Great ideas come into the world as quietly as doves. Perhaps then , if we listen attentively we shall hear, among the uproar of empires and nations, the faint fluttering of wings, the gentle stirrings of life and hope. Some will say this hope lies in a nation; others in a man. I believe rather that it is awakened, revived, nourished by millions of solitary individuals whose deeds and works every day negate frontiers and the crudest implications of history. Each and every one, on the foundations of their own suffering and joy builds for all.
-Albert Camus
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Need a reason to not hate?
Well, I've got two.
1. Dolphin saves stranded whales.
2. Scarlett saves her entire family despite the risk it poses her own health.
Us people could learn a lot from our animal brethren.
1. Dolphin saves stranded whales.
2. Scarlett saves her entire family despite the risk it poses her own health.
Us people could learn a lot from our animal brethren.
A movie I want to see (I think).
It's a film set in Romania in 1987 about a girl who gets pregnant, waits for a long time to deal with it and she and her friend (from what I understand) try to get her an abortion, which is illegal under the dictatorship ruling the country. It won a Golden Palm at Cannes in 2007.
Here is the trailer on youtube.com.
It was reviewed by the Village Voice as a "white-knuckler". There are a lot of reasons I want to see it, probably first and foremost that abortion is hard to talk about something I strongly support (talking about it, that is). So I would like to give my money to a film that tries to deal with that issue, no matter what country it's in or what the political backdrop is.
I hope to see it this weekend and I'll let you know how it goes.
But if you're interested, it's just barely still playing in NYC at the IFC Center - according to my fiance who called to confirm that it is still playing this week - at 323 6th Ave in the West Village.
Here is the trailer on youtube.com.
It was reviewed by the Village Voice as a "white-knuckler". There are a lot of reasons I want to see it, probably first and foremost that abortion is hard to talk about something I strongly support (talking about it, that is). So I would like to give my money to a film that tries to deal with that issue, no matter what country it's in or what the political backdrop is.
I hope to see it this weekend and I'll let you know how it goes.
But if you're interested, it's just barely still playing in NYC at the IFC Center - according to my fiance who called to confirm that it is still playing this week - at 323 6th Ave in the West Village.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Save $$$ every time you shop online!
Being a bride-to-be has it perks. I got a free few copies of Modern Bride. I started flipping through the pages saying, "Oh GOD... look at that dress... give me a BREAK! Ha! What a racket!"
And while it's true, the wedding industry IS a racket there was a handy little page in the back of the magazine that gave brides ways to cut costs when they are shopping for all the three-trillion things it takes to throw a nice wedding.
So... the best piece of advice they gave me that I use all the time, not just in relation to the wedding, is to Google the Company Name plus the word "Coupon" every time I go to check out online. For example, if I'm shopping at Ted's Fabulous Wedding Supplies, Inc. I would Google "Ted's Fabulous Wedding Supplies Coupon".
You would be surprised how many companies have offers going on that they will not inform you of when you go to pay! I just now saved $35 getting some clothes for my honeymoon.
Copy and paste the coupon code into the promotional code space when you go to check out. Watch carefully as they tend to be on different pages for different companies.
Happy shopping!
And while it's true, the wedding industry IS a racket there was a handy little page in the back of the magazine that gave brides ways to cut costs when they are shopping for all the three-trillion things it takes to throw a nice wedding.
So... the best piece of advice they gave me that I use all the time, not just in relation to the wedding, is to Google the Company Name plus the word "Coupon" every time I go to check out online. For example, if I'm shopping at Ted's Fabulous Wedding Supplies, Inc. I would Google "Ted's Fabulous Wedding Supplies Coupon".
You would be surprised how many companies have offers going on that they will not inform you of when you go to pay! I just now saved $35 getting some clothes for my honeymoon.
Copy and paste the coupon code into the promotional code space when you go to check out. Watch carefully as they tend to be on different pages for different companies.
Happy shopping!
Exercise the demons! Part 2
As I have mentioned in the last blog post, I am getting married on August 2, 2008. I bring this up again because I am trying, as many future-brides do, to lose weight and get in better shape before "the big day".
My exercise regime has faltered a little in the past two weeks and I am, currently, procrastinating going to the gym by posting this blog (crafty, eh?). However, I have managed to lose 11-12 pounds already and will try to at least double that (big sigh) before August. I do it using the techniques listed below.
I want to clarify that when I say I do "3 reps of 20 sit-ups" I mean I do 3 reps of 3 different KINDS of sit-ups 20 times each rep. For example, I will do 20 leg lowers, 20 crunches, and 20 obliques and then repeat that two more times, usually lifting a heavy weighted bar in between to tone up my biceps. Then I do the plank position anywhere from 1-3 times for as long as I can and I time this so I am constantly trying to out-do myself.
We'll see. It is one thing to lose 11 pounds and quite another to keep it off and lose more and keep THAT off.
My new favorite recipe is flounder piccata which I will post later on my recipe blog - Flavors to Marry.
Also, if you want to see in shape check out a beginning scene from one of my favorite Bond movies.
If you can do that, I'd say you're doing just fine.
My exercise regime has faltered a little in the past two weeks and I am, currently, procrastinating going to the gym by posting this blog (crafty, eh?). However, I have managed to lose 11-12 pounds already and will try to at least double that (big sigh) before August. I do it using the techniques listed below.
I want to clarify that when I say I do "3 reps of 20 sit-ups" I mean I do 3 reps of 3 different KINDS of sit-ups 20 times each rep. For example, I will do 20 leg lowers, 20 crunches, and 20 obliques and then repeat that two more times, usually lifting a heavy weighted bar in between to tone up my biceps. Then I do the plank position anywhere from 1-3 times for as long as I can and I time this so I am constantly trying to out-do myself.
We'll see. It is one thing to lose 11 pounds and quite another to keep it off and lose more and keep THAT off.
My new favorite recipe is flounder piccata which I will post later on my recipe blog - Flavors to Marry.
Also, if you want to see in shape check out a beginning scene from one of my favorite Bond movies.
If you can do that, I'd say you're doing just fine.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse... the series
I am not the most well-read person in the world.
But I DO read.
And I know the signs of being enthralled with a piece of fiction when I see them in myself:
1. Won't listen to others
2. Won't put book down to eat
3. Won't watch tv or movies
4. Won't sleep
5. Will panic when approaching the last third of book unless sequel is on bedside table
6. Find myself thinking about what the characters will do when such-and-such happens as though I should DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ALREADY!
7. Have a small depression upon finishing those books that are written and curse the author for not being prolific enough.
This is what happened to me (and my niece who is 16 years old - see? cross-generational, folks!) with the Twilight series by, Stephanie Meyer.
Now that is all fine and good. But my niece informs me that the new book, Breaking Dawn, is due out August 2, 2008!
Fine! Except that I am getting married on August 2, 2008 and not in this country! Can I pre-order the book? Will they ship internationally? Will the people at the place we're getting married think I'm a FUCKING MANIAC having a vampire book shipped express to myself overseas?
These are the questions I have to grapple with. And you thought YOUR life was hard.
But I DO read.
And I know the signs of being enthralled with a piece of fiction when I see them in myself:
1. Won't listen to others
2. Won't put book down to eat
3. Won't watch tv or movies
4. Won't sleep
5. Will panic when approaching the last third of book unless sequel is on bedside table
6. Find myself thinking about what the characters will do when such-and-such happens as though I should DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ALREADY!
7. Have a small depression upon finishing those books that are written and curse the author for not being prolific enough.
This is what happened to me (and my niece who is 16 years old - see? cross-generational, folks!) with the Twilight series by, Stephanie Meyer.
Now that is all fine and good. But my niece informs me that the new book, Breaking Dawn, is due out August 2, 2008!
Fine! Except that I am getting married on August 2, 2008 and not in this country! Can I pre-order the book? Will they ship internationally? Will the people at the place we're getting married think I'm a FUCKING MANIAC having a vampire book shipped express to myself overseas?
These are the questions I have to grapple with. And you thought YOUR life was hard.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Exercise the demons!
I am not a fitness freak.
In fact, anyone who knows me (which is everyone reading this) is now laughing.
However.
I just came back from the gym and am so tired I can barely type. I actually enjoy this feeling. It lowers my anxiety level which is notable and eventually, combined with watching what i eat, makes me look better.
I am going to share with you my workout regime because I know nobody cares. If you are interested in getting in shape and have a hard time doing it perhaps you can use some of this for your own regime.
I am not suggesting that I am in great shape, merely that this particular regime has helped me achieve a certain level of fitness (that level being not dead) for a few years. I used to be a jogger at a few different periods in my life and then I got plantars fasciitis (which is a tearing of the ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot) in both feet. And although my injury has healed enough for me to workout again on a regular basis I basically can no longer jog. Sad. I actually dream about jogging and wish that I could. Maybe someday.
Btw, the cure for plantars fasciitis as far as I can tell having done much research, gone to podiatrists, general physicians and fitness stores is stretching, stretching and more stretching. I stretch after every single workout and sometimes even if I don't go to the gym. I got cortisone shots, heel pads, splints to wear at night etc. Stretching out my hamstrings was the only thing that helped. That and a therapist. But that's a different story. And a different kind of demon.
1. Must do at least 4-5 workouts of cardio per week.
2. Each cardio workout should be at least 30 mins long, preferably 40-45 mins.
3. In the beginning I work up to the level at which I want to work out. I often start much lower than I end up doing regularly. Be patient. If you rush yourself you will injure yourself and have to start all over again.
4. I do elliptical machines myself - I hate the stairmaster and cannot run so they are challenging and good on my joints and feet. I do 5-10 mins of warm-up (i.e., a low resistance); then I alternate every 3 minutes from moderate levels to hard levels back and forth until I hit about 25 minutes or until I cannot do it anymore and then I workout on moderate or easy until it is time to quit.
5. Always listen to your body. If you're tired and can't do a hard workout then don't. You can do one tomorrow. I have injured myself many times forcing myself to do something because I "should".
6. (This is the other really important part.) Must do at least 2 muscle toning workouts per week. This includes lifting weights and doing situps/push-ups/pilates/yoga-type stretching. This is a key element to losing weight. Cardio alone will not do it. Not really.
7. Take a pilates class and learn some of the moves. I use them on my own and they are extremely helpful in building muscle mass and core strength and in stretching. I do 3 reps of at least 20 sit-ups and often lift weights with my arms in between each reps to break it up. I also lift weights on machines once a week.
Learn the plank position. It's fucking hard. It will help your core strength almost immediately.
The first time I did it I could only do it for five seconds I think. I'm now at 40 seconds. 1 minutes is really good (according to me).
Always, always stretch. And always drink lots of water.
That's it. I have to shower now.
Oh, and if you want to see in shape... check out Vincent Cassel in Ocean's Twelve.
In fact, anyone who knows me (which is everyone reading this) is now laughing.
However.
I just came back from the gym and am so tired I can barely type. I actually enjoy this feeling. It lowers my anxiety level which is notable and eventually, combined with watching what i eat, makes me look better.
I am going to share with you my workout regime because I know nobody cares. If you are interested in getting in shape and have a hard time doing it perhaps you can use some of this for your own regime.
I am not suggesting that I am in great shape, merely that this particular regime has helped me achieve a certain level of fitness (that level being not dead) for a few years. I used to be a jogger at a few different periods in my life and then I got plantars fasciitis (which is a tearing of the ligament that runs along the bottom of your foot) in both feet. And although my injury has healed enough for me to workout again on a regular basis I basically can no longer jog. Sad. I actually dream about jogging and wish that I could. Maybe someday.
Btw, the cure for plantars fasciitis as far as I can tell having done much research, gone to podiatrists, general physicians and fitness stores is stretching, stretching and more stretching. I stretch after every single workout and sometimes even if I don't go to the gym. I got cortisone shots, heel pads, splints to wear at night etc. Stretching out my hamstrings was the only thing that helped. That and a therapist. But that's a different story. And a different kind of demon.
1. Must do at least 4-5 workouts of cardio per week.
2. Each cardio workout should be at least 30 mins long, preferably 40-45 mins.
3. In the beginning I work up to the level at which I want to work out. I often start much lower than I end up doing regularly. Be patient. If you rush yourself you will injure yourself and have to start all over again.
4. I do elliptical machines myself - I hate the stairmaster and cannot run so they are challenging and good on my joints and feet. I do 5-10 mins of warm-up (i.e., a low resistance); then I alternate every 3 minutes from moderate levels to hard levels back and forth until I hit about 25 minutes or until I cannot do it anymore and then I workout on moderate or easy until it is time to quit.
5. Always listen to your body. If you're tired and can't do a hard workout then don't. You can do one tomorrow. I have injured myself many times forcing myself to do something because I "should".
6. (This is the other really important part.) Must do at least 2 muscle toning workouts per week. This includes lifting weights and doing situps/push-ups/pilates/yoga-type stretching. This is a key element to losing weight. Cardio alone will not do it. Not really.
7. Take a pilates class and learn some of the moves. I use them on my own and they are extremely helpful in building muscle mass and core strength and in stretching. I do 3 reps of at least 20 sit-ups and often lift weights with my arms in between each reps to break it up. I also lift weights on machines once a week.
Learn the plank position. It's fucking hard. It will help your core strength almost immediately.
The first time I did it I could only do it for five seconds I think. I'm now at 40 seconds. 1 minutes is really good (according to me).
Always, always stretch. And always drink lots of water.
That's it. I have to shower now.
Oh, and if you want to see in shape... check out Vincent Cassel in Ocean's Twelve.
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