More Blogging in 2010

Even if no one reads or understands my blogs it's a good creative release so I'm going to try to blog once a week minimum in 2010.

Talk to you soon!

Driving a Race Car This Saturday!

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Listen to my interview with Ed Beckley from Dodge City Raceway Park.
How fast will I go?
What should I wear?
Do I have a chance to win at all?

To all my competitors: "You're goin' DOWNNNNN!!" Woooo!

What Drives You? Join me in a 5k run?

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HI!? It's been a while!

I'll start by saying my garden looks TOTALLY different now than it looks in my previous post! I'll have to get a new picture up!

I don't think I have ever blogged about weight loss here before because I usually save that topic for my SparkPeople.com blog readers, but maybe you'll be interested enough just this once. :)

I have been struggling with my weight for a long time. Sometimes half heartily sometimes whole heartily and sometimes I attempt not to struggle at all and just ignore the problem.

I am excited to get to go to Mexico this coming December (108 days from when I type this) and I wish I could say that the vacation is enough to get me into a workout frenzy to make sure I'm as beach ready as I can be, but not so. I do have an idea of something that could get me feeling the urgency. Signing up for a 5k run (or many)!

To my own surprise there are runs scheduled within my area of Southwest Kansas! So I'm going to sign up for something... Not sure which ones yet so that's why I'm blogging about it. Can you suggest any runs in Southwest Kansas? And is there any chance you'd want to join me? Whether it be running the actual 5k or just training for it.

If your interested please leave a comment or get a hold of me otherwise and I'll open up a message board on Sparkpeople.com so we have a place to gather our team up.

I googled and found this website runningintheusa.com for Kansans. I was thinking about the Jingle Bell Run in Dodge City on November 22nd.

I'm really out of shape. I want to change that, so I figured it'd be a pretty good challenge! :)

To train I'm using the C25K program on coolrunning.com but I make it easier and run to a music track made by a guy named Robert Ullrey. He breaks into the music each week to tell you when to run and when to go back to walking. Makes it a whole lot easier than watching a stop watch!

So, do ya wanna run with me?

Do you know if there are any charity runs that benefit Fibromyalgia? (does that fall into the arthritis category??) I don't know a lot of about the disease, but it's one that I'd like to run for if it's supported...

Take that Rabbit!!

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If I owned a BB gun I'd camp out and wait... k, I'm all talk... but I'm still in a bad mood about my plant!!

I got this gorgeous red pepper plant on Saturday from the Home Depot ... I also bought zucchini, yellow squash and two tomato plants because almost none of my darn seedlings made it through the 50 mph gusting wind a few weeks ago.

I was so excited to plant these new plants that I went straight home and got to work, filling my tires with grass clippings and then dirt (and some kind of humus/manure dirt thinger???) and I gently pealed back the peat pot and planted my new stuff and even planted some more potatoes too since I had seeds to use up. (I know, tires? Not the most awesome thing to see from my neighbors lawns... so I've done what I can to try to make it look organized... at the least. I've been thinking about painting the white buckets pretty colors but I don't want it to look tacky... *ahem* tackier...)

Anyway I'm still steamed about it... some darn animal (I assume a rabbit) ate my gorgeous red pepper plant!!! Right down to the top of the dirt. It's GONE. Not the wind this time. It was eaten! And that was the only thing eaten! The plant I want to grow the most and it's eaten less than 48 hours after planting!

I bought a new red pepper plant today. AND I bought the green fencing and posts! Nobody's eating my peppers but ME! I'm just bummed because I didn't want to sink any more money into my gardening project... it's reusable for next year though so I'll get over it...

This is not quite the gardening blog I meant to write up weeks ago, but that's what's up with the gardening junk right now.

I made some really awesome (healthy-ish) chocolatey dessert type snacky things this week so I'll blog about that next! :) I have pictures!!

Wordle

My wordle is made of the words in this blog! :)
Blogger really shrunk down my wordle so check it out in full view by clicking here:

http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/776946/carissasophia.blogspot.com


I saw fox news use something like this but they input a speach Obama made a little while ago. Mines cooler! ;)

Thanks for stopping by.

Carrie Underwood is an EMBARASSMENT to us ALL

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Ohhh Pa-lease!

I happened to read this article on yahoo's front page today :
Carrie Underwood Apologizes to Matthew McConaughey for Off-Color Joke

Short and sweet all I'm going to say is... if you didn't actually mean that you do want to "get lucky" with Matthew McConaughey then just laugh it off. It was funny! The audience thought it was funny and I'm sure the audience, Matthew McConaughey and his baby mama can take a joke.

I understand that some folks will find it to be a not that funny joke. But when it boils down to it, gutter brain aside, I'm sure she meant what she said. She wants to see the boots signed by George Strait, what Strait fan wouldn't??

It was funny, but not so funny that it deserves -this much attention-!

Thanks for reading this non-gardening related blog. As promised I'll have a gardening progress blog up soon. Not that I think you're going to be all upset... if you're reading this... whoever is out there... :)

Going to see Lily Allen and The Ting Tings in concert Wednesday and Thursday in Denver this week too, so I'm sure I'll have lots of pictures from that... just another one of my obsessions... Britpop baby!!

Absolute Best Banana Muffins Ever

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And that says it all really. You must try this recipe next time you have borderline bananas.

I googled "banana muffins" and this was the second result on my search. The ingredients and instructions for these muffins are so simple that I didn't think they could really be as good as all the reviewers were saying. But I went with the recipe because it's simple with limited ingredients.

I did only two things different: I added a touch of vanilla and used 1/2 cup white flour with 1 cup wheat flour. (I guess technically I did 3 things different, I used margarine instead of real butter)

Another thing I saw was important was not to stir the wet with the dry too much, just enough so I made sure to do that.

I also didn't mash the banana completely to liquid form. I left some pea size chunks of banana.  The muffins baked with perfect density not too airy and not a weird mushy gushy blob thunky lump of bread. Just perfect muffins. The picture shown doesn't really do justice.

Check out the recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Muffins-II/Detail.aspx

Be on the look out for my next blog. I have a draft in the works about my gardening progress! :)

Thanks for reading!

Blizzard Warning Southwest Kansas

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It feels like it's been a while since we've seen a good amount of snow. So I'm thinking to myself, what I do I have to do to be prepared... all my seedlings are in the house, is the hose wrapped up? Where's my snow shovel? Are my tires in good shape? Do I need anything before traveling would just be stupid??? Yes! TOILET PAPER!!

The national weather service says:

TRAVEL WILL BE DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE AND IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. IF YOU MUST
TRAVEL...CARRY A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF
YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH
YOUR VEHICLE.

So I found a few links that can help us prepare if we really really really do need to travel.

Pack a Winter Survival Kit - Just in case!http://www.ksdot.org/offTransInfo/511Info/511WinterStormSurvivalOct2007.pdf

You can also call 511 for road conditions. I was able to access the Kansas road conditions on my Minnesota based cellphone number.

Before you leave the house make sure your cellphone is charged fully and bring a car charger if you have one.

Here is a Coffee Can Winter Survival kit:
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/winterdriving/survival-kit.htm

And last but not least a Winter Survival Kit inspired by the unfortunate death of James Kim:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Emergency-Car-Survival-Kit/

Keep Safe this weekend! And hopefully we'll see you at the Better Home and Better Living Show this weekend at the Finney County Exhibition Building.

One Hit Wonder Request Line Battle

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I'm putting together a One Hit Wonder - Request Line Battle Tournament and I'd love your input for songs and/or artists that should be considered to compete.

I have only ONE REQUIREMENT: Chose a song(s) from the last 10 years. (And the more current the better) Oh yea, and it has to be a Country song.

I'll also say that they don't technically -have- to be a one hit wonder. Just someone or group that you don't hear much of anymore... Maybe they had a couple good songs.

It's your chance to have one of your favorite One Hit Wonders played a couple times, assuming they advance through the tournament. ;)

16 songs will make a good tournament. So think hard. We can start the tournament with as few as two contenders.

For the latest in RLB go to http://www.wksradio.com/rlb

Ukuleles are trendy instruments

I totally want one. I know they're like the hottest thing in music right now! I've only wanted one for maybe 6 months or so, but I think I totally want one!

I think stringed instruments are the lamest instruments. Except for Ukuleles, cellos, banjo and mandolin, steel guitar is alright and bass guitars are the sexiest of the stringed instruments... and dental floss is ok if you want to get back to your roots... or something.

I guess I really only have beef with the lead guitar... it's such a self-righteous instrument...

I know that I will be a self-righteous Ukulele player though for sure. I know I won't know more than a few bars to a song and I'll be like "Look at me, I play the Ukulele and I'm Awesome!"

Seriously though, I looked up Youtube videos of Ukulele playing and crafting and teaching, but mostly playing, and it's such a cute group of people playing... that I have to join in.

This website was especially helpful: http://ukulelehunt.com and this page in particular: http://ukulelehunt.com/buyaukulele/

The reasons I chose Ukulele is because:

1. Fun past time
   
2. Start a Hobby
   
3. It's small so maybe I could actually get my short fingers around it to play...
   
4. And on and on.

This is the first song I want to learn. She does such a cute job, I know I won't be so cute, but I'll try.

And I'm pretty sure it won't be as easy as she makes it look.

The Ukulele I found that I think I want is $34. You can even find Ukuleles cheaper, but I like that one.

Can't wait for my tax return! Yay!

25 Things (facebook trendy quiz) took me 3 days...

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to "notes" under tabs on your profile page, paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 random things, tag 25 people (in the right hand corner of the app) then click publish.)


1. I have a big mouth and I'm about to tell you things that I really should keep to myself!!

2. I rarely shave my legs. No, it's not gross. Puss is gross, gangrene is gross. Hair on legs is really not gross.

3. When I was little I wanted to be a body builder when I grew up... then an OB.GYN. or pathologist and when I realized I wasn't quite cut out for that line of work I wanted to be on SNL and when I realized I wasn't dirty minded enough to be on SNL I wanted to go to Seminary school. And then I figured out my real passion -Radio. And you'd be surprised by how much silence I listen to. (I have to give credit to my high school TV Journalism teacher for planting the radio idea in my head) And sometimes I still want to be in body-builder shape.

4. When I looked like this (in red):

I thought I was a little chubby. Now I -wish- I was in that kind of shape.

5. I color and cut my own hair most all the time.

6. I want to be the most famous "Carissa" on the internet.

7. I have a really bad memory... and deep down I think that diet and exercise would help it a lot.

8. If I hadn't been "threatened" by family and signif. others... I'd probably be a freegan by now. I'm fascinated.

9. When I was looking at getting my own website back in 2004-ish I wanted carissa.com but by the time I had my ducks in a row to put up my own site carissa.com was turned into a porn site. That was a bummer. I'm pretty sure it still is, but I'm at work, so I can't check right now. :P

10. I have a thing for Britpop... Lady Sov, Lily Allen, Amy Winehouse, Adele, M.I.A. <3<3 I feel like I missing someone.... (three days later... "OH YEA!!! The Ting Tings!!! Duh!")

11. I'm prone to warts, especially on my feet, so I'm particular about clean showers, lots of clean socks and I always rinse my feet well last thing before exiting the shower, and then dry them well and put on socks. I rarely go bare foot, anywhere.

12. I'm addicted to the internet and computer stuff.

13. In January I tried to do a "computer fast" ... that lasted about 5 seconds.

14. I overuse the ellipsis...

15. I've met four internet friends in person, and 3 live in foreign countries.

16. This is day number 2 of working on 25 things about me... I'm going to have to start making things up about myself... (I don't really have any hobbies...)

17. I'm dreaming about buying an iMac with my tax return, plus I'll have to save some extra money too... but I have second thoughts about this daily because I could pay a credit card off instead... but that's so not fun. I'm torn. I want to make cool media type things with a cool computer.

18. I want to run my own at home business doing commercials and radio imaging and narration and whatever else audio recording related stuff that will make me some fun extra money. I try to rationalize my iMac desires by convincing myself I could use the iMac for business... and I have extremely minimal experience with any kind of Mac.

19. I get really zoned out watching TV. You can try to talk to me, but I'm not really there. -Even during commercial breaks. This is why I don't really like watching TV because I can't multi task.

20. I started watching TV to relate to my radio listeners better... I watch <3Heroes<3 and Ugly Betty. Those are 'my shows'. I've gotten into 30 Rock recently and sometimes I watch The Biggest Loser. Usually I watch TV on the internet...

21. I like riding my bike to work. I wear a skating helmet for protection. My bike is pimped out. I have a rear light, a back rack, a front basket and I used to have a front light but it got corroded so now I wear a head lamp. Biking gives me more time to listen to my Britpop.

22. I have a 'double jointed tongue'. You can see for yourself on www.youtube.com/carissav it was the first video I posted, and attracted a few perverts right off the bat. I'm tongue tied too, but I don't have a video of that... maybe I should make one?

23. I've decided if all seven of my siblings get married(1) and have kids(3) before me I'll at least know I didn't rush into things.

24. I use mint.com and quickenonline.com and because of that I know I'm somewhere between $68,588 and 69,742 in debt. Mostly student loans and I'm not sure how 'normal' that is...?

25. I want an aerogarden.

Enough about Money! More about Gardening!

I talk a lot about money it seems... isn't it constantly on your mind too?


Well, the last few weeks I've been trying to spend a little less time putzing around on my computer and more time being productive. I've made lists of things that I need to do, and stuff that I'd like to start working on.

And this warm Southwest Kansas "Winter" is getting me thinking about gardening again!

Last year I wasted money on a gardening project I never followed through on. This year is going to be different. You can find out how to do just about ANYTHING on YouTube! Seriously.

This year I'm going to plant a small garden, maybe 4-5 different veggies. I will plant potatoes (if I get all the details worked out), tomatoes, maybe some bell peppers, not sure what else... maybe some kind of bean??? or a hot pepper???

Being a renter planting a garden would typically be out of the question. I've thought about asking the landlord if it would be ok to start a small garden. But nah, not gonna ask, because I'm going to try a different kind of garden!!

My potato garden will be completely contained in a stacking tire system or a different similar material if I can't get my hands on some old tires. Tomatoes and other veggies I'll grow in an upside down hanging method! Cheap and easy. And no need for digging up anything. :)

I'm excited and I will learn everything I need to know about these kinds of gardens by watching YouTube videos!! W00t!

I'll keep you updated... of course that might be a while from now... since it's still "winter" and all...

Online (high yield) Savings

I saw a TV commercial for HSBC direct while in bed. Got up and straight to the computer. What's the big deal with online only savings accounts? (HSBC or ING or FNBO)

Yes, the interest rate is better. Six to eight times (2.5% vs. .42%) your average local bank savings account interest rate. It's obvious why the rate is that much better, but I want to know more about the process of an online only savings account.

I want an online savings account.

My savings will be modest, but $20 per month saved is better than... $0!

So, any thoughts on the companies? I've looked into a few just briefly. I want a savings account with Bill Pay and Debit Card options. Minimum start up deposit should be $1. Higher the interest the better, but I'm not interested in shuffling savings chasing a better rate. 2.5% -ish would be great. I don't want to deal with early withdrawl fees, but I'd allow my money to be 'held hostage' for a max of one year. Unlimited free transactions (and reimbursements for ATM fees is a bonus).

Ultimately I want a savings account with a great rate and the added bonus of checking account features (just in case).

I'll keep looking into my options but your comments and suggestions are appreciated.

I'll let you know what I come up with.

Resolution Strategy: in 3 words

The great thing about Twitter is, I don't feel obligated to read, word for word, what every person I follow is thinking or doing. So if I'm behind in reading tweets I scan over them for things that pop out at me.

Today I caught a link to a blog with an idea on how to attack your new years resolution. Cool I thought. I'm going to attempt at accomplishing my many goals with three words. http://www.chrisbrogan.com/your-3-goals-for-2009/
His idea really simplifies an overwhelming feat to tackle lots of 2009 goals. And he's used this strategy for the past few years.

I've come up with my three words:

Save. Pay. Finish.

Save:

1. Save time
2. Save money
3. Save memories
4. Save the environment
5. Save the drama for yo' mama
6. Save my computer
7. Save for a new computer
8. Save your excuses
9. Save my health
10. Save my breath

Pay:

1. Pay attention
2. Pay with cash
3. Pay down debts
4. Pay it forward
5. Pay a visit

Finish:

1. Finish what you've started
2. Finish "unpacking"
3. Finish work daily
4. Finish with a bang
5. Finish for a fresh start
6. Finish strong
7. Finish with forward momentum

These three words quickly got my brain churning. This is the start of a list I expect could be pages and pages long by the end of 2009.

Yet, I'm not overwhelmed in the slightest. All I have to do is apply these three words to my everyday. If I'm thinking about doing something that doesn't fit in with any of these words then maybe it's not worth doing. I can evaluate and move on.

What three words apply to you?