Our Leader?
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11.30.2005
Molecule gives passionate lovers just one year
ROME (Reuters) - Your heartbeat accelerates, you have butterflies in the stomach, you feel euphoric and a bit silly. It's all part of falling passionately in love -- and scientists now tell us the feeling won't last more than a year.
The powerful emotions that bowl over new lovers are triggered by a molecule known as nerve growth factor (NGF), according to Pavia University researchers.
The Italian scientists found far higher levels of NGF in the blood of 58 people who had recently fallen madly in love than in that of a group of singles and people in long-term relationships.
But after a year with the same lover, the quantity of the 'love molecule' in their blood had fallen to the same level as that of the other groups.
The Italian researchers, publishing their study in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, said it was not clear how falling in love triggers higher levels of NGF, but the molecule clearly has an important role in the "social chemistry" between people at the start of a relationship.
Story from here
The powerful emotions that bowl over new lovers are triggered by a molecule known as nerve growth factor (NGF), according to Pavia University researchers.
The Italian scientists found far higher levels of NGF in the blood of 58 people who had recently fallen madly in love than in that of a group of singles and people in long-term relationships.
But after a year with the same lover, the quantity of the 'love molecule' in their blood had fallen to the same level as that of the other groups.
The Italian researchers, publishing their study in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, said it was not clear how falling in love triggers higher levels of NGF, but the molecule clearly has an important role in the "social chemistry" between people at the start of a relationship.
Story from here
11.29.2005
11.27.2005
The Celery Farm
There is a very cool bird sanctuary in Northern NJ called the Celery Farm. We decided to take a hike there today after we went to the bank with all of our change and got $191.00 for it. We're going to buy some tickets to the Big Apple Circus for the Christmas break and go out to dinner too. Anyway, this old farm is in the area so we stopped by. Dana did go but it was too cold for her (50 degrees?) so she walked ahead. These first two shots are of snakes that are carved out of wood and put on these trees. Someone has a lot of time on their hands, they really are cool.
This is the sky (no shit sherlock),
we did see sun dogs later in the day in the sky
Birthday Boy Dylan (v.12) and the Griffin (v5.5)
We saw some Chickadees, Juncos, sea gulls, Wood Ducks,
a Blue Heron, a Muskrat and this, an American Bittern.
They are related to the herons.
We had never seen one before.
We had a fun time.
Here you go JLee
This is the sky (no shit sherlock),
we did see sun dogs later in the day in the sky
Birthday Boy Dylan (v.12) and the Griffin (v5.5)
We saw some Chickadees, Juncos, sea gulls, Wood Ducks,
a Blue Heron, a Muskrat and this, an American Bittern.
They are related to the herons.
We had never seen one before.
We had a fun time.
Here you go JLee
11.25.2005
11.24.2005
Happy Thanksgiving or Merry Christmas
This is what we woke up to this morning. It's just a dusting but it's still snow. 2 years ago on Dec 4th, we had over 2 feet of snow!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Do eat too much!
On the right side of the apples, you
can see the lake I kayak on (sort of see it)
Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Do eat too much!
On the right side of the apples, you
can see the lake I kayak on (sort of see it)
11.23.2005
11.22.2005
Killer vs. Geek
By looking at a picture of a person, you have to decide if he is a computer geek or a serial killer. Go with your gut feeling and click on your choice. Your score will be given at the end. Post your score here... Let us see how you key in on people at first sight. I got 8/10 right. See how you do.
http://www.malevole.com/mv/misc/killerquiz
http://www.malevole.com/mv/misc/killerquiz
11.21.2005
The Basement Tapes
Before.........................................After
After two and 1/2 years in our house, we are finally getting the ceiling in our basement finished. We have 7 ft ceilings so it really is a good space that is worth finishing plus we invested almost $6000 in a french drain when we bought the house because there was some water in the basement. We didn't want to have to deal with mold and all of that. It was the best thing we could have done, it's been dry as a bone ever since. So I painted the walls with drylock (which is like painting walls with soft ice cream) then put regular paing on them, painted the floos and put some rugs down there. I had lights put in. The only left to do was to get it sheet rocked. If we had $$$$ we could just pay to have it done, or, if I was more of a handy man, I could have done it my self but since I am none of the above, I was able to get my friend Reve to do it for a resonable price. Reve is someone that I've known since the first grade and we hung out a lot as teenagers and in our twenties. Some of the best laughs I've ever had has been with him. I had not seen him of talked with him for about two years so we spent most of the day just making each other laugh. All inside jokes, many would not seem funny to most of you so I will spare you. We did talk about how great it was to grow up in a small town though. There is sort of a 'Brotherhood' among the people from there, even if you really didn't know them as teenagers, if you see them now there is a familiarity we all share.
How big of a town did you all grow up in and can you relate to what I am talking about?
After two and 1/2 years in our house, we are finally getting the ceiling in our basement finished. We have 7 ft ceilings so it really is a good space that is worth finishing plus we invested almost $6000 in a french drain when we bought the house because there was some water in the basement. We didn't want to have to deal with mold and all of that. It was the best thing we could have done, it's been dry as a bone ever since. So I painted the walls with drylock (which is like painting walls with soft ice cream) then put regular paing on them, painted the floos and put some rugs down there. I had lights put in. The only left to do was to get it sheet rocked. If we had $$$$ we could just pay to have it done, or, if I was more of a handy man, I could have done it my self but since I am none of the above, I was able to get my friend Reve to do it for a resonable price. Reve is someone that I've known since the first grade and we hung out a lot as teenagers and in our twenties. Some of the best laughs I've ever had has been with him. I had not seen him of talked with him for about two years so we spent most of the day just making each other laugh. All inside jokes, many would not seem funny to most of you so I will spare you. We did talk about how great it was to grow up in a small town though. There is sort of a 'Brotherhood' among the people from there, even if you really didn't know them as teenagers, if you see them now there is a familiarity we all share.
How big of a town did you all grow up in and can you relate to what I am talking about?
11.19.2005
333 and 666
This was the temperature outside and inside around 9 am this morning.
In an unrelated matter... Dylan, it may be time for a haircut dude
In an unrelated matter... Dylan, it may be time for a haircut dude
2nd Worst Job
This is what I'm doing today. Raking leaves. I am having Dylan help me, but it's costing me $20. I remember having to do it for nothing.
The times they are a changin...
I do enjoy being outside though, it's not so bad.
The times they are a changin...
I do enjoy being outside though, it's not so bad.
11.18.2005
11.17.2005
HNT - My Guts
This is a scan from last year, before I had my surgery. The liver is on the left side of the image. The dark spots are some of the tumors I had removed. Maybe next week I'll show home movies of my colonoscopy!
Labels: HNT
11.16.2005
Not So E-ZPass
Once again I got a letter from my good friends at E-ZPass
Here's what I sent them. I should have included their first letter
Here's what I sent them. I should have included their first letter
11.15.2005
The Three B's (Birds, Bees and Boners)
My oldest son Dylan, is turning 12 in a few weeks. I figured it was time for The Talk. Yes, all parents nightmare, The Facts of Life. When I was coming of age in 1969-70's-90's I only got The Book and I had heard all about it anyway from my friends who were all 1-2 years older than me. The book didn't even have pictures, just cheesey line drawings that were one step above stick figures. I'm not quite sure why I brought it up with Dylan when I did other than I think he has a girlfriend and I figured let's go for it. I was driving him back from a birthday party he went to in NJ so I asked him what he knew about babies and junk. He seemed to know what was going on for the most part and they are going to cover it in 6th grade later this year. I also asked him if he noticing any 'changes' in his body. He has a 13 1/2 year old cousin who's voice is changing and also a 10 year old cousin who is just about ready to shave (very scary because he's not the brightest star in the sky shall we say). Dylan, like me, will probably be a late bloomer which I told him is cool because most of the guys who enter puberty early get old looking faster. So I tired to prepare him for some changes and feelings that may be happening soon. I spoke about being 'master of his domain' and that there's nothing wrong with NOT being master of his domain, don't make it a hobby. I just want him to feel like he can ask me anything about his emerging sexuality and I think he feels that way. I also told him that girls are going through a change now too with getting ta-tas and nice coochies, etc. I'm sure I'll set him straight.-I told him if I ever figure women out, I'll let him know. But I did tell him that women like to talk about things and men like to fix things. Be a good listener, women have a lot to say (right Boo?)
11.13.2005
11.12.2005
Penn and Teller
I am a big fan of Penn and Teller. I saw them on Broadway about 14 years ago. I love magic and these guys are good at it and funny. They have a special on tomorrow night if anyone is interested.
11.11.2005
The Golden Globes winner
This song is dedicated to my very dear friend who shall remain nameless, but forever in my thoughts....
11.10.2005
BRAIN CRAMPS
(On September 17, 1994, Alabama's Heather Whitestone was selected as Miss America 1995.)
Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?
Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not
live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever,
then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever,
which is why I would not live forever,"
--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.
"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids
all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love
to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and
death and stuff."
--Mariah Carey
"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very
important part of your life,"
--Brooke Shields, during an interview to become
Spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign.
"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part
of my body,"
--Winston Bennett,
University of Kentucky basketball forward.
"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the
lowest crime rates in the country,"
--Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC.
"I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through
our papers. We are the president."
--Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of
subpoenaed documents.
"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death
by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it,"
--A congressional candidate in Texas.
"Half this game is ninety percent mental."
--Philadelphia Phillies manager, Danny Ozark
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's
the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
--Al Gore, Vice President
"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix."
--Dan Quayle
"We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much
clean air do we need?" --Lee Iacocca
"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football. A
genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." -
--Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.
"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude
certain types of people." --Colonel Gerald Wellman, ROTC Instrutor.
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
--Bill Clinton, President
"We are ready for an unforeseen event that
may or may not occur."
--Al Gore, VP
"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come
from overseas."
--Keppel Enderbery
"Your food stamps will be stopped effective
March 1992 because we received notice that
you passed away. May God bless you. You may
reapply if there is a change in your circumstances."
--Department of Social Services, South Carolina
"If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack
in at night as they go to bed and it will monitor their
heart throughout the night. And the next morning, when
they wake up dead, there'll be a record."
--Mark S. Fowler, FCC Chairman
Question: If you could live forever, would you and why?
Answer: "I would not live forever, because we should not
live forever, because if we were supposed to live forever,
then we would live forever, but we cannot live forever,
which is why I would not live forever,"
--Miss Alabama in the 1994 Miss USA contest.
"Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids
all over the world, I can't help but cry. I mean I'd love
to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and
death and stuff."
--Mariah Carey
"Smoking kills. If you're killed, you've lost a very
important part of your life,"
--Brooke Shields, during an interview to become
Spokesperson for federal anti-smoking campaign.
"I've never had major knee surgery on any other part
of my body,"
--Winston Bennett,
University of Kentucky basketball forward.
"Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the
lowest crime rates in the country,"
--Mayor Marion Barry, Washington, DC.
"I'm not going to have some reporters pawing through
our papers. We are the president."
--Hillary Clinton commenting on the release of
subpoenaed documents.
"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death
by a jackass, and I'm just the one to do it,"
--A congressional candidate in Texas.
"Half this game is ninety percent mental."
--Philadelphia Phillies manager, Danny Ozark
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's
the impurities in our air and water that are doing it."
--Al Gore, Vice President
"I love California. I practically grew up in Phoenix."
--Dan Quayle
"We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much
clean air do we need?" --Lee Iacocca
"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football. A
genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." -
--Joe Theisman, NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.
"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude
certain types of people." --Colonel Gerald Wellman, ROTC Instrutor.
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
--Bill Clinton, President
"We are ready for an unforeseen event that
may or may not occur."
--Al Gore, VP
"Traditionally, most of Australia's imports come
from overseas."
--Keppel Enderbery
"Your food stamps will be stopped effective
March 1992 because we received notice that
you passed away. May God bless you. You may
reapply if there is a change in your circumstances."
--Department of Social Services, South Carolina
"If somebody has a bad heart, they can plug this jack
in at night as they go to bed and it will monitor their
heart throughout the night. And the next morning, when
they wake up dead, there'll be a record."
--Mark S. Fowler, FCC Chairman
11.09.2005
An Act of God?
Thanks to my friend Dakota, I have found out that there is a guy by the name of Doug Powell whose email address is amazingbible@verizon.net or bibleprophecy@verizon.net who has a bible site for pretty much all of us who have a blog. The only difference is in the name blogpsot.com instead of blogspot.com.
So, I plan on sending him an email thanking him for his kindness. I think this is so funny especially since of my recent relgious rants.
This guy's been around...
So, I plan on sending him an email thanking him for his kindness. I think this is so funny especially since of my recent relgious rants.
This guy's been around...
11.08.2005
Let It Be (Please)
I was going to write about this anyway today, but seeing a post from my friend Paula's Blog got me all fired up. I was looking up the lyrics for the Beatles song Let It Be yesterday (no, not Yesterday, Let it Be) and saw some...opinions (?) from this reverend at this church (??). I was shocked. I wrote him an email asking where I can burn my Beatles albums but haven't heard from him yet....
maybe he's getting his haircut.
It's a free country and everyone's entitled to their own opinion - get out and vote today people
maybe he's getting his haircut.
It's a free country and everyone's entitled to their own opinion - get out and vote today people
11.05.2005
11.02.2005
An Irish Joke
O'Toole worked in the lumber yard for twenty years and all that time he'd been stealing the wood and selling it. At last his conscience began to bother him and he went to confession to repent. "Father, it's 15 years since my last confession, and I've been stealing wood from the lumber yard all those years," he told the priest. "I understand my son," says the priest. "Can you make a Novena?" O'Toole said, "Father, if you have the plans, I've got the lumber."
Halloween is over
Halloween is over! The kids had a great time. Griffin has been looking forward to it for about a month. here are some pictures from his Halloween Parade at school.
