Thinking out loud

It's that time of year when I take my fight against the sun to DEFCON1. I am not a meteorologist but I know what kind of forecast we get this time of year. I made my own weather alert. Experience tells me it will be valid throughout October.  Don't mind me, I'm just out here looking for ways to not feel like I'm melting when I leave home. My first result turned up a full list from Amazon ! Cooling towels/neck wraps At $8.95 and 4.8 stars, this seems like a hit! You wet the towel and BOOM it's cold. Most of the reviews said it works as long as the towel is wet. I did not find a review that explained if your sweat keeps it wet to keep you cool or if you cool off so much that you just don't sweat anymore. I saw one reviewer who claimed to get brain freeze after taking it out of the freezer to cool off on a 98-degree day. That's not a negative to me!  If really can get that cool, why can't I find a full outfit made of this material in many colors so I can we

I was scrolling on Facebook (as one does) and saw something posted by the New York Times that I did not think could be real. Peanut butter and pickle sandwich. There were so many comments that I thought it can't be a thing. It seemed I was not the only person who was skeptical of this recipe. Now THAT is the kind of journalist I love! Curious, unafraid and willing to try something even if it means he is wrong. So I went I followed the link. I know I should not make assumptions, but I'm going to trust that if you are reading this you have some sandwich-making in your background. Maybe you've combined jelly, bananas, bacon or marshmallow fluff with your peanut butter and bread before. Maybe you've had a pickle on the side of your sandwich. But could this really be a good combo? I did a little research. I found many conversations around the peanut butter and pickle sandwich going back to 2012. Then, the NYT called the pickle peanut butter's " unlikely best frien

 I pick up a book and read almost every day. Depending on the book, I can usually finish one every three weeks or so. This has been my habit for more than a decade. I have tried a digital book, but I find I actually like holding the book (no matter how big and bulky it is). It does not feel like work. I find I have more focus. I retain the information better. If a download is what it takes to dip your toes into the reading pool, have at it! It's your adventure! If you travel a lot, this may be the most convenient way for you to read. I do find that if I'm in public with a real book people are less likely to interrupt me.  I often get asked questions about how I made reading a habit, I decided to spill all my book nerd secrets because I want you to read something other than a screen that has nothing to do with work or school every day. Why do I need to make this a habit? Science says so.  I could just say that, but I will spare you from doing the Googling to prove me wrong (it&#

 The journey to fitness, health and well-being is never ending. I have tried various exercise methods and wellness routines because I want to feel good. I'm like a guinea pig except I choose my own adventure instead of some scientist telling me what to do. Because I am almost always sore and have been in a war against inflammation, I am open to trying all the things at least once. There is one thing that started to consume my little bubble so much that I decided to try it. Ice baths. There's the funny ( Kevin Heart interviewing people while sitting in a tub of ice ), the celebrities on social media  and the game changer: science. I like to take a break from true crime podcasts with things that teach me other things. One of the podcasts I like is Huberman Lab. I am not super fluent in neurolobiology so I admit I often stop this to process it, maybe do some Googling and then continue. The episodes are long and take me a few walks/drives to get through. Recently, a series of discu

My favorite thing about Texas in the Spring is the wildflowers that dot the roadways. It can look like a few specks of blue peeking out of the green grass (when there's been some rain during the winter) or full carpets of blue when you speed past them. But when you can stop and take a look, it becomes magical. First, you must know that bluebonnets have an amazing scent! I don't even know how to describe it except to say that it is fresh and a little green. I don't know why it's not used in perfumes and candles because it is really special! These white-tipped flowers are the state flower of Texas. They can grow outside the Lone Star State , but it seems like they don't like to leave home. When highways were being made, it was to accommodate the growing number of these things called motor vehicles. What Texas highway workers noticed was that wildflowers popped up. It took about 15 years before the highway department decided to highlight and preserve them along with na

  First, let me tell you this photo of the camel in the bluebonnets is not real. I made it. It's not completely far fetched . It is something I have not been able to stop thinking about for nearly 24 hours. It's the very TRUE story of camels being brought to Texas just before the Civil War. And I want you to know about the deep dive it made me take. If you have read any of my other posts, you know I am curious about things. I do not always start with the Google Machine. How the camels on the range came to me was in my ears. It's not the sound they make - though to be fair, when I think about camel noise it's the commercial one announcing it's Hump Day.  The sound I heard was the calm, soothing voice of Sharon McMahon. I'm a big fan. Huge. Call me Governerd. Her podcast, Here's Where It Gets Interesting , is one of the non-crime podcasts in my lineup. There has not been a time that I have not learned something, been encouraged to keep looking for more inform