Bad bat. 

movie review

Batman Begins was good. I highly recommend it. I can't entirely recommend seeing it on an IMAX screen. Sometimes bat ninjas can be too big.

Nothing even remotely related to my life

But I thought this was bizarre, so I'm sharing it:

(from Mercury News)
"Since Katie Holmes became attached with Tom Cruise and the Scientologists, she's not allowed to be alone -- ever. When Holmes accompanied Cruise to a recent taping of ``The View,'' eyebrows were raised when she wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom alone. At one point, Cruise asked where the bathroom was and ``took Katie with him into the men's room,'' an insider told the New York Post. Later, when Holmes needed to go, ``three Scientologists followed her in.'' A rep for the show said, ``We don't follow guests to the bathroom.''"

How I spent my summer vacation

by Charlie Thayer.
Okay, this isn't formal essay. But I wanted to share (and encourage others to do the same) my most memorable 4th of July.
I had just joined the youth group at my church in Dallas when I found out they were going a summer road trip to a Young Life camp in northern California. I signed up knowing only one person and set out on 4 day roadtrip to Woodleaf. (don't worry, this isn't a story about friends and caring and sharing, keep reading)
Our last day/night before we got to the camp we stopped in Tahoe and somehow our leader arranged it so we could set up camp on local church's sunday school floor.
That day was the 4th of July and after swimming in the freezing cold water all day (which is very unlike me) we sat on the shore and watched the fireworks over the lake. :)
That's makes it on the top 10 list of warm fuzzy teen memories. It's funny that now that I live within a day's drive of Tahoe, I could go there anytime I want. But I know that if I went up there now, with strangers my own age from our church here, it totally wouldn't be the same. It think it was the combination of other people in charge, no job or school to worry about and being hundreds of miles away from home.
Happy Independence Day.

It's very RuPaul of me.

I just ordered a chandelier for our bedroom. And if you notice, it's a muy good price for one. Just try and find another $99.00 chandelier I dare ya.
I was inspired to do so after going to the Fillmore and they have giant chandeliers with black lights shining on them so they glow violet. They're so cool, I couldn't stop staring at them, and I said "someday I'll have my own blacklight chandelier!"
And so it begins. Goodbye ugly ceiling fan, hello fabulous fixture.

-itis is the wrong suffix anyway

Did anyone have a teacher in high school that would annoyingly talk about "senioritis," the idea of seniors knowing that they were about to get the hell out of high school and not caring about piddly schoolwork anymore?
I've got something like that. My work is futile now. Okay, well it was futile before because I was and still am "desk girl," but now I see the end and it really doesn't matter now.
Generally, I try not to count down to things. Meaning, I think every day should be appreciated and put to use, and not seen as a means to an end. But I'll admit it, I'm counting down to August 18th.

Let's have a vote.

Everyone likes to tell other people what to do, so I expect all to participate:
I decided a while back that once I left my job to be a house-frau, that I would do my hair "fun." Fun, as in a strange color or cut that I've never been able to have because of school rules or having to look respectable at work. Basically I've never had a lifestyle which afforded me pink hair...until now!
As you can imagine, there are many ways one can have pink hair so here are a few options:
(don't get distracted by the people in the photo, think of it in my context)
A. The all over fuscia
B. The half chocolate, half cherry
C. The platinum pink

Unfortunately, Kevin will not allow hair this short, but that was what I originally had in mind. Feel free to vote for that too if you want, I could sway him maybe.
Cast your ballots, or um, comments. Anyone who votes for keeping my brown hair will be disqualified. :)

I won't take no LÖVA for an answer!

The vision for the baby's room demands a giant leaf. So when I went to IKEA last week with Sam to get one, I was alarmed that they were out of stock and didn't think more were coming in. The woman even told me they could not be ordered online. I came home and placed and order for one online, thinking that IKEA person was dumb. A few days later I received and email saying, they were out of stock too. Apparently that chick wasn't dumb after all.
So this morning, I called and sat on swedish-hold for a while for my backorder, and placed it. Nothing is going to get in the way of me and my big leaf!

I hope you all have your crackers ready...

...because it's cheez time!
I've compiled a list of baby songs that if mixed tapes were still in vogue, I would make a baby Thayer mix tape.
Daughters- John Mayer
Danny's Song- Kenny Loggins(I know it's about a boy, who cares)
Isn't She Lovely- Stevie Wonder
Arms Wide Open- Creed (yeah I know, Creed sucks, just go with it)
Tupelo Honey- Van Morrison

And these soundbites keep running through my mind:
Raising Arizona
Planes Trains and Automobiles
(sorry, that site doesn't like linking to their wav.'s so you just gotta click the quote called "Short")

Family photos, fresh from my inbox!

I can't believe all these family members were ever in our house at the same time. This must have been one of those times they told me to go out and play. Key figures of the Blaylock family, all on (or near) our couch, incredible!
Anybody catch that ram shaped lamp on the table? Wow Mom, where in the hell did that come from? Rams, Monets, and geometric couches, it's all good, it's the 80's. 

This looks like it could be the first day of school photo. Sandi, if that's you on the left, that's some funny hair. 

This one's a little more dramatic. It looks like one of my aunts is pinching my dad in frustration and the other is wearing a devilish grin about it. Phil must have wanted to go to school too. 

Say your prayers, weedies.

I remember one time my mom got ahold of a electric shrub trimmer, which I think she might have stolen from a neighbor. She spent like a whole day hacking up all the hedges, trees and bushes around the yard, they were practically bald by the time she was done. I think the event was spurred by some pent up aggression mixed with a comment from a nosy landlord.
Now, we don't have a landlord and I don't know how much anger I had bottled, but I sure did hack up the yard today with our brand new edger/trimmer, and it made me think of Gwynn. We only have a "scissor cutter" lawnmower. Yeah like the kind donald duck would use to cut his lawn. It works pretty good, but edge the lawn, it does not. Nor does it cut the really long stuff. Enter the trimmer.
It was great. The sensation was very similar to the successful sound a vaccuum makes when it sucks up a lot of dirt. I must have looked super sexy out there, pregnant with giant chemistry lab goggles and a power tool.

Rocker part two

...and now the excting conclusion to my rocker decision:
old timey.
Kevin already knows my true motive for this rocking chair-- I wanted two for the front porch. This way I get my overpriced rocking chair and the desire to buy me one is satisfied. I don't know why this didn't occur to me earlier.
We'll see if it works!

today's progress photos

Here is one side of the room, where you can see on the right will be the door to the bathroom and the other doorway for the closet. 

And here is what used to be two closets, one in the hall and one in our room. Now, bigger room! 

Chihu-achunds can't resist a giant pile of warm laundry! 

flummoxed

Kevin's mom said that she wanted the family (meaning his family) to go in on a rocker/glider for me and the baby. This item had not crossed my mind. At first I kind of fought the idea internally, all the while smiling and nodding at her suggestion.
Then I resolved to find one that isn't hideous, as I feel most are. Gliders always looked convalesent like some sort of orthopedic support chair for moms. I did find chairs like this that are closer to my style than this caca.
However, as you might have noticed, the good ones are way more $$$. I'm not sure if I should tell her that I only want the good kind or just to say, "that's okay, I don't need one."
Hmm.
Plus, even the "good ones" aren't my style. I mean honestly I wish this chair came in a glider.
Maybe it'll all work out and the family won't agree on a date for the shower, and I can avoid this whole issue...and get a car seat like I need. :)

Happy Summer to you

Anyone hear about this? Holey moley.

I've got to share, though few probably want to hear it. I've got 'fat feet' and I'm not happy about it. There are certain conditions I thought young (ordinarily)thin women didn't get. Apparently during pregnancy, all bets are off. It's humbling in a way, I think back to all those times when someone told me their ankles and feet were swollen and hurt. And I'd think "oh sucks to be you"--- now look at me.

Inking Day

Don't be fooled by Allison's body language, I wasn't holding a gun at her, just the camera! 

And now if you look closer, I wasn't supposed to be in there at all 

Propane and poop, bad combo? Guess again!

Two words: Incinerating Toilet

to market, to market

Way way way way back when Aurora worked as a checker at Tom Thumb, I remember she came home and talked about how funny it was to see what people bought or the combination of items and what that said about them. I always think about that when I go to the grocery store. I beam proudly down at the rubber conveyor belt when I have a pile of whole grains, organic produce and yogurt. Surely this shows that I'm a well adjusted person. And I also feel like a total weirdo when, like this afternoon, I buy 4 limes and a cheese slicer. The larger part of the story is I did have a few normal items to buy 25 minutes earlier: milk, bread, cheese, tomatoes and chicken, which I bought. Then I got home, realized I forgot limes, drove to a different grocery store (yes, to avoid shame), bagged my limes and suddenly remembered that I broke the cheese slicer and needed to puruse the "Bake Time" aisle for a new one.
And that is how that happened.
I was also on the lookout for potential molesters on my two grocery trips. My afternoon of TV was all about molesters for some reason: news blurb before Dr. Phil, Oprah, and then the actual news. What I gathered from this afternoons stories is that the number one sign of a molester is bad hair. The guy in line in front of me with a toussled comb-over and the out-dated glasses, surely a molester. The checker who was a little too old to be a checker, fumbled nervously, and didn't smile, also a potential suspect.
My mantra: Beware, and be ready to kick the groin!

It's Allison's Song!

If you haven't heard it, here are the lyrics
It's great...except that whole Ohio thing...nevermind that.
Request it from your local radio station!

This used to be a plot of dirt

It's not crystal clear what's goin on here from the photo, I know. It's an aerial shot of the soon to be toilet room, which I like to call the "water closet." 

This one makes more sense. The camera is looking out of our walk in closet into the bathroom. The tub will be straight ahead, vanity on the left, toilet room on the right. 

A link worth clicking

Kevin recently got a sausage maker attatchment for our kitchenaid mixer. Yep, Kevin's gonna be making sausage, and that in itself is entertaining. But even better I found these guys and their sausage site while looking for recipes.
Would you trust anyone else to make your cured meats? No, big fat guys with creative facial hair are the authority of sausage as far as I'm concerned. And look, they have the site to prove it.

"she's turning into a blueberry...

...it always happens, they always turn into blueberries" -Willy Wonka

Man, okay I'm now in third trimester land, also known as "help, I can't get off the floor" mode. The Venus of Villendorf joke is becoming more real.
(ow! I cut my finger making dinner and I'm keep forgetting not to type with it! dangit!)
We've made lots of progress on the new bathroom addition, pictures to follow soon. We've got walls and roof beams. We almost bought the tub and the shower head and faucet today but a couple of factors are holding off the final purchase until Monday. We do however have the lights and the sink faucets ready to install. We also went today to Organized Living, which is a close cousin to The Container Store, but not quite as big. We got our closet quote there and that was fun. Why is organizing fun?
It was the errands that drove the point home that I'm carrying around a constant backpack backwards, or Kris Kros style, if you will. Well and also, I can't quite bend over anymore. Good thing I rarely employ shoelaces, they would just be untied.

This post's for you!

This post goes out to Samantha "ready for a fight at any moment" PM:

Sam, this made me think of you.

There are craft fairs and there are aquatic creatures, and they should remain separate...apparently.

How could I forget?

Yesterday morning, before we drove back, we walked into a Denny's and this was on the TV. What trip to L.A. would be complete without a high speed police chase? Cracked me up.

I didn't take this photo, but I could have taken one like it. This is the kind of atmostphere outside the studio.  

thanks for watching and be sure to spay and neuter your pets!

Yeah, we did it, we were in the audience of the Price is Right. As you can probably already guess, neither Kevin or cute little me were picked to be contestants, but it was so fun, it didn't matter. I had to keep reminding myself to close my mouth because I was so agape with awe of the whole event taking place all around me. It's an uninteresting series of facts of why we didn't catch the first taping like I had planned, but it was no problem at all to catch the second taping of the day. (It goes like this)
I was really surprised how nice everyone was who worked at CBS. I mean, no one I came into contact with was rude or pompous. Amazing! I get way more attitude from people at the supermarket than I did that whole day. Plus, most of these people not only had to wear silly outdated red CBS blazers, but they had to deal with some crazy people (you know who I mean) and they still were friendly. Go CBS!
Here's another list of things I learned that day:
-It takes hours to get from arriving at the studio to getting to your seat. Gotta get your name right, show ID's, SS#'s, etc. All x 300 silly people.
-Everyone gets a mini interview by the director, your name and where you're from. That's when they choose whose name gets called. Pressure!
-The studio is so tiny! It looks huge on TV, but it's little, like smaller than a high school gym. We decided that they use tricky lenses to make it look bigger.
-Bob chats with the audience during the breaks. This freaked me out a little bit, like when they pass the microphone to anyone who raises their hand at church, but it is from these breaks that the best stories come from...
One lady wearing a custom T-shirt with a photo of a housecat that read "My cat and I watch Bob Barker everyday" raised her hand and asked the question, "My cat wants to know why you still use a microphone with a long string instead of one without."
Good heavens.
Another woman raised her hand and said "I want to show you something," and started up the stairs towards the visibly alarmed Bob. Thankfully all she wanted to show him was her own custom shirt. As she turned around, Bob read the back which was something like his own chronology, born here, raised here, did this, did that at that time, etc. A bit creepy, and I think we all sighed with relief when she sat herself back down.
My favorite was a girl, roughly my age, who yelled out, "Bob, you gotta sign my T-shirt! I made it, it's you!" He said "what is it...oh it's my head!" Indeed it was his head, made completely out of sequins-- very impressive and tacky. If there was a contest, her shirt won in my book, it was awesome. He agreed to sign it, but wanted to sign the back, y'know to avoid the boobs. But everyone in the audience and the girl herself begged for the front, because it just made sense. He cracked a little joke,"Is there an attorney in the house?," and then he enlisted two stage people to help him sign the front side of her shoulder.
It airs on June 10th. If by chance you do watch, Kevin and I are in the very back row, almost perfect center. I'll go ahead and tell you that both contestants went OVER on the showcase showdown, so tragic. But one lady's got a fine outfit on, well worth watching for.

Viva la Bob, 33 seasons and still truckin.

Progress! The builders have started to build, and soon(ish) this will be a second bathroom.  

Harnesses! Ready for the road trip! Mojito acted like I was hurting him when I put it on. 

H-ha! I'm totally going out and getting these for our roadtrip tomorrow for Franklin and Mojito. And they'll hate me for it. 

Like a McGruff safety pamphet

Last night Kevin's mom said that when Kevin was a baby he had "one of the first car seats," and I found this hard to believe. He was born in 1977, surely people didnt just carry their babies like Big Gulps bewteen their knees while they drove before 1977.
So I looked it up, and apparently his seat was one of the first mandated ones. I guess people just tossed babies in the back floorboard on the way to the supermarket before the government made laws against it. But car seats had been around before then, thank you Swedes once again.
Aurora, did you have a car seat?
My rabbit trail search continued and I found this disturbing fact:
An independent nationwide poll on child passenger safety reveals that 21 percent of grandparents - one in five - say they "never" use a child safety seat when they have their grandchildren as passengers.
Grandparents--, they let your kids get away with murder, and then they try and murder your kids.

this is not helping

So as I've mentioned before, I plan on using cloth diapers. Don't flip out, this is why:
-It Takes 20 Trees to Diaper One Baby in Disposables for 2 Years
25,000,000 trees are cut annually for this one product in the United States.
-Single-use diapers represent the 3rd largest consumer item (after newspapers and beverage and food containers) in the municipal solid waste stream. These diapers will require over 500 years to decompose.
-Not since the Middle Ages has there been so much human waste in our garbage. There is NO safe way to dispose of single-use diapers. Flushing them down the toilet causes 95% of clogged sewer lines in the US, and creates 43,000 tons of extra sludge per year. Most people simply toss these soiled single-use diaper into household, hospital, or roadside garbage. This adds 84 million pounds of raw fecal matter to our environment per year.

Knowing this, and also knowing that "Mom" will be my full time job, I knew that I should "go cloth." I'm not doing it to be earthy or make my life harder. I'm doing it out of sheer guilt. Incidentally, that's the same reason I recycle.

And so, I've been researching how this whole business works, cloth diapering that is. Depending on who you talk to, and what you read on the web, difficulty levels vary.
It's all very confusing at this point, and it's not from a lack of information. The world is super saturated with cloth diapering products and advice.
Here's a maddening example:
"How To Wash Diapers

Unstuff any Fuzzibunz and unfold diapers as you put them in. Close any velcro tabs. Spray any poop with Zout. DO NOT put any wool covers in the washer, ever.

First Step: SOAK
put in detergent halfway up to the first line on the cup. (NEVER use fabric softener)
put in the diapers (including fuzzibunz), but not the covers or pail liner.
set the washer to:
- cold wash
- cold rinse
- second rinse
- high water level
- regular agitation
- SOAK on the dial

The washer will agitate and then stop.

LET IT SOAK for at least one hour. Longer if there is a lot of poopy diapers. As long as you want to if you are going out or busy.

SECOND STEP: PREWASH
Turn the dial to prewash and let it run through. (this agitates for 4 minutes and spins out the water but does not rinse)

THIRD STEP: HOT WASH
Turn the dial to regular wash. Add just a touch more detergent, just enough to cover the bottom of the cup. Put in the covers and the pail liner turned inside out. Let it run all the way through spinning.

Take out the pail liner and hang it up to dry.

FOURTH STEP: extra rinses
Turn the dial back to rinse so that it goes through two more rinses. Every other wash time, or if the Joeybunz are feeling crispy, run through two more rinses. You can also check the water of the last rinse and if there are still suds in it, run more rinses.

FIFTH STEP: extra spin
turn the dial back to spin and spin it again. This helps them to dry faster

SIXTH STEP: drying
Hang up the Fuzzibunz and the covers (including the fleece covers), put the rest in the dryer on medium heat. Once in awhile, put the plain white (Green Earth and ProRaps) covers in the dryer, especially if they have been leaking. After the dryer stops, take out what is dry and start it up again."

Um, that can't all be necessary. Anyone getting visions of the "Anal Retentive Chef" from SNL?
None of this is shaking my confidence that I'll follow through, I just want to get my game plan down. But I am sure that I'm not going to follow that woman's wash routine, she's crazy.
We might even use the local diaper service. Still tryin to figure out what's cheaper.

Ok enough information. Entertainment time!

Fig. 1.
Toyota Corolla, public enemy #1. Be afraid! 

Explaination upon request.

I think it was Kevin who asked me to blog about the concept of the "tan sedan."
I developed this theory shortly after I moved to the [Silicon] Valley. It is as follows:
tan se·dan n.
1. Any beige, tan, biscuit, brownish, buff, coffee, drab, ecru, gold, khaki, sand, or tawny colored foreign 4-door vehicle, often driven by a non-caucasian person, that is exteremely dangerous and should be avoided on roads and parking lots at all times.
Note: Not all non-caucasians are dangerous drivers. Only when behind the wheel of a tan sedan are they hazardous to public safety.
See Fig. 1 and Fig 2 If you find your self with a view like Fig 2 in real life, get away as fast as you can. They show no mercy.

If you think I'm just making this up, just watch and you'll see I'm on to something. Especially if you live around here. When someone rides your butt-- tan sedan. When someone swerves into your lane-- tan sedan. No blinker?-- tan sedan!
I'm also not saying that there aren't other sterotypes that are bad drivers. Any of the manhood-compensator trucks, as I like to call them, are also bad. But I think they're bad on purpose. They usually seem like they have unresolved anger issues that manifest in tailgating and peeling out around little girls in honda civics like me. "Yes, I see. You're the bad-ass. Good for you."
And anyone who drives a Volvo is also to be feared. Volvos are famously safe, so I believe that people who buy them know that they are horrible drivers. Kevin reminded me of this when I wanted to get one. And I'll be honest, I fit in that category. I drive like a granma and my reflexes suck.
But I verily I say to you: beware of the tan sedan!

"Let's hear it for the boy!"

Kevin's such a pumpkin for painting the baby's room today (and last night for that matter). I could only do paint prep, like taping, because I'm not supposed to breathe the fumes.
As you can see we have a nice "Marmalade" color on 3 walls, and "Electric Pink" on the fourth/feature wall. In the foreground, please note the $50 crib and the free twin bed. Okay the yellow bed was mine for about a year before we got married, I bought it of of craigslist. But, the cool thing about it, other than being free, is that the girl said her grandfather made it. It's like-- almost sentimental. 

Yay for Kevin! 

I haven't had much luck with bums.

Having lived in Santa Cruz for 3 years, I got alot of bum exposure, and I don't mean the full monty kind either. I mean the c-c-c-crazy kind, or the decided to reject modern society kind. Anyway, in Santa Cruz they're everywhere. I learned from someone on the "inside," that is, someone who worked with the homeless and shelters, that in S.C. at least, that there is always somewhere they can sleep at night, and get a meal, the programs are very generous. So he said, to not ever give them money.
I did a few times, and they usually ended badly. In particular, it seems I paid for some guy's sexual favor (aaaa!!) because right after I gave him the cash I had on me, he and another guy followed each other into a downtown port-a-potty. Another time, I gave this crazy woman all the cash I had, that was supposed to pay for my food for the rest of the week and then she proceded to ask for more and then get hostile.
Like I said, it never goes well for me.
So I don't know why I thought today would be any different. I guess because it's San Jose, not Santa Cruz, and I don't know how good the shelters are here, I dunno. I drive up to a stoplight where there is usually a guy with a cardboard sign (not always the same guy, I guess they rotate, or rock paper scissors for the spot). I keep little Jack in Box bucks in my glove box so I can give those instead of money. I handed the guy some of those and two dollars. He was very nice and apreciative, he even made polite conversation with me-- right before his cell phone rang! That's right, cell phone, the cardboard sign guy on the highway offramp, had to take a call.
C'mon, at least put in on vibrate to make the whole thing more convincing.
Oh well. It doesn't really matter to me how bad he needed what I gave him. But I did think, "gosh, I guess even homeless people are better about answering their phones than I am."

ok now it's real

Summer arrived today for me. I had to drive my car just now, which I had forgotten to move into the garage so it wouldn't sit in the sun all day. So yes, it sat in the sun all day and it was absolutely equitorial inside it by 5pm.
I had the T-shirt on the steering wheel like an oven mit as I drove, and it even burned my hands through that. My make-up bag was like the dressing section at a salad bar. I worried for my CD's. I try to take the little binder of them out of the car the night before if I think they might get a cookin', but like I said I forgot alot of things. I've warped many a CD that way. It wasn't hot enough to melt the LCD clock in my dash like it was with my Honda in Dallas in high school. I kept socks on hand for steering wheel mits then. (The sunroof didn't have a cover, that didn't help.)
Now I'm at home with a headache from the heat and glare of of the other cars, (does that bother anyone else?) eating pickles out of the jar.
And for those of you who haven't spent time in the summer in someone's *house* in California, I must let you in on a little insanity: Almost no one has A/C. Like, they're in denial that it ever gets hot here. Nevermind that the businesses all have A/C. School and homes, nope. News flash- it gets hot. And also in breaking news, it also gets cold, and most houses only have wall heaters. Um, how is a giant toaster supposed to warm the whole house. It doesn't. People are surprised when I complain about being hot saying "I thought you're from Texas." And I reply "yeah, we have a thing called air conditioning and it's everywhere, even outside sometimes."
Point of all that: I'm hot.

Two totally unrelated things

#1. I finally got a DVD of my Easter performance and we're working on getting into the right format to put it online for everyone to see.
#2. If you don't watch Extreme Home Makeover, you need to! I bawl like a baby everytime it's on TV. It combines my favorite things: philatropy and design. It's on right now and they're bulding a new home for the family of the first woman to die in combat in Iraq. Wait, it gets more poignant, her parents live on a poor Navajo reservation and take care of her kids in a trailer. Hello! Frickin' awesome!

Element

Kevin and I have semi-decided that when we buy a new car, we would like it to be a Honda Element.
We don't know when this would be, probably when one of our cars dies.
But it's cheap and has good safety ratings (and that's mostly what I look for in a car), plus you can hose down the inside and it's muy handy. (and it's not a mini van! and it's got good gas milage).

Ow!

I just got stung by a wasp! At least I think it was a wasp, it looked something like this.
I've never been stung by a wasp or a bee (I didn't get out much as a kid, Aurora can back me up on that), so I stared at my foot to see it would puff up. It didn't, I guess I'm not allergic.
I have it elevated, in the most un-lady-like pose, right now as I type this.
Stupid wasp, why did you have to get all mad when I stepped on you?

It had been far too long without a photo! (corbis? what corbis?) 

Registry Time!

I do feel a little guilty because it was only last summer that I was making my wedding registry, and now I'm making a baby registry. Sorry folks.
My New Baby Registry
I'm still tweaking the details, like the font and the colors and layout.
But it works! Feel free to browse.

addicting for those who think the world is out to get them

Not only because I'm a prego, but also because I like products that are nice to me
You have to really look at why they score high or low though. I'm starting to think the hippies are the only ones avoiding killer chemicals, because they don't use any products. I mean, poor ol' earth-lovin Burt's Bees even scores high in a lot of categories.
I just looked for phthalate esters and aluminum compounds, those are the only chemicals that I'm more or less convinced are really bad.

Valu-Pak-- extra savings inside

Stuff's been happening so a quality post is in order. Plus, it's only 9am and I've run out of things to do at work.
I've got the sugar-sleepies thanks to a cherry cheese streudel from Noah's. I've you've never had one, have one, but you'll have to avoid operating heavy machinery because it will knock you out like NyQuil. The loss of motor skills is worth it though. I had other food for breakfast too, but I won't lie to you, the strudel was the star of the show.
In case you hadn't read my sister's blog, she's pregnant too. How bout that? If you're a man and you're reading this, you probably have begun skimming. But if you're a woman, you're thinking "oh my gosh!" And now I have the overriding guilt that we don't live closer to each other. Well whatcha gonna do, I guess.
We got a crib on monday night (men, just keep skimming). "We" was Allison, and her handy SUV, as well as Carrie, my friend from Dallas that popped into town for a couple of days. I participated very little in the whole operation, other than paying for it (Allison's reading this and thinking, 'yeah and you also tried to make me wreck my car!'). They loaded it in, Allison drove it over, and Carrie put it together. The only entertaining thing about the crib purchase is that it's used and I was warned in the craigslist ad that it had "teething marks." That kid musta been a little beaver because it the top edges look like they had a dremel once over.
Back to Carrie-- She's very organized, all of her family is-- they've got 6 kids, but I didn't realize how unorganized I was until she came and helped me out. Sorry, future baby, there doesn't seem to be much hope for you to be organized either, Kevin and I are not role models in that department. Good thing she's the law student and I'm the soon to be unemployed la-la-art-teacher.

it was way clearer and bluer than this photo, but this was the only one I could find online of "Surfers Beach" Look at those waves, who could surf on that? 

beach dogs

I'm still not sure if they actually liked it, but we took the 'woggies' to the beach today. They had never actually been on the beach. I've taken them on a couple of car rides to look at the beach, but this was the first paw-on-sand experience for them. It was indeed a lovely day and the beach we went to was good for dogs (and one of the few that allows them) because the waves are puny.
Anyway, I think it freaked them out a little, but anytime they get to run around and sniff new stinky things, they're happy. I did trick them into the path of an approaching wave a couple of times-- the water was pretty dang cold, and I liked to watch their reaction.
Mojito menaced the beach a bit. He accosted a woman laying on a towel at full speed and began licking her ear. She, as I would have done, swatted him away, and he came running back to me proudly. I also noticed him doing the move which I call "breakdance" (rolling over and rubbing his back on the ground) a few yards away. He kept doing it, and worried that he might be breakdancing in some other dogs's poop, I went over to investigate. It was a dead crab, a big fatty too. I don't get dogs.

I'm slightly more famous

pictures of me in action, no not the Will Ferrel post, the one below that.
Sorry, no obligatory belly shots, for those of you who have asked for them. I am however, wearing a completely ridiculous tube top.

Captain, the hormones are firing! Sheilds up!

I was shopping today and I wandered into the baby section, because there was a sale. (people, 50% off everything, it was sweet!) At the bootie rack,I cracked. A pair of little red mary janes made me get choked up. (plus they were only two dollars, so you bet I bought them!)
And the dogs-- I'm getting all maternal with them. They have never seemed so unbelievably cute before and I think about them during the day when I'm away.
What is going on with me?!

another frame of interest

I was sitting at a stoplight on the "Larry" Expressway, and in front of me was a mid 90's Toyota Tercel with bubbling home-job window tint. Its license plate frame said in engraved lettering: "Madly In Love-- Deeply in Dept."
Shows what I know, I thought it was spelled d-e-b-t.
Maybe it was like a free prize in the window tint kit.

The price is wrong, bi... wait no, I love you Bob

In just a few weeks, it could be me and Bob.

 
I just got back from the dentist, with my Carl's Jr. Famous Star with chesse (mmmm) and I switched on TV to keep me company while I eat. The tail end of the Price is Right was on, and then it came to me.
I could go on the Price Is Right! Me! I could, I'm an adult, living in California, and I have a weird name, what am I waiting for?
I've had this theory since I was a kid that they call people to "come on down" who have odd names. And that if I ever got the chance, I was sure to be called!
I already requested 3 tickets for June 6th (because there's a good chance I'll have that day off of work). I ordered one for Kevin's friend who lives down there, I guess I should ask him, ha.

I was comissioned to do this for church...get it? yeah I know, it's cheezy. 

It could have been inferred...

...that I don't like phones.
I feel the need to be clear about this so no one takes my phone-avoidance personally. But I do avoid them, and if you've ever called me, you might have picked up on this.
I heard once at a seminar from a very successful business man the following quote: "If you don't want to be found, you don't have to be." (He was talking about taking after hour phone calls) I like to think that justifies my behavior.
I just looked over at my home answering machine and it was literally blinking "50," as in 50 messages. Yep, 50. Once it got over 10, I stopped checking. I'm just being honest here. So if any of those were yours, sorry bout that.
I just turned the machine to "Answer Off."
My voice mail gets checked about 3 times a week, sometimes twice.
I of course get the reaction "why do you even have a cell phone?"
Here's why:
If I need to ask Kevin what we need while I'm at the grocery store.
If I'm going to be late somewhere.
If I need to call for directions while on the way to somewhere.

Once again, this should not be taken personally. My apologies, but that's me.
FYI, Kevin doesn't check messages either, so we have an understanding. Peas in a pod, we are.

hot diggity dog!

I got it! Does a high chair get any cooler than that?

Pre-Mother's Day Nugget

Kevin and I were walking in a parking lot back to our cars and we saw a personalized plate that said "OEDIPUS." Let me catch you before you start pondering why someone would pay to have that on their car-- it was framed with the words "I *heart* my mother".
Um...

good heavens

I received an email today from one Cunera Bushbury of Cunera155@fhndgermse.powernolimits.net.

I truly hope no woman actually has that name.

And Miss Bushbury, if that is your real name, I don't believe you that your "work from home" jobs are "legal and profitable."

So there.

"you are not a warrior, you are just a little gerken!"

Enough with the weirdness of yesterday! Today is a new day and I shall post.
Everyone knows the cliche of pickles and ice cream cravings. Everyone also likes to ask me about my cravings. It's just chocolate right now (Kevin just doesn't understand why I need so many brownies). But I was at the store yesterday and was in the pickle aisle, so I bought some just in case. I'm at home for lunch right now, and I didn't want to cook something just yet so I pulled out the pickle jar and ate one...
then another...
and another...
I think I've eaten 6 in the last ten minutes. They're German, maybe that has something to do with it. Or that they happen to taste just like a cucumber version of salt and vinegar potato chips, which are irresistible themselves.
Either way my sodium is through the roof now, so I'll exercise self control and put them back...just one more...

his comment shoud have its own space

This gentleman posted this comment to my last post, but I thought it more appropriate to put it out here on it own. (I'm all about appropriate):

"You have a riveting web log and undoubtedly
must have atypical & quiescent potential for
your intended readership. May I suggest that
you do everything in your power to honor
your Designer/Architect as well as your audience.
Please remember to never restrict anyone's
opportunities for ascertaining uninterrupted
existence for their quintessence.

Best wishes for continued ascendancy,
Howdy
Editor

'Thought & Humor'
Cyber-Humor & Cyber-Thought
http://ilovehowdy.blogspot.com/
Harvard Humor Club
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Harvard_Humor_Club/"

I know, I know, we're all thinking "hello thesaurus."
I think what he means to say is "you should give more attention to God in your blog." Fair enough. I do think about blogging about my whole meaning for living, but frankly it's not that entertaining, so I don't. Lots of things happen in my life that I don't post about. But to be fair on this post, I'll share a few morsels about it:
I accepted Chirst as my savior in 1990. I made the decision on my own, and I didn't grow up in a "church home." I was baptized at age 17 at Fellowship Bible Church of Dallas, a church which I also chose on my own (the reason I explain that is because many non-christians think we're all brainwashed conformers that don't think.) I have been to Mexico twice to help build homes and churches in the name of Christ, and two years ago I went to Togo, Africa to help with Christian humanitarian efforts there. I now attend Westgate Church in San Jose (see link on side), which is another non-denominational Christian church. All of this is just the tangible stuff of my faith that I offer up because I like illustrations and what real faith is about isn't really visible. It's hardly explainable. But the bottom line is, Christ is the only way possible for us to be together with God-- in a limited sense here on earth, and eternally after this life is over. God designed it that way. It's the only thing I can say *I know.*
It's so much more multi-faceted than that. But I'll leave it there.

(now I'm starting to doubt my interpretation of that guy's comment, maybe he was talking about something totally different, oh well.)

when you think of Mother's Day

According to mass advertising, the appropriate gifts for your mom on mother's day are:
-flowers
-doodads or chachskies that come from Hallmark and say "mom"
-really mushy cards that fold out into like 4 panels of poetry

But I'd like to share what I sent *my* mom for mother's day:
-3 pairs of "Texas Hold 'Em" underwear
-A card "from the dog" that basicly says "sorry no flowers, how about some fertilizer?"

And you know what? She'll love it. May my daughter be as clever as I am. ;)

Okay, here they are

This is what he usually looks like, minus glasses. 

Due to Allison's references, I must give you the comparison...Kevin... 

Rhett. 

aurora's meme

So apparently I'm obligated to do this meme. Alright, you twisted my arm:

If I could be a chef, I would make so much pie. Pie pie pie. I'd be like the Pie Man, but sans the evil mustache. The only savory exception would be the chicken-pot variety, that I've come to appreciate thanks to Kevin. And speaking of Kevin, I am certain, that if I were a pie chef, Kevin's family would still think that he secretly made the pie, and that I am incompetent to do so.

If I could be a librarian, no one would like my library but me. I would take out all the engineering books, vietnamese comic books, and harlequin romances(this includes the Danielle Steele type novels that line checkout stands). I would also make sure no book by Bishop Spong, Dan Brown or Thomas Huxley would ever be found on my shelves. Oh and knowing me, there would be more books on the to-be-shelved carts than on the actual shelves.

If I could be a llama rider, (I can't believe someone other than me or Daniel would incorporate llamas into a meme) I would probably smell bad. Especially my pants, they would smell like sweaty llamas. But I bet we wouldnt have to mow the lawn or pay as much for gas. I would also make the llama wear funny hats. I don't have a reason, and I shouldn't have to. It's my llama fantasy.

If I could be an architect, I would design stuff like Gaudi. His buildings look like they are made from food. (Don't eat them! You'll get in trouble with el policia)

If I could be an inn-keeper, I would want my inn to be tacky, like the Madonna Inn, in which every room is designed differently and decorated like Disney meets an old west saloon. Oh and gentlemen, inside the bathroom in the lounge, there's a waterfall urinal. Yes, that's right, a motion sensored, landscaped waterfall. (Obviously, I had to do recon, but I wouldn't be the first girl who peeked in.) That's the kind of creative thinking I appreciate.

This is the list I chose from, FYI:
Choose your poison...
If I could be a scientist
If I could be a farmer
If I could be a musician
If I could be a doctor
If I could be a painter
If I could be a gardener
If I could be a missionary
If I could be a chef
If I could be an architect
If I could be a linguist
If I could be a psychologist
If I could be a librarian
If I could be an athlete
If I could be a lawyer
If I could be an inn-keeper
If I could be a professor
If I could be a writer
If I could be a llama-rider
If I could be a bonnie pirate
If I could be an astronaut
If I could be a world famous blogger
If I could be a justice on any one court in the world
If I could be married to any current famous political figure

You're supposed to pick out 5 and nd it to 2 other bloggers. Eh, I ain't sendin' it.