and have a small familiarity with Star Wars (and the music). Hint: The first thing to note is the title . . .

 

For Airplane Nuts

Some pretty fancy flying:

Found thru Scott.