Haiku 2

juice this!  write more haiku . . .

Haiku 1:

The sun comes up late.

I juice my juice each morning,

Then the moon rises. 

Haiku 2:

I write Haiku. What?

What do you do with your day?

Do you read my blog?
         .    .    .
Howdy to the Aussies from
Southwest Desert Blogger
C.(c)2012

Got Shaun White Pants?

Did anyone see the pants Shaun White wore when he scored the perfect 100 on the half-pipe at the 2012 X Games?  It was quite a divergence from the usual snowboarder uniform that is more of a Sponge Bob Square Pants look.  What ever happened to the old, baggy, asexual snowboarder look?  Has the old Flying Tomato morphed into a Hot Tomato in his tight, black and white jungle print pants?  Are these pants for a snowboarder or an aerobic yoga babe at the health club?  Did the inspiration come form the housewives of Pitkin county?  Would those tight jungle animal print pants look better with 5 inch stilettos than snowboarder boots?  What's going on?  Is it mere fashion or superior aerodynamics?

As you can tell, it took me a almost a month to decide to write this post.  I was surprised to learn that Shaun picked out the material for the black and white jungle print pants.  I was equally surprised to learn that Shaun also redesigned his jacket by adding denim to the front.  This humble blogger does not want snowboarders turning into metro-sexual fashionistas.  Come on guys.  Man up!  I don't want to see you guys going shopping together after the games.  I don't want to find out you paint your nails with sparkle polish and get botox injections.  I don't want to learn that any snowboarder wears more makeup than Mick Jagger at a Stones concert.  How about adding some duct tape to your look?  A jacket that looks like an XXL gas station attendant wore it?  Remember the olden days?

I phoned my first generation snowboarder / skater contact who told me that skaters, i.e., skateboarders are wearing tight pants.  Really tight!  Is the whole world going to hell in a handbasket?  Will next season's new half pipe trick be the Double McQuiche 1260?  Is there no turning back?  Will there be a line of snowboarder clothes designed by Shaun?  Does this already exist, but folks in the Southwest Desert just don't know about it?  Hey Shaun, how about calling your clothes line (pun?) "White Clothes"?  And here's some hot cloth for your next pair of pants: 

This will show up better against the pipe, assuming no yellow snow...

Maybe the Olympic team would look good in this cloth.  It is actually two pieces -- jungle and dots.  Would the dots make a good jacket?  Headband? Hoodie? Gloves? Or would they both be pants in (on?) the White Clothes Line?
 
Anyway, congrat's on the perfect 100, let that ankle heal (it always takes too long), and if you ever need more fashion feedback, just call me,
Southwest Desert Blogger

P.S. The only back to back double cork I do is if I've got 2 bottles of wine that have to breathe.
Southwest Desert Blogger
                                                                                              C. (c.)2012

New Moon in Pisces

Today the Sun and Moon are both in the astrological sign of Pisces -- the fish.  It is new moon this afternoon in the Southwest Desert and the night sky will be without the illumination of the moon tonight.  As is always the case during the new moon time, both the Sun and Moon are in the same sign.  Today both are in Pisces.

Neptune is also in Pisces.  The planet Neptune, ruler of the sea and the deep, has not been in Pisces for nearly 165 years.  Neptune is the eighth* and farthest planet from the sun.  Note thatPluto's orbit is so eccentric, it sometimes crosses the orbit of Neptune making Neptune the most distant planet from the Sun for a few years Pluto's orbit is eccentric; thus, it sometimes crosses the orbit of Neptune making Neptune the furthest from the sun for  the years 1979 to 1999.  What were you doing in those years?  Were you incarnate then?  *Back then Pluto was a planet -- the ninth planet.  In 2006 Pluto was demoted to the status of "dwarf planet" or minor planet.  And now we have *eight.


Neptune has 3 large rings and 13 known moons.  Neptune has winds believed to be the fastest in our solar system at up to 2100 km/hour.  It also has a magnetic field.  It's magnetic field is thought to be generated by water or other conductive material(s) in its middle layer.  Some sources argue that Neptune has a more uniform composition as opposed to layering, thus debunking the middle layer theory.  The magnetic field is off center and at a 47 degree angle to its rotational axis.  It's axis is tilted at 28.3 degrees, similar the the Earth's 23 degree tilt.  Thus it is believed Neptune experiences seasons.

Neptune has an internal heat source.  Despite the fact that it is so far from the sun, it radiates more than twice as much energy as it receives from the sun.  This planet has only been visited once by Earth vehicle Voyager 2 in a 1989 flyby.  Neptune's spots tend to move and disappear, others appear.  There is only theory as to what is going on there.  Like the depths of out minds and souls, there is speculation, theory, and mystery about Neptune.
 Neptune's magnetic field is off center and at a large angle to its rotation axis

Because Neptune, God of the Sea and E. Indian God of Rain, has not been in Pisces for nearly 165 years, this is a planetary position we have not felt in this earth life.  What will this mean for us?  My research does not give me any clear, optimistic conclusion of how the visibly blue planet, Neptune, which many consider the ruler of Pisces (can an astrological sign be ruled by a planet?  Is this fishy?  Deep stuff? Should I water it down for you?) will impact us.  I hope it will be a positive indicator as we are water bodies on a blue planet, with seasons and a magnetic field, too.

So for the next day or two, we have the Piscean trifecta -- sun, moon, and Neptune in Pisces.  Some astrologers say to pay attention to dreams for the 2 days /nights after this new moon.  The dream state and psychic senses will be activated.  

Sweet dreams to all,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012

Omega Vertical Juicer VRT 350 HD String of the Day Post #3

Today I juiced carrots, one apple, a handful of alfalfa sprouts, and organic spring mix, which is fresh, tender, little baby lettuce and greens -- you know, the type you can buy in bulk or purchase in a one pound recyclable plastic box.   And now Southwest Desert Blogger presents . . . the Omega VRT 350HD string of the day photo:

Measure in inches. 

 This is the last in the "string of the day" series.  I do not enjoy this stringy material in my Omega VRT 350 HD juice.  In my opinion, juice should not have strings in it.  The sound of the VRT350HD juicer squeaking has grown old. I will no longer try to invent ways to clean places that their cleaning brush does not fit.

VRT 350HD juicer spout with solid plastic piece in the middle:  the space between the solid rectangular piece hanging down in the middle of the spout and the wall of the spout  is less than one-half inch.  You can see the sort of material that gets caught there.  In one of my many posts reviewing the VRT 350HD I tried to guess the purpose of this rectangular piece. [see post dated Oct. 29, 2011, et al.] 

I am getting rid of this Omega.  Good riddance.  Adios.  Bon Voyage.  Bye-bye.  Cheerio.  Sayonara.  Adieu.  Arrivederci.  Au revoir.  Auf wiedersehen.  Ciao babe. My 16 year old juicer can juice stringy  vegetables such as celery and chard stems without a single string in the juice.  It can juice root vegetables, greens, ginger, fruits, and anything else I have put through it without strings or particulate pulp. The old juicer produces a juice that is smooth and clean.  I find it produces a sweeter carrot juice than the VRT350HD.  I cannot explain why.  It has less parts to clean and actually cleans faster than the VRT350HD!  Finally, I don't have to get the grit out from between my teeth after drinking my old juicer's juice.  With the VRT350HD there was the need to brush and floss the solid material in the juice out of my teeth!  No mas!

May all your juice be smooth and sweet,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012  P.S.  Support this blog by using code WAL660 for $5 off first purchase at www.iherb.com .  They sell nutritional supplements, raw supplements, raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, soaps such as Dr. Bronner's Castile, raw cacao, organic chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, seaweed noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. at discounts.  Currently, they ship free for orders of $20 or more.  They also ship internationally.  Just enter code WAL660 at check out.    Plus, there are helpful product reviews.   And more free:  iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order.  I think you will find iherb prices lower than your local store.   www.iherb.com -- check it out.

Omega Vertical Juicer VRT 350 HD String of the Day Post #2

I could do the string of the day daily, but thought it too trite.  However, today I juiced 3 carrots, 3 sweet potatoes, one peeled cucumber, a couple of handfuls of tender baby salad greens, and several handfuls of baby spinach.  FYI all were organic except for the cucumber.  And now Southwest Desert Blogger presents . . . the Omega VRT 350HD string of the day photo:

The ruler measures inches.  What is this material I found in my Omega VRT 350 HD juice?

  One picture = 1000 words.

Omega Vertical Juicer VRT 350 HD Strainer Question

Try not to strain yourself:

Solid yellow strainer photo 1.  Notice the red dot on the right side of the strainer rim.  It is used to position the strainer in the bowl correctly.  However, it wears out over time.  After a few months of regular use, it is barely visible in my "clear yellow" everyday strainer that Omega refers to as the "-less pulp" (?!) strainer.  See photo 2.

Got an Omega VRT 350HD juicer?  If you do, please tell me what you do with this second strainer (solid yellow).  Folks at Omega have told me not to bother with it.  If that is the case, why does it come with the Omega VRT 350HD?

This is photo 2 of the solid yellow strainer.  In the Omega VRT350 Instruction Manual it is simply noted as "Strainer (solid yellow) -more pulp" as opposed to the "clear yellow" strainer which is "-less pulp" --  Is that clear?  As I have stated in previous posts, I get too much pulp for my taste using the "less pulp" strainer.  I certainly do not want more pulp.     

 Southwest Desert Blogger                

 C. (c)2012    P.S.  Support this blog and get healthy products using discount

code WAL660 for $5 off first purchase at www.iherb.com .  They sell nutritional supplements, raw supplements, raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural soap, shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, soaps such as Dr. Bronner's, raw cacao, organic chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, kelp noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. at discounts.  Orders of $20 or more ship free in US.  They also ship internationally.  Just enter code WAL660 at check out.    Plus, there are helpful product reviews.   And more free:  iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order. 

  All you cowboys, cowgirls, city slickers, surfers, skiers, board-riders, bus riders, hikers, bikers, and coffee house posers -- I AM waiting fer yer answers.
 As ever, 
your Southwest Desert Blogger  
C. (c)2012