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Here & There ~ Generally Speaking... Travel and What to Do In Your Own Backyard

Here and There is changing it up

March 25th, 2009, 3:06 pm by lgriffith

Hello there, readers!

Soon, the Here and There blog will have a new name and a new logo, but I’m here to tell you not to worry, and assure you that the change is good. 

Here and There was first conceived with the ideas of travel and entertainment in mind, but with the economy not doing so great and my posts ever digressing from the original idea, the new blog name and logo will be much better suited to its content. (And you will still have access to all my old posts on the new blog.)

 ”Quarterlife Crisis,” as the new blog will be called, will cover life issues and topics of interest for young adults in their 20s. I should know, because I am one of those people. 

Life in one’s twenties can be very similar to life in one’s teens, or it can jump ahead into adulthood with the start of a blossoming career, the purchase of a new home or the building of a family. 

My goal is to make my posts more informative for readers by incorporating current events and advice as it pertains to young adults. I’ll also be covering topics of interest ranging from local entertainment to lifestyle choices like vegetarianism or an interest in practicing yoga, and some of the same topics I’ve already chosen to write about here.

Please do lookout for the change, and I hope you’ll stay with me.

~Laura

Posted in: On the Web • • • | Post a Comment »

Going veg makes sense for your health

March 24th, 2009, 8:04 am by lgriffith

Speaking of going vegetarian, look what I found today: 

Study: Lots of red meat increases mortality risk

By CARLA K. JOHNSON
AP Medical Writer

CHICAGO (AP) — The largest study of its kind finds that older Americans who eat large amounts of red meat and processed meats face a greater risk of death from heart disease and cancer.

The federal study of more than half a million men and women bolsters prior evidence of the health risks of diets laden with red meat like hamburger and processed meats like hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts.

Calling the increased risk modest, lead author Rashmi Sinha of the National Cancer Institute said the findings support the advice of several health groups to limit red and processed meat intake to decrease cancer risk.

The findings appear in Monday’s Archives of Internal Medicine.

Over 10 years, eating the equivalent of a quarter-pound hamburger daily gave men in the study a 22 percent higher risk of dying of cancer and a 27 percent higher risk of dying of heart disease. That’s compared to those who ate the least red meat, just 5 ounces per week.

Women who ate large amounts of red meat had a 20 percent higher risk of dying of cancer and a 50 percent higher risk of dying of heart disease than women who ate less.

I guess I am doing my body more of a favor than I thought.

Posted in: Advice • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Life as a temporary vegetarian

March 23rd, 2009, 3:50 pm by lgriffith

I don’t know why I chose to make such a lifestyle change as cutting meat completely from my diet. 

I originally gave it up for Lent, although I’m not especially religious and always terrible at keeping such committments.

I don’t feel especially sensitive to animals being killed for food or anything. After all, animals eating other animals is nature’s way - except in the case of herbivores, of course. I feel a little evil saying that - especially with all the PETA e-mail’s I’ve been getting lately - but it’s true.

I’m decently health conscious, though that doesn’t mean I have especailly healthy habits. Although I’m open to trying new foods, I’m not the biggest fan of soy products and tofu. 

I did, however, feel the need to redirect my diet toward more vegetables and fruits, and away from the evils of fast food places like McDonald’s.  

It seemed easy enough at its conception. I never really liked meat too much anyway and ate most of my portions in the form of fast food. Veins and ligaments and cartilage and other textures of meat products were my biggest problem and had become a bit offputting to me over the years. 

When praciticing vegertarianism, it becomes hard when you realize just how much food actually HAS meat in it that you didn’t think about before, and when people look at you like you’re crazy when you tell them you don’t eat meat. I actually had one guy ask me how I get my amino acids.

Cooking meals for myself and my boyfriend, who is very, very NOT vegetarian, has become increasingly difficult, and the number of Hamburger Helper boxes wasting away in our cupboards is almost a shame. In the beginning, I had delusions that we would try new foods together, but it just hasn’t panned out to this point.

Friends and relatives think I’m being silly and scoff at my attempts to find new things to eat that didn’t used to walk about on someone’s farm. They probably think I don’t have a good enough reason for what I’m doing. 

It starts to feel a little lonely, to tell you the truth. Lots of restaurants in the Alton area just don’t offer very many choices for vegetarians.

I have, however lost six pounds and developed a habit from fruit and walnut salads from McD’s instead of Big Macs. I feel better throughout the day and I feel accomplished for sticking to the plan this long (about a month).

Eventually, I’ll probably put small portions of meat back into my diet (or maybe I won’t) but for the time being, does anyone have any advice for someone like me?

Where are all you River Bend vegetarians?

Why do you do it?

What are some of your favorite meals?

Are you or is someone close to you looking to become a vegetarian? Check out these online resources.

Becoming a Vegetarian

Vegetarian Starter Kit

GoVeg.com

Health benefits

Posted in: Advice • • • • • • • • | 4 Comments »

First-time homebuyer entering the home stretch

March 20th, 2009, 11:16 am by lgriffith

I have been a homeowner technically for about a month now, and we’re finally entering the home stretch. Only recently has it started to look more like my home than some house I’ve been working on. 

In the time it took to take the house from the condition in which I bought it to the way it is now, my family, my boyfriend, friends and I have put in numerous man hours, lots of frustration and thousands of dollars. Luckily we had plenty of hope and trust that things would turn out OK :)

Was it worth it?

We’ll soon find out. 

The whole process has been stressful (especially when paired with work and classes getting increasingly tough) and it’s been hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

After taking a “vacation” in which I spent every day slaving away (nothing compared to the hours my father has put in while I’ve been at work), I’m glad that I can finally, physically, breathe a little easier. But now we have to concentrate on moving everything and getting the apartment cleaned up. Our lease ends March 31 and that date is approaching ever quickly.

Financially, the process has been a little scary, what with the economy the way it has been, but federal help for first-time homebuyers has been a lifesaver. Regarding the rest, it’s important that I keep telling myself that I’m paying into an investment at least, instead of throwing my money away. 

The end, thankfully, is near. The house is looking good, and things will likely settle down a bit after we’re all moved in. Then, we can take it all in, invite friends and family over to show off our hard work, and appreciate our reward for a job well done. 

Are you a first-time homebuyer or do you know one who would like some advice going in? Sometimes it helps to talk with someone who is going through or has recently gone through the process - someone with similar worries and interests. Feel free to leave a comment or contact me through this blog.

Posted in: Advice • Alton • Do-it-Yourself • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Facebook, not just for kids anymore

March 5th, 2009, 5:36 pm by lgriffith

Did you hear?

Facebook isn’t just for kids anymore.

In fact, The Telegraph even has it’s own page.  But that’s beside the point. 

Adults are using Facebook. Teachers are on Facebook. Parents, businesses… and the list goes on. Facebook isn’t just a social networking utility that’s good for wasting time (although it is that if you’re interested.) It’s also a great site for keeping in touch. Networking. See? It’s in the name.

I can share photos of my house renovation to friends living hundreds of miles away, and I don’t have to tell them to look - my friends feed does it automatically.

I can celebrate with my friends from college who are having their first baby this summer, and I can join my other journalism professors from Eastern Illinois in mourning the loss of one of their own recently.

Some of my other friends use Facebook (and MySpace) to send photos of their growing children to parents who live in different states - instantaneously. 

If you’re one of those who thought Facebook was lame after a certain age, I suggest you try it before knocking it. You might even find you’re more addicted than we are. 

RELATED STORY: 
Why Facebook is for old fogies - Time.com

Posted in: On the Web • | 1 Comment »

Most memorable summer jobs

March 2nd, 2009, 5:33 pm by lgriffith

At a total of 13, I think it’s pretty safe to say I’ve had more jobs than 99.9 percent of people my age. 

I realize that looks bad, but you have to keep in mind that many of those were part time and/or seasonal jobs held throughout my high school and college careers. 

We ran an article recently about summer jobs that are available to teens, and it had me reminscing about my time on the grounds crew at Raging Rivers … and about how stressed out I was when the drive-thru at Dairy Queen in Godfrey wrapped around the building several times.

Having a job, many times the first taste of real world responsibility in one’s life, is absolutely essential to the development of an individual who will grow up to be a contributing member to society. 

I wouldn’t have had it any other way. 

Especially now that the economy is in a shambles, it’s more important than ever that teens and those old enough to work make a decision to find a job, learn responsibility and take some strain off their parents. 

It may be work, but it’s also an opportunity that lends itself to meeting interesting people and having a story or two to tell at the end of a day. 

I remember one summer it was so hot and the water park was so busy… I and my fellow grounds people got to stand out in that heat - surrounded by water but unable to get in - all, day, long. I was so jealous of the lifeguards that day (not that their job was any easier).

When the park closed and the last person was out, I remember running to the nearest catchpool and diving in. I had to clean the bathrooms in wet speedo shorts and a soaked white T-shirt; I had to deal with some staring here and there, but it was all worth it for a little sweet relief. 

What kinds of summer jobs did you hold as a youth? Feel free to tell your stories here :)

Posted in: Community • Uncategorized • • • | 2 Comments »

What’s your preferred movie getaway?

February 27th, 2009, 6:09 pm by lgriffith

It’s widely known, and it makes a lot of sense, that in times of economic recession and financial woes, people like to escape the harsh realities of the real world for the laughs and happy endings created for us in Hollywood.

I read in an article at Bloomberg.com today that said movie attendance, which fell about 5 percent for all of 2008, climbed 21 percent this year through Feb. 22, according to Media By Numbers. 

“Four of the top five films released in 2009 are comedies… “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” starring Kevin James as a Segway-riding security guard who thwarts bad guys at a New Jersey mall, spent two weeks in first place,” the article reads.

Whodathunkit?

I’d really like to go see “He’s Just Not That Into You.” I really wasn’t as into the book as I thought I would be, which really surprised me. Even when i was struggling to get through the mid part of it, I still had the notion that this was something I should be enjoying. Maybe it’d be a different story in movie form, with its star studded cast. I’ve loved Jennifer Aniston since “Friends” (a TV on DVD favorite that’s helping me escape reality these days). 

I also CANNOT WAIT for Harry Potter this July. I’ve been known to be a Harry Potter nut.

What movies, if any, are helping you cope in these hard times? What makes you smile?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: Movie Laughs, Happy Ending Drive Recession Box-Office 

Oh yeah, and here’s a link to movie showtimes this weekend.

Posted in: East Alton • Edwardsville • St. Louis • TV/Movies • • | Post a Comment »

Play games and feed the hungry

February 24th, 2009, 11:16 am by lgriffith

Do you like art trivia? Are you a grammar geek? Practicing your multiplication tables? Trying to memorize world capitals?

Do you feel sorry for people who are starving around the world and wish you could help?

Then freerice.com could be the perfect Web site for you. I found it while browsing through Time Magazine’s 50 Best Web Sites 2008 and I agree, it is one of the best I’ve seen.

FreeRice challenges a Web user’s mind with complicated vocabulary and questions in a variety of other subjects. Each time a user gets an answer correct, the site donates 10 grains of rice through the UN World Food Program to end hunger. You can see the rice adding up in the bowl on the right hand side of this screenshot.

When I played it myself with my boyfriend days ago, we could hardly get ourselves to stop. He liked challenging his mind over and over again and I liked seeing our rice totals build to more than 2,000 grains.

The next time you’re bored and in front of the computer, think twice about wasting your time with some mindless arcade game and try improving your intelligence and benefiting someone other than yourself. You’ll feel better for it and at the end of the day, everybody wins.

Posted in: On the Web • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

So you think you can predict the Oscars

February 21st, 2009, 6:13 pm by lgriffith

The Academy Awards are on at 7 p.m. this Sunday.

Do you know who will win?

If you think you do, you might want to test your knowledge at Oscar.com. After a simple registration, the site allows you to pre-submit your picks for each of the categories and adjust right up until the awards ceremony.

During the show, come back and see how you’re doing.

I haven’t watched half of the movies that are nominated this year. A college friend of mine, who’s a real movie expert would be truly disappointed.

What do you think about this year’s nominations?

Posted in: On the Web • TV/Movies • • • • | 1 Comment »

AI Season 8: Thank God Danny is through…

February 19th, 2009, 5:47 pm by lgriffith

If Danny Gokey had not gone through to the Top 12 this season, I think I may have quit American Idol for good. It just wouldn’t have made any sense.

Tuesday, the first group of 12 took the AI stage and sang for the hearts (and votes) of viewers, and for the most part, made fools of themselves.

THE THING THAT WENT RIGHT

Danny was by far the best singer of the night - and in my opinion, the best in the competition. I just love his sound - I like a little rasp from time to time. And those glasses - how many pairs does he own?? In all seriousness though, Danny is the full package - he’s got looks, he’s got charm, he’s got the chops - all I could ask is that he try and take a few risks throughout the competition. I hate to say that I can see him going in a more David Archuleta-like direction with his song choices, and I think that could be a grave mistake.

THE THING THAT WENT WRONG

I got home from class Tuesday night just in time to catch “Anoop Dogg” Desai singing Monica’s “Angel of Mine.” He’s got a great voice, there’s no arguing with that. I’d already heard the performance before, so it didn’t surprise me like it surprised the judges. They thought it was a weird song choice.  I disagreed.

You see, upon the announcement of the Top 36, I Googled my favorites to get a glimpse of what I could expect. I found Anoop performing that very song with the UNC Clefhangers:

YouTube Preview Image

He played it safe, he sang a song he knew was a crowd favorite where he was used to performing. I really like contestants like Anoop. No previous recording contracts, no real professional experience (to my knowledge) - real people who can actually sing.

If they don’t bring him back as a Wild Card, then Idol fans have really been slighted.

THE OTHERS

I’m glad to be rid of Tatiana del Toro - so her voice wasn’t THAT bad, but her annoying traits were far too extreme to have to watch throughout the whole competition.

I expected more from Jackie Tohn, an early favorite of mine - especially after someone like Amanda Overmeyer got as far as she did last season. That being said, looking back, I don’t think she did quite as bad as some of the others. But like the judges said, it was a weird night.

I’ve heard a couple people say Michael Sarver shouldn’t have gotten through, but I think I disagree. Michael has a good voice, and I think he might become more interesting the longer he sticks around. Besides, it’s always nice (like I said earlier) to see a normal, blue collar type guy achieving success on a reality TV show built around being a star.

Also, congratulations to Alexis Grace, who rounds out the three who’ve made it through so far. I didn’t get to see her performance on Tuesday, but I’ve been a fan since the beginning of the season.

THE NEW FORMAT

I’m still not sure what I think about the new format of the show. I do like that good singers can be voted in regardless of whether they are male or female (the third person from each night can be either). After all, I want to see talented singers. I don’t want a talented guy not getting through just because the number of talented guys outweighs the number of girls.

That being said, I’m looking forward to the next 12 and hoping they learn from the first group’s mistakes - lets get Season 8 off to a better start.

Anoop, I hope I see you in the Wild Card round.

Posted in: TV/Movies • • • • • • • • | Post a Comment »

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