I’m a California girl who loves sunshine, driving with the top down, the beach, a glass of red wine, a shot of bourbon or even a fruity cocktail if the situation calls for one. If my arteries and jeans would allow it, I’d eat steak & potatoes every night.
I love a good book. Anything from biographies, to crime drama, to modern romantic with a touch of suspense, and even the occasional “trashy romance novel” can be found on my Nook or book shelf. I’m funny but can’t even tell a “knock knock” joke.
My Southern roots show themselves via my love of a pair of good (spoiled) hunting dogs, comfort food (especially grits & greens), the outdoors, a rugged man, a sturdy pickup truck and muscle cars (But OMG I LOVE my Porsche!). I’m likely to speak with a country twang when I’m around anyone else from the South (or if I’ve had a couple of cocktails), and I love many of the same things as my Southern relatives: NASCAR, College Football and BBQ.
I believe in and honor the men who've served in the United States Military and respect for my Mom, my elders and the smell of fresh baked bread & apple pie rank high in my book.
I’m that girl who listens intently and thinks a lot. I always check my facts and I have opinions on everything around me! At times I’m funny, sometimes I’m infuriating, but I’m always honest.
Another day, another Trump campaign attempt to put one over on the American people. But really, if you think about it, they’re trying to fool the whole world, because Twitter is not exclusive to the USA.
In a nutshell: Monday morning, Donald Trump, using graphics created by his Campaign (or whoever does his social media posts, etc.) and citing @FiveThirtyEight as the polling group, took to Twitter and boldly thanked Iowa and Ohio for his leads in both states over Secretary Clinton.
Unfortunately there were a few glaring problems with his tweets. Shocker of shocks!
Eagle-Eyed former tech director for Bernie Sanders, Zach Schneider, saw the postings and noticed the prominently displayed Five Thirty Eight Logo in both tweets, which was odd because Five Thirty Eight doesn’t commission political “horse race” polls. In fact, if Trump, and even worse, his Campaign Manager, FORMER POLLSTERKellyanne Conway, actually understood what the numbers in the numerous polls they were reading meant, instead of claiming that Donald Trump was leading by 3% over Hillary Clinton, they’d realize that the polls show he’s trailing in those states by 2%. Hmmm
Once Schneider tweeted out Trump’s use of a “fabricated poll attributed to @fivethirtyeight,” it, of course, went viral. Someone was smart enough (likely after a sternly worded note from Nate Silver’s legal team at 538) to take it down from Trump’s Twitter account, but Conway is still blatantly trumpeting the numbers out and attributing them to Five Thirty Eight.
You really can’t make this kind of comedy up. This is a man who’s spending tens of millions of his own money, who’s supposedly hired “the best” to help get him elected to the highest office in the land, and they make mistakes like this nearly every day! They make the Keystone Kops (fictional comedic incompetent cops) look organized!
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Nobody with a serious fitness goal in mind, or who’s just days away from having to wear that TEENY TINY BIKINI on vacation, likes skipping a workout, but there are a few times that skipping it is exactly what you should do.
This is especially the case if you have taken some specific over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for routine ailments. Hmmm….
Did you take any type of decongestant or “cold and flu” medication? I’m talking about a very broad range of OTC here: Zicam, Theraflu, Mucinex, Sudafed, Tylenol Cold-Max, etc. Because the entire class of cold and flu remedies has some sort of sedating effect, there is a risk of injuring yourself while exercising due to a foggy feeling from that sedation or, at the other end of the spectrum, the decongestant can increase your blood pressure and heart rate, putting you at a slightly elevated risk for stroke if you work out when taking some decongestants. In both cases, it’s better to just ride the treatment out and take a few days off to recover.
Did you need to take a pill to get some shut eye last night? If you took a sleeping pill after tossing and turning most of the night, it’s better to a) not try and work out while the effects of the sleeping pill could still be retarding your muscles response and, b) not try to work out unless you got a full 8 hours of sleep after taking the pill.
Are you an allergy sufferer? If you plan to work out, take a non-drowsy allergy relief pill like loratadine (Claritin), fexofenadine (Allegra), or cetirizine (Zyrtec).
If you’re hacking like you’ve just gotten off of a subway train full of smokers and need to take a swig from your handy bottle of cough medicine, you might need to consider a couple of things before you jump into your workout clothes and take off for the gym: Does your cough medicine have a decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine or dextromethorphine in it? If it does, it can make you groggy and could increase your injury risk when working out. Cough medications without dextromethorphine should be safe to workout after taking, but if you are coughing enough to need to take it regularly, you could be suffering from some other ailment, like asthma, and should see a doctor to make sure that you are healthy enough to continue with your current exercise routine.
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Here’s a scary statistic: It’s estimated that 40 Million Americans have what experts call a “Sexless Marriage.” In this case, they are defining a sexless marriage as one in which you are having sex less than 10 times a year.
When you were first committed to each other you were literally joined at the hip. 😉 Anytime, anyplace, multiple times a day and everyday. Rabbits had nothing on you. You wanted each other all the time!
Somewhere down the line that became a little less frequent and it wasn’t necessarily kids or life that got in the way, you and/or your spouse started making excuses and your sex life just disappeared. We’ve all heard the jokes about the famous women’s line, “Not tonight honey, I’ve got a headache,” but it wasn’t just women giving the excuses anymore, men began telling their partners, “not tonight” as well. WTF? Men used to complain about their wives holding out and all of the sudden girls night out became a gab fest comparing notes about the excuses their men were giving in the bedroom!
Anita H. Clayton, MD, professor of psychiatry at the University of Virginia and author of Satisfaction: Women, Sex, and the Quest for Intimacy says, “A regular sex life is good for your health. It can satisfy all sorts of emotional- and physical-intimacy needs and help partners stay close.”
Babble.com compiled 20 excuses for not wanting to have sex given by both men and women. Mind you, Babble.com is owned by Disney, so it’s pretty tame and not all induced a response:
I’m mad at you – Reasonable, but try and get your spouse to look at this another way. The best way to patch things up is…Make up Sex!
I don’t feel well – Okay, no one wants snot dripping on them, coughing, or (gasp!) intestinal upsets welling up in the middle of getting busy, so definitely a pass should be given for this one.
The kids are still awake – Hmmm… They should have their own rooms and there should be a rule about knocking when a door is closed, so this one is really LAME!
I hurt my back today – Okay, maybe you did hurt your back today. Nobody said that sex was the only way to be intimate. Offer a back rub and maybe things might heat up in another way that might not need to involve a lot of movement of the back…
I ate too much dairy and now I’m bloated – Yeah, I’d stay away from this one, as well as Mexican food excuses. Gas really isn’t fun or sexy.
I just do not feel sexy – That one is hard. Self confidence is a hard thing to get past. As a partner we can say we find our lover attractive but until they believe it it’s a hurdle that’s hard to get over. Maybe joining the gym or just working out together might make them feel sexy after the endorphins are flowing.
I think I forgot to take my birth control – that’s a deal breaker for most men. If it’s a routine excuse take the control out of her hands and buy condoms.
I have to finish this video game level/tv episode/movie, etc. – Wow! How far down do I rate in your items of importance?
If laughing together over the lame Disney media excuses doesn’t ignite a few sparks and encourage your partner to drag you into the nearest bedroom and grab a quickie, you may want to move on to the chart below and check out all of the great health reasons for increasing the amount of sex you are having.
Some other things that may be interfering with your sex drive, are things you may not even realize. Some of the fixes are as easy as changing your evening routine, getting a lock for your bedroom door or even changing your method of birth control!
The prescriptions you take: Oral birth control contains estrogen which can trap testosterone and, in turn zap your sex drive. Anti-Depressants, pills to lower Blood Pressure, Acid-Reflux, and Anti-Anxiety medicines can also kill your desire. FIX: Discuss potential sexual side effects of any drug you are prescribed and alternatives.
Some problems and solutions don’t require a lot of effort and could easily rekindle your desire to have sex with your partner.
Declare the master bedroom a technology free zone! With all of the distractions in our busy lives, the last place we need to have our partner’s attention focused away from us and directed to their phone, video game or other device is the bedroom. Turn it off and you just may find something else to turn on!
Some problems in the bedroom stem from very serious relationship issues.Maybe there has been infidelity, in which case you are likely struggling with mending your relationship from the ground up. If that is the case, all I can say is there are always good days and bad when you decide that the relationship is worth staying for.
Or, maybe you beg for sex and he just says no? “Perhaps he’s emotionally withdrawing,” says Bob Berkowitz, PhD, co-author of He’s Just Not Up for It Anymore: Why Men Stop Having Sex, and What You Can Do About It. “The usual problems between husbands and wives can play out in the bedroom,” he says, “especially if your partner has a hard time expressing his feelings properly.” This is a hard one. If your partner is not someone who will open up and tell you the truth about what is going on, won’t tell you why he’s withdrawn from you physically, (and it sounds like emotionally) your only route is likely counseling. I don’t see a lot of hope for a relationship that lacks physical intimacy when one side is withholding it.
If you happen to be one of the “lucky” partners who has a partner who “just” makes the occasional excuse and hasn’t cut you off completely, here are some other suggestions for getting past the “not tonight” or “I’ll be in as soon as my show is over” excuses and getting back to an active and healthy regular sex life:
Quit asking permission
Quit waiting for the perfect moment
Quit relegating sex to a bedtime only activity
If you’re going to wait for bedtime, run a scented bath for your partner and wait for him/her in the bed
Be spontaneous (anytime-anyplace like when you were first together)
Have a real date night and end the date like you used to! Hmmm
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When I was growing up my friends and I were given a lot more freedom than kids today are. I began babysitting my younger siblings when I was just 8 years old. My siblings were 6 and 1.
At first my parents felt that they could safely leave me alone with my siblings for a few hours while they went across the street to play cards and have some cocktails with the neighbors. They knew once my 6 year old sister was asleep she wouldn’t wake up, and that if my 1 year old brother awoke, I could competently change his diaper and/or give him a bottle and put him back to bed.
As time went on, i.e. I turned 9, my parents began having dinner out, going to high school football games, and making other trips out for a few hours knowing that I could safely hold down the fort.
About that same time I began sitting for other families on the street, even one that had 3 kids under the age of 3. No one worried about the safety of their kids because they knew that I was competent enough to call my Mom a few doors down and then dial 911 if there was an emergency.
By the time I was 10 years old, my parents began spending all day and even entire evenings (until last call) out confident that I could take care of both of my siblings, prepare meals and get everyone into bed. All of the neighbors were doing the same with their pre-teen children, except for my friend Shawna’s family who had a live-in. Unless our parents were going to be gone over night, none of us had babysitters.
There are nosey neighbors in every neighborhood. Most people know who they are and avoid their snoopy interference in their lives with tall fences, thick foliage, dark drapes, window tinting or blinds drawn (lol) so that they can’t be reported on. In lieu of that kind of precaution, the woman behind the blog at Thirty Handmade Days, made a chart based on the state-by-state guidelines (if they even have them) for when it’s acceptable to leave children without adult supervision.
Had this chart been around as a reference in the late 1970’s my parents, and those of many of my friends, would have been reported and hauled in by the County Sheriff’s Department regularly! Hmmm
Even without an official legal requirement in most states, in today’s overly intrusive, judgmental, busybody, litigious society, I’d recommend you leave the following on a laminated sheet secured by magnetic clothes pin type clamp on the refrigerator (just as a precaution of course) for when you decide your little darlings are ready to be left on their own:
Identify your child (ren) by name(s) & age (s) and which has been left in charge
State that the instruction has been given to call 911 in case of Fire or any other Emergency and that the second call is to be made to parents
In non-emergency, put the name of a neighbor or nearby relative that is aware the child(ren) is/are home unsupervised
State that you judge this child to be perfectly capable of the responsibility for the time that you are away from the home
Put your name, cell phone number as well as the other parent information
Sign the document.
Should there ever be a neighbor complaint that you have left the children unsupervised this will give whatever authority that is sent to investigate the information they need to reach you.
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I feel really sorry for the athletes from around the world, who have spent years busting their asses to master their sports and make their countries’ Olympic teams, only to have to go to, what can only be described as, a gigantic cesspool, (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) to showcase them.
Dead fish, dead animals, and even rotting corpses & body parts can be seen along the, what used to be picturesque, shorelines of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Even the most posh areas (Ipanema and Leblon Beaches) with steel and glass high rises cannot escape the filth. The lagoons that snake around them (and also around the nearby Olympic Village), “regularly sees massive pollution-related fish die-offs and emits an eye-watering sulfuric stench.”
Fisherman Jose Rubens told how he watched children haul a dismembered woman’s body from the waves of Guanabara Bay. Standing beside a gaping pipe spewing raw sewage straight into the bay, Jose, 56, unflinchingly shared, “They found a woman’s severed buttocks and upper legs three months ago. She was already starting to decompose. We didn’t tell the police. It’s not what people do here. We just pushed the remains back into the water.” (Source: Oliver Harvey, The Sun) These are the very waters that Olympic yachtsmen and wind-surfers will soon be competing for their countries in!
A decomposing corpse found floating in the waters where some Olympic competitions will be held.
In 2009, Brazil used the awarding of the 2016 games as the motivation needed to “regenerate Rio’s magnificent waterways.” They pledged a billion-dollar investment meant to cleanup the tar-black Rivers; the lagoons near the Olympic Park with fluorescent green algae thriving amid sewage; the Guanabara Bay teeming with thick sludge that nearly swallows fishermen’s wooden boats; and to eliminate the giant brown stain that surfers must paddle out through to reach the beautiful blue surrounding waters.
This is where the elite Athletes of the World thought they would be competing when they heard they were coming to Rio de Janeiro
Open water swimmers could very well have the worst of it though. Rio medic Dr. Daniel Becker said, “Foreign athletes will literally be swimming in human crap, and they risk getting sick from micro-organisms.”
Biologist Mario Moscatelli has spent the last 20 years studying Brazil’s polluted waterways. Every month he has flown over them by helicopter to note changes good or bad. “It’s been decades and I see no improvement,” laments Moscatelli. “The Guanabara Bay has been transformed into a latrine … and unfortunately Rio de Janeiro missed the opportunity, maybe the last big opportunity” to clean it up. (Source:Jenny Barchfield; AP)
Opening Ceremonies for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games are just 4 days away.
300,000-500,000 foreigners are expected to descend on Rio for the Olympics. They are likely in nowhere near the physical conditioning of the world class athletes they are coming to cheer on, and are much more likely to succumb to the viral illnesses that are the result of off the charts contamination of the most popular Rio de Janeiro beaches. Testing at several of the city’s world-famous beaches has shown that in addition to persistently high viral loads, the beaches often have levels of bacterial markers for sewage pollution that would be cause for concern abroad.
In June 2016, Copocabana and Ipanema Beaches both had alarming readings for rotavirus, the main cause of gastroenteritis globally, with 7.22 million rotaviruses per liter detected in the waters of Copacabana, while 32.7 million rotaviruses per liter were found in the waters of Ipanema Beach.
The testing also revealed alarming spikes in fecal coliform levels — the very measure the state government uses to determine the safety of Rio’s recreational waters.
“If these were the reported values in the United States, let’s say in California, there is definitely an indication of a problem,” said Dr. Kristina Mena, a waterborne virus expert at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.
According to California’s bacterial tests standards, 400 fecal coliforms per 100 milliliters is the upper limit for a beach to be considered safe for swimming. AP’s tests revealed thatCopacabana Beach, where the marathon and triathlon swimming are to be held and thousands of tourists are likely to take a dip, exceeded California’s limit five times over 13 months of testing.
Nearby Ipanema Beach, which is not playing host to any Olympic sports but is among the city’s most popular tourist spots, exceeded California standards five times over 12 months, once spiking to nearly 50 times what would be permitted in California. One of two testing spots along the beach in the Olympic hub neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca once hit more than 60 times that limit over the five months testing was conducted there.
The beaches even violate Rio state’s own standards, which are much less stringent than those in California. In California these beaches would be closed to the public until the source of the contamination was found and fixed and the water treated until tests came back with the water testing safe for the public to be in it again.
If you are a Tourist planning to attend the Olympic games in Rio beware: Water quality warning signs used to dot showcase beaches, but they’re no longer there. The water may not look infected but it is. Remember that the water flows across, carries, and deposits sand along the shoreline, so the sand is contaminated too…HMMM
The World Press has been paying close attention and has already reported a number of troubling things that the Athletes, Media, and those Tourists who may decide to travel abroad to witness the games, may encounter when they visit Brazil:
A broken main caused untreated raw sewage and human waste to pour into the Olympic Village, where the World’s athletes are being housed and fed, over the weekend;
Rotting corpses have been spotted floating at the rat-infested sailing and wind-surfing venue of Guanabara Bay;
Athletes competing in events in the polluted Guanabara Bay are being told to ‘close their mouths’ for fear of contracting viral infections from waters poisoned by human excrement;
Athletes have been robbed at gunpoint on the streets of Rio;
Gun-toting thugs robbed Australian Paralympic sailor Liesl Tesch and team official Sarah Ross of their bikes while they were cycling in a Rio park;
Between January and April of this year, there were 1,715 homicides in the city, a 15 per cent increase on the same period last year;
A fire in the basement of the Australian team barracks overnight, forced all to evacuate the building. The alarms had been disabled and the only alert to the team was the smell of smoke! While they were out laptops and protective long sleeved anti-Zika clothing were reported stolen.
Around 300 tons of trash are dumped in Guanabara bay every month — including condoms, discarded syringes, used toilet paper, old fishing nets, mangled furniture and other household trash;
The spread of the Zika virus (now officially reported as having spread from infected male to female) has resulted in the top 4 golfers in the world, as well as many tennis players and other athletes, pulling out of the games;
Body parts were found strewn on Copacabana Beach, right below the Olympic Beach Volleyball Venue.
As if threats to the health of athletes, media and tourists from the environment wasn’t enough, there are the threats of violence from the drug gangs and other thugs that rule the streets of Rio de Janeiro and now some scary threats reportedly coming from ISIS:
After the Paris attacks in November a jihadi sent a tweet saying: “Brazil, you are our next target.”
In May, ISIS launched a new social Portuguese-speaking media channel in a bid to attract new recruits.
Brazil, used to dealing with armed drug gangs, has no experience in dealing with ISIS assaults.
On July 15 Brazilian authorities deported a French-Algerian professor who had been convicted in France in 2012 of providing logistical advice to terrorist groups.
Last week dozens of alleged IS sympathizers were held after claims they had discussed an attack on the Games.
When awarded the games, officials pledged to treat 80% of the raw sewage pumped into Rio’s Guanabara Bay, promised only to use the very cleanest sections of the Bay for competitions, and that there would be only minimal risk to sailors and other athletes. Now that the Opening Ceremonies are less than a week away and the proof of their inability to live up to their promises is being seen, smelled and reported worldwide, officials have had to admit that they have only been able to reach a sewage treatment percentage of 40%. That is obviously not acceptable for a city with a population of more than 12 Million, let alone one that is putting itself under the world wide microscope by hosting the Olympic games.
Additionally, Rio officials pledged that the athletes and visitors to their country would be safe, based on the reports of robberies within the village and in the surrounding areas, they are already failing on that front as well. It remains to be seen how Brazil is going to remedy the situation with just 4 days left before Opening Ceremonies, but I know one thing, the ravenous world press will not pull any punches in letting the rest of the world know just how deplorable conditions are. HMMM Indeed!
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I saw a video from an episode of This Old House on Life Hacker this morning and just had to share a great idea for moving a Full, Queen or King sized box spring up a narrow staircase, around hallway corners or through tight doorways. I can’t believe I didn’t know about this simple fix on any of my moves before! Hmmm
You’ll need these tools:
– Slotted screwdriver
– Handsaw
– Bungee cord
– Hammer
– Cordless drill with 5/32-inch-diameter drill bit
– Cordless impact driver/screwdriver
– Staple gun
TIP: I’d also get out your vacuum cleaner and put the hose attachment on and take this opportunity to get rid of any dust that may have accumulated on the springs through any small tears or holes in the fabric at the bottom of the box spring.
If your fabric has any tears this is a great time to replace it. If you need to replace any, you don’t even need to know how to sew, using the supplies I’ve linked to below!
I would look at the undersides of your mattresses at least a month before your move to determine if any need to be replaced. If they do:
Measure the bottom of the box spring, adding an inch all the way around.
Either go to your local fabric store or go online and order your fabric (The one I prefer comes in 119″ width) at: www.joann.com.
You can buy your fabric anywhere, but I find the best deals and most to choose from at Jo-Ann Fabrics. They always have some kind of coupon to use in stores or online and they deliver quickly so your project isn’t delayed. I don’t work for them, I just shop here.
Once you’ve ordered the fabric for as many beds as you’ll be doing, all you have to do is wait for it to get there then you can get to work on making your new box spring under coverings.
Double check the measurement of the bottom of your box spring + 1″ per side (top and bottom, left and right)
Cut your fabric to your measurements.
Using your iron, press down the edges of your fabric so you have a clean edge to staple when you are re-assembling your box spring.
Make sure to mark each finished piece you do with the name of the bed and bedroom so that your pieces match the bed they are supposed to.
Fold the pressed pieces down into a size that fits into a large zip bag (I buy the 5 gallon size for projects like this – at Bed, Bath & Beyond or on Amazon.com – so I can put of them in one)
How to Move a Box Spring In a Narrow Area:
Lay a large tarp on the driveway, then place the box spring facedown on the tarp.
Use a narrow slotted screwdriver to pry up the staples that secure the fabric to the bottom of the box spring.
Peel back the fabric to expose the wood frame.
Pry up and remove the metal support bar.
Fold down the fabric on each of the long sides of the box spring.
Use a handsaw to cut through the 1×3 wood strapping on each side.
Fold the box spring in half, then secure it with a long bungee cord.
Carry the folded box spring up the stairs and into the bedroom.
Unhook the bungee cord and flatten out the box spring.
Use a hammer and a 2×4 block to straighten out any badly bent box-spring wires.
Drill 5/32-inch-diameter pilot holes at an angle through the strapping cut in Step 6.
Reattach the cut strapping with two 2 1/2-inch-long screws; repeat to secure the cut strapping on the opposite side.
Replace the metal support with a 1×3 cut to length.
Screw the 1×3 to the wood frame of the box spring.
Staple the fabric back onto the underside of the box spring.
GENIUS!
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I’m taking a short but sweet moment to reflect upon a really important historical moment for me and every woman young and old. Hmmm
Tonight Hillary Rodham Clinton added another job title to her resume:
Daughter
Lawyer
Women’s & Children’s Rights Advocate
Wife
Mother
First Lady of Arkansas
First Lady of the United States of America
Senator for the State of New York
Secretary of State
Democratic Nominee for President of the United States
A woman, not just any woman, a woman who has had to crawl through the muck and mud of Washington politics while being hosed down with gasoline and simultaneously dodging lit matches, first as a supportive spouse, then a member of the team and finally as the top dog poised to shatter the final and thickest glass ceiling, has earned the nomination of her party for President of the United States of America.
It’s a proud moment in history that carries with it the irony that, if she is elected, she will earn the exact same pay as if a man were elected to the office and will have begun making good on her first campaign promise, “gender pay equality.”
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I moved my elliptical machine into my guest room/office this week to make room for the new rowing machine I just “had to have” but had no room for in the workout portion of the garage. I had the space available and, after adding some component shelves to the walls beneath and beside the “extra” TV I gained this week when my husband insisted the spare bedroom needed a 40″ high def TV, (Don’t get me started, at least it was a daily deal on Amazon) it might spur me to get off my ever expanding backside more during the day.
The only rub was that I have always disliked the magazine/iPad tray on this Nordictrack CX 1050 Ellipticalthat caused heat to build up on the touch screen beneath. So, lightbulb!I’d get a desk to stretch between the stationary arms so I could use my new favorite tech toy: Logitech k480 3 device Bluetooth wireless keyboard to use my laptop via the nifty screen mirroring app that came on the Sony DVD player that I attached to the old TV so, when I wasn’t striding and working on my blogs, I’d be able to watch videos & Netflix, etc. while spending hours on the elliptical. Let’s not all fall out of our chairs at the same time laughing hysterically. Hmmm
Of course, the desktop I ordered came nowhere close to working. Undeterred, I gathered up scrap wood from some of my other “projects of desperation,” as I call the things I build when I can’t find what I need to suit my purpose, and set about making a desk that would work for me. The best news for anyone who doesn’t have power tools, or isn’t comfortable using them, is you can go to Home Depot (or Lowe’s) and they’ll cut your wood for free and the whole thing can be assembled with wood glue if you don’t want to use screws.
Parts:
1 Piece 24″ x 12″ wood sanded (I glued & clamped 2 scrap pieces together)
1 Piece 1″ x 2″ x 26″ wood sanded
1 Piece 1″ x 2″ x 30″ wood sanded
1 Piece 1″ x 8″ x 24″ wood sanded
1 Piece 1″ x 2″ x 12″ wood sanded
Wood Glue
Clamps
Assembly Instructions:
Lay the piece of 1″ x 2″ x 30″ wood (on it’s 2″ wide side) on your work surface. Measure 15″ across and mark the enter point of your wood. This is the cross member that will lie underneath the desk across the widest part of the stationary side arms of your machine. The portion of the arms that are furthest away from the computer / screen of the machine.
Measure 6″ away and lay down your 1″ x 2″ x 26″ piece of wood (sitting up tall on it’s 1″ skinny side) to begin to form the slope for a better viewing and working angle – this is where you will see the piece of leftover closet rod I used. Measure 13″ across and mark the center point of your wood. This piece is the piece of wood that will be sandwiched between the two pieces of wood that create the angle of the desk that will be closest to the front of your elliptical machine’s moving handles. My machine handles move in a very compact movement, so these measurements work for my model (shown above). You may need to adjust the measurements at this point to make sure that your arms have enough room to move once the desktop is glued down in step 4.
Apply a line of wood glue to both of these pieces of wood on the portions facing up toward the ceiling. I use Gorilla Wood Glue. It dries in about 30 minutes and holds tight.
Mark the center point of the piece of 24″ x 12″ wood at the top and bottom and connect the points with a solid line on the side that will be underneath (facing the floor and glued to the cross members). Mark a point down from the top at 7″ at both ends and in the middle and draw a line connecting the marks and crossing the middle line.
Lay the piece of 24″ x 12″ wood with the line side facing you, then lay the top cross member (1″ x 2″ x 26″) glue side down, matching the center point you marked at 13″ with the center line on the desktop underside, and make sure the cross member is in perfect alignment with the edge along the top. Clamp the cross member to the top firmly.
Match the center mark on the 30″cross member with the intersection point on the lines you drew on the underside of the top, line the top edge of the cross member up with the line all the way across, then firmly press the glued side down, clamping at the ends. There will be an excess 6″ that is not attached to anything beyond the 30″ cross member.
With the bottom of the desktop still facing up, make sure that you can see the center point marking at 13″ then mark a point 2″ in from each end of the top cross member.
On the bottom cross member make sure the center point is clearly marked at 15″ then mark a point 3″ in from each end.
Remove the clamps and run a line of glue across both cross members between the marks you made. Do not run the glue all the way to the ends.
Take the piece of 1″ x 8″ x 24″ wood and mark the top and bottom edges at 12″ (the midpoint width-wise). Line up with the center points you marked on the cross members and press the 1″ x 8″ x 24″ firmly in place. Open the clamps up a bit and re-clamp the sandwiched cross members in place. Allow the glue to dry for 30 minutes.
Turn the desk over and allow the clamped ends to overhang your work surface (I put it in place on the elliptical so I could finish the last step while it dried).
Make sure you can clearly see the marked center point at the bottom of the desktop. Take the remaining piece of 1″ x 2″ x 12″ wood, mark the center point at 6″ about 3/8″ up from the bottom of the wood when stood up on it’s end.
Run a line of glue along the edge of the desktop facing you 6″ out each way from the center point. Spread it with your finger so it won’t drip while you are placing the 1″ x 2″ x 12″ with the edges aligned at the bottom so that the 1″ x 2″ stands above as a lip or edge that guards against your keyboard, iPad, Book or Magazine slipping off while you are striding. You can secure it with a expandable clamp, or strap clamp meant to stretch for this purpose, or do like I did and, using 1 1/2″ trim screws and my power screwdriver, sink a couple of screws in from the front and fill with wood filler to hide the holes.
TIPS:
I used 2 1/2″ wood screws driven up from the bottom through the closet rod because the round surface against the two flats didn’t adhere as well with the glue.
I used 1 1/4″ trim screws from underneath to secure the 30″ cross member to the desktop so that everything was extra secure.
Yours will be more “finished” looking than mine because I was utilizing scraps and you’ll be cutting to exact measurements with new pretty wood.
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We’ve all seen political candidates come out to address a crowd with a popular song blaring in the background, but have you ever stopped to think about whether the candidate has the permission of the artist who sang the song, or the publisher who owns the rights to the song? I never have, and apparently neither have many candidates.
Last week Donald Trump pissed off Queen, who have requested he not use their music at his campaign events many times, when he took the stage at the Republican National Convention to their hit song, “We Are the Champions.” Queen guitarist, Brian May, took to Twitter and made it clear that he, and the rest of the surviving members of Queen, do not approve:
Apparently believing that all mentions on Twitter are good mentions, the Trump campaign then used the Beatles classic, “Here comes the Sun” as Ivanka Trump took the stage on Thursday night. While she was the sole ray of sunshine in an otherwise nasty festival of name calling and mudslinging, the campaign again failed to get the proper permissions and the Estate of George Harrison, the song’s writer, was not amused, stating that it was unauthorized, offensive and against their wishes.
The issue isn’t new and one of the song use conflicts goes back to the 1980’s, when Ronald Regan was one of the first to use Bruce Springsteen’s massive hit, “Born in the USA.”
There is a great article, written in November of 2012, by Eddie Deezen for Neatorama.com, in which he describes how many Americans from every walk of life have so badly misunderstood the true meaning of the words of Springsteen’s song, and have turned it into the “ultimate All-American song,” when, in fact, it is an angry song about how horribly the Vietnam Veterans were treated upon their return home from war.
Over the years artists have taken offense to having their songs affiliated with campaigns and candidates haven’t always chosen songs wisely when trying to communicate their messages:
1984 – Ronald Regan (Republican): “Born in the USA” Bruce Springsteen says that his song is, “far from a Rah, Rah America song…that the song has a much darker side” he asked for the Regan campaign to stop using it and they did.
1996 – Bob Dole (Republican): He got shot down twice. First by Isaac Hayes and David Porter who co-wrote “Soul Man,” as performed by Sam Moore, and later the Blues Brothers; then Bruce Springsteen, who again did not want “Born in the USA” used by a politician.
2004 – John Kerry (Democrat): He made a choice that backfired on him when he chose Creedence Clearwater Revival’s, John Fogerty penned, “Fortunate Son,” which he wrote in response to the romance between Eisenhower’s son & Nixon’s daughter, making the dig that neither family would see a son sent to Vietnam. Kerry, a proud Vietnam Veteran, likely chose the song as a dig at the incumbent George W. Bush, who never saw action in Vietnam because of his wealth and family ties that kept him stateside. Kerry lost the election.
2008 – Rudy Guiliani (Republican): “Rudi Can’t Fail” The Clash penned the song as an ode to an irresponsible young man being criticized by his elders. FYI, Rudy Guiliani, while dubbed “America’s Mayor,” citing his grace, strength and stamina in the days, weeks and months following 9/11, did fail. He lost in the primaries and never made it past the nominating process.
2008 – John McCain/Sarah Palin (Republican): First McCain chose ABBA’s “Take a Chance on Me” then he switched the campaign theme song to Heart’s “Barracuda” after adding Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential running mate because it was her nickname in high school. Heart, of course, wanted nothing to do with that dumpster fire of a campaign. It failed.
John Oliver, host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight, highlighted a few of the ironic songs the campaigns have used this campaign cycle with a touch of snark and then got a group of musicians who’ve had their music used without their permission, to collaborate on a very tongue-in-cheek song and video to try and get the message across to politicians in a way they might understand, a video resembling a campaign ad:
Copyright law and publishing rights are on the books for the protection of the artists. It’s time they put some muscle behind their tweets and start making the campaigns, who thumb their noses at them and continue to blatantly use their music, pay for their offenses. Take them to court when a standard cease and desist letter doesn’t get the desired result. Hmmm!
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I bought a set of TRX straps as well as a TRX Rip Trainer earlier this year and, to be perfectly honest, I have barely used them since March…
I just came across a workout using the straps in Shape Magazine that looks like it may not kill me (LOL) and says it works the entire body in about 30 minutes. There is even video demonstration included! Hmmm.
There’s nothing better than a full-body workout on days you just want to kick your own butt. And the TRX Suspension Trainer is the perfect tool, as it allows you to perform over 300 (!) exercises using just its straps and your own bodyweight. Plus, it can be found in most commercial gyms across the U.S. (so you don’t have to string it up from your rafters).
We tapped Erin Bulvanoski, trainer at KORE in New York City, for her best tone-all-over, TRX workout you can do wherever you can strap in. For the best results, perform each for 45 seconds, rest for 15 seconds then repeat before moving to the next exercise.
1. TRX Jump Squats
A Face the midpoint of the TRX, one handle in each hand. Pushing glutes back and knees out, squat down until butt goes passes knees, arms raised above your head still holding handles. B Jump up into the air, land and repeat.
“This is a real calorie scorcher because it gets the heart rate going and works the largest muscles in the body—the legs and glutes,” says Bulvanoski.
2. TRX Single Leg Lunge
A Face the midpoint and grab both handles with slight bend in elbow. Step right leg behind you and lunge down so right hip is directly over right knee, left knee stacked over left ankle. B Using legs, push back up to standing. Do 45 seconds, then switch legs.
Bulvanoski reminds you to be sure to use your legs to propel yourself up from the lunge so you really work the quads rather than relying too much on your arms to help you.
3. TRX Bicep Curl
A Face the midpoint, one handle in each hand, palms facing up, arms fully extended in front of you. Lean body back on a diagonal, keeping straight arms and straight legs still. B Keeping core tight, bend at the elbows and curl hands towards shoulders. Lower back down.
“Keep your elbows in the same place the entire time—don’t let them flare out,” says Bulvanoski. “It makes for more of a challenge and will help to isolate the biceps.”
4. TRX Tricep Curl
A Face away from the midpoint, one handle in each hand, arms extended overhead, palms facing down and body tilted toward the floor on a diagonal. Without moving the rest of your body, bend elbows and bring hands towards forehead. B Without moving elbow position, straighten arms again.
“Try not to let the TRX bands sway,” says Bulvanoski. “Only move your arms to really feel the work in those triceps.”
5. TRX Chest Press
A Face away from the midpoint, one handle in each hand, arms extended forward, walk your feet back until your in a high plank position, body in line from head to toe. Bend at the elbows and lower into a push-up, bringing the chest down to the same level as your hands. B Push back up until arms are fully extended.
Again, it’s important to keep your core tight and body in a straight line. “This will ensure you’re isolating the chest, arms and back,” says Bulvanoski.
6. TRX Plank
Sit on the ground facing the midpoint and place both feet in the bottom loops of the TRX bands. Flip over so you’re facing away from the midpoint. Place your hands on the ground shoulder width apart, and using your arms and legs, push your body off the ground so you’re in an elevated plank, body in line from head to toe and hold.
“For an added challenge, lower down to your forearms, then back up to your hands while trying to keep your hips as still as possible,” says Bulvanoski. You’ll feel it in your abs!
7. TRX Atomic Pushup
A Start in elevated plank position. Keeping legs together, raise your hips, bringing knees towards your face. B Return to plank position, perform a push-up, then repeat.
“This move works the entire body, with special emphasis on the abdominals,” says Bulvanoski.
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In a nutshell: Monday morning, Donald Trump, using graphics created by his Campaign (or whoever does his social media posts, etc.) and citing @FiveThirtyEight as the polling group, took to Twitter and boldly thanked Iowa and Ohio for his leads in both states over Secretary Clinton.
You really can’t make this kind of comedy up. This is a man who’s spending tens of millions of his own money, who’s supposedly hired “the best” to help get him elected to the highest office in the land, and they make mistakes like this nearly every day! They make the Keystone Kops (fictional comedic incompetent cops) look organized!
Nobody with a serious fitness goal in mind, or who’s just days away from having to wear that TEENY TINY BIKINI on vacation, likes skipping a workout, but there are a few times that skipping it is exactly what you should do.
This is especially the case if you have taken some specific over-the-counter (OTC) drugs for routine ailments. Hmmm….
Here’s a scary statistic: It’s estimated that 40 Million Americans have what experts call a “Sexless Marriage.” In this case, they are defining a sexless marriage as one in which you are having sex less than 10 times a year.
When I was growing up my friends and I were given a lot more freedom than kids today are. I began babysitting my younger siblings when I was just 8 years old. My siblings were 6 and 1.
I saw a video from an episode of 
I’m taking a short but sweet moment to reflect upon a really important historical moment for me and every woman young and old. Hmmm
I moved my elliptical machine into my guest room/office this week to make room for the new rowing machine I just “had to have” but had no room for in the workout portion of the garage. I had the space available and, after adding some component shelves to the walls beneath and beside the “extra” TV I gained this week when my husband insisted the spare bedroom needed a 40″ high def TV, (Don’t get me started, at least it was a daily deal on Amazon) it might spur me to get off my ever expanding backside more during the day.
Of course, the desktop I ordered came nowhere close to working. Undeterred, I gathered up scrap wood from some of my other “projects of desperation,” as I call the things I build when I can’t find what I need to suit my purpose, and set about making a desk that would work for me. The best news for anyone who doesn’t have power tools, or isn’t comfortable using them, is you can go to Home Depot (or Lowe’s) and they’ll cut your wood for free and the whole thing can be assembled with wood glue if you don’t want to use screws.
We’ve all seen political candidates come out to address a crowd with a popular song blaring in the background, but have you ever stopped to think about whether the candidate has the permission of the artist who sang the song, or the publisher who owns the rights to the song? I never have, and apparently neither have many candidates.
Extreme Blonde Moments 