For several years I have tried to drag my body out in the somewhat early morning, be it rain, snow, sun or cold (sounds like the mailman) and either I take to the pavement and walk my neighborhood when it's nice out or jump in my car and drive a short distance (this always seems a little wrong that I have to burn another gas to burn calories) and take one hour from my day to attempt to stay in some form of shape. It may not be the shape that the statistics would prefer but hey I am getting out. I usually walk around four miles.
Yesterday an article really caught my eye because the caption read "Take that, Stretch! Short people burn more calories walking". Well I thought to myself this looks like I may be doing something right. According to an article published in the Journal of Experimental Biology scientists have come up with a new equation (oh great) to determine how much energy people actually use while walking. I thought this could be rather interesting. My philosophy has been if I can manage to lap people that are significantly older than I am I must be doing pretty good. Especially according to them I am just "a kid".
In a nutshell they studied 48 people ranging from age 5 to 32 on a treadmill. Ranging in weight from 35 to 195 pounds and height of 3.5 to 6 foot tall. (Ok I fit in the weight but not the age range sadly).
The outcome was everyone used the same energy for each step they took, but because people with shorter legs take more steps to cover the same distance as people with longer legs, short people used more energy over distance.
Hey I have know that for years. I take twice as many steps as both my husband and my kids. So tall people are more economical walkers because they take bigger steps. The sad thing was when it came to calorie burn a person who is 5 foot tall (I am slightly taller) burns roughly 49 calories to walk one mile while a 6 foot tall person burns 71 calories to walk the same distance. Well that doesn't seem fair. But hey I guess somehow it must balance itself out because although tall people can reach the top shelf a short person can get in tiny spots that others can't.
I will continue to walk and wish that I was taller probably until I die. Hey maybe I will be reincarnated a 6.2 model..who is a speed walker..Ahhh I can dream...
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
Cruising, Spam and Pop Tarts-My Ship is Dry Docked
I have had a very busy two weeks and it's times like this with the weather turning cold that I fantasize about nice warm beaches and Hawaii. One of the big topics on the news this week has been the dead in the water Carnival Cruise ship that was on its way to Mexico. Not far off the coast a sudden engine fire basically created a catastrophe for 4,500 pleasure cruisers. There pleasure quickly became a multi-day nightmare when with no power, which means no cooking, no swimming or any other cruise type activity that you usually get to experience this was not going to be the cruise they had dreamed of.
When I lived in California I was asked multiple times whether I was interested in these cruises. I love to go travel but the thought of being on a ship, headed to Mexico never peaked my fancy. We had several friends who frequently went but I was always the "party pooper".
I can't believe some of the stories on the news these people had to endure. No bathroom facilities, no heat or air, hot dog salads, playing cards sounded more like a bad camping trip. When the said that spam and pop tarts were airlifted in by a naval carrier was is this the best they had? Although I have never tried a pop tart/spam sandwich (I guess a sweet/savory thing was going on here) but uncooked spam wouldn't do it for me. Many who had been on previous cruises said this was the first time that they had probably lost weight on a cruise because of the food.
It was a nice gesture to give a free cruise and give hotel vouchers but this event and others I have heard like it basically has cemented my thought that a cruise won't be on my to do list.
When I lived in California I was asked multiple times whether I was interested in these cruises. I love to go travel but the thought of being on a ship, headed to Mexico never peaked my fancy. We had several friends who frequently went but I was always the "party pooper".
I can't believe some of the stories on the news these people had to endure. No bathroom facilities, no heat or air, hot dog salads, playing cards sounded more like a bad camping trip. When the said that spam and pop tarts were airlifted in by a naval carrier was is this the best they had? Although I have never tried a pop tart/spam sandwich (I guess a sweet/savory thing was going on here) but uncooked spam wouldn't do it for me. Many who had been on previous cruises said this was the first time that they had probably lost weight on a cruise because of the food.
It was a nice gesture to give a free cruise and give hotel vouchers but this event and others I have heard like it basically has cemented my thought that a cruise won't be on my to do list.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Halloween Learning Lesson
On a previous post I remember writing about having very few halloween experiences because of usually getting sick. But a recent internet story about halloween and punishment caught my eye for two reasons.
One that it was a wonderful way to administer a punishment in hopes that the person would learn from the experience. Especially in times when a slap on the hand or verbal reprimend doesn't seem to work. This young man had went into a local halloween costume store and attempted to steal it. Unfortunately for him and fortunately for the owner he was caught before he exited the establishment. The owner decided a most unusual punishment would be for him to wear the stolen costume and carry a sign stating "I tried to steal this costume from the store and this is my punishment". Some might think this is cruel and unusual but hey if the young man learned a lesson and didn't get arrested so be it.
This also made me remember my one and only time in my attempted crime. I was I believe eight years old and had went on a shopping stop with my parents to a local Newberry's store. I wasn't often allowed to look around on my own but for some reason I managed to get away from my parents and explore in another department of the store. I came upon a leather fringed thin belt that for some reason caught my eye. To this day I still do not know why I thought I could steal it but steal it I did. I managed to make it come with my prize in my little purse and proceeded to hide it in a hope chest that belonged to my mom that was in my room. I opened it up and hide it in a safe place at the bottom of the chest. Several weeks later when I got home from school my mother greeted me at the door with the fringed item in hand and wondered how it got there. I wasn't able to lie my way out of it so I confessed that I had stole it from the store. She immediately got on the phone and called the store and asked to speak to the manager and handed the phone to me and made me tell the man that I had stolen the item from his store. The only thing I do remember most vividly was that that fringed belt probably to this day is still in the bottom of that chest. A little reminder to me that stuck with me and I never attempted to steal from a store again.
For today it seems pretty mild, but I couldn't imagine parading in front of the store with a sign admitting my guilt. Hopefully this young man will learn a lesson like I did that he will carry with him forever.
Happy Halloween....
One that it was a wonderful way to administer a punishment in hopes that the person would learn from the experience. Especially in times when a slap on the hand or verbal reprimend doesn't seem to work. This young man had went into a local halloween costume store and attempted to steal it. Unfortunately for him and fortunately for the owner he was caught before he exited the establishment. The owner decided a most unusual punishment would be for him to wear the stolen costume and carry a sign stating "I tried to steal this costume from the store and this is my punishment". Some might think this is cruel and unusual but hey if the young man learned a lesson and didn't get arrested so be it.
This also made me remember my one and only time in my attempted crime. I was I believe eight years old and had went on a shopping stop with my parents to a local Newberry's store. I wasn't often allowed to look around on my own but for some reason I managed to get away from my parents and explore in another department of the store. I came upon a leather fringed thin belt that for some reason caught my eye. To this day I still do not know why I thought I could steal it but steal it I did. I managed to make it come with my prize in my little purse and proceeded to hide it in a hope chest that belonged to my mom that was in my room. I opened it up and hide it in a safe place at the bottom of the chest. Several weeks later when I got home from school my mother greeted me at the door with the fringed item in hand and wondered how it got there. I wasn't able to lie my way out of it so I confessed that I had stole it from the store. She immediately got on the phone and called the store and asked to speak to the manager and handed the phone to me and made me tell the man that I had stolen the item from his store. The only thing I do remember most vividly was that that fringed belt probably to this day is still in the bottom of that chest. A little reminder to me that stuck with me and I never attempted to steal from a store again.
For today it seems pretty mild, but I couldn't imagine parading in front of the store with a sign admitting my guilt. Hopefully this young man will learn a lesson like I did that he will carry with him forever.
Happy Halloween....
Friday, October 22, 2010
Dividing Lines or Should we be Hung Out to Dry?
It was that time again to spend the morning in the transformation shop or as most people call it the beauty shop to transform my greys into color again. Its amazing how happy that can make someone, I guess I am admitting I am a little vain and trying to hang on to youth as long as I possibly can. I mentioned to the guy who does this transforming for me that I will probably end this process when I turn the magic age of sixty. I figure maybe by then I will be more willing to let age take its course. But for now I will continue going sometimes more often that I want too.
While sitting under the dryer to let the process take its course, I grabbed a magazine to read, instead of zoning out and taking a quick nap as I sometimes do. It's something I have always done. I can remember as a kid putting on the plastic helmet and turning on the buzzing dryer and tuning the world out. But today I thumbed through an older People magazine and the one story that really jumped out at me made me a little mad.
Several town across the country, as part of their HOA rules have made it not politically correct to hang laundry on the line in their yards. Are you kidding!!! What once was a part of most of us growing up is now wrong! Come on. Apparently these associations feel it brings the property value down and is not pleasing to the eye. I'm sorry this would make me made enough to thumb my nose yet again.
As a kid growing up in sunny California at least 3 times a week my mother would through loads of clothes, sheets, etc. in the wash and forgo putting it into the dryer because it was such a great day out we would hang it on the line.(That's a little untrue, the actually reason was because my father didn't want to waste money by using the dryer. Of course we had a completely fenched in backyard but everyone pretty much was a clothesline verses dryer type family.
In this article one of the interviewed stated "they didn't want to see other's underwear and unmentionables". Gee the trick to that is hang the sheets and towels on the outside and the clothes on the inside, no one would ever be the wiser. And besides who cares!! In this era of "being green" I would think people would be jumping at the chance to hang things out to dry.
I guess the people of the by gone years were too much ahead of the times. My opinion those HOA people need to re-think and put themselves on the dividing line to be hung out to dry.
While sitting under the dryer to let the process take its course, I grabbed a magazine to read, instead of zoning out and taking a quick nap as I sometimes do. It's something I have always done. I can remember as a kid putting on the plastic helmet and turning on the buzzing dryer and tuning the world out. But today I thumbed through an older People magazine and the one story that really jumped out at me made me a little mad.
Several town across the country, as part of their HOA rules have made it not politically correct to hang laundry on the line in their yards. Are you kidding!!! What once was a part of most of us growing up is now wrong! Come on. Apparently these associations feel it brings the property value down and is not pleasing to the eye. I'm sorry this would make me made enough to thumb my nose yet again.
As a kid growing up in sunny California at least 3 times a week my mother would through loads of clothes, sheets, etc. in the wash and forgo putting it into the dryer because it was such a great day out we would hang it on the line.(That's a little untrue, the actually reason was because my father didn't want to waste money by using the dryer. Of course we had a completely fenched in backyard but everyone pretty much was a clothesline verses dryer type family.
In this article one of the interviewed stated "they didn't want to see other's underwear and unmentionables". Gee the trick to that is hang the sheets and towels on the outside and the clothes on the inside, no one would ever be the wiser. And besides who cares!! In this era of "being green" I would think people would be jumping at the chance to hang things out to dry.
I guess the people of the by gone years were too much ahead of the times. My opinion those HOA people need to re-think and put themselves on the dividing line to be hung out to dry.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Annual Business Women's Week-Off and Running
Each day I have so much scheduled on my multitude of calendars I am really not sure if I am coming or going. This busy week started off yesterday with our Woman of the Year/Past Presidents Brunch. It's always nice to surprise someone with being recognized for the good they do and we managed it yet again. Our receipient was very surprised and speechless.
Today my partner in crime and I did an early morning radio spot advertising what our club has done and will be doing this week. We were both surprised in that we managed to cover alot of what is going on and really only made one tiny omission but we get a do-over at another radio station later in the week so that will get covered too. I was surprised in that my brain could cover so much so early in the morning. To me it was early but for her it wasn't.
Zumba Exercise, Friendship Luncheon, Membership Tea, food drive is a few of the things we will be doing. I tried to make it a point this year as president that we wouldn't as I like to call it "Eat our way through the week" so we tried to schedule a couple different activities.
It's always nice to hopefully get some new contacts to mix with our hard working current members. I hope each will be a success but hey what am I saying women are always successful in what they do. It may have taken us a little while but we are determined, never give up and wear our successes proudly. If in doubt just remember with November 4th and voting coming in just a few weeks remember it wasn't so long ago we were given the opportunity to vote.
So as our Business Women's Week begins locally and also nationwide get involved in a women's issue or come to Business Women's Week, we would love to have you.
Today my partner in crime and I did an early morning radio spot advertising what our club has done and will be doing this week. We were both surprised in that we managed to cover alot of what is going on and really only made one tiny omission but we get a do-over at another radio station later in the week so that will get covered too. I was surprised in that my brain could cover so much so early in the morning. To me it was early but for her it wasn't.
Zumba Exercise, Friendship Luncheon, Membership Tea, food drive is a few of the things we will be doing. I tried to make it a point this year as president that we wouldn't as I like to call it "Eat our way through the week" so we tried to schedule a couple different activities.
It's always nice to hopefully get some new contacts to mix with our hard working current members. I hope each will be a success but hey what am I saying women are always successful in what they do. It may have taken us a little while but we are determined, never give up and wear our successes proudly. If in doubt just remember with November 4th and voting coming in just a few weeks remember it wasn't so long ago we were given the opportunity to vote.
So as our Business Women's Week begins locally and also nationwide get involved in a women's issue or come to Business Women's Week, we would love to have you.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Repondez s'il vous plait (Please Reply) RSVP
I guess in the age of technology and time being spread so thin, this has become a pet peeve that seems to have gone way beyond it for me.
I can remember getting invited to parties when I was growing up and at the end of each invite the letters RSVP with usually a specific date to let the invitee know if you were or were not planning to attend. The funny thing about this is I always got so excited to be invited to parties but I never attended many parties due to usually getting to excited and getting sick so I could attend.
I find it funny now how most people seem to neglect these four letters at the end of invites today. I don't exactly know the reason why. Some of the reasons I have got in the past are mere excuses. "Oh, I forgot", "well you know I would be there anyway", or my favorite "I was wondering about that, what does RSVP mean"..I find not RSVPing very rude. When someone invites you to a function they need to make plans. Just because you have been invited you can't assume that you will come.
I find it interesting that etiquette has gone out the window with the lack of verbal communications these day. We e-mail, we text message, no verbal communications with your inter circle seems to be non-important these days.
I have come to the point that I wouldn't feel bad if I sent out invites and if I didn't getting a verbal response, I would enjoy people showing up for a function to be surprised if without telling anyone I decided to cancel the event because gee I didn't feel like put forth the effort to do it after all.
Does it sound like I am upset, well yes I am. No matter what we do, people don't respond to anything these days. They only thing they seem to respond too is if you get upset and rant and rave. Guess that's what I am doing, it probably doesn't do me any good but I've layed it out and threw my feelings on the world-wide web. I would be glad to say it in person, if you respond to my invite.
I can remember getting invited to parties when I was growing up and at the end of each invite the letters RSVP with usually a specific date to let the invitee know if you were or were not planning to attend. The funny thing about this is I always got so excited to be invited to parties but I never attended many parties due to usually getting to excited and getting sick so I could attend.
I find it funny now how most people seem to neglect these four letters at the end of invites today. I don't exactly know the reason why. Some of the reasons I have got in the past are mere excuses. "Oh, I forgot", "well you know I would be there anyway", or my favorite "I was wondering about that, what does RSVP mean"..I find not RSVPing very rude. When someone invites you to a function they need to make plans. Just because you have been invited you can't assume that you will come.
I find it interesting that etiquette has gone out the window with the lack of verbal communications these day. We e-mail, we text message, no verbal communications with your inter circle seems to be non-important these days.
I have come to the point that I wouldn't feel bad if I sent out invites and if I didn't getting a verbal response, I would enjoy people showing up for a function to be surprised if without telling anyone I decided to cancel the event because gee I didn't feel like put forth the effort to do it after all.
Does it sound like I am upset, well yes I am. No matter what we do, people don't respond to anything these days. They only thing they seem to respond too is if you get upset and rant and rave. Guess that's what I am doing, it probably doesn't do me any good but I've layed it out and threw my feelings on the world-wide web. I would be glad to say it in person, if you respond to my invite.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The Best Years of Our Lives
Last night while channel surfing later than usual, I came upon one of my favorite movies of the 40's. The Best Years of Our Lives was an Academy Award winning mega hit of its time. One of the first such movie to award I believe Best Supporting Actor statute to an unknown non-actor. Homer Parrish played by Harold Russell was a true veteran of World War II who had lost both arms in the war. In later years he actually had to auction his award off for financial reasons.
The story is timeless in that it reflects on the lives of three men coming back from the war to a much different small town. Frederic March, Dana Andrews and Harold Russell did a wonderful job in portraying what it was and still is like to return home after years in a war.
Several of the parts in the movie made me think it doesn't matter when it is be it any war things never change. Talk about how it would be harder on people's jobs because the soldier's were returning-some incomes had been higher paying than they would when they got back, the GI Bill for veterans returning home for housing loans, and people returning to jobs they once did and it just wasn't the same. How attitudes changed on why we fought in the war.
The title of the movie comes out at one point when Virgina Mayo who plays Dana Andrews war bride who married the uniform and not the man who came home so candidly puts it "Why I gave up the Best Years of My Life" while you were gone. Somehow I am sure than as in now, movie goers didn't agree with her statement but it goes to show things really don't change.
Harold Russell battled with whether he should marry his high school sweetheart, Wilma who felt arms didn't make a man, it's what is inside and working together to figure out how to continue was all that mattered, that still holds true for a lot of people even today who see loved ones return minus limbs and a load of psychological issues.
That old movie really isn't that old in my eyes. It still holds a lot of truth today. I am sure the next time its on a classic channel I'll make sure I watch it again..
The story is timeless in that it reflects on the lives of three men coming back from the war to a much different small town. Frederic March, Dana Andrews and Harold Russell did a wonderful job in portraying what it was and still is like to return home after years in a war.
Several of the parts in the movie made me think it doesn't matter when it is be it any war things never change. Talk about how it would be harder on people's jobs because the soldier's were returning-some incomes had been higher paying than they would when they got back, the GI Bill for veterans returning home for housing loans, and people returning to jobs they once did and it just wasn't the same. How attitudes changed on why we fought in the war.
The title of the movie comes out at one point when Virgina Mayo who plays Dana Andrews war bride who married the uniform and not the man who came home so candidly puts it "Why I gave up the Best Years of My Life" while you were gone. Somehow I am sure than as in now, movie goers didn't agree with her statement but it goes to show things really don't change.
Harold Russell battled with whether he should marry his high school sweetheart, Wilma who felt arms didn't make a man, it's what is inside and working together to figure out how to continue was all that mattered, that still holds true for a lot of people even today who see loved ones return minus limbs and a load of psychological issues.
That old movie really isn't that old in my eyes. It still holds a lot of truth today. I am sure the next time its on a classic channel I'll make sure I watch it again..
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