not much of a movie

Gumby and I saw the movie "Eat Pray Love" yesterday.  Gumby thoroughly enjoyed it.  I could take it or leave it.  I saw "Sense and Sensibility" not too long ago and was thoroughly mesmerized by that movie ... "Eat Pray Love" does not measure up to it.  Maybe I'm just too critical about the overall concept in the first place, and desired more "heroism" in the movie.

putting a cabinet together

I've just spent hours putting this cabinet together.  It was a deal.  I saw it on clearance when I was at Office Depot.  When I checked out, the price on it was $20.  What a deal.  It's not solid wood and the veneer on it is really cheap, but it's better than plastic.  I got it to replace a 3-bin stacking plastic rack whose wheels keep falling off.

I've put a lot of stuff together, but this one was a doozy.  Now I'm tired.

new jeans

If you've followed by blog for a while (I mean a reeeally long while), you might recall that I have difficulty finding blue jean pants that fit my specifications.  I like them plain, straight leg, no stretch, and preferably of good weight.  The pair that I last purchased at a brick-n-mortar store was one size too large.  I've sported the baggy look for some years now and I've gotten comfy with those jeans.  But they're wearing out.  Some days I do wish they weren't baggy around my hips but overall they're comfortable.

Being that it's back-to-school time, jeans are among the items on sale and thought I ought to take advantage of the sale. The other day, I went to the same store where I previously got my jeans and again was unable to find the right fit.  So once more I bought one size larger.  They will require a belt; but they don't look all that baggy.  We'll see how that works out ... they have some stretch to them.

Today I went to Old Navy and bought two skinny jeans.  Yeah, I backed off on the "no stretch" requirement.  Seems I had to give that up to get any jeans at all.  I tried on two different styles and discovered that "low rise" means "I want to show the public my butt crack."  So I opted for the classic rise instead.  And since the jeans fit reasonably, I just went ahead and got a second one since there wasn't another style suitable.  Actually, Gumby insisted that I get the second one.  Else I'd be perfectly content to walk out with just one.  They fit snug around my legs but a little loose around my butt and hips ... apparently I don't have much butt.  I like a slightly loose fit anyways.

I think it was the 80's when they had "tapered" leg jeans.  Those were pretty much the same as "skinny" jeans, except in those days they hadn't made the jeans stretchy yet. So if you had tight jeans, they were indeed tight.

On leaving the parking lot, I saw skinny jeans in action on a young guy and it looked good on him.  And I also saw it on a woman; except that on her, due to her shape the skinny jeans made her legs look like chicken legs on that body.  Folks, you might want to watch out for the "chicken legs" effect.

Perhaps one day the classic blue jeans will return. Just a little loose, of good weight, plain, no stretch, deep pockets, straight legs, uniform in color (not pre-faded) -- built for working in.

just what's going on

I'm hoping to do product development. The product would be me. I've applied for financial aid for education. Awaiting verdict. If all goes well, classes start at end of September, and after about 5 months, I'd have a set of skills to market.

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We've been to a vigil service yesterday and a funeral mass today. They were both beautiful.  We're exhausted.

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It's been crazy hot here in Texas.  Awaiting reprieve from the heat and looking forward to the forecasted rain.

TV shows I like

I don't watch much TV. I don't even watch the news with any regularity, which I think is not good. But there is a show which I have yet to miss an episode:  Friday Night Lights (on NBC). Odd, since a football theme wouldn't attract me. But Gumby watches it, and once I saw it I was hooked. It's not about football. It's about ordinary people just living the card they're dealt.

Another show which I like is Brothers and Sisters (on ABC). Sally Fields ... need I say more? Also has Rachel Griffiths, who is new to me but apparently is another award-winning actress. I like her. Waiting for it to come back in the fall.

Women Religious vs. the Vatican

Ouch.  There seems to be a battle between some women religious and "the Vatican."
http://ncronline.org/news/women-religious/speak-our-women-religious

I repeat that I don't understand the issues.  But on the surface, any battle against "the Vatican" just feels wrong.  At minimum, it is a house divided.

Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. (Luke 12:51-53)

Perhaps it is very good indeed that I have not been able to join a religious order.  Let's see how all this boils over.

grass jelly drink

Today I tried:
Chin Chin Grass Jelly Drink, Lychee flavor
http://www.thaiindochine.com/products/popup_product_info.asp?pid=DCG030CN

Yes, it actually has dark jelly floating in it.  Tastes okay, somewhat like a mild tea with a touch of sweetness.  You'll want to drink the liquid with the jelly; jelly itself doesn't have much flavor.  Unfortunately, I didn't keep the can, since the dark jelly makes the can look yucky.  But I think it has less sugar and less sodium than Sprite and Schweppes Ginger Ale.


Sprite sugar: 38g (per 12 oz. can)
Ginger Ale sugar: 32g (per 12 oz. can)
grass jelly drink sugar: 28.6 (per 11 oz. can)


Sprite sodium: 65mg (per 12 oz. can)
Ginger Ale sodium: 60mg (per 12 oz. can)
grass jelly drink sodium: 59.8mg (per 11 oz. can)

I do believe it is devoid of nutritional content.