"random pre coffee thoughts" written by Fellyconnelly on estrip.org

11/05/07 06:55 - 37ºF - ID#41984

random pre coffee thoughts

Haven't been posting lately. No its not you, its me.. you see i've been so busy... i just... well... i haven't had time for you... please don't take it personally... i love you really... i promise i will call...

its 630 am. stupid work meeting.

Yesterday I agreed to work an OT day in Springville. Then I realized it was a homegame. Luckily I only hit a little traffic... I hightailed my ass as fast as I could home though...

Then I made chicken pot pie. Damn tasty!

Then I made banana bread. Damn Tasty!

Now I need to go out and find some sponsors for the next breakdance battle. We have worked out a deal wherein i can work off my class tuition by helping to get sponsors for the battles. Which is pretty damn nifty as I was worried that I wouldn't be able to afford these classes. (I can't afford them - at least till January)

So I'm trying to figure out what places I should go to that would be interested in donating money towards a breakdancing battle -
It seems as though the main themes are: energy drinks, hip clothing stores, anything associated with dance music and anybody who would have any type of interest in providing a wholesome place for the youth to come and play.

So do you all have suggestions? I unfortunately don't know the area still - so I'm at a loss for it all.

Permalink: random_pre_coffee_thoughts.html
Words: 243
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: randomo history

10/29/07 10:43 - 53ºF - ID#41875

Astological accuracy?

Last night (e:lauren) and I were watching a (2 hour??) documentary on this new manuscript that suddenly showed up in the Italian National Library in Rome. Amazing how these things just kinda pop up out of nowhere, huh?

So anyway, during the course of this documentary I learned a startling fact....

there are actually 13 astrological constellations! You see, apparently there is a constellation that exists between Scorpio and Sagittarius!

But because the sun only passes through this sign for about 19 days or so, this mysterious 'secret constellation' was dropped from the astrological calendar! Having 13 signs wouldn't be convenient in a 12 month year would it?

The sign is called either 'Ophiuchus' or 'Serpentarius' depending on whether you are Greek or Latin... and was named after Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian who was known for his powers of healing.

THis throws off astrology a LOT. I mean already we have to consider the sun's precession of the equinoxes and we haven't updated the exact dates of our astrological calendar in ages. But apparently if we were to add the 13th astrological sign into our current system, and calculate 'what is our sign' based upon when the sun ACTUALLY passes through that sign, then the following would be the most accurate astrological chart....

ARIES = APRIL 19 - MAY 13
TAURUS = MAY 14 - JUNE 19
GEMINI = JUNE 20 - JULY 20
CANCER = JULY 21 - AUG 9
LEO = AUGUST 10 - SEPTEMBER 15
VIRGO = SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 30
LIBRA = OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 22
SCORPIO = NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29
OPHIUCHUS = NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 17
SAGITTARIUS = DECEMBER 18 - JANUARY 18
CAPRICORN = JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 15
AQUARIUS = FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 11
PISCES = MARCH 12 - APRIL 18

So whatcha think about that??

crazy....

mike writes at 12:15:25 10/31/07 - Comment #27222: i don't want to be a Leo. Eww. i am total virgo!

jim writes at 10:40:02 10/30/07 - Comment #27210: Planets, I speak to you, and say: Rotate!

That's their jimtological chart.

fellyconnelly writes at 09:54:15 10/30/07 - Comment #27209: the vibrations of the universe maps out my every move. and yours. for example, jim: based upon your astrological chart, i am fairly certain that you will sleep within the next 24 hours.

the planets have spoken.

jim writes at 09:33:02 10/30/07 - Comment #27205: Yeah, THIS is why they're inaccurate :)

fellyconnelly writes at 09:27:41 10/30/07 - Comment #27204: i have no idea what it means to the astrological community - but i'm sure its devastating... and also a good reason why horoscopes have a huge tendancy to not be accurate...

joshua writes at 02:42:04 10/30/07 - Comment #27180: This is too controversial - I'm going to pretend its not true!

twisted writes at 10:23:08 10/30/07 - Comment #27167: No way! You mean I've been horoscopically bamboozled all these years?

So I'm an . . . Ophiuchun? This changes everything! But to what?

jbeatty writes at 08:37:44 10/30/07 - Comment #27163: So...um felly how am I supposed to read my horoscope now? Am I gonna have to go to the witchcraft store to find out how my day is supposed to go?

fellyconnelly writes at 08:01:22 10/30/07 - Comment #27161: i think there is something else to that james... hehe..

i, however, have managed to stay a Leo. I couldn't be anything but... :)

unless of course i was one of the lucky few who got to have a fun super secret sign!

james writes at 11:17:34 10/29/07 - Comment #27154: well, that explains why this lion has crabs

jenks writes at 10:53:19 10/29/07 - Comment #27153: well crap, that changes me from taurus to aries. But I want to be the secret magical voodoo sign, dammit!

Permalink: Astological_accuracy_.html
Words: 267
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: randomo

10/29/07 10:12 - 53ºF - ID#41870

Confession

I confess that I have donated a whole $0 dollars to the (e:strip) fund. I also confess that I have actually avoided posting occasionally on (e:strip) because I find myself in shame for not donating.

There are two reasons for this. First of all, my paypal account has grown so much dust over the ages that I am afraid to even attempt to log on. Not that I know my passwords. Also I think I probably owe them money. Who knows?

Secondly because well... I'm just broke. All and out broke. So rather than donate $$ to the fund, I decided that jello shots was a good start... Ah yes... felly loves to turn to vodka when faced with problems... I wonder if I could just send a case of jello shots to Citibank in exchange for the $35k I owe them....? I mean come on... everyone loves jello shots...

Well at any rate - as I have resigned myself to working as many hours OT as I can, plus gained a second job for those remaining hours I have... well i guess sooner or later estrip will be receiving a donation from our way... until then I'll just have to get you all drunk....

metalpeter writes at 05:49:31 10/30/07 - Comment #27195: Here is my take: (But I'm not (e:paul) or anyone who takes care of or runs the site)

The site is free. It is free to use. Sometimes there have been times where people have been asked to donate for something that might make the sight better. In those cases some people have given money if they think they should. That being said it is not a obligation to give. Giving money doesn't mean that you can then want something special because you gave money, the same is true for not giving money. Just because you don't donate doesn't mean you shouldn't post. One thing you have to remember is that your posts aren't only for you. Other people read them. If people like what you say they keep reading them. Also some of the stuff you might write about could effect them. For example you might write about some dance contest or some other event and someone who hasn't heard about it could wind up going, so keep posting. If you want to keep feeling bad about not giving money that is ok. If I would have seen a jar i would have thrown some money in and other might have to. That being said they where very good Jello-shots.

fellyconnelly writes at 08:04:19 10/30/07 - Comment #27162: jello shots are important for the new server! as long as the server doesn't have too many...
last time that happened it took forever for us to convince it to get off the table and put it's shirt back on...

jenks writes at 10:21:45 10/29/07 - Comment #27148: Aww, felly... don't feel bad. Jello shots are much appreciated!

james writes at 10:20:41 10/29/07 - Comment #27147: estrip has a few hundred users I think. 20 or so donated, and it was mostly 10-20 dollars.

Now, at that party I saw mostly the alcohol that was there to begin with and a giant ass box of jell-o shots.

So, why you may feel guilty about not donating to the new server there are a dozen people who should feel guilty for not brining sweet, sweet drink.

so there

Permalink: Confession.html
Words: 205
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: good eats

10/27/07 09:09 - 58ºF - ID#41832

JELLOOOOOOO

We are bringing a bunch of jello shots tonight to the party - and we were thinking of having a little donation jar next to them. A quarter a shot? a dollar? whatever you want to donate fore each shot - and the money goes right to (E:strip). It would all be suggested donations.

Paul what you think?

Usually I get all fancy with my jello shots - but I've been a bit overworked and underpaid lately and I'm low on funds/time.... You will find a berry shot with little berries floating in them though... thats about as good as i'm getting this time around...

oh and don't forget - tonight is the breakdancing battle! starts at 8 as well... going to be great...

Permalink: JELLOOOOOOO.html
Words: 125
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: randomo

10/23/07 11:49 - 49ºF - ID#41772

AC in Peril.

Did anyone else happen to see the CNN special "Planet in Peril" this evening? Its very humbling, sad and angering at the same time. Part 2 is on tomorrow night. If you didn't watch it - i would recommend searching for the reruns and watching it. Especially for those of you who wouldn't mind watching Anderson Cooper running around the amazon in tight shirts. (ahem - (e:james))

My cat just attempted to jump on my yoga ball. needless to say my yoga ball now has a hole in it. grrr

so the halloween party is saturday and it starts at 8. That is also the same night as the october breakdancing battle. I believe that we will end up at the battle for an hour or so and then run home to change and then we will head out to the party later...
speaking of which...

if anybody is interested in going to the battle for a bit before the party - just let me know. it is an amazing time and you will love it.

Permalink: AC_in_Peril_.html
Words: 175
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: work

10/22/07 09:57 - 63ºF - ID#41747

to veggie or not to veggie

This morning while making my lunch for work, I was pondering the fact that most of my coworkers thing that i'm a vegetarian.
If you know me, you know that this is definetely not true. I love meat. Sorry vegetarians, but i am not...

but why do they think i am a vegetarian is so beyond me. Yes i bring salads to work... but what is sprinkled generously across the top of said salad? ham. yes real ham! oink oink!
and when i bring in a wrap or sandwhich? yes i admit... its always on whole wheat bread. and yes, there is usually a generous helping of lettuce, tomato, and avacado on there, but there is also HAM!

i like ham.

and yes i put hummus on my wraps! i know that several of you are unaware of what this stuff even is (quote: "Oh is that the stinky stuff that you smell when you go into Indian restaurants?") no my friend, that is curry. HUMMUS PEOPLE!!

Apparently to my fellow coworkers, if one attempts to eat 'healthy' (not running to mcdonalds/burgerking/arby's/fishfryfridays) every day than i must be a vegetarian.+

mike writes at 08:11:04 10/23/07 - Comment #26804: no one has ever confused me for vegetarian or healthy? hmm? is it because for example the other night on the way to (e:pmt) I picked up some Wendy's only to get there and a half hour later they are going to wendy's and I think, hey why not? Why not go for round two.... and it was delicious!

joshua writes at 10:58:22 10/23/07 - Comment #26789: I used to be a vegetarian until I recognized that denying myself steak, chicken and pork was outright stupid. Let the people with the hang-ups sweat over the BS.

fellyconnelly writes at 09:20:30 10/23/07 - Comment #26785: yeah apparently soy really is in everything....

i find nothing wrong with vegetarianism for others. i just really love ham. mmm ham.

tinypliny writes at 08:53:44 10/22/07 - Comment #26764: To resolve your Hamletesque dilemma, yes!!! Veggie rocks! Be veggie!!!

@(e:James): Average vegetarians don't gorge on Soy, James! Two years back, I had never even heard of all these crazy soy stuff eg. Tofu, Seitan, Soy milk etc. They are now a part of my diet (except Soy milk), but they aren't anywhere close to being a major part, and they never will be. These soy products are south-east Asian protein sources and not all of Asia lives and swears by them. The major sources of protein for people in the subcontinent are milk/dairy products and lentils.

I think it's interesting that here vegetarianism is seen as being hooked to meat replacements that are inevitably made of soy. Non-vegetarians see this as a revolting and insipid alternative. I think the reason behind this blind loathing of "replacements" is the idea of being a "replacement". It is my personal opinion that if you want to be a vegetarian, then you don't need replacements. It's a totally different lifestyle choice, and you just adopt it. It's a lifestyle in which all the so-called "replacement" products are just new components to your food. They are not a predominant part or a block-your-meat-craving-with-this part.

Let me step on the controversy platform and say that if anyone is using the soy products as a replacement, they probably aren't too happy being a vegetarian anyway. Continuing being a vegetarian with cravings for meat is going to do you no earthly good.

That said, it is very true that soy is used as a filler material in every kind of processed food sold here in the States (on a par with corn). In fact, did you know that those cherished donuts have a major % of soy in them? So you don't really have to be a forced vegetarian to be eating an indecent amount of soy.

However, soy may not be a major source of phytoestrogens. Other surprising source of isoflavones (phytoestrogens) are Beer, Coffee, Flaxseed and a quite non-surprisingly, a million different types of fruit.

According to latest epidemiological research, the role of phytoestrogens in breast cancer causation/prognosis is not defined. Clinical trials are currently underway to see if a sizeable amount of phytoestrogen-intake induces the expression of good genes (tumour-supressor genes) or bad genes (oncogenes) or affects weight gain in any way. All this points to the fact that though phytoestrogens may have a hormonal action in maybe test-tube cancer cell models, this may not be the case in a human body.

It is also wise to keep in mind that mono-diets (with the same nutrient-source everyday, for every meal) or diets rich in excessive amount of a particular nutrient-source are bound to interfere/alter with some biological pathway or the other.

The punch line is: Making informed choices should not be equivalent to making yourselves unhappy.

james writes at 03:35:09 10/22/07 - Comment #26754: Sorry to scare you Drew.

There is soy in everything. Seriously, everything you eat has some soy product (and corn product for that matter).

I heard about the soy estrogen thing in regard to weight lifters who use soy protein powder. Eating 200g of the stuff a day is a lot different that the casual soy eating most people do.

my apologies.

drew writes at 02:41:50 10/22/07 - Comment #26750: hmmm. I eat a lot of soy. I just thought I was too fat, but apparently, it's soy's fat.

Hey Janelle, you should eat all my soy from now on. win-win, right?

james writes at 02:05:34 10/22/07 - Comment #26748: I hate that. People think healthy eating = vegetarianism... as if gorging on genetically altered soy is healthy.

Speaking of which, hope you male vegetarians are enjoying those soy-estrogen induced man-titties.

We need to get you a hat made out of bacon to put them in their little place.

janelle writes at 10:21:49 10/22/07 - Comment #26744: LOL, I hear ya Felly. I imagine my co-workers think I'm vegetarian as well. Eating food that is "different" is definitely asking for yourself and your food to be deeply scrutinized by your co-workers. At my last place of work, people were more than happy to let me know my food was stinky and weird looking.
At one work place, I had a friend tell me that my food looked good and smelled good, but when I offered to let her try some, she absolutely refused because the food had fake meat(seitan)in it! How bizarre is that?
Here at my current work place, someone told me that they were hesitant to offer me sweets because I looked like a person who tried to be healthy?! Lol, that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the occasional sweet!

Permalink: to_veggie_or_not_to_veggie.html
Words: 193
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: good times

10/21/07 03:59 - 76ºF - ID#41737

lacklusty bills

Buffalo Just won a game.
is it just me or was that win rather lackluster?
i mean everyone was just like... yeah we won, i'm tired lets get a beer...

i mean its the bills... shouldn't they be ecstatic as all hell that they actually didn't biff it in the end?

or am i just being overly pessimistic?

Permalink: lacklusty_bills.html
Words: 58
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: good times

10/20/07 10:30 - 56ºF - ID#41723

News!!!

perusing the titles on yahoo news after signing out of my email often leads to interesting news.....
but this morning's tidbit of news was just the cats pjs!

HARRY POTTER SPOILER!!!!

and for all those link clicky persons (such as myself) i'll let you know the big suprise...

dumbledore is gay!

thats right... harry potter's beloved headmaster was a big homo!! ahh yes... the answers to all those pesky questions! the fashionable robes! the mysterious twinkle in his eye! oh dumbledore, i finally get you!!!

oh yeah and that fling with Grindelwald was explained too...

oh and then i just looked at jim's chatter and saw that he already posted this... so t his is a pointless entry... thanks a lot for bein on top of things jim!!

Permalink: News_.html
Words: 141
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: work

10/15/07 11:23 - 53ºF - ID#41667

Entitlement

Well kids, today I want to talk to you about entitlement.

Take note of the following and very pertinant example that I have taken from my everyday life.

"I have given you guys a lot of money over the years so you better give me a good deal"

or

"You will give me a car charger for free or that will be a deal breaker"

or

"What do you mean I can't get that phone for free? I'm entitled to a free phone!"

You see, one thing that I have come to realize over the years as a sales person is that there is this nasty virus going around making people believe that they are entitled to much more than they are. I mean, I may be wrong, but I don't believe that anyone has ever approached the electric company and told them "Hey, I've paid you thousands of dollars over the past few years, so I am entitled to a free month of service!" Who has ever approached Time Warner Cable and requested free cable because of the amount of money they have spent?

It somehow seems to me that people have gotten a bit too big for their britches. About 95 percent of the people who come to me with these demands seem to be middle class white men (and sometimes women). They seem to think that they deserve the world.

They seem to believe that what they are doing when they demand that free car charger or that free phone is 'sticking it to the man.' Really they are just 'sticking it to the underpaid salesperson'

Verizon doesn't suffer from that free accessory. The salesperson's pay check sure does though.

I have sold phones and services and actually lost money on, just to make the customers happy, and they STILL have walked out of the door with the proverbial 'I deserved more" stick up their ass.

Just be nice and I'll be more than happy to help you out as much as I can. I will lose money for you.
That is all.

james writes at 03:48:20 10/17/07 - Comment #26483: I mean, this really is the logical end of the bend-over-backwards-for-the-fucking-customer philosophy that distant execs have been imposing on the underpaid grunts of the business. The customer is seldom right.

joshua writes at 10:07:17 10/16/07 - Comment #26345: That is sad, but yeah its true - entitlement is a big problem in our society today.

Its funny to me that the people with the most are usually the ones that feel the most entitled to free stuff.

fellyconnelly writes at 09:48:08 10/16/07 - Comment #26340: oh and incidentally - the store that i have the most problems with this is East Aurora.

fellyconnelly writes at 09:47:09 10/16/07 - Comment #26339: What really gets to me is that when people come in that don't seem to have lots of money, more often than not they don't argue! When I tell them what the price is, then they accept that without a tear.

Does this mean that in order to elevate my financial status that I have to start whining and taking money from other people's paycheck?

janelle writes at 08:23:01 10/16/07 - Comment #26335: Hm, I can tell you all about entitlement from my teaching assistant days where I had students insist that even though they were failing a class they out to at minimum receive a passing grade as they were paying for the class!

imk2 writes at 07:31:49 10/16/07 - Comment #26332: but if there was competition to the electric co and the cable company then there would be plenty of free stuff to go around.

mrmike writes at 06:55:31 10/16/07 - Comment #26330: Oh, the stories I could tell you about Time Warner, especially the Amherst office, the clientele is especially white, wealthy and whiny.

tinypliny writes at 05:23:01 10/16/07 - Comment #26325: This post rocks. So does jenks' comment. :) Hee hee.

jenks writes at 11:48:33 10/15/07 - Comment #26323: 1- love the new user pic
2- yeah, I hear you. I had a patient tell me the other day that I couldn't discharge him from the hospital since it's "his right to be in the hospital".
Ummmm, no it isn't. There is nothing wrong with you, and you have no insurance- it is not "your right" to essentially stay in a hotel and get IV narcotics for your imaginary pain.

But.... if patients make a stink, we don't "kick them out" (even though it is our "right" to)- instead we said "ok, fine. You can stay. But you get only ORAL pain meds, and a bland diet since you said you are sick to your stomach, and you are not allowed to leave the floor to go outside to smoke."

He went home.

But seriously.... why does everyone think they 'deserve' free stuff?
What happened to honest pay for an honest day's work? no free lunch? etc etc?

Permalink: Entitlement.html
Words: 346
Location: New Paltz, NY

Category: good times

10/14/07 11:36 - 53ºF - ID#41638

Do i ski? well ha!

I've been skiing about three times.

Ski trip #1 involved lauren and myself, and our friends Kathi and Kim. Kathi and Lauren being the great skiiers that they are, took off and left me with Kim. Kim is rather awkward and can barely walk without falling over. Somehow Kim and I were left at the bunny slope for two hours while Kathi and Lauren went and played. The damn tow rope seemed to dislocate my shoulder. Kim fell a lot.

Ski trip #2 was the following year. I brought my friend Kat out skiing for her birthday. We both did well and I even made it from the top of the mountain down without falling!

Ski trip #3 involved myself, Lauren and Kathi. the following pictures will tell the tale.
doing great...

yeah i can do this!

nope no i can't...

please take note that i have lost my pole, and apparently a ski. this was how the day went for me.

This post is actually a call for (E:strip) skiiers~! (e:jbeatty), (e:lauren) and i are psyched about skiing this year, and are prepared to set up an (e:strip) ski gathering! whatcha say winter sports fans?

fellyconnelly writes at 11:24:49 10/15/07 - Comment #26321: HOORAH! (E:STRIP) SKI PARTY!

I guess we should wait till the snow actually hits before we start planning. But a weekend ski trip (come January/February) sounds like good fun!

jbeatty writes at 07:27:14 10/14/07 - Comment #26263: As I was telling Felly earlier today, my friends from Syracuse and I are planning a trip to Jay Peak in northern Vermont sometime during peak season if anyone is interested. We usually do a few days + at a decent resort and get a chalet that can usually accommodate a large number of people. But that aside even doing a couple days or one day at a local place like Holiday Valley or slightly more east like Bristol MT would be a blast. I think an (e:strip) ski outting would be pretty cool. I guess it just depends on how much money/time everyone wants to invest. One day would be pretty reasonably priced if there were only a small handful of people. But if there was enough interest I am more than willing to pitch in and help set something up for a longer weekend.

drew writes at 06:21:09 10/14/07 - Comment #26255: I'm in! Love skiing, hot chocolate, wine and boardgames.

I just hope a beginner goes so I don't feel bad ditching (e:janelle) for some advanced slopes

jbeatty writes at 05:51:06 10/14/07 - Comment #26251: It's easy, just point the tips downhill and try not to have a yard sale.

janelle writes at 05:43:13 10/14/07 - Comment #26250: I wanna ski, I wanna ski!!!!

I just need to learn how =(

imk2 writes at 02:30:52 10/14/07 - Comment #26237: yes, i am totally in!!! jenks and i were talking about renting out a chalet and having a bunch of us split the cost for a long weekend. how awesome would that be, skiing all day, and drinking wine and hot chocolate by the fire and playing board games all night! i'm in, i'm in, i'm in!!!!!!!

james writes at 11:42:47 10/14/07 - Comment #26229: Skiing scares me.

Once when i was a child I was ill and had a high fever. In a fever dream I saw all these people skiing. One was dressed like a bunny. He looked fun so I went over to him. But when I got close I could see he was made entirely out of sugar cubes. They started melting really fast and out of the syrup was a burnt rabbit face.

So, skiing scares me.

Permalink: Do_i_ski_well_ha_.html
Words: 203
Location: New Paltz, NY