Rockstar Games, maker of Red Dead Redemption, released a breath of fresh air with their game, L.A. Noire. While I haven't finished the game yet, I'm about half way through and can say that I absolutely love it.
If you prefer action games with constant fighting, shooting, and mayhem then this game probably isn't for you. If you enjoy story immersion and interaction seasoned with an occasional chase and shoot out, then I can not recommend this game highly enough.
Set in late 1940's L.A., you follow Detective Cole Phelps as he attempts to bring to justice those responsible for countless grisly murders. This is where the novelty enters. As you play the part of the main character, a straight as an arrow war vet, you not only follow clues to solve the cases, but you get to interact with the suspects and persons-of-interest via conversations and interrogations. In each interaction, you can either believe the perp, doubt him or flat out call him or her a liar. Your choices will affect whether you elicit more information from that person or if you effect a shut-down that leads to a dead end. Of course, if you mess up, you can always reload the game and get it right the next time!
Besides the allure of rich storytelling mired in cases tied in with the infamous Black Dahlia case of 1947, this game is wonderful because of the attention to detail in the surround of the game. Driving down the street, you'll listen to period-accurate music, see the trolley lines overhead, meander by historical architecture on each side of the street; it really makes you feel as if you are looking through a window into the past.
I know there is still a lot to discover in this fabulous game, but I wanted to take a moment to share my impressions so far, in case you are seeking an entertaining diversion that can keep you in the a/c when the dog-days of summer really hit!
And for those of you with a Kindle and maybe not the interest in playing through the story on a console, here is a link to where you can download the stories for free and take them with you to wherever summer fun may lead you.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Spring De-cluttering. Blech.
Every year it's the same; I swear to myself up and down that *this* year I will get rid of stuff. Inevitably, I end up making a bigger mess as I deconstruct decor that I no longer want/need/have room for, thinking, somehow, that broken down into its components, those planter marble thingies and the leftover Styrofoam that held the flowers will come in handy. And voila! What was once one item cluttering my house is now five.
This unfortunately is a process that repeats itself until I find myself mired in good intentions. But I am getting better. Hard as it might be, I am trying to be honest. Really, will I use that small marble of florist putty ever again? Ok, when? No idea? Trash Can!
How about that dress that, while I am glad I can still squish into, went out of style over a decade ago and makes me look like a overstuffed chorizo (sausage). *shakes tiny fist* Into the trash!
What further steels my conviction is slowly discovering stuff at the back of closets that I saved for those "just in case" moments. Invariably, after the cruel passage of time, all my horded items are now either moth-nommed, hard as a rock, dried out or otherwise utter garbage. At least time made those decisions for me. Now to keep myself from trying to salvage what was left of that wool blazer so I can eventually (*ahem* NEVER) make a small bag (even though it's not like I need ANOTHER bag)...
*sigh*
This new outlook I am trying has also inspired me. Instead of waiting until I actually have the ambition to do the craft correctly, I just dive in. If it turns out well, great. If not *evil laugh* it is way easier to toss it in the trash. Self-sabotage!
Finally, I am contemplating actually putting together a garage sale. It seems rather daunting, but at this point, my usable surplus is piling up. In the end, I guess I can reason that if no one else finds it good enough to drop a buck or so, why am I bothering to hold onto it?
If you have any decluttering tips (or can commiserate with my misery), I would love to hear it. Though I have made some headway in my resolution to be less cluttered, this has always been a challenge for me.
This unfortunately is a process that repeats itself until I find myself mired in good intentions. But I am getting better. Hard as it might be, I am trying to be honest. Really, will I use that small marble of florist putty ever again? Ok, when? No idea? Trash Can!
How about that dress that, while I am glad I can still squish into, went out of style over a decade ago and makes me look like a overstuffed chorizo (sausage). *shakes tiny fist* Into the trash!
What further steels my conviction is slowly discovering stuff at the back of closets that I saved for those "just in case" moments. Invariably, after the cruel passage of time, all my horded items are now either moth-nommed, hard as a rock, dried out or otherwise utter garbage. At least time made those decisions for me. Now to keep myself from trying to salvage what was left of that wool blazer so I can eventually (*ahem* NEVER) make a small bag (even though it's not like I need ANOTHER bag)...
*sigh*
This new outlook I am trying has also inspired me. Instead of waiting until I actually have the ambition to do the craft correctly, I just dive in. If it turns out well, great. If not *evil laugh* it is way easier to toss it in the trash. Self-sabotage!
Finally, I am contemplating actually putting together a garage sale. It seems rather daunting, but at this point, my usable surplus is piling up. In the end, I guess I can reason that if no one else finds it good enough to drop a buck or so, why am I bothering to hold onto it?
If you have any decluttering tips (or can commiserate with my misery), I would love to hear it. Though I have made some headway in my resolution to be less cluttered, this has always been a challenge for me.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Writing Challenge: Paint Chips
I've been writing poetry ever since I can remember. Over the years, I graduated from relatively sappy verse to free verse poetry wherein I strive to utilize every day objects and situations to express the intangible. I had the unique privilege of studying the craft of poem conjuring with poet Len Roberts of Northampton Community College. He was a wonderful professor and individual. Though he has since passed from this world, I still treasure all I learned from him.
For his class, he had us use a textbook called, simply, "Writing Poetry" by Barbara Drake. It is really a nice book that has many suggestions and exercises to encourage poem ideas. Taking a cue from this book, I'd like to offer my own exercise for anyone up for the challenge.
Years back, I had collected a half-billion of those little paint chip sample card thingies from Home Depot. I really thought the names for the different colors were inventive and inspiring in of themselves. I set myself down with my collected chips and composed a poem. It was a lot of fun actually and conjured up a scene in my mind that I would probably not have visited otherwise.
If you don't feel like going the "collect handfuls of those little paper thingies" approach, I found a groovy app online from Benjamin Moore called a "Virtual Fan Deck" that is pretty much the same thing as my huge collection.
This exercise for me really helps me grasp just how color can help to create realism and emotion. Now, these aren't exactly "winning" snippets of poetry; they are more free verse musings or perhaps a peek into a wider scene beyond the words. Here are a few examples off the paint chip principle:
=================================
Dark walnut hair
cascades down her back
as she sips from her bottle of Bordeaux.
Sweat forms
on her coral bronze skin,
the droplets staining crimson
on the Tuscon red
of her satin dress.
Feigning indifference, she ambles
through his garden of tropical roses.
Her wild heart beats
higher and faster
with each step.
"Marry me,"
he had said,
eyes all-a-blaze,
throwing her minstrel heart
into the fantastic bliss
of a pink fantasy
==============================================
Sipping on Pernod
he leans back into the haystack
and looks up at his little angel.
"Dalila," he whispers, breathless
as he runs calloused fingers
through her Viking yellow hair.
She smiles, weakly, and kisses him
before fading off into the shaft of morning light.
============================================
I slip out of my New York state of mind
and Chicago blues. Today's my lazy Sunday.
Walking out onto my balcony,
I look out out at the San Francisco Bay
and listen to the music from the blue bayou.
Beneath the palatial skies,
I breathe in the Mediterranean breeze
and sigh.
I'm home.
============================================
For his class, he had us use a textbook called, simply, "Writing Poetry" by Barbara Drake. It is really a nice book that has many suggestions and exercises to encourage poem ideas. Taking a cue from this book, I'd like to offer my own exercise for anyone up for the challenge.
Years back, I had collected a half-billion of those little paint chip sample card thingies from Home Depot. I really thought the names for the different colors were inventive and inspiring in of themselves. I set myself down with my collected chips and composed a poem. It was a lot of fun actually and conjured up a scene in my mind that I would probably not have visited otherwise.
If you don't feel like going the "collect handfuls of those little paper thingies" approach, I found a groovy app online from Benjamin Moore called a "Virtual Fan Deck" that is pretty much the same thing as my huge collection.
This exercise for me really helps me grasp just how color can help to create realism and emotion. Now, these aren't exactly "winning" snippets of poetry; they are more free verse musings or perhaps a peek into a wider scene beyond the words. Here are a few examples off the paint chip principle:
=================================
Dark walnut hair
cascades down her back
as she sips from her bottle of Bordeaux.
Sweat forms
on her coral bronze skin,
the droplets staining crimson
on the Tuscon red
of her satin dress.
Feigning indifference, she ambles
through his garden of tropical roses.
Her wild heart beats
higher and faster
with each step.
"Marry me,"
he had said,
eyes all-a-blaze,
throwing her minstrel heart
into the fantastic bliss
of a pink fantasy
==============================================
Sipping on Pernod
he leans back into the haystack
and looks up at his little angel.
"Dalila," he whispers, breathless
as he runs calloused fingers
through her Viking yellow hair.
She smiles, weakly, and kisses him
before fading off into the shaft of morning light.
============================================
I slip out of my New York state of mind
and Chicago blues. Today's my lazy Sunday.
Walking out onto my balcony,
I look out out at the San Francisco Bay
and listen to the music from the blue bayou.
Beneath the palatial skies,
I breathe in the Mediterranean breeze
and sigh.
I'm home.
============================================
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Breaded Chicken - Mom's Recipe
 |
| rawr! imma eat your face - i'm that good! |
In order to make the yummy chicken, you first need ingredients. Here is a photo of all the stuff you'll need.
And now here is a list of all that goodness: - Chicken (obviously)
- Flour
- Eggs
- Milk
- Breading
- Parmesan Cheese
- Bajillion secret herbs and spices
Granted that is not a very specific list of ingredients, but anyone who has ever been unfortunate enough to get caught up into the maelstrom of "Val Cooking" can tell you that honestly, I don't measure very often
...unless baking...then I at least measure out the baking soda and powder because that is a bit too close to kitchen chemistry and the last thing I'd want is flat cakes or muffins when I really want them to be big and fluffy....
But I digress.
Another reason for my lack of specificity is that amounts will vary based on the amount of chickenage needing breadification.
Here are some further hints/instructions/clarifications regarding the ingredients:
Chicken: I tend to use only the breast, but you can bread any of the chicken nibblies that you enjoy best.
When I do make my chicken, I typically slice the breasts into thinner pieces which I then pummel with extreme prejudice using a hammer as I imagine the face of someone of whom I am not fond.
 |
| Simple Math |
 |
| Pummeled, Adobofied Chicken |
After the beatings are done, then I usually sprinkle on some of that oh-so-saboroso of seasonings, Adobo, and then let the chicken set a bit, usually overnight in the fridge. This step is not necessary...the sitting in the fridge part. I like to let it marinate with the Adobo a bit, but it's up to you.
The Breading: First off you need breadcrumbs. No matter your ratio of added spices, the bulk of your breading will be breadcrumbs.
The type of bread crumbs you use is up to you. Personally, I can't remember the last time I actually *bought* breadcrumbs. Typically I just process bread ends that I've let get stale....and no, I don't use the bread that turns pretty colors when left out in the humidity too long (I save THAT breading for my special "Hallucinogen Chicken." I kid, I kid.)
Panko breading is pretty fabulous stuff, but I tend to like to save that for shrimp. Personal choice.
I add Parmesan to the mix because cheese makes everything better.
Now, I'm no white-haired goatee'd Colonel, so I didn't quite make his lofty eleven super secret herbs and spices....but tonight I did dump in a nice four spice mix.
 |
| I don't neeeed your stinkin' spices! |
The herbs I use (to taste) are as follows: oregano, parsley, black pepper and a pinch of rosemary. I don't add salt because the Adobo I used on the chicken is enough for my tastes. I also added dehydrated onions, but I don't do that always.
 |
| not-so-secret herbs and spices here |
The Process: Next you get out two more bowls. In one, add some flour. In another, whip up that egg with some milk. Then you set up your assembly line. Order here is important.
 |
| Ready? Set? ASSEMBLE! |
1. Coat a piece of chicken with flour.
2. Dip it in the egg/milk wash
3. Coat it with the breading (which, by the way, should be mixed to incorporate all the spices and such)
4. Stand back and admire the artful mess you've made and curse the kitchen gnomes who went on strike, thereby forcing you to clean up your own (#)*$#)_!@#@$ mess.
 |
| *le sigh* |
Besides a large mess and wearing flour all over your clothing, you should end up with a plate of chicken that looks kind of like this:
Now, move your plate away from the mess and toward the stove. Here you will want to get a nice skillet and fill it with your veggie oil. Once the oil is nice and hot, turn the heat to medium, add the chicken and let it fry on each side, oh, about two or three minutes. You want the chicken to cook through, but the breading not to burn.
You'll notice the breading sops up a lot of that oil. I don't like the chicken too oily, so I typically put a rack on a cookie sheet and pile up the chicken on the rack. I then bake it for about another 10-15 minutes on about 250, checking to make sure it isn't burning. This ensures the chicken is cooked through and makes the breading a little crisper. It also sizzles off excess oil, which is for the win.
Tada! And you're all done and set to enjoy. Typically I like to nom chicken with arroz con gandules (rice and beans), but I had left over refried rice from earlier this week.
Hope you enjoyed this waltz through one of my favorite ways to eat chicken! I'd love to hear some of your favorite "add-ins."
Thursday, March 17, 2011
ACK! Swimsuit Season Nearly Here! *insert panic*
While I can not wait for slightly warmer temperatures here in the Eastern US, I am not thrilled by the suffocating heat that invariably follows, bringing with it the necessity of sloughing off my forgiving winter clothing. Today I looked over a few of my cute summer tops and spied seemingly too tiny shorts. The sight made me decide to begin my yearly thin-up routine, starting yesterday...preferable sooner....like back before winter started (damn all those cookies!)
Here are a few, mainly pychological, tricks and tips that I use every year to make losing a few "winter cookie" pounds not so painful. Save for the excercise topic (that is totally not a psychological trick - though I wish it were), these tips never grates off more than a few pounds, but it's a start.
Size Matters
My first step in reverting my form's width to last summer's dimensions is to reset my mind to thinking "small is plenty enough." And no, I don't mean become small minded! Rather, I mean the size of my plate/bowl/cup and the utensiels I use to shovel into my face whatever yum upon which I will graze. I find that using a really cute, small plate and eating with a smaller fork (like a dessert fork) makes a difference in the amount of grub I inhale.
See, the very unscientific proof is that it tricks my mind into thinking "Wow! That plate sure is brimming with lots of fattening, calorie-ridden food. Are you sure you can consume all that? So you want to weigh a ton and a half? And how are you going to shovel all that in with that pathetic fork? A backhoe would be better, you know."
This trick works for me because it allows my nasty depricating side the joy of giving me a hard time while letting my tummy dread the all-you-can-eat-in-a-week-stuffed-into-a-day buffet feeling.
When Only Food Will Do
Eat less. Eat right.
Seems pretty self-explanatory, if not a bit daunting and misery-causing. I have found, though, applying the "size matters" idea helps with the portion problem. It can be a gradual process, but it should be a process nonetheless, meaning consciously deciding how much I will allow myself, not how much my eyes tell me I must absorb to get through the next three hours without expiring. Eventually my stomach gets a clue, shrinks up a bit and then I end up not as hungry as often or for as much.
As per the eating right, well that's a little harder. I am not a fan of "diets" because they carry too many yucky side-effects like the ability to sneak snacks behind my own back, the insatiable need to cheat (constantly) and, my favorite, garnering the honor of "angriest person on earth."
So, in true diet-hater mode, I stealthily amp up the amounts of the good stuff I consume and let it slowly cut back on the awesome stuff that loves to hang out at the "Thigh Bar" where it's Unhappy Hour every day! This trick lets me still eat what I love and feel full.
When the snack monster does come to attack me, as he always does early in this adjustment (he can smell my fear), I merely fend him off by stuffing my face full of foods that actually burn calories during nomming. Called negative calorie foods, these little buggers are great to bridge the gap between meals.
Water Weight
Whenever I am so hungry that I might very well kill the next person standing between me and the nearest candy bar, I take a deep breath and then chug some water. It is surprising how that can help curb the desire to nom, or at least stave it off for a little while.
This isn't a new idea. Type "water to lose weight" into google for ample articles touting the use of water to shed a few. It does make sense; it makes me feel fuller and thus not as prone to manic munching. Additionally, guzzling water like a camel can also help my skin and overall health. Bonus!
As a sidenote, a while ago I had read an interesting article that suggested that the same chemicals or whatnot that tell our brains we are hungry fire off even when we are in fact only thirsty. Thus, I'd like to personally blame the miscommunication and vague messages sent to my brain for my wintertime weight gain.
Speed/Attention
Slow down. Pull over. Pay Attention!
The traffic cop of my plan, by being more deliberate when I eat, I find I eat less and enjoy the object of my gastric delight even more. Otherwise, if I inhale and wolf down my grub, my tummy doesn't have time to react as it is smothered and buried under an avalanche of food.
In an attempt to force myself to slow down, I try to heat my food to volcanic levels whenever possible without melting the plate. A few good burns on the roof of my mouth usually dissuades me from flipping the vaccum to the "on" position. Nothing like a little negative reinforcement to make sure my brain gets the message!
Besides that, there is the idea of it takes a stomach like ten to twenty minutes to signal to the brain that it is full. Ten to twenty! Geez. All those lightning fast neurons and that swanky nervous system and my stomach needs twenty minutes to get a message to my head? Is it hand delivering it or what? Well, between miscommunication regarding hunger and thirst and the speed by which fullness is communicated, I am starting to think it's time my tummy entered the digital age and at least get DSL.
The Skinny Jeans Principle
Now while constant obessing over the weight I want to lose not only annoys and irritates the bejesus out of everyone around me, it also can be depressing for me. But I don't want to forget my resolution, so to keep myself on track, when I am home, I squish myself into the tinest pair of pants that I own and can still pour into.
Now, I might look like a "hoochie mamma" or whatever with my sexy sprayed on jeans, but my inability to breathe reminds me that I should rethink pinching that cookie....the one calling my name from the tin... right there on the counter... it's easily within reach.... and no one is looking... I want it....*tries to breath* Ugh. I don't need it.
See how that works?
Cook Less
This is something I had to really work at since I love to cook. If I cut back on the amount before preperation, like by halving recipes or cutting the meat I buy into smaller portions before freezing it, cutting back isn't so hard. I still get to make something delish, but just not as much. This give me more variety in my menu, less temptation to cheat and overeat and less waste, which is terrific on the wallet to boot.
Excercise
Ok, I have to add this because no discussion about weight is ever complete without at least saying the word "excercise." *rolls eyes*
I am never quite as good at this portion of my plan as I intend to be. I squish in maybe an embarrassing five-ten minutes of cardio a week on an elliptical, but I'm trying! It's a little easier for me to do my sit-ups and weights, but I still find the easiest way to excercise is to do it unconsciously. Like dancing - I mean *really* dancing.
I find that dancing to a super-mega-uber-long-extended-cut-remix of any original 12 minute single usually does the trick. A few good tunes to try would be those marathon salsa numbers designed to require hip surgery afterwards or glo-stick spawning club remixes of a current dance tunes. A love ballad by any of the soppier, vacuous singers out there is not suggested....for any reason....at any time. Just saying.
In the Summer, though, yardwork tends to make the need for "extra" excercise moot since I am kicking my own butt out there making a big mess out of my yard in a flurry of shovels, mulch and rakes.
Weigh In Obsessively
This trick may not work for everyone, but for me it is a great indicator not only of how I am doing, but works in tandem with the "hop off the wagon" idea. I start to weigh myself at the same time everyday. It is better to do it nakie, but when I stomp on the scale fully clothed, it is nice to soothe my down-trodden ego to tell my more weight-sensitive self that "well those are pretty bulky jeans, you know."
As promised, this brings me to my favorite part of my mental regimine for a lighter self!
Hop Off the Wagon
Ah, bliss. I've weighed myself and see that I am less today than yesterday (fine, it's only by a pound and it might have been just water weight I lost blah blah...*smothers reason*).
*ahem* Conclusion? Treat myself to something decadent that goes above and beyond my rules. The portion idea still applies as does "size matters" etc, but it will be something out of the ordinary that I will enjoy, slowly.
I also loosen up the reins on weekends or on outings - I still try to apply the basic tennents of my plan, but if I've been awesome all week and the scale bears that out, then I shall nom carefree at least one day of the week. The best part of this plan is that if applied regularly, the plan makes my tummy so much smaller that even when I allow myself to splurge, I won't be prone to eat as much anyways!
So that's a few of the tips I use to shed the extra insulation I've built up with "love" this winter. If anyone out there has tips they'd like to share, please post them in the comments. I love to add more to my arsenal!
RESOURCES
wikihow - more "nomming less" tips
new york times - water to lose weight
Here are a few, mainly pychological, tricks and tips that I use every year to make losing a few "winter cookie" pounds not so painful. Save for the excercise topic (that is totally not a psychological trick - though I wish it were), these tips never grates off more than a few pounds, but it's a start.
Size Matters
My first step in reverting my form's width to last summer's dimensions is to reset my mind to thinking "small is plenty enough." And no, I don't mean become small minded! Rather, I mean the size of my plate/bowl/cup and the utensiels I use to shovel into my face whatever yum upon which I will graze. I find that using a really cute, small plate and eating with a smaller fork (like a dessert fork) makes a difference in the amount of grub I inhale.
See, the very unscientific proof is that it tricks my mind into thinking "Wow! That plate sure is brimming with lots of fattening, calorie-ridden food. Are you sure you can consume all that? So you want to weigh a ton and a half? And how are you going to shovel all that in with that pathetic fork? A backhoe would be better, you know."
This trick works for me because it allows my nasty depricating side the joy of giving me a hard time while letting my tummy dread the all-you-can-eat-in-a-week-stuffed-into-a-day buffet feeling.
When Only Food Will Do
Eat less. Eat right.
Seems pretty self-explanatory, if not a bit daunting and misery-causing. I have found, though, applying the "size matters" idea helps with the portion problem. It can be a gradual process, but it should be a process nonetheless, meaning consciously deciding how much I will allow myself, not how much my eyes tell me I must absorb to get through the next three hours without expiring. Eventually my stomach gets a clue, shrinks up a bit and then I end up not as hungry as often or for as much.
As per the eating right, well that's a little harder. I am not a fan of "diets" because they carry too many yucky side-effects like the ability to sneak snacks behind my own back, the insatiable need to cheat (constantly) and, my favorite, garnering the honor of "angriest person on earth."
So, in true diet-hater mode, I stealthily amp up the amounts of the good stuff I consume and let it slowly cut back on the awesome stuff that loves to hang out at the "Thigh Bar" where it's Unhappy Hour every day! This trick lets me still eat what I love and feel full.
When the snack monster does come to attack me, as he always does early in this adjustment (he can smell my fear), I merely fend him off by stuffing my face full of foods that actually burn calories during nomming. Called negative calorie foods, these little buggers are great to bridge the gap between meals.
Water Weight
Whenever I am so hungry that I might very well kill the next person standing between me and the nearest candy bar, I take a deep breath and then chug some water. It is surprising how that can help curb the desire to nom, or at least stave it off for a little while.
This isn't a new idea. Type "water to lose weight" into google for ample articles touting the use of water to shed a few. It does make sense; it makes me feel fuller and thus not as prone to manic munching. Additionally, guzzling water like a camel can also help my skin and overall health. Bonus!
As a sidenote, a while ago I had read an interesting article that suggested that the same chemicals or whatnot that tell our brains we are hungry fire off even when we are in fact only thirsty. Thus, I'd like to personally blame the miscommunication and vague messages sent to my brain for my wintertime weight gain.
Speed/Attention
Slow down. Pull over. Pay Attention!
The traffic cop of my plan, by being more deliberate when I eat, I find I eat less and enjoy the object of my gastric delight even more. Otherwise, if I inhale and wolf down my grub, my tummy doesn't have time to react as it is smothered and buried under an avalanche of food.
In an attempt to force myself to slow down, I try to heat my food to volcanic levels whenever possible without melting the plate. A few good burns on the roof of my mouth usually dissuades me from flipping the vaccum to the "on" position. Nothing like a little negative reinforcement to make sure my brain gets the message!
Besides that, there is the idea of it takes a stomach like ten to twenty minutes to signal to the brain that it is full. Ten to twenty! Geez. All those lightning fast neurons and that swanky nervous system and my stomach needs twenty minutes to get a message to my head? Is it hand delivering it or what? Well, between miscommunication regarding hunger and thirst and the speed by which fullness is communicated, I am starting to think it's time my tummy entered the digital age and at least get DSL.
The Skinny Jeans Principle
Now while constant obessing over the weight I want to lose not only annoys and irritates the bejesus out of everyone around me, it also can be depressing for me. But I don't want to forget my resolution, so to keep myself on track, when I am home, I squish myself into the tinest pair of pants that I own and can still pour into.
Now, I might look like a "hoochie mamma" or whatever with my sexy sprayed on jeans, but my inability to breathe reminds me that I should rethink pinching that cookie....the one calling my name from the tin... right there on the counter... it's easily within reach.... and no one is looking... I want it....*tries to breath* Ugh. I don't need it.
See how that works?
Cook Less
This is something I had to really work at since I love to cook. If I cut back on the amount before preperation, like by halving recipes or cutting the meat I buy into smaller portions before freezing it, cutting back isn't so hard. I still get to make something delish, but just not as much. This give me more variety in my menu, less temptation to cheat and overeat and less waste, which is terrific on the wallet to boot.
Excercise
Ok, I have to add this because no discussion about weight is ever complete without at least saying the word "excercise." *rolls eyes*
I am never quite as good at this portion of my plan as I intend to be. I squish in maybe an embarrassing five-ten minutes of cardio a week on an elliptical, but I'm trying! It's a little easier for me to do my sit-ups and weights, but I still find the easiest way to excercise is to do it unconsciously. Like dancing - I mean *really* dancing.
I find that dancing to a super-mega-uber-long-extended-cut-remix of any original 12 minute single usually does the trick. A few good tunes to try would be those marathon salsa numbers designed to require hip surgery afterwards or glo-stick spawning club remixes of a current dance tunes. A love ballad by any of the soppier, vacuous singers out there is not suggested....for any reason....at any time. Just saying.
In the Summer, though, yardwork tends to make the need for "extra" excercise moot since I am kicking my own butt out there making a big mess out of my yard in a flurry of shovels, mulch and rakes.
Weigh In Obsessively
This trick may not work for everyone, but for me it is a great indicator not only of how I am doing, but works in tandem with the "hop off the wagon" idea. I start to weigh myself at the same time everyday. It is better to do it nakie, but when I stomp on the scale fully clothed, it is nice to soothe my down-trodden ego to tell my more weight-sensitive self that "well those are pretty bulky jeans, you know."
As promised, this brings me to my favorite part of my mental regimine for a lighter self!
Hop Off the Wagon
Ah, bliss. I've weighed myself and see that I am less today than yesterday (fine, it's only by a pound and it might have been just water weight I lost blah blah...*smothers reason*).
*ahem* Conclusion? Treat myself to something decadent that goes above and beyond my rules. The portion idea still applies as does "size matters" etc, but it will be something out of the ordinary that I will enjoy, slowly.
I also loosen up the reins on weekends or on outings - I still try to apply the basic tennents of my plan, but if I've been awesome all week and the scale bears that out, then I shall nom carefree at least one day of the week. The best part of this plan is that if applied regularly, the plan makes my tummy so much smaller that even when I allow myself to splurge, I won't be prone to eat as much anyways!
So that's a few of the tips I use to shed the extra insulation I've built up with "love" this winter. If anyone out there has tips they'd like to share, please post them in the comments. I love to add more to my arsenal!
RESOURCES
wikihow - more "nomming less" tips
new york times - water to lose weight
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Crochet - A Super Brief Historical Exploration
I love to crochet. Years ago, I remember all the items my grandmother made and, honestly, back then the art didn't appeal to me. That may have had something to do with the fact that most of what my grandmother crocheted in her later years could be neatly categorized as "kitsch," (sorry, Nanny =/). My mother, though, created marvelous afghans, lovely and straightforward with their repetitive stitches and monochromatic color schemes. They were also very warm, which was a bonus to the texture and art that are my mother's creations.
Now, having suffered from rheumatoid arthritis since I was fourteen, I believed I would never have the dexterity to attempt the wonders my mother wrought, transforming balls of string into the cozy art that are her afghans. Fortunately, for yarn manufacturers, it takes more than a chronic malady to deter me! About a year ago I grabbed a spare hook and started hooking....erm...crocheting, you know, with a hook, hence hookin-..stop looking at me like that....*sigh* Nevermind. Point is, I really enjoy this craft.
Never satisfied with just leaving it at a pleasurable pastime, I decided it was about time that I learned a bit about the illustrious history of said craft. That said, I have decided to dump this information on you, my ever-so forgiving readers. So, without further ado, The Kitchen Sink presents "Crochet: A Brief History of the Craft and a Scant Few of Its Modern Applications." (How's that for a snooty title? That's all those years as an English Major at work!)
Wiki succinctly summarizes the craft of crochet by saying it is making fabric from yarn with a crochet hook. Where did this fantabulous method of fabric fabrication originate you ask? Some say it came from Arabia, South America or
Etymologically, the word is interesting. The word "crochet" seems to have come from the Old Norse word "krokr" which means crook or hook-shaped instrument like, say, a "crochet hook." As a side note, I find this a wonderful correlation to the fact that crochet was often called "shepherd's knitting" and the staff used by shepherds is called a "crook." Etymologists date the Old Norse word "krokr" at about the 13th century. Further research shows that the French later adopted the word as "crocheter."
Some say crochet started with fingers, bypassing the need for a hook. Well, I can't imagine trying to make a close-knit beanie with my fingers, but if that's how they did it then, more power to them! After the finger approach, someone decided it might be easier to make a hook. Early crafters made their hooks out of the usual suspects: wood, ivory, bone. Later they crafters designed their hooks in metals: silver, brass, steel.
Interestingly, people initially considered crochet a decorative art reserved for the upper classes, whereas knitting was more "functional." During the mid1800s, though, Irish Crochet was popular as a cottage industry, with fine examples shipped off to
Around the 20th century, crochet became a more accessible art form. It was at that time that Queen Victoria learned to crochet and the world followed suit. Crochet became standardized and patterns and instruction readily distributed. There was a lull in pattern creation around World War II until about the 60s, but there has been resurgence since and the craft seems to continue picking up momentum among the diy community! *yay*
Crochet today has transcended limitations, going beyond the decorative to yield practical results that are utilitarian and quite delightful. Some of the popular patterns today allow a crafter to use this particular art to create home goods like potholders and bath mitts to apparel like scarves, hats, shawls and jackets onto the more traditional granny squared/stitched afghans.
Beyond those applications, a friend of mine helped open my mind to further exciting uses, as in textile art such as can be seen in the hyperbolic crocheted reef. "Freeform" crochet has captured my interest of late. It seems a terrific way to use up those leftover yards of yarn!
If you are of the crafty persuasion and have yet to pick up a hook, I strongly encourage you to give it a go. It is a terrific way to pass a few moments at a doc office, on the bus on the way to work, on a plane ride or anywhere else that might force you to page through dog-eared out-of-date magazines to whittle away twenty minutes or so. Crochet is a *very* portable hobby, requiring merely some yarn and a hook (maybe a few papers worth of pattern if you don't already have it memorized). Personally, I love relaxing with a bit of crochet while catching up on my podcasts =)
References not linked in the text:
Make your own crochet hooks from sticks! Or in this case a paintbrush.
One of my favorite pattern sites: Lion Brand Yarn
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/crochet
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=crochet
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Points of View: First Person versus Third Person
As I was mulling over the genre for my next project, I got to thinking about points of view in literature. Basically, point of view is who is telling the story. So, before I set down those first few keystrokes for the novel, I need to decide who will relate the tale.
There are two points of view that are most common today: first person and third person. Since point of view does not technically affect "what" happens, as much as "how" it happens, I need to weigh the limitations and advantages to each view to make an informed decision.
In "first-person," the narrator, or the person telling the story, is actually part of the story either as the main protagonist or a minor character. A flag that a story is in first-person is when the story is told through the "I" of the story and the narrator uses words like "my" and "we" when relating the story to the reader.
There are two types of "first-person," the reliable first-person narrator and the unreliable. These sub-types are pretty self-explanatory. A reliable narrator will be straightforward and non-biased about what he or she is experiencing. His or her world view has yet to be tainted by what is happening. It can be said that a reliable narrator is objective.
An unreliable narrator would be the opposite; at some point the story has made it so that he or she might lie, make mistakes and subjective observations. The story then is seen through the lens of the narrator tainted by his or her experiences. It would be up to the reader to come to conclusions based on what the narrator experiences and relates.
One advantage of first-person, be it reliable or unreliable, is that it affords a tighter focus. With this point of view, the reader can vicariously experience the story along with the narrator. The story becomes more intimate and personal as the reader is able to access the internal thoughts and feelings of the narrator.
The benefit of first-person, though, is a two-edged sword. Though the reader is in the narrator's head space, it also means the reader can only experience the story through that narrator's perspective. Only the narrator can move the plot forward because he or she has to witness and be part of everything that happens. Thus, the wider scope of the world and characters is limited to the narrator's experience, resulting in only indirect knowledge of those other story elements beyond the narrator's scope.
In third-person, the most common point of view in use, the narrator persona is outside the story. Words like "her, she, their, and them" are used by the narrator to relate the story and refer to the characters.
As with first-person, there are two sub-categories in third-person: limited and omniscient. Limited third-person can be seen as a more flexible first-person. The story view is still from basically one character's point of view, but that character is not the one doing the relating. This point of view preserves some of the intimacy of first person because the character still must be present for action and dialogue. In third-person limited, though, there is more flexibility when it comes to physical and emotional description of both the narrator and the other characters around them. The narrator, a persona existing outside the story, can describe the world and other characters without having to filter it through the character who is experiencing the story.
The omniscient third-person effectively brings in the thoughts and views of more than one character point of view. It is a "God-view" that is better for complicated plots. In this point of view, the narrator knows more about the story than the characters do. The narrator and the reader are on equal or nearly equal footing above the characters, knowing more about their word than they do.
Omniscient is more versatile than the other views thus discussed because it allows for disembodied description of a world, when there are no characters to experience it. This view also allows for a dispassionate, analytical telling of a story which can be desirable in some circumstances. Additionally, the reader can view all the characters in the novel inside and out through a non-biased, objective narrator.
On the other hand, omniscient can distance readers from the protagonist. It can also lead to "head-hopping," namely cramming too many points of view into a single scene. This doesn't provide the reader with a character with whom he or she can identify, alienating the reader.
These are not all the points of view that can be utilized. Some others include the less used second point of view, a technique using multiple points of view and variations and combinations of POVs mentioned. Overall, the choice of point of view needs to be a conscious decision because the narrator chosen will affect the tone of the story.
Whew. That's a lot to consider before I start writing, but it's an important decision that will color the entire world I'll be inhabiting as I move about and tell their story. Any thoughts about what point of view you personally enjoy reading? Perhaps which point of view vexes you? Please feel free to comment!
==================================
Resources referenced for this article:http://www.easywaytowrite.com/articles/pov.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/first-person-narrative
A few links from About.com
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingexercise1/ht/ptofview.htm
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/glossary/g/unreliablenarr.htm
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/crafttechnique/a/pointofview.htm
Great collection of essays:
http://books.google.com/books?id=oTkePfrUnOcC&lpg=PA96&ots=YvMntlVs0r&dq=which%20is%20the%20preferred%20point%20of%20view%20in%20contemporary%20fiction&pg=PA96#v=onepage&q=which%20is%20the%20preferred%20point%20of%20view%20in%20contemporary%20fiction&f=false
There are two points of view that are most common today: first person and third person. Since point of view does not technically affect "what" happens, as much as "how" it happens, I need to weigh the limitations and advantages to each view to make an informed decision.
In "first-person," the narrator, or the person telling the story, is actually part of the story either as the main protagonist or a minor character. A flag that a story is in first-person is when the story is told through the "I" of the story and the narrator uses words like "my" and "we" when relating the story to the reader.
There are two types of "first-person," the reliable first-person narrator and the unreliable. These sub-types are pretty self-explanatory. A reliable narrator will be straightforward and non-biased about what he or she is experiencing. His or her world view has yet to be tainted by what is happening. It can be said that a reliable narrator is objective.
An unreliable narrator would be the opposite; at some point the story has made it so that he or she might lie, make mistakes and subjective observations. The story then is seen through the lens of the narrator tainted by his or her experiences. It would be up to the reader to come to conclusions based on what the narrator experiences and relates.
One advantage of first-person, be it reliable or unreliable, is that it affords a tighter focus. With this point of view, the reader can vicariously experience the story along with the narrator. The story becomes more intimate and personal as the reader is able to access the internal thoughts and feelings of the narrator.
The benefit of first-person, though, is a two-edged sword. Though the reader is in the narrator's head space, it also means the reader can only experience the story through that narrator's perspective. Only the narrator can move the plot forward because he or she has to witness and be part of everything that happens. Thus, the wider scope of the world and characters is limited to the narrator's experience, resulting in only indirect knowledge of those other story elements beyond the narrator's scope.
In third-person, the most common point of view in use, the narrator persona is outside the story. Words like "her, she, their, and them" are used by the narrator to relate the story and refer to the characters.
As with first-person, there are two sub-categories in third-person: limited and omniscient. Limited third-person can be seen as a more flexible first-person. The story view is still from basically one character's point of view, but that character is not the one doing the relating. This point of view preserves some of the intimacy of first person because the character still must be present for action and dialogue. In third-person limited, though, there is more flexibility when it comes to physical and emotional description of both the narrator and the other characters around them. The narrator, a persona existing outside the story, can describe the world and other characters without having to filter it through the character who is experiencing the story.
The omniscient third-person effectively brings in the thoughts and views of more than one character point of view. It is a "God-view" that is better for complicated plots. In this point of view, the narrator knows more about the story than the characters do. The narrator and the reader are on equal or nearly equal footing above the characters, knowing more about their word than they do.
Omniscient is more versatile than the other views thus discussed because it allows for disembodied description of a world, when there are no characters to experience it. This view also allows for a dispassionate, analytical telling of a story which can be desirable in some circumstances. Additionally, the reader can view all the characters in the novel inside and out through a non-biased, objective narrator.
On the other hand, omniscient can distance readers from the protagonist. It can also lead to "head-hopping," namely cramming too many points of view into a single scene. This doesn't provide the reader with a character with whom he or she can identify, alienating the reader.
These are not all the points of view that can be utilized. Some others include the less used second point of view, a technique using multiple points of view and variations and combinations of POVs mentioned. Overall, the choice of point of view needs to be a conscious decision because the narrator chosen will affect the tone of the story.
Whew. That's a lot to consider before I start writing, but it's an important decision that will color the entire world I'll be inhabiting as I move about and tell their story. Any thoughts about what point of view you personally enjoy reading? Perhaps which point of view vexes you? Please feel free to comment!
==================================
Resources referenced for this article:http://www.easywaytowrite.com/articles/pov.htm
http://www.answers.com/topic/first-person-narrative
A few links from About.com
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/writingexercise1/ht/ptofview.htm
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/glossary/g/unreliablenarr.htm
http://fictionwriting.about.com/od/crafttechnique/a/pointofview.htm
Great collection of essays:
http://books.google.com/books?id=oTkePfrUnOcC&lpg=PA96&ots=YvMntlVs0r&dq=which%20is%20the%20preferred%20point%20of%20view%20in%20contemporary%20fiction&pg=PA96#v=onepage&q=which%20is%20the%20preferred%20point%20of%20view%20in%20contemporary%20fiction&f=false
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