It's kind of tradition every year in the Fall to do lots of things with pumpkins. Pumpkins run a plenty around us, and you can usually find a good-sized one for a decent price for carving purposes. The last several years, Mom and I have spent time with David and his girls/family while I carve a pumpkin. Mom never participates in the carving, but I think she really enjoys listening to us talk, laugh, joke, and encourage each other as we gut those Jack O'Lanterns and make them into something cool. This year is no exception. David has already invited us for our annual carving fest, and I hope to pick up my pumpkin in the next couple of weeks so I get my pick of the litter and don't have to take whatever is left.
Along with pumpkin carving, there are tons of pumpkin recipes that are so delicious. I could eat anything pumpkin year round. One of my favorite recipes of all time is one we used to make around Christmas every year. It's a pumpkin log with a cake-like pumpkin outside, cream cheese frosting inside, and sprinkled with powdered sugar. We use to freeze it and eat it over weeks during the holidays. Such fond memories of the pumpkin log. It's been years since we've done it because it's very messy and takes a lot of time and effort (and the entire kitchen to get it done). Maybe this year I can change that and keep a frozen stash. Mmmm mmmm mmmm.
Something else that has become a tradition more recently is making pumpkin stew. This is a hearty meal and very filling. It makes great leftovers and warms up well in the microwave or reheated in the oven. Even Dad, who doesn't like squash of any kind, liked this recipe and gobbled it up. It's great served with a side of garlic bread or dished up on its own. And usually there's not much room, if any, for dessert. I thought it would be fun to include the recipe here for future reference. Just keep in mind that the recipe doesn't contain any measurements. It takes adjusting depending on how many pumpkins of stew you plan to make. And you don't have to add everything listed here. You can pick and choose and cater to your own tastes (or your family's tastes). I guarantee that kids will love it, especially if you have them help you make it. They think it's pretty cool when you take a pumpkin out of the oven and have dinner baked inside of it. Yuuuuuuuuuumy!
Pumpkin Stew (the basics)
Small pumpkins (usually one per person, depending on size; some people call them sugar pumpkins, but they're not the really tiny ones used for decoration)
Rice or potatoes
Tomatoes (canned or fresh; used to help create moisture, so do not drain the juice)
Green beans
Corn
Carrots
Onion
Peppers (of any color, although yellow and orange give it sweet flavor, while red and green make it a little spicier)
If you're David, add jalapenos!
Hamburger (you could probably use chicken, turkey, or pork, but I like it with red meat)
Any other veggies you want (cabbage, zucchini, etc.)
Meat or veggie stock
Salt and pepper to taste
Cheese (my personal preference is a sharp cheddar)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gut the pumpkins (use the seeds for a treat later!) by cutting off the tops and leaving as much flesh as possible inside. Lather the outside of the pumpkins (to avoid burning and over-drying) with olive oil or vegetable oil. Place on a cookie sheet (or other heavy pan where they can sit flat).
Cook the hamburger (or other meat) and rice or potatoes (separately). Drain the hamburger for less fat intake if you want. It helps to keep a little bit of fat with the meat so the "stew" stays semi-wet. If using potatoes, cut them up into bite-sized pieces. Cut all the other veggies into bite-sized pieces. If you want the harder veggies (like carrots and peppers) to be fully cooked (soft to the bite) saute them in a bit of butter and/or olive oil before adding them to the stew combination.
Combine the meat, starch, and all the veggies together using the juice from the tomatoes and the meat or veggie stock until you get a thick, consistent stew-like mixture. Spoon the mixture into the pumpkins. Bake at 400 degrees for about an hour (sometimes less, sometimes more depending on the size of the pumpkins). You'll see the outside of the pumpkins start to "shrivel", and that's how you can tell it's done cooking.
Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes. It's best to eat a whole pumpkin in a bowl, but they can be cut into sections and eaten on a plate as well. Top with cheese, and eat the pumpkin out of the shell along with the rest of the stew.
There you have it! Pumpkin stew to feed the masses. You won't regret making it. In fact, it might become your new Fall family tradition. I'm not sure if we'll make it this year, but I do know that it's one of my favorites and well worth all the work.
And if you have a David around your house, persuade him into making homemade caramel ice cream to go along with it (or vanilla with caramel topping). It will be the perfect and complementary dessert for your pumpkin stew. Plus, ice cream kind of fills in all the little holes in your stomach that didn't get enough food, so there's ALWAYS room for ice cream.
I'm looking forward to Fall (and other holiday) traditions this year. Fall is my favorite season. I love everything about it. There's nothing better than the sounds of leaves falling to the ground and crunching under foot, the wind blowing, the air getting crisper and cooler, the smells of cinnamon and nutmeg and spice and pumpkin wafting in the air, the vibrant colors of leaves, the sweaters and scarves that come out of hiding, and the taste of romance in the air (even when there's nobody to be romantic with). Fall is just an amazing season. Even 'The Bear' likes Fall. He perches himself on the porch and surveys his kingdom for longer amounts of time in the Fall. I think he knows what follows ... snow and freezing cold!
In the meantime, I'm going to savor every delicious, delightful moment of my favorite season. Please stay forever, Fall!
Showing posts with label FUN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FUN. Show all posts
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Thursday, August 13, 2015
I'd Love to Renovate a House
There. I said it. I think it would be so much fun to buy an older home with sturdy bones that was looking unloved and abandoned and whip it into shape. Renovations can be a pain, I know that. It would be still fun, however, to take something from a run-down status to a thriving space. The only problem? I have this thing called a job. And student loan debt. And I haven't won the lottery yet. But when I do ...
... that whole renovation thing is going to happen.
DIY is awesome.
Turning an old door into a coffee table? Yes, please.
Turning an old dresser into a bench with storage? You betcha!
Making a wood block lamp? Bring it on.
Using old windows as photo frames? Easy!
Turning an old shutter into a bill organize or mail holder? Totally cool.
Using mason jars as hanging lights? Awesome.
And we don't even need to mention the fire pit I've already discussed.
There's something fulfilling about being creative and making something new out of something old. Re-purposing is a better way to say it, I guess.
But you don't re-purpose a house. You RENOVATE. And I would love to do that.
Busting out walls? Fun!
Laying new floors? Exciting!
Shopping for colors and appliances and furnishings? Delightful!
Gutting bathrooms? Cool!
Re-doing a kitchen? Exhilarating!
Demolishing gross cabinets? Awesome!
We're not renovating our house currently, nor do we have plans to buy a home and renovate it any time soon, but one of these days I've GOT to do a renovation. Even if it's only to say I did it, I want to do a renovation.
If you're doing a renovation invite me over, okay? Maybe if I kick in your walls I won't feel the need to do it in a home I own. Deal?
... that whole renovation thing is going to happen.
DIY is awesome.
Turning an old door into a coffee table? Yes, please.
Turning an old dresser into a bench with storage? You betcha!
Making a wood block lamp? Bring it on.
Using old windows as photo frames? Easy!
Turning an old shutter into a bill organize or mail holder? Totally cool.
Using mason jars as hanging lights? Awesome.
And we don't even need to mention the fire pit I've already discussed.
There's something fulfilling about being creative and making something new out of something old. Re-purposing is a better way to say it, I guess.
But you don't re-purpose a house. You RENOVATE. And I would love to do that.
Busting out walls? Fun!
Laying new floors? Exciting!
Shopping for colors and appliances and furnishings? Delightful!
Gutting bathrooms? Cool!
Re-doing a kitchen? Exhilarating!
Demolishing gross cabinets? Awesome!
We're not renovating our house currently, nor do we have plans to buy a home and renovate it any time soon, but one of these days I've GOT to do a renovation. Even if it's only to say I did it, I want to do a renovation.
If you're doing a renovation invite me over, okay? Maybe if I kick in your walls I won't feel the need to do it in a home I own. Deal?
Friday, July 10, 2015
Grammar Lessons
My mom was a middle and high school English teacher for years. Something like 23 years to be more exact. On family road trips we would play word games as we drove. It was a time before iPads and electronic devices could keep you bombarded at every turn (thank goodness!). We were corrected at home on proper grammar usage. We were tested on our spelling words. We understood homonyms, homophones, synonyms, and antonyms. We were taught the difference between metaphors and similes. We learned when to capitalize high school and when not to, and we learned why it mattered. It was important to my mom that we understood basic principles of the English language so that we could not only speak correctly, but write correctly as well. In other words, my parents wanted us to be an educated family - one that loved to learn and continued to learn throughout life.
For many years, I thought I, too, would like to be an English teacher. That was before I realized "babysitting" other people's kids all day was not something I'd enjoy doing, whether I got paid for it or not. That realization, however, did not deter me from continuing to use proper English and avoid common grammatical errors. People make major mistakes in their writing, especially on social media (it's awful!), so I thought I'd go over some basic grammar lessons in this post as a reminder (mostly to myself) that I still understand and know the basic principles of the English language. Mostly, this post is to show Mom how much I appreciate her instruction and to let her know I "got it" even when she thought I probably wasn't listen or didn't get anything out of it.
Your and you're - people misuse these SO often, and it drives me crazy.
Your is possessive. "I like your hair style." "Would you like your meal warmed?" "Your car is so clean!" Use your when trying to show possession.
You're is a contraction of you and are. "Mom said you're going to the mall." "If you're going to the store, may I come with you?" "You're so amazing!" You're can only be substituted in place of you are.
Their, there, and they're - I can't even explain the number of people that misuse these on a regular basis.
Their is possessive (like your). "May I go to their house?" "This is their car." "We've been to their cabin before." Use their when trying to showing possession.
There is a place. "Have you been there before?" "Can we go there for lunch?" "I was there when I was five." Any time a destination is involved use there.
They're is another contraction of they are. "They're going to the movies." "They're your friends, right?" "They're unbelievable!" They're can only be substituted in place of they are.
Anxious v. Eager - this is misused so often that people have started using the words interchangeably, and they don't mean the same thing!
Anxious usually has a negative connotation. "I'm anxious about my upcoming math test." "This is the first time I've cooked this meal, and it made me a little bit anxious." You could be anxious to go on a trip, but only if you are feeling some trepidation about the travel or the place you would stay, etc.
Eager has less of a negative connotation. "I'm eager about my upcoming trip." "I'm eager to get the results of my driving test." Eager fits more along the lines of excited and should be used as a way to express that you're looking forward to something.
You and I v. You and Me (or Me and You) - these are incredibly misused, and it's becoming more commonplace all the time to use them incorrectly. Honestly, people sound stupid when they misuse them. I find myself falling into the casual trap and misusing them sometimes, and I want to punch myself in the face for it. I'm to the point now that I correct myself when I misuse them in the hopes that others will catch on to the incorrect usage.
The easiest way for me to explain this concept is to give an example of why a certain usage is incorrect. "Will you join Bob and me for dinner?" You wouldn't ask, "Will you join I for dinner?" No! You wouldn't! And if you would, stop it! That's the correct usage of you and me. Here's another. "You and I should go to the movie this week." You would not say, "Me should go to the movie this week." Instead, you would say, "I should go to the movie this week", and because of that you would say, "You and I" and not "You and me." Make sense? That's the easiest way (for me) to tell whether or not I'm using the phrase correctly. Does it make sense to use the phrase you and I, or should I use you and me? Use them both in the question or sentence and that will help determine which you should use.
Anyway - please never say anywayS! It's just ... wrong. Saying something like, "Anyways, I'm going to ...." is annoying and makes you sound stupid. Instead, use the word anyway (singular). It's proper and won't make you sound like a hick from the sticks.
Ignorant v. Rude - these are not the same, no matter how much you think they are or how many times you have used them interchangeably.
Ignorant means that a person doesn't know something. If you are ignorant about Mexico, you know little (or nothing) about it's cultural, ethnicity, people, customs, etc. If someone says, "Bill is so ignorant because he called me a jerk," that would be incorrect usage of the word. Bill calling you a jerk makes him rude. If Bill has never been to Mexico and tries to talk about the subject intellectually he is ignorant. His "knowledge" about the matter would likely be based on assumptions or things that others have told him, not based on personal knowledge from being in the country or reading factual material.
Rude is a different animal. If you belch at the dinner table in America, that's rude. If you're from Japan (I think it's Japan anyway; I'll have to verify the country and culture) where belching at the table is considered a compliment to the cook, and you were visiting America for the first time with no foreknowledge about the country, and you belched at the dinner table, you could potentially be considered both rude and ignorant. You would be rude because belching at the dinner table is considered bad manners in America, and you would be ignorant because you didn't know/learn enough about the country to understand table manners. See the difference? There IS a difference, I promise.
Nauseous v. Nauseated - oh my, this one is a problem for many people. Unfortunately, many people also don't realize they are demeaning themselves when they use one incorrectly.
Nauseous is something you feel because you are affected with nausea. For example, to some people the smell of popcorn cooking is nauseating. It can cause nausea, therefore, popcorn cooking is a nauseous smell for some. If you say you are nauseous, you admit that you affect yourself with nausea. (You make yourself sick, in other words. Not likely true ....)
Nauseated is when you feel sick because you have the flu or ate something funny. The proper thing to say when you feel sick is, "I feel nauseated." Avoid saying, "I feel nauseous" as it will indicate you don't feel well because you make yourself sick.
That is your grammar lesson for today, kids! I hope you will find it helpful and use it to sound (and write!) smarter. And if you find yourself in a lurch, just "wow" people by telling them the longest single-word palindrome in the English language: redivider. Bam!
For many years, I thought I, too, would like to be an English teacher. That was before I realized "babysitting" other people's kids all day was not something I'd enjoy doing, whether I got paid for it or not. That realization, however, did not deter me from continuing to use proper English and avoid common grammatical errors. People make major mistakes in their writing, especially on social media (it's awful!), so I thought I'd go over some basic grammar lessons in this post as a reminder (mostly to myself) that I still understand and know the basic principles of the English language. Mostly, this post is to show Mom how much I appreciate her instruction and to let her know I "got it" even when she thought I probably wasn't listen or didn't get anything out of it.
Your and you're - people misuse these SO often, and it drives me crazy.
Your is possessive. "I like your hair style." "Would you like your meal warmed?" "Your car is so clean!" Use your when trying to show possession.
You're is a contraction of you and are. "Mom said you're going to the mall." "If you're going to the store, may I come with you?" "You're so amazing!" You're can only be substituted in place of you are.
Their, there, and they're - I can't even explain the number of people that misuse these on a regular basis.
Their is possessive (like your). "May I go to their house?" "This is their car." "We've been to their cabin before." Use their when trying to showing possession.
There is a place. "Have you been there before?" "Can we go there for lunch?" "I was there when I was five." Any time a destination is involved use there.
They're is another contraction of they are. "They're going to the movies." "They're your friends, right?" "They're unbelievable!" They're can only be substituted in place of they are.
Anxious v. Eager - this is misused so often that people have started using the words interchangeably, and they don't mean the same thing!
Anxious usually has a negative connotation. "I'm anxious about my upcoming math test." "This is the first time I've cooked this meal, and it made me a little bit anxious." You could be anxious to go on a trip, but only if you are feeling some trepidation about the travel or the place you would stay, etc.
Eager has less of a negative connotation. "I'm eager about my upcoming trip." "I'm eager to get the results of my driving test." Eager fits more along the lines of excited and should be used as a way to express that you're looking forward to something.
You and I v. You and Me (or Me and You) - these are incredibly misused, and it's becoming more commonplace all the time to use them incorrectly. Honestly, people sound stupid when they misuse them. I find myself falling into the casual trap and misusing them sometimes, and I want to punch myself in the face for it. I'm to the point now that I correct myself when I misuse them in the hopes that others will catch on to the incorrect usage.
The easiest way for me to explain this concept is to give an example of why a certain usage is incorrect. "Will you join Bob and me for dinner?" You wouldn't ask, "Will you join I for dinner?" No! You wouldn't! And if you would, stop it! That's the correct usage of you and me. Here's another. "You and I should go to the movie this week." You would not say, "Me should go to the movie this week." Instead, you would say, "I should go to the movie this week", and because of that you would say, "You and I" and not "You and me." Make sense? That's the easiest way (for me) to tell whether or not I'm using the phrase correctly. Does it make sense to use the phrase you and I, or should I use you and me? Use them both in the question or sentence and that will help determine which you should use.
Anyway - please never say anywayS! It's just ... wrong. Saying something like, "Anyways, I'm going to ...." is annoying and makes you sound stupid. Instead, use the word anyway (singular). It's proper and won't make you sound like a hick from the sticks.
Ignorant v. Rude - these are not the same, no matter how much you think they are or how many times you have used them interchangeably.
Ignorant means that a person doesn't know something. If you are ignorant about Mexico, you know little (or nothing) about it's cultural, ethnicity, people, customs, etc. If someone says, "Bill is so ignorant because he called me a jerk," that would be incorrect usage of the word. Bill calling you a jerk makes him rude. If Bill has never been to Mexico and tries to talk about the subject intellectually he is ignorant. His "knowledge" about the matter would likely be based on assumptions or things that others have told him, not based on personal knowledge from being in the country or reading factual material.
Rude is a different animal. If you belch at the dinner table in America, that's rude. If you're from Japan (I think it's Japan anyway; I'll have to verify the country and culture) where belching at the table is considered a compliment to the cook, and you were visiting America for the first time with no foreknowledge about the country, and you belched at the dinner table, you could potentially be considered both rude and ignorant. You would be rude because belching at the dinner table is considered bad manners in America, and you would be ignorant because you didn't know/learn enough about the country to understand table manners. See the difference? There IS a difference, I promise.
Nauseous v. Nauseated - oh my, this one is a problem for many people. Unfortunately, many people also don't realize they are demeaning themselves when they use one incorrectly.
Nauseous is something you feel because you are affected with nausea. For example, to some people the smell of popcorn cooking is nauseating. It can cause nausea, therefore, popcorn cooking is a nauseous smell for some. If you say you are nauseous, you admit that you affect yourself with nausea. (You make yourself sick, in other words. Not likely true ....)
Nauseated is when you feel sick because you have the flu or ate something funny. The proper thing to say when you feel sick is, "I feel nauseated." Avoid saying, "I feel nauseous" as it will indicate you don't feel well because you make yourself sick.
That is your grammar lesson for today, kids! I hope you will find it helpful and use it to sound (and write!) smarter. And if you find yourself in a lurch, just "wow" people by telling them the longest single-word palindrome in the English language: redivider. Bam!
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Can't Help Myself
Does anyone else have certain candies that they can't stop eating once they've started? I wish I could say I did not have that problem, but I do. And these are a couple of my problems.
First, there are these:
My most favorite location to eat these is at the movie theater. After I've eaten a decent share of popcorn (with all the salt and butter, of course), I grab for these. Dang if they don't hit the exact spot for cravings at that point. In reality, I can eat these any time, any day, and in huge amounts. Maybe there's an addictive property in them or something. I don't know. I will say that when I introduced Mom to them, she was a little hesitant at first to try them. She thought the sour part would be too much. And then? She tried them - and she was hooked! She's as bad as, if not worse, than I am when it comes to these things. We can't help ourselves! They're impossible to stop eating.
In second place are these:
I don't know what it is about Hot Tamales, but no matter how on fire my mouth is or how many I've eaten, I can't stop until they're gone. What makes these doubly bad is that the pharmacy across the street from where I work has little baggies of them for $.75 a pop. It's a cheap treat, and I tend to fill up on multiple bags whenever I'm there. The problem is that sometimes I can't stop at one small bag. For someone trying to cut back on sweets and keep their calories in check, this is not a good thing.
For some people, their "addiction" lies in chocolate. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy a good piece of chocolate now and then. But when I'm reaching for a sweet, no matter where I am, I tend to lean toward the chewier stuff. It lasts longer than chocolate, which melts right away and is gone before you can really savor and enjoy it. Chewy candies tend to stick around for a bit longer, maybe making me more satisfied. Or craving more?
One other "candy" that takes the cake are Jordan almonds. Mom and I rationalize that they're not really a candy since the center is actually an almond. Protein! That means it's healthy! Haha, not really, but still a good rationale for ODing on Jordan almonds. I think on more than one occasion, Mom has actually eaten Jordan almonds as a meal. It wouldn't be difficult to do! If only they weren't so darn expensive. Maybe that's also why I stick with the others more often. They're more affordable to eat in large quantities.
First, there are these:
My most favorite location to eat these is at the movie theater. After I've eaten a decent share of popcorn (with all the salt and butter, of course), I grab for these. Dang if they don't hit the exact spot for cravings at that point. In reality, I can eat these any time, any day, and in huge amounts. Maybe there's an addictive property in them or something. I don't know. I will say that when I introduced Mom to them, she was a little hesitant at first to try them. She thought the sour part would be too much. And then? She tried them - and she was hooked! She's as bad as, if not worse, than I am when it comes to these things. We can't help ourselves! They're impossible to stop eating.
In second place are these:
I don't know what it is about Hot Tamales, but no matter how on fire my mouth is or how many I've eaten, I can't stop until they're gone. What makes these doubly bad is that the pharmacy across the street from where I work has little baggies of them for $.75 a pop. It's a cheap treat, and I tend to fill up on multiple bags whenever I'm there. The problem is that sometimes I can't stop at one small bag. For someone trying to cut back on sweets and keep their calories in check, this is not a good thing.
For some people, their "addiction" lies in chocolate. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy a good piece of chocolate now and then. But when I'm reaching for a sweet, no matter where I am, I tend to lean toward the chewier stuff. It lasts longer than chocolate, which melts right away and is gone before you can really savor and enjoy it. Chewy candies tend to stick around for a bit longer, maybe making me more satisfied. Or craving more?
One other "candy" that takes the cake are Jordan almonds. Mom and I rationalize that they're not really a candy since the center is actually an almond. Protein! That means it's healthy! Haha, not really, but still a good rationale for ODing on Jordan almonds. I think on more than one occasion, Mom has actually eaten Jordan almonds as a meal. It wouldn't be difficult to do! If only they weren't so darn expensive. Maybe that's also why I stick with the others more often. They're more affordable to eat in large quantities.
Monday, June 8, 2015
Lots of Thoughts
I've had lots of thoughts over the last week and a half that I want to share, but they've all been kind of close to the heart, so I've avoided writing about them. It's difficult to write about personal things, especially because not everyone agrees with you, and weird people tend to come out of the woodwork when you write something personal or opinionated.
Since everything is still kind of tender, I'm not going to write about it now. Instead, I'll put it in my "to do" stack and hopefully get to it at some point after the dust has settled and feelings aren't quite as fresh. It's easier to write about things that make me mad (e.g. the crazy lady who talked down to her husband) or frustrated or angry than it is to write about things for which I feel very deeply.
Just know that I've had lots of thoughts lately. Maybe one day I'll share. Or not. When/if I do, I'm sure you'll be able to figure out by the topic and content which things were close to the heart.
In the meantime, here's a funny video clip from an LDS comedian (Ryan Hamilton) on Conan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8OTlsfCDt8
The guy cracks me up. You can read his bio here:
http://www.ryanhamiltonlive.com/bio/
It's SO nice to hear some good humor without foul language, innuendo, or anything else that you'd have to plug your ears over. Vulgar is not funny. This guy? He's funny. And relate-able! Bonus there. He'll be at WiseGuys Comedy in West Valley City November 19-21. If you want a family fun (and funny!) activity this would be a good one!
And now, back to regularly scheduled programming. (Whatever THAT is.)
Since everything is still kind of tender, I'm not going to write about it now. Instead, I'll put it in my "to do" stack and hopefully get to it at some point after the dust has settled and feelings aren't quite as fresh. It's easier to write about things that make me mad (e.g. the crazy lady who talked down to her husband) or frustrated or angry than it is to write about things for which I feel very deeply.
Just know that I've had lots of thoughts lately. Maybe one day I'll share. Or not. When/if I do, I'm sure you'll be able to figure out by the topic and content which things were close to the heart.
In the meantime, here's a funny video clip from an LDS comedian (Ryan Hamilton) on Conan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8OTlsfCDt8
The guy cracks me up. You can read his bio here:
http://www.ryanhamiltonlive.com/bio/
It's SO nice to hear some good humor without foul language, innuendo, or anything else that you'd have to plug your ears over. Vulgar is not funny. This guy? He's funny. And relate-able! Bonus there. He'll be at WiseGuys Comedy in West Valley City November 19-21. If you want a family fun (and funny!) activity this would be a good one!
And now, back to regularly scheduled programming. (Whatever THAT is.)
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
For the Love of Netflix and Amazon Prime
As part of my "winding down" process every night, I turn on the Roku and watch a little TV. I know, I know - "they" say it's bad to have the TV on right before you go to sleep or to use electronic devices, etc. Supposedly, you're better off lying in a dark room of complete silence in order to go to sleep. It just doesn't work for me. After a long day at work, the last thing that will turn my brain off is a quiet room and darkness. That kind of situation will ultimately make my brain start a whirlwind of what-ifs and whys and hows. And then, no matter how tired I am or how sleepy my eyes are, I won't be able to sleep until I've resolved all the world's problems, including finding a solution for world peace and world hunger. That is not an over-dramatization either. Believe me when I tell you how difficult it is to shut my brain off and actually sleep.
Instead of obeying what "they" say, I turn on the TV instead, watch something silly or light, let my eyes get sleepy, and then just as I'm starting to nod off, I turn the TV off and settle in for the night. It generally works great, and I find that I sleep better because my brain is not solving major problems, mulling over the day's news of catastrophes that I can't fix, and creating spreadsheets or sets of data to show how we can fix poverty and solve homelessness. Heavenly Father has a big job. I don't know how He does it.
Lately, there are a few fun things I've found to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Some might say it's a waste to pay for both, but sometimes there are shows only one of them will carry. Besides, I buy enough from Amazon every year that the membership pays for itself in free shipping, so it's like I don't even pay to watch TV there. I thought it would be fun to write down what I've been watching (for my own future reference). These are probably shows I'd watch again in the daylight. Some would even be worthy of buying the series if I could afford it. But who knows when DVDs and Blu-ray will suddenly be extinct? It's a risk I haven't been able to take yet, although I do own some series on DVD because they are priceless (such as As Time Goes By - how I love a British series!).
Here's what I've been watching lately (in no particular order):
Eureka (which should have an exclamation point, I think)
This show is quirky and silly and funny and fun, and I really like watching it. It was only on Amazon Prime for a short time, so I'll have to buy it if I want to re-watch any of it (actually, I think the 4th and 5th seasons are still free, but if you don't see the first three seasons it will mean nothing). The characters are kind of ridiculous, but it's fun to be in their world where all the smart people are lumped into one city and chaos ensues. Plus, it's hilarious to me that Colin Ferguson (The Marshal, aka The Sheriff) is the guy that plays in the Maytag commercials. I didn't connect those dots until recently, and it made me chuckle to see him as the Maytag guy.
Alphas
I love this show! And it's been canceled (I think). It's kind of a neat concept though. Basically, the characters all have some sort of super power. They're under the guidance of one man who kind of leads them and helps them use their super powers for good. The acting is really good, and I enjoyed the character development. I love the guy that plays an autistic man. It gives some idea of what goes on in the brains of those smart people who just don't relate as well socially.
Longmire
A&E totally screwed up when they canceled this series, and I hope some other network will pick it up in the near future and continue on. Dad would have loved this show. I still need to watch the last season (which just became available on Netflix, I think). The acting is incredible. The character of Sheriff Longmire is so bruised and beaten; it's a miracle he can get out of bed every day. I also like how they interact with the Indian nations of Wyoming and address some of today's issues and concerns with that culture. The characters really show what it might be like for American Indians today as they're still dealing with problems stemming from long ago.
Warehouse 13
A classic! I have loved this show from the very beginning, and although it's not really a bedtime kind of TV show, I can watch the episodes of this show over and over. Marathons on TV? Yes, please! I will admit that I liked it better when Elliott was there because he and Olivia were the best combination of partners in every way. It's kind of neat now, though, that Olivia is the new captain and gets to guide her teammates on some serious cases. Not since S. Epatha Merkerson was a captain in the original Law & Order have I enjoyed a woman in a roll as intense as this one. Criminal Minds takes a close second with their female cast, and NCIS comes in close as well, but SVU takes the cake for strong female leads.
On the note of Criminal Minds and NCIS, Criminal Minds only had a few seasons on Netflix (that I could find), and many of those were from their Suspect Behavior series, which I have yet to get into. I really wish one of them would pick up NCIS (another show I could watch over and over again), but I hear CBS is a little grumpy about giving up their best and highest rated show. I get it. But don't you think they'd have even more following if those who don't have TV could watch the show via streaming? My bet is they'd see another boost in ratings, but whatever CBS.
And that's what I've been watching lately! I noticed that Cheers, Frasier, The Wonder Years, and Friends are all on Netflix and/or Amazon Prime as well, so I won't go without something to put me to sleep for a long time, and I'm good with that!
Instead of obeying what "they" say, I turn on the TV instead, watch something silly or light, let my eyes get sleepy, and then just as I'm starting to nod off, I turn the TV off and settle in for the night. It generally works great, and I find that I sleep better because my brain is not solving major problems, mulling over the day's news of catastrophes that I can't fix, and creating spreadsheets or sets of data to show how we can fix poverty and solve homelessness. Heavenly Father has a big job. I don't know how He does it.
Lately, there are a few fun things I've found to watch on Netflix and Amazon Prime. Some might say it's a waste to pay for both, but sometimes there are shows only one of them will carry. Besides, I buy enough from Amazon every year that the membership pays for itself in free shipping, so it's like I don't even pay to watch TV there. I thought it would be fun to write down what I've been watching (for my own future reference). These are probably shows I'd watch again in the daylight. Some would even be worthy of buying the series if I could afford it. But who knows when DVDs and Blu-ray will suddenly be extinct? It's a risk I haven't been able to take yet, although I do own some series on DVD because they are priceless (such as As Time Goes By - how I love a British series!).
Here's what I've been watching lately (in no particular order):
Eureka (which should have an exclamation point, I think)
This show is quirky and silly and funny and fun, and I really like watching it. It was only on Amazon Prime for a short time, so I'll have to buy it if I want to re-watch any of it (actually, I think the 4th and 5th seasons are still free, but if you don't see the first three seasons it will mean nothing). The characters are kind of ridiculous, but it's fun to be in their world where all the smart people are lumped into one city and chaos ensues. Plus, it's hilarious to me that Colin Ferguson (The Marshal, aka The Sheriff) is the guy that plays in the Maytag commercials. I didn't connect those dots until recently, and it made me chuckle to see him as the Maytag guy.
Alphas
I love this show! And it's been canceled (I think). It's kind of a neat concept though. Basically, the characters all have some sort of super power. They're under the guidance of one man who kind of leads them and helps them use their super powers for good. The acting is really good, and I enjoyed the character development. I love the guy that plays an autistic man. It gives some idea of what goes on in the brains of those smart people who just don't relate as well socially.
Longmire
A&E totally screwed up when they canceled this series, and I hope some other network will pick it up in the near future and continue on. Dad would have loved this show. I still need to watch the last season (which just became available on Netflix, I think). The acting is incredible. The character of Sheriff Longmire is so bruised and beaten; it's a miracle he can get out of bed every day. I also like how they interact with the Indian nations of Wyoming and address some of today's issues and concerns with that culture. The characters really show what it might be like for American Indians today as they're still dealing with problems stemming from long ago.
Warehouse 13
This show is just silly. It's also been canceled, I think. It cracks me up to think that there might actually be a warehouse somewhere that houses all the gone-wrong patents and other paraphernalia that causes the world to rotate incorrectly on its axis. And the little gizmo that they talk to each other on while on the job? Too funny. Even though there have been some intense moments in this show, it's mostly just a light-hearted adventure for me.
Law & Order SVU
On the note of Criminal Minds and NCIS, Criminal Minds only had a few seasons on Netflix (that I could find), and many of those were from their Suspect Behavior series, which I have yet to get into. I really wish one of them would pick up NCIS (another show I could watch over and over again), but I hear CBS is a little grumpy about giving up their best and highest rated show. I get it. But don't you think they'd have even more following if those who don't have TV could watch the show via streaming? My bet is they'd see another boost in ratings, but whatever CBS.
And that's what I've been watching lately! I noticed that Cheers, Frasier, The Wonder Years, and Friends are all on Netflix and/or Amazon Prime as well, so I won't go without something to put me to sleep for a long time, and I'm good with that!
Saturday, May 16, 2015
My Name by the Decade
A friend of mine sent me this link: http://time.com/3856405/baby-name-popularity/#
You fill it out with your name, the year you were born, and your gender. From there, it gives the popularity of your name for the year you were born, and then gives the name in each decade that matched the popularity. So if your name was the 32nd most popular in the year you were born, it would give you the 32nd most popular name in each of the decades. Kind of fun to see!
My list went like this:
Name today would be Aurora (ew, ew, ew ... and sorry to any Auroras out there)
2000s would be Nancy (really?)
1990s would be Jacquelyn
1980s would be Yvonne
1970s would be Tonia
1960s would be Grace (I like!)
1950s would be Francine
1940s would be Irma
1930s would be Maggie (cute!)
1920s would be Angeline
1910s would be Johnnie
1900s would be Rena (huh?)
And 1890s would be Sue
It's kind of interesting to see how the trends go.
Now, if I put in my real name my list would be like this:
Name today would be Gabriella
2000s would be Briana
1990s would be Kristina
1980s would be Kristy
1970s would be Kristen
1960s would be Gloria
1950s would be Doris (Day?!)
1940s would be June
1930s would be Beatrice
1920s would be Marian
1900s would be Beulah (no, no, no!)
1900s would be Maude
1890s would be Lydia (pretty!)
Fun, huh? So, then I put in my middle name just for the heck of it. (The middle name that I really have, but that the government doesn't recognize? Yeah, that one.) And this is how that list went:
Name today would be Martha
2000s would be Viridiana (excuse me?)
1990s would be Dianne
1980s would be Anitra (what the?)
1970s would be Spring (um ... that's a season ...)
1960s would be Goldie (Hawn?!)
1950s would be Fredia
1940s would be Maxcine (the spelling?)
1930s would be Eilene
1920s would be Leocadia (are you kidding me right now?)
1910s would be Gayle
1900s would be Nezzie
1890s would be Rutha
You can just start calling me Nezzie now, thank you.
And finally, if I went by my Dad's nickname for me, the list would look like this:
Name today would be Nova (as in Super?)
2000s would be Aimee
1990s would be Kala (the spelling ... again)
1980s would be Wendi
1970s would be Lesa
1960s would be Clare
1950s would be Leola
1940s would be Nedra
1930s would be Augusta (kind of cool)
1920s would be Elsa (Anna's sister, you know - see Frozen, the movie)
1910s would be Claudie
1900s would be Winnifred
1890s would be Albertine
And Nezzie wins! Coolest name ever. Long live the Nezzter!
You fill it out with your name, the year you were born, and your gender. From there, it gives the popularity of your name for the year you were born, and then gives the name in each decade that matched the popularity. So if your name was the 32nd most popular in the year you were born, it would give you the 32nd most popular name in each of the decades. Kind of fun to see!
My list went like this:
Name today would be Aurora (ew, ew, ew ... and sorry to any Auroras out there)
2000s would be Nancy (really?)
1990s would be Jacquelyn
1980s would be Yvonne
1970s would be Tonia
1960s would be Grace (I like!)
1950s would be Francine
1940s would be Irma
1930s would be Maggie (cute!)
1920s would be Angeline
1910s would be Johnnie
1900s would be Rena (huh?)
And 1890s would be Sue
It's kind of interesting to see how the trends go.
Now, if I put in my real name my list would be like this:
Name today would be Gabriella
2000s would be Briana
1990s would be Kristina
1980s would be Kristy
1970s would be Kristen
1960s would be Gloria
1950s would be Doris (Day?!)
1940s would be June
1930s would be Beatrice
1920s would be Marian
1900s would be Beulah (no, no, no!)
1900s would be Maude
1890s would be Lydia (pretty!)
Fun, huh? So, then I put in my middle name just for the heck of it. (The middle name that I really have, but that the government doesn't recognize? Yeah, that one.) And this is how that list went:
Name today would be Martha
2000s would be Viridiana (excuse me?)
1990s would be Dianne
1980s would be Anitra (what the?)
1970s would be Spring (um ... that's a season ...)
1960s would be Goldie (Hawn?!)
1950s would be Fredia
1940s would be Maxcine (the spelling?)
1930s would be Eilene
1920s would be Leocadia (are you kidding me right now?)
1910s would be Gayle
1900s would be Nezzie
1890s would be Rutha
You can just start calling me Nezzie now, thank you.
And finally, if I went by my Dad's nickname for me, the list would look like this:
Name today would be Nova (as in Super?)
2000s would be Aimee
1990s would be Kala (the spelling ... again)
1980s would be Wendi
1970s would be Lesa
1960s would be Clare
1950s would be Leola
1940s would be Nedra
1930s would be Augusta (kind of cool)
1920s would be Elsa (Anna's sister, you know - see Frozen, the movie)
1910s would be Claudie
1900s would be Winnifred
1890s would be Albertine
And Nezzie wins! Coolest name ever. Long live the Nezzter!
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