National Pretzel Day!

Today is National Pretzel Day!

There are various places where you can get a free pretzel! (Though, I have not found any in the 518.)

The pretzel is one of my favorite snacks. When done correctly, they are warm, soft, salty, and have that pretzel taste that goes so well with beer (or bier, try the pretzel) and mustard.

If you are looking for a gluten free pretzel that is easily available, check out Elizabeth's review of Ener-G Pretzels. Or, if you want the pretzel that Elizabeth prefers, you can have the Snyders of Hanover GF Pretzel.

If you want a background on the history of the pretzel, Wikipedia has a surprisingly thorough entry.

Image of Wolff's Pretzel via the Albany Times Union

Clearing the Air on this Thursday

Clean Air?

I saw this sign yesterday promoting the "Clean Air" initiative of the Sage Colleges and then saw the URL that was directing me to this site.

No, I am a recent "former" smoker so I am still sensitive to the glee with which people who are willing to "punish" smokers for their "disgusting" habit but this is not about that. This is about the statement that this is being advertised as a clean air initiative. I love clean air! (Okay, who doesn't love clean air?) This is not about clean air though, this is about advertising "clean air" while making a statement about health and health choices. It is fine, and some would argue good, that Sage would do this but...

How does outdoor tobacco smoking contribute to "bad" or "dirty" air? Tobacco smoke has a negligible impact, especially compared with physical plant and vehicle traffic. With that in mind, I went looking for Sage's commitment to reducing emissions from their vehicles as well as the "Greening" of their physical plant, and I found...nothing. I did look. I was so hoping that I would find something so that I would be unable to snark about this. That this institution would have a comprehensive plan regarding their environmental impact, including letting green spaces return to wild flowers and the elimination of hot spots like black tar roofs and parking spaces.

Nope. The clean air program that they are advertising is further segregating adults engaged in legal behavior from their community. It is telling that people preach about inclusion until they find it inconvenient.

Speaking of smoking (sorta)
I had a series of weird dreams that returned when moved from wakefulness to sleep. They were vivid and while not particularly odd, by the standards of my subconscious (I mean, I had a great dream over the weekend that is sticking with me still. It puts a smile on my face and gives me hope for the world.), they were memorable. There were old friends recast in new roles as well as situations that were similar enough to real life that they were obviously being pulled from recent memories.

As I was futzing around this morning before I started my day (you know, washing of the face, brushing of the teeth, and other, less palatable, things) I realized that I had forgotten to remove the nicotine patch before bed. So that's why I had the dreams, right?

Apparently, at least according to the NIH, this is the case. There does seem to be a link between vivid REM sleep and use of the nicotine patch. More link searching pulled up a myriad of anecdotal stories regarding the experience of lucid dreaming related to the use of the nicotine patch. Now I, and by extension the world, know(s). I do have to say that I am going to have a not great day because lucid dreaming does not equal great sleep.

NB: I use the patch sporadically, especially when I think that I am going to be put in a situation when I am going to have a trigger to smoke. This includes, but is not limited to, dealing with Little League players, coaches, and parents, like...yesterday.

More on smoking
Did you see this?

New Findings Support Theory that Smoking Causes Depression

Really? You become more depressed when you smoke heavily?

From the article: "The authors found that, overall, the 12-year risk of MDE* for the entire sample was 13.2 percent.

When split by smoking status, the risk of MDE among current-heavy smokers was 26.7 percent; among former-heavy smokers it was 7.1 percent, and among those who never smoked it was 12.2 percent.

These statistics showed a significant hazard ratio of 3.1 for current heavy smokers, compared with former smokers, even after adjusting for age, sex, and stress."
*Major Depressive Episode

So...maybe that is why Sage is now a smoke free campus?

Via The Awl

And finally...

Whining on a Wednesday

Little League
I am happy that TEA loves baseball. (Even though he is a Yankee fan...that is okay, there are Yankee fans in my family. The deal breaker would have been had he been a Cubs or a Red Sox fan. For those of you who are not parents, you want to ensure that your child is in a position to avoid as much pain as possible.) That being said, TEA is once again playing a Little League schedule and I find myself wanting to go but...not today. Yes, this is weather related, but it also related to the herding cats aspect to managing these kids which gives me a headache even on the other side of the fence. Yes, I am whining. I own it.

I do hope that TEA has a great game and I know that there will be a cold and driving rain this evening around six.

The Troy Bike Rescue
The Troy Bike Rescue is having their Annual Fundraiser on May 19th.

If you do not know about the Troy Bike Rescue, here is a blurb from their site, "TBR is a collective of bicycle enthusiasts committed to removing bikes from the waste stream, and putting them back into use." You can find more information here.

All of this started because of a woman named Marla Singer
While I was working on some correspondence yesterday morning, after Morning Joe, I was clicking through for background noise and I came upon Fight Club on AMC. Even though I made a space monkey joke a couple of days ago, I had not really thought of the film in a long time.

I would be lying if I stated that having this on as background noise did not impact the content and quality of my correspondence which makes me even happier that I took a little bit of time to self edit before I sent them out.

Watching this film, albeit in my periphery, I realized certain things about myself that were not complimentary, however I think I exhausted my capacity for whining about myself above.

I may have become a tea drinker
I still love coffee but as part of my changing behaviors (coffee is more of a trigger for smoking than beer is for me...to quote the above movie, "self improvement is masturbation" and I know that you really do not care...) I have had to find different warm and caffeinated to keep me going through the day. I have settled on the one that will be keeping me awake for the long haul.

Stash's Chai Spice Black Tea

I have no idea how much caffeine there is in it or if this will kill me more effectively than coffee, I just know that I love the flavors and I find the nose of it to be incredible. It makes my mornings bearable.

Finally
I am going to have the chance to see and spend time with my three favorite people on consecutive days starting tomorrow. Do you know how cool that is? If you count today, as I suppose you could, I will be able to see my favorite people on four consecutive days. This is awesome.

Book are better than...

The Blue Eyed Soul of a Tuesday

Your kiss...is on my list
For some reason, this song popped into my head last night and it was...not a complete badness.

It is an odd song to just pop up though, isn't it?

Speaking of Music

I saw the "Ramblin' Jug Stompers" at McGeary's last night.

Generally, the live music that I see at bars, taverns, pubs, and venues such as this are annoying background music but this was wonderful. I like a lot of roots music, generally, but I do not go out of my way to listen to it, and then I stop by some place and here music like this. It made me very happy. You should check them out.

Local Honey and Such

I have been encouraging a friend to eat 518 local honey as they have been spending more time in this area lately than they have in a decade. When I stopped at the TWFM last weekend, I went looking for it (as well as radishes...).

This leads me to my question: Can you get local honey at your Hannaford, Wegman's, Price Chopper, ShopRite, or Trader Joe's? (I actually think that you can get it at Fresh Market...which is odd. Oh ad did I miss a local grocery store?) No. (At least, I do not think so and I am happy for corrective action on this.)

Why local honey? Well, for the simple fact that it can help with seasonal allergies. That alone makes it awesome, but there are other reasons related to sustainability and locavorism that I have ranted about before.

Randomness

Do you find it irksome when you find people who are railing against the safety net and support system of the government have a vitae that includes attending a state university and employment with the state?

Do I know anyone who lives in Lynn, Massachusetts?

Today is another "Super Tuesday": Does anyone care?

My father is going to try BBQ at Arthur Bryant's today. I am very very happy for him.

Finally...the ECard at the Day

Actually, I don't value your opinion at all.

Monday Randomness

• Has anyone else read Reamde? I would love to discuss it with someone. It was the first time that I have finished one of Stephenson's books and not been plagued with questions about the larger meanings but just left enjoying a book.

• Peggy giving someone a handy at the movies must have been a shock to the Bartlett Administration. No wonder that guy Fred from Portlandia broke up with her.

• This weekend, I think we can all agree on this, we were all NY Yankees. Friday filled me with glee and Saturday with awe. The only sour note, the members of Red Sox Nation placing all the blame for the Sox being the Pittsburgh Pirates of the American League on Bobby V.'s head.

• This weather has been terrifying and not in the good way like zombies or thinking of the Santorum Administration but in the bad way like weather emergencies or the idea of a lot of you breeding.

• I do not understand why people who are generally good about food have hang ups about grocery stores. I mean, why aren't you going to farmers' markets, bakeries, and butchers. Maybe I am being an idiot about this but if you really care about your food, why would you go anywhere but someplace that you could have a personal connection with the owner/provider?

• Yesterday was my father's birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad!

• Overheard:
"I have the socks for you."

"The socks."

"The socks!"

"The socks you put on your feet!"

"Okay, I will see you tomorrow when I bathe."

• Once again, the Brown Bag in Troy has proven itself to have the best burger in the 518. Look at that! It was so very good. For those of you who did not know, the hours are now 6 to 6 am daily. Worth every bite, especially at $4.