F is for Fall Fantasy Football

Fall used to be a simpler time for me - it would bring a simple sadness that winter was coming and my summer clothes would be doomed to darkness in the dresser for the next 9 months. The only bright light during this dim time would be Thanksgiving and the joys of the holiday season. But never fear, fantasy football is here.

This is my third season and I've graduated to participating in two leagues. Two leagues, I had hoped, would equal twice the fun. No. I was wrong. Two leagues = twice the disappointment, anxiety, and bitterness on each and every Sunday and Monday for the 4 months of this terrible and wonderful time of year. Let me explain:

The season starts with the giddy joy of being accepted back to the leagues (as a woman this is quite a feat). The excitement continues with the prospect of the draft - who will make the team? Will it be Drew Brees? Or will I finally believe Howie when he says I over-value quarterbacks and attempt to hoard receivers and runners? And what about my team name? Oh the pain of seeking a brilliant team name that strikes fears into the hearts of others in my league! In actuality, I really just hope my team name gets at least a chuckle for being mildly clever.

Then draft day arrives. With many windows open on my screen, I jump back and forth frazzled trying to look up the players I'm not as familiar with between picks. After all, before fantasy entered my life I only ever paid attention to the Giants - there are a lot of players in the NFL to learn about! The end of the draft brings some relief, but also the onset of nerves. Did I make the right picks? Is my team solid? Week one will tell.

A loss and a win. Okay, I can deal with that, its only week 1.

Week 2: a loss and a win. Alright, being 1:1 in both leagues is not bad... its still early.

Week 3: a loss and a loss. Ughhh. My defense is falling apart in one league... my receivers in the other are getting double covered on every play. My stars are falling to "Questionable" for next week. The players left on free agency are limited. I fear a trade. What to do? What to do? It's still early...

Week 4: Here we are. What started out as a hopeful Sunday in the lead after the 1:00pm games has turned into a nightmare and I'm looking at another 0-2 weekend. How can this happen? My teams were solid...

My options seem to be dwindling and despite the appearances of solidarity on a "stacked" team, my players still can't keep it all together to get me a win. What looks like a solid lead turns into a 30 point deficit just because Tony Gonzalez has a breakout 38-point achievement that never should have happened while my defense dwindles into negative points for the 2nd or 3rd week in a row.

I know this is all of a lot of jargon and for those of you who don't participate in fantasy football, this is probably a nonsense post. I just can't help but reflect how my fall has changed from a time of mourning the seasonal equinox to anticipation over how my 17 players from 10+ different teams will play in their weekend match-ups. I now worry over predictions and averages and rivalries. In some ways, my fall is a lot more exciting, especially when my team wins. Its also brought me closer to a sport I grew up with but did not fully appreciate before. However, it also brings with it the emotional roller coaster of a lifetime. Oh fantasy. 

Yoga: Why you should think about doing it

In my quest for health (which, if you have been a consistent follower, you will know from my commentary last summer I began taking my health and fitness seriously and *pat on the back* I've kept it up) I've recently stumbled upon yoga. My routine last summer was pretty consistent: running 5-6 days a week. Once the cold kicked in, however, I had to get more creative. I have reactive airways (my lungs act up like an asthmatic under certain conditions) and the cold is just not my friend. I kept up my running until the end of October after my second 5K and then it was time for a bit of recovery. I took approximately two months off from running busying my time with a few weight exercises and Kenpo X here and there.

{Kenpo X is a disc from the famed P90X series... up until recently it was the only disc I would indulge in - 45 minutes of cardio in the form of mixed martial arts, primarily boxing/kick-boxing like exercises}

Shortly after the massacre in Newtown, I learned of a 5K at the end of March to support the victims families and immediately signed up. This meant I had to jump back into running. I joined a gym in January and resumed my running with more vigorous weight training than I had previously been doing. I ran my 5K and then fell into a bit of a slump. With my new career it was very difficult for me to work out with the frequency I had previously been used to since I work an odd schedule, and now that I wasn't tied to an upcoming event I lost my motivation to run.

As if it was a sign from the heavens, my mom called me one day and said "I signed up for yoga!" My whole family was shocked since we had all been ragging on her for years that she needed to get involved in some kind of physical activity because her body wasn't going to get any younger or stronger without it. She told me about it and insisted that I would probably enjoy it too. I knew P90X had a yoga disc, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I decided to stray from my Kenpo X to attempt Yoga X.

The "X" I discovered really does in fact mean "intense". Of course I knew Kenpo would be intense since it is a full body cardio work-out, but I still felt the X was a silly name attached to all the discs for the sake of the series. However, Yoga X is freakin' hard, people!! The first time I tried it, I could barely make it through the first 20 minutes of the work-out... which is a whopping hour and 45 minutes long. However, I really felt like my inner core was strengthened by even that measly 20 minutes. So I continued to attempt, and re-attempt the Yoga X. While I still can't do the entire disc at once, I've significantly improved and I really feel like it has enhanced my strength and endurance. And while the P90X instructor really doesn't focus on the mental health aspect that yoga claims to also enhance, it really does help clear the mind if you focus on the breathing while timing the stretches with the breathing as instructed. It brings your mental awareness to yourself, your body, your breathing, and brings you to the present moment.

Basically, it all boils down to the following reasons why I advocate for this form of exercise: 1. It's challenging and gives you a real work-out, 2. It builds your core strength and flexibility - which will enhance your overall athletic ability, 3. It can serve as a fabulous form of "you time" to workout your body and mind. So if you are looking for an alternative work-out to add to your routine, seriously consider adding yoga! Ohmm.

As an extra tidbit, if you are curious about yoga, I recommend you purchase a $10 video on amazon before you decide whether or not its something you really want to commit to at a studio. Studio yoga classes are ridiculously expensive and you can get a well guided workout from a video.

The Social Network

Social media has been on the rise since the '90s. Starting with MySpace, progressing through Facebook, and  continuing with Twitter and Instagram. I, for one, never participated in MySpace; Facebook was my first venture into social networking when it was still restricted to college students. Since then I've joined LinkedIn, the professional network, and I dabbled in Pinterest for about a week before calling it quits (I didn't really understand it and didn't want to deal with it after my interest fizzled).

Three days ago, however, I joined a new "club:" Twitter. At first, I didn't understand it. I wasn't interested in joining these millions of networks not knowing who was going to bump into my account. However, my interest grew insidiously from recommendations from friends and siblings, so eventually I caved. And, to my own surprise, I am hooked. Within 24 hours I found myself incessantly checking statuses and searching for new people to follow. So far my collection includes various sports analysts, Chelsea soccer, Barcelona Soccer, Giants Football, Paula Deen, Snooki, some of the Kardashians, Brit Brit, Ricky Gervais, Aziz Ansari, E! News, a bunch of friends, and more. Needless to say, I rarely find myself bored these days since there are always new tweets and instagrams to check up on. No wonder this has caught like wildfire and sucked me in with it!

While I'm completely in love with twitter, it has caused me to once again reflect on American culture. Aside from the friend who urged me to join, most others have had that "why would you do that?" response when I've shared with them my new obsession. But is it really that shocking? Just as facebook was (and arguably still is) a means of instant procrastination with a sense of social belonging, twitter offers that same gratification. Even Pinterest, which I still don't buy into, is loved by many, many of my friends... social belonging is fulfilled by pinning to your friends boards, its a wonderful means of procrastination, and it triggers pleasure centers in your brain looking at pictures of delicious goodies, beautiful places to visit, or creative projects you're dying to try... albeit this is more of a network geared towards girls since you can post an unimaginable amount of the above mentioned goodies, travel sites, or DIY (do-it-yourself) projects.

Twitter offers all those same feelings of social ties, but adds the sense of actual interaction with your favorite celebrities, politicians, sports announcers, sports teams, athletes, organizations, etc. What could be better than watching the X-Factor and feeling like your hanging with Brit Brit as she tweets through the entire show about her feelings regarding the contestants? Or how about getting a play-by-play of your favorite soccer match while at the laundromat? Or getting to hear the sass of your favorite comedian throughout the day? It's instant entertainment at any given moment. Plus you get to add in your own 2 cents whenever you feel like it.

Now, I'm not a spokesperson, but I imagine this is what any advocate of twitter would argue and then some. However, I will admit I waste an incessant amount of time these days waiting for my job to start so I had to entertain myself with something and twitter happened to find me at the right time. And because of that, I felt the need to share with you what I've learned about this bit of American culture gone wild: it can be quite addictive.

How to have a successful rainy day...

... Choose to go on an adventure despite the lousy weather report.

This is exactly what two of my girlfriends and I did this week. Since we are still currently between school and work, we've had some time off and have been trying to take advantage of our days. Naturally, given the season, we planned a day of apple picking and shopping at Woodbury Commons, a premier outlet complex. It wasn't until the night before that we discovered the forecast was questionable with a 30% chance of rain all day. We woke up that morning to cloudy skies and decided to take our chances.

We made our way north to a small family owned apple orchard excited to indulge in this fall tradition. Despite knowing that we might get rained on, none of us dressed appropriately - me in leather boots, one in canvas sneakers, and the other in flip-flops. Well, we lasted all of 10 minutes at the orchard before the drizzle started. With our poles in hand we reached for apples taking breaks under the tree branches to avoid the rain drops (we did take advantage of this "down time" to sneak an apple as a snack... they are just so sweet and delicious when they have been just pulled off the tree). Though the rain came and went, and then came again, we were determined to fill our bags - which we ultimately did. Apple picking is always a treat and a must-do activity when given the opportunity. Plus, its and excuse to make fall favorites, such as apple crisp (post coming soon!)

Happy with our adventure! 

In nice weather, Woodbury Commons is packed with hustle and bustle. The people swarm along the cobblestone paths though the different clusters of shops. With over 200 stores, this is a place where you could easily get lost. If you live in the Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam county region of New York - this is an adventure you should take... hopefully on a nice sunny day. Unfortunately, the rains picked up just as we arrived turning from a drizzly rain to a downpour. We first made our way to the food pavilion to warm ourselves up with some hot soup. Before we left the food pavilion we made a plan to go directly to the stores we wanted to go in, no meandering in this weather. We darted around to Nine West, American Eagle, Gap, J. Crew, Puma, and Loft outlet before calling it quits... By the time we had gotten that far, we were pooped. Next time, hopefully I'll have better material to write about with out the weather stealing the show. All in all we still came home with apples and new goodies from the outlets :)

Our drive to Woodbury Commons

Willkommen zum Oktoberfest

{Welcome to Oktoberfest}

Fall is back! Well, I supposed it has been unofficially fall for over a month now if you count fall as the start of the school year. You could say this is the 4th week of fall if you go by the NFL's calendar. However, you could be true to the solstice and only admit to it being the end of the first week of fall; nonetheless, its undoubtedly the time of year that indicates a select few things to celebrate. First: football, second: Oktoberfest style beer, third: football...

While I clearly am a football fan, that is not the focus of this post. This last Friday we went to a mock Oktoberfest celebration at a quaint German restaurant which got me thinking about what my favorites are, especially since Howie goes crazy for Oktoberfest style beer annually at this time of year. For those of you who know me, you know at least one of two things: (a) I'm not a huge beer person, and/or (b) I'm a huge beer snob. Both are true. I don't always drink beer, but when I do I prefer the good stuff (props to who knows where that line comes from). I don't really do light beers (no Coors, Bud, Miller, etc) unless there is nothing else to drink and I'm not into very hoppy "man" beers. If I can taste the bitter aftertaste in my nose, it's a no-go. So here goes:

5. Blue Moon (by Coors - US of A)
Disclaimer: This beer is making it to the list only because it is my go-to bar beer.
I am well aware this is not an super high quality beer; its the generic "girl beer." With that noted, it was too difficult for me to confidently decide between the runner's up for this spot so Blue Moon is the pick because of the frequency with which I drink this beer. It is a wheat beer - my favorite style. In fact, almost all the beers on my list of acceptable beers to drink are wheat beers. This style is light and fruity in flavor with a smooth finish. Runner's up: Hoegaarden, Sam's Summer Ale, Pumpkin Wheat, Schneider Edel-Weisse.

4. Delirium Tremens (Belgium)
A new beer on my list, Delirium Tremens is quite a treat. Similar to a wheat beer (jury is out on the official classification) it's light in color and smooth in finish - but you don't need a lot of this as the alcohol content is pretty high for a beer.

3. Oktoberfest (by Sam Adams - US of A)
I didn't choose the title of this post without reason. Oktoberfest style is definitely my second favorite in every way. Crisp, full bodied flavor perfect for the season. I'd even accept other brands of oktoberfest. But I do wish it lasted longer than 2.5 months out of the year, as does my boy since its at the top of his list too (see below).

2. Hopfen Weisse (by Schneider - German)
I'll admit, I've only had this beer once - but it's that good. Since you've probably figured it out, Howie is the driving force behind my beer snobbism by exposing me to these fabulous finds. After hunting for a specialty beer store, we hit the jackpot only 5 miles from where we live. This is the type of store that you walk into where the walls are lined with over-sized bottles of specialty beers and you get to select as many or as few of exactly what you want. That is where we found this little gem. It's a wheat beer so its that golden honey color, on the fruity side, with the smoothest finish you can find in a beer. The flavor is so unique and the aroma is just as enticing. I might be drooling thinking about this one.

1. Franziskaner Weissbier (by Spaten - German)
This has been my favorite beer for a while now, though the Hopfen Weisse might take over after I try it a few more times. Howie introduced this as a surprise one time while visiting my family (he and my dad have a tradition of trying new beers and styles as often as they can). It is a wheat beer; I'm sure you are surprised by this. The flavor is full and on the sweeter side with a very smooth finish. If you like wheat beer, this is the best it gets.


Howie's Picks: 
5. Dos Equis Amber
4. Delirium Tremens
3. Guinness
2. Oktoberfest (Sam Adams specific)
1. Schneider Edel-Weisse 

The Big E

The Eastern States Exposition began in the early 1900s as a way to boost the agricultural economy in New England and has since turned into one of the largest state fairs today known as The Big E. To call it a "state" fair is a bit of a misnomer, as it is a fair for all of the New England states.


The Big E is a well known attraction to those in New England; however, this was the first year I've ever attended despite spending my teenage years as a resident of Connecticut. For those of you who've been, you know its a never-ending display of food, games, rides, shopping, farm animals etc. For the first timers, its admittedly a bit overwhelming. The first few hundred feet into the fair grounds it seems like just a normal northeastern carnival: the tents are colorful, the food trucks are ostentatious, and the rides and games are twinkling with gaudy light fixtures. As you continue walking you realize the fun seems to go on for miles (and I assure you, we walked miles that day around and around - to the point of waking up sore the next morning).

I'm sure my experience was fairly traditional, but lets relive it, shall we? It was a crisp September morning when me and two lovely ladies departed from southern CT on a mini road trip to meet our long lost buddy from PA school who moved back to MA after graduation. We had been plotting this trip for a while and were looking forward to a food-filled day of fun (that's what the repeat visitors to the Big E were looking forward to anyway).

The first thing we encountered upon arrival were the Budweiser Clydesdales... humongous, majestic horses famous for their appearances in Bud commercials throughout the year, and mostly during major football events later in the season. I have always loved horses and as a child I begged to take riding lessons; however, my mother never caved in on that request. As you can imagine, these horses were quite a sight as they are literally huge. In commercials they are often accompanied by their canine friends, dalmatians. I guess the Big E wanted to do things right so on cue at the back of the tent where the horses were kept were two dalmatians arguing over a bone.

We then moved through the warehouses to take in all the goodies being sold by various vendors. There were gadgets and gizmos of plenty, whosits and whatsits galore. There was even a mini winter wonderland to walk through with blasting air conditioners and falling 'snow.' One of the warehouses was entirely devoted to farming and contained pigs, chickens, vegetables, llamas, alpacas, and landscaping displays. My favorites: the piglets and chicklets. 

As for the food, you can get almost anything deep fried at the Big E. Fried pickles, fried zucchini, fried dough, fried twinkies, fried chicken, fried cookie dough, french fries, and so on. The two that I was lucky enough to indulge in were fried oreos - bangin - and fried cheese curds - not so bangin. The cheese curds were the brain child of our one friend; let's just say I won't be having those again anytime soon. In addition to carnival food is a multitude of carnival games rides; however, those are not my specialty so I'm not going to discuss them. Just know that every carnival ride known exists at the Big E.

Finally, you can't really talk about the Big E without mentioning the state houses. Along one strip in the fair grounds are six old style brick houses dedicated to the states of New England: Connecticut (holla), Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Each house contains select food and vendors from the state. In Connecticut, the big deal was the Pez. The United States Pez factory is located in Orange, CT. Each state house had something different to offer - maple syrup, soaps, lobster rolls, cotton candy, sweatshirts, hats, and other paraphernalia. I purchased some all natural soaps and some Vermont maple syrup for my boy during my tour through the houses. Overall this was a very successful and exciting adventure.

A little country in the big city

I've been on a few adventures since being out of school and not yet at work. One of which was an excursion into the city to one our of favorite restaurants: Hill Country Barbeque. Since Howie is from Texas, he's always on the lookout for "home-comfort-foods," aka real barbecue and real mexican food (I'll leave the explanation of the italicized "reals" for Howie to explain in a guest post since these are two of his hot-button topics). I actually first heard of this restaurant through an old high school friend who attended college in the city. Though it took some convincing to get Howie to try it because he is highly skeptical of the quality of northern bbq, it has turned into one of our top choices of places to eat in the city.

When you first walk into Hill Country it's like walking into an entirely different time and place than the busy streets of New York. Located on 26th between 5th and 6th ave, right near Madison Square Park, Hill Country is a great place to indulge in the southern delicacy of barbecue. The art of barbecue varies from region to region in the south, but the premise remains the same: meats cooked over low heat for hours and hours basted in succulent sauce. With this barbecue comes additional treats for your belly: mac & cheese, potato salad, cucumber salad, mashed sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn bread, and more. The food is delicious and will send you directly into food coma if you aren't careful, which we usually aren't.

Aside from the southern comfort foods, this place is also unique because of its ambiance. With wood everywhere and mildly dim lighting, you feel as if you've walked into a southern hole-in-the-wall bbq joint. There are wood tables lined up cafeteria style, wooden chairs, a wooden bar, and stacks of fire wood along the back wall. When you enter, you are given a meal ticket that you bring with you up to the meat counter where you order your choice of beef, chicken, or sausage by weight as the meat is taken from the back where its likely just come out of the smoker. The meat is wrapped in paper, you are given a tray, and your meal ticket is marked before you move to the line for sides. At that station there is a minimum of 8 or so options to choose from in a variety of sizes along with an additional 5 or so desserts to choose. Your order is marked on your ticket and you are then free to sit anywhere you like. A waiter will come with options for drinks: water, iced tea, lemonade, soda, beer, the usual suspects. As you can imagine, its extremely easy to get carried away here.

My favorite: the 1/4 bbq chicken, with sides of mac & cheese or potato salad and cucumber salad. Howie usually goes for a multitude of things including sausage, brisket, and whatever else he finds himself drooling over... his eyes are always bigger than his stomach. This place has something for everyone and the food is excellent; its definitely somewhere you should try when you have time in NYC.

Ice Cream vs. Frozen Yogurt

I apologize for the hiatus, however, my posts will be fewer for at least another week or two for a multitude of reasons. With that said, here is a little treat to tie you over:

Frozen Yogurt Vs. Ice Cream

The debate on frozen yogurt vs. ice cream is catching on like wildfire! So which is better? This article dwells on the difference between frozen yogurt and ice cream. Read on...

How many ice cream lovers have shifted their loyalties to frozen yogurt, simply because they got weight conscious? Most people believe that frozen yogurt is a healthier choice as compared to ice cream. Today, frozen yogurt is being considered to be something like ice cream and is served in several flavors, with different toppings, etc. According to the USDA, 62.4% of US production was regular ice cream in 2007, with low-fat and non-fat ice cream at 25% and frozen yogurt at 4.4%. However, what's the truth? Which is better?

Ice cream

Ice creams are frozen desserts prepared from dairy products, such as milk, cream, fruits, flavors and other ingredients. Most ice cream varieties are made from sugar, however, there are some made with other sweeteners. Sometimes, instead of natural ingredients, artificial flavorings and colorings are also used. People with lactose intolerance symptoms have ice creams made from soy milk and rice milk as well.

Ice cream comprises milk fat (10-16 %), milk solids (9-12 %), sweeteners (12-16%), stabilizers and emulsifiers (0.2-0.5%), water (55-65 %), which comes from milk or other ingredients. All the ingredients are mixed and stirred slowly while cooling, thereby preventing formation of large crystals and conducing to smoothly textured ice cream. Today, ice creams are available in all parts of the globe and are sold in large cartons in grocery stores and supermarkets.

Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt is a frozen dessert prepared from yogurt, rather than cream. In the 1970s, this dessert was introduced as a healthier alternative to ice cream, however, its yogurt like consistency and tart taste lead to complaining customers. In response to these complaints, manufacturers spearheaded the production of a frozen yogurt recipe that would pacify the palettes of the consumers. In 1980s, frozen yogurt made a comeback and reached sales of $25 million in 1986. By the early 1990s, frozen yogurt had captured 10% of the dessert market. In frozen yogurt, the cream of the ice cream is replaced by the yogurt, however, the other ingredients are more or less the same.

Frozen yogurt comprises yogurt culture, milk fat (comprises about 0.5-6% of yogurt), milk solids (form 8-14% of yogurt's volume), gelatin, sweetener, coloring, corn syrup and flavoring. The milk fat accounts for the yogurt's richness and the milk solids provide proteins for smoothness, increased resistance to melting and lactose for sweetness. Frozen yogurt can be prepared in an ice cream machine, however, major companies often use assembly lines, specifically designed for yogurt production. 

Ice Cream Vs. Frozen Yogurt

Today, frozen yogurt is available in several flavors and styles, just like ice cream. Both ice cream and frozen yogurt are known to be nutritious with large amounts of high quality protein, calcium, riboflavin and some other essential vitamins and minerals. While ice creams contain 10-18% of fat content by weight, frozen yogurt usually has lesser amounts of fat content. Fat-free yogurt also exist, however, they often have even more added sugar, as compared to other varieties.

While considering the difference between frozen yogurt and ice cream, people often tend to halt at the fat and sugar content present in them. It's true that frozen yogurt contain less fat content than ice creams and that certain organic frozen yogurt are low-calorie and non-fat, however, one cannot just stop here and draw conclusions. The major health benefit of frozen yogurt goes beyond the horizons of fat and sugar content and stretches to its probiotic content.

Yogurt is actually fermented food, which is made by adding live bacterial cultures to milk. These bacteria spearhead fermentation in the milk and release lactic acid. The acid thickens the milk proteins and causes them to form a thick substance. Consumption of yogurt causes these live bacteria to enter the body and assist various beneficial bacteria in the body. These live bacterial cultures present in frozen yogurt promote better digestion. Probiotic content means good bacterial content, which helps boost the body's immune system, enhances digestion and is also believed to lower cholesterol levels.

Moreover, the amount of lactose present in frozen yogurt is more digestible, as compared to the lactose present in ice creams. This is because frozen yogurt contains enzymes which assist in breaking down dairy products, thereby enabling people with lactose intolerance to ingest frozen yogurt with minimal or no ill effects.

Frozen yogurt, with its additional benefits over ice cream, of greater digestibility, low-fat content and presence of probiotic cultures has caused it to be favored over regular ice creams. However, it is important to note that a great amount of sugar is added in frozen yogurt, which does not make it as healthy as regular yogurt. It is best to view frozen yogurt (health wise), midway between plain yogurt and ice cream. It is best to maintain a balanced consumption ratio. Each is known for its own benefits, so enjoy them proportionately. Hope this article was informative and helpful!

By Priya Johnson
Last Updated: 11/2/2011

*Taken from Buzzle.com, original article linked in the title

Honey Boo Boo Child

For those of you who may be avid Toddlers & Tiaras fans on TLC, you may already know this. I, however, was just made aware that the Honey Boo Boo child is coming back... with her own television show. Revel in this piece of American reality tv greatness:

I literally have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard at this kid. She is completely out of her mind. Granted, many of the children on this show are a bit... odd... but this one takes the cake with her outrageous comments. The honey boo boo child, also known as Alana, showed up on Toddlers & Tiaras a while ago and became one of the girls to make it to national stardom via youtube and talk shows. While this little one was the spark for her upcoming series because of her antics on her episode, the show is going to star her family as well. What do we know so far about her family? Her mother is a "Coupon Queen" and belongs on the show Extreme Couponing, her dad is referred to as "Sugar Bear", and before pageants Alana drinks her special juice, Red Bull + Mountain Dew. This is surely going to be a riot and fabulous trash tv.

PS. I won't judge you for watching this video more than once... or whenever you need a laugh.... 

Oh Beautiful, for Spacious Skies

For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties,
Above the fruited plain.
America, America
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea! 

Happy Birthday America, or as the many Facebook goers spell it: 'Merica, Amurica, and 'Murica. Gotta love pop culture's influence on everyday pronunciation. Anyway, today is a day of care free enjoyment. Fortunately, its hot and sunny. People will travel in droves to the beaches, crack open beers in backyards, eat hamburgers and hot-dogs to their hearts content, and patiently wait for nightfall to watch fireworks rain through the skies. Other than wishing you all a Happy 4th of July, there's not much more to say on this patriotic occasion. 

I'll leave you with some fun facts about the Fourth: 

• The legal separation of the colonies from Great Britain actually occurred on July the 2nd, 1776, not the 4th.
• July 4th was the day the revised version of the Declaration of Independence was approved.
• There is debate among historians that the Declaration of Independence was actually signed in August of 1776
• John Adams (2nd president of the USA), Thomas Jefferson (3rd president), and James Monroe (4th president) all died on the 4th of July, the first two in 1826 and the latter in 1831

*Info taken from my best internet friend, wikipedia. 

Mother's Day vs. Father's Day

Father's Day is around the corner and, being the procrastinator that I am, I went hunting for cards yesterday. Being that one of the cards I will have to mail across the country, this is cutting it pretty close. This time, its slightly easier because I only need to hunt down 3 cards, instead of the 4 I had to buy for Mother's Day. Despite the benefits of having two families now, it makes card hunting very difficult. I'm a bit of an emotionally-stunted individual when it comes to card shopping. Just one month ago I was a nut running from store to store looking for Mother's Day cards that said just what I wanted them to say. I was in a panic, a frenzy, if you will. Card shopping is a very anxiety driven chore for me for some reason.

For Father's Day, however, I thought things would be different. Father's don't read into things as much, they are more laid back, and generally (from my experience) don't put as high a value on a card as a mother would. So I started with the little townie stationary store half a block down the street. They had nothing. Literally a 10 card selection that wasn't cutting it. So I kept walking to the local specialty super market. Now, I knew they didn't have a card section, but I'd seen a turn-style there before with cards so I figured I would give it a try. Again, a minimal selection. Another half block down I ran into the townie pharmacy. They had ZERO Father's Day cards! How can this be, is Father's Day not a holiday in this town?!? My difficulty at Mother's Day was not for lack of options. I must have looked at hundreds of cards before making my final selections. How on earth was I going to find appropriate cards for this holiday if the stores didn't have any to choose from!

At this point, it was time to get in my car and drive to a brand store. The Target parking lot is always a nightmare, so I went to CVS. I joke not, 90% of their Father's Day options were for "Husband". There was one left for "Dad" and a select 5 for "Papa." A woman standing next to me, also looking dumbfounded at the options, said aloud "Man, this is not like Mother's Day." I completely agreed with her and was just about whittled down to purchasing blank cards and writing my own messages. But wait! CVS had no blank cards either! With the most grumpy face I could muster, I left the store and resolved to make Target my last stop. If I had no luck there I'd send homemade cards out of computer paper, that's how flustered I felt.

Fortunately I did not have to throw a temper tantrum in Target. While they had a slightly smaller selection than at Mother's Day, they still had a sizable section of their card department devoted to Father's Day cards. I found my three in about 30 minutes (I'm not kidding, card shopping is an ordeal for me) and then bee-lined it to the parking lot.

The point of this story: I was so amazed at the lack of attention the stores put on Father's Day. Do people not buy Father's Day cards?  Mother's Day naturally gets some extra attention. Everyone is excited that its spring, commercials advertising the holiday seem to be more present, no one is consumed by summer plans yet. But does that mean Father's Day just gets forgotten about? How? Why? Do fathers not do as much as our mothers? Surely this is not the case - in my family I'd like to say my parents have done equally as much for me, but in very different ways. Despite my mother having a more emotional presence, I still wouldn't be who I am without both my parents' influence. Maybe (Hopefully) my town was simply unprepared as a fluke. Maybe I was more behind the ball than usual and all people of my town already got their cards, leaving the pickings for me... It can't be like this everywhere? If we, as Americans, are keen on wasting our money on cards for Mother's Day (among other, more ridiculous card holidays), why would Father's Day be an exception? 

Memorial Day Weekend: An American Holiday; A Northeastern Holiday

Living with a southerner, I have to annually explain the importance of Memorial Day Weekend. According to him, in Texas Memorial Day is just another day... like Columbus Day or President's Day. Yes, we all know the technical reason for the holiday - remembering the men and women who have died serving in the armed forces - but he doesn't quite understand why northerners go bonkers with celebrations this weekend.  Granted, our celebrations are seemingly unrelated to the actual point of the holiday, which may not be very honorable of us up here in the northeast, but for us, Memorial Day serves a dual purpose.

Summers are a precious fleeting moment in the lives of those north of the Mason-Dixon Line. The cycle of misery approaches at the beginning of school as Labor Day indicates the end of the summer season. We bear the wind, the loss of color in our world, the rains, and then the snow. We freeze, we brace against more wind, and some years blizzards. Finally we start to thaw, but it is always an unpredictable time in our lives. One day it may be sunny and 50 degrees, the next it might be 55 with torrential downpours, the next we are back in the low 40s. The snow melts, the sandy roads are left stained brown. The grass slowly turns from a matted yellow-green to dull green to vibrant green each time it rains. The trees bud and we grow giddy. Summer is coming.

April showers bring May flowers and school work suddenly becomes less serious, parents plan summer programs for their children, the shorts and skirts come out, and bathing suits are purchased. Propane tanks are filled, patio umbrellas assembled, outdoor furniture is cleaned, boats are put back in their respective bodies of water and backyard pools are opened. The gardens get weeded and mulched, and suddenly it is time. Prayers for sunshine start and Memorial Day Weekend arrives.

After 9 long months BBQs are scheduled leading friends and family to assemble. Grills are rolled out, beer is purchased and placed in coolers, and blenders are put on the counter next to the line up of daiquiri and pina colada mix. Let the celebrations begin, for summer is back again!

Note: This is my take on the holiday, I am particularly fond of summer and particularly unfond of winter. I also claim no knowledge or understanding about how the holiday is viewed in other parts of the country aside from the northeast and what Howie tells me of Texas.  

I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me...

... Papa-Paparazzi

Anyone not living under a rock is familiar with the famed Lady Gaga song. Its been in my head for approximately 30 minutes now after hearing it on the radio and proceeding to sing-a-long. Ironically, I signed on facebook to be confronted with this youtube video posted by my aunt:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUloD1Z379w&feature=share

If you want to skip the video, I'll give you a synopsis: Adrian Grenier (Star of Entourage on HBO) noticed a 13 year-old kid in the mist of the overwhelming group of paparazzi trying to take pictures of him one day. He approached the kid to find out why he was in this business and decided to make a documentary following the life of this young entrepreneur as he works tirelessly to hunt down the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsey Lohan.

I have to give the kid props... I mean... he makes $500-$1000 per picture. And he's 13 years old. When I was 13 I babysat for $5 or $6 and hour. However, aside from the money he makes doing his "job," it's actaully fascinating that this is now going to be turned into a documentary. I guess Hollywood will take anything mildly interesting and turn it into a sensation. In reality, they are already winning just by the fact that I saw this and now all of you have watched/are about to watch it. Anything can become shiny and interesting. Is that good? Is that bad? Does it speak to our cultural ingenuity, or rather does it make us seem ridiculously easy to distract? In my opinion, it's probably both, but I'd like to advocate the "cultural ingenuity" angle.

I'm sure my parents and grandparents and those general public over the age of 50 would criticize this stuff for its lameness (seriously though, isn't the 7 pm news, talk shows, and shows like Access Hollywood the precursors to all of this anyway?). But really, it works; the proof is in the fact that other countries are following suit. Yes, its easy to laugh at American culture, we can be immature, we focus on completely unimportant things, and a good majority of the young people out there care more about the Kardashians than the republican primaries. But its ingenious - people watch our "garbage tv" and like it! My friend in England has written posts about their copy cat show Geordie Shore about ridiculous Pauly D and Snookie wannabes in northern England. And what about TLCs new find, My big fat gypsy wedding? Pretty sure those accents aren't American. Despite the ridiculousness of these documentaries and reality shows about the things people do, people watch and are entertained. And the craze keeps spreading. We watch, we follow, we eat it up. I don't know about you, but I'm probably not gonna stop. I'll probably be watching TLC or E! later tonight in fact. And I won't judge you if you do too. Enjoy it!