Many thoughts, one blog.

Assessment of the respiratory system involves some of the most fun terminology I've come across. For example, diaphragmatic excursion has to do with locating the lower lung border during both inhalation and exhalation, and noting the distance between the two. An even better one is whispered pectoriloquy, which is listening to the lungs with a stethoscope as the patient whispers words. Whispered pectoriloquy - it just gently rolls off the tongue. Fun to assess, more fun to say!

I'm ashamed to admit that one evening of dancing (albeit very enthusiastic dancing) has left me with sore quads. I'm a runner, for chrissake! Yes, I had on heels, and yes, I'd had enough drinks to lead me to believe that I should dip clear down to the floor, but no matter! Self punishment for poor physical condition will ensue tomorrow...

Diet Pepsi makes my world sparkle. I'll admit it - I'm a full-on addict. You know you've got a problem when you're visiting multiple convenience stores daily, so as to downplay the amount of soda purchased. I had cut waaay back for a few weeks, but once again I'm consuming more bubbles and aspartame than can possibly be good for one medium-sized human. Must work on this as well.

Since this post has turned into a parade of dirty laundry, I might as well out with this one as well: I love "tweenage" movies. Especially anything with Anne Hathaway in it. Yesterday I watched Ella Enchanted, and I've seen both of the Princess Diaries several times. Freaky Friday? Love it. What a Girl Wants? Sigh. Oh, wait - Colin Firth is in that last one. Better make it a *double* sigh...

It's unfortunate that alcohol leads us to believe we're much funnier than we actually are. It is fortunate, however, that it also compels others to laugh at our jokes.

I was reading through random profiles on myspace the other day, which is always a good waste of time. Most profiles include a response to the question, "who would you like to meet?" The funniest response I saw was from a wholesome midwestern gal about my age, although I'm pretty sure she wasn't joking. Her answer? Jesus and Oprah. OH!... Oh, I love it! (wipes tears of laughter from eyes) I don't have a problem with Oprah, nor Jesus, but somehow the combination of the two... oh, wow.

My mom always said, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." Yep, I must say I agree.

I've always thought I was relatively bright. Not a genius, by any means, but pretty smart. Somewhere above average. But for some reason (or perhaps that reason), I tend to keep company with some insanely intelligent people. The conversation is always good, but once in a while I wind up feeling like a kid sitting at the grownup's table (often times while reading said smart people's writings). I don't understand how these people retain all the information they do. I've probably taken many of the same college courses, and even read some of the same books, but somehow I've failed to keep hold of much of the knowledge. Drives me crazy, and worse than that, it starts me questioning myself. Am I just a big dummy with a lofty self-image? I never thought so. I hope not. On the other hand, not knowing something usually triggers an information quest for me, in which I research the hell out of something until I understand it, so perhaps feeling dumb on occasion is a good thing. Mrs. Muelenberg, my gifted teacher in grade school (sort of worthless program, by the way) had a mantra: "Being smart is knowing where to find the answers." If she was right, then maybe I'm a little bit smart after all.

The saying, "why buy the cow, when you can get the milk for free?" has been used for years. But recently, females have discovered that "there's no need to buy a whole pig in order to get a little sausage." (teehee, I love that joke.)

Okay, if you're still reading, STOP! (Although I appreciate your attentiveness.) Seriously, this much random information can't be healthy for anyone. I'm going to stop writing and start homework now. Ta-ta!

Paxilback

If for some reason you haven't heard Justin Timberlake's Sexy Back (whether it's because you have good taste in music, live outside the US or under a rock, or you are my mother), go visit iTunes for a listen and then come back for this video.




I hate to keep posting videos, but this is good...

Sleepy

I have several little buds of posts started in my head, but for some reason I can't get them to develop into anything coherent today. Tired? Hormonal? Mildly gloomy? Yes, all of the above...

Today has been a cold, rainy day. I didn't get much sleep last night, and I spent most of the day watching silly movies and laying on the futon. Lack of sleep tends to affect me more emotionally than anywhere else. I have a harder time shaking off the ick when I'm exhausted. Of course, if I stay in the sleep deprived state long enough, I move from the emotionally drained stage into the delirious, uncontrollable laughter stage (anyone who has lived or worked with me can attest to that.) At least at that point I'm entertaining.

Probably the best thing for me now is bed. So I think that's what I'll do.

Goodnight.

How to enjoy a cruddy, dreary day:

• Bundle up in an enormous sweatshirt, crank up some obnoxious rock on your ipod, and go for a run.
• Spend some time in a hot bubble bath.
• Wear either something waffle knit or cable knit. Both work equally well.
• Go to the mall and buy polka-dotted panties and a striped camisole, preferably in outrageously bold colors. Then spend some quality time in the cosmetics aisle. Contemplate new lipcolor for fall.
• Have something carb-licious, like pasta, for dinner.
• Change into jammies, get a glass of pinot noir and a fuzzy blanket, and plant yourself in front of a period film (after, of course, you finish blogging about your day).

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(Missoula has been swathed in a thick, hazy mist today, with temperatures hovering in the upper 40's. Ick. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and in the 50's, though, so that's something to look forward to...)

Free Hugs Campaign

My sentiments exactly.

Miscellany.

I just was out to get the mail, and it smells amazing outside. We had a pretty strong storm blow through an hour or so ago, and now it's cool and damp. I love the smells of fallen leaves and thunderstorms.

Last Saturday was a lot of fun. In the evening Luis and I had some friends over for food and games. What little domestic ability I have tends to show itself during the fall, so I took advantage of this rare mood and did some cooking. I made chili, cornbread, banana nut bread, pumpkin dip (served with gingersnaps - yum!), and homemade caramel corn. Our guests left a little before 11:00, and after cleaning up I headed over to my friend Ben's house for his 25th birthday party. I have to say, I can't recall the last time I was at a kegger - I felt like a teenager again for a few minutes! I stayed for a drink and a chat with some friends and then headed home.

On Tuesday we had a guest of the university stay the night at our apartment. A tall, handsome, classical guitar-playing Englishman with a penchant for high quality chocolate stayed in my apartment. I kept it together, never openly declaring my love for his accent. I did, however, stay up and listen as he and Luis talked shop about the classical guitar world. The information itself was, for the most part, lost on me. The words themselves, however... everything just sounds so lovely with a British accent. (Lame, I know. I just can't help it. Guys with accents make me weak in the knees, and particularly guys with a British accent. On the occasion when I do finally get to visit the UK, I may spontaneously combust.)

Mobash

Yesterday marked the official opening of Mobash, Missoula's new skatepark. Tony Hawk, Bam Margera, Mike Vallely, and others were on hand as a part of Tony Hawk's Secret Skatepark Tour 3. Eight thousand skateboarding fans turned out for the festivities.
I didn't go to the opening (I had planned on it, but forgot all about it until it was too late), but this afternoon I went to the park to check it out. There were some good skateboarders there, so I sat back and enjoyed the show. I'm really too old for this stuff, but I took an interest when my little brother started skateboarding. I have no desire to do it myself, but I love to watch.
The park was designed by Grindline Skateparks and is located in McCormack Park, just off the Orange Street bridge. 15,000 square feet of concrete bowls, ramps and ledges, and all free to the public. I think it's a great addition to the city.

For more information on the park, here are some links.

Missoula Skatepark Association
article in the Missoulian about the skatepark opening
my photos from this afternoon at the park (on Flickr)

WHY am I the last to find out about awesome things?

Boy, when they say "one-button publishing," they mean it! I typed my title with a little too much flourish and out of habit clicked enter, only to have the screen reply, "Files published...50%....100%" It was funny to see my blog yelling WHY am I the last to find out about awesome things? with no further explanation... I spent a few minutes enjoying a good laugh before finishing this post.

The awesome thing I didn't know until minutes ago is that today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day! I forgot all about it! Dang, and I would have made good use of it, too. Well, in honor of the day, here is an english-to-pirate translation of an excerpt of my entry from last night:

Today be a beautiful autumn tide. I love th' fall. I think 'tis me favorite season. That may be from a lifetime o' bein' a student - fall brings new classes an' textbooks, football games an' marchin' bands. I love 't all. Sweaters an' crisp sunny days, an' fallen leaves t' kick up as I keel haul.

Western Montana got 'tis first dustin' o' snow on Saturday - all th' mountaintops be shimmerin' white again.

Fer some reason fall always brings ou' me domestic side. (Luis may duel that I dasn't be havin' a domestic side, but ye`ll be havin' t' ignore th' lad's. I cook more than he does, e'en if that t'ain't sayin' a whole lot...) Last high tide' I made a big pot o' chili, an' I`ve got some super-ripe bananas ready t' go into a loaf o' banana nut bread next high tide'. I hate t' brag, but I make amazin' banana bread. An' snickerdoodles. An'... that`s about th' extent o' me expertise. I be passable at everythin' else, 'ceptin' whole poultry. They fstarboarden me. I`ve made turkey twice. Th' second time be good - th' first time be a fiasco I`d rather forget.

Here be some more links fer yer pleasure:

talklikeapirate.com
a good english-to-pirate translator
talklikeapirateday.com
flickr's talklikeapirateday group photo pool
a great how to talk like a pirate video

Autumn.

Today was a beautiful autumn day.
I love the fall. I think it's my favorite season. That may be from a lifetime of being a student - fall brings new classes and textbooks, football games and marching bands. I love it all. Sweaters and crisp sunny days, and fallen leaves to kick up as I walk.

Western Montana got it's first dusting of snow on Saturday - all the mountaintops are shimmering white again.

For some reason fall always brings out my domestic side. (Luis may argue that I don't have a domestic side, but you'll have to ignore him. I cook more than he does, even if that isn't saying a whole lot...) Yesterday I made a big pot of chili, and I've got some super-ripe bananas ready to go into a loaf of banana nut bread tomorrow. I hate to brag, but I make amazing banana bread. And snickerdoodles. And... that's about the extent of my expertise. I'm passable at everything else, except whole poultry. They frighten me. I've made turkey twice. The second time was good - the first time was a fiasco I'd rather forget.

Speaking of food and fall - one of my favorite snacks is a microwave apple crisp. (Thanks to Patt for getting me started on this - she made it for breakfast while Luis and I were visiting!) Here's the original recipe I downloaded:

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp dark brown sugar
2 Tbsp quick-cooking oats
1 Tbsp flour
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1 apple, peeled and sliced

Place butter in microwave safe container and heat until softened. Stir in sugar, oats, flour and cinnamon; set aside. Place apple slices in small microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle oat mixture over apple. Microwave, uncovered, on 2-3 minutes or until apple is tender.

I make a few adjustments for calorie content - I use light margarine, and a teaspoon of brown sugar combined with a packet of Splenda. I use maybe a teaspoon of flour, and two to three tablespoons of oats. Perfect for a rainy day snack!

I could never be Miss America...

Why, you ask? Well, aside from my short stature, age, and distaste for all things pageant, it's mostly because I could never wish for peace on earth.

Wow, sounds evil... but it's not. Really.

Think for a minute about our world, and the wonderful myriad of viewpoints held by different people. Some of their ideals you embrace, and others you undoubtedly reject. Say, for example, that you hold a strong opinion about the war in Iraq, or on abortion, or on one of any number of hot topics. You believe firmly in your side of the issue and would argue in defense of your belief until your last breath. There are probably many people who hold an opinion similar to yours on the topic. However, for every person who agrees with you, there is one who would disagree with you, adamantly arguing that his side is right. With this comes contention and conflict, which is the opposite of peace.

So how would we achieve peace in this instance?

It seems to me that we would have to somehow silence an entire group of people. I can't figure any other way - it's highly unlikely that anyone could genuinely convince half of everyone that they are wrong, and even were the issue to become obsolete, people would still have opinions about it.

That's not peace. It's oppression. Cessation of variation can't be a good thing.

Perhaps we could strive for this instead:

coexist (v) - to exist separately or independently
but peaceably, often while remaining rivals or adversaries.

Maybe we could spend less time trying to conform everyone to our own personal ideals and just live by our own ideals.

And now, some food for thought:

• It's important to stand up for what we, as individuals, groups or societies, believe in. But to what end? Are the beliefs of any one group more important than the liberties or beliefs of another?
• Think about the most important opinion you hold regarding some issue of social debate. How committed are you to your belief? If mine is the opposite of yours, and I try to convince you I'm right, will you change sides? Now, apply that the other way around. As committed as you are to your belief, the person on the other side is probably equally committed to his.

If I could have a wish, it would be that people take more time to understand one another. Not agree with, necessarily, but at least learn more about each other. Walk a mile in my shoes, and I will in yours. Perhaps we could all benefit from taking some time to find out why other people believe what they do. A little understanding goes a long way.

(I'm done. I'll get off my soapbox now.)