Category Archives: Just for Fun

Why Not Jumping Joes or Jumping Steves?

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We’ve all done them. In elementary school, if  nowhere else. The Jumping Jack. It’s pretty easy to see why it’s called a jumping something, but why Jack? There are several stories that claim to explain this. One is quite simply that it looks like the jacks you played with as a kid. Or it was an exercise designed by Gen. Jack Pershing, while still a cadet, when he was ordered to haze a fellow cadet. Pershing reportedly wanted to make it beneficial as well as hazing. (On a similar note, did you know the treadmill was originally designed as a torture device?) Or it was named for the old wooden toy the lady in this picture is playing with. You’ve seen these, at least in … Continue reading →

New Shoes

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I got new shoes. You know, just normal, everyday shoes. Which would hardly seem something to write a blog post about. Except that I don’t have normal, everyday shoes. I rarely buy shoes except for athletic shoes. (Yes, I am a woman and I don’t have a closet-full of shoes.) Until now, my only everyday shoes were boots that are too big and are meant to be worn with thick socks and custom orthotic sandals. I’d stay in my boots until I could wear my sandals. Not only are athletic shoes not stylish terrifically stylish, but the mesh top will let the rain and wind in. I wear dress shoes when necessary, but I take them off under the table. See, my feet don’t fit … Continue reading →

“WARNING: Product May Work” and Other Ridiculous Warning Labels

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There are some warning labels that leave you scratching your head. Like the one of those old cardboard windshield sun protectors. You know, to keep some of the sun/heat out of your car while you’re inside somewhere. On mine, set in red letters, was: “WARNING: Do not drive with sun shield in place.” Really? You have to tell the driver that?  It isn’t perfectly obvious when you sit in the driver’s seat and look? This is cardboard. You can’t see through cardboard. You don’t need a warning label to know that. I have a sleep disorder and I can’t get a restorative sleep without meds. The label on one says: “CAUTION: May cause drowsiness.” Isn’t that kind of like warning that sprinkling lighter fluid on … Continue reading →

When is 5 Pounds Not 5 Pounds?

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At the gym, I hang a weight off my ankle to do leg lifts. I’d been using a 5-pound plate, but I wanted to increase it, so I picked up a 7.5-pound dumbbell. The thing was, it didn’t really feel any heavier. So, I picked up the plate in the other hand to compare and it still didn’t feel any heavier. So, I took them into the locker room and weighed them. The 5-pound plate weighed 6.5 pounds and the 7.5-pound dumbbell weighed 6 pounds. I asked one of the trainers how that could be. Know what she said? Not all plates or dumbbells are accurate. I said, “Really? It can vary that much?” Yup, she said. In other words, you can’t be sure that … Continue reading →

Dead Ringer, Graveyard Shift, Saved by the Bell

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Back in the day, not all those buried were actually dead. So, a string was tied to the probably-deceased’s wrist that lead to a bell on their grave. Supposedly, if they woke up and discovered they were not, in fact, dead, they would move their wrist – or, more likely, frantically pound their hands in panic – thus ringing the bell and alerting someone to their presence. The someone, of course, would have been working the Graveyard Shift and the Dead Ringer would have been Saved by the Bell.

I Don’t Know When to Shower

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Two weeks ago, I had some reconstructive work done on my nose and the doctor doesn’t want me to work out again for another two weeks.  This is difficult for me for several reasons. The first one is, working out is a part of my life.  I don’t really even feel alive if I don’t work out.  My muscles are used to regular activity to keep them flexible and now that they don’t have it, they’re tensing up, especially my back.  And I’m not outdoors as much.  I work out in a gym, but I also run and ride my bike, so I’m jonesin’ on the sun. Plus, I feel like a slug.  But all of this I anticipated.  I knew I wasn’t going to … Continue reading →

Things I Find Odd

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Ever noticed that when you see people out of the context you usually see them in, they’re suddenly a whole different person?  You don’t think of them outside of that one environment, so it’s actually a little surprising that they exist in other environments.  I mean, you know they do.  But it’s kind of like why it was so shocking when you were a little kid to saw a teacher outside of school.  The fact that teachers exist outside of school does not register with elementary school kids. When you see people you see regularly at the gym, you may smile and nod as you pass them.  So, why is it when you see them somewhere else, you have to stop and chat?  Sure, part … Continue reading →

Spring at Last!

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Spring appears to be here for real now. We had many individual days of spring in February and March, but the next day, it would be 38º again. When the weather is temperate for more than two days in a row, more people get colds than in most of the winter months. In the winter, we know to be careful of the cold, we know to protect ourselves. In spring, we’re so excited to see the sun again that we forget all about taking care of ourselves. Even more than winter, the beginnings of spring are when you need to do that, and to boost the immune system. This is when you should increase the vitamin C and eat really healthy meals. Get the most … Continue reading →

Only Make Tiramisu for a Party

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Or if you have a big family. I’ll get to that later. I read something about tiramisu in the paper recently, so I got a bug up my butt about it. I used to work in a Little Italy district, so I know tiramisu. For those of you who don’t, it’s a very creamy, very rich dessert. And it is very important to the Italian culture. Restaurants will compete to have the best tiramisu, just as bars will compete to have the best margarita or bloody Mary. Tiramisu is a specialty food. I know many Italian chefs, but I don’t know any who would attempt to make the dessert themselves for their customers. Not even most regular bakers are entrusted with the task. The manager … Continue reading →