365 Days of Knowledge #62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, and 69

Back from the Phish show and it was nothing short of amazing. The energy of the crowd was insane, to say the least. RZ and I only had tickets for the first night so we decided to spend the rest of the time in Washington DC, which was just as amazing. It was a great trip but I am exhausted and not 100% ready to go back to work in the morning. So, what did I learn? A lot of my tidbits came from late night radio shows I listened to on the drive during our trip.

1. Over the past two decades, a Japanese cosmetics company has been researching hair length and how it coincides with the economy. According to their study, women tend to cut their hair shorter when the economy is in a slump and leave it longer when the economy is doing well. This kind of makes sense because when people are looking for jobs you want to try to have a clean-cut look, which is more easily attainable with shorter hair.

2. When there is a child abduction in or around Chicago, the city puts the vehicle information the supposed abductor is driving on signs over the motorway.

3. Phish fans brought an estimated $7 to $8 million dollars of retail revenue to the Hampton area in Virginia during the three day concert this last weekend.

4. Cops confiscated approximately $1.2 million dollars worth of illegal drugs from Phish fans during the three day concert in Hampton. Wasn't me! FYI - I saw maybe a handful of cops while I was there. You'd have to have been pretty obvious to have gotten busted, but that's just my opinion.

5. Barbie, who recently turned 50, was a risk for Mattel because they weren't confident mothers would buy their children a doll with breasts.

6. Rabbits don't make as good of pets as cats do. Rabbits charge and grunt.

7. When you go on a long trip you may begin to form a relationship with the voice inside your GPS navigational system. You may even find yourself asking them philosophical questions and then become disappointed when they don't respond.

8. When a person is tired they tend to be slothful and not insightful, hence this post. All apologies.

9. Last but not least I learned that I don't travel nearly as much as I used to and I really miss it.

I'm going to leave you with an awesome picture from the concert on Friday. I didn't take this because I was told I couldn't bring my camera in the venue, even though by the time I got in the venue people were just charging ahead and I didn't even get my bag checked and I could have easily gotten my camera in and taken some really awesome pictures and perhaps a video so I could remember that moment for ever and put it in my scrapbook next to the ticket I have........I'm a bit jaded and will now stop rambling.

365 Days of Knowledge #61

Yesterday Sir Richard and I decided to go out for breakfast with our Turkish friend. We went to this dive bar of sorts that serves really good breakfast on the weekends. Now, Richie and I have been trying our darndest not to go out to eat, and we've been doing a fairly good job. We have both been working a lot lately, haven't spent a lot of time together, been feeling sick (physically and sick of the cold weather), and didn't feel like cooking so we made the decision to treat ourselves to brunch. I was having a really good time, chatting and drinking coffee. I was really really looking forward to the vegetarian eggs benedict that I ordered.

Now, some background information. I've been a vegetarian for about four years now. Growing up I never ate much beef because my mom didn't, so, she didn't cook it. Even before I gave up meat, I always struggled with eggs. I think this is because I don't particularly like the way my mom cooks them and whenever we did have them, my sister would "cluck" in my direction, I'm serious, "cluck". Fast forward to now; I do like the way Richie prepares his eggs, scrambled with a bunch of nummies mixed in. (I don't know if that semi-colon is used properly in the previous sentence but I somehow "felt" it belonged there).

So yesterday I order the vegetarian benedict, envisioning a cooked egg, a top a wheat english muffin, lathered in spinach, cheese, and holandaise sauce. When my food arrived, it was just as I envisioned it, until a stuck a fork in it that is. I have never had a poached egg and did NOT realize the yolk is runny. Gross, gross, gross. The minute I saw the yellow ooze, I could hear my sister clucking in my head. I was very disappointed and realized I should have inquired a bit more before jumping in. Since becoming a vegetarian I've become so accustom to trusting when an item is labeled vegetarian or vegan, I'll automatically like it. Buyer beware.

If you weren't able to guess, I learned what a poached egg is.

Now here's a funny egg cartoon for you to suck on.

365 Days of Knowlege #48 and 49

Supposedly the world is ending on December 21st 2012. I learned that people will do anything for a buck because if you go to this website you can buy your very own end of the world souvenirs. Definitely something worth investing in. I mean, who doesn't want their very own Doomsday Snuggie? I wonder if they have 12212012 Sham Wows.....

Today I was visiting with a client of mine and he was telling me how he just finished reading a biography about Harry Houdini. I learned that Harry Houdini took a year away from the stage during WWI to help with war efforts. During this time Harry taught soldiers how to get out of handcuffs. Good thing they didn't let him visit a prison.

365 Days of Knowledge #29

Today I learned how to make an origami paper crane.

The paper crane is a sign of world peace and it is said that whomever makes a thousand of them will get a wished granted by a crane.

I plan on making them and using them as decorations for my wedding. While I doubt I'll make a thousand, I'd like to make an honest effort, we'll see how many folders I can recruit....

Here's an example of how I want to incorporate them into the decor. I like how they're used in this image, although I would use colored paper and space them a little farther apart. I think they might look nice by the gift and guest book area. What do you think?


If you are interested in learning how to make them here's a website I found that really simplified the process: http://origami.org.uk/origamicrane.htm

Once you're finished let me know if I can take any off your hands and I'll send you my address....hint hint.

365 Days of Knowledge #22, 23, 24, and 25

Haven't been able to blog much, it's been a pretty crazy week, good crazy though, not the kind that makes you fantasize about strangling don't knows (alternative word for strangers) in the grocery store.

Four things that I've learned in the last four days huh?

1. Both Albert Einstein and Adolf Hitler were vegetarians.

"I have always eaten animal flesh with a somewhat guilty conscience."
- Albert Einstein-

2. The original title for John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men is Something that Happened. Good thing he slept on that one. Of Mice and Men is one of my favorite books. I read this novel for the first time in sixth grade. After finishing it I remember feeling very old and wise. Being eleven years old it didn't take me long to recover.

3. Sasha Obama is the youngest child to live in the white house since John F. Kennedy was in office. Amy Carter was nine years old when her father was President and Malia Obama is just one year older than her. I think the presence of President Obama's daughters in the White House will add some much needed energy and freshness. I found this article which discussed a letter written to the Obama girls from Bush's twin daughters, it is very sweet and touching, you can check it out here:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/21/bush.twins.letter/index.html



4. About four seconds ago I learned that an eleven year old matador apparently beat a bull fighting record. After killing six young bulls in a single fight, Michelito Lagravere Peniche became the youngest matador to achieve this feat and set a new record.

Sorry to rain on your parade Michelito but I think bull fighting is a cruel and disgusting act. People call it sport, I don't think anything that results in the death of a living thing can be considered sport. One of the main aspects of sport is fun for all involved, unless you can prove to me that the creatures being executed are suicidal, I don't buy it.

Sorry for my rant, I hope everyone has a good week!

365 Days of Knowledge #19 and 20

Here in Wisconsin lawns are often decorated with fake, plastic, miniturized deer or these big, ugly colored bulbs. Personally, I want to see more plastic flamingos, especially after learning that there are more plastic flamingos in the United States than real-live, authentic ones. Who'd a thunk it?


While we're on the subject of the lack of "real" animals, try this on for size.

The United Nations has declared 2009 the "Year of the Gorilla". Greatly due to loss of habitat caused by deforestation and bush meat hunting, the gorilla is just a few years from becoming extinct if conditions don't change. Help by others of the devastating situation of these magnificent and important primates.

Please go to the International Gorilla Conservation Program for more information.

365 Days of Knowledge #8

Sadly, what I learned today wasn't happy news. The legendary sexual revolutionist, Bettie Paige died on December 12th, 2008. While many don't condone Bettie Paige's lively hood, I can only speculate that she helped a lot of folks living in the depression and post-depression era escape reality for awhile and just fantasize. And I think that's quite alright. Thanks Bettie!


rest in peace

365 Days of Knowledge #6

Ouch! Today I learned that downward facing dog is suppose to be a relaxing and comfortable yoga pose. Not for me, I can balance like none other but I can't seem to get the knack of this "easy" position. It probably has something to do with my "condition" butI won't let that stop me. New Goal Alert: I will be comfortable in downward facing dog in 2 months!


Bonus Knowledge: Portugal produces more cork than any other country, about half of the world's output to be exact.

365 Days of Knowledge #5

Today I learned that you cannot order the Atomic Wings at Quaker Steak and Lube without first signing a release form.....true story.






On a more educational note, I learned that the basset hound was bred to have a white tip at the end of their tail in order to help hunters see them while tracking animals.