Facebook and politics don't mix

I’ve been “friended” on Facebook by several high school acquaintances in the past year. At first, I was flattered. (Really? You want to be friends with me? But we haven’t spoken since high school and even then, your only words to me were “Get out of the way loser.”)

It has been interesting to learn what they have all been up to since we have last spoken. What I find most fascinating is the divergent paths our political beliefs have taken. (He’s a right-wing conservative? She’s now an outspoken liberal? That sort of thing.)

But what makes me unfriend someone faster than the dogs polishing off a bowl of kibble is when these Facebook friends start complaining online about politics and posting charts, graphs and videos. (Oh yeah, there have been several.)

Just this morning, someone complained in their posting about ABC and NBC refusing to air some political commentary. Just before I unfriend this person, I wrote on their wall how much more I like Ugly Betty and 30 Rock. (I mean, really, what’s not to love about Betty Suarez and Liz Lemon?)

I’ve been told Facebook friends never know when they’ve been unfriended – unless they try to look you up again and remember you were once Facebook friends. And even if they do know, who cares? Would you walk into a party with charts about the problems with Obama’s health care reform? No friends of mine would!

Facebook Ettiquette
Emily Post - there's even an email newsletter (not that you need it, of course)
Yearbook Gift Wrap - just because it's fun
Yearbook Yourself - create a new Facebook profile pic using old yearbook photos

Solar Lantern

When the weather is cooler and there are fewer mosquitoes, we like to entertain in our backyard. Unfortunately, it’s a little dark back there at night. Normally, a couple of candles do the trick. But in October, we have a pumpkin carving party for the neighborhood for Halloween. I suppose it’s not a good idea to use sharp knives in the dark. (Cry babies. I mean really, who needs two thumbs, right?)

I realized the best way to protect us from any more insurance claims might be to have extra lighting above the table, not just from candles on the table.

In the past, we have strung lights across the yard from the tree, but lately the squirrels have gotten to them. (I would never have guessed that electrical cords are that tasty. I wonder if it's those Zombie Squirrels...)

I think these solar lanterns are a nice alternative. I’m going to order one and see how bright it is. If it works well, I’ll probably get a couple more just in time for October. The neighbors will be so pleased.

SFMOMA

Vintage Phones

We spent too much money on the bathroom renovations this past spring. So our new mobile phone purchase has been postponed – which is killing me!

Some time ago, I installed software on my Palm Treo that allows me to check work email. (It’s special software that interfaces with Lotus Notes – why would anyone still use this antiquated email program?) Unfortunately, my phone already had a tendency to lock up and restart. The work email software makes it occur more often.

Restarting normally takes five minutes which totally ruins those moments when there is a squirrel outside the window looking at you in the conference room as if you were a caged animal in a zoo (it sure does feel that way) – and you want to take a picture of the squirrel but your phone has to restart. (I do work hard, I swear!)

While I love technology, there’s something to be said for things that work everytime, without complications.

These vintage phones are cool, but does it mean that I would actually have to sit down in one place, actually use my finger to dial, then have a conversation? And how do you send a text message on it?

The Curiosity Shoppe

Genealogy

My dad’s birthday was this past weekend. He brought an old photo with him to lunch on Saturday. Dad asked me to scan it and print copies.

The picture shows my dad holding my older brother who was just seven months old in the photo. (I should have Photoshopped some horns onto him for torturing me as he did while growing up!) Next to my father is his mother. Next to my grandmother is her mother. And next to my grandmother’s mother is her father. That's my great-great-grandfather with the cigar in his hand on the very left.

Five generations all in one photograph! You don’t see that everyday, now do you? (And on top of that, the photo makes my dad look tall!)

My dad spent some time trying to remember his great grandfather’s first name, but could never think of it.

So I thought I’d do something nice and search for it online. I started the search with my grandparent's names. There were more than 15 million entries that might be matches to them. (Oh, if only I had been born with a less common last name!)

Any ideas on the best genealogy sites? Visit the Snackworthy site and submit a comment to provide your best suggestions!

Here’s what I tried so far:

Ancestry.com
Genealogy.com
Familysearch.org

The Poisonwood Bible

A co-worker lent a novel to me from Oprah’s Book Club. I’m not sure how O does it all, between producing a daily television show, publishing a magazine, running a radio channel on satellite radio and managing a cable network. That’s quite an empire. And, on top of that, she reads books. (Or does she secretly just get the Cliff Notes?)

I’m a little behind her schedule. The Poisonwood Bible was on her book club a couple of years ago. (What? You thought I meant behind on managing my own television show, publishing a magazine, etc., etc.? Yeah, well that too – but really way behind schedule. Frankly, I'm lucky if I make it to work on time.)

Anyway, the story is about a family of Southern Baptists from Georgia who go on a missionary trip to the Congo in the early 1960’s. The most interesting aspect to me is the changing narrative. It is told from a completely female point of view, switching from chapter to chapter, between the voices of the four daughters and their mother.

Along the way, you learn about the culture and history of the Republic of Congo.

The book is more than 500 pages, so don’t start to read it unless you have a lot of time on your hands. You’ve got an empire to run.

But if you do, make sure you’ve got a takeout menu handy and a telephone. You won’t want to do anything else until you’ve finished the book.

The Poisonwood Bible
Cliff Notes for The Poisonwood Bible

Next to Normal

My younger brother adopted a dog last year whose fur is completely white. He and his girlfriend Brandy spent considerable time trying to think of a name for the dog. They finally settled on Polar. Brandy’s reason was because the dog has white hair – like a polar bear. My brother’s reason? If anyone asked where Brandy was, he could reply “Brandy is by Polar.” (Read it aloud. Bi-polar. Got it now?)

While mental illness is not humorous (except to my brother), it sure can be the topic for a great musical (I know, who would have thought?). We saw an amazing show in New York last weekend. Titled “Next To Normal”, the show is about a family's unraveling as they struggle to cope with the mother's bi-polar disorder.

It’s from the director of Rent and it has a similar style to it. The lead actress, Alice Ripley, won a Tony for her performance as the mother and she does an amazing job.

Check out the preview on YouTube. It gives me chills each time I watch it.

View a clip on YouTube
Now go buy tickets

Pinch and S'mac

We just returned from NYC yesterday. We were up there celebrating a friend’s 70th birthday. It was a surprise party with about ten guests. (We didn’t yell surprise or anything – I did say it was his 70th birthday, right?)

Last time we visited New York, we found a restaurant that came highly recommended. This restaurant only serves two things – pizza and mac & cheese. (I think they might have salad, but who really cares?)

It’s called Pinch and S’mac and is located on the Upper West Side. I went there for the mac & cheese (of course). They let you select the cheese(s), breadcrumbs or no breadcrumbs and other ingredients to add, including bacon (oh yeah).

Want to know the amazing thing? I really liked the pizza too. (Sorry Poppa Johns, you’re still my regular guy at home.) Honestly though, who would even bother with pizza when you’ve got mac & cheese and bacon? But the pizza was really, really good.

So you know that Pinch and S’mac is now a regular on my tour of NYC. I may not make it to my 70th birthday party. What, from eating so much bacon, and mac & cheese? Oh, no, I just meant, I’ll probably be at Pinch and S’mac, while everyone else is waiting somewhere to surprise me. That is, if it’s still around in 50 years (hey, I look 20, right?)

Pinch and S’mac (they do deliver, but only for a couple of blocks, darn it)

Zombie Squirrels

A couple of weeks ago, my yoga instructor read a poem from Mary Oliver at the end of class titled “Snow Geese” from her book “Why I Wake Early”. It was inspiring and thought provoking – to live in the now and enjoy the beauty all around us.

I typically wake up early in the morning and go to the gym with a work out buddy. The trick is to get your exercise before your mind wakes up and gives you excuses to avoid it. (I’ve been told that I look like the walking dead at the gym.) After a half hour of weights, we typically run or walk through the neighborhood for some cardio all before the sun comes up and it gets too hot.

On the morning after yoga with the poetry, I was relating the poem’s meaning to my friend. We were both talking and talking and talking so much that we almost didn’t notice the dead squirrel lying in the middle of the sidewalk. Until my friend almost stepped on it. And shrieked. And jumped behind me and grabbed my shirt.

We continued walking, while I laughed (for the rest of the day). A few days later, the squirrel was finally gone, which left us speculating about zombie squirrels coming back to haunt our morning walks. (Don’t tell my Norwich Terrier about zombie squirrels. She’ll never get any sleep.)

Interestingly, a web developer created a game about zombie squirrels – sort of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but with guns and dead rodents. Go to his site to play.

Or read some poetry if you’re into that peace, love and Zen crap.

Zombie Squirrels Attack
All Squirrels Must Die! (My dog Bobbie's favorite web site.)
Why I Wake Early

TiVo and YouTube

We had some friends over the other night for happy hour. After a few drinks, the conversation turned to funny commercials. One of our guests made a beeline to my laptop, cranked up YouTube and showed everyone the Boost Mobile video. It features two pigs sitting in a restaurant, talking about eating ham. (If pigs can eat ham, why can't Charles, right?)

While this was entertaining, it was more fun watching our guest do the ‘talk to the hoof’ gesture (pictured) that the pig makes at the end of the commercial. (I did say we had a few drinks in us by then.)

Without thinking, we were passing around the laptop to watch the YouTube video. I had completely forgotten one of the benefits of TiVo – the entertainment equivalent of bacon.

With TiVo service connected to a high speed Internet, you can watch YouTube videos on your big screen TV. No need to pass the laptop; everyone can watch at the same time. (Unless you want to watch your guest re-enact the ‘talk to the hoof’ gesture each time the video is played as the laptop goes around the room.)

By the way, happy birthday Scott. See, I never even mentioned it was you doing the ‘talk to the hoof' gesture. Oops.

TiVo
Boost Mobile commercial on YouTube

Mini Burgers

Charles decided to stop eating beef and pork at the beginning of this year. He had seen documentaries about meat processing and talked to a friend who convinced him that it was healthier not to eat beef and pork. (Oh yeah, that same friend fell off the wagon two days later - to bacon, of course. You know who you are!)

Let’s just say, it's been a tough seven months. Especially since Charles is not a big fan of seafood. (He’s a very picky eater, no matter how much he denies it.)

A friend had given us a gift certificate to a steakhouse. Last Saturday night, neither of us felt like cooking or had the desire to go out for dinner. This steakhouse has curb side service (yeah, possibly the greatest thing ever). Now, we had been going to this steakhouse for years before Charles’ new found, quasi-vegetarian phase. (He still eats chicken, which I do like, but for the love of God, how much chicken can you eat, day after day after day…?)

Charles had always ordered the steakhouse’s special steak, with baked potato and salad – every visit. It was his routine. (Picky eater, right?) On that Saturday night, when he suggested we use the gift certificate, he said “I’ll just get their chicken.”

He placed our orders and jumped in the car to go pick up dinner. When he returned home, he called me to the kitchen in a bit of a panic.

He had ordered, out of routine, his usual – steak special, with baked potato and salad! Immediately, I’m thinking, has the dam been broken? Is the dry spell over? Will we see beef and pork in the house again? He did eat the steak, but sadly, has not gone near meat again since.

Meanwhile, I’ve been eyeing this mini hamburger griller. It’s perfect for making sliders, which would be great party food. I can dream, can’t I? Someday, he’ll come to his senses and the days of bacon will return.

Sur La Table

Potty Patch

This week has been about the accidents that occurred during our bathroom renovation. One accident seems to happen all the time – not just when there is construction going on.

Check out our Norwich Terrier waiting by the door. (You’ll also notice the Poochie Bells in the background. Those are for her to ring when she needs to go out. Never once happened, although I’m sure it amused her watching us attempt to train her.)

Bobbie knows she is supposed to go outside to pee. But she drinks too much (I know, where did she learn that?) and we’re not always waiting at the door for her (isn’t it supposed to be the other way around with dogs?). We’ve also tried a doggie door – that is until the neighbors complained of our dogs barking all day in the back yard.

And to top it off, she doesn’t pee on tile or wood floors. She goes directly for the nearest rug or bath mat. (More "grass-like" I suppose?)

So, it’s like my prayers were answered when I saw the infomercial for the Potty Patch. Fake grass on a collection tray which holds up to a gallon of liquid. You’re right. I better get two. She does drink a lot. And that should complete the bathroom renovation, huh?

Potty Patch

Microwave Safety

During the bathroom renovations, our house took several hits. I already told you about the antique light shade. Here’s another.

The light in our microwave had blown out eight months ago. (And why wouldn’t it? It is the most used kitchen appliance.) Neither Charles nor I took the time to figure out how to replace the bulb and just lived with watching our food cook in the dark. (Yes, whatever happens, it was ultimately our own fault.)

When my dad started working on the bathrooms, we made a list of other projects that we wanted him to do, including replace the microwave light bulb.

After months and months of renovations, we shortened the list. (Just to get things wrapped up already, right?!?!) We moved the bulb to the very bottom of the list.

I sat down with my dad and reviewed the list, detailing the priority – even saying “Don’t worry about the light bulb if you are running out of time. That should be the last thing you do.”

What do you think he started with? Oh yeah, the light bulb. He couldn’t find access to the panel in front of the bulb. I’m not sure why, but he thought it would be helpful to start the microwave with the door open. He held the latch with pliers to “trick” the oven. Which as luck would have it, burned out the microwave.

By the way, Famous Tate has great deals on microwaves. Our new one requires you to only press the number key and it starts running on high for that many minutes. And there’s a button for 30 more seconds. (Yes, I am that lazy.)

Just in case you aren’t familiar with all of these new fangled kitchen appliances, here are some links on microwave safety.

(Oh yeah, when we were removing the old microwave from above the stove, the light bulb panel popped right open. Nice.)

Tips for Using a Microwave Oven for Dummies - (In all fairness to my dad, the Dummies book does not say close the microwave door while trying to run the microwave.)
Microwave Safety from the FDA
Wiki Answers on how to keep your door open while the microwave is running (They say this is comparable to checking the amount of gas in your gas tank by using a lighter.)
Famous Tate - so you can buy a new one after reading the article listed above

Atlas Homewares

Some parts of the house were damaged during our bathroom renovation. I came home for lunch one day and was greeted by my dad. (He was the contractor, so no matter what happened, I couldn’t get mad. I should have thought this through better…)

He had been walking through the house that morning carrying old beams that were ripped from the guest bathroom. He lost his grip on one of the beams and it tilted forward. The back part of the beam tilted knocking the glass shade of an antique Art Deco chandelier to the floor, where it shattered, of course. (Lunchtime was not so great that day. Strangely, I still didn’t want to go back to work.)

I finally located a replacement shade from an antique lighting store in New York. They're shipping the shade to me this weekend. Which made me think about the street numbers on our house. You know, I need to be sure the delivery guy finds our house.

We’ve got some boring old house numbers (yep, Home Depot special), but I really like the ones at Atlas Homewares. They're very cool and I’d buy a set – if I didn’t have to replace the antique light shade. Maybe next year I'll have cool house numbers!

Atlas Homewares