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Here are posterous posts filed under ramblings...

yffoto says...

The holiday decorations have been in place for a while now and I just had to take a photo of this little birdie. I just love him and his little birdie friends. It seems to be a bit of a theme on my tree - birds, jayhawks included. Ha!

Bit of a rough day - chasing purchase orders from coast to coast. Trying to get client comments so I don't miss a deadline. Finding out I'm going to have to travel the week of Christmas - for work! Nothing like being in Kansas twice in the same week. Have developed some sort of pain in my abdomen - right at my right hip bone. I think I must have twisted wrong and am now paying for that. Ran a few errands, but didn't make it to all the stores because I didn't want to push myself too far. I've got meetings downtown tomorrow morning.

Then I come home to a call about my refinance and find out that it's a no go. Well, they would proceed with it but the closing costs more than doubled from what was originally discussed. All this thanks to property value drop of 22% in my area! I paid $500 to find out that my condo is worth $30K less than what I paid for it three years ago. Booooooo!

At this point I HAVE to stay in my condo for at least two more years to 'break even.' If I do any improvement I will either have to cut my losses knowing I'll never recoup or stay here long enough to actually make some money back. Home ownership SUCKS!

To leave this post on a positive - I've almost completed my Christmas shopping and I feel great about that! Merry! Merry!

Filed under: ramblings

yffoto says...

Took me a while to get out of bed this morning, but once I did I got sooooo much done! I seem to have a strange amount of energy today... made cinnamon chip waffles, chocolate ganache and orange buttercream filling for my french macarons (they are so good!), cleaned, did the laundry, caught up on some DVR, watched the Jayhawks beat the Bruins and squeaked in a photoshoot of my little Phoebe, holiday decorations and the famous macarons.

         

Filed under: ramblings

yffoto says...

   

It's all about egg whites!  That's my conclusion in this macaron experiment!  This time I doubled the recipe - 6 whites whipped up quite nicely and were perfectly stiff, just as they should be.  This was for sure the root of my problem with my first go at the french macaron.

So I got much closer this time.  I used the typical recipe from my first experiment and got beautiful "feet" but I needed to give the batter a few more turns because they also had "beaks" - boo for beaks!  I think the third time with this recipe will be the charm for sure!  

With the second part of the batter I attempted a chocolate version that wasn't super successful.  Not sure what I did wrong with that one - used the famous David Lebovitz recipe but when baked at 375 no feet and major cracks (right in the photo above) I turned the oven down to 310 and got better results (middle in photo above) but still some cracks, but hey, they've got feet!

Tomorrow I'll make some fillings and see how these guys taste!  That's the most important thing right??

Filed under: ramblings

yffoto says...

I'm having a very modified thanksgiving this year (surgery and all) so there will be no feast for me. I'm sure my waistline will thank me for it.

I did, however, succom to the temptation of pie. I had the smallest piece with some maple brown sugar cinnamon ice cream. Let's hope my body is ready for the challenge. :). Happy happy to all.

Filed under: ramblings

Ugh! A Facebook widget made the homepage www.boxreborn.com look like a train wreck for Internet Explorer users. The script has been removed so it should look fine now (but those using Internet Explorer - still needs lobotomy).

Filed under: Ramblings

yffoto says...

I've missed my lists for a couple of weeks... now I'm back on the bandwagon!

loves
  • Apple TV
  • that my surgery was complication free!
  • my anesthesiologist 
  • holiday decor & twinkle lights
  • my kitties
  • my coworkers for being my friends and helping me through my surgery
  • that I have not had to turn my heat on for two whole months - those new windows are working!
  • rss feed & food blogs
  • technology 

loathes
  • no Thanksgiving feast for me this year
  • squishy furuniture
  • that I'm a picky eater
  • that my condo is not worth what I paid
  • bloody bandages for three weeks - eew
  • denying myself things I want (gotta stick to the budget!)
  • that I've gained a couple of lbs back since surgery

Happy Thanksgiving to all.  Eat pie for me!!

Filed under: ramblings

mikefine says...

When Autumn arrives, you can feel something special. It is not the beautiful changing of the colors. It is not the warm days and cool evenings. It isn't the sudden change in local markets from summer sales to Halloween decorations. It is the smell of snow. Yes, there is this distinct odor in Utah that any skier and snowboard can detect in the air.

The moment the odor arrives, we stop; turn our heads upward; and inhale deeply. In a moment, our whole disposition changes and suddenly elation bubbles from within. Like a perfumed woman walking into a Parisian bar, the arrival of the winter season turns our heads and changes our thoughts. Our minds are immediately transported to the slopes and things begin to take a focus on the coming season.

I love this magical aroma. It is intoxicating and invigorating.

Filed under: Ramblings

yffoto says...

So yeah, it's a Monday. Every now and then I have one of those days that you just don't think anything can top the last insane thing that happened and today... it just kept getting more ridiculous...

After a day full of "OMG Really's?" Then I get on the phone w/AT&T Uverse tech support to troubleshoot my sloooooooow internet. I've had three people out, swapped out my 'residential gateway' and have logged hours and hours on tech support to no avail. So the new suggestion is to contact an outside source that's going to cost me $$ to figure out what's wrong with MY settings. I call that company only to have them tell me that I have to add a service through UVerse, but their business office is closed, so you'll have to do that tomorrow morning. It takes 24-48 hours to show on my account and then I can call back to actually get help. Sheesh! Nope, not gonna do that.

So I've spent the night surfing - slow firefox mac - to see what the heck could be wrong with my settings... I've updated my Flash Player and changed a network setting, cleared my cache and cookies and will see if any of that does the trick. Any suggestions from out there would be superb!

Isn't this just the most perfect end to a Monday?
bonne nuit

Filed under: ramblings

Danny says...

Pooping is a part of all of our lives. It's a stinky little skeleton in our closets. It's certainly no secret that everyone poops, but most people do their best to avoid talking or thinking about it. Today, I am going to brave the harsh norms of society and say, loud and proud, that I poop. I'm already regretting beginning this post because my imagination is running wild with thoughts of scenarios of who will be reading this, but please, I beg of you, have an open mind. This post is not meant to be foul, crude, or offensive. I am merely addressing a common bond that we as the human race share. So I ask you for just a moment, suspend your prejudice, become comfortable with yourself and read on as I journey into the world of dookie.

My Relationship with Poop

If pooping and I were in an offical relationship on Facebook, it would most certainly be labeled "complicated." Sure, we've been together for a long time. We've helped each other through some rough spots and had some fun, but frankly as often as I've loved pooping, I've hated it.

It all starts when you're an infant. You're small, fragile and you can barely move on your own, let alone hoist yourself up to the porcelain pony.

So what do you do? You crap in that villainous contraption called a diaper. You might be thinking: "Well Danny, whats wrong with that? You can poop on the go, someone cleans up after you. Pooping as a baby was great!". To this I exclaim, "Bull----!". Pooping as a baby had to be one of the worst times to be part of the pooping population. I'm sure you can see where I am going with this. I mean seriously, you're stuck in your own poop. Your poop is literally strapped to your body. This sounds more like a form of torture than a valid waste management procedure. Not to mention the fact that diaper rash really hurts. Don't believe me? Try wearing a scratchy t-shirt and then jogging a mile and tell me how your nipples feel. Thats basically the same thing as diaper rash.

Arguably these previous negatives could be attributed to the invention and misuse of the diaper not pooping. Fair enough. Let's move forward, out of infancy and into childhood, adolescence and adulthood. At this point you finally have advanced motor functions, you can poop where you please and when you please. Pooping seems pretty natural throughout childhood, like a fat kid on a slip and slide. You spend a minute on the pot, produce turd, and you're done, but somewhere along the line, things get complicated.

Pooping as an Adult

Taking a dump really starts to get troublesome as you get older. Despite the fact that you look forward to pooping because it allows you to get out of work or school for 10 minutes or so, it seems your body, specifically your rectum, has worn down. Poops become more difficult. All of those easy, enjoyable poops you took as a kid start to seem like a fantasy or a dream world. Poop begins to turn on you. Now occasionally you'll have a poo that will leave you with painful discomfort, or one that simply shocks and appalls you with what your body is capable of. You begin to enter the bathroom afraid and unaware of what dangers lurk ahead.

"When the pooping gets tough, the tough name their poop."

An interesting phenomenon occurs as pooping proceeds to become more of a hassle. As consistency (and either definition of this word works here) of your poop diminishes, types of poops begin to pick up nicknames. Let me list some of the more frequent poop "styles" here:

  • Pebbles and Bam Bam
  • The Green Apple Splatters
  • The Squirts
  • Snakes on a Plane
  • Beer Shits
  • The Panzerfaust
  • The Runs
  • Luqishits
  • The Green Mile
  • Rocky Road
  • A Loaf
  • Ect.

Most of these names were carefully developed to accurately define poops that had unpleasant qualities. Consider " The Panzerfaust”, which shoots out like a rocket propelled grenade, or “Pebbles and Bam Bam”, this poop drops out like a handfull of jagged rocks.  As far as I know however, only one name has ever been created for a pleasant poop. This rare but wondrous poop is called “The Magic Poo”. This term was devised to describe a miraculous event that happens only infrequently in a poopers career.

The Magic Poo”

A “Magic Poo” is considered to have occurred when an individual takes a poo that comes out so smoothly, so effortlessly, and so cleanly that, after wiping they realize that there was no need for the wiping at all. The “Magic Poo” gracefully leaves the body ridding you of waste and leaving no residue behind. Why make such a fuss over one little poo you ask? Because it's a most glorious event! When a man or women goes to the bathroom to drop a log it becomes a game of Russian roulette, except it seems that in pooping the gun has 5 bullets in the chamber instead of one! A “Magic Poo” allows you to avoid the “uncomfortable afterwords” of an unpleasant dump. A “Magic Poo” sends you merrily on your way without any pain, sorrow or dingleberries.

Poo, Meet Me in Death My Friend.

As many of you may know, sometimes when an individual dies from a traumatic event, they release their bowels. Even at death's door we bring with us Mr. Brown, our constant companion.

An Ode To You Poo

Poop, you have relieved and terrified us. Your legacy has created countless dirty jokes, several ingenious devices, a home for the teenage mutant ninja turtles and a whole world of mystery and intrigue for those curious about their excrement. Whether you are loved or hated, you will never be forgotten. From you, we can never escape.

Thank you for reading. If you have any names for poo, good or otherwise, that I have not included here, please by all means make a comment and I will add them. I hope I have not offended or appalled anyone. Poo on brothers and sisters, poo on.

 

Dan

Filed under: Ramblings

yffoto says...

Modern medicine and how patients are treated is kind of pitiful.  I'm kind of wanting to turn back in time and have that guy with his medicine bag who comes to your house and sits by your bedside to talk to you about your health.  I switched doctors a couple of years ago due to insurance reasons and haven't really been too happy with my new one.  

My new doctor is part of a large practice connected with a local hospital healthcare system.  Our first meeting was good - she sat and listened to me, I didn't feel rushed, she asked questions and reviewed my medical history with me.  I'd say it was a pretty positive experience overall.  At that time I wasn't really dealing with any particular ailments so it was more of a physical of sorts.  

Over the last year, I've had multiple visits to the office in an effort to figure out why I feel crummy all the time.  I'm not sure why, but I feel that the care I am getting within this practice is kind of crap.  Here's why:

  • Grumpy front desk staff - they have no idea who I am even though I've been there multiple times within the same year.  They aren't happy to see me and are really just there to take my co-pay and hand me orders printed from my doctor.  Is this really what we want to see when we're first arriving at our doctor's office?  Um, no.
  • Last minute walk-in appointments are only available from 8-9AM and are meant to be 5 minute appointments.  So if you've got the flu or some kind of minor ailment then you can pop in for a prescription or whatever.  While this is OK for the quick things, it does not serve those of us who are in pain that is not a quick fix.  I went in once for some kind of pain and the guy (yes, the doctors rotate during this time so you might be treated by someone that's not your primary care doctor) actually said something like "um, you're going to need to schedule an appointment for this."  Now mind you, I just plunked down my co-pay dollars and then had to schedule another appointment where I had to plunk down more money!  So this walk-in thing sucks.
  • EMAIL.  Part of me likes the email feature - I can look at my medical history online and find that helpful, but when your doctor tells you a test result that requires you seek a surgeon for removal of an organ ... something about this has just rubbed me the wrong way.  Yes, my doctor informed me of an ultrasound test result via email as follows:

"Hello
You should be able to see the report now.
Your liver is fine, but you do have a gallstone.
Although there is not evidence of irritation or inflammation of the gallbladder lining, this stone may intermittently cause pain. It is also possible that you have passed a gallstone.
You should see a surgeon to review this and discuss your symptoms to see if he thinks this is the cause.
You can schedule appt with Dr ... "

Um, really?  This is how you tell me a medical test result that requires surgery?? WTH?  

And you know the funny thing, the doctor that I had to leave told me I wouldn't love this type of practice.  He was a very hands on, personable guy whose staff knew me, chatted me up when I came into the office and would have actually CALLED ME ON THE PHONE to tell me of something like this.  Quite frankly, he probably would have had me come into the office (free of charge) to discuss the test result, make sure I didn't have any questions about the situation and would have offered to assist with making appointments for surgeons.  

To add insult to injury, when I visited again for my pre-surgical physical, she greeted me and said "so it looks like you're going to have some surgery" and then went on into my current stats.  Nothing about questions about the procedure.  She did print out a handfull of paper for me to read up on the surgery.  (ack!) I was in her office for all of about 10 minutes.  What a joke!!!!!  

So, I'm trying to figure out if I should discuss this with her and try to continue care with her or just move on to another doctor... 

Filed under: ramblings