L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 42
October 11, 2012
October 11th, 2012
Kym likes chocolate milk. Most people like chocolate milk. But the way Kym likes chocolate milk is different from the way some people do. You see, Kym once spent five minutes with a cup of chocolate milk and a straw. She didn't drink the milk.
She discovered that if you stir chocolate milk fast enough. and let go of the straw, it will get caught in the bubbles swirling at the center of the glass, and stay upright. She experimented with this, over and over and over. Until she got caught. Then she had some explaining to do.
She discovered that if you stir chocolate milk fast enough. and let go of the straw, it will get caught in the bubbles swirling at the center of the glass, and stay upright. She experimented with this, over and over and over. Until she got caught. Then she had some explaining to do.
October 10, 2012
October 10th, 2012
All righty then!
Since no one weighed in on my ideas for Wednesday's blog theme, I've picked my own. Each week I'll pick a quote of the week, and put it up on the news and updates page. I'll also write a blog post on what my thoughts are about it. No scavenger hunt - although if participation picks up, I may change that! I still think that would be fun. So starting next week, Wednesday will be quote day!
Got a favorite quote? Share it with us!
Since no one weighed in on my ideas for Wednesday's blog theme, I've picked my own. Each week I'll pick a quote of the week, and put it up on the news and updates page. I'll also write a blog post on what my thoughts are about it. No scavenger hunt - although if participation picks up, I may change that! I still think that would be fun. So starting next week, Wednesday will be quote day!
Got a favorite quote? Share it with us!
October 9, 2012
October 09th, 2012
I went out to check the garden one morning in my slippers, and I had to climb between two wires of our makeshift fence to get inside. Now, as a martial artist, I can almost do the splits. But even a martial artist will screech in mortal terror if their feet slip and they try to unintentionally do the splits over a wire eight inches off the ground. I don't think I've made such a scuffling/shrieking noise for a very long time. I was grateful, mind you, when I caught myself.
Just as my heart was beginning to return to it's normal rhythm, I decided I was going to step over a row of lettuce. The lettuce must have thought I was going to squish it flat, because my foot slipped. Again. Oh, it was a relief to leave the garden that day. The dirt sure had it in for me.
Just as my heart was beginning to return to it's normal rhythm, I decided I was going to step over a row of lettuce. The lettuce must have thought I was going to squish it flat, because my foot slipped. Again. Oh, it was a relief to leave the garden that day. The dirt sure had it in for me.
October 8, 2012
October 08th, 2012
Excuse #5
I'm too busy.
Even if you eat fast food all the time, there are ways to improve your health and lose weight. Take a look at Eat This! Not That! website or book. They have tons of smart swaps and ideas to save your health. You can even sign up for a daily newsletter - and bonus, they're fun to read.
If you'd like, however, you can take one of your days off, and reconnect with cooking. You can cook six or seven single-serve meals in a day. And it's fun, too. You'll also save money, if you do it that way, in addition to the calories. You can find a cookbook by Eat This! Not That! too.
I'm too busy.
Even if you eat fast food all the time, there are ways to improve your health and lose weight. Take a look at Eat This! Not That! website or book. They have tons of smart swaps and ideas to save your health. You can even sign up for a daily newsletter - and bonus, they're fun to read.
If you'd like, however, you can take one of your days off, and reconnect with cooking. You can cook six or seven single-serve meals in a day. And it's fun, too. You'll also save money, if you do it that way, in addition to the calories. You can find a cookbook by Eat This! Not That! too.
October 7, 2012
October 07th, 2012
Hypocrisy.
It's a familiar word to most of us. Some have been accused of it. Many people involved in religion of any kind are often accused of being hypocrites. I know I have been. I used to argue that I was not. But I've changed my mind.
If I can't do what I tell others they should be doing, then am I really practicing what I preach? No. Not at all. I'm being a hypocrite by trying to make people do what is impossible for me. I'm preaching with the assumption that others should be like me, and that I have already accomplished everything I'm trying to convince them of.
But how is one supposed to preach without doing that?
It's easy, really. You teach people about your goals, not your successes. You keep in mind that all you're really trying to do is convince others to share your goals and ideals so there's another person to walk the long road with. And, if you believe this, so that the end of their road is more pleasant than the one they currently have before them.
Preaching and teaching are not ways to 'toot your own horn.' They are ways to help others, and also, I think, to remind us that as hard as we try, none of us are perfect.
It's a familiar word to most of us. Some have been accused of it. Many people involved in religion of any kind are often accused of being hypocrites. I know I have been. I used to argue that I was not. But I've changed my mind.
If I can't do what I tell others they should be doing, then am I really practicing what I preach? No. Not at all. I'm being a hypocrite by trying to make people do what is impossible for me. I'm preaching with the assumption that others should be like me, and that I have already accomplished everything I'm trying to convince them of.
But how is one supposed to preach without doing that?
It's easy, really. You teach people about your goals, not your successes. You keep in mind that all you're really trying to do is convince others to share your goals and ideals so there's another person to walk the long road with. And, if you believe this, so that the end of their road is more pleasant than the one they currently have before them.
Preaching and teaching are not ways to 'toot your own horn.' They are ways to help others, and also, I think, to remind us that as hard as we try, none of us are perfect.
October 6, 2012
October 06th, 2012
"Beenie, you made him mad. Why'd you do that?" Troy asked. "We could get in trouble."
"How could we get in trouble?" Beenie asked. "It was just laying there. I wasn't going to take it. I just wanted to see what was inside."
"Beenie, do you know what hedgehogs do?" Troy asked, peeking over the tree root at her.
"No."
"They work for the gnomes in the mountain," Troy said. "And the gnomes are mean and nasty."
"Gnomes?" said Beenie. "Mountain?"
"Yes!" said Troy. "They live in the mountain, and sometimes come out at night. They scare the other animals sometimes."
"But what's a gnome?" Beenie asked.
"You don't know what a gnome is?" Troy asked, his voice squeaky and incredulous.
"No," Beenie replied.
"A gnome is big. Well, bigger than us, anyway. They're really skinny, and Francis the toad told me that they're really strong, too. Nobody knows what they do in the mountain, but whenever someone disappears, they always blame the gnomes."
"Why would asking questions get us in trouble?" Beenie asked. "It's only questions."
"The hedgehogs work for the gnomes. And the gnomes don't like anyone asking questions," Troy said. "Why do you think my mom wanted us to leave it alone? That hedgehog is probably going to tell the gnomes about us!"
"How could we get in trouble?" Beenie asked. "It was just laying there. I wasn't going to take it. I just wanted to see what was inside."
"Beenie, do you know what hedgehogs do?" Troy asked, peeking over the tree root at her.
"No."
"They work for the gnomes in the mountain," Troy said. "And the gnomes are mean and nasty."
"Gnomes?" said Beenie. "Mountain?"
"Yes!" said Troy. "They live in the mountain, and sometimes come out at night. They scare the other animals sometimes."
"But what's a gnome?" Beenie asked.
"You don't know what a gnome is?" Troy asked, his voice squeaky and incredulous.
"No," Beenie replied.
"A gnome is big. Well, bigger than us, anyway. They're really skinny, and Francis the toad told me that they're really strong, too. Nobody knows what they do in the mountain, but whenever someone disappears, they always blame the gnomes."
"Why would asking questions get us in trouble?" Beenie asked. "It's only questions."
"The hedgehogs work for the gnomes. And the gnomes don't like anyone asking questions," Troy said. "Why do you think my mom wanted us to leave it alone? That hedgehog is probably going to tell the gnomes about us!"
October 5, 2012
October 05th, 2012
For today's randomosity, I was thinking that my pageviews peak on Sundays, and seem to hit a low on Wednesdays. So I was trying to think of a different topic for Wednesday's Health For Those Who Hate It. I had a few ideas, and I'd like everyone to weigh in on what they think before I make a decision.
I thought perhaps a quote each Wednesday, plus my thoughts on the quote.
Or perhaps a quote scavenger hunt, where I'd choose a quote and hide it somewhere on the site. Whoever finds it and comments the location first wins the game.
OR, I could pick a quote, and you get to guess who said it, or, in some cases, what book it's from.
I'm accepting other suggestions, as well, so if you have one let me know!
I thought perhaps a quote each Wednesday, plus my thoughts on the quote.
Or perhaps a quote scavenger hunt, where I'd choose a quote and hide it somewhere on the site. Whoever finds it and comments the location first wins the game.
OR, I could pick a quote, and you get to guess who said it, or, in some cases, what book it's from.
I'm accepting other suggestions, as well, so if you have one let me know!
October 4, 2012
October 04th, 2012
The family business rents instruments. And that means sending out bills. Unfortunately for Kym, that also mean using the metering machine. Kym is technologically challenged. In other words (her own) she's machine-stupid. She approaches new technology like you might walk up to a bear. One hand outstretched, preparing to play dead. Or, in Kym's case, scream that she broke it, and somebody better help her fix it before she makes it worse.
It happened yesterday. She (somehow) managed to get a 'loading error' message on the itty-bitty screen. She tried pressing the logical buttons - you know, every single button on the control pad - but nothing happened. Feeling incredibly stupid, she continued pushing buttons, sure that she must have missed something. She pushed every single button, again, thinking that the coworker who was vacuuming outside the offic door must think she'd gone bonkers.
Eventually she gave up and went for help. Her uncle came back, pressed a button (that she'd already hit at least twice) and it started working. She could have cheerfully beat that machine with a baseball bat.
It happened yesterday. She (somehow) managed to get a 'loading error' message on the itty-bitty screen. She tried pressing the logical buttons - you know, every single button on the control pad - but nothing happened. Feeling incredibly stupid, she continued pushing buttons, sure that she must have missed something. She pushed every single button, again, thinking that the coworker who was vacuuming outside the offic door must think she'd gone bonkers.
Eventually she gave up and went for help. Her uncle came back, pressed a button (that she'd already hit at least twice) and it started working. She could have cheerfully beat that machine with a baseball bat.
October 3, 2012
October 03rd, 2012
Excuse #4 I can't do the exercises.
First of all, what exercises are you talking about? If you're looking at a gymnastics video, or a sports tutorial of some kind, then forget about it. None of those people went from no experience and no training to THAT. Most of them have probably trained for years. So first, lower your expectations. If you're not a gymnast, then don't expect to be able to do the splits. If you're not already a bodybuilder, then you probably have trouble with a proper pushup. Start small, and don't kill yourself. If you have problems with weights, start with two food cans and some simple bicep curls. If you want to work your tummy, do crunches until your muscles fatigue - then stop. If you want to do cardio, start with walking, and then add intervals of speed walking. Little bits at a time!
First of all, what exercises are you talking about? If you're looking at a gymnastics video, or a sports tutorial of some kind, then forget about it. None of those people went from no experience and no training to THAT. Most of them have probably trained for years. So first, lower your expectations. If you're not a gymnast, then don't expect to be able to do the splits. If you're not already a bodybuilder, then you probably have trouble with a proper pushup. Start small, and don't kill yourself. If you have problems with weights, start with two food cans and some simple bicep curls. If you want to work your tummy, do crunches until your muscles fatigue - then stop. If you want to do cardio, start with walking, and then add intervals of speed walking. Little bits at a time!
October 2, 2012
October 02nd, 2012
It's amazing. It's wonderful. I can't believe it.
My teeny little watermelon that started out as a cute little fuzzy the size of the end of my pinky finger is almost big enough to eat! It's larger than my two fists put together.
Perhaps I'll pick it soon. But heaven help the person that does it without my permission. My aunt did that to my cousin; went out and picked a watermelon before it was ripe. My cousin was livid, but I'll never forget the expression on her face when she snatched the melon and said 'I'm putting it back out there!'
I'M going to pick that watermelon, if I have to stand guard over it with a six-foot stick.
My teeny little watermelon that started out as a cute little fuzzy the size of the end of my pinky finger is almost big enough to eat! It's larger than my two fists put together.
Perhaps I'll pick it soon. But heaven help the person that does it without my permission. My aunt did that to my cousin; went out and picked a watermelon before it was ripe. My cousin was livid, but I'll never forget the expression on her face when she snatched the melon and said 'I'm putting it back out there!'
I'M going to pick that watermelon, if I have to stand guard over it with a six-foot stick.
