I won’t often review products, but I’ll make an exception and mention a few here.
Theracane: This is not a substitute for a professional massage, but it’s as close as I’ve found. The Theracane is basically a curved stick with knobs on it. I’ve found it especially useful for massaging back muscles that I cannot reach by hand. An even cheaper tool is a sock tied with two tennis balls in it; I place this on the floor and roll by back on it, with my spine between the balls. (Note: I have no medical expertise; please consult a health professional and don’t sue me.)
Wranglers: I’ve always been a Levis man. But I got tired of my jeans wearing out so fast. So I tried Wranglers, and, not only do they seem to last better, they fit better, too. They’re not as tight where tightness is uncomfortable. And they’re a bit less expensive, too.
Chocolate Syrup: I got tired of looking for hot fudge sauce, because practically all of it contains hydrogenated fat. So I made my own, using about equal parts of cocoa powder, water, and sugar, plus a little bit of butter (I used around a tablespoon for a half-cup of cocoa). Cook on medium heat till it boils for a few minutes. This made an excellent sauce for ice cream and chocolate milk. However, it was a bit sweet for me, so next time I’m going to use half the sugar.
Perry Mason: The first season of Perry Mason is out on DVD, and it’s great. It’s a bit unrealistic for the lawyer to keep representing people who get falsely accused of murder, but each episode stands on its own. Mason is a clever guy, and he seeks the truth. (I forgot to mention this show in my list of television favorites.)
Hey Ari,
Like one of favorite musicians Jonathan Richman, you too prefer Wrangler to Levis. He wrote a song about it, “My Jeans.” Listen to a live version of it here (Track 3). Or the direct link to the mp3 is here.