Carousel??????

Unfortunately today my dearests, there is no carousel. My links do not seem to be working, so I will have to fix that later. But, I have something else for you. A mission! Lately, as many of you know, I've been going through a strange phase where I have to make something. Well now it's your turn. Your mission this weekend is to make a time capsule. A time capsule (in case you didn't know) is a container (any container), full of odds and ends that you think represent you, your "time", or your generation. Actually it can really be anything. But, all time capsules are sealed for a certain amount of time, to be opened on some later date. You can open it, your children can open it...anyone can open it. It will be a connection from the past. Or as I like to view it a modern day treasure hunt YARR!

So....go on....make yours. Tell me what you put in it, or send me pictures and I'll post them up. Enjoy! You have your mission!

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Living between Wednesdays

I stole this title from another blog that I've been reading (it's called Living between wednesdays.blogspot.com) and I have to admit that it's quite appropriate. Wednesdays, more commonly known as hump days, are in-between-days. You're not quite at the end of the week, and you're not quite at the beginning either. For me it can be one of the most challenging days. Anyway, today I came into the office and Lo! I find material that I just had to share...for all you others pushing through the hump.

Ok, I know. Everyone and their granny has already blogged about this, but I just gotta chime in to quickly say that Garfield Minus Garfield is the most unexpected riot. Some old sage dude said something along the lines of "the greatest truths are the simplest, so likewise are the greatest men" and that tenet definitely applies here:

"Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the

Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about

schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern

life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a

journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as

he fights a losing battle against loneliness and methamphetamine

addiction in a quiet American suburb"

It's a shame that any attempt to make a Garfield Minus Garfield day-to-day calender would be cockblocked by copyright litigation. Hey I generally loathe day calendars. But seriously, I'd consider having an excuse to purchase and read the paper version of Garfield Minus Garfield every gosh darn day.

Palace of Depression

"The only real depression is a depression of individual ingenuity.” -George Daynor

The exploits of George Daynor read like the synopsis of a Coen Brothers flick. As the story goes, Daynor was a former gold prospector who’d lost his fortune in the Wall Street crash of 1929. Hitchhiking through Alaska, he was visited by an angel who told him to make his way to New Jersey without further delay. Divine providence had dictated that Gaynor was to wait out the Great Depression there, building a castle with his bare hands

Daynor had only four dollars in his pocket when he arrived in Vineland, NJ. He used the money to buy three swampy acres of land that had once been a car junkyard. For years he slept in an abandoned car on the mosquito-infested property, living off a steady diet of frogs, fish and squirrels while he built his elaborate eighteen-spired, pastel-hued Palace of Depression out of auto parts and mud. His primary objective? To encourage his downtrodden countrymen to hold onto their hope and stay resourceful, no matter what. Daynor opened his homemade castle to the public on Christmas Day, 1932, free of charge (he started charging an entrance fee after someone made fun of his beard), and proved an enthusiastic, albeit eccentric tour guide.

Daynor held back his wild red hair with bobby pins, wore lipstick and rouge, and enjoyed dressing alternately as a prospector or a Victorian dandy. Legend has it he kept his common-law wife, Florence Daynor, locked up in one of the Palace’s subterranean chambers during visiting hours. He offered his “living brain” to the Smithsonian for experiments (they declined). His Palace of Depression, a.k.a The Strangest House In the World, quickly became a popular tourist destination for folks on their way to Atlantic City.

From Weird NJ:
"The Palace was a hodge podge of materials, including old car chassis for floor beams, and gables fashioned from old car fenders. Concrete walls were constructed from odd pieces of cement and rocks, and bed frames were made into swinging doors. To paint the house, Daynor pulverized old red bricks and mixed them with crankcase motor oil. The dome on top of the house was an large kettle turned upside down. Old wagon wheels formed the bases for cone shaped towers and revolving doors. The dining table was made of a huge cypress log with knee holes cut into it, and stumps were used as seats.

There were many darkened rooms and corners where Mr. Daynor would delight in regaling visitors with tales of hidden rivers and his vision of happiness and security. He would show people the “Wishing Well” and “Knockout Room,” where a heavy boulder was suspended above a chair. If you wanted to forget about your troubles, you could sit on the chair under the boulder and get a bonk on the head. Reportedly no one ever took him up on this offer.

Daynor even constructed an underground “Jersey Devil’s Den,” which one could crawl through. The castle itself had no windows, but shards of glass that created a colorful sunrise and sunset mosaic. The property was neatly laid out with ponds and gardens that Daynor would guide tourists around, all for 25¢ a head."

Although Daynor made grandiose claims that his creation would last 100 years, the castle has fallen into disrepair by the late 40s, and its aging king was getting weirder by the minute. In the 50s, the 81 year old Daynor claimed that kidnappers had contacted him and asked to hide a child in one of the spires of his Palace. It was a tasteless publicity scheme and Daynor was thrown in jail for a year for fraud. During his incarceration, vandals tore the Palace apart and burned a lot of it down. Daynor’s health deteriorated in prison and he never fully recovered after his release, suffering from chronic malnutrition. He died in 1964. It was his wish to be buried at the Palace, but the city had plans to raze it to make way for a public park, so Daynor was buried at a nearby cemetery in a pauper’s grave instead.

Although few remnants of the once grand castle are still standing, The Palace of Depression Restoration Association is currently trying to bring the castle back to its former glory. Volunteers are invited to help recreate Daynor's castle as an arts and learning center, and folks with the time and skills to pursue grants and donations are also encouraged to join in the effort. Best of luck to you guys!

The Palace of Depression: Then and Now
Weird NJ article
Roadside America article

10 Things that everyone should know

It's a tough world out there, and everyone needs an arsenal of things to keep themselves together. I like to call myself a fairly independent woman, but there are always things that help me out.

1. How to grab a bartender's attention:
This is really very tricky, but the name of the game is just to get noticed. Bartenders are used to people waving and shouting at them, so patience is the best weapon in your arsenal. But you can't rely on charm only, so here's a tip: keep moving. Don't wait as if you're wating in line. Instead, follow the bartender. Most bartenders move from one end and work their way to the other. Once you spot which direction the bartender is going to be headed, put yourself in that line of sight. Make sure you have money or a card visible in your hand. This will signify that you are ready to purchase drinks, and it won't take as long. Plus, know what you're getting ahead of time, a bartender can do just what a waiter does: I'll come back in a moment, and then you never see them again

2. Use a public restroom without picking up germs:
You're unlikely to catch an STD even in the grungiest bathroom, but there are tons of disease-causing bugs in there...including E.Coli. The toilet seat is not that germy actually, but still make sure that you put a barrier between the seat and yourself. This can be a little bit of toilet paper or a toilet gaurd. The real important things are flushing and washing. Flushing a toilet actually send fecal particles up to 20 feet in the air, so get out of the stall, wash your hands and leave. Don't linger so long in there *ahem* girls.

3. Fake goodlooks:
Your boss calls an emergency meeting for five inutes from now, or you spot your ex in a cafe, and of course "Murphy's Law" you're not looking your best. These work for guys and girls.
* Splash a little cold water on your face. This will temporarily tighten your pores and help even out your skin tone.
* Blot oil with a napkin, a towel, or even your t-shirt. The best thing to use though is tissue since it's porous enough to pick it up wihtout sticking.
* Camouflage breakouts with eye-drops...they don't make the zit disappear, but they do take the red-coloring temporaily out of the skin around it, making it easier to blend in.
*run your teeth over your lips. This will highten bloodflow to your lips, and will remove any obvious loose flakes. Then put some petrollium jelly on your lips. (Girls suck on some candy that will stain your lips)
* Pinch your cheeks for color

4. Fit everything into your bag:
My guy friends always laugh at me when they see me with my big purse. I carry a big purse during the week for a reason...because it fits everything. But I've come to accept that there must be ways to fit everything you need in a regular sized bag. And really this isn't just for girls, guys could learn this to so that they can minimalistic. First, you have to redefine what everything means. You have to lower this down to day-to-day essentials. I'm talking about your keys, wallet, sunglasses, cellphone, and super basics. Anything else that you don't carry with you everyday, should stay at home or at work. Then go with a size that will fit it all. Don't buy a super mini-clutch if you carry a notebook with you everywhere. Make sure that there are several smaller pockets inside the bag. Stash large items like your wallet in the main part of the bag, while your tinier things (such as your keys) should be in the pockets. That way, the big things will always be visible and the little ones won't get lost. Keep consistant when you switch bags. For example, always put your keys in the inner zippered pocket, your cell phone in the outer pouch, and so on. If you keep things consistent, you'll always know where everything is and you'll be able to reach in with your eyes closed and pull out exactly what you're looking for. Lastly, make sure that the bag has a lighter linning than the back on the inside. It's easier to see what you're looking for when the background is something that can contrast against it.

5. How to make a great omlet every single time:
Heat 2 ounces of butter (or 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, in a nonstick pan set on medium, and coat the entire bottom evenly. Add three beaten eggs to the pan, then (and this is key) continually push the cooked edges toward the center of the pan. You want to keep the eggs moving so that they don't stick. When the eggs become firm, cover half of the omelet with your fillings (think diced ham, cheese, veggies). With the spatual, fold the other side of the omlet over the filling side so it makes a half circle. After 30 seconds slip it onto a plate.

6. Set a mental alarm clock:
This become inportant when crashing at places on a weeknight, and there's no alarm clock. Try this next time: start by making sure the room is dark but not pitch black. If light get in your body won't be able to wake up. So as you're lying down, ready to drift off, tell yourself that you're going to wake at...say...seven. Say it over and over in your mind-I will wake up at seven- and at the samet time, envision the numbers on an imaginary clock. You should awaken at or very close to the desired time.

7. Talk and eavesdrop at the same time:
Mastering this talent gives you the percet cover when you're listening in on something. You can completely tune in to a nearby converation if you make a few mechnicali movements wiithin your own discussion that indicate you're paying attention but don't require actual focus. Lean slightly toward the person talking to you; this convey's an eagerness to hear what htey have to say, even though you're actually checked out. Maintain steady eye contact and nod your head occasionally. Every 30 seconds or so, volunetter a vague verbal cue like "right" "yeah". These words are easy to spit out without thought, so they relate to any topic.

8. Freshen you breath without a toothbrush:
Get some carbonated water, and swish it around in you mouth. This washes away food particles caught in your teeth or on the back ofyour tounge that cause odor. Then take a few bites (if you can) of crunchy vegtables. Apples, oranges, carrots, cucumbers, celery, and lettuce. These help cleanse your teeth naturally. If you can, much on parsley...which is a pretty efective breath-booster.

9. Fix a broken shoe:
Conquering the this common nightmare requires an easy preemptive maneuver-arming yourself at all times with the right extrastrong glue. One brand--> E-6000. Coat a thin layer on the hell, the press it firms against the back of your shoe. It's super strong and sets in in minutes, but go easy on your feet for a while, as it takes a while for the glue to set in completely. E-6000 is generally sold at craft stores, so if you don't have one nearby go for gorilla glue...which is more common and equally strong.

10. Tell a funny story:
I am probably the worst person to give this advice as I have the most awkward sense of humor. I'm one of those people that will laugh at exactly the most inappropriate times. But, I do know a few tips that I've noticed in other people. First rule of thumb: edit out the related details. "Keep your story short, clear, and to the point. If it doesn't matter what the main characters were wearing or what kind of car they drove, don't bore everyone with these tangents. Second, have fun telling your story without giving away the punch line. Go ahead and laugh while you're talking, it'll encourage others to do it too. Just don't give away the punch line early on. It's always best to keep it as a surprise.

*Did you know that Tonic water glows? *

What you really need to know about Gin:
Have you ever been to a deluxe bar, which takes its cocktails seriously, and opened up the drinks menu, only to be overwhelmed with the list of Gins, vodkas etc? Well, Danearys is here to help you. As much as I can that is. This is a guide to that most sophisticated, wonderfully complex of spirits; Gin.

What is Gin?
Gin is a clear grain spirit enhanced by the fragrant juniper berry, which in Dutch is genever. Essentially you could say that it’s juniper-flavored vodka, but it’s a tad more sophisticated than that. Pervious myths whispered that Gin is made in bathtubs, on the contrary mes Amies. Gin is blended in copper-pot stills where the spirit is boiled. The botanicals-any herbs, spices and fruits that you can imagine (including nutmeg, orris, angelica root and orange peel) are added directly to the bubbling elixir. This is the most common way of infusing gin with its various flavors. However, in a few choice distilleries, these botanicals are suspended over the copper pots in copper baskets and vapor-extracted. This gives the gin a more delicate taste.

What makes a Quality Gin?
The best gins come from distillers who make their base spirit on-site, or get it from small artisans that micro manage the procedure. Smart distillers then blend the freshest botanicals with curatorial discretion. What you want is a gin that has balance, complexity and smells more like a garden than aftershave. Good gins have a good smell. In order to reveal these it’s a pretty good idea to add a few drops of water to the gin, treating it like a scotch. Just like wine, you should be able to pick out the different parts, the norm being between a citrus, sweet and tangy scent. Always avoid gins that have long lists of ingredients, as there should never be too many botanicals. Gin should always have one or two signature taste characteristics rather than a jumble of ingredients. If you can’t tell what the hell the different ones are, it’s probably not a premium gin. Avoid gins that aren’t labeled “distilled”. This means that they’re compounded mixture of tanker-truck booze, lab manufactured flavors, and will light your lungs on fire! Believe me, it’s kinda painful and sickening.

The history of Gin:
Many people argue about the origins of Gin. As I understand it, the contention is between Italy and Holland. Italy claims that it had created the drink at the Salerno Medical School, which it had used in various celebrations. Holland claims that Franciscus Sylvius, a Dutch doctor in Leyden, created the infusion of juniper berries and distilled grain produce as a remedy for weak kidneys and stomach disorders. Either way, all sources agree that the drink was most common in Holland.

During the 30 years war, English troops fighting in the lowlands were given “Dutch courage”, and took the concoction back to England for mass production. The distillation process was fairly easy to recreate in England and various laws actively encouraged the home distillation of spirits. This mass production lowered the price of Gin and soon became a firm favorite with the poor, as it was cheaper than beer and ale, and had a warming quality. The influx of gin in the market suppressed the production of good gin, but the quantity consumed continued to rise. Suddenly the abuse of alcohol became a major social problem, leading to such terms as “down gin lane”; a description for areas that were scenes of idleness, vice, misery and death.

The problem was tackled in 1736 by passing the Gin Act, making gin prohibitively expensive. Previously a license to retail gin cost £3 ($258.87 today), to £50 ($4314.50 today). Over time the cost lowered, but only marginally. Gin became more expensive to distill, increasing quality and social rank by making it a commodity that only the rich could afford. It continued to rise as technological improvements allowed for beer and ale to become cheaper, and refined a drier gin. In the late 1800s, gin became a popular favorite in gentlemen’s clubs, where it was added to various cocktails (such as “Pink Gins”), leading to the habit of mixing gin with unpleasant tasting liquids[1]. Thus leading to today’s view of Gin.

So how do you drink it, and top choices?
Sure there’s tonic (a personal favorite), but there are other ways to enjoy your gin if you don’t enjoy the taste of quinine. Consider not mixing your gin at all. If it’s a good gin, it won’t make you feel like your liking a car battery. Make a martini but skip the vermouth, which personally doesn’t appeal to me anyway. Why mix gin with flavored wine? Gin is the Rolls-Royce of cocktail spirits, so it advocates drinking it slow and straight, or strained after some easy shaking over ice. Why shake? The shaking introduces oxygen to the drink which enhances the botanical ingredients making them much easier to recognize and to pop out. You can also add little garnishes to the drink which will melt in with the juniper; cucumber is an interesting choice, and I’ve seen several add in a couple of pearl onions.
But, Gin doesn’t follow any strict recipes-it requires juniper…that’s about it- so distillers can get creative with their blends and create specific tastes. Premium distillers make mixes that make sense, and have some uncommon but complimenting ingredients. Remember that what makes the gin a beautiful drink is the fact that they are blended with skill and intention, revealing a thoughtfulness, and complexity you won’t find in other spirits.

Suggestions:

• 
  Bluecoat: A little sugary. It’s got a lemon drop candy flavor that’s pretty light.
• Bulldog: This gin is drier than most and…exotic. This I think is because it adds a botanical called dragon eye, which in my personal opinion is awesome in an of itself
• No. 209: This is thick and very tangy…not a personal favorite but it certainly clears up the nasal passages.
• Aviation: Spicy! Not in the buffalo wing sense, but rather in the cardamom and anise sense.
• Leopold’s: I can never really put this right on place it’s always a tie between citrus and spice
• Hendrick’s: It’s got cucumber and is probably one of the best that you can start on. It’s got an unusual taste but it’s still one of the most drinkable gins.

Now these are just suggestions, I’m not saying these are the best. I’m just offering them up as ones that would make a good start for people looking for a variety of tastes. There is absolutely nothing wrong with other brands, so go ahead…raise your glass…take a sip! Gin and Tonic for me

[1] Enter the “Gin and Tonic”. Previously called “Indian tonic water”, gin was added to tonic water to disguise the taste of the quinine necessary to fight malaria in the tropics, during the campaigns of the East India Company

Happy New Year everyone!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful time last night and that whatever they did, they did so with as much inner strength as they could muster. It's the beginning of a new year for everyone and it's time to make the best of it. I have several personal traditions for New Years and New Year's Eve. I'll make a confession....I have spent every single New Year's Eve with my family. This is not because I don't like going out (quite the contrary) but...because I don't get to see them very often...and it just so happens that are almost always in town during the holidays. This however does not prevent me from celebrating with my friends! I may spend the traditional view of New Year's with family, but I have a tendency to view every day as a New Year if you will.
But I digress; traditions. One, I carry with me always some small rocks that I collected back as a little girl. They each have interesting patterns, and I picked them back when I was first learning about the earth. I remember thinking that these rocks have been here for longer than I have, and will continue to be here long after I am dead. These rocks...for some odd reason, just make me feel optimistic about the future. Luckily they are pretty small, so I can carry them in whatever purse I carry. The second tradition is grapes. My mother showed me this one. At 12 make sure you have 12 grapes. When the clock strikes 12, you eat all the grapes that you can in the first minute. Now there is some contention in the family about the matter of time. Some say that you should eat all the grapes in the first 12 seconds, others the first minute. Either way, if you get the kind of grapes that are big and juicy, you have a ton of fun watching everyone (and yourself) trying to gobble away at the grapes. After the grapes and rocks, I dance at least ONE song....and kiss someone. The kiss doesn't have to be on the lips, and it doesn't have to be someone that you're attracted to necessarily...just a kiss to ring in the new year and bring in some luck!
My final tradition is watching the sunrise. By this time I am generally exhausted from dancing, drinking and warding off the usual questions from my family. But I try to make an effort to do this every time. Watching the sunrise has always made me think that anything is possible. Plus I love how no one else is around, and how the world changes in vibrant hues...each one different and unique, yet still remaining the same in it's constant cycle.
And this year's resolutions: Every year, I make a list of things that I want to do or accomplish in the year. I make a point of saying that resolutions are not absolute. In my opinion absolute resolutions are better off stated as goals. Here you have a time scheduled to complete those goals. For example...a goal of mine is to go to the doctor's for my (overdue) annual check up by February. A resolution on the other hand is something that you wish to accomplish and are...resolute about it ;)
1. Learn to love my workout: I work out, but I find that sometimes I don't do it because I want to. Rather I do it because I'm told it's good for me and I know I should. So...this year, I will try to truly love it. I mean, it keeps me in shape, will ensure that I live to see future generations react to mine, makes me feel good, and allows me to force a release of feelings that I can't really release in real life. I plan to do this by jotting down a few notes after every workout, reminding myself how I feel (which is generally exhausted...but somewhat elated as well). I will not force myself to go to the gym when my body is screaming for me not to. I will take a break instead, and go when I feel I want to.
2. Work hard at work, play hard at play:Work, as much as I dislike it, is important. It pays the bills, and allows me to have fun money. Plus, it's not really all that bad. No one is forcing me to stay there and if I didn't find at least something that I liked about it, I wouldn't be there. So I must find what keeps me there, and work at that. But I don't intend to run in a Rat-race. I understand that a job is important, but so are all the other factors of your life. This year I will learn to make the two of them work. Work hard, play hard!
3. sunscreen and care: My body has so far been so good to me. I put it through so much, and it still continues on. The wonderful machine that it is. I plan to take better care of it, and return the favour.
4. Memory games: I was sitting down reading one of my favourite books the other day, and I could not remember the definition of the word that I was reading. I knew the word, I had used...but at that moment my mind drew a blank. Suddenly I became paranoid that I was loosing my memory and not exercising it enough. So this year, it's time to work on a few mind games.
5. Study for the future:Since I still have no idea what I want to do with my life, professionally speaking, I'm going to start looking into all the fields that I have an interest in and see if I find a sudden spark. This however, will also include studying for odious future tests (as I call them), like the GRE or the LSAT.
6. Paint and create more: I love painting and creating things. This year, I want to have several projects...and actually complete them.
7. Inner peace: I grew up in a very catholic family. But I don't necessarily call myself a catholic. I honestly have no idea what I would call myself. So this year I plan to find out, and find...a faith...in something at least; which doesn't have to be religion.
8. Dance more: I love to dance, and I want to learn more.
9. save money: I am not very good at this. I tend to be an impulse buyer, and this is not good. I vow to start saving money...that way when I'm old and crazy I can at least bribe people to put up with me.
10. buy a new computer: Oh lord, of course I mention buying something JUST after I said that I needed to save money. But my poor old computer needs to be replaced. I have had it for a good 5 years and it has lasted me through so many trials. I just hope that it holds out for as long as I can save my money.

And now its your turn. Any traditions that you do on new years? how do you normally spend it? How did you spend it this year? And what are your resolutions?

once again
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Wishing you all the best!