The love of my life doesn't get the music I love.
I think she gets the music I like (Pink Floyd, Rush, ELO, etc) even if she doesn't agree with my choices. I also think that if she knew the depth of the music I listen to she would leave me or turn her own music waaaay up. Yes, I like Deep Purple. Yes, I like Blue Oyster Cult (that's right, I do!). Most of the Moody Blues, two songs by Jefferson Airplane, and one by Jefferson Starship.
Even though I'm sure she'd wrinkle her nose at much of the above list, she gets it. Most of it, anyway.
There's a place where we find common ground; I also like The Killers, The White Stripes, Feist, and Gorillaz, and while those might not be her favorites, we both like them enough to listen without headphones.
What she doesn't get is the Tristan Prettymans, Missy Higgins, and Regina Spektors. To her, I think all their voices, sounds, songs, and stories are the same (like every Jack Johnson song).
I like music, books, songs, and stories where people talk a lot, tell stories, fall in love, have hard choices, hearts get broken, people are rescued at the last moment, and (despite the happy ending) not everyone wins.
Yes, there are guys singing about these things, but why listen to a guy when you can listen to a girl?
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Random. Show all posts
Monday, November 4, 2013
Monday, July 30, 2012
TheFitInk
Today, Galya and I announced and "launched" our joint website, which we call TheFitInk.
On August 1st, we are going to give away a 32oz bottle of coconut oil from Tropical Traditions, and the way to get in on this drawing is to head over to TheFitInk.com, and sign up for the newsletter (via the popup or at the bottom of the site). You can also enter by sharing this post on facebook (via the share button).
This morning's post was a great video by Gal, on keeping your body pain free, even when your job (like most of us) involves sitting, sitting, and more sitting. As long as you're heading that way, check it out!
On August 1st, we are going to give away a 32oz bottle of coconut oil from Tropical Traditions, and the way to get in on this drawing is to head over to TheFitInk.com, and sign up for the newsletter (via the popup or at the bottom of the site). You can also enter by sharing this post on facebook (via the share button).
This morning's post was a great video by Gal, on keeping your body pain free, even when your job (like most of us) involves sitting, sitting, and more sitting. As long as you're heading that way, check it out!
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| click me |
I hope you'll follow me over to the new site, although I must say I've enjoyed having you all over. You've been excellent guests!
Roland
Friday, June 22, 2012
The Gallery of Unusual Fruit #10 -- Irvine Farmer's Market
And they say Orange County is conservative...
Monday, April 30, 2012
The Gallery of Unusual Fruit #9 -- Farm Food Freedom Coalition Edition
I found these on the facebook page of The Farm Food Freedom Coalition, which was "formed by consumers in response to government interference regarding food choices and access. Our mission is to inspire, empower and facilitate consumers into action until everyone can procure the foods of their choice from the producers of their choice."
I'm not really an activist, but when I read the stories of independent small farmers and food producers being shut down, arrested, put out of business, and bankrupted, often via mere technicalities, it breaks my heart. There's a ton of politics in this stuff, and the big money to "encourage" the government to do this comes from the big agriculture organizations, seed producers, and chemical companies. Is it really your best interest that these groups have at hear? I wonder.
Support your local farmer, farmers market, and pretty much any avenue of food production that's not the conventional channel, whenever possible.
One last note... my Gallery of Unusual Fruits only exists because of the farmer's market, backyard farmer, and the 99 Cent Store, all of which are more than willing the sell the fruit and vegetables that don't conform to the standards of beauty demanded by the mass market supermarket chains.
Do you sometimes find unusual fruit or vegetables? Take a picture of it and send it my way. I'd love to put it out there with your name on it!
Roland
Monday, February 13, 2012
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Christmas is all around us
I hope everyone enjoys the Christmas season. I do.
I really like Christmas movies, but I typically dislike Christmas music. One of my favorite Christmas movies for adults is Love Actually, which contains my favorite Christmas song. It's a parody, which I hate, but it's a parody only because it's so over the top and "serious" in the movie. If it existed in the real world, it would be lame, yet here it is, the opposite of lame.
It's a similar phenomenon to Spinal Tap. Once I was driving with a friend and on our local rock station, a Tap song came on. "This song is so &%$@! stupid!," he said. I had to explain the Spinal Tap concept, after which he calmed down, but still failed to appreciate it without having seen the movie. The next song came on, and a few minutes into it he was shaking his head in disgust once again. "I don't think I want to see this movie." I quickly changed the station, but there was really nothing I could say to this song's defense; it had been Blue Oyster Cult.
Back to Christmas... Here's the low quality, too quiet version of Billy Mack's music video. Seen here and there throughout the movie.
If you want hi-quality music, try this one.
Here's the "making of" segment..., which I can't embed.
I think I'll watch it again, tonight.
If you haven't seen it. I recommend it. It's only $7.99 on Amazon, so toss it in alongside your other holiday purchases and bump yourself up to that $25 for Super Saver Shipping. You'll probably watch it every year.
I really like Christmas movies, but I typically dislike Christmas music. One of my favorite Christmas movies for adults is Love Actually, which contains my favorite Christmas song. It's a parody, which I hate, but it's a parody only because it's so over the top and "serious" in the movie. If it existed in the real world, it would be lame, yet here it is, the opposite of lame.
It's a similar phenomenon to Spinal Tap. Once I was driving with a friend and on our local rock station, a Tap song came on. "This song is so &%$@! stupid!," he said. I had to explain the Spinal Tap concept, after which he calmed down, but still failed to appreciate it without having seen the movie. The next song came on, and a few minutes into it he was shaking his head in disgust once again. "I don't think I want to see this movie." I quickly changed the station, but there was really nothing I could say to this song's defense; it had been Blue Oyster Cult.
Back to Christmas... Here's the low quality, too quiet version of Billy Mack's music video. Seen here and there throughout the movie.
If you want hi-quality music, try this one.
Here's the "making of" segment..., which I can't embed.
I think I'll watch it again, tonight.
If you haven't seen it. I recommend it. It's only $7.99 on Amazon, so toss it in alongside your other holiday purchases and bump yourself up to that $25 for Super Saver Shipping. You'll probably watch it every year.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
The Gallery of Unusual Fruit #7 - The Thanksgiving Edition
Happy Thanksgiving!
Don't look at me like that, this is Greg's picture...
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Roland is sick
Just a cold. Nothing serious.
I'm tired, but wide awake.
Watching Spinal Tap and then back to bed. Too bad my alarm clock only goes to 10
The Tap classic; Stonehenge
Some early Tap, circa 1967. The year I was born.
Good night
I'm tired, but wide awake.
Watching Spinal Tap and then back to bed. Too bad my alarm clock only goes to 10
The Tap classic; Stonehenge
Some early Tap, circa 1967. The year I was born.
Good night
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
American salad
This was twenty years ago, so why I thought of this now is a mystery.
I was visiting some friends from Denmark, and dinner time was getting close. I saw a bowl of cooked and chilled tiny little salad shrimp; always an unusual sight outside of a Denny's. I looked for the bottle of Thousand Island, but there was none to be seen.
"What are you making?" I asked.
"You'll see," he teased.
I watched as some tomato was diced. Soon, a bowl of chilled white rice was pulled from the fridge, along with a jar of mayonnaise. ...and the layering began.
They looked at me expectantly.
"What?" I asked.
"It's American Salad!"
"Really?"
"We thought since you're coming, you'd probably enjoy some American Salad again!" They continued to spoon the stuff into it's three layers: white rice, shrimp and mayo, and tomatoes. Again?
I ate it, of course, but it's pretty close to an Addams Family combination of ingredients, and certainly not what I would call "American Salad." We scraped the bowl clean. They, likely nostalgic as they ate the American Salad that they loved back in Denmark, and I, now marveling in this newly discovered combination of textures and flavors!
If there was an American Salad–which there isn't–it should be the Cobb Salad. That's a salad to be proud of! On the tongue in cheek end, I'd say an American Salad could be iceberg, shredded red cabbage and carrots, topped with a couple of cherry tomatoes and Ranch dressing. Just because all those ingredients can come from a bag, box, and bottle in the fridge.
I'm sure every country or culture has foods that aren't theirs; they either don't exist as a dish or simply aren't called by that name. German Chocolate Cake and Black Forest Cake in Germany, Chop Suey and fortune cookies in China, etc. I'm sure the list goes on.
I was visiting some friends from Denmark, and dinner time was getting close. I saw a bowl of cooked and chilled tiny little salad shrimp; always an unusual sight outside of a Denny's. I looked for the bottle of Thousand Island, but there was none to be seen.
"What are you making?" I asked.
"You'll see," he teased.
I watched as some tomato was diced. Soon, a bowl of chilled white rice was pulled from the fridge, along with a jar of mayonnaise. ...and the layering began.
They looked at me expectantly.
"What?" I asked.
"It's American Salad!"
"Really?"
"We thought since you're coming, you'd probably enjoy some American Salad again!" They continued to spoon the stuff into it's three layers: white rice, shrimp and mayo, and tomatoes. Again?
I ate it, of course, but it's pretty close to an Addams Family combination of ingredients, and certainly not what I would call "American Salad." We scraped the bowl clean. They, likely nostalgic as they ate the American Salad that they loved back in Denmark, and I, now marveling in this newly discovered combination of textures and flavors!
If there was an American Salad–which there isn't–it should be the Cobb Salad. That's a salad to be proud of! On the tongue in cheek end, I'd say an American Salad could be iceberg, shredded red cabbage and carrots, topped with a couple of cherry tomatoes and Ranch dressing. Just because all those ingredients can come from a bag, box, and bottle in the fridge.
I'm sure every country or culture has foods that aren't theirs; they either don't exist as a dish or simply aren't called by that name. German Chocolate Cake and Black Forest Cake in Germany, Chop Suey and fortune cookies in China, etc. I'm sure the list goes on.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
A shameful claim to fame
I don't know many people who actually believe that American cheese is actually good cheese. For the most part, it does qualify as cheese. ...mostly. ...barely.
The worst part is that it's not a high quality cheese. It's hardly pure, and it's claim to fame is being bland and pleasantly melty. Kids love it and most of us welcome it on our cheeseburgers, by default.
Hence the next problem... The cheeseburger.
My wife (fresh of the boat from Bulgaria) pointed out that you can get a cheeseburger virtually everywhere; it's not only the default food for when the rest of a menu sucks, it's also there for a picky eater at your favorite fish restaurant, and even standing by at the Chinese place for the xeno-food-o-phobe that you convinced to come with you while you ate General Tso's. ...and each and every burger, fancy burger joint aside, is covered with a melted slice of American cheese, in all it'sshame splendor.
As an ingredient, rather than a food in and of itself, American cheese is even more ubiquitous than the all-American cheeseburger on which it rests, melting, on the lunch table burger of so many Americans, each and every day.
America is a proud country, but we really need to rethink the things that we allow carry our proud name. German chocolate cake is delicious. Greek salad is good stuff. But American cheese... is it even cheese? Not always, but often.
What if people drop the American "cheese" from their burgers? Does that make the burger less American?
If so what do we have left? Without cheese, what is a cheeseburger? A hamburger. Where's Hamburg? Germany. The Germans already have that cake, so screw them!
Here's McDonald's American Cheese
At least it's not McDonald's "Natural" Swiss Cheese (yes, "natural" is their choice of words, not mine).
In the olden days, American cheese was cheese, and was a blend of colby, jack, and or cheddar, but no more. Now, American cheese is produced as American cheese OR worse, manufactured as a processed cheese food, which is primarily yellow vegetable oil instead of a dairy product. If it has to be labeled "food," shouldn't that give you pause?
I hesitate to tell you to opt for another cheese, because American cheese should live on, to return in strength and stand proud again amongst the cheese blends!
It needs a relaunch.
How can we get our cheese to be cheese, once again?
The worst part is that it's not a high quality cheese. It's hardly pure, and it's claim to fame is being bland and pleasantly melty. Kids love it and most of us welcome it on our cheeseburgers, by default.
Hence the next problem... The cheeseburger.
My wife (fresh of the boat from Bulgaria) pointed out that you can get a cheeseburger virtually everywhere; it's not only the default food for when the rest of a menu sucks, it's also there for a picky eater at your favorite fish restaurant, and even standing by at the Chinese place for the xeno-food-o-phobe that you convinced to come with you while you ate General Tso's. ...and each and every burger, fancy burger joint aside, is covered with a melted slice of American cheese, in all it's
As an ingredient, rather than a food in and of itself, American cheese is even more ubiquitous than the all-American cheeseburger on which it rests, melting, on the lunch table burger of so many Americans, each and every day.
America is a proud country, but we really need to rethink the things that we allow carry our proud name. German chocolate cake is delicious. Greek salad is good stuff. But American cheese... is it even cheese? Not always, but often.
What if people drop the American "cheese" from their burgers? Does that make the burger less American?
If so what do we have left? Without cheese, what is a cheeseburger? A hamburger. Where's Hamburg? Germany. The Germans already have that cake, so screw them!
Here's McDonald's American Cheese
Pasteurized Process American Cheese:
Milk, water, milkfat, cheese culture, sodium citrate, salt, citric acid, sorbic acid (preservative), sodium phosphate, artificial color, lactic acid, acetic acid, enzymes, soy lecithin (added for slice separation).
At least it's not McDonald's "Natural" Swiss Cheese (yes, "natural" is their choice of words, not mine).
Natural Swiss Cheese:
Swiss cheese (pasteurized milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes), powdered cellulose and potato starch (prevent caking), natamycin (natural mold inhibitor).Natural? Powdered cellulose? Do you know what that is?
In the olden days, American cheese was cheese, and was a blend of colby, jack, and or cheddar, but no more. Now, American cheese is produced as American cheese OR worse, manufactured as a processed cheese food, which is primarily yellow vegetable oil instead of a dairy product. If it has to be labeled "food," shouldn't that give you pause?
I hesitate to tell you to opt for another cheese, because American cheese should live on, to return in strength and stand proud again amongst the cheese blends!
It needs a relaunch.
How can we get our cheese to be cheese, once again?
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
un-thought out thoughts
1. Gluten-free boxed cookies really are just as good bad tasting as gluteny boxed cookies!
2. If you say "My husband is from _____," people assume the said husband is still around. Don't be surprised when someone says "tell your husband hello," because we don't know he's dead.
3. How did the transition from good cookies to boxed cookies come about? 100 years ago, a Chips Ahoy would have been laughed out of the house. How is it that they are acceptable?
4. If you work at Starbucks and hear "A tall decaf with room for milk, please," think about it before you ask "a decaf what?" Decaf coffee.
5. This is disgusting.
2. If you say "My husband is from _____," people assume the said husband is still around. Don't be surprised when someone says "tell your husband hello," because we don't know he's dead.
3. How did the transition from good cookies to boxed cookies come about? 100 years ago, a Chips Ahoy would have been laughed out of the house. How is it that they are acceptable?
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| Looks can be deceiving... This cookie more than just sucks |
4. If you work at Starbucks and hear "A tall decaf with room for milk, please," think about it before you ask "a decaf what?" Decaf coffee.
5. This is disgusting.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
...and what is YOUR Starbucks name?
My own Starbucks name is more like a list of names, but it's the price you pay for having an easily distinguishable name like Roland.
Starbucks Name Generator
My name is Upman. What's YOUR Starbucks name?
Galya (aka "Gal," or G - A - L as she spelled it for the dude) has caught on to the benefits of using a short and sweet name at Starbucks, but it doesn't always work...
does it, "Dan?"
I told Dan it would be cool to make a Starbucks Name Generator, but I find that it's already done.
My name is Upman. What's YOUR Starbucks name?
Monday, February 14, 2011
The best valentine's day EVER
and it not even really going yet!
We're still in the midst of it, and already it's like no other.
I'll admit that I was unprepared. ...a bit. When your girlfriend lives in Bulgaria, you need to plan ahead. Like waaaaay ahead. A Valentine's Day gift needs to be mailed a month in advance, fingers crossed that it arrives in time, yet with a big ol' note that says "do not open until February 14th," lest it arrive in a mere five days. This happened once. In fact, one package passed the other, arriving two weeks before the one that was mailed weeks earlier. That's back in time in some books. This is what you get when you've fallen in love with a chick from Bulgaria.
So, here we are. She is here now. No longer "there." This is much closer to me, so far more convenient by nearly all sense of measure. Our only real challenge is reminding her to put the toilet seat back up where it belongs when she's done, but I'm nothing if not patient.
Since she's here and not there, the package-it-up-and-ship-it-early requirement is gone; for good and for bad. I know what I want for her, and have known for weeks, but in the end, I'm a man, and a man always does tomorrow what should be done today. Like wrapping and signing cards.
It's not that men can't wrap, they can. They just can't wrap well while driving down the cul-de-sac, praying you aren't watching for the car to pull up.
It's not that we have nothing to say in a card, it's just that we knew it walking into the store, but the card said it better. We know what we want to add in the empty spaces, but now this pen looks like it's running out of ink, and if that happens before "I love you" comes out, then what? Forgive the brevity, and know that every drop of ballpoint ink came with the prayer to have you forever, to hold you always, and "please God not let me make a mistake, because I can't handle a scribble that makes me look like an idiot in this Valentine's Day card."
As I wrapped up my work day, my friends and coworkers made me very happy -- huge smiles, shaking my hand and patting my back, and telling me how happy they were that my girl is finally here with me, and in time for Valentine's Day no less.
"What are your plans?" "What are you going to do?" they asked. It won't matter, I told them. "I'm going home, and that's were she is."
We're still in the midst of it, and already it's like no other.
I'll admit that I was unprepared. ...a bit. When your girlfriend lives in Bulgaria, you need to plan ahead. Like waaaaay ahead. A Valentine's Day gift needs to be mailed a month in advance, fingers crossed that it arrives in time, yet with a big ol' note that says "do not open until February 14th," lest it arrive in a mere five days. This happened once. In fact, one package passed the other, arriving two weeks before the one that was mailed weeks earlier. That's back in time in some books. This is what you get when you've fallen in love with a chick from Bulgaria.
So, here we are. She is here now. No longer "there." This is much closer to me, so far more convenient by nearly all sense of measure. Our only real challenge is reminding her to put the toilet seat back up where it belongs when she's done, but I'm nothing if not patient.
Since she's here and not there, the package-it-up-and-ship-it-early requirement is gone; for good and for bad. I know what I want for her, and have known for weeks, but in the end, I'm a man, and a man always does tomorrow what should be done today. Like wrapping and signing cards.
It's not that men can't wrap, they can. They just can't wrap well while driving down the cul-de-sac, praying you aren't watching for the car to pull up.
It's not that we have nothing to say in a card, it's just that we knew it walking into the store, but the card said it better. We know what we want to add in the empty spaces, but now this pen looks like it's running out of ink, and if that happens before "I love you" comes out, then what? Forgive the brevity, and know that every drop of ballpoint ink came with the prayer to have you forever, to hold you always, and "please God not let me make a mistake, because I can't handle a scribble that makes me look like an idiot in this Valentine's Day card."
As I wrapped up my work day, my friends and coworkers made me very happy -- huge smiles, shaking my hand and patting my back, and telling me how happy they were that my girl is finally here with me, and in time for Valentine's Day no less.
"What are your plans?" "What are you going to do?" they asked. It won't matter, I told them. "I'm going home, and that's were she is."
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Mr. Instant Coffee
The good father was onto something...
But it took Starbucks forty years to get to it.
Maybe the Father's patent ran out? Most likely, too many Via customers lost the recipe for boiling water...
But it took Starbucks forty years to get to it.
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| The Bodum Via Instant Coffee Machine |
Maybe the Father's patent ran out? Most likely, too many Via customers lost the recipe for boiling water...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The saddest song EVER -- Leaving on a jet plane
Over at JPFitness, there's a discussion of the depressing songs EVER. JPFitness -- The most depressing song ever. There are songs on the list that I love, and songs that I don't. I love this song, even though it makes me sad. This song has a direct line to my heart, and produces the same feeling that modern day air travel security restrictions do regarding goodbyes.
The days of saying goodbye at the gate are long gone; it's not longer safe to allow so much sadness so near the gate. Now, people say goodbye at the conga line of security.
You know that feeling? The one where each party needs to decide what to do for themselves after that final touch goodbye? Do I continue to look back for her as I inch closer to the x-ray machine and pat down station? Do I leave now and head to the car? How long do I stay at the airport? Is my parking edging into the next 30 minutes and another $5?
I don't even live close to the airport, but the last time I secretly waited until she was through security to go home and I was still at my house before her plane was even scheduled to take off. It seemed wrong to go home, and wrong to be in the house. ...and if someone at home had asked if she got off okay, I would have broken down, knowing that she was probably still finding her seat on the plane!
You know that feeling?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
A Yin Yang Christmas
The yin yang thing is sort of a stretch, but that's what came to mind when I snapped this picture.
I opened my gifts from her this morning, even as mine to her continue their own own "journey." A journey that's lasted almost a month now. I have hopes that they will get to her soon.
For those of you who don't recognize it, that red thing is a chalk bag, and the white stuff is chalk. It's typically used by climbers to hold chalk on their belts when they climb for dear life on cliffs and things. I'm not so daring, but I do like to use chalk for my kettlebell training. Bye bye big tupperware bowl, hello cool chalk bag!
At the opposite end of the exercise spectrum is dessert. Gal knows me well. I love my desserts. I love delicious little things that can be tasted, savored and loved. ...and then back for another.
The book is beautiful. Full of recipes and ideas, but also explaining the science and stuff regarding desserts, which makes it the type of cookbook I really like.
I used the chalk bag to train just a few minutes ago, and I will be making dessert, later.
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| Which is the yin and which is the yang? |
For those of you who don't recognize it, that red thing is a chalk bag, and the white stuff is chalk. It's typically used by climbers to hold chalk on their belts when they climb for dear life on cliffs and things. I'm not so daring, but I do like to use chalk for my kettlebell training. Bye bye big tupperware bowl, hello cool chalk bag!
At the opposite end of the exercise spectrum is dessert. Gal knows me well. I love my desserts. I love delicious little things that can be tasted, savored and loved. ...and then back for another.
The book is beautiful. Full of recipes and ideas, but also explaining the science and stuff regarding desserts, which makes it the type of cookbook I really like.
I used the chalk bag to train just a few minutes ago, and I will be making dessert, later.
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