Spring cleaning my bike

Spring cleaning projects are in abundance. One of my projects will be to attempt to strip some of the rust from my bike. I have a good looking bike that is in otherwise great condition. It is Schwinn cruiser, only a couple years old and I would like to restore its shine. I know that if the rust has penetrated deeply there is not much hope. I have faith that this has not happened. The best case scenario is if the only remedy is some CLR or another type of cleaning agent.

Series review: Hemlock Grove

Netflix is expanding its empire by creating its own original series in addition to breathing new life into canceled television shows. Hemlock Grove is one of those original series. The first season of this show has been on Netflix for weeks, but I just now watched all of the episodes. My delay in finishing the available episodes wasn't due to my boredom or disinterest. In fact, I found this series to be gruesomely intriguing. The blood and guts present in this drama were not enough to keep me from the suspense, despite the fact that I do not like blood and guts. There were many twists and turns in the 13 episodes and just when you thought the series was over and everything was wrapped up with a nice bow, mind blow! Okay, I kind of saw something of the like materializing, but I was so caught up in the present story that I seriously did think it was over, that the storyline couldn't possibly go anywhere else. Although this series is of a mystical tale, it has elements that would not be allowed on television, including nudity, sex, gore, and more. It takes the old werewolf story to a new place. This kind of story hasn't yet been done.

Punished with bad clothing

Bullying is a problem in America. Parents, school administrators, and law enforcement have taken all sorts of tactics to try to quell the destructive actions. This ranges from punishment to intervention to education, and one Utah woman decided to teach her fiance's daughter, Kaylee, a lesson with bad clothing. The girl had been making fun of a fellow student for wearing what she deemed to be sleazy. According to an article on Yahoo! Shine, the mother took her bullying daughter shopping and when Kaylee described certain clothes as ugly or embarrassing she bought them and made her wear them to school. The mother said she wanted her to experience the embarrassing feelings she evoked in someone else.

This is an interesting way to tackle bullying. Teaching embarrassing lessons is not new, but I think this form of punishment is a smart way to make the bully understand the emotions stirred up in others by their comments. In this case,  the lesson worked. After getting made fun of herself, Kaylee delivered a genuine apology to the classmate she bullied.

Movie review: The Hangover 3

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifinakis

Rating: C+
 More than expected, but that's not to say it was great. The other Hangover movies are filled with debauchery and confused attempts to reach the goal of finding lost characters. This installation was smarter, more focused and contained less debauchery. This movie's formula is more sophisticated and signals the maturation of the characters. All though they still like to have a good time, they're not as dumb about it. Those who were expecting a stupidly good time won't be disappointed, especially if you stay through the credits. Those who seek a little more quality in their low brow movies will be slightly pleased with the stronger storyline and the character development.

There has been some speculation as to whether the "Wolf Pack Trilogy" is truly over. The movie ends on a moment of finality, however there's always a way to bring a franchise back for more. However, there may not be much more the director can do without jumping the shark.

Baby names: Where's the money

It's all in a name, at least when it comes to your salary. That according to the Yahoo! Shine article "Can Your First Name Boost Your Salary." The Ladders, an online job-matching site completed the study that found executives with shorter names earn more money. It analyzed six million career professionals and found people with first names longer than five letters lose out on about $3,600 in salary every year, per letter. My name is six letters long, so accordingly I will lose out on $144,000 over a 40 year career. Perhaps I should just change my name to Shell or She.

This salary discrepancy is no problem for those with long names that can be shortened. If you are a Stephen you should think about going by the name Steve, at least professionally. However, what about those with long names that have no shortened version? Barney is such a name and it is also a name that I would not consider to be extremely professional. The shortened version of Oliver, Ollie is also not very professional. Gertrude is a name with a shortened version that is also more than five letters, Gertie. There are names with weird alternate spellings that may complicate the findings of this study. Jason fits in well with the five letter rule, but add a fancy 'y' in there for Jayson and you have money loss.

There was one exception to the corporate name rule. Of all the names studied, only one did not see wage increases with the use of a nick name. That name is Lawrence. I can see why this name breaks the rule. Larry is not an incredible professional name. Sure, I'll trust a Larry but the name still makes me think of Larry the Cable Guy. Although I'm sure the cable man is an extraordinarily interesting person, he won't make as much as Lawrence or Rob.

Giving blood, the gift of life

I had never donated blood until this year. It is so easy, yet I always had a reason why I couldn't or why I didn't. From my weight to my international travels, I was not able to donate in my younger years. Then, when all other excuses faded life got busy. However, this year I took part in a mobile blood drive. The process was quick and easy, pretty painless too. It is a great thing you can do for your loved ones and your community. Chances are, you know someone who has needed a blood transfusion at some point in their life. Donating blood allows you to show you care and give back. I have learned that late spring and summer can be a drought time for blood banks, but it is a time of increased need.

Since I first gave blood about three months ago, I am now eligible to give again. There has to be a down period in between visits so your blood can replenish what was taken out. I am making my next appointment to donate and I hope you will do the same.

Making cork magnets

I like the look of using corks in crafts and decorating. I especially like the idea of repurposing what would be considered trash. A project I have undertaken is to turn corks into magnets. They look clean, uniform, and contemporary.

First, find and collect your favorite corks. This is a fun part of this project because you can pick a theme, like all Indiana wines for example, or select corks that have a special meaning to you. The Brown County Winery cork in this collection is one such cork. It brings back memories of a great little vacation I had in a cabin in the woods.


Next, you'll need to gather your materials and make sure you have everything you need to complete this craft. I used a box cutter-type knife to cut the corks in half. Afterward you'll use the super glue to affix a magnet on the back. On this step, make sure you use the appropriate side of the magnet so it will stick to your refrigerator and other suitable surfaces.
 

Grab a cutting board or a surface you feel comfortable cutting on without leaving knife marks. Also, make sure you allow enough time for the magnets to try onto the back of the cork before using. If you put a cork on your refrigerator before it is dry it will strip the magnet off.

Updating photos and strolling down memory lane

Every now and then I like to change the photos in my frames. This often leads to a bout of nostalgia as I travel through time and look at the photos that I left in the frame behind the current picture. It's fun! I never know what I'll find. I am currently going through this process right now. I like to leave the old photos in the frames so I will find them later. After all, I frequently end up re-printing a photo for the frame because of size or the desire to not have a hole in a photo album. Doing this ensures that I have a laugh (or two), and awe moment, and more while performing what could be a boring task.

Eating outside too often

El fresco dining is not all it's cracked up to be, despite what your friends may say. When the weather gets warm, many people in my life always opt for dining outside. If there is a patio, deck, or sidewalk at a restaurant they will take their flatware out there. This often begins in April and doesn't end until October. There is no need for this! Some days are not suited to outdoor eating, especially if it is rainy, too cold, too hot, too windy, or too sunny. The worst offender is cold weather. Just because you can dine outside and you have spring fever doesn't mean you should brave the cold or subject others to the cold temperature. I am all for enjoying the weather, but the elements can disrupt and distract from the meal. I implore you, when dining out seriously consider grazing indoors and then taking a walk afterward.

The Beats Pill looks like what?

Commercials for the Beats Pill have hit the airwaves, and I don't think the right image and concept are getting through. At least as far as the Radio Shack commercial goes, I don't think my reaction to the product is as intended.

The spokespeople dance around the set holding and using the beats pills in different ways. It is a hot dog in one scene and then free weights in another. In all the scenes the product looks like an unmentionable private item (I don't think I need to mention what kind of "toy" it looks like). Perhaps it's just me. Or perhaps it is the suggestive nature of the video. After all, the speaker system is actually a Beats By Dre product and is sold along side head phones, ear buds and other audio accessories.

The product concept is great. A small, portable speaker system that is blue tooth enabled, so no cords are needed. You can take your music with you where ever you go. I might be in the market for one of these except for the fact that I would not be able to get the evocative advertisement out of my head, even if I were to chose a color other than red.

Shells guide: No smoking in a bus shelter

 
Although a bus shelter is technically an outdoor facility, one should not smoke inside. This problem first came to my attention one bitterly cold winter afternoon. The weather was not displaying any inclement conditions like snow or heavy wind and I was hiding inside the mass transit shelter. A smoker came in and stood right next to me, her smoke wafting all around me in little clouds of apathy. Since the shelter was nearly empty, I moved to the other side to escape the cancer causing pollution. Then, I looked outside and realized the area was not crowded, and since the shelter provided no departure from the cold temperatures I wondered why the smoker chose to enter the shelter and stand next to me in the first place.

Recently, I ran into the same situation. On this day it was actually sprinkling, but the overhang area outside the dwelling was vacant. The overhang provides the same amount of protection from the weather as does the inside. So why stand next to me?

After doing some research, I found that people are not supposed to smoke in shelters in Indianapolis. The IndyGo website states that it does not have the capacity to enforce the policy. It continues to give a phone number for the Marion County Health Department, however I do not bet that calling would do a lot of good to quell the smoking problem. People may not even realize they're not supposed to smoke there, after all, the shelters are technically outside. Still, common courteous tells me that if there are people inside and there is not a tornado or blizzard outside one should keep their cigarettes and toxic plumes away. It is fine if a smoker wants to hot box their home or their car, but do not force others to fester in that same situation.

"Shells guide" is a collection of life lessons I wish everyone knew or was at least aware of. Someone once told me that everyone has a virtual book of knowledge in their head that they think everyone else should abide by. The thing is, not everyone has your pages and it is hard to play the game if you don't know the rules.

Bloody Mary reviews

I have blogged about the new twists that are being put on the Bloody Mary. Some of these new takes on the old beverage are wins and others are serious failures. 

I like the move toward more spicy drinks, including the spicy chili salt on the rim. Unfortunately, I have a bad review of a spicy mix. I do not recommend Hoosier Mama Spicy. This drink was too spicy in an unnecessary chili powder way and too thick (probably from all the chili powder). I greatly enjoy spicy food, but not items that are one dimensional. I suffered through it, but the beverage was not enjoyable. I was the only one in our group who did not abandoned ship with this one. Hoosier Momma may have been better if mixed with Clamato or the like, but I'm not going to test that theory out. My bottle went down the drain. However, it would be disingenuous if I did not admit that there are some good reviews of this brand. So, perhaps you should test this out yourself.

Another mix on the fail list is a seafood infused blend by Blue Crab Bay. This mix might have had potential had it not been for the oddness of swigging a drink with chunks of crab floating around. It landed itself on the opposite end of the spicy scale and that combined with the odd chunks of crab made drinking it like guzzling gazpacho. No one wanted the soup. This also went down the drain.

One Bloody Mary blend that performs well consistently is Zing Zang. This is good on its own or great with some Clamato, pepper, and other secret ingredients. Must be poured over ice. All Bloody Mary drinks are better when poured over ice. 

My favorite restaurant Bloody Mary is found at the Ram. Their regular beverage is nice on its own, but the Proud Mary features some of the more fun deviations from the traditional recipe. 

A new twist on the Bloody Mary

It seems the Bloody Mary has recently taken on a new persona and everyone is racing to cultivate the most extreme cocktail. I'm not sure if outrageous garnishes and a greater variety of mixes is an incredibly new thing or if I'm just noticing it more now because it is the beginning of baseball season and many people I know love to tailgate with the tasty concoctions. Nonetheless, this topic makes me thirsty.

There are a couple of ways in which Bloody Mary lovers are putting a spin on the old favorite. First, you have the beverage itself. Any foodie or bloody connoisseur will tell you it takes a perfect mix of ingredients to make a perfect tumbler; a truly great drink will not simply combine the contents of a bottle of mix with regular vodka. There are other important ingredients. In addition to offering new types of mixes like bold, spicy, or sea food infused specialty flavored vodkas have been appearing at a mary bar near you. Most recently I spotted cucumber vodka on an ingredient list. 
 
Second, the garnishes have gotten bigger and bigger. Sometimes it can constitute as a meal with veggies, cheese, and bacon; I've even seen one with a burger on top of all the afore mentioned accoutrements. My favorite of the additives is spicy chili salt on the rim of the glass. I also enjoy popping the pepper jack cheese cubes after I've finished. Of course, I can't forget about the traditional olives. 



In case you need an excuse for trying out a modern Bloody Mary, I found a chart on cracked.com that explains some often used excuses for imbibing. 

 
 

Five benefits of the 365day photo project

One of my 2013 New Year's resolutions was to take and post one photo a day for the entire year, and through doing so I have reaped many benefits. Though I abhor Instagram for what it has done to destroy the perception of the art of photography, I decided to use this as my platform for sharing. I am only posting to Instagram since its most egregious attributes are directly tied to its editing functions and filters. I am now on my fifth month and I have not missed a day of snapping a photo and posting it. This is a feat on its own due to the fast and furious dereliction of resolutions we are used to hearing about. I have some great images in my collection and I am quite excited about continuing my project.

Here’s my list of the five things my 365day Photo Project has accomplished for me, so far.

1. My photo project has pushed me to explore my city in different ways. I have gone to new and interesting places and events for a photo op. These are places I might not have ever gone to without this project. This project gives me reason to plan excursions and think about where I can go to capture the day’s photo. I have a list of possibilities in case the day doesn’t lend itself to inspiration because I have really tried to make sure this is more than a photo diary of my activities.

2. I wanted to restart my creative thinking. I wanted to start looking at things from a different perspective, to see the beauty in ordinary things. A soda can isn’t just a soda can, after all, it can be stunning in a certain light on a certain day.

3. To remember to capture great moments on camera. It is easy to get caught up in the moment, but then what do you have to show for it other than a memory. So often we are moving fast and only thinking of a checklist of to-do items. This project has helped me slow down and appreciate life.

4. I want to be able to share my experiences and finds with other people. I have been to some very interesting events and locations that not every one knows about. Additionally, through this project I am gaining a plethora of frame-worthy photos for an end of the year project. I am archiving them and I plan to create some sort of display when my 365 days are over.

5. This project is teaching me how to better use my iphone’s camera feature. I have taken and will continue to take all of the photos on my iphone. I have heard from many lay people who say their iphone is unsatisfactory. They say their pictures come out blurry and the coloration is off. I have not found this to be the case in most circumstances. So, I will continue to prove these photo novices wrong.

Reading and watching Sarah's Key

Like many others, I often feel that the book version of a story is better than the movie. I began to read Sarah’s Key months ago and was intensely drawn in. More recently I saw the movie, which is a French language foreign movie. I greatly enjoyed the movie and while it did stray from the book in areas, I fee that it had appropriate adaptations for the big screen. There are certain elements of stories that don’t translate well and time frames that have to be shortened and condensed. The movie did a nice job in capturing the essence of the book. My advice would of course to be to read the book, but in this case I don’t think you could go wrong if you went with just the movie instead.

Shells guide: Driving with ear buds

It is not unseen to spot a passing motorist with headphones on. These distracted drivers are less alert to situations on the road, outside their car. But is it illegal? I thought so. Many people I have talk to say they also thought it is illegal. However, my research tells me wearing earbuds or headphones while driving is legal in Indiana and many other states. Some states have restrictions telling drivers they can only have one earbud in at a time, however studies have found that earbuds are no more of a distraction that listening to loud music, talking on a cell phone, or having a noisy muffler. Many drivers don't listen to cues from the roadway or even emergency vehicles (eek!). Plus wouldn't mandating a head phone law infringe upon the rights of the deaf and hearing impaired? They have the right to drive and they hear less than a person with earbuds in.

Before I sat down to write this blog I though I was on the side of banning drivers from wearing earbuds or headphones. Now however, I see this as a larger human rights issue and what seemed like distracted driving is actually just a minor complication. There still is a major misunderstanding of the law when it comes to this practice. There is a lot of judging and finger pointing over something that seems like it could be or perhaps should be illegal.

"Shells guide" is a collection of life lessons I wish everyone knew or was at least aware of. Someone once told me that everyone has a virtual book of knowledge in their head that they think everyone else should abide by. The thing is, not everyone has your pages and it is hard to play the game if you don't know the rules.

Streamlining the spice rack

Getting a pre-packed spice rack always seems like a good idea, especially for someone who is just starting out. I got my spice rack when I moved into my first apartment after college. I didn't have much in the way of cookware or spices and ingredients, so the spice rack was a great solution. Cut to nearly a decade later and there are still some of the spices I have never used. The spice rack came with some very useful ingredients, including basil, oregano, garlic powder, chili flakes, etc. However, the marjoram and cardamon still had the manufacturer's seal on them when I went through my spice rack last week.

While trying to work up the motivation to do one thing, I found the motivation to do something completely different. I spotted my spice rack out of the corner of my eye and thought about all of the additional spice containers I have in my pantry. I am moving soon and I am trying to get rid of junk that I don't need. Junk, meaning marjoram and cardamon. So, I went through the rack and threw out spices that I had rarely used and spices that hadn't been refilled and were old and past their prime. That freed up four bottles and two others that I would put fresher versions of the same spice into. This is where I let my creative skills run amok. I blacked out the silver names of the spices with a sharpie, broke a silver pen so I could dip a paper clip into the ink, and very carefully and delicately wrote the new names of the spices that would occupy the bottles.

My spice holdings are now much lighter and more organized. I felt more productive when the project was over because I could see the difference I made in what I would have to pack up in my kitchen. While I was working on the project I felt as though I found the piddly little project so I could procrastinate.

Bringing back "failed" T.V. shows

Traditional television networks have often been forced to give up on a television show because it is not bringing in enough money, but that doesn't mean that show doesn't have a great number of fans. Un-canceled shows are becoming more and more prominent in the T.V. guide. Arrested Development is one recent example of a canceled show getting picked up by another platform. In this case, it was not a cable network that picked it up, but Netflix. Arrested Development was nixed in 2006, despite its Emmy-winning history. The benefit to Netflix, aside from owning a series that has a cult following, is that they can produce and distribute a show and drive viewers to their online streaming for new, exclusive episodes. Now, Netflix is doing so some seven years after the show left air.

Recently, a new favorite show of mine was given a new life. Psych has always been on the USA Network and enjoyed six back-to-back seasons beginning in 2006. The show, however, took a longer than usual break in between seasons six and seven before being renewed. I started watching the series beginning with season one last fall. I whizzed through all of the Netflix streaming episodes in an amazing amount of time, but then was left with such an incredible cliff hanger. I knew the show wasn't in production at the time and its future was unknown. I was devastated, okay that's a bit strong, but I was perplexed that the T.V. gods would allow a show to end in such a manner. I was incredibly glad to find out that the show's final episode wouldn't earn my distinction of being the worst ever. The characters would get to finish that storyline and many others. I now make a weekly date to watch Psych and I celebrate the show's quirkiness and the fact that it hasn't been canceled.


Another show I just got hooked on is Switched at Birth. Luckily, I will not have to wait too long for the next season. This was another one of my Netflix finds. I remember hearing great things about the ABC Family show, so I decided to try it out. I was quickly drawn in and before I realized, I had sped through the two existing seasons. Actually, I went to watch another episode the other day and was dismayed to find out there were no more. New episodes begin in just weeks, June 10th. Now that's some summer fun for me. I'll have to brush up on my ASL in preparation!

Eating pollen: An allergy experiment update

I am undergoing a pollen pellet eating experiment. Ingesting the yellow kernels is supposed be a greater help in alleviating my allergy symptoms than natural, local honey. The pollen pellets are a much higher dosage of local allergens than what is found in honey. I bought my bottle of antigen more than a week ago and I immediately began my new daily regimen. I started out with just a half teaspoon every morning mixed in with my cottage cheese or yogurt. The key is to mix it in well otherwise you might feel like a rabbit eating an alfalfa cube. While it does taste like alfalfa smells, the pellets actually look like the coating that comes on a Strawberry Shortcake ice cream bar. Nonetheless, eventually the hope is that I will make it up to a teaspoon of pollen a day.

On the first day, my near immediate mental reaction was that I should have started with a lower dose. The symptoms came on like gangbusters and it was definitely irritating. I exhibited red flag warning signs I normally don’t or haven’t since going on my meds years ago. I had terribly itchy eyes, so much so that I went to the store and bought some allergy drops. I had a very itchy nose that sometimes exploded with obnoxious sneezes. It was also very runny reminding me of my teen years when my soccer teammates jokingly called me boogie because of my snot that was ever present on the fresh spring field. The good thing is that I didn’t have a headache or any sinus blockage. While my symptoms came on strong, I decided this experiment is doable. Onward!

At about day five, I felt like I was finally starting to acclimate to the half-teaspoon dose. During the day I was only experiencing a lightly runny nose in the afternoon and occasional eye itchiness. However, the problem is that I had been waking up with irritated, peeling eye lids. This I know from my history is due to me rubbing my eyes at night. It is actually the symptom that broke the camel’s in 2009 and led to my first appointment with the allergist. I had been plagued with crusty lids that were so bad only Vaseline would fix them. I wondered for weeks what was going on. One night I woke up with my hands balled into fists, clenched over my eyes. Mystery solved. Back to recent days, the eyelid peeling isn’t so bad at first, but after a few days of rubbing, the trouble compounds and I look like I have a serious dermatological problem. Worse yet, the problem has spread to my nose. So now, that too, looks like it is about to crust off.

Now at more than a week out, I have decided to keep my dosing where it is for at least a couple more weeks. I have to give my body time to adjust. After all, my eye and nose are still peeling at freakish rates, scaring off the women and children of the land. I had thought I would be able to up the dosage a bit after week one, but that will have to wait! Overall, my health feels improved. The pollen pellets are purported to have additional benefits, and I do feel like I am more awake (which is surprising since I imagine I am half asleep most of the night rubbing my face off), I have more energy, and a clearer outlook. This is a process and I am exercising great patience with myself, since I am the one who is voluntarily making myself worse.

The Abercrombie & Fitch clothing size petition

As if teens don't have enough issues to worry about. Fashion retailer Abercrombie & Fitch is refusing to sell plus sizes, however there is a petition making its way around that seeks to end that practice. According to the Yahoo! Shine article "New Petition Urges Abercrombie & Fitch to Change Its Anti-Plus-Size Stance," the petition was created by an 18-year-old who struggled with an eating disorder and felt worthless because he couldn't fit into popular clothing styles. He created the petition on change.org, and it has since garnered the support of the National Eating Disorders Association. More than six thousand people have signed the petition.

A spokesperson for Abercrombie & Fitch declined to comment in advance of the Yahoo! Shine article, but in the past the company has been very unapologetic of its stance on fashion.  It has says it doesn't care about the opinions of anyone other than the target market. Furthermore, they want their customers to be the cool, popular kids. In a 2006 interview for Salon, Chief Executive Officer Mike Jeffries was quoted as saying, "We go after the attractive all-American kid with a great attitude and a lot of friends. A lot of people don’t belong [in our clothes], and they can’t belong. Are we exclusionary? Absolutely."

I wore Abercrombie & Fitch clothing when I was a teen. Wearing a brand was the thing, especially A&F. When in malls, you could tell the cool kids, if by nothing else, by the bags they were carrying. The Abercrombie & Fitch bags always featured muscular, half dressed sporty men surrounded by sun kissed, long haired women. I frequented the registers there long before I knew of the morally depreciating values of the company's CEO. I can't imagine wanting to wear a particular brand of clothing only to find out it isn't sold in my size. The retailer sells sizes XS through L, but also carries 0 and 00 on store shelves. Not selling larger sizes is detrimental to the self worth of teens. It is degrading and inexcusable. It is no secret that often plus size people have to shop at specialty stores to find clothing in their size. However, that is usually the case for those who are larger than XL, XXL, etc. Ambercrombie & Fitch doesn't even sell size XL.

All of the press over this petition and Abercrombie & Fitch's stance on clothing sizes may be doing exactly what Jeffries is hoping for. It could be creating a more desirable image of the company in the minds of teens. Who doesn't want to feel like they're part of an exclusive group? Not selling a wide variety of sizes makes an exclusive club of consumers that are able to fit in the retailer's clothes. It would be nice if every teen and parent decided to boycott A&F over their policy and elitism, however that will not happen. If being or looking like a cool kid is as simple as clothing, parents will spend great amounts to achieve that distinction. Still, for the sake of any and every kid who ever felt like they didn't fit in, I urge you to sign the petition or take a stance in someway against the company and against the bullying of our children.

Movie review: The Great Gatsby

Directed by: Baz Lurhmann

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan

Rating: B+

There have been many reviews of The Great Gatsby already, and most are incredibly critical. I decided after reading a few of those reviews that I would suspend prejudice and make up my own mind. I went to see the movie in 3-D and it did not disappoint; it was exactly as I expected. This is one of those movies that if you saw the trailers in the lead up to its release you saw the best parts, however those were not the only good parts. The movie was greatly hyped in the weeks and months leading up to its premiere, but the glitz and glam that was promoted carried through the entire movie with intrigue and excitement.  My only dissenting critique is that I would have liked to have seen/heard more music from the star powered sound track that the movie inspired, after all that is what I have come to know director Baz Lurhmann for.

The Great Gatsby is a favorite book of mine, and this movie stayed quite close to the nature of the novel. There were however, some elements of the story that I didn't pick up in reading the book, which I'll admit I read for the first time earlier this year. For instance, I did not realize just how much of a gangster Gatsby was and that when he took Carraway to lunch they were actually going to a speakeasy. In all, I felt this was a very accurate depiction of the story and it vividly brought to life the scenes that I saw dancing through my head while reading the tale. I enjoyed the movie's story just as much as I enjoyed the book's story. I phrased my endorsement as such because I greatly enjoyed reading the book because it is truly exciting when a story on pages can elicit such a electrifying response as this book did.

Since I enjoyed the movie so much, one might be wondering why I gave it a B+ rating instead of something in the A range. I feel good movies need to be ranked lower so there is always room to surpass my expectations and wow me with an exceptional movie. What happens when everything receives an A grade. There are only a few movies each year that I consider to be worthy of top marks. Those movies belong on a list I should make of my favorite all time movies. Perhaps in another blog...

The shirt that will make you hate laundry less

Laundry is a never ending cycle. It is a monster that keeps growing, and no matter how many loads you have done you're still rarely, if ever, caught up. So, how about a shirt that you don't have to wash? The "better button down" shirt by clothing company Wool & Prince only needs washing every 100 wears. That makes many people happy, from lazy sloths to hippies to busy parents.

The shirt is made out of a special wool blend. According to Yahoo! Shine's article "The Shirt You Don't Have to Wash," wool is six times more durable than cotton, is wrinkle resistant, and it absorbs sweat so it doesn't sit on the skin developing a must. Still, the company says the shirts, which retail at $98, are light and breathable because a fine wool thread is used.


This shirt is a great idea. It breaks the laundry cycle, unless you are a messy baby and spill something on the shirt. That cheese stain will not magically disappear no matter how many days you wait to wash. Even before this so called "miracle shirt," many people likely tried to go a few too many days before washing a shirt, but now you don't have to feel bad about it and you don't have to wonder if that shirt smells. The inspiration for the shirt came from men, and it seems the shirt is being marketed to men (it is a men's shirt, after all). I could say only time will tell if the idea is a hit, but a check of the company's website tells me the shirt is already sold out. Don't worry, if you join the company's newsletter you can be one of the first many to find out when it is back in stock.

Movie review: Iron Man 3

Iron Man 3

Directed by: Shane Black

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle

Rating: B+

 

This installment of Iron Man did not disappoint with its explosive nature and funny quips. More machines equals more fun, right? This movie is enjoyable for singles, couples and families, but remember it is rated PG13. Number three broke the rules and norms set by preceding Iron Man films. There is high flying action, but the explosive end and final fight in this movie takes place in the U.S. and against an American terrorist. The plot involves everyone from the President of the United States to a woman Tony Stark met nearly 15 years ago. It has heat, humor, double cross, and loyalty.

I appreciate the more personal side this movie explores. It not only deals with Tony trying to and not being able to protect the one he loves, but also deals with his own mortality. We are given an introspective look as the hero suffers panic attacks and faulty Iron Man suits. He is left to his own devices to fend off evil while his technology is on the mend. He is only human, after all. In the end though, Iron Man wins. Would you expect anything less?

Was it just me, or did the bad guy in this movie look a lot like the bad guy in Iron Man 2? I’m not talking about Mickey Rourke, although he was truly a bad, scary guy. I’m talking about the Justin Hammer character and Aldrich Killian. I looked them up on IMDB and I do know they are in fact two different actors, but I couldn’t help wondering for part of the movie if the Iron Man 2 villain had come back for more.

On the subject of Killian, I do not feel his motives were emphasized enough in this movie. I left the theater wondering why he was so hell-bent on destruction and then I realize it is because he was hoping to make money from weaponizing soldiers in the military and by having a hand in both defense and terrorism he would be the ultimate puppeteer, for a lack of a better term. I feel the movie portrayed up his desire for revenge more than necessary and more than plausible. 

Reality telvevision: Stop yelling at me!

I have recently viewed a number of new reality television shows. Some of these are concepts that are of interest and others I have watched just to see what all the fuss is about. I generally do not like watching reality t.v. because there is so much fighting and yelling. I do not like getting yelled at by the t.v. after a long day of doing whatever I have been doing. I do not like the cattiness and superficial characters. I guess that just means I haven't been watching the right kind of shows, right? The shows I have opened up to are not like that. They are mostly on TLC or The History Channel and feature a lifestyle and not a circumstance people were thrown into by a producer. Maybe this is the recipe I prefer if I have to chose a reality genre.

A couple of shows that I have recently tried out have been about concepts that are relatively foreign to me. I've enjoyed Duck Dynasty, although before watching it I didn't think I would and couldn't see why others did. I saw the posts about the show on social media and questioned why the poster had been watching a show about duck hunting. The show does a nice job of tying all of the story lines together with one family value lesson that has been observed by the Duck Dynasty family.

I also recently tried out Deadliest Catch, which I have nicknamed King Krab because I like to give things silly nicknames. The series is not bad, however I would have to say that I am in no way hooked on it. The show offers an interesting insight into fishing and reveals the complexities of the process. Although I have been crab fishing, this is a concept that is alien to me.

Both of these shows have some sort of educational value inserted in between the drama. For the most part, there is no yelling, or backstabbing, although I could be wrong. It is still early in my viewing days.

Book review: Lucky Man

I have always been a big fan of Michael J. Fox and now I am a fan of his book Lucky Man. Like so many others, I watched Fox as I was growing up. I became acquainted with him as Alex P. Keaton on Family Ties; my adoration grew as I watched him in Back to the Future. Fox is an American icon.

Lucky Man is Fox's autobiography and it details his life from the younger years throughout his diagnosis and acceptance of Parkinson's Disease. While the whole book was engaging, I found it interesting to read about Fox's early days in Hollywood as he wobbled on the line dividing a serious drinker from an alcoholic. There are many things I did not know about Fox's life, including the of control level his behavior reached and his attempt to avoid taking responsibility for certain undesirable aspects of life. The book chronicles Fox's decision to come out of the P.D. closet and eventually become an advocate for Parkinson's awareness and research.

I was surprised at how well written the book was. Fox explains that he actually takes joy in writing and crafting stories. Nowadays it seems every celebrity has a book; these books are not actually written by the notable names. Instead the "author" writes down their ideas or version of the story and a writer or editor turns it into something that's publishable. It is refreshing to see that Fox took so much care before the memoirs actually reached the editor's desk.

Toilet paper rolls are like duct tape

Toilet paper rolls are like duct tape in that they can fix anything. Okay, maybe not to the extent that duct tape can, after all I recently watched a few episodes of Myth Busters where the scientists put the sticky rolls of fun to the test. However, toilet paper rolls are the ultimate organizing tool. A while ago I decided to start a craft project using toilet paper rolls. I collected the cardboard centers and stock piled them while I brainstormed and drafted ideas for what kind of art project I could turn them into. I had several ideas and they all included cutting the rolls into smaller circles and painting them. My most interesting and plausible solution was to make a mobile of the brightly colored rings, but I couldn't figure out how to make the creation look like something that belonged in my house rather than that of a college student. So, I abandoned ship. I am moving soon and I don't want to pay to transport needless craft items that are in a holding pattern. I had amassed quite a number of tubes and they were taking up a bit of space. So, I folded them up and put them into my recycling.

After I decided my tube art project was a wash I came across an article that detailed some great uses for toilet paper rolls. Add those ideas to the ones I already knew about and have already implemented and you have a great cure-all. I use rolls to organize my cords so I do not have extension cords laying around everywhere. My toes always find a way to wrap around cords and trip me up, so this is a broken bone saver. I like finding new and fun uses for toilet paper rolls. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle is my motto. So, I decided I'm going to use rolls to secure gifts before wrapping (in cloth napkins). Another thing I'd like to try is securing wrapping paper with the tubes. They help keep your wrapping paper on the roll and not scrunched up with a rubber band by using a toilet paper roll. Just make one cut lengthwise and slide it over for a paper keeper. There are all sorts of websites and blogs with interesting ideas, like Green and Frugal Living. I'm a fan of the plastic bag holder and the document protector.

Food review: Jalepeno cheese stuffed tots

I had never heard of jalapeno cheese stuffed tater tots, so why not try? I’m not a huge fan of tots, but anytime you add jalapenos and cheese to something it usually turns out better. These bite-sized balls of goodness were gooey and spicy with just a hint of potato. I’m sure the ingredients are much less than healthy and they’re fried, but for pub food option they’re not bad.

FitBit tracks sleep

I have been using my FitBit activity tracker for more than four months, and I have already extolled the benefits of the device in a previous blog, FitBit Obsession. Wearing it and tracking my progress has become second nature to me, and when and if I ever forget to clip it on I feel naked, as if I had forgotten a cell phone or my wallet. Recently, I decided a friend with some possible sleep problems should wear my FitBit to bed so it could track sleep time and awakefullness. While the FitBit can't and won't tell you what is causing insomnia or poor sleep habits and trends, it can track how often you are moving around. So, for someone who yawns all day long and is beat tired at six p.m. despite getting eight hours of sleep, the FitBit can confirm that there is trouble with the sandman as opposed to another medical condition that is draining energy.

However, I find the method of the sleep tracking to be misleading at times. For instance, I woke up one day and my iPhone app tells me that I had a 99% sleep rating because I fell asleep in two minutes and only woke up a couple of times. Well, I know this to be false because I remember being awake for quite a while before going under. The tracker monitors your movement, so because I lied completely still while waiting to catch my zzz's, the FitBit took my lack of movement to mean that I had already fallen asleep. It will also at times tell me I woke up X number of times, which I don't remember happening. I slept very well, but because I rolled over or moved my arm a couple times the FitBit thought I woke up.

Still, the sleep monitor and all of the graphs and trackers that come along with it is a very useful and interesting tool. I like to see the pictorials explaining just how bad of a night I had or how good. I like to try to better my sleep habits and I pay special attention to what I do differently before sleep and how it might be affecting my quality of shut-eye.

Blockbuster: Looking ahead to summer movie releases

I am looking forward to summer movie releases. There doesn't seem to be much as far as movies that won awards at film festivals or are critically acclaimed, which are usually the movies I hold up on a pedestal. However, I have been excited for months about a film that comes out in just days; The Great Gatsby opens on May 10. This film was directed by Baz Luhrman, who also directed such fast paced flicks as Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Moulin Rouge (2001). I recently read the book for the first time and loved it. The story is so compelling and the characters are so complex and mysterious.

I read an article entitled, "34 Movies to Watch Out For," and I agree that the films listed will bring in big money. However, I do not want to see nor am I excited for all of them, or even most. The list gets off to a nice start with Iron Man 3, which opened on May 3. This is a movie that I am looking forward to, although I have not decided if I will be making a trip to the theaters for it. It appears the story line picks up where it left off and in this installment of the action hero tale there is much more plot development within the various areas of Tony Stark's life. Apparently, according to the article, that's because Stark has fended off enemy's who have tried to destroy the world and now he's taking on an enemy that wants to destroy his world. According to early reviews, the movie starts out slow but consistently picks up steam and momentum.

If you travel down the summer preview list and skip over several movies, you'll find Monsters University, which comes out June 21. The first of the Monsters movies was adorable. I thoroughly enjoyed Monsters Inc. (2001) and I'm looking forward to this prequel delivering the same level of enjoyment.

World War Z comes out June 21st and I had been excited about it, but now I'm not so sure. The trailers for the movie look exciting and action packed; a great way to beat the summer heat (in the air conditioned theater). However, the review that's given in the article is lukewarm, at best. It makes it seem as though the producers had several identity crises during the making of the movie and couldn't decide which direction they were traveling. The segment of the article did end by saying, "We saw some footage at CinemaCon which blew our heads off with its non-stop brutal action."

Despicable Me 2 comes out on July 3 and if you want to know how I feel about this one see the above paragraph about Monsters University.

I am hoping there are some award winning-type releases that are slated to come out as well. Otherwise, my summer movie watching days might be confined to Redbox and Netflix. I look for more in a movie than the stars or a trend (the Vampire trend we've seen recently is given new life this summer with several fresh takes on the undead). I prefer quality to quantity of money spent on a film. So far, this year has been terrible for new films. There haven't been many great stories released, and those that I think qualify as great movies have not gone nationwide and I am left to wonder if there is any hope for cinemas. There is one theater in town that I can usually count on to show me some offbeat, critically acclaimed films that have not seen big box office success. However, even that theater has succumb to pressures to show more box office heavyweights in order to rake in money, regardless of their quality.