Is 30 a scary number?

The other day I was told life begins at the age of 30. The speaker was a sales clerk at a high scale department store. When I mentioned my sister was turning 30, the sales clerk immediately launched into a long speech on exactly what turning 30 means:

When you turn 30 that is when it really gets good. Before that, in your twenties, you really don’t know what you want to do with your life and so you are running around trying to figure it all out. You are running to get your college degree, then your first job… You have no time to know what you want in life. Then at 30 you start to wake up and realize you need to get your act together. That’s when you get a hubby and have kids and things finally start to make sense.

I am paraphrasing based on my memory but I’m sure you get the drift. I have years ahead of me before I turn 30 but I imagine my concept of “getting my life together” might be a little different. Also, I hope I never become the kind of gal who dishes out advice or feels the need to lecture to younger girls. There will be no elderly, sisterly advice coming from me! Unless others resort to reading my blog. In that case, it’s almost impossible to avoid sounding preachy on occasion.

Doga

I don't have a dog, but from time to time I dog sit for other people's pooches. My sister, T, was telling me the other day about possibly getting a treadmill for her dogs. I laughed at the idea, but she explained how the Dog Whisperer recommends it. Well, I just found a new work-out method for dogs known as Doga:



The second I get a dog I'm teaching him/her to do Doga. The dogs on the cover of the book seem to be enjoying it.

Decisions made in yellow

My brother, W, loves yellow and so it is no wonder his May 2007 wedding is going be yellow-themed. Rumor has it yellow is going to be in season this spring and so I am contemplating looking for something yellow to wear. I love this beautiful dress from J.Crew:



The wedding isn’t until May but don’t be surprised if I start talking about the wedding early. After all, it’s not every day that one of my siblings decides to get married. After this wedding I expect a ten or twenty year gap. I know my siblings well and rushing to the alter just isn’t a top priority.

What do you listen to?

I’ve been searching for enjoyable podcasts lately and here are a few of the more popular podcasts I’ve tried: Mugglecast, Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History, Grammar Girl and The Official Lost Podcast. I’ve also been downloading NPR shows for my listening pleasure. The Lost podcast is easily my favorite, as it ties in with the weekly show. (If you don’t follow the show religiously the podcast won’t do much for you.)

Despite listening to several podcasts now, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed in my search. I keep looking for some unknown hip/amazing/insightful podcast that will hold my interest. For now, the search is on.

Trip to Cabela's

Last weekend my niece and nephew were in town and so we ended up taking them to Cabela’s. I’ve heard the huge outdoors store described as "Michigan’s #1 tourist attraction" in the past. I refuse to agree with the claim. Whenever anyone starts making the connection of rednecks and Michigan, I refuse to hear it. Maybe I’m the one living in denial, but so be it. Also, for the record it wasn’t my idea to take my niece and nephew to a store featuring its own gun library and baby dolls dressed as hunters:



However, I was impressed with the detailed displays of taxidermied animals that filled the entire store. This one was an instant favorite:



When I was taking photos in the store I heard someone comment: "You can take a lot of of great photos in this store!" Uh huh. While I don't know if I agree with the statement I do confess to forcing my niece and nephew into posing alongside the taxidermied animals. Here is my niece with a wildebeest (if she looks uncertain in the photo it’s probably because she was):



Because, when in Rome, do as the Romans do, I ended up dining on ostrich in the Cabela’s restaurant/cafe. It was either ostrich or wild boar or venison hotdogs. I went with the ostrich:



In all, it was a fun afternoon. It made me want to go watch Escanaba in Da Moonlight again, while sitting by a warm fire.

Camera update part 2

While there is a service recall for my broken camera, the problem my camera has apparently does not fall under the specific service recall. Canon gave me two options: send the camera to the factory for repair, or replace the camera with a refurbished model. Both options require a (silly) sum of money. I would rather put that money toward a new camera… which I will do in time.

Camera update

After some looking around I discovered there is a service recall for the Canon PowerShot S400. I sent an email to Canon regarding my camera. Now I'll just wait and hope for the best from Canon.

My top 3 items I (admittedly) can’t live without

I don’t consider myself a materialist person but sometimes I think about the items I own that actually do hold some kind of value for me. My top three would be: my camera, my car and my laptop. All of these items are important and speak of independence.

My camera, the Canon PowerShot S400, was purchased in 2003 and has treated me well in that time. After joining flickr in spring of 2005, I’ve taken to carrying the camera with me everywhere to go. Up until yesterday I was happily taking photos of the ostrich sandwich I ate and of my giggling niece and nephew but today, for whatever reason, my tiny camera has died.

The irony is tonight I will be dropping off my car for a repair. So, for the next few days I will be shuffling between taking the bus, getting rides and walking. These are all activities that don’t particularly thrill me. I have photos I haven’t uploaded to flickr that I will be posting in the meantime. Actually, my thoughts have already shifted to the greatest question of all: For my next camera, should I go digital SLR?

Here is a photo of me back in 2003 when my camera was fresh and new:



I suppose a relationship that lasted 4 years isn't so bad.

Make your own Russian nesting doll

Spotted at Amazon are these Unpainted Russian Nesting Dolls for $12. I find the traditional Russian nesting dolls to be a little boring but when I saw The Wurst Gallery's exhibit, From Russia With Love, I began to see the potential for unique designs. This one is quite possibly my favorite.

The things kids find amusing

I spotted the game, Totally Gross, while browsing Amazon. The game is designed to engage kids in science activities. The game manufacturer claims: "A dose of gross helps science make sense." Hmm. I still remember dissecting rats in Biology in order to understand anatomy and thinking, This is so gross. I also remember my Biology teacher kept the rats in a freezer in the classroom. I remember opening that freezer, seeing the frozen rats and thinking, This is so gross. I think I would rather play a game of Totally Gross than relive that experience. I'm thinking the game might be appreciated by my niece and nephew who laugh at all things gross.

New uses for furniture

I'm impressed.

Happy V-Day

My plans for the holiday include: a trip to Whole Foods, reading The Sound and the Fury, attending class at 6:30 PM and then finishing up the day with the newest episode of Lost. I'm sure at some point in the day I will be eating chocolate.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Stars of the Dog Show

Whenever I see the Komondorok I wonder if this dog breed could replace the use of a mop. I'm not a fan of mopping floors and so alternatives are always welcome. The photo to the right is from the recent Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Making sure your arms look stylish

When I lived with my sister, S, she would often joke that we needed to keep up on current fashion trends. It was a matter of grave importance. So we would go to the mall as a form of research. She was half serious and half joking about the whole "research" thing. She had an interest in looking fabulous and wearing the right clothing, but the research tended to rely more on window shopping. I was reminiscing about this today as I noticed a new trend on campus. Everyone is wearing arm warmers. I found an example online:


Cabled Arm Warmer from Lara Kazan Designs

I've also noticed the arm warmers are often worn without gloves, which is shocking to me as walking outside right now is painful due to the piercing cold. Of course, maybe wearing gloves would ruin the look.

Alternatives to the holiday of Love

I've noticed there seems to be a growing anti-Valentine's Day trend. (I wonder if this means there will be a Sweetest Day backlash in the future, as well?) So I laughed when I saw these Anti-Valentine cards, which are perfect for sending to friends or family. I like this one:



I think it would be amazing to celebrate the holiday at White Castle's special Valentine's Day dinners. Photos of the event from last year are up on flickr here. (via kottke) Nothing says classy quite like greasy hamburgers. I would go but I'm afraid my valentine will be in another city.

In the kitchen

In January I made a crazy cake for Nate's birthday. Here is a view of the cake from above:



I used Swedish Fish Aqua Life candy for decor. And here is the cake from the side:



I will probably make a tamer looking birthday cake next year.

Virtual fireplace

While listening to the weather report I found myself getting excited because the temperature might be above zero today. I honestly feel like I might as well be living in the Arctic. I've been house sitting and the owner has a copy of The Happy Holiday Hearth DVD. So I put in the DVD, switched it to the virtual fireplace, and I've been listening to it as background noise ever since. The sound of a roaring fireplace actually makes things a little warmer. If you are feeling a little cold and don't have access to a real fireplace, I fully recommend it.

Faulkner

I have a class this semester entirely devoted to the works of American author, William Faulkner. I’m not a huge Faulkner fan, but I am finding the class to be interesting.

The first day of class I started a random conversation with the girl next to me. "So, do you like Faulkner?" I asked.

"Yes, I love him," she replied.

I studied her face, looking for sarcasm but found no traces of it. She then went on to tell me how when she was a teenager she went through a "Faulkner phase" and had to read every single piece of writing he had ever written. I’m not sure if I understand this obsession but I suppose there are stranger things out there.

I’ve also noticed in the class there are a considerable amount of male students who tend to dress like Faulkner types. Maybe I’m just imagining it but I see a lot of guys with navy pea coats and thick facial hair. They look a lot like Faulkner at this stage of his life.

Yesterday I was talking to another student who confessed she hadn’t even read the material. She boasted: "I just went to sparknotes.com and it told me everything I needed to know. What’s the point in reading the book? You should really check out the site." She was very proud of her efforts and advertised the site with much glee. I, however, had to hold back from calling her an idiot.

In my mind bragging about being too lazy to read but using a silly cheat website as a substitute, is not a point of great pride. Especially in a room with English majors who have nothing better to do than read, even if it’s something as god awful as Faulkner. But those are just my thoughts.