Sunday, September 28, 2008

Random Update

Sorry for taking so long between posts, I really have no excuse except that I'm lazy. Here's an update on what's going on in my life, plus a few random thoughts.
- What's worse than failing at dating? Failing at online dating. I went on a second date last week with this chick Shannon, and it did not go well. I was having a hard time explaining why I wasn't interested at all, but when I would then mention that she had 4 cats and admitted her apartment kinda smelled and had cat hair everywhere, that summed it up. Now if she looked like Erin Andrews and had 4 cats I wouldn't care at all, but she looked more like, uh, I can't think of anything creative here, she just wasn't all that cute. Plus her arms were bigger than mine, which is a sad assesment of both of us.
- The same night as my sad-ass date, my 6 month subscription to match.com expired, and I didn't renew. So I'm a fucking online dating loser. I'm eating a bag of Funyons and a pint of Ben and Jerry's while watching Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants as we speak.
- So my good friend Fish is trying to hook me up with one of her coworkers. No, not one of her coworkers from her job as a lawyer, but her side job as a waitress at a BBQ joint. Oh, so she's another waitress? No, she's a hostess, like 19 or 20 years old. Now I went up there tonight to get a carry out order and scope her out, and she actually seemed really nice and was cute. She might only be 19, but she looks at least 17. Wait a second... But I hear she reads at a sophmore level (a few of you might get that joke. Van Wilder. Look it up.)
So if I take out a 19 year old what do we do? Go Bowling? Mini-Golf? Chucky Cheeses? A movie? Can she even get in to rated R movies? Seriously, a whole date that doesn't involve drinks...this could be weird. Maybe I'll confiscate an ID from a young blonde that I card at the bar, and presto, she has a fake ID.
- Why does anyone ever go to Arby's and get anything besides the 5 for $5.95 deal? For about the same price you can get a roast beef combo meal, so one sandwich, an order of fries, and a drink. Or get the 5 for 5.95 deal and you get 3 sandwiches and fries and a drink. Or 2 sandwiches, fries, a desert, and a drink. Or you do what I do and get 4 sandwiches, onion straws, and a water. Bam, two meals for $5.95.
- I've realized that the sound of someone eating an apple might be the most annowing sound ever. I don't even eat an apple off the core anymore myself, I cut it up at work with a plastic knife on a styrofoam plate (which is a special talent I must say), just so I don't run the risk of annoying myself.
- Dammit, I have two cats right now. Does that make me the weird creepy cat dude? One's only a loner cat that I'm watching for a friend until January, so I think I'm still somewhat normal.

I'm tired and going to bed. Holla at you all later.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Why I'm Fat

The study was published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Food for thought: Intellectual activities make people eat more than when just resting, according to a study that sheds new light on brain food. This finding might also help explain the obesity epidemic of an increasingly sedentary society in which people still have to think now and then. Researchers split 14 university student volunteers into three groups for a 45-minute session of either relaxing in a sitting position, reading and summarizing a text, or completing a series of memory, attention, and vigilance tests on the computer. The scientists had determined beforehand that the thinking sessions consumed only three calories more than resting. After the sessions, the participants were invited to eat as much as they pleased. Though the study involved a very small number of participants, the results were stark. The students who had done the computer tests downed 253 more calories, or 29.4 percent more than the couch potatoes. Those who had summarized a text consumed 203 more calories than the resting group. Blood samples taken before, during, and after revealed that intellectual work causes much bigger fluctuations in glucose levels than rest periods, perhaps owing to the stress of thinking. The researchers figure the body reacts to these fluctuations by demanding food to restore glucose, a sugar that is the brain's fuel. Glucose is converted by the body from carbohydrates and is supplied to the brain via the bloodstream. The brain cannot make glucose and so needs a constant supply. Brain cells need twice as much energy as other cells in the body. Without exercise to balance the added intake, however, such "brain food" is probably not smart. Various studies in animals have shown that consuming fewer calories overall leads to sharper brains and longer life, and most researchers agree that the findings apply, in general, to humans. And, of course, eating more can make you fat. "Caloric overcompensation following intellectual work, combined with the fact that we are less physically active when doing intellectual tasks, could contribute to the obesity epidemic currently observed in industrialized countries," said lead researcher Jean-Philippe Chaput at Laval University in Quebec City, Canada. "This is a factor that should not be ignored, considering that more and more people hold jobs of an intellectual nature," the researcher concluded. The study was published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

Thoughts on Palin

I usually don't get all political, but the following is a reprint from a family email I sent out, and Carl requested that I post it on here. Soon after this, we all got banned from political talk in the family email chains. I guess the GOPers don't want to hear about what flawed...err, different... logic they have.

I think usually the VP pick doesn't really matter much, it's kinda like getting free oil changes when you buy a car. Sure it's nice, but that shouldn't sway your decision on what car to buy. However since McCain is old as dirt and has had some health issues, I think it comes a little more into play this time around.

First, I feel extrememly sorry for Bristol Palin for getting thrown into the spotlight, I hope she can handle it. One thing I question though is that if Sarah Palin is such a family person, then why would she run for a demanding job when she has a 5 month old child with disabilities and a 17 year old pregnant daughter? I know she'll be able to get the best nannies around, but there's no way she can be that involved in those kids lives as VP. On the same note, if the Palins want privacy for their daughter, then they need to keep her private herself. You can't complain about it and then have the daughter and the baby daddy pose for photo ops with McCain and put them on stage. Here's a link to what I think is a good article about the issue.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cvn_measure_of_a_nation_palin_family_politics

Second, here's a video of Palin giving a speach a few months ago to her former church. If you start listening at about the 3 minute mark or so, she refers to the war in Iraq as "Gods War." That right there is friggin scary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG1vPYbRB7k&eurl=http://cgi.fark.com/cgi/fark/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=3845739

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

American Idol and Taking Katie Out on the Town

This past weekend Katie and the whole clan came down for the long weekend, and one of the excuses of making the trip was to go to the American Idol concert, featuring my protege David Cook. Without further ado, here is the account of the night.

Here I am right after getting to my parents house to pick up Katie and Carl, and of course Carter-man wanted to chill with me for a bit. He knew who I was right away and even wanted me to hold him, and we played for a few minutes while Katie and Carl finished up getting ready. After this we met up with some Gracelanders for a HH, but I didn't take any pictures. Woops.
Here we are in our front row seats (Editors Note: Only Katie and I went to the concert, Carl and the others were only there for happy hour). OK, so they were front row of the upper deck, but they were still pretty decent seats. My good friend Ben and his fiance and parents just happend to sit a few seats over and 3 rows behind us, and I got to chat with them a few times do to the fact I had to make 4 "pit stops" during the concert after having the Bratwurst Platter at happy hour. Most of you are saying that is TMI, but I know Uncle Mark would be proud.
This could have been me. If only I had actual talent. But seriously, he came out wearing a Chiefs jersey which was cool, and halfway through his set he asked how many people were from Blue Springs South out there. We of course went crazy but quite a few people booed (jealous f*cks), but Dave quickly told everyone that there was no need to boo.
After the show, we moved across the street to Power and Light to show Katie where I worked, and to show her a good time since she hadn't been out in almost a year. First stop was to Howl, where we chilled with my friend/manager Jake, took some jello shots, and most importantly, I talked to the piano guys and got Katie to sing a song on stage.
Here she is making her professional debut, singing "Goodbye Earl" by the Dixie Chicks. She nailed it.
After the singing we went next door to PBR Big Sky (assless chaps) to see my friend Heather and have one more drink before heading home. Now I've gotten to know Mike, the GM of the bar, just from working down there, and he happened to be at the entrance when we got there. He let us in without waiting in line, didn't have to pay cover, and after I introduced Katie and told about the twins/not being out in a long time, he immediately went and got us some drinks on the house. He then asked Katie if she wanted to ride the bull, and of course she said yes. Here's Mike and Katie before her time on the bull.
The best part of this is once again we didn't have to wait in line, she got right on. It pays to know people.
All in all, it was a fun filled weekend. I spent all Saturday hanging out with the family, but was having such a good time I didn't take any pics. Oh well, can't wait until next time!!!