Usually when I get up in the morning I check out the news..have a cup of tea.. the normal routine. Then before I head out the door I pop on line real quick to check my e-mail. But this morning, there was a news story that caught my attention..
UTRECHT, Netherlands - Utrecht police say a 21-year-old Dutch man is recovering after a "mooning" that went horribly wrong.
A police statement says the man and two others had run down a street in Utrecht with their pants pulled down in the back "for a joke."
It says that at one point the 21-year-old "pushed his behind against the window of a restaurant" that broke and resulted in "deep wounds to his derriere."
The statement released Tuesday says police detained the three men after the incident Sunday morning. But the cafe owner decided not to press charges after the men agreed to pay for the broken window.
The injured man was treated for his injuries at a nearby hospital
I about choked on my Cheerios from laughing. I'm sorry for the man's injuries and I'm sure he's in a little bit of discomfort but sometimes you just need to think through a plan before you actually implement it.
I've played a few practical jokes in my time that backfired and bit me in the ass... but nothing to this extent.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Grilled Portabello Mushrooms
This recipe serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cloves garlic finely chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper
4 Portobello mushrooms
Cooking Instructions
1. Preheat the grill.
2. Mix the olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper together. Remove the stems from the mushrooms and brush both sides of the caps with the olive oil mixture. Set aside.
3. Grill the mushrooms until they are soft in the center, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side.
4. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into 1 inch strips.
Enjoy!
Friday, January 4, 2008
It Really Does Exist!
It's been chilly here in Houston the past few days and down right cold in other parts of the country. Apparently - very cold where my pal Jatona lives.
Jatona mentioned on her profile this morning that she was looking for a way to keep her toilet seat warm. Well - since I absolutely love to google ( I'm a big big fan o ask.com and not really google) I set out on a search. Lo and behold it does exist!!
UltraTouch heated seats are shipped with a UL listed, fused, 12 volt transformer that heats the seat to a comfortable 20 to 25 degrees above a normal 70 degree room temperature.
The low voltage design makes the UltraTouch seat extremely safe. Although not recommended, you could literally touch your tongue to the connector coming from the transformer and would feel a slightly stronger sensation than a 9 volt transistor battery!
Now who would put their tounge on anything attached to a toilet???
The low voltage cord and connector is safe and will not be effected even if completely submerged in water! As with all 120 volt appliances, however, the transformer must not be exposed to water.
Bathroom outlets should always be in safe location according to building codes. Plugging into any properly installed outlet is fine as long as it is not exposed to splashing water.
The UltraTouch OverMolded construction also enhances safety because it is completely and permanently sealed. In fact, the seat will operate completely submerged in water with no hazard or damage. No other heated seat can make this claim.
(there is really a competitive market for these things??)
I won't take your fun away from reading the website yourself....
http://www.sani-soft.com/Safe%20design.html
So take heart Jatona - there is a way to warm your buns and the thoughts you might get while you are in there. They come in white, almond and biscuit. Whatever color biscuit is. And its just a couple of clicks away!!!
Now only if I had found this before Christmas - it would have made all my shopping so much easier.
Jatona mentioned on her profile this morning that she was looking for a way to keep her toilet seat warm. Well - since I absolutely love to google ( I'm a big big fan o ask.com and not really google) I set out on a search. Lo and behold it does exist!!
UltraTouch heated seats are shipped with a UL listed, fused, 12 volt transformer that heats the seat to a comfortable 20 to 25 degrees above a normal 70 degree room temperature.
The low voltage design makes the UltraTouch seat extremely safe. Although not recommended, you could literally touch your tongue to the connector coming from the transformer and would feel a slightly stronger sensation than a 9 volt transistor battery!
Now who would put their tounge on anything attached to a toilet???
The low voltage cord and connector is safe and will not be effected even if completely submerged in water! As with all 120 volt appliances, however, the transformer must not be exposed to water.
Bathroom outlets should always be in safe location according to building codes. Plugging into any properly installed outlet is fine as long as it is not exposed to splashing water.
The UltraTouch OverMolded construction also enhances safety because it is completely and permanently sealed. In fact, the seat will operate completely submerged in water with no hazard or damage. No other heated seat can make this claim.
(there is really a competitive market for these things??)
I won't take your fun away from reading the website yourself....
http://www.sani-soft.com/Safe%20design.html
So take heart Jatona - there is a way to warm your buns and the thoughts you might get while you are in there. They come in white, almond and biscuit. Whatever color biscuit is. And its just a couple of clicks away!!!
Now only if I had found this before Christmas - it would have made all my shopping so much easier.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Resolutions With Benefits
It's that time of year again - we've all made some New Year's resolutions. Some will stick - others won't. I've made a few myself this year - one of which is to get three more certifications in the personal training field. It will take most of the year to do that and I'm hopeful that my brain can hold all of the information it will need. Given that resolution - this probably isn't the time to be scaling back on my caffiene intake - but that is my other resolution. I'm cutting back on the caffiene. I started this one last Friday and so far I've been very successful at limiting myself to two cups of coffee each day and only 3 diet cokes in 5 days.
I highly suspect that I won't last long on the caffiene one...I'm an addict. LOL
I know that some of you - or someone you know has decided to kick smoking this year. It's an ambitious goal and huge kudos to you if this is your new year's resolution. I posted this last year and you get to read it again this year - the HUGE benefits that come with quitting smoking.... check it out!
It's a new year and some of you may have decided that quitting smoking was your goal for the new year. Well I have great news. The body does indeed heal itself once you quit. Check this out:
Within 20 minutes of smoking that last cigarette, the body begins a series of changes that continues for years.
20 MINUTES
Blood pressure drops to normal.
Pulse rate drops to normal.
Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.
8 HOURS
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal.
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.
24 HOURS
Chance of heart attack decreases.
48 HOURS
Nerve endings start regrowing.
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
2 WEEKS TO 3 MONTHS
Circulation improves.
Walking becomes easier.
Lung function increases up to 30%.
1 TO 9 MONTHS
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease.
Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection.
Body's overall energy increases.
1 YEAR
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
5 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate for average smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half.
Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting.
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus is half that of a smoker's.
10 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate similar to that of nonsmokers.
Precancerous cells are replaced.
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.
15 YEARS
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker.
Immediate Rewards
Within 12 hours after you have your last cigarette, your body will begin to heal itself. The levels of carbon monoxide and nicotine in your system will decline rapidly, and your heart and lungs will begin to repair the damage caused by cigarette smoke.
Within a few days you will probably begin to notice some remarkable changes in your body. Your sense of smell and taste may improve. You will breathe easier, and your smoker's hack will begin to disappear, although you may notice that you will continue to cough for a while. And you will be free from the mess, smell, inconvenience, expense, and dependence of cigarette smoking.
Immediate Effects
As your body begins to repair itself, instead of feeling better right away, you may feel worse for a while. It's important to understand that healing is a processp;it begins immediately, but it continues over time.
These "withdrawal pangs" are really symptoms of the recovery process.Immediately after quitting, many ex-smokers experience "symptoms of recovery" such as temporary weight gain caused by fluid retention, irregularity, and dry, sore gums or tongue.
You may feel edgy, hungry, more tired, and more short-tempered than usual and have trouble sleeping and notice that you are coughing a lot. These symptoms are the result of your body clearing itself of nicotine, a powerful addictive chemical. Most nicotine is gone from the body in 2-3 days.
Long-range Benefits
It is important to understand that the long range after-effects of quitting are only temporary and signal the beginning of a healthier life. Now that you've quit, you've added a number of healthy productive days to each year of your life.
Most important, you've greatly improved your chances for a longer life. You have significantly reduced your risk of death from heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and several kinds of cancerp;not just lung cancer. (Cigarette smoking is responsible every year for approximately 130,000 deaths from cancer, 170,000 deaths from heart disease, and 50,000 deaths from lung disease.)
Go ahead... give it a try! I know you can do it.
Good luck with all of your resolutions - whatever they may be! Have a fantastic day!
I highly suspect that I won't last long on the caffiene one...I'm an addict. LOL
I know that some of you - or someone you know has decided to kick smoking this year. It's an ambitious goal and huge kudos to you if this is your new year's resolution. I posted this last year and you get to read it again this year - the HUGE benefits that come with quitting smoking.... check it out!
It's a new year and some of you may have decided that quitting smoking was your goal for the new year. Well I have great news. The body does indeed heal itself once you quit. Check this out:
Within 20 minutes of smoking that last cigarette, the body begins a series of changes that continues for years.
20 MINUTES
Blood pressure drops to normal.
Pulse rate drops to normal.
Body temperature of hands and feet increases to normal.
8 HOURS
Carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal.
Oxygen level in blood increases to normal.
24 HOURS
Chance of heart attack decreases.
48 HOURS
Nerve endings start regrowing.
Ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
2 WEEKS TO 3 MONTHS
Circulation improves.
Walking becomes easier.
Lung function increases up to 30%.
1 TO 9 MONTHS
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, and shortness of breath decrease.
Cilia regrow in lungs, increasing ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce infection.
Body's overall energy increases.
1 YEAR
Excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker.
5 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate for average smoker (one pack a day) decreases by almost half.
Stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5-15 years after quitting.
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat and esophagus is half that of a smoker's.
10 YEARS
Lung cancer death rate similar to that of nonsmokers.
Precancerous cells are replaced.
Risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decreases.
15 YEARS
Risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker.
Immediate Rewards
Within 12 hours after you have your last cigarette, your body will begin to heal itself. The levels of carbon monoxide and nicotine in your system will decline rapidly, and your heart and lungs will begin to repair the damage caused by cigarette smoke.
Within a few days you will probably begin to notice some remarkable changes in your body. Your sense of smell and taste may improve. You will breathe easier, and your smoker's hack will begin to disappear, although you may notice that you will continue to cough for a while. And you will be free from the mess, smell, inconvenience, expense, and dependence of cigarette smoking.
Immediate Effects
As your body begins to repair itself, instead of feeling better right away, you may feel worse for a while. It's important to understand that healing is a processp;it begins immediately, but it continues over time.
These "withdrawal pangs" are really symptoms of the recovery process.Immediately after quitting, many ex-smokers experience "symptoms of recovery" such as temporary weight gain caused by fluid retention, irregularity, and dry, sore gums or tongue.
You may feel edgy, hungry, more tired, and more short-tempered than usual and have trouble sleeping and notice that you are coughing a lot. These symptoms are the result of your body clearing itself of nicotine, a powerful addictive chemical. Most nicotine is gone from the body in 2-3 days.
Long-range Benefits
It is important to understand that the long range after-effects of quitting are only temporary and signal the beginning of a healthier life. Now that you've quit, you've added a number of healthy productive days to each year of your life.
Most important, you've greatly improved your chances for a longer life. You have significantly reduced your risk of death from heart disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and several kinds of cancerp;not just lung cancer. (Cigarette smoking is responsible every year for approximately 130,000 deaths from cancer, 170,000 deaths from heart disease, and 50,000 deaths from lung disease.)
Go ahead... give it a try! I know you can do it.
Good luck with all of your resolutions - whatever they may be! Have a fantastic day!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Today In History
I've blogged this type of thing before.. but it's worth sharing again today. My mom sends me an e-card almost daily telling me what important day it is. I've seen everything from Refrigerator Day to Squirrel Appreciation day.
But today is one truly worth recognizing and remembering.
The U.S. Congress officially recognized the Pledge as the official national pledge on December 28, 1945.
Unfortunately I can't remember the last time I had the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I know that in grade school and even junior high we said it every day followed by a moment of silence.
Since some people don't like their rights infringed upon - we no longer have the moment of silence in schools nor do we recite the pledge. There are even those sectors that are trying to get 'one nation under God' removed from the pledge and "In God We Trust" removed from our currency stating that it is an infringement on their first ammendment rights. This isn't the blog or the place for me to get into all of that... it's a soap box I may never come down off but I will say this. I have rights too. I have the rights to repeat the pledge loud and proud and give God the glory for it. My rights to say it are just as important as your rights not to. Sit there...be quiet...cover your ears and let me have my 30 seconds of patriotism.
I am a proud American and I have a huge respect for our motto and our pledge and the flag. And even though it's not recited in schools anymore - it doesn't mean that the younger generation shouldn't know it. Be sure they know all about the things that our country was built on and let them draw their own beliefs from there.
For the History Of The Pledge.. go here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
But today is one truly worth recognizing and remembering.
The U.S. Congress officially recognized the Pledge as the official national pledge on December 28, 1945.
Unfortunately I can't remember the last time I had the opportunity to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I know that in grade school and even junior high we said it every day followed by a moment of silence.
Since some people don't like their rights infringed upon - we no longer have the moment of silence in schools nor do we recite the pledge. There are even those sectors that are trying to get 'one nation under God' removed from the pledge and "In God We Trust" removed from our currency stating that it is an infringement on their first ammendment rights. This isn't the blog or the place for me to get into all of that... it's a soap box I may never come down off but I will say this. I have rights too. I have the rights to repeat the pledge loud and proud and give God the glory for it. My rights to say it are just as important as your rights not to. Sit there...be quiet...cover your ears and let me have my 30 seconds of patriotism.
I am a proud American and I have a huge respect for our motto and our pledge and the flag. And even though it's not recited in schools anymore - it doesn't mean that the younger generation shouldn't know it. Be sure they know all about the things that our country was built on and let them draw their own beliefs from there.
For the History Of The Pledge.. go here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance
Friday, December 7, 2007
Meet The Parents
Yes.... more about parents. But today - not mine. If you've been paying attention I've been talking a little bit about my new sweetie..
Well there's been a couple of big steps in this new relationship and so far things are outstanding!! But tomorrow is a whole new step. I'm meeting his mother who will be in town from Port Arthur. It's going to be a very informal event.. throwing some chicken on the grill and having lunch.
I've known about this since earlier in the week and I've been super nervous since. To make it a little worse he told me last night that he hasn't introduced anyone to his mom in a long time but not to worry - she'd love me.
Myself I haven't had a lot of "meet the parents" experience. Not much dating experience for that matter.
Through a very funny conversation Steve and I discovered that we've both been told by friends that we are far too selective and need to loosen up the criteria some. Oddly enough...the people who told us that were wrong. Being selective has paid off so far. I'm meeting mom. So I must be doing something very right.
I'm all prepared for the "meet the parents ettiquitte" and have purchased a beautiful christmas cactus that should be in full bloom by the end of next week. I hope she likes it. I hope she likes me. I hope I'm not nauseaus. He keeps telling me to be my wonderful amazing self. I think I'm going to remind him of this when he meets my mom and dad. :)
So... any words of advice??? Is the Christmas Cactus a good idea? Guys - come on. Chime in on this.
I'll post tomorrow evening and let you know how it all went... until then have a great day!
********* UPDATE!!!**********************
PHEW! We can all breathe a sigh of relief. Mom loved me! Got the big 'ol seal of approval. She was even calling me Suzy by the middle of the afternoon. She was very very nice and we had a great time together!! And the Christmas cactus was a hit!
Well there's been a couple of big steps in this new relationship and so far things are outstanding!! But tomorrow is a whole new step. I'm meeting his mother who will be in town from Port Arthur. It's going to be a very informal event.. throwing some chicken on the grill and having lunch.
I've known about this since earlier in the week and I've been super nervous since. To make it a little worse he told me last night that he hasn't introduced anyone to his mom in a long time but not to worry - she'd love me.
Myself I haven't had a lot of "meet the parents" experience. Not much dating experience for that matter.
Through a very funny conversation Steve and I discovered that we've both been told by friends that we are far too selective and need to loosen up the criteria some. Oddly enough...the people who told us that were wrong. Being selective has paid off so far. I'm meeting mom. So I must be doing something very right.
I'm all prepared for the "meet the parents ettiquitte" and have purchased a beautiful christmas cactus that should be in full bloom by the end of next week. I hope she likes it. I hope she likes me. I hope I'm not nauseaus. He keeps telling me to be my wonderful amazing self. I think I'm going to remind him of this when he meets my mom and dad. :)
So... any words of advice??? Is the Christmas Cactus a good idea? Guys - come on. Chime in on this.
I'll post tomorrow evening and let you know how it all went... until then have a great day!
********* UPDATE!!!**********************
PHEW! We can all breathe a sigh of relief. Mom loved me! Got the big 'ol seal of approval. She was even calling me Suzy by the middle of the afternoon. She was very very nice and we had a great time together!! And the Christmas cactus was a hit!
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Best Fruitcake Ever
The Best Fruitcake Ever
1 cup water
1 cup of sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups dried fruit
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
lemon juice
nuts
1 gallon Rum
Sample the Rum to check for quality.
Take a large bowl.
Check the Rum again to be sure it is of the highest quality.
Pour one level cup and drink. Repeat.
Turn on the electric mixer; beat 1 cup butter in a large, fluffy bowl.
Add 1 teaspoon sugar and beat again.
Make sure the Rum is still OK.
Cry another tup. Turn off mixer.
Break 2 legs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.
Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a drewscriver.
Sample the Rum to check for tonsisticity.
Next, sift 2 cups of salt. Or something, Who cares.
Check the Rum.
Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something. Whatever you can find.
Grease the oven.
Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don't forget to beat off the turner.
Throw the bowl out of the window.
Check the Rum again. Go to bed. Who the hell likes fruitcake anyway?
1 cup water
1 cup of sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups dried fruit
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
lemon juice
nuts
1 gallon Rum
Sample the Rum to check for quality.
Take a large bowl.
Check the Rum again to be sure it is of the highest quality.
Pour one level cup and drink. Repeat.
Turn on the electric mixer; beat 1 cup butter in a large, fluffy bowl.
Add 1 teaspoon sugar and beat again.
Make sure the Rum is still OK.
Cry another tup. Turn off mixer.
Break 2 legs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit.
Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a drewscriver.
Sample the Rum to check for tonsisticity.
Next, sift 2 cups of salt. Or something, Who cares.
Check the Rum.
Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something. Whatever you can find.
Grease the oven.
Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don't forget to beat off the turner.
Throw the bowl out of the window.
Check the Rum again. Go to bed. Who the hell likes fruitcake anyway?
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