I just discovered these things at Bed Bath and Beyond a few days ago.  Seriously.  Am I the last person on the planet to know that there is such a thing as a bra extension?  And now I want a package.  I wish they had extensions for my jeans' buttons.  Now that would be something to invest in.

Politically Incorrect?

My new AM must-see TV is "Morning Joe" on MSNBC.  For three hours every day I am bombarded with all the things that make me want to jump off a bridge getting an education on all our current and pressing concerns in this world.  The resulting soup in my head isn't pretty.  At all.

Here is a dream I had a few nights ago:

I was on vacation with President and Mrs. Obama, Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, and a friend of mine who lives in Chicago.  We were all in a tropical spot, and I was charged with babysitting the Obama's baby boy.  A chubby-cheeked, happy, drooling lily-white baby boy.  Mrs. Obama needed my services to keep this baby in sunscreen.  He was blindingly white, and I had to apply his sunscreen constantly.  The challenge was that it came in a chapstick applicator, and the baby wanted to eat it.  Even worse, every chance he got, he would put the top in his mouth.  And if he choked, it would be my fault.  So I decided I would reason with him, and looked him in his baby blue eyes and calmly explained that he couldn't do that any more.  And he obeyed me.  The end.

What's your take on this?  I think I must be needed in Washington.  Like, yesterday.

This-n-That Thursday

Here we go:

• If I hear the phrase "on so many different levels" one more time, I'm gonna explode.
• I am so over this winter.
• I am also over that Blackberry commercial where they are looking for that Callahan kid.
• I had a dream last night I was a barber. And all my clients were bald.  WTH?
• Where are Fred and Bessie?
• I am seriously concerned about Lisa Rinna's lip issue.  See what I mean? And, let's not talk about that Jo Ann Pflug hair.

• When did ice on the roads become black ice?  
• The Bird has agreed to let me go to college with her.  Right Birdy?
• What do you call it when you get food poisoning from salmon?
• Seriously, why did I sign up for that half marathon?

Pimping: My Girl Kate

Listen up.  Our wonderful Country Girl Kate is having another giveaway.  Get over there.  And vote for your favorite textured picture.  The contest ends on Thursday (2/26).  She's been on a texturitation mission.  And, yes, I have just decreed texturitation a word.  So there.  My favorite texturitized shot is Mr. and Mrs. Goldfinch on Valentine's Day:

And now that I have looked at it,

I think it might be Mr. and Mr. Goldfinch.

And that is a-okay in my book.

Go be who you are, and

go leave a comment.

What's your favorite shot?

Tell her Mental P sent you.

And may the best pimp win.

Have you noticed that I like to start sentences with the conjunction, "And"?

And what are you going to do about it?

I thought so.

Hold Your Babies Tight

Or anyone--we are all someone's baby....

Please visit The Macs for a reminder to cherish each day.

Start at the beginning if you can--it's not that long.

Two and a half weeks can be a lifetime.

Me?  I'm going to wake my kids and hug them now.

Mental P Needs....

I loved this little exercise.  You put your name followed by the word "needs" in a google search and post the first ten things that come up.  Here are mine:

• Mental P needs attention.... (No comment)
  

• Mental P needs someone with her when she goes outdoors....(Someone to carry my parasol?)
  

• Mental P needs constant care and attention....(Where do I go to find this?)
  

• Mental P needs a new home....(As long as someone else is paying for it.)
  

• Mental P needs a job....(And she has her resume ready!)
  

• Mental P needs a dentist....(Anybody have a mint?)
  

• Mental P needs to grow up and get over it....(But isn't that boring?)
  

• Mental P needs to get better inspired....(Has anyone seen my muse?  I think she is in Mexico.)
  

• Mental P needs a helping hand to skate....(And training wheels.)

• Mental P needs a new scene name....(Suggestions?)
  

• Mental P needs your help to take the beauty title....(I know this is number 11, but I couldn't resist.  It had to be said.)
  

If you haven't done this, you should.  It's good for some belly laughs.  Which reminds me, I'm late for the gym.  Later.

Happy

I believe that the very purpose of our life is to seek happiness. 

 That is clear.

Whether one believes in religion or not,

whether one believes in this religion or that religion,

we are all seeking something better in life.

So, I think, the very motion of our life is towards happiness....

~Dalai Lama

Go Go Boots

Remember these tires?

They were going to be behind a backyard tree for a few day?

Guess what?

Yup.

Happy Saturday everyone!

Giddy

UP!

Mama got her red cowboy boots.

And all is well in the world.

Unless you watch the news.

Because all is not well there.

So, I am going to provide you with a little diversion.

Garden Boots:

Barbecue Boots:

Boots and Bunnies:

Worm's Eye Boots:

And now some answers for you curious folks:

• The Bird and I did not get any shoes in NYC last week.  We did, however, get her a beautiful graduation dress *sigh* and a few other little frocks.
• POTUS stands for Politics of the United States.  It is channel 130 on XM radio, and it is an amazing news resource.
• The chimp, for those of you who haven't heard, was a 200 pound "pet" of a woman in a town here in Connecticut.  His name was Travis, and he went berserk earlier in the week and almost killed a neighbor.  She had apparently changed her hairstyle and Travis the chimp didn't like it.  He was finally shot and killed by the police, but not before he basically ripped that woman's face off.  Seriously.  She has been transferred to the Cleveland Clinic today, and we may be hearing about a new face transplant....

Now go forth and have a great weekend.  And try not to watch the news too much.  It'll put a damper on just about anything.

This-n-That Thursday

Very random nonsense this week.

• When does "Parental Control" become an oxymoron?
  
• Is there ever too much vanilla extract?
  
• How do you cure shin splints?
  
• I just watched "The Bachelor" for the first time ever on Monday.  I want Melissa to win.
  
• I think that lady was having sex with her chimp.  Oh yes I do.
  
• Whoever told me about that POTUS channel on XM, thanks!  I love it.
• Suze Orman is starting to bug me.
• I think I heard springtime birds yesterday.
• What is going to happen to those 6 million foreclosed houses?
• And will I ever be able to sell my house when there are 6 million "deals" out there?
• Why did I sign up for that half marathon?

Point of View

One of our lessons this week in my photo class is Point of View.

I have found my favorite:

The Worm's Eye View.

I may never stand up again.

Except for cocktail hour.

What's your favorite perspective?

Fashion Week Faux Pas

Oops.

At least she was wearing panties.

That makes a mama proud.

Aaaaand....

Do you think it was the shoes?

Or the low blood sugar?

Whatever the case, she sure handled it well.

photos

Think About It

Dora says,  "Thanks."

So does Noelle.

Maybe we should make a visit to our local shelter this week.

Empty nest feeling is getting stronger.

Need a new family member.

Like a puppy or something.

Chicken Little Was Right

This is an artist's rendition of the space junk out there.

Maybe we should get some helmets.

And some more wine.

Wise Woman

For every ailment under the sun, 

There is a remedy, or there is none, 

If there be one, try to find it; 

If there be none, never mind it.

-- Mother Goose

Happy Saturday

someecards

Happy Day

The Bird and I are taking the 9:18 this morning.

Watch out NYC.

We are on a mission.

Abe

"With malice toward none; with charity for all;

with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right,

let us strive on to finish the work we are in;

to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle,

and for his widow, and his orphan - to do all which may achieve and cherish

a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

Out of Retirement...

...and into the winner's circle.

10 year-old Stump, a Sussex Spaniel, took Best in Show last night at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City.  That's 70 in people years.  In case you didn't know.  Stump was retired in 2004, and almost died from a mysterious disease; 5 days ago, his trainer decided to give him a last trot around the ring.  The rest is history.  You go Stump!  An inspiration to all of us out there starting our next acts!

And Now, Some Shoes

Sarah Jessica Parker's new kicks....

Giving new meaning to cloven hooves.

Maybe the devil made her wear them.

source

Rock or Hard Place?

In anticipation of my soon-to-be-empty-nest, I have been testing the waters for my next act.  Such a wonderful market out there for a job-seeker.  Not.  But I have always had a clean, half full glass, so I am hopeful.  I have been offered a 100% commission-based sales position, and while I have never considered my to be a salesperson, I believe we are all basically involved in sales of some sort...either selling ourselves or our ideas. 

I want to get back into the world of the gainfully employed after spending the last 18 years volunteering.  The catch?  I don't want to be a sales person.  The possibility of high earning potential had me initially interested, but my heart isn't in it.  While the income is important, I want to be really happy in my choice.  I wonder how many people love what they do...and how many just go to work to keep the bills paid.

What would you do?

I Want This

Seriously.

Does anybody have one of these?

He says it's gonna make me skinny.

Camera Class

As you may recall, Santa brought Mama a new camera.  It is quite the gadget, and has waaay too many buttons and doodads.  So, I signed up for a fun, interactive class over at ipost's place.  The class is called "Get off the Green Square" and is designed to help neophytes like me learn how to take a picture using a setting other than the Auto setting (the green one). 

Our first assignment is due tomorrow, and I thought I'd share a couple of my masterpieces shots with you.  But first, I want to give you a comparison to go by.  I went to the beach to shoot the sunset, and apparently there was a fellow next to me doing the very same thing.  Only he turned his shot over to our local blog WestportNow and they published it.

Nice, right?

Mine:

Sweet Dreams

Happy Mama

Sunday, February 8, 2009.  Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Clear

50°F

Feels like: 50°F

Going to Run Some Errands

Then I'm going to yoga class.

Need anything?

Closet Watch Friday

Today on our little closet project, we are going to check in on the Mental P. Offspring closets.  The two of them are quite distinct in their housekeeping standards.  Come on in for the tour.  

Here is a closet in The Bird's room.

All her little dresses are all lined up and neat.

She's such a good baby girl.

Here are some of her shoes.

She has swapped her summer shoes out for her winter shoes.

Unlike someone else in the house.

Check out those leopard jobs.

I don't understand her fixation on shoes.

Seriously.

Where does it come from?

And here we have her laundry.

In its basket.

All neat and waiting for a spin in the laundry room.

Across the hall is a different story.

Augie.

He actually paid cash money for that jacket.

Isn't it something?

Here we have a collection of assorted boxes.

I also found a few Christmas wrappings.

Forget about even getting to the desk behind all this mess.

And, yes, those are pink and green sneakers under that football jersey.

Size 13.  Pink and green.

The boy's closet.

I've given up on that t-shirt collection there.

Notice all those empty hangers?

Here's all the stuff that belongs on them.

I count 4 beautiful neckties mixed in this heap.

And the laundry basket?

Is full of clean laundry.

From last week.

Gah.

This-n-That Thursday

It's been a while...

• I don't like the word stimulus.
• I wish AARP would leave me alone.
• Have you ever seen a "pretty little thing" with a poor old man?
• Should I renew my XM subscription?
• I wonder where Olivia Newton John's "drowned" boyfriend really is.
• Exactly how much is too much coffee?
• Has anybody seen any nice red cowboy boots in their travels?
• I actually gasped when I looked at my year end statement for my investments piddly stock account.
  
• I wonder what would happen to me if I decided not to pay a chunk of my taxes.
• When did Regis Philbin become a redhead?
• Speaking of hair, are you aware that cat hair can form a tumbleweed? But only on a dark wood floor?
• I had a dream that I was driving a school bus while wearing cross-country ski boots. What do you think it means?
• The next night, I dreamed that I was an olympic cross-country skier, and my special technique was just like a speed ice skater.  A la Hans Brinker.  

Virtual Vacation

It's the best I can do.

Now get back to those snow shovels.

Did You Know...

...that the recent $18 billion in Wall Street Bonuses (to bailout company employees) would have paid the tuition for every incoming college freshman this year?  Our tax dollars are hard at work.

The Rodent has Spoken

Six more weeks of winter.

Gah.