HOCKEY!!!HOCKEY!!!HOCKEY!!!!!!

There was an Amerks fan that used to scream that really loud at Amerks games and spill his beer all over the place.
At any rate, now that the Pittsburgh Penguins are in round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs I'm very interested in hockey. When I was a kid my father, uncle and grandfather were huge Penguins fans and it rubbed off on my impressionable mind. I don't really follow the teams anymore, but I'm hella nostalgic right now. The last time the Pens won the Cup it was in 92. I'm pretty excited that they are in the running again as they have had a slew of pretty rough seasons. Go Pens!!

In the News...

Headlines from Yahoo! News' featured news articles from today:

1. Showdowns and Sightings: The Dems get defensive, a rare creature rears its head, and a movie star mourns her father.
2. Second 'G.I. Joe' vixen revealed
3. The top 5 list of sports dumbest on-field injuries
4. Why the pope wears ruby red shoes

It's GOLD, Jerry!

One of my professors brought this to clinic last week to dip her apples in. It's a surprisingly good combination! One of my classmates said she always thought Nutella was French because she ate it at her grandmother's house (who is French). I always thought it was a German product because I had eaten it there when I was 8, and all my folks crazy German friends swear by it. My teacher didn't care where it was from, only that it was delicious. Which it is. But I was curious about its origins so I turned to wiki, which never disappoints. Turns out (despite the German label in the picture) it is Italian. If you've never tried Nutella please use it as an excuse to come to my house. I just bought some an plan on having it as soon as I finish this post.

No Country

I really enjoy Coen Brothers movies. Even when the subject matter is comedic they seem to approach each project tastefully and with respect to their art. No Country for Old Men is no exception. Since I am not a movie critic I won't attempt to critique the film here. Suffice it to say that it is one of the best movies I've seen in a long while, in that hours after watching it the characters are still in my mind-especially the psychopathic killer, Chigur. Somehow I connected with him than any of the other characters. I'd like to hear some other opinions from people who have seen the film to see if it struck a chord with you as much as it did me.

I'm Building a Henge

From Yahoo! News' section entitled: Odd News. Indeed. A man from Australia is building a replica of Stonehenge. Why? "Because I can." I wonder who he will convince to roll over the massive stones on tree logs from England. "10,103 miles in this day and age? I don't even know where I live anymore!"

Music Snobbery

I just reread that last post. Dag! I'm a music snob!

WXXI

I've recently started listening to WXXI again. It's been a while since I've tuned in but I've found it to be the salve for my rocked out ears. I grew up listening to classical music and really enjoyed it as a kid, oddly. I genuinely liked the music I learned in my piano lessons (not so much practicing, though). I very much still love to play these pieces. I find I can draw much more emotion out of myself and my audience in playing Beethoven than in something I've written myself. I get lost in it. Without words I find it frees the listener to absorb the fullness of sound and to truly feel the music literally as you sit in a concert hall and figuratively. It becomes wide open to interpretation as you imagine what the context this piece was born from. It seems as though emotions and passions are intensified because the composer has found a way to convey them wordlessly.

Crap-tastic

Have I ever mentioned that I don't care for stupid people? I care even less for stupid people who are mean. The only reason I think these people are still around is because our society seems to like helping stupid people feel they are smart and deserve jobs in doctor's offices. For instance, the wretched secretary of one Dr. Strangelove (names have been changed to protect the innocent). Now I'm pretty sure that I'm supposed to have a God-like attitude and show this person some true God-like love. That's probably the reason she has gotten this far in life. I think it is cruel to let her go on believing that she is someone special. I think she is a perfect example of why survival of the fittest is a concept that has some merit. If society worked this way she would have been done away with eons ago and wouldn't be crapping up my day. Needless to say that if I were lying in a ditch covered in petrol on fire I wouldn't call Dr. Strangelove.

Dear supposed literary genius William Faulkner,
WTF?! Because of your reputation as one of the great writers of the day, I decided to pick up a copy of "The Sound and the Fury" thinking it was a book I should know. I started the book several days ago and have managed to read a whopping 19 pages (technically 16 since the Norton's Critical Edition begins your story on page 3). Please note that I am of about average or slightly higher than average intelligence. I'm not slow, but I'm not tipping the scales on the genius side either (as you probably noted from my atrocious grammar). That being said, I don't get your art. Who is telling the story? I've counted three different first person accounts so far. What's with the italics? You don't use them in any way I've ever understood. What's the plot? So far it has yet to be determined. There is a new character in ever sentence, it seems, but you haven't really introduced them. There is no timeline. I can piece enough information together to understand that you are jumping back and forth around some event (that you haven't yet disclosed). Sometimes you are writing before this supposed event and sometimes you write after it. You don't let me know when you are switching either, you just assume I've come along with you. I guess I will give you the benefit of the doubt because you are William Faulkner for God's sake, but I hope that you will resolve some of these issues as the story unfolds...if there is one to unfold. Thanks for reminding me that I should have paid better attention in school.

Sincerely,
your mom

Dissonance

The scope of my last semester's study of Dental Hygiene (the course not the program as a whole) covers the topic of Ethics and Jurisprudence. In 4 weeks of textbook reading, website searches and classroom discussions I have discovered that I'm not sure I like the business of dentistry. Those who are employed in the field of dentistry are expected by the dental profession and by the public at large who receive dental "services" to uphold a code of ethics. This is all well and good. I have read and found great wisdom in the code of ethics for my profession and will have no problem adhering to what seems to be a reasonable set of principles that will guide and govern my practice. This code, however, seems only to exist in a dream world. I have left class every Friday feeling like my contribution to the health of the community bubble has been savagely crushed by fear of litigation and of dentists who are businessmen, not public servants-or at least individuals who are concerned with the overall welfare of their patients. Codes of ethics have been replaced by what insurance companies will pay for and by how much malpractice insurance you have. Yet we are still expected to uphold the code. I am not interested in working for a dentist who has no problem sending a patient away because he can't pay for a procedure that he needs (because thats super ethical right there). Nor am I interested in spending the first few years being afraid that I'm going to be sued because a guy with gingivitis bled while I cleaned his teeth. Here's where hypocrisy fits in. I wanted to be a hygienist because I was attracted to a stable and ample paycheck and and environment that allows me to spend time with my family. Oh yeah, and I want to make sure people are healthy too. Having almost finished school I still like the idea of having a nice paycheck, but now realize just how important my role is in keeping people healthy and preventing disease. I also have just realized how scared I am to find a job and to find one where I don't have to choose between my personal values/ethical code that I have taken on and ultimately selling out (working for a businessman) for a paycheck. I guess I'd have to decide if the paycheck is worth it. I could work for an inner city clinic, though that has it's own red tape issues probably just as frustrating as the ones I've just described. Though I have to say, I'm tired of being poor. I don't need to be rich by any means-but I also don't want to have to borrow from the family or throw hundreds of dollars on a credit card that I will spend 3 years paying off because my oil pan needs to be replaced....oi. Such weighty thoughts for a Friday evening. I'm going to ignore them now and watch American Gladiators.

Thank You, Captain Obvious

Kudos again to Yahoo! news for excellence in finding useless information. It appears that the National Institute of Health has funded a study on scratching and its effect on the portions of the brain. "They scratched 13 healthy people with a soft brush on the lower leg on and off in 30-second intervals for a total of five minutes."
The results: "'It's possible that scratching may suppress the emotional components of itch and bring about relief,' Yosipovitch said." Well, that's a load off now isn't it? I get pretty emotional about my itching. I like how he worded his results-scratching may supress itching. Researchers noted that "the study is limited because people were not scratching in response to an actual itch." I guess they can't just sit around waiting for people to get an itch. Maybe the subjects could watch The Seven Year Itch with some sensors on their heads or something so they can think about itching.
At the end of the article, almost as an aside (much like it is here), they let readers know how the study might actually be useful: "...understanding what goes on in the brain may lend clues about how to treat people tormented by chronic itch, including people with eczema and many kidney dialysis patients." If knowledge is power, I wonder what countries I can take over with this information.

Satellite Pt. 2

"Disabled spy satellite threatens Earth" The grim headline just in from Yahoo! news. Officials report that the satellite can no longer be controlled, may contain hazardous materials and they have no idea where it might hit sometime in late February or March. A little vague on the details. Did Yahoo just hire a writer from the Weekly World News? Is the hazardous material that could be on this satellite really the remains of Hitler? "Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation" Appropriate government agencies? I'm beginning to feel better. Really what they mean to say is "We don't know jack." And folks- don't tell. This information is classified as secret. At least important details such as where this thing might land...will I be late to school one day because a hazardous freaking satellite containing beryllium dropped from the sky onto my car?! The article goes on to say that breathing beryllium can cause chronic, incurable respiratory problems. Which kind of respiratory problem? "No ma'am we can't divulge that information at this time. It has been classified as secret." Listen, pal-didn't your mom ever tell you secrets don't make friends? Of course you won't have any friends left anyway because they are all dead from this satellite that fell from the sky crushing them beneath. Many thanks to Yahoo! news for a sensational story. "This paper contains facts. Pregnant man gives birth....that's a fact!"

New Books!

I've just received conformation from Amazon (that I did not get to by using Scott's link...sorry Scott) that they got my money! That means in 7-10 business days I get many books that are must haves in any library that I don't have yet. I got The Grapes of Wrath and Of Mice and Men, Catcher in the Rye, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Chronic-WHAT-cles of Narnia (in the original order) and Grace Eventually by Anne Lamott. I enjoyed Lamott's first 2 books on the subject of faith, so hopefully this on won't disappoint. The others I have read excepting the Grapes of Wrath. I'm looking forward to rereading these books and having them for when the girls are of age to read them as well.

Tahitian Treat

Does anyone else remember drinking Tahitian Treat as a kid? My folks brought over this 7Up that's basically carbonated juice and it reminded me of Tahitian Treat. I have such excellent memories of this delectable beverage and the sugar highs that it caused. Apparently you can still order Tahitian Treat online. 24 cans for $38!!!! The ad says you can take a trip down sugar infested memory lane which does sound totally enticing. But not for $38. *Sigh* I'll have to resort back to mixing pixy stix with mountain dew again. What a disappointment.

Where have all the cowboys gone?

A nagging question. Really. I'd guess they are wherever cowboys go. I actually really don't care where they are because I don't care about cowboys. This post has nothing at all to do with cowboys or their location. I guess if you count not caring about cowboys it kind of applies. The facts are these. At this moment young Mel has been a pastor's wife for 10 months, 3 days, 2 hours and 4 minutes (go watch Pushing Daisies and then you'll understand the phrasing). I haven't really considered myself to be a pastor's wife as such. I don't do all the things that typical pastors wives do like form knitting parties and ladies Bible studies or run the children's room or anything else of that nature. The past few months or so I've been wondering what that role means to me and to the people at Artisan. I don't know how approachable I am. I don't see myself as the warm and inviting person that I envision pastors wives as being. I'm sometimes socially awkward (mostly in large groups or around many women) and I don't always like to be around people who require me to give more of myself than I feel like giving (emotionally demanding people). Do not misunderstand me and think that I don't like people because I do. Sometimes I don't (like when I'm driving). Mostly I'm just retarded when it comes to relating to people or being able to help someone through a problem. And sometimes I'm a downright jerk and don't do things I probably should for various selfish reasons. At any rate, the purpose of this post was not to get down on myself for sucking at life and being a subpar pastor's wife but to throw it out to see what other people's conceptions are. Somewhere along the way I will arrive at a place that I can live with whether I'm comfortable or not (as I don't believe that God is always terribly concerned with how comfortable I am).

It's been a while

I've just remembered I have a blog page! What fun. Now that I can remember how to get here I will probably start writing again. I hope no one died waiting for my next post. Its an awful long time to hold one's breath.

Satellites

I've always thought that satellites were pretty cool-taking pictures of distant planets and galaxies far far away, but I decided to check out some satellite images literally from our backyard. This totally blows my mind. If I were high I'd really be wigged out. How cool to see a picture of my house taken from freakin space. I spent some time finding the house I lived in in Cincinnati and the Hollywood Video I worked at as well as the Skyline Chili I used to eat at. Then I found my grandparents house and my moms house and I found the compound. What fun. Check out http://maps.live.com to see your house or work or whatever you feel like spying on.

Wisdom from the Stall

Mike always says that he gets some of his best ideas while in the bathroom. Apparently he's not the only one. Here are some no doubt alcohol induced epiphanies written in the first stall at Richmond's Pub.

"Be the change you want to see in the world."

"Never give up on something you can't go a day without thinking about."

"If someone can make you smile without them being there that's when you know they've got you."
(Hardly "you had me at hello")

"Juuuu-dith! omg! she's like the crypt keeper"

"Always B honest even if it hurts Because you can always walk away being true to yourself"


Truly words to live by. Enjoy your newfound enlightenment!

Cara and Emily's Page

My grandmother used to take a million and a half pictures to capture memories of her family. I am terrible at this. Since I got a new digital camera for my birthday I figured I'd make good use of it! So if you get bored check out The Muscarella Chronicles for various anecdotes of the girls doings and pictures! Well, there aren't any pictures yet, but there will be shortly. Now we just have to go and do something post-worthy!

Kid Tested, Mother Disapproved

Did you know that Kellogg's cereals are a contributing factor in childhood obesity? It appears that some upset moms of obese children have targeted Kellogg's saying the sugary cereals aren't healthy enough for their kids. I'm sorry but the whole point of the cereals in question is that they are sugary. And if the cereal wasn't meeting health standards it would not have been approved by the FDA. Forgive my insensitivity for a moment here but this is what I hear after reading the article: "Heeeeyyy! I finally just realized that my kid is severely overweight! Never saw that coming! It must be all that sugary cereal Kellogg's has been marketing to my child!" At this point a few questions come to mind. Don't you, as a parent, buy they cereal from the store? Or am I supposed to believe that the youngster went to the store by him/herself and purchased the contraband cereal without your knowledge? What? Did little Timmy use his allowance or did he just steal a 20 from your wallet? If that's the case then you probably have more serious issues at hand here. Okay, so you bought the cereal. But you had to because little Timmy saw the commercial on TV and wouldn't stop begging you for it. And you had so little self control and wanted to give Timmy everything his little heart desired because he's your little angel! Whatever happened to "No"? It's true that childhood obesity is on the rise. While this is certainly regretable why is it Kellogg's fault? Obesity is not something that you wake up with the next morning. These parents have to notice that something is wrong. And I hardly believe that eating Kellogg's cereals and other Kellogg's products are to blame here. Turn off the video games or computer and make your kids go play outside! Somehow we seem to have forgotten that as parents we can control what our kids eat and how much exercise they get. And I'm not talking about exercise in the sense that they should join Bally's but how about an old fashioned ball game with some kids in the neighborhood? Heaven forbid your child should ride a bike to a friends house or just around the neighborhood. If, as a concerned parent, you believe that Kellogg's products aren't healthy enough for your kid, then don't buy them. Where has common sense gone?