Friday, August 22, 2008

Advertising

I've been listening to the radio at work lately - the station plays stuff I like, and it keeps the rhythm of the headers from causing random tunes to get stuck in my head. I had the "Gilligan's Island" theme stuck once for 3 days. I wanted to kill Bob Denver - except he's already dead.

Anyhow - this station has commercials - like all of them - and I'm beginning to remember in excruciating detail why I don't watch Television.

For instance - the tire commercial (Tyres to those with alternative spelling). The concept is fairly simple - you buy 3 tires, they give you 4 for the price of 3. Not exactly rocket science. Not only that, but they don't force you to send in for a "rebate" - they just charge you less at point-0f-sale.

So.... Why do they have to have a smarmy salesman and a menopausal former cheerleader * shouting back and forth about this for SIXTY FULL SECONDS????? You can get the message accross in less than 10. All I can say is - I won't be buying tires from NTB anytime soon, because if they think their customers are that stupid that they have to scream at them repetitively - I don't EVER want to be one of their customers.

McDonalds is still advertising their ghastly sweet tea....**

Some guy who does not identify himself lists a bunch of mattress brands and styles that his advertiser wants to sell people - and then says "And that's the style I've got at home" - as if I would care what some complete stranger has for a mattress on his bed...

The in-water boat show.... featuring "Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel". I kid you not. He even has his own website

No wonder the Republicans think they can sell us McSame - apparently advertising for the terminally STUPID has positive impact...



*I am basing this description solely on the quality of their voices.
**Prior Rant on this topic is here

150 days

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Good Stuff

So last night I decided to be "creative" in a low-fat, low cholesterol, kinda-sorta healthy-ish way. The result was a skillet chicken stew that was very yummy.


Yummy Skillet Chicken Stew: (Serves 2)

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast - cubed 1" pieces
4 slices Turkey Bacon - cut into 1" chunks
1 8" long x 1-1/2" diameter zucchini, cut in 3/4" circular pieces then quartered
6 small red potatoes, cubed 1" pieces
1 medium onion - cubed 1" pieces
8 larger-size button mushrooms - quartered
2 tbsp. Olive Oil
1 tsp. Soy Sauce
2 tsp. dried rosemary
2 tsp. paprika
1 tbsp. minced garlic
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. lemon-pepper spice

Heat Olive oil in skillet over low heat. Add garlic and onions, saute' until fragrant.
Add chicken, bacon, potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, sprinkle with spices and drizzle soy sauce over all.

Cover and cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally for 45-50 minutes.

Excellent with a fruit salad.

152 days

Monday, August 18, 2008

Eurgh

Saturday was the company picnic. It was just lovely. A perfect day, all the kiddies were zooming around playing on the bouncy castle and blowup firetruck slide, I got to meet C's new baby daughter who is too cute for words, and sat breifly in the sun and ate chicken and potato chips (crisps) and slices of jumbo sub-sandwich.

I got home and did laundry and then just collapsed.

Yesterday was also quite nice, if a bit hotter, and I got more done around the old house, but about 6:30 I started feeling kind of ughhhh... and spent some time every 1/2 hour until well after midnite communing with the commode.

It kind of makes me wonder just how much water is in me, and how much I can lose before getting "dehydrated".

Anyhow, things seem better now, so maybe it was just a little fluke.

154 days