Some of Santa's lesser-known family members.

Lefty Claus (always leaning slightly to the side)

Melvin Claus (he has anger management issues)

Charlene Claus (suffers from occasional uncontrollable twitches)

Eugene Claus (a one-eyed "special" person)

Christmas Eve Cuteness

They're right...

...when they say that kids have more fun with the box than with the toy that came in it.

Hello out there...

Well, I'm back. It's been a long, busy month-or-so, with the holidays and all. We were just getting back to a normal schedule when we had the MLK day. It was nice, especially since the weather was so gray, wet, and cold, to hang around the house chillin' with my peeps.

I have a bunch of pictures from the holidays, and once I get them downloaded I'll be sure to share. I know you're on the edge of your seat and have been anxiously checking this site daily in anticipation of seeing my boys opening their Christmas presents and just generally being cute. You will not be disappointed. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, please follow the link to one of my favorite websites, Neatorama. There is always something cool to look at or think about (sometimes both!) over there. Last time I checked, the first post was an extra-long one about fads through the years, but the guy updates frequently so there's no telling what you'll find.

I missed the Golden Globes last night--I like to watch Red Carpet stuff like that--because we watched Disc 1 of "The Return of the King" instead. My kids have always liked the LOTR movies, but since we've recently read "The Hobbit" and because of course, they're getting older, they pick up more and better understand things in the movie. It's funny, too, that they want to know if some events in the movies "really happened," meaning "Was that in the book?" I guess they've soaked up a lot from listening to Kirk and me discussing it, because last night Cody said, "I don't like all that "Arwen is dying' stuff." Me neither, Cody.

I wouldn't have been able to see the awards show anyhow, because our original plan was to read some more Potter. We're about 2/3 of the way through "Sorceror's Stone." This will be Cody's first time through the books. He was too young to sit still when we read them through for Chet a few years back. The reading for last night was cancelled, though, because Colt, who is now the one too little to sit through all those chapters, was wide awake and more than willing to watch some LOTR action.

All that being said, I just remembered that E! (love that exclamation point!) replays its Red Carpet stuff on the morning after an award show. Yippee!

Have a great day!

I haven't blogged in...

A coon's age.

So how was your Christmas and New Year?

Still here

Hope you are having a fun Çhristmas season.

Mike was right

It was the Hobbit. I have no problem admitting he got it right. It happens so rarely, I should have acknowledged it immediately.

Puppy Eats Baby's Toes

Have you heard about this yet? It's from good old Bossier City, but
it's even made it onto Fox News.

From KTBS:
Police said the Hansches have told several different stories about what happened. Natale said the couple is charged with child desertion for allegedly putting their baby in a dangerous situation. Natale said the negligence charges apply because the child was under the age of 10 and was exposed to a danger from which she could not protect herself.

Sick. Sad.

I want one!

Urban Outfitters now has available a "Charlie Brown Pathetic Tree," a replica of the sad tree the Peanuts gang had in the classic Christmas cartoon. It comes with one red ornament ball, and can be shaped however you like it.
If you're looking for a minimalist, nostalgic decoration, it doesn't get any better than this.

Why I quit Journalism

My friend Cindy, at "There and Back Again Farms," posted on her blog an opinion about news. Here's her post:

"Why I don’t watch the news
Mike and I were talking about having one of his friends over who is Muslim, and I’m excited because I’ve never sat down and talked to a Muslim before, and then it occured to me that I have no idea what’s going on in the news in that part of the world right now. Not that that would necessarily be part of the dinner conversation, but it made me think about why I don’t care to watch the news. One, I tend to think it is entirely biased. They show you only what they want you to see so they can get their sensational story out and get everyone riled up. Two, its usually downright depressing. Who really wants to hear about the latest murderer before they go to bed? I think there should be a news station that only does happy stories. What would happen if we only told the good things that happen, and only say supportive things about the president, and highlighted the good things this country has done instead of the criminals. Maybe there’s a website that already does that, I don’t know, I do watch the discovery channel, but there should be on one prime time TV, so we could learn whats going on without all the destructive talk. Think about the power of positive. It could change the world."

Here's my reply:

"We already tried that. It was called the 1950’s.
I think major contributors to its demise were the technological advances (TV especially) that led to journalists crawling all over everything, to see if something was happening; when nothing was, the journalist poked it with a stick to see what happened then. Soon every one of them thought he owed it to the world to let his opinion be known.
Our sinful human nature (or was it Satan?) caused us to obsess over other people’s failures and especially delight in the downfall of the mighty; and that’s why we now have Fox News, CNN, the NY Times, the Enquirer…
And now the internet spews it everywhere at the speed of light. It’s only going to get worse.
That all being said, I haven’t a clue about what’s going on in the Middle East. I know the very very basics but I can’t stand to hear all that negativity. What I tend to do is go to some internet news pages and read about what seems interesting to me."


Follow the link and add your opinion, if you'd like.

Name that book

I've been reading this book to Cody at night. What is it?

Sick Wiggle Quits

Greg (Yellow Shirt) has some kind of illness the doctors haven't identified yet. He's quitting the group to hopefully get better.

I hope he's gonna be OK! I like the Wiggles. There, I said it. (Anthony is my favorite)

By the way, put this one down in the "best headline" archives.

Did her mom buy that?

What about 7- and 9-year-olds?

Yep, I've got the cutest of those, too.

All right, we'll call it a draw

Python bursts after swallowing alligator
Wildlife officials in Florida found the remains of a wildlife deathmatch between the two high-end predators. Follow the link to learn more.

That's what I feel like after Thanksgiving week. And you?

In case you were wondering...

...this is what the world's cutest 3-year-old looks like.

Birdie

O.J. "confession"

Publisher on O.J.: 'I consider this his confession'

I didn't think he could get more disgusting. I was all set to post his picture but it made me sick.

Letterman said, "He is going to reveal where he hid the knife he didn't have."

Legal experts say that since he can't be tried twice for the same crime, he can publish whatever he wants without impunity.

I think I'm gonna hurl.

Panda-poop paper and Ka-ka cars

A zoo in Thailand has found a use for the 50 pounds of poop produced daily by their pandas: make it into paper to sell to the tourists!

Now if they could just come up with cars that run on dung-power. But would the exhaust smell like farts? I can see it now--

The Toyota Thunder-Turd: We're #1 in #2
The Porsche Poopmobile: Holy crap, this car is fast!
The Dodge Dookie XL: Flush-n-Rush
The Suzuki $h!temobile: For Shizzle!

Congratulations Mitsy!

We are happy for you! (Except George)

Otterly Adorable

Ok, here's a little more "cute" for you. Awhile back I posted a link to cuteoverload.com, where you can "aww" your way through many, many pwecious images. I looked on there this morning, and this is what I saw.

Deep Otter Thoughts
"Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants."

Now that sounds like something I would say.

For all the pets on your Christmas list...

If you have money to burn and a pet you dote on, you just might need to check out this website, where you can order CD's for dogs, cats, even birds. This is from the website:

"Songs To Make Dogs Happy!" is the first qualitatively and quantitatively researched musical CD, based upon 200 canine participants’ responses to what THEY would like to hear in songs!
The Laurel Canyon Animal Company and Dr. Kim Ogden, a nationally known Intuitive Animal Communicator, worked together to create music dogs love to listen to! A CD with 12 songs that will make your dog happy!

And there are children out there who don't have decent clothes to wear...

Yep

Mmmm...pie

What's better than a silly pie chart? More silly pie charts!

Luna Love

Let's just skip Halloween this year

Oh no. Too late.
My kids have already dressed up 3 times (for Scouts, church, and a birthday party) and it ain't even the 31st yet. I like Halloween as much as the next person, but I'm just sick of it already. Too much! But then again, I feel that way about lots of things I used to really care about, like being nice to others and personal hygiene. Just kidding (a little).

How original are you?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 58 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

McDonald's vows to stop killing hedgehogs

Who knew that a McFlurry could be deadly (other than diabetics or people allergic to overpriced, underflavored desserts).Apparently, the Hedgehog Welfare Society did.

Hedgehogs all over the U.K. were dying after sticking their heads into discarded McFlurry cups, looking for a little sticky goodness, only to find that they couldn't back out, due to their prickly quills. Starving to death because of looking for something to eat...tragically ironic, don'tcha think?

But after only FIVE YEARS of being petitioned by Hedgie lovers all over the world, Ronald McDonald has finally awoken from his gluttonous stupor to respond. Did they somehow make the McFlurry less desirable to hedgehogs? Did they encourage the government to (dare I say it?) make littering illegal? No, dummy. They changed the packaging.

McDonald's said in a statement the design change had resulted from pressure from the society which prompted "significant research and design testing" to develop new packaging. "The smaller aperture of the lid has been designed to prevent hedgehogs from entering the McFlurry container in the unfortunate incidence that a lid is littered and is then accessible to wildlife," it said.

And millions of tiny voices broke into the "Hallelujah Chorus."


Another good thing to come out of this: I've found a new resource for wacky-but-true news stories, like this one over here. The last sentence alone is worth following the link. We ain't got nothin' on the British when it comes to odd news.

I love rainy days!

No sarcasm intended. The only way it would be better would be if it were thundering and the wind blowing wildly. And if I were in Costa Rica.

Of course, tornadoes are no fun, but as for the rest of the stormy weather, bring it on. I am so glad it's fall. Anybody with me?

Hair in a hurry

This post is in conjunction with an ongoing project by Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer. You can follow the link to see a bunch more tips from other mommybloggers.

Here's my tip: If you ever have to suddenly look presentable and have no time to wash your hair, or if your hair's gone blah in the middle of the day, sprinkle a little baby powder in your hand and work it lightly through your hair for a quick picker-upper. Go easy; you don't want to end up looking like George Washington with a powdered wig. A little goes a long way. Note: I don't know how well this will work for brunettes, as my hair is medium-to-dark blonde. So to all you people who theoretically have less fun than me: try it out before your next shower to see how it works.

By the way, I use the lavender scented powder so I don't smell like I just changed a baby.

Name that costume

Cuteness fix

While helping my 4th-grader make a diorama of the Piney Wood Forest, I came across this picture. So, here's a little "Awwww" for ya today. And, because I care, here's a place you can get your "Cute" on every day! ; )

It's punkin time

I always think about tick-or-treating at Mrs. Ollie's house and getting one of her huge popcorn balls.
What are some of your memories of Halloween?

Superstitious?

Hey Vern!

I know I'm on a nostalgia kick lately, but here's another one for you: Ernest P. Worrell.
My 3-year-old and I watched "Ernest Goes to Camp" yesterday, and he just laughed!

Do you remember the TV show "Hey Vern, It's Ernest" that was only on for one season? My father the clown...
And let's not forget the classic, "Ernest Saves Christmas." He was at one with the yuletide, knowhutImean?
A bit of trivia for you: my first official date with my now-husband was to see "Ernest Scared Stupid" at the old Ruston movie theatre.

Tell me what you like best about Ernest.

Under Construction

1987

Remember this???

Happy Fall Y'all

Do you see the lady in the leaves?
If you like optical illusions, you'll find many more by following the link.

Paging Mr. Herman

Were you a fan of "Pee Wee's Playhouse" when you were a kid? I was. My little sister and my cousin and I would watch it every Saturday. It was so stupid, it was brilliant. It still is. If you happen to find it airing on Cartoon Network (Adult Swim), check it out. You'll remember things you never knew you knew in the first place, plus pick up on stuff that flew right over your head when you were young and innocent.
I saw Paul Reubens on Conan recently. He is a very funny man and seemed so down-to-earth.
Who can tell me his favorite Michael Jackson song?

Who?

Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou was arrested after being found slumped over the wheel in his car. He has been repeatedly been arrested on similar drug charges. I guess you could say he has a monkey on his back. He probably didn't have a very strong father figure. Do you know what sound the jailhouse door makes? Fifty bonus points to whoever can tell me.

a mantra...