Life is No Joke

Trader Joe's has long been my favorite grocery store because of healtier choices, and better prices, but I recently found more reasons to love them. I was on a special diet for one week to test for food sensitivity and allergies.  I was pleasantly surprised to find almost everything I needed at Trader Joe's.  I walked out with two big bags of groceries for around $40.00. But it gets better... Good News about Non-GMO As I was testing different foods, I was concerned about genetically engineered food sources, also known as GMO (Genetically Modified Organism), so I went to the Trader Joe's website to ask about their products.  Here is their reply: Scott, Thank you for your email. Our approach to Genetically Modified Organisms is simple: we do not allow GMO ingredients in our private label products (anything with Trader Joe's, Jose's, Ming's, etc. on the label). When developing products containing ingredients likely to come from genetically modifie...

This "RSA Animate" provides some insight into what drives software engineers to create software such as Linux, and give it away for free.  This seems to imply that giving back is a reward in itself, but in the back of the developer's mind there could also be the idea that he may become famous some day, and that the money will follow.  As a systems administrator / developer, I tend to agree with the idea that becoming an expert does not always require any compensation, and it feels good to help fellow sysadmins and computer users.  The knowledge itself is valuable, and can be turned into a business at some point.  For example practicing a musical instrument, or learning to cook well for no monetary reward can be fun, but is also something to fall back on.  RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us This lively RSA Animate, adapted from Dan Pink's talk at the RSA, illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at...

Foxtails, and similar plants have no place in a community where dogs are present! Having grown up on the east coast, I had never heard of the plants commonly referred to as foxtails.  When I first saw these beautiful plants in our new townhouse community, I thought they looked nice, although they do tend to get overgrown fairly quickly. Nice Colored Plants, but Dangerous for Pets! My Dog's Experience with Foxtails Maybe these are not technically considered foxtail weeds that grow in the wild, but when my dog got one of the spikelets caught in her nose, she started sneezing uncontrollably for hours.  We didn't realize what it was at first, and thought it would clear up on it's own, but when she kept sneezing, we thought it best to take her to the vet.  It's a good thing we did, because we later found out how dangerous these barbs can be.  She had to have anesthesia in order to have it removed.  We were fortunate that it did not get any further into h...

Lola passing her final exam at puppy class! - 11/23/2010  Some people think it would be nice to rescue an animal, and that is certainly a noble act.  What they may not realize is that the animal turns out to be the one rescuing them! Lola at 3 months - 07/05/2010 Who rescued whom? Typical Schnauzer puppy, with the hind legs spread out. We has just lost our 22 year old cat, so Lola came when we most needed her.  The enthusiasm and energy of a puppy was just what we needed to get outside and get a little exercise. Miniature schnauzers have lot's of energy, but they get tired faster than some of the typical larger breeds.  She like to take short breaks before continuing to run around like a maniac. Cute schnauzer puppy pose The long hair needs to be brushed frequently if thee is any dry plants or bugs around, but she's still cute even with the fur all messed up. Still not sure if I can trust anyone yet.  Sch...

One of the best Christmas presents I received was a bag of Green Mountain Coffee . What made it so special, you ask? Well for one thing, it made me remember my brother every time I made some coffee. Second, I always wanted to try the brand, since I had been following the company on the stock market. Also, the coffee actually tasted good, so I really enjoyed it. Another good thing about consumable items is that it does not create clutter.  And finally, Christmas presents should not be expensive, unless the giver has plenty of money. I have since had to cut down on coffee consumption for health reasons, but it was certainly enjoyable while it lasted.