The colorful plastic shoes attributed to three Colorado-based entrepreneurs, Crocs now adorn the feet of the high fallutin' -- including the likes of Jack Nicholson, George W. Bush (that fact is almost enough to make me toss mine out the window of a speeding car), Faith Hill, Terri Hatcher, Heidi Klum and Matt Damon are all Crocs fans.
The story goes that back in 2002, plastic product developer Scott Seamans worked with Duke Hanson and another worthy to produce these 6 ounce shoes. They're made of a top-secret resin that molds to the wearer's feet, and (allegedly) locks out both odor and bacteria. Tis true they're a snap to clean.
According to the tale, the first Crocs were designed as boating shoes, based on prototypes Seamans produced using material he'd been using for developing medical equipment.
A couple of corrections: an Italian company, Finproject, N.A. (which has offices in Quebec)/ The company developed a proprietary plastic material known as "croslite". Finproject N.A. made clog-like shoe out of it; the material was waterproof and bacteria resistant, making it ideal for use in day spas.
Seamans came across the clog, and thought they'd make good boating shoes. Presto, after some trial and error, Crocs were produced. In 2004, Crocs obtained the exclusive rights to croslite. The first real run of Crocs where indeed destined to be boating shoes: they were sold at a 2002 boat show.
The Little Princess & The Big Guy
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Happy Birthday, Mr. Idle!
He proudly proclaims himself the 'third tallest member of Monty Python.'
Steve Martin calls him 'my mentor.'
In 2002, he beat both Charles Barkley and Martha Stewart in a round of celebrity Jeopardy.
Happy birthday, Eric Idle!
Born: 29 March 1943.
Educated at Cambridge University.
Comedian, philanthropist, playwright.
My favorite E.I. quotes:
(On gay marriages) "It's about time they suffered too."
(On Monty Python) "Everybody was mad, but in a slightly different way, each had his own element of madness. But together we made this perfectly mad person."
"If the studios paid the artists, how would they ever be able to afford the executives?"
John (Cleese) once told me he'd do anything for money. So I offered him a pound to shut up, and he took it.
(On his favourite sexual position) "Flat on my back with my wallet open."
There was a time when we were almost universally hated by large sections of society. Now that we are the cuddly old farts of comedy, I rather miss the hatred.
Steve Martin calls him 'my mentor.'
In 2002, he beat both Charles Barkley and Martha Stewart in a round of celebrity Jeopardy.
Happy birthday, Eric Idle!Born: 29 March 1943.
Educated at Cambridge University.
Comedian, philanthropist, playwright.
My favorite E.I. quotes:
(On gay marriages) "It's about time they suffered too."
(On Monty Python) "Everybody was mad, but in a slightly different way, each had his own element of madness. But together we made this perfectly mad person."
"If the studios paid the artists, how would they ever be able to afford the executives?"
John (Cleese) once told me he'd do anything for money. So I offered him a pound to shut up, and he took it.(On his favourite sexual position) "Flat on my back with my wallet open."
There was a time when we were almost universally hated by large sections of society. Now that we are the cuddly old farts of comedy, I rather miss the hatred.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
BFF's
My BFF from my chiro school daze was in town. His partner had a seminar here, and W took a few days off to poke around Ithaca. I was thrilled; haven't seen him for 9 years! He looks exactly the same as he did when we graduated.
It was great to spend time together. We picked up as if the intervening years hadn't occurred. A couple of times we finished the other's sentence; several times we both blurted out the same response to a comment simultaneously. I love his sandpaper dry sense of humor and have missed him.
Even better, I love his partner. I had decided I was going to like J no matter what. W is important to me, despite the fact we don't physically see each other often.
We met for dinner Saturday night. As I hurried up the street towards the restaurant, I saw their smiling faces. A wave of relief washed over me; I could tell just by his face that J is a really good guy. How much easier that makes my friendship with W. Now I look forward to spending more time with both of them.
It was great to spend time together. We picked up as if the intervening years hadn't occurred. A couple of times we finished the other's sentence; several times we both blurted out the same response to a comment simultaneously. I love his sandpaper dry sense of humor and have missed him.
Even better, I love his partner. I had decided I was going to like J no matter what. W is important to me, despite the fact we don't physically see each other often.
We met for dinner Saturday night. As I hurried up the street towards the restaurant, I saw their smiling faces. A wave of relief washed over me; I could tell just by his face that J is a really good guy. How much easier that makes my friendship with W. Now I look forward to spending more time with both of them.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Reality bites
because dogs may, too. As in 'never have same sex akitas housed together.'
Decision made. My little White Fur Girl gets fostered here, then moved to another foster ASAP.
:(
Decision made. My little White Fur Girl gets fostered here, then moved to another foster ASAP.
:(
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Dog Dilemma
I'm in a canine conundrum. Her name is Nikko
My friend B & I pulled a year old Akita bitch from her young, less than a rocket scientist owner on Sunday. The theory was that she'd become one of the 'program' dogs -- she's be placed with a foster in our rescue group, and someone somewhere sooner or later would give her a great home.
One of my students has been incredibly generous and opened her home to Nikko as a foster. Despite the fact she's not crate trained (though her owner vowed she was), can pull like a tank on a leash (she's gotten over that for the most part), and is an unspayed Akita, she has charmed D & her family.
And me.
D has a houseful and barn-full of animals. Dogs, chickens, rabbits, horses; I don't blame her one iota for not wanting to add this Tigger of a girl to her life. It's beyond wonderful that she's giving Nikko an incredible foster home, with terrific socialization, lots of activity, as well as structure and discipline.
I come into the picture because I am smitten with this pure white girl-dog. She's smart, sweet, funny -- if not downright goofy, willful, loving, and curious. What strikes me most about her is her intelligence. I've never seen a dog with her level of curiosity. She's interested in everything - leaves flying by on the wind, cars roaring up the road, the freshly piled laundry, a dog barking behind closed windows.
As we walk, her head is constantly pivoting around, as her senses pick up different stimuli. Better, while she's interested, it's clear she doesn't have the pup equivalent of ADHD. I like smart dogs, and this girl is an Einstein.
She's not particularly attractive: she's already had a litter of puppies (don't ask!) and is stick thin. Her head looks too big for her body, and her twig-like legs look to fragile to support her weight. And, in general, I don't like other people's dogs. I am, in short, a dog snob. The fact I like her so very much is an indicator of how special she is.
The issues center around my two beloved, cherished and adored pups at home. The Big Guy is frail, and adding a bouncy, playful adolescent to his staid and quiet existence may be too much for him to handle. And I'm not so sure The Little Princess would be too terribly thrilled about another DOG in her household.
Introductions wouldn't be terribly easy. I have no doors in my house. So it's not as if I could put the New Dog in one room, and the other two somewhere else. What to do, what to do??
The bottom line is that I must take care of my pack first. These two have been my boon and stalwart companions who love me, just as I adore them. Their health, well-being and happiness comes first.
My friend B & I pulled a year old Akita bitch from her young, less than a rocket scientist owner on Sunday. The theory was that she'd become one of the 'program' dogs -- she's be placed with a foster in our rescue group, and someone somewhere sooner or later would give her a great home.
One of my students has been incredibly generous and opened her home to Nikko as a foster. Despite the fact she's not crate trained (though her owner vowed she was), can pull like a tank on a leash (she's gotten over that for the most part), and is an unspayed Akita, she has charmed D & her family.And me.
D has a houseful and barn-full of animals. Dogs, chickens, rabbits, horses; I don't blame her one iota for not wanting to add this Tigger of a girl to her life. It's beyond wonderful that she's giving Nikko an incredible foster home, with terrific socialization, lots of activity, as well as structure and discipline.
I come into the picture because I am smitten with this pure white girl-dog. She's smart, sweet, funny -- if not downright goofy, willful, loving, and curious. What strikes me most about her is her intelligence. I've never seen a dog with her level of curiosity. She's interested in everything - leaves flying by on the wind, cars roaring up the road, the freshly piled laundry, a dog barking behind closed windows. As we walk, her head is constantly pivoting around, as her senses pick up different stimuli. Better, while she's interested, it's clear she doesn't have the pup equivalent of ADHD. I like smart dogs, and this girl is an Einstein.
She's not particularly attractive: she's already had a litter of puppies (don't ask!) and is stick thin. Her head looks too big for her body, and her twig-like legs look to fragile to support her weight. And, in general, I don't like other people's dogs. I am, in short, a dog snob. The fact I like her so very much is an indicator of how special she is. The issues center around my two beloved, cherished and adored pups at home. The Big Guy is frail, and adding a bouncy, playful adolescent to his staid and quiet existence may be too much for him to handle. And I'm not so sure The Little Princess would be too terribly thrilled about another DOG in her household.
Introductions wouldn't be terribly easy. I have no doors in my house. So it's not as if I could put the New Dog in one room, and the other two somewhere else. What to do, what to do??
The bottom line is that I must take care of my pack first. These two have been my boon and stalwart companions who love me, just as I adore them. Their health, well-being and happiness comes first.
It IS a *** big deal, Mr. Biden
I don't agree with many of the elements of the health care bill. The thought of being forced to buy insurance from industry giants sticks in my craw.
However, as per the Huffington Post, these are the 'need to knows' about the bill Mr. Obama signed.
1. And end to pre-existing condition issues: Health Insurers cannot deny children health insurance because of pre-existing conditions. A ban on the discrimination in adults will take effect in 2014.
2. Small Business Tax Credits - Businesses with fewer than 50 employees will get tax credits covering up to 50% of employee premiums.
3. Seniors Get 'Donut Hole' Rebate: Seniors will get a rebate to fill the so-called "donut hole" in Medicare drug coverage, which severely limits prescription medication coverage expenditures over $2,700. As of next year, 50 percent of the donut hole will be filled.
4. More Young Adults Covered On Parents' Plans: The cut-off age for young adults to continue to be covered by their parents' health insurance rises to the age 27.
5. No Lifetime Caps: Lifetime caps on the amount of insurance an individual can have will be banned. Annual caps will be limited, and banned in 2014.
6. Adults With Pre-Existing Conditions Covered: A temporary high-risk pool will be set up to cover adults with pre-existing conditions. Health care exchanges will eliminate the program in 2014.
7. New Insurance Plans Must Include Preventative Care: New plans must cover checkups and other preventative care without co-pays. All plans will be affected by 2018
8.The End Of 'Recissions:' Insurance companies can no longer cut someone when he or she gets sick.
9. Transparency In Insurance Companies: Insurers must now reveal how much money is spent on overhead.
10. Customer Appeals Process: Any new plan must now implement an appeals process for coverage determinations and claims.
11. Enhanced Fraud Abuse Checks: New screening procedures will be implemented to help eliminate health insurance fraud and waste.
12. Medicare Expansion To Rural Areas: Medicare payment protections will be extended to small rural hospitals and other health care facilities that have a small number of Medicare patients.
13. Deductions For Blue Cross Blue Shield: Non-profit Blue Cross organizations will be required to maintain a medical loss ratio -- money spent on procedures over money incoming -- of 85 percent or higher to take advantage of IRS tax benefits.
14. Nutrient Content Disclosure: Chain restaurants will be required to provide a "nutrient content disclosure statement" alongside their items. Expect to see calories listed both on in-store and drive-through menus of fast-food restaurants sometime soon.
15. Better Coverage For Early Retirees: The bill establishes a temporary program for companies that provide early retiree health benefits for those ages 55‐64 in order to help reduce the often-expensive cost of that coverage.
16. Better Consumer Information On The Web: The Secretary of Health and Human Services will set up a new Web site to make it easy for Americans in any state to seek out affordable health insurance options The site will also include helpful information for small businesses.
17. Encouraging Investment in New Therapies: A two‐year temporary credit (up to a maximum of $1 billion) is in the bill to encourage investment in new therapies for the prevention and treatment of diseases.
And, by the way, yes, Mr. Biden let the 'F-bomb' drop. B.F.D.
However, as per the Huffington Post, these are the 'need to knows' about the bill Mr. Obama signed.
1. And end to pre-existing condition issues: Health Insurers cannot deny children health insurance because of pre-existing conditions. A ban on the discrimination in adults will take effect in 2014.
2. Small Business Tax Credits - Businesses with fewer than 50 employees will get tax credits covering up to 50% of employee premiums.
3. Seniors Get 'Donut Hole' Rebate: Seniors will get a rebate to fill the so-called "donut hole" in Medicare drug coverage, which severely limits prescription medication coverage expenditures over $2,700. As of next year, 50 percent of the donut hole will be filled.
4. More Young Adults Covered On Parents' Plans: The cut-off age for young adults to continue to be covered by their parents' health insurance rises to the age 27.
5. No Lifetime Caps: Lifetime caps on the amount of insurance an individual can have will be banned. Annual caps will be limited, and banned in 2014.
6. Adults With Pre-Existing Conditions Covered: A temporary high-risk pool will be set up to cover adults with pre-existing conditions. Health care exchanges will eliminate the program in 2014.
7. New Insurance Plans Must Include Preventative Care: New plans must cover checkups and other preventative care without co-pays. All plans will be affected by 2018
8.The End Of 'Recissions:' Insurance companies can no longer cut someone when he or she gets sick.
9. Transparency In Insurance Companies: Insurers must now reveal how much money is spent on overhead.
10. Customer Appeals Process: Any new plan must now implement an appeals process for coverage determinations and claims.
11. Enhanced Fraud Abuse Checks: New screening procedures will be implemented to help eliminate health insurance fraud and waste.
12. Medicare Expansion To Rural Areas: Medicare payment protections will be extended to small rural hospitals and other health care facilities that have a small number of Medicare patients.
13. Deductions For Blue Cross Blue Shield: Non-profit Blue Cross organizations will be required to maintain a medical loss ratio -- money spent on procedures over money incoming -- of 85 percent or higher to take advantage of IRS tax benefits.
14. Nutrient Content Disclosure: Chain restaurants will be required to provide a "nutrient content disclosure statement" alongside their items. Expect to see calories listed both on in-store and drive-through menus of fast-food restaurants sometime soon.
15. Better Coverage For Early Retirees: The bill establishes a temporary program for companies that provide early retiree health benefits for those ages 55‐64 in order to help reduce the often-expensive cost of that coverage.
16. Better Consumer Information On The Web: The Secretary of Health and Human Services will set up a new Web site to make it easy for Americans in any state to seek out affordable health insurance options The site will also include helpful information for small businesses.
17. Encouraging Investment in New Therapies: A two‐year temporary credit (up to a maximum of $1 billion) is in the bill to encourage investment in new therapies for the prevention and treatment of diseases.
And, by the way, yes, Mr. Biden let the 'F-bomb' drop. B.F.D.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Stormy weather...
Thunderstorms probable tonight. Rain, and more rain tomorrow. Snow Wednesday. Sunny and mild Thursday. Then a precipitous drop in temperature; on Friday, mid-30 temperature.
Don't like the weather? Wait a moment.
It's upstate New York.
Don't like the weather? Wait a moment.
It's upstate New York.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Craft Services
By definition, craft services on a film set centers around providing food for the crew of the movie -- the electricians, the sound people, the set set-er-uppers.
Apparently, however, it can, and frequently is far more than that. My recent conversation with someone in the trade indicates that the job title includes more than providing impressive spreads of food. Responsibilities also range from finding a specific type of electrical gadgetry to assuring the director's car has a full tank of gas to getting a star's dress mended. And, as is typical of service jobs, they are thankless -- and craft service people rarely get thanked. (But I'm betting they get lots of complaints!)
The job provides an immense amount of training with regards to focus on detail. Literally, no detail is too small. And the details must be attended to with speed, efficiency and no fuss. In short, the fix must be seamless and invisible.
Those who excel in this arena must be tolerant, have long (or no) fuses, be flexible and resourceful, and a sense of humor. This last is probably most important. The frustrations of dealing with endless requests, demands and complaints would try the patience of a saint. Being able to laugh about the situation -- even if not immediately! -- is crucial.
Apparently, however, it can, and frequently is far more than that. My recent conversation with someone in the trade indicates that the job title includes more than providing impressive spreads of food. Responsibilities also range from finding a specific type of electrical gadgetry to assuring the director's car has a full tank of gas to getting a star's dress mended. And, as is typical of service jobs, they are thankless -- and craft service people rarely get thanked. (But I'm betting they get lots of complaints!)
The job provides an immense amount of training with regards to focus on detail. Literally, no detail is too small. And the details must be attended to with speed, efficiency and no fuss. In short, the fix must be seamless and invisible.
Those who excel in this arena must be tolerant, have long (or no) fuses, be flexible and resourceful, and a sense of humor. This last is probably most important. The frustrations of dealing with endless requests, demands and complaints would try the patience of a saint. Being able to laugh about the situation -- even if not immediately! -- is crucial.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Googling and goggle-eyed
I should be busily preparing patient files or writing an exam for next week, or researching material for my new writing gig. Instead, I'm on the 'net, researching locales which to which I've traveled.
The motivation is correct: many of the places I stayed in Europe are unique, charming and appealing. Since I'm writing for a hotelier (guess which?), I need to look at how others are describing their establishments.
One problem: websites in Europe are written for Europeans. While I've actually tracked down a number of the hotels in which I had memorable stays, I can't read the descriptions. I'm barely fluent in English. French, German, Italian -- I need a translator.
Then, the tangential searches and side-googles began. Right! Found the Stafler Hotel in Mauls (Italy) and the Zum Alten Brauhaus in Bitburg (Germany).
Then my mind flitted to the Sud Tyrol within the Dolomites ("my favorite Alps!") and a magical week I spent in Castelrotto (Kastelruth if you're German). This charming Tyrolean town is nestles at the base of the Seis am Schlern. I remember seeing the Dolomites for the first time and thinking 'God speaks.' This, from an agnostic.
I wonder what it would be like to grow up with this monolith towering above you. Immutable, spectacular, challenging, dangerous and wonderful -- living life with such a view must have some impact on residents. Or is it similar to living near the ocean or even in the Finger Lakes: we begin to take these natural wonders for granted.
Memories flood back as I look at the internet images of the area. I conquered my fear of going down hill on x-c skis on the Schlern. J and I were skiing on top of the massif, and found a downhill ski resort. "It's now or never!" I said, and off we went. We repeated the exercise several times to make sure I was over throwing myself down a mountain on skinny skis. It was fun!
One of the nights were were there we went to dinner at one of the local restaurants. Neither of us had a clue as to what we were ordering, and the waitress spoke no American. I ordered spaetzle, J ordered speck. I was entirely veg at the time.
When the waitress appeared with a large cutting board of beautifully rolled smoked bacon, I muttered soto voce 'mmmmm! Just what I always wanted.' I'd have eaten it; when in Rome...
However, we quickly clarified that I had ordered what turned out to be potato dumplings, and the bacon was all J's.
The motivation is correct: many of the places I stayed in Europe are unique, charming and appealing. Since I'm writing for a hotelier (guess which?), I need to look at how others are describing their establishments.
One problem: websites in Europe are written for Europeans. While I've actually tracked down a number of the hotels in which I had memorable stays, I can't read the descriptions. I'm barely fluent in English. French, German, Italian -- I need a translator.
Then, the tangential searches and side-googles began. Right! Found the Stafler Hotel in Mauls (Italy) and the Zum Alten Brauhaus in Bitburg (Germany).
Then my mind flitted to the Sud Tyrol within the Dolomites ("my favorite Alps!") and a magical week I spent in Castelrotto (Kastelruth if you're German). This charming Tyrolean town is nestles at the base of the Seis am Schlern. I remember seeing the Dolomites for the first time and thinking 'God speaks.' This, from an agnostic.
I wonder what it would be like to grow up with this monolith towering above you. Immutable, spectacular, challenging, dangerous and wonderful -- living life with such a view must have some impact on residents. Or is it similar to living near the ocean or even in the Finger Lakes: we begin to take these natural wonders for granted.Memories flood back as I look at the internet images of the area. I conquered my fear of going down hill on x-c skis on the Schlern. J and I were skiing on top of the massif, and found a downhill ski resort. "It's now or never!" I said, and off we went. We repeated the exercise several times to make sure I was over throwing myself down a mountain on skinny skis. It was fun!
One of the nights were were there we went to dinner at one of the local restaurants. Neither of us had a clue as to what we were ordering, and the waitress spoke no American. I ordered spaetzle, J ordered speck. I was entirely veg at the time.
When the waitress appeared with a large cutting board of beautifully rolled smoked bacon, I muttered soto voce 'mmmmm! Just what I always wanted.' I'd have eaten it; when in Rome...
However, we quickly clarified that I had ordered what turned out to be potato dumplings, and the bacon was all J's.
Friday, March 19, 2010
The pressure's on!
I have my first paid writing gig. While I sometimes struggle to get going on this blog, sooner or later I sit down in front of the flat screen monitor, fire up the HP, and come up with at least a few lines.
It's much easier to blog than to write on demand. I've got some ideas about what to say, but how to write it seems beyond me at this point. I guess I'll take The Little Princess for a spin into town to run errands.
Procrastination at its finest! I'll couch it in terms of 'taking time to allow my subconscious to sort itself out.'
It's much easier to blog than to write on demand. I've got some ideas about what to say, but how to write it seems beyond me at this point. I guess I'll take The Little Princess for a spin into town to run errands.
Procrastination at its finest! I'll couch it in terms of 'taking time to allow my subconscious to sort itself out.'
Thursday, March 18, 2010
An Old Dog's Life
Today, The Big Guy fell flat on his belly during our afternoon walk. I don't know why he did: he was on relatively flat ground with nothing to trip over or on. The poor guy was clearly frightened. I had a hard time picking him up and getting him going.
This evening he kept circling behind my desk chair, then stand, his head hanging down. Then, he'd circle again. It was clear he wanted to lie down but was dreading the discomfort of doing so. I put him out for our late evening routine, and gave him his pre-sleep snack. It's the dog equivalent of a warm glass of milk.
When he headed back to his blanket, I sat next to him on the floor and pulled him into a sit on my lap. He appeared surprised that sitting was so easy. After that I picked up his front end & put him in a down position. He was clearly nervous -- he breaths in a distinctive 'huffff, huffff, huffff' pattern when he's uncertain.
I just held him, petting him and scratching behind his ears until he relaxed. Within 5 minutes, he was sound asleep. He is sleeping more comfortably than he has in days.
I'm happy to help him. It breaks my heart that I have to.
This evening he kept circling behind my desk chair, then stand, his head hanging down. Then, he'd circle again. It was clear he wanted to lie down but was dreading the discomfort of doing so. I put him out for our late evening routine, and gave him his pre-sleep snack. It's the dog equivalent of a warm glass of milk.
When he headed back to his blanket, I sat next to him on the floor and pulled him into a sit on my lap. He appeared surprised that sitting was so easy. After that I picked up his front end & put him in a down position. He was clearly nervous -- he breaths in a distinctive 'huffff, huffff, huffff' pattern when he's uncertain.
I just held him, petting him and scratching behind his ears until he relaxed. Within 5 minutes, he was sound asleep. He is sleeping more comfortably than he has in days.
I'm happy to help him. It breaks my heart that I have to.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Precision
In addition to my 'real' job, I teach a couple of anatomy/physiology classes. It's a terrific way for me to interact with people younger than 70. I also get to share my love of the material with students, and continue to learn. Nothing like teaching to foster learning: the more I teach, the more I learn.
It never ceases to amaze me that I can give students questions from an exam verbatim, and they'll still get the answer wrong. I can tell the the exact question, and the exact answer -- yet, for whatever reason, it's as if they don't hear me, or don't believe me, or don't process the information.
I truly want my students to succeed, and there is material that I know they need to know. So I attempt to spoon feed them. Apparently spoon feeding doesn't work for the majority. I'm not sure what will.
It never ceases to amaze me that I can give students questions from an exam verbatim, and they'll still get the answer wrong. I can tell the the exact question, and the exact answer -- yet, for whatever reason, it's as if they don't hear me, or don't believe me, or don't process the information.
I truly want my students to succeed, and there is material that I know they need to know. So I attempt to spoon feed them. Apparently spoon feeding doesn't work for the majority. I'm not sure what will.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Cross Country Zen
I became enamored of athletic endurance events relatively late. I was well into my 20's before I was introduced to cross-country skiing. Two friends persuaded my beau of the time and I to enter the Canadian Ski Marathon with them as a team. Together, we completed enough legs to place third -- an exciting moment for a neophyte!
J and I enjoyed ourselves so much, we entered the now defunct Chautaqua Overland Ski Marathon. This too, was fun, and I got to enjoy the fruits of my labor. In fact, I got to enjoy carbs, proteins, and fats; when you're skiing 25 to 50K at a pop, weight control is not an issue.
Equally motivating: a week or so after the race, a friend send me a package. It contained a plaque for second place in my age group. I remember thinking 'wow! If I do this well when I don't know what I'm doing, imagine how well I can do if I take lessons and train!'
I was hooked. For 7 or 8 years, I was addicted to x-c s. It was a lifestyle. Training on roller blades and roller skiis all summer, ski racing nearly every weekend during the all-too-short winter. Vermont, PA, upstate NY, CA (Royal Gorge!). Winters flew by. I enjoyed my food, and could pack away the calories without thought. I loved the winter scenery.
Then came the World Loppet races. The goal is to do all 14 as part of my Bucket List. I've done 5, including the Finlandia Hiihto and the Engadin.
Europeans take x-c seriously. Very seriously. Tens of thousands participate in European races. The 2 years I did the Engadin, there were over 10,00 participants. In the Hiihto, over 14,000 skiers. J and I flew to Finland for the Hiihto about 8 days early. We stayed at a small inn ('all inclusive!') and got used to the time change. We skied daily leading up to the race.
X-c is integrated into Finns' lives; it's not some obscure sport that gets mocked. Everyone in Finland seems to ski. Many roads are closed to cars in the winter -- instead, they're used as ski trails. Kids ski to school, parents ski to work and to run errands. Because of the long nights, street lights are lit to guide people along byways.
I loved being in our little hotel. We'd wake up, eat a hearty breakfast and ski for a couple of hours. We'd come back at lunchtime, eat, and rest for a short period, either napping or watching one of four channels of ski racing. After skiing again, we'd return to rest before dinner (more ski racing), dine, then return to read or watch - you guessed it - more racing. And when I talk about ski racing, I mean x-c, not down hill.
Fond recollections of that trip include eating smoked salmon and boiled potatoes at least once a day. This was a treat remembered from my childhood, thanks to parents from Northern Europe. It was also thrilling to ski the last few kilometers through the twilight, then descend through darkness into the Lahti ski stadium as the announcer trumpeted my name, race number, finish time and home country.
Engaging in the sport centered me. Learning proper skate technique and racing gave me goals upon which to focus. It took the edge off job-related anxiety and frustration. Best of all, flying through the winter landscape was -- is -- simply a joy.
Skiing got me addicted to endurance sports -- I've run marathons and have become a sprint triathlete. Not much of a joiner or a team player, I've definitely got the psyche to spend long, hard, (sometimes boring) hours training for long distance events. There is pay-off: friends I'll have for life, a healthy lifestyle, and goals that will, with training and luck, keep me going for decades.
J and I enjoyed ourselves so much, we entered the now defunct Chautaqua Overland Ski Marathon. This too, was fun, and I got to enjoy the fruits of my labor. In fact, I got to enjoy carbs, proteins, and fats; when you're skiing 25 to 50K at a pop, weight control is not an issue.Equally motivating: a week or so after the race, a friend send me a package. It contained a plaque for second place in my age group. I remember thinking 'wow! If I do this well when I don't know what I'm doing, imagine how well I can do if I take lessons and train!'
I was hooked. For 7 or 8 years, I was addicted to x-c s. It was a lifestyle. Training on roller blades and roller skiis all summer, ski racing nearly every weekend during the all-too-short winter. Vermont, PA, upstate NY, CA (Royal Gorge!). Winters flew by. I enjoyed my food, and could pack away the calories without thought. I loved the winter scenery.
Then came the World Loppet races. The goal is to do all 14 as part of my Bucket List. I've done 5, including the Finlandia Hiihto and the Engadin.
Europeans take x-c seriously. Very seriously. Tens of thousands participate in European races. The 2 years I did the Engadin, there were over 10,00 participants. In the Hiihto, over 14,000 skiers. J and I flew to Finland for the Hiihto about 8 days early. We stayed at a small inn ('all inclusive!') and got used to the time change. We skied daily leading up to the race. X-c is integrated into Finns' lives; it's not some obscure sport that gets mocked. Everyone in Finland seems to ski. Many roads are closed to cars in the winter -- instead, they're used as ski trails. Kids ski to school, parents ski to work and to run errands. Because of the long nights, street lights are lit to guide people along byways.
I loved being in our little hotel. We'd wake up, eat a hearty breakfast and ski for a couple of hours. We'd come back at lunchtime, eat, and rest for a short period, either napping or watching one of four channels of ski racing. After skiing again, we'd return to rest before dinner (more ski racing), dine, then return to read or watch - you guessed it - more racing. And when I talk about ski racing, I mean x-c, not down hill. Fond recollections of that trip include eating smoked salmon and boiled potatoes at least once a day. This was a treat remembered from my childhood, thanks to parents from Northern Europe. It was also thrilling to ski the last few kilometers through the twilight, then descend through darkness into the Lahti ski stadium as the announcer trumpeted my name, race number, finish time and home country.
Engaging in the sport centered me. Learning proper skate technique and racing gave me goals upon which to focus. It took the edge off job-related anxiety and frustration. Best of all, flying through the winter landscape was -- is -- simply a joy.
Skiing got me addicted to endurance sports -- I've run marathons and have become a sprint triathlete. Not much of a joiner or a team player, I've definitely got the psyche to spend long, hard, (sometimes boring) hours training for long distance events. There is pay-off: friends I'll have for life, a healthy lifestyle, and goals that will, with training and luck, keep me going for decades.
Monday, March 15, 2010
22/7 and Caesar
22/7.
This is the Greek mathematician Archimedes' first approximation of Pi(Ï€).
Pi is more commonly calculated to be 3.1415926, and Pi Day (March 14) celebrates this number. To be accurate, Pi instant occurs on March 14 at 1:59:26 a.m./p.m. Hence yesterday was Pi Day. Frequently, Pi Day is celebrated by eating pie (lots of it and lots of various types), and contemplating the importance of Pi.
Larry Shaw, a physicist at the San Francisco Exploratorium, is the founder of Pi Day, which was first celebrated in 1988. Pies of all types are consumed -- and yes, include pizza.
22/7 is a more accurate estimate of Pi, and Pi Approximation Day is celebrated on July 22. Pi is an irrational number, hence the fraction 22/7 is considered to be a closer approximation.
Note: On March 14, 2015, the date will reflect five digits of pi (3/14/15) rather than three. Pi minute will be at 9:26 on that day, and pi second will be at 9:26:53.
Further Pi Note: The symbol for pi was first used in 1706 by William Jones, but came into common use after it was adopted by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler. in 1737.
And last, but not least: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology mails its acceptance (and hence its rejection) letters to have their delivery coincide with Pi Day. Potential M.I.T. students will either be enjoying Pi, or left feeling as if they've had one thrown in their face.
On to today's date, March 15.
The date has become imbued with a dark meaning. The soothsayers allegedly told Julius Caesar to 'beware the Ides Of March!' In J.C.'s day, however, it was a way of referring to the middle of a month. There's an 'ides' of every month of the year. The fifteenth is specific to March, May, July and October,
whereas the thirteenth day of every other month is categorized as the ides. However, Caesar immortalized this specific March day.
In 709 AUC, Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March. Over 60 conspirators stabbed him in the Roman Senate -- one might safely assume they were all senators. (Can you imagine a similar event occurring in the U.S. Senate? Hmmm, come to think of it.....)
This is the Greek mathematician Archimedes' first approximation of Pi(Ï€).
Pi is more commonly calculated to be 3.1415926, and Pi Day (March 14) celebrates this number. To be accurate, Pi instant occurs on March 14 at 1:59:26 a.m./p.m. Hence yesterday was Pi Day. Frequently, Pi Day is celebrated by eating pie (lots of it and lots of various types), and contemplating the importance of Pi.
Larry Shaw, a physicist at the San Francisco Exploratorium, is the founder of Pi Day, which was first celebrated in 1988. Pies of all types are consumed -- and yes, include pizza.
22/7 is a more accurate estimate of Pi, and Pi Approximation Day is celebrated on July 22. Pi is an irrational number, hence the fraction 22/7 is considered to be a closer approximation.
Note: On March 14, 2015, the date will reflect five digits of pi (3/14/15) rather than three. Pi minute will be at 9:26 on that day, and pi second will be at 9:26:53.
Further Pi Note: The symbol for pi was first used in 1706 by William Jones, but came into common use after it was adopted by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler. in 1737.
And last, but not least: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology mails its acceptance (and hence its rejection) letters to have their delivery coincide with Pi Day. Potential M.I.T. students will either be enjoying Pi, or left feeling as if they've had one thrown in their face.
On to today's date, March 15.
The date has become imbued with a dark meaning. The soothsayers allegedly told Julius Caesar to 'beware the Ides Of March!' In J.C.'s day, however, it was a way of referring to the middle of a month. There's an 'ides' of every month of the year. The fifteenth is specific to March, May, July and October,
whereas the thirteenth day of every other month is categorized as the ides. However, Caesar immortalized this specific March day. In 709 AUC, Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March. Over 60 conspirators stabbed him in the Roman Senate -- one might safely assume they were all senators. (Can you imagine a similar event occurring in the U.S. Senate? Hmmm, come to think of it.....)
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Life with The Big Guy
The Big Guy is a 'senior senior.' I work with 3 vets to integrate his care, and their best guess is that he's 'between 14 and 16.' This is o-l-d for a big dog.
New owners expect to put time and energy into raising a puppy. The same amount of energy and effort goes into helping an old dog retire to heaven with grace and dignity. It's hard to watch my beloved boy becoming frail and weak. His life is more and more circumscribed, his world smaller and smaller.
When he was a young buck, there were times when he'd take himself for a walk and be gone for 3 or 4 hours. I'd be sick with worry, envisioning him being hit by a car, or stuck in a trap, or shot by an unfriendly neighbor. I'd also be aggravated, annoyed that he wasn't The Perfect Dog.
What I would give to have The Big Guy at that level of glorious, robust health again. His spine, hips, and knees are all degenerating. Now he has difficulty rising. Just as bad, if not worse, he has problems lying down. When I'm here it's easy to help him get up (especially with his spiffy new harness). It's not as easy to help him lie down.
Since he's loosing control of his hind end, I have to watch him like a hawk when he's outside. I won't allow him out of sight. If he gets stuck in a snow drift or caught up in bushes and falls over, he cannot rise without help.
He's lost control of his bowels. Poop just comes out, whether he's walking or lying down. Thanks to his new improved diet, the amount of poots is tiny for a large dog, but it still needs to be cleaned up. This is not fun when he's got an upset stomach. Diarrhea can get *everywhere*
Deafness is another issue. He's stone cold deaf. He doesn't hear the food bowls clattering when I'm preparing meals. He can't hear me call him, he can't hear cars.
Last night, for the first time, he pee-ed in the house. This is probably my fault, since I didn't make him get up to go out when The Little Princess relieved herself half way through the evening. It's hard to force him to get up, especially when he's comfortably ensconced in bed, and sleeping heavily.
As much as I dislike living with undone floors and ratty rugs, last night showed the wisdom of not putting in expensive new flooring. Until he's gone, the floor stays undone, and the ratty carpet stays on the stairs.
Despite all this, The Big Guy (now being called 'The Old Man') still loves his life. He loves to be groomed and petted and fussed over. He still loves to (try to) bait the Little Princess into play. He still wants me to vacuum him when I'm cleaning up dog hair. Food is still manna. He's thrilled when his various aunties and uncles come to visit. He wants to take his twice daily walks, although they're at a snail's pace. He still woo's from time to time. Despite the shrinking quantity of his life, he still has quality of life.
When that delicate balance shifts, I'll release him. I pray to the God of Akitas I know the exact nanosecond that it occurs.
New owners expect to put time and energy into raising a puppy. The same amount of energy and effort goes into helping an old dog retire to heaven with grace and dignity. It's hard to watch my beloved boy becoming frail and weak. His life is more and more circumscribed, his world smaller and smaller.
When he was a young buck, there were times when he'd take himself for a walk and be gone for 3 or 4 hours. I'd be sick with worry, envisioning him being hit by a car, or stuck in a trap, or shot by an unfriendly neighbor. I'd also be aggravated, annoyed that he wasn't The Perfect Dog.
What I would give to have The Big Guy at that level of glorious, robust health again. His spine, hips, and knees are all degenerating. Now he has difficulty rising. Just as bad, if not worse, he has problems lying down. When I'm here it's easy to help him get up (especially with his spiffy new harness). It's not as easy to help him lie down. Since he's loosing control of his hind end, I have to watch him like a hawk when he's outside. I won't allow him out of sight. If he gets stuck in a snow drift or caught up in bushes and falls over, he cannot rise without help.
He's lost control of his bowels. Poop just comes out, whether he's walking or lying down. Thanks to his new improved diet, the amount of poots is tiny for a large dog, but it still needs to be cleaned up. This is not fun when he's got an upset stomach. Diarrhea can get *everywhere*
Deafness is another issue. He's stone cold deaf. He doesn't hear the food bowls clattering when I'm preparing meals. He can't hear me call him, he can't hear cars.
Last night, for the first time, he pee-ed in the house. This is probably my fault, since I didn't make him get up to go out when The Little Princess relieved herself half way through the evening. It's hard to force him to get up, especially when he's comfortably ensconced in bed, and sleeping heavily. As much as I dislike living with undone floors and ratty rugs, last night showed the wisdom of not putting in expensive new flooring. Until he's gone, the floor stays undone, and the ratty carpet stays on the stairs.
Despite all this, The Big Guy (now being called 'The Old Man') still loves his life. He loves to be groomed and petted and fussed over. He still loves to (try to) bait the Little Princess into play. He still wants me to vacuum him when I'm cleaning up dog hair. Food is still manna. He's thrilled when his various aunties and uncles come to visit. He wants to take his twice daily walks, although they're at a snail's pace. He still woo's from time to time. Despite the shrinking quantity of his life, he still has quality of life.
When that delicate balance shifts, I'll release him. I pray to the God of Akitas I know the exact nanosecond that it occurs.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sneezing, coughing, runny nose...
watery, itchy eyes, fatigue, lack of appetite.
Sounds like a commercial for NyQuil.
Relapse.
I've had *enough* of this!
I'll be better tomorrow.
(Sounds like something I said on Tuesday. And Wednesday. And...)
Sounds like a commercial for NyQuil.
Relapse.
I've had *enough* of this!
I'll be better tomorrow.
(Sounds like something I said on Tuesday. And Wednesday. And...)
Friday, March 12, 2010
ZSL
The Zoological Society of London -- a.k.a. the London Zoo -- houses over 15,000 animals. There's a Butterfly Paradise, an African Bird Safari, and an impressive aquarium. (The term 'aquarium' actually originated at this zoo). The aquarium contains exhibits of fish from the Amazon, as well as a coral reef.
London's zoo is notable for unique or beloved creatures. It housed the only living quagga ever to be photographed. The quagga, which looks like a cross between a horse and a zebra, was hunted to extinction in the 1870's.
A.A. Milne's beloved Winnie the Pooh was based on Winnipeg Bear ('Winnie'). Milne's son, Christopher Robin became so enamored of Winnie, the author scribed his Pooh books to immortalize him.
In 1949, the zoo bred it's first polar bear, Brumas. Although the press announced Brumas was a male, he was actually a she -- a fact that was not disclosed to the public. She (or he) led to record attendance numbers of 3 million visitors in 1950 -- a record which has not been broken.
More recently,in the summer of 2005, the zoo put 8 humans on display. These human volunteers were adorned with fig leaves, and were intended to highlight the fact we are indeed animals.
I visited the zoo when I lived in London, and was reminded of its history by a passage in a book I'm reading. The zoo was founded by Stamford Raffles and Humphrey Davy in 1826 and received a royal charter two years later.
During World War II, most of the animals were moved to safety at the ZSL's Whipsnade location. The East Tunnel, constructed in 1830, links the north and south parts of the zoo. It provided shelter to thousands of Londoners during the blitz.
Trivia: The python scene from "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was filmed at the zoo's Reptile House.
London's zoo is notable for unique or beloved creatures. It housed the only living quagga ever to be photographed. The quagga, which looks like a cross between a horse and a zebra, was hunted to extinction in the 1870's. 
A.A. Milne's beloved Winnie the Pooh was based on Winnipeg Bear ('Winnie'). Milne's son, Christopher Robin became so enamored of Winnie, the author scribed his Pooh books to immortalize him. In 1949, the zoo bred it's first polar bear, Brumas. Although the press announced Brumas was a male, he was actually a she -- a fact that was not disclosed to the public. She (or he) led to record attendance numbers of 3 million visitors in 1950 -- a record which has not been broken.
More recently,in the summer of 2005, the zoo put 8 humans on display. These human volunteers were adorned with fig leaves, and were intended to highlight the fact we are indeed animals.
I visited the zoo when I lived in London, and was reminded of its history by a passage in a book I'm reading. The zoo was founded by Stamford Raffles and Humphrey Davy in 1826 and received a royal charter two years later.
During World War II, most of the animals were moved to safety at the ZSL's Whipsnade location. The East Tunnel, constructed in 1830, links the north and south parts of the zoo. It provided shelter to thousands of Londoners during the blitz.
Trivia: The python scene from "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was filmed at the zoo's Reptile House.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Today - not so much
I've been feeling great and bumping up my exercise regime. Tri season approaches! Was apparently in excellent health yesterday morning. By lunch, I felt like I'd had the stuffing knocked out of me. Took a nap before heading to school. Major sore throat, headache, sneezing.
Today, I've got a whopper of a head cold. Except only on the left side. Watery eyes, running nose (wow! that's an understatement!) misery, misery, misery. Right side: nuttin'
Off to the Land of Nod. Here's hoping the infection stays contained on the left!
Today, I've got a whopper of a head cold. Except only on the left side. Watery eyes, running nose (wow! that's an understatement!) misery, misery, misery. Right side: nuttin'
Off to the Land of Nod. Here's hoping the infection stays contained on the left!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Vote With Your Fork
I heard on the news the other day that obesity in infants is now a big issue - no pun intended. I was shocked. Of course we've been barraged with information on the obesity epidemic in the U.S. Our sedentary lifestyles (what am I doing now? Sitting at a computer typing. And what are YOU doing?), lousy diets and consumption of fast foods add up to a problem with fat. Teenagers are fatter. Kids are fatter. So, no surprise: infants are fatter, too.
In short, (in wideness?) we have an obesity problem. Americans are indeed fat, dumb, lazy and happy (or clueless). And we're killing ourselves by the way we eat. Skyrocketing rates of Type II Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers -- all are diet related.
Take action, America. Eat more fruits, veg, whole grains. Get away from processed foods! My food hero, journalist Michael Pollan suggests shopping along the outside of the grocery store -- not in the middle aisles, where the processed foodstuffs sit.
He also recommends eating foods that have no more than 5 ingredients. Or, look at the label. If you can't envision where something on that label comes from, don't eat it!
Fast food = bad food. Too many calories, too much fat, too much sugar, too much processing. Ah, but that convenience! Not worth the price you eventually pay, in my mind.
My mother was ahead of her time. In an era where housewives were being brainwashed by the new concept of brand marketing, she stuck with the basics. Rather than buying Wonder Bread (with 14 essential vitamins added!) she'd buy fresh bread from the baker.
'Why would you take something out just to put it back in?' she mused about how Wonder Bread was processed. 'Why not just eat it the way it's supposed to be made?'
Wonder Bread! I wonder what's actually in it.
She thought the same about meat, fish, vegetables, fruit. Fresh is better. Fast food and soda were treats. Of course, when we first went to McDonalds, far fewer than 1 million burgers had been sold.
Although she was not fond of cooking -- loathed it, in fact -- my mother had a profound impact on the way my siblings and I view food. And decades before Mr. Pollan made his millions off dietary concerns.
In short, (in wideness?) we have an obesity problem. Americans are indeed fat, dumb, lazy and happy (or clueless). And we're killing ourselves by the way we eat. Skyrocketing rates of Type II Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers -- all are diet related.
Take action, America. Eat more fruits, veg, whole grains. Get away from processed foods! My food hero, journalist Michael Pollan suggests shopping along the outside of the grocery store -- not in the middle aisles, where the processed foodstuffs sit.
He also recommends eating foods that have no more than 5 ingredients. Or, look at the label. If you can't envision where something on that label comes from, don't eat it!
Fast food = bad food. Too many calories, too much fat, too much sugar, too much processing. Ah, but that convenience! Not worth the price you eventually pay, in my mind.
My mother was ahead of her time. In an era where housewives were being brainwashed by the new concept of brand marketing, she stuck with the basics. Rather than buying Wonder Bread (with 14 essential vitamins added!) she'd buy fresh bread from the baker.
'Why would you take something out just to put it back in?' she mused about how Wonder Bread was processed. 'Why not just eat it the way it's supposed to be made?'
Wonder Bread! I wonder what's actually in it.
She thought the same about meat, fish, vegetables, fruit. Fresh is better. Fast food and soda were treats. Of course, when we first went to McDonalds, far fewer than 1 million burgers had been sold.
Although she was not fond of cooking -- loathed it, in fact -- my mother had a profound impact on the way my siblings and I view food. And decades before Mr. Pollan made his millions off dietary concerns.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Rest in Peace
G.L., the good friend of one of my closest friends, died over the weekend. I'm weirded out. I'd never met him, but had heard stories of B's adventures, trials and tribulations with him. And we were facebook buddies -- of course, friending someone via facebook makes them instant compadres, right?
I'd never met the man. Why does his death leave me so unsettled? Perhaps because there, but for the grace of whatever god(s) there is/are....
I'd never met the man. Why does his death leave me so unsettled? Perhaps because there, but for the grace of whatever god(s) there is/are....
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The Nose Knows -- or, will help cops know!
Researchers at the University of Bath (U.K.) indicate that the nose could be a better method of individual identification than fingerprints or iris scans.
According to their work, there are 6 main nose structures: Roman, Greek, Nubian, hawk, snub and turned-up (seriously!). Using three-dimensional scans, they categorized noses by tip, ridge profile and naison (the ‘bridge’ of the nose).
Noses are excellent identifiers, especially in covert surveillance. Everyone has one and they’re prominent facial features. While they can be changed – with false noses, or with breaks or surgery – they are another tool that can be used in criminal identification.
The Bath researchers indicate that, despite their size and prominence, noses have not been seriously considered in the field of biometrics – the study of identifying distinguishing traits in humans.
Irises are considered powerful biometric identifiers. However, they can be difficult to capture accurately, and can be obscured or changed by contacts or glasses. Drugs can also dilate irises, which change their characteristics entirely. Ears are also identifiers, however they can be obscured by hair or hats.
The researchers hope that noses will become part of the biometric analysis package, stating that no single method is perfect.
According to their work, there are 6 main nose structures: Roman, Greek, Nubian, hawk, snub and turned-up (seriously!). Using three-dimensional scans, they categorized noses by tip, ridge profile and naison (the ‘bridge’ of the nose).
Noses are excellent identifiers, especially in covert surveillance. Everyone has one and they’re prominent facial features. While they can be changed – with false noses, or with breaks or surgery – they are another tool that can be used in criminal identification.
The Bath researchers indicate that, despite their size and prominence, noses have not been seriously considered in the field of biometrics – the study of identifying distinguishing traits in humans.
Irises are considered powerful biometric identifiers. However, they can be difficult to capture accurately, and can be obscured or changed by contacts or glasses. Drugs can also dilate irises, which change their characteristics entirely. Ears are also identifiers, however they can be obscured by hair or hats.
The researchers hope that noses will become part of the biometric analysis package, stating that no single method is perfect.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Much ado about Oscars
Every year there's a hullabaloo about the Academy Awards -- the nominees, the stars' clothes, who wins, who doesn't. This year: will the 10 foot tall blue people win? Will the crotchety old man who uses balloons to float his house off to South America edge them out (Up will probably get Animated Film)? Will Clooney's date be sporting an engagement ring? Will Bullock edge out Julia Child? Sorry, Sandra, Streep deserves that Oscar. So does Austrian Christoph Waltz, whose portrayal of creepy SS Colonel Hans Landa is superlative.
As for me, I'll catch the results Monday morning. Country dweller that I am, I'll be hitting the hay early, especially as I'll be up crack of dawn tomorrow for a tri workout with The Big Dogs.
As for me, I'll catch the results Monday morning. Country dweller that I am, I'll be hitting the hay early, especially as I'll be up crack of dawn tomorrow for a tri workout with The Big Dogs.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Hartman's Harnessed
The Big Guy's new harness arrived via priority mail an hour ago. I got all excited and completely knotted it and myself up at first. K -- a prince among princes - waited patiently as I pulled and pushed it on and around him. We took a short stroll, and he seems confused: 'Am I supposed to walk when you hold the handle above my hips?' and 'how come my hind end is still drooping?'
It's because Mummy hasn't quite figured out how tight each strap is supposed to be. I'm hoping (praying) it helps him.
"I'm a little uncertain about this thing."
The Little Princess is always up for action: she skipped along on top of the snow as The Big Guy meandered a few paces, getting the feel for his new duds.
It's unbelievably hard to see my beloved friend deteriorating before my eyes. He did so well for 2 weeks after his last session with Dr. Karen, our alternative vet. Then, seemingly overnight, he's back to Saggy Butt. She's away at a seminar this weekend, otherwise we'd be at her office.
Right now, he's snoozing on one of his beds. His sleep is so relaxed and deep; I hope he has pain-free miles to go....
Don't forget ME!'
It's because Mummy hasn't quite figured out how tight each strap is supposed to be. I'm hoping (praying) it helps him.
"I'm a little uncertain about this thing."
The Little Princess is always up for action: she skipped along on top of the snow as The Big Guy meandered a few paces, getting the feel for his new duds.It's unbelievably hard to see my beloved friend deteriorating before my eyes. He did so well for 2 weeks after his last session with Dr. Karen, our alternative vet. Then, seemingly overnight, he's back to Saggy Butt. She's away at a seminar this weekend, otherwise we'd be at her office.
Right now, he's snoozing on one of his beds. His sleep is so relaxed and deep; I hope he has pain-free miles to go....
Don't forget ME!'
Thursday, March 4, 2010
No better - or worse - than anyone else
As I was leaving the gym last week, I noticed an older, grey haired man sitting on one of the comfy chairs across from the main desk. It took second for me to recognize him. I’ve only ever seen him in my neighborhood.
This wizened, flannel clad man looked small, benign and harmless perched on the edge of his seat. Before we could make eye contact, I jerked my gaze away. I didn't want to establish a connection, or start even the most banal of conversations. This man scares me.
B is schizophrenic. When he's on his meds, he's supposed to be a happy, easy going guy. When he's not, he’s frightening. Two years ago, he beat up his wife. She called the sheriff and had him admitted to the psych ward. She also vowed she'd 'never let him return home.' As is unfortunately true in many abuse cases, she took him back – though after his medications had stabilized his actions.
His neighbors complain of spotlights being shown in their windows after dark, and midnight peregrinations through the neighborhood. One had to get a restraining order against him; another worries about her young children. B carries a cudgel. He walks at odd hours, stick in hand. Allegedly he’ll swing it at anyone or anything that seems threatening.
I’ve learned to keep interactions with B to minimum. I won’t risk anything more than a nod and a short greeting. During one of his ‘episodes,’ he sprang out of bushes as I walked by with the dogs, waving the club in one hand and road kill in the other. He threw the carcass at us, bellowing ‘Take this meat! You starve those dogs! They need to eat! Take it!’
Before the Big Guy became too old to do anything more than amble a quarter mile down the road, we'd take long walks, frequently passing B's house. The house itself is hidden behind an 8 food stockade and big trees, so as I pass it is easy to let my imagination run into dark scary places.
Early one August morning, the dogs and I headed past his house and up a road bordered on either side by cornfields. B -- or aliens -- had carefully paved about 100 feet of the road with shucked corn – a hallucinatory version of the Yellow Brick Road. It must have taken hours to arrange the ears so perfectly. We kept to the shoulder, and left the design intact; as I drove home for lunch and dog care late that morning, the corn had been flattened by traffic.
I felt a twinge of guilt as I hustled past B in the gym. He is, after all, ill and a neighbor. I’m no better than the next guy in my biases and fears around mental illness, embarrassing and shameful as it is to admit. It’s also difficult to overlook the fact I’ve seen this man standing at an intersection urinating in broad daylight.
This wizened, flannel clad man looked small, benign and harmless perched on the edge of his seat. Before we could make eye contact, I jerked my gaze away. I didn't want to establish a connection, or start even the most banal of conversations. This man scares me.
B is schizophrenic. When he's on his meds, he's supposed to be a happy, easy going guy. When he's not, he’s frightening. Two years ago, he beat up his wife. She called the sheriff and had him admitted to the psych ward. She also vowed she'd 'never let him return home.' As is unfortunately true in many abuse cases, she took him back – though after his medications had stabilized his actions.
His neighbors complain of spotlights being shown in their windows after dark, and midnight peregrinations through the neighborhood. One had to get a restraining order against him; another worries about her young children. B carries a cudgel. He walks at odd hours, stick in hand. Allegedly he’ll swing it at anyone or anything that seems threatening.
I’ve learned to keep interactions with B to minimum. I won’t risk anything more than a nod and a short greeting. During one of his ‘episodes,’ he sprang out of bushes as I walked by with the dogs, waving the club in one hand and road kill in the other. He threw the carcass at us, bellowing ‘Take this meat! You starve those dogs! They need to eat! Take it!’
Before the Big Guy became too old to do anything more than amble a quarter mile down the road, we'd take long walks, frequently passing B's house. The house itself is hidden behind an 8 food stockade and big trees, so as I pass it is easy to let my imagination run into dark scary places.
Early one August morning, the dogs and I headed past his house and up a road bordered on either side by cornfields. B -- or aliens -- had carefully paved about 100 feet of the road with shucked corn – a hallucinatory version of the Yellow Brick Road. It must have taken hours to arrange the ears so perfectly. We kept to the shoulder, and left the design intact; as I drove home for lunch and dog care late that morning, the corn had been flattened by traffic.
I felt a twinge of guilt as I hustled past B in the gym. He is, after all, ill and a neighbor. I’m no better than the next guy in my biases and fears around mental illness, embarrassing and shameful as it is to admit. It’s also difficult to overlook the fact I’ve seen this man standing at an intersection urinating in broad daylight.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
How DO You Select a Good Dog Food?
Back in 2007, horror stories of beloved pets dying due to tainted foods manufactured in China peppered the news. The ingredient that was the major culprit was melamine, and the majority of the tainted products were imported from China.
Over 3,000 pets were estimated to have died due to kidney failure caused by consumption food containing this ingredient (melamine, when mixed with resins, is a fire retardant. It’s also one o f components in Formica. Sounds like a great addition to pet food!)
I felt fortunate: I’ve always been a Dog Food Nazi, and have attempted to keep up-to-date about the dietary requirements of my canine pals. The food I was feeding them wasn't poisoned. After hearing about the melamine scare – which was also found in toothpaste and infant formula – I became even more vigilant.
Read the Label!
Many Americans diligently read labels before purchasing products for their human families. I encourage pet owners to do the same for their 4-legged family members. Forget the advertisements you see on TV or in magazines.
Ignore the claims bolded on the package. Pull out your glasses and take a look-see at what’s listed as ingredients in your dog food. It’s not hard. It doesn’t take long, and it’s the only way to understand what’s inside the package.
In short, if you understand labels on human food, you’ll understand labels on pet food. Read the ingredient list. Then re-read it.
In the U.S., the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) set the standards for the nutrient profiles you’ll find on every can or bag of pet food. This information includes the recommended minimum amount of protein, vitamin and mineral levels, etc.
These profiles include recommendations on fat, protein, vitamins, and mineral contents of pet food; they also include maximum levels of intake for certain nutrients. Providing excessive amounts of ‘nutrition’ has become an issue with some dog foods.
All dog foods need to have an AAFCO nutrient profile or indicate that it has an AAFCO feeding trial rating. (The latter is better: it indicates that a minimum number of canines have been feed the food for at least 6 months, and that these dogs finished the trial in good health.) The nutrient profile indicates that, based on manufacturer research, the dog will be fed at least minimum amounts of the ingredients listed.
The nutrition label provides a guaranteed analysis of the food’s ingredients. It will list everything from how much crude protein, fat and fiber a food contains to how much moisture is factored in to levels of vitamins and minerals are included.
However, the label will not tell you how much of the ingredients are actually digestible by your dog or cat. Some proteins, for example, are easy for Fido or Fluffy to digest. Others are fillers, and will end up as waste. The latter provide little if any nutrition, but are included in the crude protein information of the food.
As with human food, pet food ingredients must be listed in order of weight before cooking and/or processing. The first ingredient that is listed is the primary ingredient.
Or is it?
As with the labels on biped food, manufacturers list all ingredients – but can be crafty in how they do so. “Splitting” is the practice of listing the same ingredient with different names to hide a mediocre or poor ingredient. “Beef meal” or “chicken meal” may be the first ingredient listed. Both are good proteins for your pet.
Keep reading. Just down the list you may see ‘ground corn meal’, and the ingredient after that is ‘corn gluten.’ After that you may see ‘corn gluten meal,’ or another form of corn. Add those ingredients up: voila! The primary ingredient is actually corn, not beef or chicken.
Corn is frequently the main ingredient in dog food. It’s a much cheaper source of protein than chicken, fish or beef. Dogs can only digest about half of the protein in corn, and the rest – you guessed it – is what you clean up when you walk your pooch. In essence, you are paying extra to clean up (or ignore!) your dog’s waste. Also, many dogs have or will develop allergies to it. Avoid it as much as possible.
Why did we end up with grains like corn in dog food? Manufacturers needed to keep boosting profits. Adding what is considered waste from human food processing to dog food eliminated the need for waste disposal, and added a whole new industry with which corporations could generate profit.
As you peruse your pet food labels, look for meat. Beef, chicken, lamb, fish, bison, whatever. The more meat, the better. Grains should be whole grains. Anything else was probably swept up off the floor after a human food was manufactured.
Watch for these
There are other ingredients to avoid. Any foods that have unnamed meat, fat or protein sources are scary. ‘Meat by-products,’ ‘animal fat,’ ‘poultry fat’ are all ingredients that are red flags. You don’t want to know where these products are from. (It’s scary!) The good pet foods actually list the protein source as ‘chicken,’ ‘beef,’ ‘fish meal,’ ‘lamb.’ The better the product, the more specific the ingredient list. The higher these ingredients are in the list, the better the food.
Additional red flags: the preservatives ethoxyquin and BHA. The first is used in tire production. I cannot tell you what it’s doing in dog food. Also avoid foods with artificial sweeteners and colors. The color is added to appeal to you, not your dog.
The Big Debate: Grain-less food or not?
I’m a big proponent of grain-free dog food. Canines and cats did not evolve eating grains. The super premium foods limit the amount of grain in the food (some is necessary to act as a binding agent – the manufacturers have to get the kibble through their equipment, after all). My breed of choice, Akitas, tend to have skin problems. Since I went grain-less (then raw), my dogs’ skin issues are virtually non-existent and their coats are spectacular.
Here's a good place to start for dog kibble. Dogfoodanalysis.com ranks pet foods from one to six stars. As you move up the hierarchy of foods, there are fewer and fewer foods in each category. Stick to those 6-star foods! It's my belief that foods you can buy in the
grocery store or Walmart are pet foods to avoid.The better the food, the healthier the dog.
The pet food industry generates over $16 billion anually – and manufacturers are fighting for your pet food dollars. It's up to you to monitor your 4-legged friend's diet. For more information on what’s actually in pet foods, read ‘What’s Really in Pet Food.’Bon Appetite!
Over 3,000 pets were estimated to have died due to kidney failure caused by consumption food containing this ingredient (melamine, when mixed with resins, is a fire retardant. It’s also one o f components in Formica. Sounds like a great addition to pet food!)
I felt fortunate: I’ve always been a Dog Food Nazi, and have attempted to keep up-to-date about the dietary requirements of my canine pals. The food I was feeding them wasn't poisoned. After hearing about the melamine scare – which was also found in toothpaste and infant formula – I became even more vigilant.
Read the Label!
Many Americans diligently read labels before purchasing products for their human families. I encourage pet owners to do the same for their 4-legged family members. Forget the advertisements you see on TV or in magazines.
Ignore the claims bolded on the package. Pull out your glasses and take a look-see at what’s listed as ingredients in your dog food. It’s not hard. It doesn’t take long, and it’s the only way to understand what’s inside the package.
In short, if you understand labels on human food, you’ll understand labels on pet food. Read the ingredient list. Then re-read it.
In the U.S., the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) set the standards for the nutrient profiles you’ll find on every can or bag of pet food. This information includes the recommended minimum amount of protein, vitamin and mineral levels, etc.
These profiles include recommendations on fat, protein, vitamins, and mineral contents of pet food; they also include maximum levels of intake for certain nutrients. Providing excessive amounts of ‘nutrition’ has become an issue with some dog foods.
All dog foods need to have an AAFCO nutrient profile or indicate that it has an AAFCO feeding trial rating. (The latter is better: it indicates that a minimum number of canines have been feed the food for at least 6 months, and that these dogs finished the trial in good health.) The nutrient profile indicates that, based on manufacturer research, the dog will be fed at least minimum amounts of the ingredients listed.
The nutrition label provides a guaranteed analysis of the food’s ingredients. It will list everything from how much crude protein, fat and fiber a food contains to how much moisture is factored in to levels of vitamins and minerals are included.
However, the label will not tell you how much of the ingredients are actually digestible by your dog or cat. Some proteins, for example, are easy for Fido or Fluffy to digest. Others are fillers, and will end up as waste. The latter provide little if any nutrition, but are included in the crude protein information of the food.
As with human food, pet food ingredients must be listed in order of weight before cooking and/or processing. The first ingredient that is listed is the primary ingredient.
Or is it?
As with the labels on biped food, manufacturers list all ingredients – but can be crafty in how they do so. “Splitting” is the practice of listing the same ingredient with different names to hide a mediocre or poor ingredient. “Beef meal” or “chicken meal” may be the first ingredient listed. Both are good proteins for your pet.
Keep reading. Just down the list you may see ‘ground corn meal’, and the ingredient after that is ‘corn gluten.’ After that you may see ‘corn gluten meal,’ or another form of corn. Add those ingredients up: voila! The primary ingredient is actually corn, not beef or chicken.
Corn is frequently the main ingredient in dog food. It’s a much cheaper source of protein than chicken, fish or beef. Dogs can only digest about half of the protein in corn, and the rest – you guessed it – is what you clean up when you walk your pooch. In essence, you are paying extra to clean up (or ignore!) your dog’s waste. Also, many dogs have or will develop allergies to it. Avoid it as much as possible.
Why did we end up with grains like corn in dog food? Manufacturers needed to keep boosting profits. Adding what is considered waste from human food processing to dog food eliminated the need for waste disposal, and added a whole new industry with which corporations could generate profit.
As you peruse your pet food labels, look for meat. Beef, chicken, lamb, fish, bison, whatever. The more meat, the better. Grains should be whole grains. Anything else was probably swept up off the floor after a human food was manufactured.
Watch for these
There are other ingredients to avoid. Any foods that have unnamed meat, fat or protein sources are scary. ‘Meat by-products,’ ‘animal fat,’ ‘poultry fat’ are all ingredients that are red flags. You don’t want to know where these products are from. (It’s scary!) The good pet foods actually list the protein source as ‘chicken,’ ‘beef,’ ‘fish meal,’ ‘lamb.’ The better the product, the more specific the ingredient list. The higher these ingredients are in the list, the better the food.
Additional red flags: the preservatives ethoxyquin and BHA. The first is used in tire production. I cannot tell you what it’s doing in dog food. Also avoid foods with artificial sweeteners and colors. The color is added to appeal to you, not your dog.
The Big Debate: Grain-less food or not?
I’m a big proponent of grain-free dog food. Canines and cats did not evolve eating grains. The super premium foods limit the amount of grain in the food (some is necessary to act as a binding agent – the manufacturers have to get the kibble through their equipment, after all). My breed of choice, Akitas, tend to have skin problems. Since I went grain-less (then raw), my dogs’ skin issues are virtually non-existent and their coats are spectacular.
Here's a good place to start for dog kibble. Dogfoodanalysis.com ranks pet foods from one to six stars. As you move up the hierarchy of foods, there are fewer and fewer foods in each category. Stick to those 6-star foods! It's my belief that foods you can buy in the
grocery store or Walmart are pet foods to avoid.The better the food, the healthier the dog. The pet food industry generates over $16 billion anually – and manufacturers are fighting for your pet food dollars. It's up to you to monitor your 4-legged friend's diet. For more information on what’s actually in pet foods, read ‘What’s Really in Pet Food.’Bon Appetite!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
When insults had class.....
These glorious comebacks are from an era before insults got boiled down to 4-letter words.
"He had delusions of adequacy."
- Walter Kerr
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
- Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."
- Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."
- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).
'Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?'
- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."
- Moses Hadas
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."
- Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends."
- Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend.... if you have one."
- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one." - - Winston Churchill, in response.
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here."
- Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator."
- John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial."
- Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others."
- Samuel Johnson
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily."
- Charles, Count Talleyrand
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.."
- Forrest Tucker
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork."
- Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
- Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination."
- Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it."
- Groucho Marx
'He has the attention span of a lightning bolt.'
- Robert Redford
'They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.'
- Thomas Brackett Reed
'He has Van Gogh's ear for music.'
- Billy Wilder
'He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.'
- Abraham Lincoln
'A modest little person, with much to be modest about. '
- Winston Churchill
The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor:
She said, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison."
He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."
A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease."
"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."
"He had delusions of adequacy."
- Walter Kerr
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
- Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."
- Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."
- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).
'Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?'
- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."
- Moses Hadas
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."
- Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends."
- Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend.... if you have one."
- George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one." - - Winston Churchill, in response.
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here."
- Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator."
- John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial."
- Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others."
- Samuel Johnson
"In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily."
- Charles, Count Talleyrand
"He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.."
- Forrest Tucker
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork."
- Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
- Oscar Wilde
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination."
- Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it."
- Groucho Marx
'He has the attention span of a lightning bolt.'
- Robert Redford
'They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge.'
- Thomas Brackett Reed
'He has Van Gogh's ear for music.'
- Billy Wilder
'He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know.'
- Abraham Lincoln
'A modest little person, with much to be modest about. '
- Winston Churchill
The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor:
She said, "If you were my husband I'd give you poison."
He said, "If you were my wife, I'd drink it."
A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease."
"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."
Monday, March 1, 2010
A Benign Narcissism
'Narcissism' immediately congers up synonyms. Vanity. Conceit. Selfishness. Egotism.The word is derived from Greek mythology. The young Greek Narcissus was a stud-muffin who rejected the desperate advances of the nymph Echo. As punishment, he was doomed to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool of water. Unable to consummate his love for himself, Narcissus pined away and changed into the flower that bears his name.
I drove a friend to an appointment today; she commented she liked my blog. We discussed how blogging is a weird niche -- it's a form of on-line diary, which all the world (or none of it) can read.
It's also narcissistic. My blogs are all about me, me, me. Remember the great joke from the New Yorker? 'Enough about me! Let's talk about you. What do you think of me?' Classic!
As I've noted in previous posts, I blog for myself. Great if other people read this, even better if they like at least some of it. Blogging is cathartic. I get an idea in my head, process it for hours or days, and perhaps it ends up as the topic of a post. If no one reads this, I guess there's a kernel, which, if expressed, would be a sigh of disappointment.
I'll never be the Salinger of blogs, yet I assume all bloggers have a wispy hope of
becoming the cyberspace equivalent of Dan Brown or Nora Roberts. We all of us crave attention. As I said, blogging is narcissistic.Some poor Ph.D. candidates are already slaving away, researching the narcissistic tendencies of people like, well, me.
PS - about narcissism. I suspect most bloggers are sub-clinical narcissists, not hard core/pathological ones. Just read this quote:
Sub-clinical narcissists are happy. They are less likely to be depressed, sad or anxious, and rate their subjective well-being more highly. They’re less reactive to stress, and recover more rapidly from it. Mild narcissism also seems to help people recover from accidents or other trauma—it gives them an unrealistic sense of their own invulnerability, 
and they believe that they will be able to handle whatever else life throws at them. . . .being somewhat narcissistic is like driving a huge SUV: You’re having a great time, even while you hog the road, suck up extra resources and put other drivers at higher risk. From: A Field Guide to Narcissism by Carl Vogel
and they believe that they will be able to handle whatever else life throws at them. . . .being somewhat narcissistic is like driving a huge SUV: You’re having a great time, even while you hog the road, suck up extra resources and put other drivers at higher risk. From: A Field Guide to Narcissism by Carl Vogel
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