Mom Chimes In

You remember this post from a few weeks back? I was talking about how Betsy had used the term "Repuglicans" and how that totally cracked me up. My mom sent a shot across the bow this morning with a reminder that the flip side of that pun coin is that they can call us Democraps.

Fair enough, Mom. Touche.

My sister just sent me this photo, from her recent trip to Italy

Need I say more?

LOL!

Funniest Thing Heard at Work Today

Today during a particularly enjoyable discussion about politics, Betsy called the other side "the Repuglicans."

Even my conservative mom and dad have to appreciate that clever turn of phrase, dontcha think? Aw, come on, it's just a little good-natured ribbing...

NOT a Creature in a Sci-Fi Movie

Galactagogue: an agent that promotes the secretion of milk.

So, NOT this:

but THIS:

And with that, I hereby establish the new "Learn Something New Every Day" category.

MomGyver

Quick: what do you use to mop up a hot tea spill when you're locked in a small room with your shirt pulled up, breast pump attached and on duty, and not a paper towel or napkin in sight?

A nursing bra pad, that's what.

If you don't know, these little beauties are filled with the same uber-absorbent material that's in diapers and maxi pads. They absord something like twenty times their weight in liquid.

Come to think of it, these things would make kick-ass cubicle coasters if they weren't so expensive!

Re-Blogging: "Man Cold"

Is re-blogging the same as re-gifting? Well, 'tis the season! Thanks to Dooce.com for giving me a laugh that I really needed this morning.

WARNING: Not for those with a quick gag reflex

As I headed downstairs to the computer during Mae's morning nap today, I encountered a pile of cat hork at the foot of the stairs, and gingerly stepped around it. I made a mental note to myself, determining that I'd clean it up after checking my e-mail and reading my blogs.

As any of you with children and/or beloved pets knows, a good parent (of humans or other critters) must pay attention to the frequency, consistency, and changing idiosyncrasies of poop, throw-up, and other icky matter emanating from the creatures for whose care we are responsible. So I also noted that whichever cat made this pile of vomit probably did so because he/she had not chewed his/her food properly. Or at all. There were full-size kibbles atop the more liquid-y portion of the mess--not just the little bites, but the big ones, the kind that we mix in with their regular food for the health of their teeth.

Here's the kicker. When I went back to clean it up, the kibble was gone. Apparently one of the kitties was still hungry after finishing off this morning's breakfast. Ew.

Now if we just had a dog, I'd never have to clean up ANY cat puke.

Everybody poops. Even Spidey.

Here's Arlo's Weeble Winnebago. Like all respectable campers for families on the go, it has a toilet.

Peek in through the back window, and what do you see? Why, it's Spiderman, providing a good example of how to use the potty! Rock on, Spidey!

The Stuart Davis Show - Episode 11: 581 c Day

I love Stuart Davis. All three of him. Consider him Permanently Laminated.

Arlo: Inspired by Pillows

I've written here before about Arlo's imagination--specifically, even, flights of fancy inspired by heaps of blankets and pillows on the bed. Remember this?
Here are two more examples.

1: Over the weekend, Arlo grabbed a pillow from our bed, propped it up on top of his head, and went marching up and down the hallway, proclaiming to be an ant. Says he: "I've got a big piece of toast!"

2: Burrowing, head first, under the down comforter and assorted pillows on the bed--all sans linens due to the fact that it was laundry day, and therefore all shades of white--he shouts a muffled "I'm a snowplow!" from beneath a "snowdrift." This one, in particular, blew me away because of course he hasn't seen a snowplow in action in months.

So predictable, it's alarming!

Okay, this is a little bit ridiculous. Some of you may remember this from the olden days, when I first started blogging on Friendster. The title of that blog post was "We Need A New Pose." I had pointed out these two casual family photos where Arlo, Ted, and I were configured in nearly identical poses:

This one, from January of 2006:

... aaaaaaaaaand there's this one, from last summer's Pig Roast in July:

Are you still with me? Good.

Now scroll down to my "Fame" post from August 13th.

I'm a little embarrassed. The next time someone takes a snapshot of our family, could you please just ask us to switch places or something?

How it feels on Day 227

Some of you did not know that I have a tattoo on my belly. Because I got this tat on a whim in Waterloo, while there with my best friend for the state pool tournament, I am a little insecure that it may not mean what they told me it means. It's supposed to be the Japanese character for "beautiful" -- and my best gal got the Chinese symbol for "woman" tattooed on her arm. Well, we think so, anyway. It's probably safe to say that Waterlooian tattoo artists (um, tattoo artists in general?) are not exactly well known for their foreign language prowess, so it may well say "ham sandwich" or, um, I don't know, "My kid's an honor student." I'm afraid to find out.

What I do know is that it's getting bigger by the day, and I can no longer see it in person. I enjoyed taking these "forced perspective" pics using my camera phone, and I thought y'all might like them too.

Afternoon Time Suck Opportunity

Warning: there is some seriously HOT dancing going on here:
http://www.ican.ie/campaigns/universalmusic/dancesisterdance/myvid/index.php?v=e992e46f19c5a

and here:
http://www.ican.ie/campaigns/universalmusic/dancesisterdance/myvid/index.php?v=e992e46f19c5a

I feel justified in having spent 15 minutes of my work day playing with this web site, because the link was sent to me by my boss. So there.

Have fun, and please do not think less of me for exposing you to such drivel.

Inspiration

Hilarious. You can thank me later for helping you get all your Christmas shopping done waaaaaaaaaay ahead of schedule. You're sure to find something here for everyone on your list!

Say It Ain't So, Hillary!

Hillary Clinton has chosen her campaign theme song. And I'm sorry to say it... call me shallow... but she may be in danger of losing my vote. I mean, not that I was decided yet, but still. This could be a dealbreaker.

You can hear it the way I heard it yesterday, on NPR's "Day to Day" show, by clicking here. Or you can hear it straight from Hill, on her campaign web site.

Who knew?

I just read an interview with Chris Rock on the LIFE magazine website, led there by the account on some celebrity blog (*blush* Yes, I read trashy blogs--but only on Fridays! Honest!) of this exchange:

LIFE: In the first movie you directed, Head of State, you were president of the United States. Is this country ready for an African American president?

ROCK: It's ready for a retarded president, why wouldn't it be ready for an African American president?

Upon reading this, I:

a) burst out laughing
b) instantly became a fan of Chris Rock, when up to this point I was somewhere between neutral and mildly positive on the subject
and
c) had to read the rest of the interview.

I just have to say, for whatever personae Rock has projected on the stage and screen over the years, I really like him as (presumably) himself. In this interview, he's funny (of course) but also sweet, wise, and has his head in the right place when he talks about marriage, kids, career, etc.

Check it out. It might just make you feel good. Oh, and the photos are pretty cute, too. Way to go, Chris Rock!