the tin man

current Facebook status: Liz is sad and sometimes so angry she turns into an Irrational Hulk, which doesn't make anything better and is really terrible for her wardrobe.

 

I pride myself on being coldly rational --- why wear cute shoes if they hurt? shouldn't an ideal mate be employed (or at least be capable of employment) as well as hot?

 

And then something terrible happened: my friend died. At first it was okay --- the news was expected, unfortunately. But hours later I'm suddenly devastated ... and dwelling on minor issues that, even if they could be resolved, won't bring him back --- or give me more time to have been a better friend while he was around.

 

Sometimes the best friends hear you asking them to validate your irrational conclusions and worst fears and instead tell you that you're wrong. Thanks. 

 

 

 

 

 

by popular request

For some reason, Wikipedia's list of internet phenomena* is disappointing ... if I used this as a gauge, it's unsettling how much I've missed, despite years spending lots of time in front of computer monitors. Then again, is Wikipedia really equivalent to peer review? Perhaps more so than the more mainstream forms of juried work, because nothing is a meritocracy.

I think I must have gotten stuck on the animations ... but what's missing from this list? I kiss you is here ... so is Jib Jab and the Hampster Dance, misspellings and all.

They also link to the horrifying lonelygirl15 and Dancing Baby.

* I happened upon this list tonight after introducing someone to lolcats. Seriously ... even the Wall Street Journal has heard about this.

Adopt-a-sitcom

Why was 80s pop culture so obsessed with adoption?

I suppose Annie was based on a story that had existed for decades, but what about Diff'rent Strokes, Webster, Jem? She's truly truly truly outrageous ... and raises money for Jerrika's Home for Wayward Rock Stars. Let's not forget Punky Brewster and Rags to Riches.

TV shows like ALF, Mr. Belvedere, Small Wonder, Silver Spoons, Gimmie A Break!, Charles in Charge and Perfect Strangers also riffed on the stranger-becomes-part-of-the-family theme.

It's as if the only place TV writers in the 80s could create and examine socioeconomic tension was in a family setting.

Botanicalls

Here's one way to keep your plants alive.

Which came first?

The turducken or the stuffed camel?

calories: hidden in plain sight

For most of my life I discounted the calories I consumed in liquid form --- soda, juice, etc. Now I'm more conscious, drinking only diet soda (which I do NOT enjoy) if I really want something fizzy and/or caffeinated, to try to discourage myself from going that route.

I also paid a lot of attention to the filling of my sandwiches rather than the bread that encased them ... without realizing that a hero roll (or sub, as much as the rest of the country calls them) is about 80 calories per ounce. A six-inch sub is about 5 ounces.

Here's another tip to count your consumption: 10 calories per ounce of 'thin' drinks, like sweetened iced tea, soda, milk, juice and fruit punch. 20 calories for 'thick' drinks such as smoothies and milk shakes and blended coffee delights.

I want to know: does this rule apply to alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine? why are those beverages sold and distributed without nutritional information?

the song that's stuck in my head

And for once, it's not awful. Check it out.

the year in review

Here are some things that happened this year. I know New Year's was a long time ago, but since I wrote last year's in February, posting during the last week of January is an improvement.

* Went back to Hawaii and Boston, and stopped in on Miami, St. Louis and San Antonio;

* Got promoted, at least on paycheck, into a job I didn't choose, and got transferred through a reorganization into one that fits my personality a lot better;

* Finished knitting a scarf and taught myself to crochet another one;

* Met new people and became reacquainted with others;

* Endangered the lives of many fellow drivers to gather material for PL8WTCH, which blessed Maliavale ushered into existence;

* Got an iPhone after someone I love broke my old, wood-burning cell phone for my birthday. It matches my other  iGear, including an iBook also acquired this year. The new technology enables my Facecrack addiction.

I'm sure many more things happened, so look for addendums.

This year will be exciting ... I will enter a new decade, will run farther than I have before, will save lots of money for the flood, will see the Southern Hemisphere and hope to converse with everyone more.

It will be so great.

movie previews

Couldn't believe this David Pogue post I read a few weeks ago, about movie trailers not actually showing scenes or storylines depicted in the film being advertised. Shocking! Misleading! Annoying!

As annoying as movie previews that basically give away the entire story line? I'm not sure the former lives up to the latter ... the one that sticks out in my mind, the preview for The Wedding Planner, saved me the trouble of wondering whether the actual film could be as bad as the premise. Answer: Probably.

spotted on consumerist.com ...

Has anyone used this site or these coupons? You buy a restaurant gift certificate for $10 that is worth $25. Guess you need a printer ...

Restaurant.com: 50% off restaurant gift certificates with coupon code SAVINGS

This is why I'm hot

I enjoyed this post:

http://www.facebook.com/marketplace/listing.php?classified_id=2436601119