Friday, August 29, 2008

Favorite Sculture


Hannover
Originally uploaded by M.M. Testerman
I came across this at FlickR today. I absolutely love the exaggerated body parts and the bold colors. It rocks. The picture description says you can walk inside. How fun is that.

Check out the photographers other work too. Many beautiful pictures from wonderful places in Europe.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

The Importance of Reading Labels

I've been on a concentrated frozen fruit juice kick for the last few weeks since I discovered Teaopia and their blended Guava/Pear Matcha drinks. I decided I'd try making my own at home when I found a new blended juice by Minute Maid's that has Guava, Passion Fruit and Orange because who can afford a $6 every week. And I'm quite happy with the results.

The other day I went to pick up some more juice but they were all out of the Guava mix that I love. I decided to substitute it with another new variety of the same brand that was a mixture of Mango and Orange. I mean, I like mangoes.

So I made up the juice and tasted tested it, made my blended drink, and of course forced Jeff to do a taste test. The juice was heavier in texture than the other one but otherwise not bad.

For some reason while Jeff was doing his taste test I decided to read the label. Here's what I learned:
  • It's made with 100% juice
  • It has Omega-3
  • 4 tbsp prepared contains 0.1 grams of fat (who only drinks 4 tbsps?)
  • Some of the ingredients: fish oil (anchovy and sardine), fish gelatin, sunflower oil
Fish oil? Jeff nearly pitched a fit after he realized I wasn't kidding. He hates fish. Suddenly, the juice tasted like fish and he has refused to drink it since.

Now I realize that the whole fish oil thing is so they can slap "omega-3" on the front but really. One of the reasons we stopped drinking Sunny D years ago was because we finally got around to reading the label and found out it's loaded with canola oil (makes it smooth when it goes down).

Who would think to read their ingredients on Minite Maid juice? I certainly will from now on. As for my Guava juice I went to the label immediately the next time I found it. Three ingredients: oranges, guava and passionfruit. Phew!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Not Giving Up Yet

I'm still juggling (or some resemblance of juggling). I know I can't believe it either. I have finally made it up to three balls but can't go past about 4 - 8 repetitions depending on the day.

There are definitely benefits to it co-ordination wise. I caught a ball behind my head tonight without even seeing it. I don't know when I'd use this particular talent but I'm enjoying it and it makes me feel good.

I still haven't gotten the nerve up yet to video myself juggling; so here is a picture of my balls. I know exciting. The big yellow ones are definitely outside ones (I've only used them once because it just isn't safe to use them yet). I find the beanbag ones (from the $1 store) the easiest to use but I started with the red/yellow/blue ones.

I've been really good at practising every night for a minimum of 30 minutes, sometimes for 1 1/2. It's kind of addictive and relaxing (I couldn't fight the urge to juggle a bit when I went to take the this picture). I generally do it while I'm watching reruns of Without a Trace; which is probably the reason why I drop them so much... har har.

I find the best results when I follow a routine. I warm up with one ball, move on to two and then finish with the three. I still can't seem to perform in front of an audience (Jeff), even if he tries to sneak up on me I know someone's there and can't do it. What is that? Performance anxiety?

Monday, August 11, 2008

Windows Live Writer

Jeff downloaded a new program I'm trying called Windows Live Writer. If you have numerous blogs at different places it will allow you to blog from them all in one spot (except myspace and yahoo 360  so far) as well as work on your posts offline. It is an interesting concept and so far pretty easy to use.

DenimIt has a couple extra editing features which are kind of nice like being able to insert a picture then manipulate it with shadow or photo paper like the jeans at right. I've been able to make a couple posts this morning, including this one, without having to read any directions on how to use the program.

The only problem I've noticed so far is that it uses a lot of extra html than I normally would. I had to go back and correct something minor because it putting paragraphs where I wanted returns. A small complaint for being able to write, edit and publish from one screen.

The software is Windows Live Writer is free.

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Mississippi Attempting to Keep Fat People Out of Sight

The state of Mississippi is trying to pass a bill that will force restaurateurs to refuse service to anyone with a BMI greater than 30.

It's bad enough most of us are relegated to clothes shopping online. Next we won't be able to hang out at coffee shops and book stores or heaven forbid health clubs (they might break something).

Like forcing fat people to eat in private will somehow curb obesity. Let's segregate fat people even more from the rest of the community. Yeah, that'll work...

Read more about it at Junkfood Science.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Getting to Know Meme

My friend Nessa inflicted this Meme on me. If you are looking for more memes check out my meme lens.

What time is it? 7:05pm

What's your full name? Eva Maureen

What are you most afraid of? Spiders

What is the most recent movie that you have seen? Blink starring Aidan Quinn and Madelaine Stowe. It was pretty good.

Place of birth? Fort William, ON

Favorite food? French Fries

What's your natural hair color? Blonde

Ever been to a tropical place? Does Louisiana count? Or a green house?

Ever been skinny dipping? No. What if a leech got in the wrong spot?

Been in a car accident? Two. One during a snow storm and one driving down main street minding my own business.

Croutons or Bacon Bits? Croutons

Favorite day of the week? Saturday

Favorite restaurant? Biggs or Olive Garden

Favorite Flower? Tulip

Favorite sport to watch? If I have too... baseball

Favorite drink? Skim milk

Favorite ice cream? Haagen Daaz Coffee

Warner Brothers/Disney? WB

Ever been on a ship? Yes, The Rose

What color is your bedroom carpet? No carpet.

How many times did you fail your driver's test? Never

Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail? Jeff

What do you do when you are bored? Figit

Bedtime? Anywhere between 1 am - 5 am.

Favorite TV shows? In Plain Sight - Mary McCormack rocks!

Last person you went to dinner with? Jeff

Park or Zoo? Park

What are your favorite colors? Blue and Red

How many tattoos do you have? One

How many pets do you have? One dog, one cat.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The chicken, which was the result of the mating between a pigeon and a grouse.

What do you want to do before you die? Everything

Have you ever been to Hawaii? No

Have you been to countries outside the US? Ha! Yeah. I live in one outside the US.

How many body piercings? None

Time this survey ended? 7:14 PM

Now, here's what you're supposed to do... please do not spoil the fun. Copy and paste this survey, delete my answers and type in your answers. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know INCLUDING the person who sent it to you. The theory is that you will learn a lot of little
known facts about those who know you. Remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you…

Monday, August 04, 2008

Juggling

I am learning how to juggle. Yes, juggle. You read right. My sister-in-law was visiting a few weeks ago and she announced she was learning how to juggle. For the three days she was here I became her juggling coach, despite the fact that I had never juggled in my life.

One of the days she was here we went to Chapters (a huge Canadian bookstore) and right near the entrance in the $5 sin bin was a juggling kit which included three balls and a book. Is that kismet or what? We each bought one and I continued to give her instructions on improving her juggling. I didn't juggle once while she was here.

For the last three weeks I've been trying to teach myself how to juggle. There is a specific technique involved as well as progression. You start with one ball... work up to two... and eventually three etc. And each stage has it's own progression as well. I've been obsessively practising for a minimum of 30 - 45 minutes a day, usually after midnight and sometimes twice a day. Or if I need a break from the computer. Jeff can't believe how obsessive I've been about this. Either can I actually. I feel like I'm thinking about it all the time.

Out of the last three weeks that I've juggled I have definitely dropped more balls than I've caught but I have noticed improvement (and I don't even lose my temper when I drop the balls). It doesn't happen easily. I've heard you can teach a person to juggle in three hours. Maybe if they are under 22 and have been seizure free. For me, I think it will be three months!

As of today, after I do a warm up, I can juggle three balls for 6 - 8 cascades. I think I could do more but I get excited all of a sudden and end up losing control.

If you want to learn how to juggle I highly recommend it. It's a good work out for the body (picking up balls) and for the mind. It forces your brain to do something it is not used to doing. And this is exactly why I wanted to learn (the last part). I'm totally shocked at how relaxing I find it.

One of the best teaching tools I've used is this YouTube instruction video starring Jason Garfield:

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Taking a Stand - Part Deux

Blogger got back to me yesterday to let me know it was all a mistake. I got all stressed out for nothing. Good to know. It still makes me wonder if I should download WordPress and add it to my website server.

Friday, August 01, 2008

Taking a Stand

Blogger is taking a stand against blog spammers. Great! Excellent! Apparently they think I am one of them. I have two other blogs. One that is kind of a support to my writing group - http://bookinaweek.blogspot.com and the other which is a shopping blog which I link to from BellaOnline - http://fivefavoritethings.blogspot.com

So now I have to declare them non-spamming blogs which involves me clicking on a link and having someone come review my blogs or they will be deleted in 20 days. Both of them I have been working on for more than a year so you can imagine the number of posts I'd lose. I can't even get in to copy them somewhere else. Yes, I'm one of those people who writes in the blog instead of in a document and saving it to my computer.

I've clicked on the link and now I have to wait and see what they say. Can you imagine how long this is going to take?