Butterfly Butcher

Today I listened to a recently released album by Butterfly Boucher in its entirety, and liked it very much.  While I was initially thinking the band name was interesting for Boucher is French for "Butcher" making the name sound like Butterfly Butcher, I learned that it is actually this Australian singer/songwriter's given name.


Here are two of the songs from her self-titled album Butterfly Boucher that I enjoyed very much:


5678!:

The Weather:

While looking for the videos for her songs, I learned about another Australian musician that sings one of the songs on BB's album as well.  Here is the beautiful video for Unashamed Desire performed by Missy Higgins:

Enjoy!

* And I Ran!

I learned that I am physically and mentally ready to run, and enjoy it immensely.

I learned that running is not as simple as putting a pair of shoes on and hitting the pavement.  It requires quite a bit of investment.  Investment in a pair of good shoes, proper apparel, time, discipline, patience, and support (in every sense of the word).

Thanks to my cousin's wonderful fiance - who is an avid runner, I was greatly encouraged to start running.  She told me about the basics of running and took me to the "running store" where she gets her gear.  The funny thing is, we were not planning to buy running-shoes when we left their home that morning, so I was in a cute polka-dot halter top dress and high-heel sandals when we walked into the store.  The nice sales person measured my feet, had me stand on each foot, helped me put on some tight socks and test shoes on my feet, and walked me to the middle of the store.  Until that moment everything was fine, but then he told me to run!  RUN!  Run in the middle of the store with a dozen customers standing around!  I was mortified!  I turned to him and said: "Please don't do this to me!?!".  He looked at me for a long moment, and then revealed that they had treadmills in the back.  What a relief!  We went to the back, and I ran on the treadmill in my pretty dress, and I am sure he was impressed! ;)  He told me I have good balance and fall onto the balls of my feet like a good runner would.

So I also learned what they do to you when you are buying your very first pair of running-shoes!

My cousin's fiance guided me through my first running/walking day, and made the experience very enjoyable.  Not only did I love being outside with good company, but also loved how my new Sauconys felt like good-old-friends on my feet:

Here are some of the more serious things I learned about running:

- Get your gear - especially your shoes - from a specialty store where the associates are very knowledgeable who probably are also runners themselves.

- Get shoes one size bigger than your regular shoe size and make sure your toes have room to spread out.

- Try multiple different makes and models until you find the most comfortable pair (mine feel like I've owned them for a long time).

- Ladies!  Get high-impact support bras, and when you wash them, let them air dry.

- Always wear socks.

- Get a RoadID.

- Try to keep a regimen where you initially stick to a run/walk plan alternating with another activity that will build your core strength to support your back (I will continue with Bikram Yoga).

- Hydrate (and find out where the restrooms are on your path)!

- Stretch!

- Plan!

- Be Patient!

Happy Running!

First Contribution to W.I.L.T!

Today I learned something new from my brother (again).  He sent me the following picture and asked "What is this?":

From the link he also included in his message, I learned that it is a Vampyramorphida!


Enjoy!

The L-Verb

I have an amazing brother who constantly inspires me in the most unexpected ways.  Once he said "The more I learn, the more I discover how little I know".  Since then I've made it a point to learn something new everyday, even if it is a single word.  Until very recently, I had no desire to share what I learn(ed) with the masses, and only shared them with people I know, understand, and trust.  Just a couple of months ago, I've said these very words to a friend.  Yet here I am, hours after returning from a vacation, typing the first words to my blog, not knowing where it will take me and my readers (if any)....

I think I should explain a few things about this blog!

The Name:
W.I.L.T! is simply the acronym for "What I Learned Today!".

The Purpose:  
To share what I learn each day with whomever would like to read this blog.  Well, this was the initial purpose.  However, as the little gears in my engineer's head started turning about this blog, I decided I could use any L-Verb instead of "Learned" and talk about that each day:  Liked, Listened (to), Loved, Left, Looked (at/for/after), etc.  Hopefully, I will be learning many more L-Verbs in the process!

The Contents:
This part is still a little nebulous in my head but there will definitely be music, books, art, astronomy, architecture, movies, food, geography, technology, travel, design, languages, and other geeky fun stuff that is "new to me".  I will not be sharing topics that are too personal - you will find those on my Facebook pages if you are part of my family or circle of close friends. Also, the titles preceeded with a '*' will be about my personal experiences.

The Format:
I have no clue!  I assume that will be part of learning how to design a blog and keep it ever appealing.

What you will never see in my blog:
Anything political or religious.  I am a huge proponent of keeping these two topics or anything that could be considered related to these, as private.

How you can participate:
If you would like, you can send me your own "W.I.L.T!" so that I can share it with the readers of this blog on your behalf (you can choose to stay anonymous).  OR you can send me a topic you've always wanted to learn about and never had the time to research.  I will gladly do the detective work for you and dedicate the post to you (again you can choose to stay anonymous)!  Also, please do comment and send L-Verbs.

Finally, What I Learned Today:
I learned that I had a secret desire to blog!

Welcome to W.I.L.T!