Christmas Meme
I've seen this all over. On LJ, on weblogs, etc. Some made a meme of it, started tagging other peeps... I do it for fun.
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I like to wrap my presents in environment-friendly paper.
2. Tree - Real or Artificial?
Ours is artificial. I've always wanted to have a real one to see what it's like, but I have ethical issues with it. I know trees are grown to full fill their Christmas mission, but I just don't see the fun in killing a living thing for my enjoyment.
3. When do you put the Christmas tree up?
I put it the day after Thanksgiving this year. But that's not a tradition, I put it up whenever I feel like it; the earlier, the better.
4. When do you take the tree down?
After January 6th. That's when the Three Kings arrive!
A way overdue rant
I don't know if anyone gives a rat's ass about it, but I feel like posting about it. Sometimes I feel like I'm writing for no one, but myself, and that is OK. And no, I'm not pissed... I may sound pissed, but I am not. OK, I am, but not with the people who read this weblog. I'm pissed about everything that is going on in Colombia lately.
As many people know, my country has been occupied by rebels who call themselves communists. There isn't such thing. They lost their Marxist ideals a while ago, along with the power to make understand people they are fighting for everyone's rights. That, and the corruption in the government has pretty much put us in a very bad political and social situation. The guerrillas are nothing but common criminals who kidnap people and bleed my country dry every single day. Not to mention they now control part of the drug dealing Colombia is so well-known for.
Artificial Sugar
Artificial sweeteners have been in my life for a long time. My father was a diabetic, so the names Sucaryl and Hermesetas were known to me since I was a kid. I think I even used them because I wanted to be cool like my daddy. And I've also had weight problems all my life, so my mother used artificial sweeteners to lower my calorie intake.
They have developed all kinds of sugar replacements now, and for a while Aspartame was my choice. Then rumors started of how bad it was for your health, blah, blah, blah... To this day I don't know if it is all true, nor I have really informed myself about it. For about two years I went no-sugar at all... I lost the taste for it, drank my coffee black just like that, and desserts were not part of my diet. I did it to lose weight. Then I couldn't do it anymore.
Now I'm a diabetic, and while I know sugar just makes part of my carb intake, I prefer to use those grams in something else (like bread... I love bread). So I use artificial sweeteners. I was using Equal for a while because I was familiar with it, even though I'm aware of other things available. Then I decided I was going to give Splenda a try (on a daily basis) since it's actually made from sugar. I guess I got tired of the Equal taste, and Sweet 'n' Low is disgusting!
I now remember when Splenda was introduced. One of my best friends, who is a dietitian, brought a few free samples to my dad. He liked it, but he claimed it upset his stomach. I don't know if it was the Splenda, or if he was already sick and he associated the new sweetener with it. Anyway... Now I have an upset stomach and I'm wondering if it's the Splenda. But I also have to keep in mind there is a stomach flu virus around, and that my hubby was sick for a while; so was the kid I take care of.
I guess I'll wait and see how things go. I like Splenda much better than Equal. And while I know the ideal thing would be not to add more artificial stuff to my body, I don't think I can go sugarless again.
I Am Legend
I've always been a chicken shit when it comes to movies with monsters, vampires and other scary creatures. It's been like that forever, and I think I got it from my parents because they don't like them either. Anyway, when John and Mark wanted to see I Am Legend on Saturday, I decided I was going to be brave and watch it with them. It was good... really good.
I am Legend, based on a book by Richard Matheson, tells the story of Dr. Robert Neville, a military virologist who is supposedly the sole survivor in NYC after a deadly virus kills 90% of the human population. Only 1% of humans are immune, and the rest are mutants that suffer some kind of "devolution," becoming violent and blood thirsty. Dr. Neville works trying to find a cure, while sending radio messages for 3 years in hopes there are other survivors. The rest is action, chases, jumpy scenes and Will Smith's incredible performance. He does everything alone in this movie, for the only supporting cast are the mutants who appear from time to time, and his dog.
I found the movie interesting, but rather sad. Not so much about the mutants, but about the hopelessness. I cannot even begin to imagine what it feels to be convinced you're completely alone in the world due to something that was man-made. But in the end, there is always a message of hope, a message of humanity's struggle and the desire for survival.
Of course I am now afraid of going alone to the basement, but that's just the post-movie trauma.
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