Philly Expatriate

Sunday, December 19, 2004

Summer Breeze...Makes Me Feel Fine...

Ok folks, I know I live in Chicago and HAVE been here for over 14 years now BUT...

I was watching my usual Sunday mid-morning local news show and in the lower right corner of the screen they have the station logo, the time and the temperature.

Today the temperature display said 5. Degrees. Farenheit.

It turned out to be genuinely that cold but actually nice, since it was the first blue sky, sunny day we have had for some time. And I was lucky to glimpse a cadre of birds at my feeding station - some species of which I haven't seen in weeks.

At the moment, my ever-so-technically-clever husband is busy editing video and putting together a DVD of photos and video of family-themed stuff as a special surprise for my family when we go to visit.

As we viewed the first "burn" DVD, I couldn't help but sigh longingly at the beach photos. I could almost smell the salty air and feel my freckles popping out under the warm New Jersey sun.

Here's one that I neglected to post after vacation this summer of me coming out of the ocean after surfing (although I had alot better luck on my sister's longboard - this shorty was nearly IMPOSSIBLE to clamber on to. It was wipeout city!)

I actually pulled on my triathlon unitard over my bikini because I was afraid the waves would overpower those few strips of lycra keeping me legally covered in New Jersey! I wear the nerdy aqua socks because there are alot of CRABS in the ocean and they PINCH! BTW, that's my sis, the surfing maniac, out in the waves in my old-school neon "body glove" wetsuit. She is AWESOME. I wish we caught her in action looking like some babe in "Blue Crush." Once summer rolls around, I'm sure I'll have more Easy Coast Surf Style pictures and stories.

Posted at 10:57 pm by brandy101
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Friday, December 17, 2004

What Does Low-Carb Really Mean?

Over the past few days, I've read many blogs of people bemoaning the seemingly inevitable weight-creep this time of the year. Post-Thankgiving, especially in many workplaces, there seem to be cookies, candies, and other "treats" in abundance wherever you turn.

I was at Starbucks to grab a latte and snack with my daughter after school yesterday. A woman in front of me in line was chatting with me, and as her order was being prepared, she noted, "Oh, my doctor told me to watch the refined sugars and carbohydrates. But I've lost some weight and so I feel like I can treat myself. I'll get back on the wagon after the new Year."

The server then produced her order: an extra-large Godiva hot cocoa with whipped creme and an enormous peanut-butter-cup cookie.

I looked at her and mentally, I wished her well. And then I thought of the movie "SuperSize Me."

The combined praise and bashing of "Atkins", "South Beach" and other popular diets ignore much of the true problem of American eating habits. We eat food with little to no nutritional value. We consume "empty" calories. Our food is highly processed, over-salted or sweetened, and full of bizzarre unnatural sources of fat and carbohydrates.

And those processed foods have gotten a stranglehold on our palates. We have dulled our senses to now need hyper-sodium, ultra-rich, or extra-sweet in order to derive pleasure from food.

And, sadly, many of us have forgotten how to prepare or cook our own foods, or never learned in the first place.

This concept was brought up many times in the aforementioned movie, but it is something that has been relevant to me and my life for a long while.

While I won't begin to defend Atkin's theories about "ketosis", I will reiterate that in the introduction of his worldwide besteller Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution, he extolls the virtues of whole, unprocessed or minimally processed foods. Organic, if it is available and affordable for you.

I hear people say they are "on Atkins" and then witness them choking down bag after bag of pork rinds washed down with a diet coke. Clearly, they missed the point.

Since I have IBS and some other digestive issues, becoming "carb conscious" for me REALLY has meant choosing foods with the highest ratio of nutritional value (fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals) to calories, fat, and "empty" or "sugar" carbs. I also make my food choices based on, of course, my personal tastes, affordability, ease of use or preparation.

One thing that following the Atkins regimen initially did for me, was it got me to follow portion control and release that stranglehold on my palate for refined sugar and flour. I also started eating more vegetables than I think I ever have in my life. Yes you read that correctly: VEGETABLES. I even tried new veggies: Asparagus, different types of mushroom, jicama, broccoli rabe...

I started finding ways to incorporate high-anti-oxidant (and, subsequently LOW sugar) berries into my diet when I wanted a sweet treat.

I started trying new types and cuts of meat, experimenting with low-sodium alternatives, like spices and fresh herbs, to enliven the flavors.

I find ways to incorporate soy products into my eating.

I eat wonderful wholesome cereals, breads and bagels (yes, BAGELS!) that are "low carb" because they are made with whole grains and thus, have a high fiber content and lower "net carb" ratio.

I indulge in a fabulous line of sugar-free chocolate products that don't break my caloric bank.

Deprived? Hardly. I think I eat better now than I ever have, in terms of feelings of saeity and nutritional value. My cholesterol is at an all-time low, even though I have family history of high cholesterol. My triglycerides are also wonderfully low.

My sister is having great success on Weight Watchers. I am glad for her! Her plan ascribes to a similar method as me: get the most "bang for your nutritional buck" that you can from what you buy and eat.

No matter what eating lifestyle you find appealing, that is the bottom line: all calories are not created equal.

Posted at 01:08 am by brandy101
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Thursday, December 16, 2004

My Teacher

While working on my recent project, and posting about it (see below), I have been thinking about my introduction to sewing. About how I learned the basic techniques for choosing, laying out, and cutting fabric from a pattern, and then how to construct garments and other items from the sliced-and-diced material.

Some people had a home-econ teacher in junior high, a girl scout class, a grandmom, or similar female mentor to initiate them into the world of sewing, or other such needle crafts.

In my case, my mentor was... my DAD. Yes, my dad, the mechanical engineer. My dad, the corporate executive. My dad, the Republican. My dad, one of the most kind and creative people I have ever met. I say creative in his case, to indicate his ability to find (and fully appreciate) innovative uses for scraps and "leftovers"of various materials around the house in all sorts of craft projects.

I do remember him stating that he thought sewing was really quite engineering-oriented in that its about following certain logical steps to construct something that will hold together sturdily. And he must have been correct because I have, to use for my daughter, some gorgeous calico "clown" costumes he made for my little sisters for halloween one year. They are in perfect condition some 20 years later.

If I recall correctly, my first sewing "lesson" was a project that developed while Mom was clearing out Dad's closet of old clothes for charity. It was 1986. I was very much into that "New Wave"/funky/arty-a-la-Denise-Huxtable look. I was also 16 or 17 years old, and with limited resources.

I spied an old pair of Dad's grey wool flannel pinstripe pants that were to be discarded. He must have seen me admiring the fabric...somehow one or both of us came up with the idea of ripping the seams and refashioning the slacks into a funky long "fishtail" skirt for me. I think he did the sewing. It was a wee bit ill fitting through the waist, but with an oversized sweater overtop, you couldn't tell, anyway. I thought I looked like Molly Ringwald in it. My mother thought I looked like a hobo. My frugal dad was just glad to see his teenager wearing non-revealing clothes that cost nothing.

I think he let me alter a few more of his wardrobe castoffs that year, including a very well-liked pair of his old plaid polyester golf pants that I took in at the waist and pegged by hand and wore with a vintage mans shirt and one of his old yellow cable knit cardigans. That outfit SCREAMED "punk"; I think I wore it to every "hardcore" all-ages show I attended that year.

The formal sewing lessons began during winter break, 1987. My freshman year in college. I had fallen in love with the ease of a long rayon jumper that I wore almost every day - over leggings and turtlenecks in winter; over a t-shirt in summer. However, I stained it while working a shift at my job in the dorm cafeteria.

Not unlike the zip-up robe dilemma for my daughter, at the time I could not find a suitable replacement for my beloved jumper in any store. So when I was home on break, Dad suggested that we try to find a pattern and make a new one. After all, it was a simple design.

He accompanied me to Jo Ann Fabric at our local mall and showed me how to find a pattern and then read what fabric types were recommended and how much needed to make the garment.

For some reason I kept telling him I wanted it "big" and "oversized" (this WAS the 80's, remember) but somehow I think I forgot that it was a loose style to begin with.

I chose a dark spice color rayon, and we took the project home to work on over break. Needless to say, it ended up being, um, kinda "plus sized" and ill-fitting, but to this day, I still have it in a cedar chest in my attic. Along with the plaid pants and that goofy grey wool "skirt."

Posted at 02:33 am by brandy101
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Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Ta-Da!

Well, It's a bit "irregular", "imperfect" but it's DONE!

I finally finished the zip-up robe for my daughter. I just packaged it up, but before I hid it away for Christmas, I took this picture. This fabric was pretty darn difficult to work with, in that I don't have an adjustable pressure-foot, so since it was slippery I'd occassioanly get snags from the bobbin threads. But it turned out ok. Last night I made my own bias-strip for the neck binding from leftover fabric and after attaching it, I realized it would look alot better with some lace trim to "balance" the lace at the cuffs so I had to rip it off and start all over, but I am glad I did because that little bit of lace looks pretty cute at the neckline. I was a bit disgruntled working with this fabric so last night I cut out one of the poodles in the print and hand-stitched around the edge as I plan to do a nightgown to "match" but in some pink cotton knit fabric I have, and then I'll just do the poodle as an applique on the front, and maybe also do the neck binding in the print fabric, too. Since I won't have to deal with a zipper or lace cuffs it should go together a tiny bit quicker than the robe. In case you can't see the print, its a lavender background with black hearts and pink and white poodles all over it, and then pink lace trim on collar and cuffs. Very "girly." I hope she likes it!

Posted at 10:15 am by brandy101
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Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Christmas Superlatives

I was reading the latest post at Greg's and it prompted me to put into words something I've been mulling over for awhile.

That is, what are my Christmas "triggers" - those cues that spur me to some sort of action?

Well, I decided to put this little list together. Feel free to disagree but please do so kindly ;)

I'm instigated to do this:	When I hear/see/experience this:	Or, alternatively, this:
Spend lots of money	"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Andy Williams	"We Need a Little Christmas" from the MAME soundtrack
Sing along (be afraid!)	"Home for the Holidays" by The Carpenters	"Holly Jolly Christmas" by Burl Ives
Dance or otherwise jostle my bod in time with the music	"Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano	"Sleigh Bells" by New Christy Minstrels (this version kicks a** in a funny 1960's sorta way - you gotta check it out!)
Perform Karaoke with my sisters, complete with dance moves:	"Last Christmas" by WHAM!	"Kissin' by the Mistletoe" by Aretha Franklin
Get teary-eyed	"Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid	When the dad sings and the sleigh takes off in "Elf"; When Harry returns home and makes the toast in "It's A Wonderful Life"; the finale of the Lord& Taylor light show
Think romantic thoughts	"Merry Christmas, Darling", by Karen Carpenter	"This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway
Wrap gifts	"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee	"Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" by Gene Autry
Sip cocoa, cider, or similar warm beverage by a fireside	"The Christmas Song" by Mel Torme or Nat King Cole	"White Christmas" by Bing Crosby
Change the tuner on the radio:	Any version of "Little Drummer Boy"…	…especially the one with Bing and Bowie
Look forward to it airing on TV even though we own the video	"Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer"	"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; "A Charlie Brown Christmas"

Posted at 11:37 am by brandy101
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Monday, December 13, 2004

Warning: Eccentric Pet Owner Ahead

After seeing this, and laughing my butt off, I decided, as horrifically unflattering as this pic is, its just too goofy to NOT share.

And, yes, you guessed it, hubby cruelly snapped this while I was sleeping in one Sunday morning a few weekends ago...

Yes, our animals are allowed on the bed...but they usually don't all gather 'round the warm humans all at once. Its a bit spooky, if you didn't know our pets, to see this picture. It almost looks like they are waiting for me to die so that they can attack me like little furry vultures!

Their names are Annie (our Beagle), Buster (black and white 14-year old long-haired cat - I have had him since I was in college!), Floyd (hubby's female all-white cat that HE had in college) and Princess, the grey and white obese little furball.

You had better believe that I use plenty of FEBREEZE in my bedroom after the Kennel Club meetings!

Posted at 03:50 pm by brandy101
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This one's for you, Adam!!

OMG! I saw this on WGN news today and immediately thought of fellow blogger Adam, since he has posted some funny stuff about his menora AND because he calls his wife "My Sharona":

http://www.americancomedynetwork.com/FLASH/my_menorah.htm

Posted at 01:53 pm by brandy101
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Thursday, December 09, 2004

The Quest

Although basically I am finished my holiday shopping, the cards are mailed, the presents wrapped and shipped...I am now on a quest for a girls size 7/8 ZIP-UP bathrobe for my daughter. She has been asking for a robe that zips or at least has buttons or velcro as (and I agree with her on this point) the "tie" style robes are hard to do and don't stay closed very well.

I even tried finding a patterrn to make one out of polar fleece but no luck in that plan, either. Grrr.

If I can't find anything soon, I think I will have to buy a pattern for a wrap-style robe and alter it to accomodate the oft-requested zipper styling. I am reminded that as a child, my mother, though not a sewing enthusiast, made robes for all three of us gals in a pretty fabric reminiscent of a Vera Bradley print. She made them so that they snapped up, easier for little hands to deal with in the morning.

If anyone has seen a robe in a zip or button/snap closure style at a national chain store, please let me know.

OK, so in desperation, I did end up finding a suitable robe pattern (w. bonus of a nightgown pattern!) that looks quick and easy enough to make and the saleswoman at JoAnn fabrics helped me find some cute fabic that is satiny onthe outside but lined with flannel on the inside. I'll be sue to post a pic of my finished project (fingers crossed that it will turn out!) But...if a zipper robe is a possibilty, then I can make the nightgown instead. Thanks to everyone for their help!

Posted at 12:14 pm by brandy101
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Tuesday, December 07, 2004

Three thoughts for the day

A brief but sincere acknowledgemnt of Pearl Harbor Day today - the Day Which Will Live in Infamy.

I also wish to offer best wishes for speedy recover to a dozen Chicago firefighters as well as a number of civilians who were injured during a large high-rise fire in a Loop office building last night. The fire badly damaged The LaSalle Bank headquarters, a building formerly known as the Field Building (named for Marshall Field but never housing the store of that name.) Sadly, the floors tthat were ablaze had NO sprinkler system as it was an older building and had not been retrofitted. I hope that this, the second serious high-rise fire in Chicago in 2 years, will prompt some action and investment in the safety of workers, residents and property in high rise buildings here and around the country.

On a less-somber note, I wish all of my Jewish firends a very Happy Hannukah, as that celebration of the Miracle of Light begins tonight.

Posted at 12:24 pm by brandy101
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Saturday, December 04, 2004

So I was sitting around one day...

...and decided to compile another list of useless factoids about myself. Whoopee! Ooh, and in this one I drop lotsa names.

Yet 100 More…

I am married to someone who is colorblind
My favorite color is mineral green
I collect transferware plates and toleware trays
My general clothing size is "petite medium"
I have been hospitalized twice in the past 5 years for unscheduled "emergency" surgeries
My husband was nearly killed by an exploding milk bottle
It took weeks and quite a few bottles of hydrogen peroxide to clean up all of his splattered blood from that accident. Ick.
I make nerdily annoying Sienfeld references in everyday conversation: Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Despite a jaded past life in the world of indie rock, certain Celine Dion songs make me cry
Come to think of it, plenty of corny commercials make me weep, as well.
As do hokey "happy" endings to Hollywood movies.
Ah, I also cry at my town's 4^th of July Parade.
Despite my frequent teary-eyed state, I am a really nauseatingly upbeat person.
Thus, frequent use of exclamation points! and Smiley Faces J in my writing.
Sometimes wearing earrings gives me a headache. Maybe it’s a pressure-point thing…
Necklaces of all lengths and materials also give me headaches
I still own and USE an embarassing yet utilitarian collection of ponytail scrunchies
If you haven't noticed by now, I am a pretty sh*tty typist.
My other excuse for my embarrassing typos scattered throughout blog-land is an overused, gunked up keyboard.
Yet more evidence that I'm a nerd: I love Trivial Pursuit.
The only makeup items I wear EVERY day are eyebrow pencil and lipgloss.
I have oily skin and use high glycolic acid content facial products to remedy this
My facial/skincare products are among the few "premium" items I buy for myself.
Most everything else is secondhand, generic, dollar-store…
All of the recent "hype" about red and blue America has goaded me to reacquaint myself with my religious/spiritual self
I consider myself a Catholic in the Fransicsan Way/method of prayer, but as far as non-Faith issues are concerned I really would consider myself more Unitarian.
Despite my religious persuasion, I rarely feel guilt. About anything.
I overuse hyphens, ellipses, parentheses and semicolons.
Since I am freckle-faced, I am asked, quite often, "Do you have any Irish in you?"
To which I always offer my favorite cliché, "Only my husband!"
When I am awake, my feet are always cold no matter what socks or slippers I am wearing
But I cannot stand wearing socks to bed.
Nor long nightgowns or pj pants
I prefer cotton shorts and a tank top, as unsexy as that is, as my nocturnal apparel
My husband usurped my terry cloth monogrammed bathrobe years ago
I think I am the only housewife in America without a bathrobe…
So upon arising, I usually throw on sweatpants and a sweatshirt for warmth and "coverage"
I never aspired to be a "mom"…
…but I have found that I enjoy it and I'm pretty good at it.
I adore most things "leopard print"
Since getting our dog last year, my relationship with my husband has improved markedly; we think she adds a calming influence to the family dynamic.
I play some sort of card game (freecell, solitaire, etc.) on my palm pilot every night in bed. It makes me sleepy.
If my husband doesn’t get to me before the palm pilot is in my hands, he's lost his chance for the evening.
I don't wear a wedding ring but my husband does.
My first crush, at age 2 ½, was "Jimmy" from H.R. Puffenstuff.
My second notable crush, at age 4, was Donny Osmond. I had 4 of his albums.
And then cupid struck me at age 6 while viewing re-runs of The Monkees – I fell hard for Mickey Dolenz.
First teenage crush was Nick "I wear way more makeup than you" Rhodes of Duran Duran fame
I have a hard-to-fit bra size: 37 almost-B (I have been measured by professional fitters 3 times in the past year.) I usually wear 38's on the tightest setting, but even then it's not a perfect fit.
Merely 5 years ago I was a 44DD!!!
I love having small breasts. FREEDOM!
Even though I have been triathloning for 2 years now, I only recently learned to run correctly, comfortably, at a sustainable pace.
Even though I have been triathloning for 2 years now, I still ride a 15-year-old Schwinn mountain bike with upright touring handles!
Lack of proper racing bike makes me a total FRED (nerd) in the tri-pack.
I personally don't give a rat's bum about what the elite racers think of my entry-level stylin'
I have had the opportunity to meet, hang out with, or at least come within 25 feet of a number of "famous" people. Not that it made much impact on my life; it's just good cocktail party fodder:
Jason Bateman
Andy Williams
Jimmy Kimmel
Bill Curtis
Michael York
Jerry Ryan
Alan Ruck
Jello Biafra
Alan Ginsberg
Kurt Cobain
Courtney Love
Dave Grohl
Rob Lowe
Gloria Steinem
Billy Corigan
Nash Kato and the UO gang
Chris Cornell
Bill Gates
Tony Kucoc
Della Reese
Jerry Springer
Lots of various 90's "grunge" band figures
All the guys in Einsturzende Neubauten
Jim Ellison
Liz Phair
There are more "obscure" sightings/encounters that I won't list here. It's a small world!
I used to collect vintage lingerie and corsets but my collection is now languishing in my attic
When I was collecting, my most sought-after items were black Contessa Di Roma shapewear (girdles, long line bras) from the 1960's.
I also used to collect boots (vintage) and they are also now housed in the attic.
I played bass in a band in college and I was absolutely AWFUL…
…But the drummer was even WORSE!
The band was called Thee Vermillionaires
The guys in the band wrote some insane song about "Captain Kirk"
It was supposed to be amusing and kitschy; it was merely embarrassing.
I was once a judge at the now-infamous Chicago Poetry Slam.
I used to have a huge problem with shopping and managing money.
At one time I had 32 credit cards!
Now, I am on a tight budget and LOVE the structure and effectiveness of it.
And have only ONE credit card.
Which is paid off every month
Second only to our mortgage payment is my grad school student loan payment
Getting "flamed" in posts or in chat actually hurts my feelings and raises my blood pressure
I survive my low carb lifestyle with the aid of Pure Delight Dark Chocolate bars (sugar free, natch)
My singular monthly high carb splurge is a Chocolate Cream Puff (chocolate "buttermilk-style" donut with frothy vanilla crème filling) from Palatine's own "Spunky Dunkers"

Posted at 06:51 am by brandy101
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