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About Me
- Stara
- I'm Tara. I hail from "The Mouth", good old Plymouth, Massachusetts. I have always loved to write, and talk, and experience people and things in new ways. These days, I am using my writing skills not only to tell my own stories and experiences, but to reflect on some other things I love, like fashion, vintage jewelry, and art. I think accessories make the outfit and are the key to true style! I challenge anyone who doesn't like to talk to find their way out of talking to me. I could talk the paint off a wall, I'd bet. I enjoy meeting new people and love checking them out! Guys, gals, and these days, even pets often have their own sense of style, and personality and sense of style are the cornerstones of what I think about a good portion of the time. Food and drink take up the rest. Especially wine and cheese, and no, I'm not talking whine.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Leather Backpack
There are some inventions, that when you think about them, you say "I'd like to shake that guys hand" about the person who came up with it. For example, the guy who invented the nacho, and the woman who invented gloves and shoes. There are others that give you a less-positive reaction. The leather backpack is one of those.
I'd like to start off by saying that I didnt feel it would be fair for me to call out the leather backpack for it's lack of coolness without first looking it up on the wikipedia so that I knew a bit more about it's origins. Amazingly enough, I discovered that there is a lot more air time for the regular backpack then for the leather one, and there is some irony to that.
First, the wikipedia describes a backpack as "a handbag for carrying heavy loads" and then goes on to explain that in ancient times, the backpack was first used to carry a hunters larger game and prey. Therein lies the irony of the leather backpack: It's SICK to use the skin of one animal to carry another, no? I mean, in ancient times they had to make due with what they had but still...as my main squeeze would say, it's similar to the idea of making a chicken omelet.
Okay, so anyway, aside from the history, and the irony, my strong dislike of the leather backpack truly stems from both a) it's ugly appearance and b) the likelihood that it is too small to really hold much weight and c) the fact that functionally, our arms don't go that way, and its crazy to carry your valuables on your back where thieves can reach them and you can't!
So, while I can understand that hunters might have found it convenient to carry heavy game on their backs, it seems that carrying prey on their backs likely caused an unsubstantiated number of ancient hunter deaths when tigers pounced upon them to grab the deer in their backpacks. But whatever...I would like to think we've evolved since then, right? Like, we're smarter. Oh wait, except, we aren't, because we still use backbacks unnecessarily.
Guess what? If you are carrying a leather backpack, and it's smaller than the purses of most of the women in your general vicinity, then you are making a serious mistake. Not only is it a fashion faux-pas, but it's also generally retarded. And no, I don't care if it's a Louis Vuitton. Spending a thousand bucks on a tiny leather backpack that can't hold much of anything just so you can show off the label to predators is like tattooing a target on your own forehead. For real.
At this point I guess this has become more of a rant than a blog. But it is food for thought. There are MANY inventions, and inventors that deserve props. I can appreciate the backpack for the hunter, the gatherer, and the nomad. I can even appreciate the backpack for the hiker, and the student. You know, the type of person who is actually carrying heavy stuff that requires the use of the strongest muscles in the body (the back and legs, in case you didnt know). But I absolutely cannot, ever, condone the use of a backpack, and a leather one at that, for carrying lip gloss and car keys. Sure, is the thought of not having to use my hands to carry a purse slightly appealing, yes. But guess what? If I've only got lip gloss and keys I can probably get my boyfriend to put them in his coat pocket. And if I've got a few more things, well, I'd likely go for a wristlet, or a clutch. The over-sized clutch is in style right now anyway.
I'd like to start off by saying that I didnt feel it would be fair for me to call out the leather backpack for it's lack of coolness without first looking it up on the wikipedia so that I knew a bit more about it's origins. Amazingly enough, I discovered that there is a lot more air time for the regular backpack then for the leather one, and there is some irony to that.
First, the wikipedia describes a backpack as "a handbag for carrying heavy loads" and then goes on to explain that in ancient times, the backpack was first used to carry a hunters larger game and prey. Therein lies the irony of the leather backpack: It's SICK to use the skin of one animal to carry another, no? I mean, in ancient times they had to make due with what they had but still...as my main squeeze would say, it's similar to the idea of making a chicken omelet.
Okay, so anyway, aside from the history, and the irony, my strong dislike of the leather backpack truly stems from both a) it's ugly appearance and b) the likelihood that it is too small to really hold much weight and c) the fact that functionally, our arms don't go that way, and its crazy to carry your valuables on your back where thieves can reach them and you can't!
So, while I can understand that hunters might have found it convenient to carry heavy game on their backs, it seems that carrying prey on their backs likely caused an unsubstantiated number of ancient hunter deaths when tigers pounced upon them to grab the deer in their backpacks. But whatever...I would like to think we've evolved since then, right? Like, we're smarter. Oh wait, except, we aren't, because we still use backbacks unnecessarily.
Guess what? If you are carrying a leather backpack, and it's smaller than the purses of most of the women in your general vicinity, then you are making a serious mistake. Not only is it a fashion faux-pas, but it's also generally retarded. And no, I don't care if it's a Louis Vuitton. Spending a thousand bucks on a tiny leather backpack that can't hold much of anything just so you can show off the label to predators is like tattooing a target on your own forehead. For real.
At this point I guess this has become more of a rant than a blog. But it is food for thought. There are MANY inventions, and inventors that deserve props. I can appreciate the backpack for the hunter, the gatherer, and the nomad. I can even appreciate the backpack for the hiker, and the student. You know, the type of person who is actually carrying heavy stuff that requires the use of the strongest muscles in the body (the back and legs, in case you didnt know). But I absolutely cannot, ever, condone the use of a backpack, and a leather one at that, for carrying lip gloss and car keys. Sure, is the thought of not having to use my hands to carry a purse slightly appealing, yes. But guess what? If I've only got lip gloss and keys I can probably get my boyfriend to put them in his coat pocket. And if I've got a few more things, well, I'd likely go for a wristlet, or a clutch. The over-sized clutch is in style right now anyway.
Monday, November 24, 2008
A Vat of Stuffing
I am dreaming about making a giant vat of stuffing.
Crawling into it.
And not emerging until it's empty.
The difficulty in this?
I do not have a turkey or an oven large enough.
To hold the massive amounts of stuffing that I am envisioning.
So here I sit.
Dreaming of stuffing.
Wondering why I always must wait.
To have it only for a week out of every year.
Thinking it sick, where we stick it.
But I still love to eat it when it comes out.
You cant say that about much.
Ahhh. Stuffing.
The Good Stuff.
Enough.
Crawling into it.
And not emerging until it's empty.
The difficulty in this?
I do not have a turkey or an oven large enough.
To hold the massive amounts of stuffing that I am envisioning.
So here I sit.
Dreaming of stuffing.
Wondering why I always must wait.
To have it only for a week out of every year.
Thinking it sick, where we stick it.
But I still love to eat it when it comes out.
You cant say that about much.
Ahhh. Stuffing.
The Good Stuff.
Enough.
A burnt english muffin is no way to start the week...
I woke up way too early this morning. This is my own fault, as I fell asleep way too early last night, after an afternoon of wine and art and cheese. At any rate.
I got out of bed and turned on the computer, figuring with a little extra time this morning I might as well give my little 'ole blog a bit of attention. So, I made some coffee, took my multivitamin, and put an english muffin on to toast. Unfortunately, I got involved in a little game of fashion wars on facebook, and unfortunately my muffin got a bit too toasty.
After realizing that the smell of burnt whole wheat english muffin was wafting through my house, I also realized that I was NAUSEOUS. Not from the over-cooked muffin, but from the multivitamin. Those damn things always make me sick if I take them on an empty stomach, and even more so on occasions when I start drinking my coffee before eating something. I guess I should consider that crystal light, coffee, and a multivitamin MIGHT make me sick, but when it's early and I'm a bit groggy I dont always think of this stuff.
Ok, so I take my well-done english muffin out of the toaster (by the way, the package tells me that the whole wheat variety I bought will supply me with 1/3 of my total fiber for the day), and begin pacing the kitchen, wondering what condiment will best disguise the taste of burnt fiber so that I can still eat it in order to make myself feel less pukey. Of course, these things only happen when it's the last english muffin in the pack, which of course this was, and when I really need to eat something, which I did.
I consider my options. Butter, jelly, cream cheese. Any of them could work, I suppose. But I'm kind of having trouble thinking still because I only had a few sips of coffee, and I feel so sick that it's hard to think of anything except my nausea. I settle on peanut butter, figuring that even if it still doesnt taste good, I can be pretty sure that by putting enough on it will be sufficient to coat my stomach long enough to digest the multivitamin so that I don't barf it up.
Well, this tactic worked. I had to fight my dog off while eating it, as she LOVES peanut butter (she takes after her mom), and to eat it as fast as possible the whole time willing it to hurry on it's merry way down to my stomach where it can work it's magic. Finally, 10-15 minutes later I felt better.
So, here I am. It's Monday morning. It's a short workweek, and will be a big week of eating all of my favorite foods for thanksgiving. Which is the bright side of a dark beginning. I still question why I want to take the magic 'multivitamin', which is supposed to help my overall health, but only ever seems to succeed in making me nauseous, or changing the color of my pee. Sometimes I think I should go back to the old days when people didnt rely on things like vitamins, and aspirin to heal their pains, and protect them. They simply worked, and ate, and were thankful for whatever they had.
I got out of bed and turned on the computer, figuring with a little extra time this morning I might as well give my little 'ole blog a bit of attention. So, I made some coffee, took my multivitamin, and put an english muffin on to toast. Unfortunately, I got involved in a little game of fashion wars on facebook, and unfortunately my muffin got a bit too toasty.
After realizing that the smell of burnt whole wheat english muffin was wafting through my house, I also realized that I was NAUSEOUS. Not from the over-cooked muffin, but from the multivitamin. Those damn things always make me sick if I take them on an empty stomach, and even more so on occasions when I start drinking my coffee before eating something. I guess I should consider that crystal light, coffee, and a multivitamin MIGHT make me sick, but when it's early and I'm a bit groggy I dont always think of this stuff.
Ok, so I take my well-done english muffin out of the toaster (by the way, the package tells me that the whole wheat variety I bought will supply me with 1/3 of my total fiber for the day), and begin pacing the kitchen, wondering what condiment will best disguise the taste of burnt fiber so that I can still eat it in order to make myself feel less pukey. Of course, these things only happen when it's the last english muffin in the pack, which of course this was, and when I really need to eat something, which I did.
I consider my options. Butter, jelly, cream cheese. Any of them could work, I suppose. But I'm kind of having trouble thinking still because I only had a few sips of coffee, and I feel so sick that it's hard to think of anything except my nausea. I settle on peanut butter, figuring that even if it still doesnt taste good, I can be pretty sure that by putting enough on it will be sufficient to coat my stomach long enough to digest the multivitamin so that I don't barf it up.
Well, this tactic worked. I had to fight my dog off while eating it, as she LOVES peanut butter (she takes after her mom), and to eat it as fast as possible the whole time willing it to hurry on it's merry way down to my stomach where it can work it's magic. Finally, 10-15 minutes later I felt better.
So, here I am. It's Monday morning. It's a short workweek, and will be a big week of eating all of my favorite foods for thanksgiving. Which is the bright side of a dark beginning. I still question why I want to take the magic 'multivitamin', which is supposed to help my overall health, but only ever seems to succeed in making me nauseous, or changing the color of my pee. Sometimes I think I should go back to the old days when people didnt rely on things like vitamins, and aspirin to heal their pains, and protect them. They simply worked, and ate, and were thankful for whatever they had.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Bright Sunshiny Day
Today I wasted a bit of time on a little social networking site called Facebook. Okay, it was more than a little time, and the sites kind of big, I admit.
At any rate, a friend of mine joined a group of people who are "fans of the sun". I am a fan of the sun, that's for sure. But this made me think, do people exist who aren't fans of the sun (I mean, other than albinos and people who work nights?)? It also made me think about this new phenomenon of Seasonal Affective Disorder. All of this seems very timely considering that it's 4:00 PM and the sun is already headed to bed for today.
First things first. You need to understand that I LOVE the sun. I would even say that I love it to a point that borders on addiction. I am the granddaughter of a woman who was known to partake in visits to electric beach, even after having chunks of skin removed for melanoma, and while I hesitate to say that its "hereditary" I do think that there is something in my genes that makes me NEED the sun in a way that some others don't.
I have been tanning since I was a babe. My mother used to take me to the beach with her friends and they would slather themselves in baby oil & lay out to bake. My grandmother, her sister, and my great-grandmother all always loved the beach too. And today, my sister and I both love it. We meet in the summers to "lay out"-which is a favorite pass-time. I could hit the beach at 9:00 AM, and hang there until 4:00 without thinking twice about it.
Because we live in New England and the non-beach months are long, we seek out great deals on tanning packages in electric beds, or gym memberships and travel agencies that offer free tans when you buy something. Most of my vacations revolve around the opportunity to go somewhere with more sun than I can get at home. I would rather skip lunch and walk around the block to get just a few moments of sun when its the dead of winter and its dark when I head to the office, and dark again when I come home.
I just love the opportunity to catch some rays-even if it means a wrinkle or two extra, and even if I know it's not entirely "good for me"...but what's "good for me" is a very subjective thing. Do I know excessive sun causes wrinkles, skin cancer, and early aging? YES! But I dont tan EVERY day, and I really dont see that those potential problems outweigh the benefits of tanning for me.
Hitting the beach in the summer, or the tanning bed when I'm stuck inside, or during the times of the year when nights are long improves my mood. It improves my motivation, my stamina, and makes me feel good. I love the healthy glow of my skin with a tan. It gives me added confidence, and the heat of the rays on my skin makes me feel alive.
So do I believe in Seasonal Affective Disorder? Yes, for sure. Do I think we have a genetic disposition to needing the sun? Perhaps. That quickly becomes a nature versus nurture question that I cant answer. I do think that some of us REQUIRE sunlight to function properly, and I know for certain that I am one of those people. I also think that its absolutely splendid that some nice folks on Facebook have created a group to people who love the sun. Because I do LOVE it, and it's a love affair that will never die.
At any rate, a friend of mine joined a group of people who are "fans of the sun". I am a fan of the sun, that's for sure. But this made me think, do people exist who aren't fans of the sun (I mean, other than albinos and people who work nights?)? It also made me think about this new phenomenon of Seasonal Affective Disorder. All of this seems very timely considering that it's 4:00 PM and the sun is already headed to bed for today.
First things first. You need to understand that I LOVE the sun. I would even say that I love it to a point that borders on addiction. I am the granddaughter of a woman who was known to partake in visits to electric beach, even after having chunks of skin removed for melanoma, and while I hesitate to say that its "hereditary" I do think that there is something in my genes that makes me NEED the sun in a way that some others don't.
I have been tanning since I was a babe. My mother used to take me to the beach with her friends and they would slather themselves in baby oil & lay out to bake. My grandmother, her sister, and my great-grandmother all always loved the beach too. And today, my sister and I both love it. We meet in the summers to "lay out"-which is a favorite pass-time. I could hit the beach at 9:00 AM, and hang there until 4:00 without thinking twice about it.
Because we live in New England and the non-beach months are long, we seek out great deals on tanning packages in electric beds, or gym memberships and travel agencies that offer free tans when you buy something. Most of my vacations revolve around the opportunity to go somewhere with more sun than I can get at home. I would rather skip lunch and walk around the block to get just a few moments of sun when its the dead of winter and its dark when I head to the office, and dark again when I come home.
I just love the opportunity to catch some rays-even if it means a wrinkle or two extra, and even if I know it's not entirely "good for me"...but what's "good for me" is a very subjective thing. Do I know excessive sun causes wrinkles, skin cancer, and early aging? YES! But I dont tan EVERY day, and I really dont see that those potential problems outweigh the benefits of tanning for me.
Hitting the beach in the summer, or the tanning bed when I'm stuck inside, or during the times of the year when nights are long improves my mood. It improves my motivation, my stamina, and makes me feel good. I love the healthy glow of my skin with a tan. It gives me added confidence, and the heat of the rays on my skin makes me feel alive.
So do I believe in Seasonal Affective Disorder? Yes, for sure. Do I think we have a genetic disposition to needing the sun? Perhaps. That quickly becomes a nature versus nurture question that I cant answer. I do think that some of us REQUIRE sunlight to function properly, and I know for certain that I am one of those people. I also think that its absolutely splendid that some nice folks on Facebook have created a group to people who love the sun. Because I do LOVE it, and it's a love affair that will never die.
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