Lists: TV
When I make time to watch TV, here is what I watch:
- The Daily Show - Comedy Central (No. 1 on this list for a reason)
- The Colbert Report - Comedy Central (I usually only make it through "The Word" and then it's bedtime)
- Rescue Me - FX
- My Name Is Earl - NBC
- Little People, Big World - TLC
- Everybody Hates Chris - UPN
- The Apprentice - NBC (an admitted guilty pleasure)
- Survivor - CBS (only because they've had some 40+ year-old men the past couple seasons that make me feel lusty)
A New 'do
After a few fruitless attempts to get my hairstylist to consider altering my bob (which I was starting to feel looked a bit too harsh fon me), I was motivated to change salons. The last visit where I got a cut and color and was unhappy with both sealed the deal.
It was a true moment of providence when I jetted to an East Village coffeehouse for my daily dose of espresso and passed
Salon W. I wandered in and the vibe reminded me of the salon I went to in Atlanta (
Van Michael). I had discovered the Van Michael Salon a few months before I moved back to Iowa. How terrible it was to have a taste of the good life--as far as hair experiences go--and then have to leave it behind!
Turns out that
China Wong, Salon W's owner, used to work at Van Michael. Shauna did the color and Kal cut my hair. China heard me talking about Van Michael and we both reminisced about our time in Atlanta (loved the city, hated the traffic). Click on the link I embedded in China's name--she doesn't look like what you think someone with the name "China Wong" would look like.
So, back to my hair...After Shauna's masterful coloring job and Kal's restyling, well, I feel like a new woman. And that is just what I needed.
He Had Me at Ray
I watched the first two seasons of "American Idol" and lost interest until this season. It was the preliminary auditions where I saw a white boy with gray hair channeling Ray Charles. I was hooked on seeing how far this very non pop idol type would go.
For me, I was touched by his joy of singing and chants of "Soul Patrol". He has the same kind of sincerity and heart that eminated from Clay Aiken. I wanted to see Clay win. So, it was nice to see Taylor win.
Unfortunately the song that will be his first release is pop junk. No big surprise. Hopefully he can ride his idol contract out and then break away to do his own thing.
How to Develop Upper Body Strength
Take up gardening.
Read this book!
The book is "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel. It's on loan to me for two weeks. But, I can't put it down and it will go back to it's owner in less time than that. The back of the cover promises that the book "offers a rare and welcome treat: a memoir of a happy childhood." It delivers on this and not in a sappy "Father Knows Best" kind of way.
It's written from the perspective of a child born in 1965. Basically the era I grew up in.
Here's an excerpt that I felt compelled to read to my doctor the other day.
"I knew from Marcus Welby, M.D., that this could and did sometimes happen, that bad news was followed by more and more bad news, until finally the doctor was telling you that you had to give up coffee, which I knew for a fact would have killed my dad."
http://www.havenkimmel.com/
The Waveland
Last weekend I had the pleasure of hosting four friends from Altanta. They are all people I knew when I lived in Georgia. Two currently live in Atlanta, one moved to Dallas and another is working in Zimbabwe.
The friend who works in Zimbabwe stayed at my house. So, Saturday morning when we were all doing our own thing, Stacie and I ran errands (she became the designated mail-drop person for co-workers who knew she was making a visit home) and ate breakfast at the Waveland Cafe.
The Waveland is one of the first places I noticed as I was scouting neighborhoods while house-hunting last summer. It is a wonderful short-order breakfast type of place 2 blocks from my home. And as far from a chain restaurant as you can get. In addition to gazing at the interesting murals painted on the walls, you can drink coffee from a cup that is inscribed with "Honey, I'm steaming hot and bottomless". I like to sit on the stools at the counter, which is good because there is usually never a wait as there is for a table.
What I like best about the Waveland is that it is the kind of place you can bring a book, order breakfast, read, drink coffee, and eat breakfast. The waitresses are friendly and there is always good music blasting in the kitchen. This morning it was the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sence". I've also been there when Nirvana and jazz have been played--separate occasions. I've never been disappointed in the music and wonder if I were to compare my CD collection with the cook's, would they be similar?
I think I will make a tradition of taking people who come to visit me to The Waveland. Afterall, they serve breakfast any time of day.
Energy Audit
Today I had an energy audit for my home. This is a service offered by Mid-American Energy. They subcontract another company to do the audits and the costs get reimbursed back to them by the State of Iowa. At least that is what I gleaned from my discussion with Jerry the auditor.
My audit was scheduled for noon and Jerry arrived on-time. We went through my house from basement to attic. All my appliances passed with flying colors. My gas dryer is the real energy saver. Gas dryers cost about .03 cents per hour compared to electric which costs .41 cents per hour.
Jerry gave me insulation recommendations for the basement wall and put 6' of free insulation on my hot water pipe. (I need about 10' more and can get at Lowe's.)
In addition to the water pipe insulation, I was also given:
- Low-flow showerhead
- Faucet aerators for bathroom and kitchen
- 6 Compact fluorescent "Greenlite" bulbs
This amounts to $90 worth of free stuff.
Plus, I upgraded my programmable clock thermostat. This cost me $31.30 for the thermostat Jerry installed.
Attic, basement and side wall insulation recommendations were made and documented on several forms. The total estimated cost if I have all the work done is $3,293.
I was given a Homecheck Program Insulation Application so I can receive 70% of the "approved amount" with "a $600 maximum rebate". After some discussion with Jerry, I will probably get the basement and attic insulation done. This will cost me $237.30 after rebates. Taking into account today's energy rates, these improvements will pay for themselves in a little over 2 years.
Right now, the thing that I am marveling over most are the light bulbs. The light is not much different than an incandescent bulb. It gives off 75 watts of light output using only 20 watts of energy. And the bulb has a 9-year guarantee. They cost $12.50 each--I got 6 for free. Pretty cool.
Free stuff, rebates and feeling green. All in all, I would recommend an energy audit.
