Wednesday, January 28, 2009

A Little Knowledge

Did you see how that last post featured a link to my friend's blog?

Oh, and I found the Christmas post's captions.
Apparently they didn't disappear, but got saved automatically as a "draft."

Photos.
Links.
Draft retrieval.

Watch out...

Still Lurking

A few days after I waxed so eloquent in admiration of the "smart, unpretentious, and hilarious" blogger I'd found via my better-than-hip blogging friend Pmom, her posts dried up. Was it something I'd said?

I was sorely tempted to leave a comment. Okay, so I started one, but deleted it because I don't know her. Was tempted to call Pmom and inquire whether she knew if she/her kids/the dog was sick? I resisted.

Turns out she was at the beach.
With her family.
In January.

My admiration continues to grow.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

A Little Help From My Friends

I think I've written before about how the chiropractor told me I'm slightly off (insert joke here) and this week I managed to get out of whack just minding my own business, baking in my kitchen. So just two visits to the chiro later (and he's so nice -- when I asked if it's that I'm fat and weak, he told me his worst tweak occurred at 17 going into a 3-point stance on the football field, before anyone had even touched him) and I'm walking around with just soreness and a renewed commitment to daily stretches. And a hideous cold that may be waning.

But this isn't about me. It's about my friend Christine, who came with her "voodoo" to help me with the pain the day I woke up at 3am and couldn't walk. And didn't make me feel bad when I had to bail on setting up and hosting the game for New Beginnings. And brought me some of the caramel popcorn from that night.

And my friend Michele, who came another day to bring me books to read while resting and while here swept the kitchen and wiped the table, insisted on vacuuming the other rooms downstairs, and stowed the leaf for the dining room table so it looks nice in there again.

And Debbie, who followed Michele by twenty minutes, cheerfully carrying in a yummy yummy meal ("can we have dinner early tonight, Mom?") that we enjoyed for two nights.

And Debbie, who showed up with Sprinkles cupcakes about 30 seconds after the first Debbie left and offered to bring homemade mac-n-cheese for dinner tonight. Mmmm.

Completely unsolicited and so much appreciated.

Thank you, friends.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Little Girls Big World

My wise friend Pmom's post about getting ready for the inauguration reminded me how wonderfully blessed we are to live in this country, at this time. And that I should talk to my children about it.

"We can share this with our children as we explain why having our first African American president is a big deal. And how amazing it is, given the scope of human history, that President Bush will simply go home and President Obama will simply move in. No one will bleed or lose his head."

We take that for granted, don't we?

The other day I read about violence in Pakistan, specifically a recounting of the girl who'd had acid thrown in her face on her way to school and the large number of girls' schools that have been destroyed by militants who think that educating girls is "un-Islamic."

My friend Amanda just finished Three Cups of Tea (see post of same title from December 2007) and yesterday we chatted about the inspiring story of the truly amazing Greg Mortensen going into this difficult and dangerous part of the world and doing so much good. I wondered if some of the schools destroyed were "his."

Tomorrow my girls have a holiday from school, thanks to MLK, and the next day is President Obama's inauguration. I am grateful for their inncence, for the blessed circumstances of their lives, but I want them to know why they have a holiday and that this inauguration is special. I am thrilled for all the little girls who will grow up seeing Sasha and Malia in the White House. And my heart aches for those girls in Pakistan.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

A Long Time Ago...Everyone Else Saw Star Wars III

You know the episode where we find out how Anakin became Darth? (No need for a spoiler alert at this point, right?) I caught it on TV last weekend and enjoyed making all the little connections, right down to Padme's wink-wink foreshadowing cinnabons. But, ahhh, Anakin, Yoda tried to warn you.

I liked the it's-a-small-galaxy-after-all cameo by Chewbacca. And Obi Wan-nabe Ewan McGregor's voice was eerily reminiscent of original Alec Guinness.

But I think Lucas missed the transport with Senator Organa. I mean, really, how could Leia have ended up so humorless if she were raised by Jimmy Smits?

Monday, January 5, 2009

Lurking

So on some level I am aware that complete strangers can read my blog -- hey, I check out friends' friends' blogs myself. All the time. But it kinda unnerved me to get my first random comment from a complete stranger a few weeks ago, even though the comment was not in the least bit creepy or intrusive. So I deleted it and am pretending it never happened.

I used to read a hilarious blog written by an American woman who married an Italian, lived in Rome, then moved back to the States. I read the Italian version for the challenge and the Engish, sometimes just to compare. But apparently life got too hectic here (shocker) and she put her blog on hiatus. At least I hope it will come back someday. And if it does, I may get up the nerve to comment. But maybe not. Because I still think it is a bit weird to comment on a stranger's blog. Does that surprise you?

Nevertheless, this morning while checking out a friends' blog -- shout out to Pmom, who uses $5 words regularly in conversation and on her blog this morning considerately provided a definition for ameliorate -- unnecessarily for me but perhaps not for you -- I ventured off to check out one of her blogging friends. The name sucked me in.

(By the way, Pmom, howabout swapping Pdad for Pdaddy? Trips off the tongue, doesn't it?)

So I went to this unknown blog with the fantastic name referencing Elvis Costello (!) and I read. And laughed. And guffawed. And quoted until John firmly reminded me he didn't have time for it right now. Hazards of working from home, you know?

And I have to say that I heart this blog. Love love love it. Smart, unpretentious, hilarious. Here is a sampling:

Who would you be more afraid to date in 1980, Michael Jackson or David Lee Roth? How about in 2008?

You might be wondering how I maintain a blog, read other blogs, and check the comments on my blog compulsively. Ladies and gentleman--I'm not Superwoman! I'll let you in on a little secret: Neglect. (accompanying photo shows baby smeared with chocolate)

Remember, an over-scheduled child is one who is enrolled in more classes than yours.

What's not to love?! And she voted for Obama. But now that I have devoted an entire post to my new blog crush I cannot bring myself to comment/gush about it on said blog. I am merely a lurker.

But I'll send my regards via Pmom.