Shallow End of the Sea

Japan Calls: A Message to the Entertainment Community

2011-03-14T22:43:00.003-04:00

Would you consider joining Mark Ruffalo, Eliza Dushku, Sasha Coen, Jeremy Piven, Jake Silbermann, and others in sharing your voice for 15 seconds to help Japan?

Some friends of mine were trying to think of a way to help in Japan without having that much money, and they ended up creating a new project: Japan Calls. The idea is that actors/artists/entertainers (like yourself) or other established names take a little bit of time, just 15 seconds, to leave a personal message to the highest bidder in selected auctions. Bidders would bid on receiving a 15 second voice message from you. (A very simple task with this site, http://vocaroo.com/, or via YouTube video, whatever is to your liking.) The highest bidder, after providing proof of their donation, would get that said message from you.

All donations will be going to help Japan via the several charities people decide to donate to, using the wonderful world of the internet as a way for regular everyday people to do their part. Donations will go directly to the charity, not through the community. We would provide you the donor's name and donation amount if you were not following the auction and if you would prefer.

So to reiterate, ALL we ask is that you provide 15 seconds of your voice. That’s it. Anything more is completely up to you. Just 15 seconds to both make a fan happy and help a country in need.

A list of those who've already signed on is available here, and it's growing every day! We would love to add your name to the list, so please consider helping out, and if you agree, please let your fellow entertainers know so they can provide their voices as well!

If you're interested, you can reply to my tweet, or tweet directly to @japan_calls.
Thank you for your time!

The Care and Feeding of Parents

2010-05-21T13:02:00.000-04:00

My parents came up for a visit last week. Naturally, things didn’t go quite to plan.

“So,” Mom asks. “What time should be aim for to avoid rush hour traffic?”

“Four,” I say. “Which means you need to leave by around 12:30 or so. Call me when you’re on the road, and then call Erin [my sister] when you get to Macon.” (So she’d know to leave work and head home to meet them.)

“Okay!”

I held out until 1:30 before I called.

“Yesssss?” Dad answers.

“Um, are you on the way?”

“Oh, yeah. We’re just leaving Ashburn [three hours away]. We stopped for lunch. Hang on.” He hands the phone to Mom.

“You were supposed to call me when you left,” I remind her.

“Well, I called Erin!”

I refrain from headdesking, but barely. “You were supposed to call me when you left home, Mom. And then call Erin from Macon.”

Insert long, convoluted rambling about the route they plan to take to get from Atlanta to Kansas (where they were headed to visit friends), while I try to interrupt because, hey, at work here, and you pretty much have a microcosm of my parents.

Gotta love ’em. Because it’s either that or shoot ’em. Or myself.

Pomp & Circumstances

2010-05-14T17:55:00.002-04:00

My sister in her master's degree garb!! Tuesday, May 11, 2010, Kennesaw State University.

Buying Happiness

2010-05-07T15:08:00.001-04:00

Many years ago, when I had no money (and I mean NO money), I promised myself that I'd clean up my financial house and get into a position where I actually had disposable income. And when I did, I'd spend that money doing things that I really, really want to do.

I'm finally at a point where I can make good on that promise.

Last month, I took the longest vacation in my life (11 days), a cross-country extravaganza including a cruise to Mexico (never cruised before, never been to Mexico), a long weekend in New York, and meetups and visits with a huge list of friends and family. I had the time of my LIFE. And in the process, I spent around $3,000. Probably closer to $3,500, actually, if I sat down and did all the math.

It was the best money I've ever spent.

I'm about to take another trip. My sister just finished her master's degree, so I'm taking her back to New York for Memorial Day weekend. Her flight, half the hotel, and a ticket to see Avenue Q will be her graduation gift. That trip will cost me around $1,500 total, counting my share of everything.

Again: money well spent.

Later this year, I'll be attending Dragon*Con, an event in Chicago, and (I hope) an event in Boston. Once it's all over, I will have spent more money on "fun stuff" in a single year than I ever have in my life. Heck, I may end up spending more total than I earned my first year at my first "real" job.

And I don't regret a bit of it.

For a long time, I had terrible anxiety whenever I spent a significant amount of money. Even when I knew I could afford it, even when it was a necessity, I'd come down with a huge case of buyer's remorse. I still have a little of that from time to time (ask the friends I angsted to after booking the cruise), but I'm trying to get past it. No, I can't spend money without thought. But I'm in a good place financially, with a job that pays well and that's about as secure as jobs come (especially considering the current economic climate), and I have savings to fall back on in an emergency.

Even better than being able to spend money on myself, though, has been being able to help out friends. People helped me out back when I was struggling, so it feels good to be able to pay that forward. I was able to help out a couple of friends on the trip with cash flow issues, and I donated to support a related project I believe in. I've been helping support my sister through graduate school.

And truthfully, that's all I've really wanted out of life. To be in a place where I can do things that make me happy. Travel makes me happy. Visiting friends makes me happy. Helping people out makes me happy. Supporting causes I believe in makes me happy.

I guess the point is that, sometimes, money can buy happiness. It just depends on how you're spending it.

Since U Been Gone

2010-04-28T12:14:00.012-04:00

Maybe one of these days I'll stop failing at blogging.

I wouldn't hold your breath.

So, the last four months have been taken up with work, writing, reading, travel, too much unhealthy behavior, and a heck of a lot of fun. A few pictures for documentation:

That would be me (front left) and my friend Ailene (behind me) with Jake Silbermann (front right) and Van Hansis, who play Noah Mayer and Luke Snyder on "As the World Turns." I went on the Rock the Soap 2 cruise April 9-12 and had an absolute BLAST.

Me (center) with Kat (left) and Ailene, my roomies for the cruise, all dolled up for the formal Captain's Dinner Saturday night.

I also went to the ATWT fan club luncheon in NYC the following weekend. Here's my friend Manny Brown, a Jake superfan, with the object of his affection, LOL.

Jake approves! With Van (left) and Eric Sheffer Stevens, who plays Dr. Reid Oliver.

Me with Van at Nuke-A-Palooza. This is a fan event held after the luncheon for the past 3 years that the actors attend. Jake had to leave early, unfortunately, but Van was the life of the party right up until the place pretty much kicked us out, LOL.

Me (standing in the center) with my friends Dani, Kat, and Sy, the day after the luncheon. We'd just seen the Tim Burton exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art and were headed for Serendipity for lunch.

I also saw various other friends and family. All in all, it was an epically amazing 11 days of vacation. I didn't want to come back home!! :)

Charity December: Final Thought

2009-12-22T09:25:00.003-05:00

December is not a good time to attempt to do any special project on a daily basis. Naturally, I failed. So, I'm going to rechristen Charity December as "12 Days of Giving" (since I did manage 12 of them!) and call it a year. ;)

Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season, whatever holidays you celebrate--even if it's just extra time off work!

Charity December: Salvation Army

2009-12-13T17:40:00.002-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

Tis the season for Salvation Army bell-ringers! Those ubiquitous donation kettles are just the tip of the iceberg, of course. The Salvation Army provides a wide range of services to those in need, including disaster relief, youth camps, elderly outreach, and assistance for families during and after the holidays with food, clothing, and financial support. The well-known Angel Tree program provides Christmas toys to needy children.

Charity December: Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation

2009-12-12T18:35:00.005-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

After actor Christopher Reeve was paralyzed in a riding accident in 1995, he and his wife Dana became activists on behalf of those with spinal cord injuries, mobility impairment, and paralysis. The year he was injured, they teamed up with the American Paralysis Association to form what is now the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which continues its work in their memory. The organization funds research into cures for paralysis and provides resources to improve the lives of those living with paralysis.

Charity December: Housing the Homeless

2009-12-11T13:52:00.004-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

Today I'm spotlighting two organizations I've just learned about recently myself, both of which help provide housing to the homeless. (Information about other homeless assistance programs is available through the National Coalition for the Homeless.)

First is a local Atlanta charity, Nicholas House, which has provided housing for homeless families for over 26 years. The organization accepts families in their entirety, in contrast to most shelters, which are generally gender-specific. Nicholas House has provided transitional housing for more than 1,500 families.

Second is the Ali Forney Center in New York, which provides housing and other assistance to homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth, many of whom have been thrown out of their homes by their families because of their sexuality. In addition to emergency and transitional housing, the center provides health care, food, showers, employment assistance, and street outreach. Links to similar programs in other locations are also provided on the center's website.

Charity December: Equality Now

2009-12-10T13:33:00.003-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

Note: I was sick on December 9, which is why I had to miss a day.

I discovered Equality Now through the annual Can't Stop the Serenity events, which combine screenings of Serenity (the "Firefly" movie) with auctions, raffles, and other fund-raising opportunities that benefit Equality Now (as well as other organizations). Equality Now's purpose is to end violence and discrimination against women and girls throughout the world. From their website: "Issues of urgent concern to Equality Now include rape, domestic violence, reproductive rights, trafficking of women, female genital mutilation, and the denial of equal access to economic opportunity and political participation."

Charity December: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

2009-12-08T13:06:00.003-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

I'd planned a different charity for today, but with the news that As the World Turns has been cancelled, I'm moving this one up the list, in honor of Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann, who play Luke and Noah on the show. They've been big supporters of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and as a long-time Broadway fan, so have I (well before I started watching ATWT). BC/EFA works through the theater industry to raise funds to provide services to people with AIDS and other critical illnesses, both through programs for those working in the entertainment industry and through grants to community-based service organizations.

Charity December: Susan G. Komen for the Cure

2009-12-07T13:28:00.003-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

Seven years ago, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught very early, and she's been cancer-free for over six years now. There are many breast cancer charities that do great work, but today I'm featuring Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Founded in 1982 and best known for the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure series of 5K/fitness runs, the organization is "the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists" (from their web site). The foundation raises funds to support research into finding a cure and raises awareness about prevention and treatment options.

Charity December: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

2009-12-06T15:55:00.003-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

In college, I was a little sister to Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, whose national charity was St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. (The fraternity recently renewed its partnership with St. Jude.) Founded by actor Danny Thomas (a TKE brother), St. Jude treats children of all ages who have cancer and other serious illnesses, without regard to the family's ability to pay. The hospital also supports and conducts research to discover cures and better treatment options. About 5,700 patients are treated at the hospital every year.

Charity December: Heifer International

2009-12-05T15:37:00.002-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be featuring a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

A few years ago, I gave my sister a water buffalo for Christmas. (Veggie Tales fans will get the in-joke.) Wouldn't have been able to do it without Heifer International. Sure, you can actually give a heifer; the animals go to families in developing nations, both to supplement their food and to help them make money to improve their living conditions. But beyond heifers and water buffalo, you can give animals as varied as llamas, honeybees, goats, and geese, plus trees and all sorts of different combinations. (And if you can't swing a full animal, you can even give part of one.)

Charity December: Kids Need to Read

2009-12-04T09:38:00.002-05:00

Co-founded by actor Nathan Fillion and author P.J. Haarsma, The Kids Need to Read Foundation provides books to schools, libraries, and other institutions with a goal of increasing literacy and instilling in children a lifelong love of reading. The foundation maintains a list of age-appropriate books, magazines, and graphic novels, compiled by a professional book buyer, and has donated thousands of books through several dozen institutions so far.

Charity December: Earthjustice

2009-12-03T10:49:00.001-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be providing information on a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

Earthjustice has one of the best slogans I've ever seen: Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer. Founded in 1971 as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, the organization uses the legal system and legislative methods to defend the environment both in the United States and internationally. From their website: "Earthjustice works through the courts on behalf of citizen groups, scientists, and other parties to ensure government agencies and private interests follow the law. On Capitol Hill, we work to protect and strengthen federal environmental laws and preserve special places, like the Arctic."

Charity December: Feeding America

2009-12-02T13:00:00.001-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be providing information on a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

The holidays are a particularly difficult time for families in need. Feeding America (formerly America's Second Harvest) is the largest hunger relief charity in the United States and provides food to more than 25 million people every year. From the organization's web site: "Our network of more than 200 food banks serves all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, securing and distributing more than 2.5 billion pounds of food and grocery products annually. Those member food banks support approximately 63,000 local charitable agencies and 70,000 programs, which provide food directly to individuals and families in need."

Charity December: World AIDS Day

2009-12-01T09:16:00.001-05:00

Each day during December, I'll be providing information on a charitable organization that I support. These are my personal choices and reflect nothing other than that.

I'm starting out in recognition of World AIDS Day with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Elizabeth Glaser, wife of "Starsky & Hutch" actor Paul Glaser, contracted the AIDS virus through a blood transfusion in 1981 while giving birth to her daughter, Ariel. Ariel contracted the virus through breast milk, and their son, Jake, contracted the virus in utero. Both Elizabeth and Ariel later died of AIDS, but the foundation lives on, helping to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS in children. Jake Glaser is now a healthy young adult, thanks in part to the foundation's efforts.

Trailer For Sale Or Rent

2009-10-21T10:24:00.009-04:00

Well, I fail at blogging, obviously.

I've been doing a heck of a lot of writing lately, all of it fanfic, but who cares? It's fun, and I don't plan on trying to make a living as a writer again. (Been there, done that, got royally sick of it.) I've met another crop of great people (having dinner with some tonight!) and I'm enjoying myself with it, so it's all good.

Castle got a full-season pickup, yay!

I did put off school until winter. Apparently I can do winter term every year if I want, as long as I get in all the required courses. Fall is notoriously busy, so while this way will take longer, at least I won't go nuts. Well, no more nuts than usual, anyway.

Example of fall busy-ness: This weekend I'm missing the family reunion to go to homecoming at Troy. Next month, we're going to New Jersey for a cousin's wedding. Then it's the holidays, and that's always crazy. I'm not likely to have many free weekends until January at this rate.

We're also planning a trip to NYC in April, and this time I'm determined to see Wicked! We're going to try to get in two shows if we can. I'll be doing a fan club event that Saturday, but we're going Friday through Monday, so we're hoping to see one show Friday night and another on Sunday.

Dragon*Con has already started adding guests for 2010! I don't think I'm ready for this yet, heh. We ended up with a room at the Hyatt because the Marriott screwed the pooch with reservations.

Just A Good Ol' Boy

2009-09-30T12:23:00.002-04:00

I can't believe I haven't posted this already:

That is MEEEEEEEEE with JOHN SCHNEIDER!! Whoo-hoo!

Taken (and later signed) at Dragon*Con, which was AWESOME like an awesome thing, and which sucked all the life out of my brain for about two months, which is why I haven't updated in so long. Or at least, that's my excuse. :)

Time Keeps On Tickin'

2009-08-18T11:00:00.004-04:00

I really am bad about keeping up with blogging. Another month-long dry spell. It's been just a bit busy around here, though, between work, family obligations, day-to-day life, and doing prework and planning for Dragon*Con. Just two weeks and two days left, and I'm already half squeed out!

I'm considering putting off my planned fall graduate class to winter term. My calendar this fall is pretty darn full, and it's going to be tough to squeeze in time to do decent work. I'd rather delay until January and not be so stressed. We'll see what the school says about it.

Tell Me Lies

2009-07-17T23:07:00.003-04:00

From Craig Silverman's Regret the Error blog:

A photographer whose work appeared in the New York Times Magazine has been accused of digitally manipulating his images. Edgar Martins produced a photo essay entitled "Ruins of the Second Gilded Age." It showed abandoned buildings/construction projects and was featured in the magazine and on the Times website. After commenters on MetaFilter raised questions about the authenticity of the images, the magazine pulled the slideshow from the website ...

The slideshow page in question gives this explanation:

Editors' Note: July 8, 2009
A picture essay in The Times Magazine on Sunday and an expanded slide show on NYTimes.com entitled "Ruins of the Second Gilded Age" showed large housing construction projects across the United States that came to a halt, often half-finished, when the housing market collapsed. The introduction said that the photographer, a freelancer based in Bedford, England, "creates his images with long exposures but without digital manipulation."
A reader, however, discovered on close examination that one of the pictures was digitally altered, apparently for aesthetic reasons. Editors later confronted the photographer and determined that most of the images did not wholly reflect the reality they purported to show. Had the editors known that the photographs had been digitally manipulated, they would not have published the picture essay, which has been removed from NYTimes.com.

The truth is that the images from the photo essay are still available on NYTimes.com. One of the links in the original Metafilter post reporting the manupulations gives the URL format: http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2009/06/30/magazine/05gilded.1.jpg. Simply change the final number to view each of the images. I don't know how many images were included in the original essay, but I used this method to view images numbered 1 through 11. Image 2 is the one that first raised suspicions of digital manipulation.

The images were all still available as of just before 11 p.m. Eastern time on 7/17/09, 9 days after the Editors' Note shown/linked above that claimed the images had been removed. Clearly only the navigation was removed, not the images themselves.

Eight Days a Week

2009-07-17T12:58:00.001-04:00

Man, has this been a busy week. Sister and I went to see Harry Potter at a 12:15 a.m. show Wednesday morning (review to follow), then I had dinner with the parents Wednesday night and dinner with the parents and Mom's doll group friends last night. No wonder I'm tired. :)

Wednesday night's dinner was at Sear inside the Marriott Marquis. Very pricey, but very good, plus I got to chat with the senior sous chef about Dragon*Con when he came out to deliver our appetizers. Last night's dinner was at Pitty Pat's Porch. Good food, great service, overpriced but not terribly for what's basically a tourist-trap restaurant.

Mom and Dad were in town for the United Federation of Doll Clubs annual convention. (Well, Mom was here for the convention; Dad was just along as chauffeur and general assistant.) Yesterday afternoon, the doll sale room was open to the public, and I got down to the hotel in time to go down there with Mom. I spent 45 minutes in the room and walked out with a doll. Most of the dolls and accessories for sale were VERY VERY expensive, and most weren't my style anyway, but a few vendors had the Asian fabric dolls that I do like. I have one from Japan, one from China, and one from Thailand, and I found a gorgeous one from 1960s Vietnam to add to my collection. Her hair is a little messed up, but otherwise she's in pristine condition. There was another Thai doll that I also loved, but she was more expensive and I couldn't really justify buying them both.

This weekend I finally get my cell phone upgrade! Hooray for QWERTY keyboards!!

Summer Nights (and days)

2009-07-01T12:38:00.001-04:00

Once again I've fallen down on the blogging. No real reason, except that it's a lot easier to update Twitter in less than 140 characters than write an actual blog post. :)

Since my last post, I've had a few things happen:

1. Ran/walked my first 5K on June 13, at the Watermelon Festival in Cordele, Georgia. My sister and I ended up walking most of the course, and we finished last, but we FINISHED, and that's what matters. My unofficial time was 52:20. Something to work on bringing down.

2. I've had a terrible cold most of the month that I'm still recovering from. Part of the reason I couldn't run more during the 5K was that I was in the midst of the cold. It's still lingering weeks later, with some sneezing, stuffiness, and a scratchy throat. Summer colds are the pits. I've been off running for a couple of weeks but plan to get back on the training schedule next week.

3. My parents moved into their new (rental) house in early June. I wasn't able to be there because the move date had to be switched, but I was there for the aftermath and some unpacking. I've been back one more weekend since then and will be back again this weekend. Progress is being made! :)

4. My great-uncle Hardy died last week, and the funeral was this past weekend. He had Alzheimer's and had been in a nursing home for years, so it really felt like he left us long ago, but it was still difficult. Always good to see the family, but it's too often been for sad occasions recently, our third family funeral since last fall. At least this weekend it'll be for a celebration, since we have a family cookout for the Fourth of July every year. The watermelon goes in the pool to chill!

5. On a happier note, I had a great dinner with several old college friends a few weeks ago, and we're planning to get together again soon. Two of them I hadn't seen in nearly 20 years, but we picked right back up where we left off. I'm back in touch with several other college friends, too. I have Facebook to thank for finding them all again!

Little Runaway

2009-06-01T16:49:00.002-04:00

Ran twice this weekend, a major milestone. Saturday morning was supposed to be a 50-minute walk/run, but we ended up just walking about half the time, beginning and end.

I'm behind on the running program, so I'm trying to play a little catchup the next couple of weeks to prepare for the 5k we're doing on June 13. Accordingly, I went to the fitness center Sunday night and ran/walked about 25 minutes total, counting warmup and cooldown time.

Today's been draining at work, unfortunately, so I don't know if I'll make it back to the fitness center tonight. If not, then tomorrow!

57 Channels and Nothing On

2009-05-20T13:16:00.003-04:00

I was thrilled to see that ABC renewed Castle. Sister and I have been watching from the first episode, and it's fun, smart, witty, and sweet. Hits all my favorites in one neat package. Nathan Fillion is at his devilishly charming best, and Castle's relationships with all three of the women in his life (his daughter, his mother, and Detective Beckett) are complex and interesting. I can't wait to see where they go next year.

Dollhouse's renewal also made me happy, albeit more for others than for myself. I've only seen a couple of episodes, and the premise still makes me very uncomfortable, but I've heard it's much better now that they've gotten into the meat of the story, and Alan Tudyk was outstanding in the penultimate episode. I'll definitely be giving it another shot.

Of course, selfishly, my primary concern is that the schedules are all settled, so maybe some more "Firefly" people will be able to commit to Dragon*Con. ;-)

Ain't Nothin' Gonna Break My Stride

2009-05-07T20:19:00.001-04:00

For as long as I can remember, I've had a latent desire to be a runner. It hasn't been something I've pursued or even actively thought that much about, but it's just been there in the back of my mind. My unconscious mind must have it going, too. You know how most people dream of flying at some time? Almost every time I have, I've been running and just gradually lifted off the ground. Not to full flight, usually, but just running and/or floating in the air above the ground. That may also have something to do with my fear of heights. ;)

The thing my brain never manages to process is that before you can be a runner, you have to become a runner. And with apologies to Tom Petty, with most things, it's the becoming that's the hardest part. (See also: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Becoming I&II.)

It took me until last month to commit to running. I've tried it a couple of times before, but I never stuck with it. This time, I signed up for a weekly running program, along with my sister and some friends, so I have people to cajole me into running and cheer for me when I do it. I usually work best alone, but when it comes to exercise, I need all the help I can get. Shelling out fifty bucks for the session and a hundred for the shoes is pretty good incentive, too.

So far, things are going well. I've been running at least twice a week; it should be three times, so I have that as a goal. I've packed my running gear to take to my parents' house this weekend and will make myself get up and run Saturday morning. I found a 5K to run next month, once I've worked up to that distance, which will give me another goal. I'm already thinking about how I'll work running into my Dragon*Con schedule, which doesn't have much breathing room. Er, so to speak. ;)

That's probably enough goal-setting and planning for now. The other hard part of becoming is not getting ahead of yourself. One step at a time, preferably in well-fitted shoes. :)

(Non-)Killer Queen

2009-05-06T09:25:00.000-04:00

Apparently Queen has heretofore untapped health protection usefulness. First we learn that "Another One Bites the Dust" provides the perfect tempo for CPR (if not the perfect soundtrack). Now we find that singing the bridge of "Bohemian Rhapsody" will give us the proper length of time for hand washing. (I wonder if head-banging adds anything to the antimicrobial properties?)

What's next? "We Will Rock You" for the Heimlich maneuver? Thrust on the handclaps, not on the foot stomps!

Information about new flu virus

2009-04-27T17:00:00.010-04:00

DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor or a scientist. I do not speak on behalf of any organization. This information is based on knowledge I've gleaned from work, school, and personal experience and reading (including a lot of reading over the past few days).

Updated 4/30/09, 9:30 a.m.

So what's the big deal, anyway? We have flu every year.

This isn't your average seasonal flu virus. To start with, it's brand-new, which means no one has any immunity to it. Even if you were vaccinated for the same general type of virus, you wouldn't likely get much protection against this strain. It also appears to making people sicker and killing more people than seasonal flu, at least in Mexico, where it originated. However, that hasn't been happening in other parts of the world.

Even a true "pandemic" doesn't necessarily mean a disease is severe or deadly, just that it's very widespread. The World Health Organization's pandemic phase numbers are based only on how and where a disease is transmitted. The current phase, 5, means that the disease is being transmitted between humans in 2 different countries in the same WHO region (Mexico and the US). Phase 6, a full pandemic, means the the disease is being transmitted between humans in 2 different countries in 2 different WHO regions. They're likely to move to that designation within the next few days.

They're calling it "swine flu" even though they haven't found it in pigs. Why?

Well, actually, they're working on a new name for it, mainly to try to slow down the spread of misinformation about pork products. (See below; short version, you can't get it from eating pork.)

The new strain is called "swine flu" because it's most closely related to existing flu strains that originate in pigs. It's a brand-new mutation that also has some elements of both human and avian (bird) strains. Viruses can switch genetic material during mutation, which is how a virus can jump from animals to humans in the first place. Avian flu viruses cause some of the most severe illnesses of any strains, and they tend to cause the most deaths in younger people with strong immune systems. The current flu virus has elements of avian flu and human flu viruses, so it can cause serious illness in humans.

The virus may have jumped directly from pigs to people, but epidemiologists aren't going to spend a lot of time checking pigs when it's so critical to track it in humans.

I don't get this whole mutation thing. May I have a silly but possibly effective illustration which you will post purely for yourself, whether anyone really cares or not?

(This will probably make actual scientists weep.)

Picture two paper clip chains. Each of them has eight paper clips in various colors. Each chain is a virus, and each paper clip represents a set of genes. Instead of swapping bodily fluids, viruses swap those gene sets.

So, these two viruses ... er, paper clip chains chains meet up, and one of them says to the other, "Hey, that's a cool red paper clip you have! You think you'd be willing to trade it for this green one? I love it but I've had it for a long time and I'm looking for something a little different." The other chain says, "Sure, green's my favorite color! Here you go!" And they swap green for red, then go on their merry ways.

Viruses consider this a rockin' good time.

Anyway, those two viruses are now brand-new strains that don't match up with the strains they were before. They'll be close to the same, but not exactly. Whether they'll show up any differently will depend on what was in that section of genes they got in the swap. However, since organisms of all types tend to make changes that make them better, it's likely that the new genes will make the new strain easier to transmit, or make it cause more severe illness, or some other quality that makes them an improvement from the previous version. New, improved viruses, woo-hoo! (Well, improved for them, not necessarily for us.)

About 150 people have died in Mexico. Is that a lot?

It's hard to tell. About 2,400 people have been sick enough to be hospitalized in Mexico, and 152 have died, but that doesn't take into account people who weren't sick enough to be hospitalized, and not all of the cases have been confirmed as this strain of flu. Still, deaths from seasonal influenza in the United States are less than 1% of total cases, so this does seem to be more severe.

Also, most of those who have died have been previously healthy and in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, which is far different from the usual seasonal pattern, where young children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems are most likely to die.

Has anyone died in other countries?

One 22-month-old child died in Texas, but he'd come from Mexico, so he probably caught it there. Still, more deaths are likely. The virus strain has only been recognized for a couple of weeks, so even if things don't get much worse than they are now, more people are probably going to die. It's way too early to predict where and when those deaths will occur.

Okay, so, how can I keep from getting it?

The biggest thing you can do is wash your hands often, using plain soap and plenty of warm water. If you can't wash your hands, then use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Avoid "antimicrobial" products; they don't work any better, and probably wouldn't guard against flu anyway.

Also take care of yourself: eat well, get plenty of rest, reduce stress, and so on. And avoid people who are sick, of course!

At this point, unless you live in one of the outbreak areas or you think you may be getting sick, there's no need to avoid public gatherings, keep kids out of school, and so on. Face masks are also overkill, and they might not offer much protection if you aren't trained on how to use them properly. (If you feel you must, though, look for masks labeled "N95" at hardware stores, rather than "painter's masks.")

What if I think I'm getting sick?

First, don't panic. :) Remember, this is also the season for allergies and spring colds. Flu symptoms are usually pretty easy to distinguish from other respiratory illnesses. The most likely are high fever (102 degrees F), headache and muscle aches, and extreme fatigue. Chills, dry hacking cough, and sore throat are all common. Symptoms also tend to hit very suddenly, within a few hours. One difference is that this flu strain seems to be causing digestive problems in some people, which is pretty rare with seasonal flu. ("Stomach flu" isn't flu at all and, in fact, is usually something foodborne.)

If you have a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and mild tiredness, you probably have a cold. If you have itchy, runny nose and eyes, sneezing, and occasional cough, it's probably allergies.

If you do think your symptoms indicate flu, call your doctor's office and ask if you should consider antiviral medication. Two common antivirual drugs seem to work against this flu strain, so if you can start it quickly after your symptoms start, your illness may be shorter and milder. Also, stay home as much as possible. Going to work, school, and so on will only serve to spread the virus faster. Consider keeping everyone in your household home for a few days, to be sure they aren't also sick -- you can spread the virus to others before your symptoms start.

If you have to go out, cover your cough (preferably with a shoulder or arm, rather than your hand), carry tissues to cover sneezes, and try to stay away from other people whenever you can. (That is, if you don't have your own transportation, taking a cab would be better than taking a bus.)

What should I do in case schools/offices/public transportation shut down, like in Mexico?

It's always a good idea to do a few basic things to stay prepared for emergencies. If nothing else, you should keep some simple first aid supplies on hand—bandages and alcohol for treating small wounds, Tylenol or other over-the-counter medications for fever and pain, digestive remedies, a thermometer to check for fever, Benadryl for allergies. Also store a few flashlights with extra batteries, and a battery-powered radio may come in handy.

To plan for a need to stay at home for a few days, make sure you have enough food for everyone in your household, including pets. Check your stocks of any other necessary items, such as diapers for small children and prescription medications for chronic conditions. Keeping a few gallons of water on hand is another good idea but isn't likely to be critical even if a severe pandemic were to happen. You don't need to run out and buy water, though—just fill up a few pitchers or other (food-safe) containers from the tap.

Please don't tell me I have to give up my morning bacon habit!!

No, as noted above, pork products are perfectly safe (assuming they're otherwise prepared properly, of course). You can't get this or any "swine" flu from eating pig. Enjoy all the bacon you like!

Where can I get more information?

One of the best sources is the CDC website. It's updated often and has multiple links for the public about the epidemic. If you're on Twitter, you can get updates and links via @CDCemergency, but most will direct back to the same web site.

Other questions, including requests for explanations of any of the above, are welcome in comments. So is linking. :)

And I Ran

2009-04-25T21:09:00.001-04:00

Sister and I started a Jeff Galloway running course this morning. It's an interval training plan, where you alternate brief runs with walks, gradually increasing your time. The course we're on is 12 weeks; today we did 15 minutes of 30-second runs and 1-minute walks. Things went pretty well. I ended up with a sore left Achilles tendon and knee weakness, but not too bad.

Later in the morning, we went to get fitted for running shoes, which should help with the achiness. At least, I hope so!

Where He Goes I'll Follow

2009-04-24T13:05:00.001-04:00

Now on Twitter @shallowend. Feel free to join me!

The Green, Green Grapes of Home

2009-04-20T11:20:00.006-04:00

One of my co-workers was kind enough to buy a bag of green seedless grapes for me from the "garden market" at work today, and it reminded me of this story.

When I was born, I was the first grandchild to my mother’s parents. As with many other such eldest, it became my unwitting task to name the grandparents. Would they become Grandma and Grandpa? Nana and Pappa? My grandmother pushed for "Gamsie," so it’s for the best that she didn’t prevail.

Language skills started early for me, which should come as no surprise to those who know me. Language dexterity, however, was slower to develop. One area in which I had a great deal of difficulty was the correct pronunciation of "gr" at the beginning of a word. I became convinced that "gr" sounded exactly like "b."

Thus, my grandparents became Bemama and Bepop. And evermore shall be.

I have many stories to tell about Bemama, who, at 87, is still going strong. Today's, however, is about Bepop.

Bepop was 10 days shy of 50 when I was born, and a prouder grandfather you’d be hard pressed to find. Bemama was learning photography when I was small, so naturally I became her favorite subject, and Bepop very often shared the frame. She took many wonderful pictures, but one in particular stands out in my memory:

In this shot, Bepop is settled into his recliner, with me tucked in next to him. I was about 4 years old. In Bepop’s lap is a bowl of grapes. Grapes were among his favorite snacks, second only to bananas; diagnosed with diabetes shortly before I was born, he turned to fruit to satisfy his sweet tooth. He would eat nearly any kind of grape, but when he was sharing with me, they were always seedless, and almost always green.

I, of course, didn’t call them grapes. I called them beeps.

In this picture, my attention is riveted on the bowl of "beeps," and Bepop’s concentration is focused on the single tiny fruit in his hand. He’s holding his pocketknife (now one of my treasured keepsakes), carefully removing the peel. Back then, I didn’t like the peels.

"Bepop," I’d say, "Peel me a beep." He never could resist.

~~~

Bepop died in 1997. He was 78 years old.

Every time I eat green grapes, it's in his memory.

What's Going On

2009-04-17T21:48:00.003-04:00

So, what's been going on with me:

School. I'm pulling an A in my first graduate-level class, so go me. Of course, now I'm several weeks behind on assignments, but only the midterm, final, and final paper have firm deadlines, so I'll get caught up soon.

Work. Still like my job, even when it annoys.

Family. Helping my parents plan and pack for their move in June. Also had a death in the family that hit us all really hard.

Friends. I finally gave in and signed up for Facebook, and I've reconnected with a whole bunch of old friends there. I'll be seeing one former college roommate in June and am making arrangements to see others.

So how are things with you?

Walken in a Winter Wonderland

2009-03-23T22:05:00.004-04:00

PSA: If you aren't reading Christopher Walken's Twitter, you should be.

[insert helpless laughter here]

On edit: Apparently the account is a fraud -- it's not actually Walken -- but it's still hilarious.

Movin' Out

2009-03-10T11:03:00.004-04:00

Once again I've fallen down on the updating job. Ah well, better late than never, right?

I spent the weekend with Mom and Dad, getting the first big stack of boxes packed. Takeaway lesson: Mom has a lot of dolls and doll-related stuff, and a LOT of packing remains to be done.

In happy news, they may have found a place to live. Details to follow once it's a done deal.

E and I watched the premiere of Castle last night and loved it. Not perfect, but lots of fun. Plus, an hour a week of Nathan Fillion? Where's the bad in that?

Everything's Coming Up

2009-02-19T14:51:00.000-05:00

Mussels and I had a lingering breakup Sunday evening. It was the second time, and they don't get a third try. No, I don't think anything was wrong with the mussels themselves.
It's now Thursday, and my chest muscles are still sore. Ouch.

Movin' On Up

2009-02-09T11:42:00.004-05:00

Photograph from the 2008 Chicago Air & Water Show by kudzuplanet

Dad is retiring from the ministry in June, which means he and Mom will be moving. Oh joy, oh rapture: more packing/unpacking. My family has become as nomads, each of us moving every couple of years. My sister and I moved to a new apartment in August; my grandmother followed suit in December. Once again, all of us will have moved within a year. (And that's not even counting my office's move back in June.) Thankfully, these will likely be the last moves for my parents and grandmother, unless they get to the point that they need more assistance.

This week also marks my parents' birthdays (today and Thursday), plus Valentine's Day, which this year is balanced out for us singles by Friday the 13th the day before. Maybe I'll host a wake Friday night, or at least dress all in black.

Try To Be A Straight-A Student

2009-01-26T20:02:00.003-05:00

My first assignment for my graduate class got a virtual thumbs up from the professor. He's using part of it as a discussion point for the rest of the class. This makes me feel a little better about my chances to do well in graduate school!

Unfortunately, work has been very difficult the past few weeks and doesn't appear to have any intention of improving soon. I just need to keep reminding myself of how blessed I am to have a good, stable job that I (mostly) enjoy.

A Change is Gonna Come

2009-01-16T18:06:00.008-05:00

Image taken at Atlanta Botanical Garden by Robbie, April 2007.

Twenty years ago today, I was in Washington, DC, for the inauguration of George H.W. Bush. My college band was a national representative in the parade, or I never would have been able to go—or wanted to, really, since I wasn't much of a political maven in those days. It was the Bicentennal Inaugural, 200 years since George Washington was sworn in as our first president under the new Constitution. Think of all we've learned since 1789!

I'll be watching the Inauguration today at my desk at work, via the CNN feed provided by my employer. No matter your opinion of the policy positions held by our new president, it's impossible to deny the importance of this event. For the first time in our 220-year history, our president will not be a white man. All of us who don't fit into that mold suddenly find that glass ceiling over our heads crumbling to dust.

On a subject much less historic but still personally notable, I start graduate school today. My textbooks are waiting for me in the leasing office of my apartment complex, and I've just downloaded the syllabus from Blackboard. I'm nervous but excited, on a much smaller scale like the Obamas feel today, I imagine.

It's a chance for a new beginning for all of us, and I hope we'll embrace it.

Most Sensational, Inspirational

2009-01-11T17:21:00.007-05:00

Atlanta skyline from the Omni Hotel. Photograph by Shannon Noelle, taken September 1, 2007.

As part of our New Year's resolution to do more things here in town, my sister and I spent several hours Saturday at the Atlanta History Center, most of it in the exhibit "Jim Henson's Fantastic Worlds." Fantastic doesn't begin to describe it. You might expect something that's 98% Muppets, but it was closer to a 60/40 split. They had all sorts of projects he did back in the 1950s and 1960s: silkscreen posters and art done in college, cartoons and pen-and-ink drawings, storyboards for various films, and even a showing of the film "Time Piece," which he wrote, directed, and starred in, and for which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject, Live Action Subjects, in 1966 (I never knew about that).

It was an amazing journey into the mind of an amazing man, and one that took me back through my childhood in the process. I highly recommend seeing any part of this collection if you can. It's a Smithsonian traveling exhibit; schedule dates are available here.

Another Auld Lang Syne

2008-12-31T10:06:00.010-05:00

Photograph from the Art Institute of Chicago by Kudzu Planet.

Like most of you probably do, I get introspective and contemplative at the start of each new year. I'm not one for making big lists of resolutions and trying to change my life every January, but it's a good time to take a look around and change things that just aren't working. That can mean getting rid of things, or it can mean filling in gaps.

My sister and I spent the past few days doing that with our apartment, and it's refreshing to look around and see only things that we choose to see: no boxes, no clutter. At the same time, I picked out some things I'm not using at home that will go to my office, to make it feel more comfortable and more like my own space.

Unfortunately, weeding out bad habits is much more difficult than making cosmetic changes to your living environment. It's even harder to remember that every day is a blank slate and a chance to try again. January may be a convenient tipping point, but in reality, a new year, with all its promises, starts every morning. Wake up and smell more than just the coffee!

Under Pressure

2008-12-20T21:08:00.005-05:00

I think my problem with public blogging is that there's just TOO MUCH PRESSURE. In my private blog, I can blather on all day about the minutiae of my life, and my readers are fine with it because they're my friends. They blather on, too. It's assured mutual blather.

Blogging for the public is a whole 'nother thing. The general public doesn't know me. They don't care what I bought my grandmother for Christmas, unless it's snicker-worthy or possible a fabulous deal that they can either get for themselves or, at the very least, envy. And, of course, I don't want the general public to know every little detail about me and my life. So I have to choose stories that are funny, insightful, or otherwise interesting enough that people will care about reading, AND that don't give away too much personal information.

That's a lot of pressure, people!

My last attempt at a public blog failed because it was too specialized and boring. The boring part could certainly doom this blog, too, but at least I'm not tied down to a single subject. I can write about anything! The world is my oyster!

If only I liked oysters.

Most Wonderful Time

2008-12-16T14:06:00.001-05:00

Sister and I saw Amy Grant and Vince Gill last night for my 40th birthday. They were awesome. They did all the Christmas classics you'd expect, plus some newer stuff and a carol singalong. It was a great way to spend an evening any time, but especially when it's your birthday.

I don't feel any more 40 than I did on Sunday. I guess it helps that no one ever believes I'm that age. People are always saying I look like early 30s at the most. Thank goodness for permanent hair color, I say!

The Weather Outside is Frightful

2008-12-10T09:42:00.003-05:00

No, not snow. Thunderstorms. My arch-nemesis-es. *cowers*

Christmas shopping is mostly done. Stuff for Angel Tree kids is bought and packed to be dropped off tomorrow. One Amazon package arrived with an item missing, boo. E-mail sent to customer service.

Next on the to-do list: wrapping. Lots and lots of wrapping.

Shoppers Rush Home With Their Treasures

2008-12-07T19:04:00.005-05:00

A whole lot of Christmas shopping got done today. Wait, let me rephrase that: A WHOLE LOT OF CHRISTMAS SHOPPING GOT DONE TODAY. We took care of probably half our shopping lists, not counting what we're getting for each other. Kohl's, JC Penney, and Target thank us verrah, verrah much. Heck, we thank them, too, considering some of the great deals we got. Retailers are freaking out liek woah, dewd. If you have the cash, go take advantage.

You Get What You Give

2008-12-06T23:04:00.002-05:00

Each year, I attempt to give 10% of my total income to charitable organizations. I rarely manage that amount (it’s harder than it seems), but I keep trying anyway. Anyway, I’m posting links to the organizations to which I’ve donated or will donate this year, with a link to each web site and a brief statement explaining why I support it.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

My sister and I are big Broadway fans, especially when it comes to musicals, and twice we’ve attended performances at which the companies provided special offers in exchange for donations to the fund. As a result, we were able to get our pictures made with Jai Rodriguez back in 2005 (The Producers) and this year onstage at the Shubert Theater with Clay Aiken (Spamalot!).

Equality Now

My sister and I learned about this organization’s work through Joss Whedon, creator of some of our favorite universes, including Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And, of course, Joss Is Boss. We first donated through the Atlanta Browncoats’ participation in Can’t Stop the Serenity 2008.

Heifer International

It’s a long story, but suffice to say it involves water buffaloes and VeggieTales. At any rate, great organization, great program, deserves your support.

Kids Need to Read

Firefly star Nathan Fillion co-founded this group to promote reading among kids and support libraries in providing them with good reading material. As good Browncoats, my sister and I have a strong tendency to do whatever Captain Tightpants says. (Even when that means strapping dead bodies to the front of the ship.)

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Finally, my mom is a breast cancer survivor, so this one is closest to my heart. I also like Save Second Base and encourage everyone to buy one of their fun t-shirts.

Who's Gonna Drive You

2008-12-05T10:02:00.003-05:00

A state trooper in Boston gave out a $100 ticket to a couple that was driving in the emergency lane. The catch? They were doing so to get around rush-hour traffic because the woman was in active labor:

Jennifer Davis was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Nov. 18, her contractions just 3 minutes apart. Her husband, John, was trying to appear calm for his wife's sake, driving in the breakdown lane of Route 2. They pulled up behind a state trooper to ask whether they could continue using the lane to reach the next exit, near Alewife Station.

Not only did the trooper say no, he gave them a $100 citation for driving in the breakdown lane, made them wait for their citation while he finished writing someone else's ticket, and even seemed to ask for proof of pregnancy, Jennifer Davis said.

"He said, 'What's under your jacket?' I said, 'My belly,' " Davis said. "He waited and gestured with his head like, 'OK, let's see it.' He waited for me to unzip my jacket. I mean, it was so clear that I was pregnant."

Now, I have to say, while the demand to see her belly was uncalled for, I can't really find the trooper completely at fault. The article notes that he offered twice to call an ambulance, which any informed healthcare consumer knows is the fastest way to get medical attention 99.9% of the time, but the couple declined. He also used an option where the citation was mailed to them instead of done on the spot, which saved time. And they still made it to the hospital with plenty of time to spare, the birth coming about 5 hours later.

As a PR exercise, this wasn't the best way to handle things. He should have just told them to move on but stay out of the emergency lane. Yes, two previous troopers had given them the OK to use the lane (carefully) when traffic backed up, but that's still a very dangerous thing, especially with a woman in labor. The couple were also stupid to refuse an ambulance, which would've gotten them to the hospital much faster.

Bet the ticket is thrown out, though.

Source

Pass Around the Coffee

2008-12-03T17:04:00.001-05:00

I had my first eggnog latte of the season this morning. Never have I been so glad Starbucks opened a new location right next to my office park. Yummmmm.

The portabello-and-spinach piadini ain't half bad either.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like

2008-12-01T16:20:00.002-05:00

It snowed a little around lunchtime today.

It's damn cold out.

I can't believe it's December already.

My living room is full of boxes of Christmas decorations.

I placed an Amazon order this morning.

I turn 40 this month.

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

2008-11-28T20:43:00.001-05:00

Throat infections suck.

Turkey dinners don't.

Isn't It Ironic

2008-11-24T19:22:00.004-05:00

In the midst of celebrating "Green Week" on all its networks, NBC/Universal laid off the entire environmental unit at The Weather Channel, which the humongous media conglomerate acquired recently.

Practice, preach: words to live by.

Also let go were on-camera meterologists Cheryl Lemke, Dave Schwartz, and Eboni Deon. I'm a Weather Nerd, so I know most of the on-air people at TWC, but I don't remember Eboni, which isn't much of a recommendation. I liked Cheryl. But I COULD NOT STAND DAVE SCHWARTZ. I'm sorry he's jobless, but MAN am I glad to see him go.

(Weather.com still has up the bios for the three. That's cold, man.)

Life is a Highway

2008-11-24T14:03:00.002-05:00

Shuttling back and forth between hospitals: not highly recommended. My mother is one, and my grandmother spent last night in another an hour away. Commuter Daughter, that's me.

Thank goodness for laptops and remote network access. I don't have the leave time for this!

Everything's Comin' Up ... Daisies?

2008-11-21T18:03:00.007-05:00

Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller takes a page from the Joss Whedon playbook after the show's cancellation:

It's very likely that Pushing Daisies will end after episode 13, which as you know, is a cliffhanger. But we are talking to DC Comics about doing comic books that will wrap up our storylines, and I already have a pitch for a [big-screen] movie ready to go.

Extending the life of a cancelled television series through comics and movies ... I dub thee jossification!

Source

Twilight Time: Never

2008-11-21T14:48:00.007-05:00

I haven't read any of the Twilight series, except for a few sentences at Cleolinda's LiveJournal deconstruction of the final book. One of my friends just posted this sample paragraph:

Edward in the sunlight was shocking. I couldn't get used to it, though I'd been staring at him all afternoon. His skin, white despite the faint flush from yesterday's hunting trip, literally sparkled, like thousands of tiny diamonds were embedded in the surface. He lay perfectly still in the grass, his shirt open over his sculpted, incandescent chest, his scintillating arms bare. His glistening, pale lavender lids were shut, though of course he didn't sleep. A perfect statue, carved in some unknown stone, smooth like marble, glittering like crystal.

I ... have no words. Seriously, I can't describe it! Stephanie Myers has chewed up all the adjectives in the world and spit them back out! And people are eating up her regurgitations!

Yeah, I think I'll skip this tripe. J.K. Rowling may not be the best writer in the world, but I'd rather have simple than purple.

Livin' La Vida Loca

2008-11-21T13:26:00.004-05:00

Original plan: Parents come to visit for Thanksgiving, order turkey dinner (and cake) premade to save time, have relaxing few days at home.

Intervening event: Mom falls, breaks hip, has surgery.

New plan: Spend Thanksgiving week at parents' house, taking care of Dad and getting Mom home from hospital safely. No clue about Thanksgiving dinner plans.

The fun never stops at Casa de Shannon.

Brand New Day

2008-11-20T14:57:00.005-05:00

We're going to give this another try. My life is random and eclectic, so my blog should be, too. No themes, no limits, no rules, just right. No, wait, someone did that already ...