Unscientific Studies

News story seen in local newspaper:

“A Stanford University* study reveals that among freshmen, the ones who attended parties throughout the week, consistently had lower grade averages than the freshman who stayed in the dorm more.”

Wow. I am stunned.

Not at these results, but the fact that time and money were wasted on a “study” to find out something that anyone with common sense already knows to be a fact.  Let me guess – a Stanford freshman needed to do a research study and this one sounded easy (and fun) to do. I hope this same student has to do real research for their Master’s thesis. I mean they’re graduating from F&$#!!! Stanford!

Sorry for the outburst. This is one of my biggest peeves. Either do research or not. Don’t bother me with “studies” you probably made up – or as my Dad would say, “pulled out of your ass”.

And what about the Graduate student who approved this “study”- where is he/she throughout the week? At the movies, studying popcorn?…

Just sayin’

 

*  Disclaimer: I have nothing but the highest respect for  Stanford University, its educational programs, students,  hospital, or research. Just poking at them in good fun.

Vanity Is The Enemy (or what a gal will go through to look cool)

Have I mentioned that I’ve gained a few pounds? I blame hubby for this. He is losing weight and I keep finding it. I do not begrudge him for losing weight he needed to lose. In fact, he’s looking mighty fine 😉  these days. What I don’t understand is why he can’t lose weight at work. But that’s not what I’m here to rant about today.

I was getting dressed a couple of weeks ago, and I had to wear something nice to show up for jury duty. No problem – I had a nice pair of black pants to wear. These pants, that used to slide gracefully over my thighs and hips, stopped at my knees. It took some tugging (and cursing), but they finally made it up to (what used to be) my waistline.

Open Zipper

The bigger problem was the zipper. It could not and would not close.

I tore through my closet in search of a top long enough to cover my crotch. No tunic length shirts or sweaters anymore.  Must have given them to Good Will or somewhere.  I had 2 options:

  1. I could wear jeans anyway (they were tight, but the fly stayed closed)
  2. I could wear my “old-lady” pants with the elastic waist and no pockets. The tunic top would have come in handy to disguise them as normal pants, but they still had no pockets. I HATE not having pockets in my pants. Where do you put your Id? Your lunch money?

Lunch money. My brain switches gears back to High School. I was robbed of my lunch money by an unseen thief. She, I assumed it was a she because it happened in the girls bathroom, suddenly reached under the door, into my stall, and snatched my lunch money right off the top of my books. Literally caught with my pants down. Just one of many humiliations I suffered in High School.

High School. Switching gears again. A memory of my mom telling me about when she was in High School. It was the early 50’s and it was poodle skirts, crinolines (ask your grandma), and tight jeans. “So tight in fact”, she confessed to me, “that I had to lie down on my bed to zip them up”.

Her wisdom lives on, and she thought us girls never listened to her. 😉   Thanks Mom!!

It worked. Black pants zipped up and button closed.  Who knew that gravity could be my friend?

Being me, instead of feeling triumphant, I start worrying that the pressure put on the zipper by my flab would break it. I would have to pee at some point, which meant using the straining zipper. How would I get my fly closed again without my bed?

Did the zipper hold?  Amazingly it did. Even with peeing, it still worked. But not once, during the entire day, did my pants ever become comfortable. Ever.

Sooo, I’m working to lose the weight my hubby gave me. I don’t know how many pounds I gained because my denial reflex has not allowed me to get on the scale. It’s funny how it takes me three times longer to lose what he lost and I found.

Actually, it’s not  funny when I think about it.

Is there a moral to this story? Many of them, actually. Pick one  🙂

Hey! Girls Like Football Too

Dang, that 2nd half sucked yesterday! Not if you were a Cardinal’s fan I suppose.  But I have every confidence that coach Harbaugh and the Niner’s will learn from their mistakes, get Patrick Willis healthy again, and be a major force for the Steeler’s to reckon with next Monday. I mean MAJOR FORCE!

Being the 49er fan that I am, I could not resist outfitting my granddaughters with NFL approved winter sportswear.  I don’t even have cool winter sportswear. I do have an official 50th anniversary 49er’s jersey, however.  I got it when I tried out for the team. Well, kinda. But that’s not the point…

When I was at the check stand  (if your store sponsored me, it could be plugged here…) the clerk says, “Your grandson’s will love these!”. I smiled and corrected her, saying “I have granddaughters”.  The clerk, a girl herself, seemed shocked and didn’t say another word to me.

As I drove home I heard on the radio (your station could be here…) about their fabulous 49er game coverage coming up and then adding “Guys!  Stay tuned for how to win tickets to Monday night’s game against the Steeler’s”. Only a minor irritation compared to television.

Hey! All you major networks (your network , etc….) out there. You need to find other sponsors for Football games. There’s a lot more to life than Big Ass Trucks and Beer. And please up the level of intelligence on the advertisements. Especially the holiday ones. Just because we watch football does not mean we have low IQ’s!

There.

I feel better now.