I ordered some skin care stuff from philosophy last week and got free samples of the Shear Splendor hair stuff. It included this hair marinade. It's an oil you rub into your hair, let it sit as long as possible, then wash out. It smells yummy and definitely made my hair softer. I love it! Did I mention it smells yummy? Definitely better than my more common smell as of late - Eau de Bebe Puke.

Oh, I uploaded more pix from week 11 and 12. http://www.kodakgallery.com/tina

Q: what makes you smell funny, breaks your heart, but feeds your human spirit?

A: an adorable little baby who pukes all the time, cries for no apparent reason, then smiles at you.

Lauren finally totally passed her ear exam this week! She won't be able to say, "what Mom? I didn't hear you tell me I couldn't go to the Metallica concert with Billy."

She is going for an Upper GI test in 2 weeks to make sure everything is normal with the digestive track system.

Her Physical Therapist came today so she got her weekly baby massage. Because she was so tiny at birth, she qualified for the New York State Early Intervention program that offers rehabilitation services for free. It's a great program. Too bad it doesn't cover the Mommies too, because I, on the other hand, had to shell out $75 to get my neck and shoulders massaged, since they are killing me from looking down at her.

Our second baby shower was yesterday - the one Jenny threw for us. It was fabulous, especially the favors and the pulled pork, mmm. Jenny is so damn creative and generous. I am so lucky. Sarah and Lisa also made the most adorable jungle animal cupcakes... and they were delicious too - I hoarded a few to take home.

Jenny also made an awesome picture - Lauren's name spelled out in photos of letters (I will post a picture soon). It will be a family treasure.

We got lots of other great things too, now I just need a bigger house for all Little L's stuff!

Little L, though doing pretty good, is still going to the eye dr every week, still not passed the hearing test on her right ear, still having reflux and spitup issues, still having lung/breathing issues (she's a periodic breather or something like that), has thrush, and is not gaining enough weight (a problem I wish I had). She has to go for an Upper GI in a few weeks to rule out any malformations of the gastrointestinal gear. I'm not too worried because I think she is spitty from her medicine.

She like to stare at the tv, which scares me, because I know she is genetically predispositioned to want to watch hours of E! Entertainment Television.

Why doesn't the media point out how Tom & Katie lied about their pregnancy? I remember when they first announced it she was supposedly 2 months behind me. I KNEW her bump was too big, she was showing as much as I was... then, a week later, the timeline changed by a month... then, sure enough, at some point, she caught up and viola, had her baby within days of my original due date! I KNEW it! LIARS!

Ah, remember the old days, when Tom Cruise seemed normal and attractive. Now he seems like a horse-toothed lunatic and I have no desire to see any of his movies. RUN KATIE, RUN! Get Suri a semi-normal life!

It makes me wonder... if I had loads of money, tons of adoring fans, and was recognized in every corner of the world, would I turn in to a wacko? Would I star in a movie with Jake Gyllenhaal, divorce my husband and within weeks, marry Jake only to have it annulled 2 months later? Would I spend more money on handbags than most people in third world countries see in their lifetime? Would I lose 40 pounds and have to use my ultra-expensive handbag, filled with cash and water bottles, to keep me from blowing away in a strong wind - and yet still claim not to have an eating disorder? Would I assault someone with my cell-phone? Would I change Lauren's name to Jamba?

I'd like to think I wouldn't.

I am so addicted to reality shows. But the competition-based and how-to-improve-yourself-or-your-kids ones, not necessarily the watch-us-live-together and either hate-each-other-or-have-sex kind (not that those aren't fun to watch either).

American Idol, Top Chef, Next Food Network Star, American Inventor... all on my Faux-Tivo.

Nanny 911, Supernanny, Honey We're Killing the Kids (or, as it could be more accurately titled, How Not to Raise Fat Lazy Ugly Kids), Shalom in the Home, What Not to Wear, 10Years Younger... all helping me to be a better dressed parent.



PS, here are my picks for the competition shows:

American Idol - Chris (gotta go with the Rocker this time)

Top Chef - Lee Ann

Next Food Network Star - Guy

American Inventor - The Un-brella

Fuzzy Hair,
originally uploaded by tostina.

Posted more pix. Little L is 5 lbs 5oz now! Hard to believe she was a little 2 pound peanut. She has not passed the hearing test for her right ear but is otherwise doing very well.

She has little red dots that the doctor said are hemangiomas that should go away. Chuck calls them Chuck Mangiones. Bah!

I think Jenny already blogged about this, but I finally went in and played with this cool little app Kodak has where you can upload pictures and see them in the gallery commercial. I had worked on this a tiny bit before all the pregnancy craziness started.

I especially like the dramatic ending.

Another think I was working on - the Kodak Birdcam. It follows the Peregrine Falcons that roost in Kodak tower. They laid SIX eggs this year, that's amazing!

http://www.kodak.com/go/birdcam

Froggy Cupcake

Froggy Cupcake,
originally uploaded by tostina.

This three dollar cupcake went smoosh before I could get him home. I half suspect my hubby plotted his demise upon "bringing in the groceries" so, rather than having to save him for Grandma's birthday (you can't give an 85 year old woman a smooshed frog cupcake - she just won't understand), he was able to eat the disastercake himself.

Hello, my name is Tina and I am a SuDoku addict. I remember back in November at Sit & Knit, Lisa mentioned SuDoku and I had never tried it and didn't think I'd be interested. Then, while on bed rest at the hospital, I did one (or tried to do one) in the newspaper. It's like crystal meth - it only takes once to become addicted.

I now buy any SuDoKu book I can get my hands on, grab abandoned newspapers, and play on my cell phone. Yikes!

PS - Natalie, can you send me an email, I don't have your email address at home.

Son of a b, I missed applying for the World Series of Pop Culture by ONE DAY. I got all the sample questions right. As if I could jet off to NYC, but still, I really think I would have kicked butt in that.

I didn't get the nickname "TV Guide Tina" back in college for nothing.

PS - This Swaddle Me blanket is the bomb. Thank you again Catie! I can't believe how much better she sleeps when she's wrapped up tightly. I was told this was so, but now I know and I worship at the house of baby in a burrito!

If you're not babied-out, I just published more pictures from the past couple weeks.

.

Yes, it's true, the little one came home Tuesday - after over 7 weeks in NICU. Which considering she started with an APGAR score of 1, is amazing. She is on many meds, still has lung issues, weighs a mere 4lbs 9oz (which seems huge compared to the 2-2 she weighed at birth), but they feel she is stable and doing well.

Tuesday night was crazy, I think I slept in 10 minute increments. She's a grunter and a squeaker - and with each noise, I had to jump up and chekc her (in the bassinett beside our bed). Last night was a little better, I think I got a few hours, in one hour chunks.

I am convinced that I will never get a good night's sleep again. So much for sleeping until noon on Saturdays. Yes, I am a night owl and a sleeper and I have to be honest, I always dreaded the lack of sleep deal with babies.

Other thoughts and things :
- is this life really entrusted to MY care?
- every driver on the road is a reckless bastard
- what the hell do I put in a diaper bag besides diapers?
- how the hell do I dress this kid?
- what if I'm roasting/freezing her?
- how can one 4lb baby make so much laundry?
- what a little angel, I can't believe she's here
- I can't believe Peppermint Tina, Catie and Lindsay (blog friends) all sent such nice gifties (THANK YOU!!)
- did I eat today?
- is that normal for a baby?
- I wonder what Parkleigh looks like these days
- must... shop... soon... or will burst
- ooh, Oprah's on!
- ooh, American Inventor is on!
- ooh, Top Chef is on!
- finally Chicken Little got voted off American Idol!
- damn, I didn't realize the next season of America's Next Top Model had started!
- I miss Project Runway
- it will suck when I have to start watching Rolie Polie Olie and Blues Clues all the time - losing my tv shows might suck as much as losing sleep
(just being honest about my shallowness)

Holy crap, registering for baby stuff is ulcerating. It literally feels like you are making life or death decisions.

For example, while we were at Babies R Us registering (I LOVE scanning barcodes - boop, boop, boop), we registered for this Papasan cradle swing. It looks really cool, right? And it swings from side to side or right to left. Then, online, I read the reviews:

"Then I realized the swing started smoking, so I imediately took her out of the swing and threw it ousde when the dial part went up in flames!"

"I found her once with her head hanging over the side of the swing still belted in and a few days later my son saw her belted in with her head hanging off the front."

AAAGGHH! So I was going to let someone buy this death trap for my child!

I'm going to go cough up blood now, for I am sure I am going to choose a stroller that is prone to roll away on it's own, find the nearest bar and order Lauren a vodka on the rocks - to be put into a baby bottle that will certainly cause her to need braces later in life.

So with most of my time spent at the hospital, my tv watching has dropped off dramatically. No more FBI Files, no more Cash Cab. But I did catch up on Project Runway in time to catch the last few episodes. I thought for sure Santino would win (and was actually pulling for him by the end). I also got hooked on American Idol and have yet to break that habit. I think Mandisa and Chris will go all the way. And, I'm sorry, I don't find the dorky kid cute or likable. I hope he gets voted off. Maybe when he's 22 he'll actually be cute, but at 16, with that horrible haircut and tiny glasses, he DOES look like Chicken Little and I find him incredibly annoying. Rant over.

-----------
And as for Miss Lauren, she is progressing well and they are saying she may come home soon! She is still little, 3lbs 14oz, but gaining each day. I mean look at the size of that ginormous cheek! She is definitely on her way to being a very chubby baby.

Her little digestive track isn't working so great yet, so she grunts alot, sounding alot like the character Mo Collins used to play on Mad TV.

She smiles alot - even if it is gas, it's adorable.

Oh, and I put up more pix at http://www.kodakgallery.com/tina

Often, as I sit there holding my little girl, I think, "wow, I can't believe she's mine, she's like my little toy."

I can tickle her nose. I can move her mouth up and down and make her look like she's singing I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy. And, I can dress her in whatever I want. And yes, I will be dressing her like fuzzy little animals until she can verbalize her distaste for hats with ears. I'm assuming around age 12.

While little miss Lauren it doing well, Mommy is not. The pain in my leg IS from not one, but two blood clots.

I'm sporting some very attractive compression hose, they'll be all the rage in Milan this spring. Not to mention a chicken-pock looking stomach full of tiny bruises from the shots, which may need to continue for up to six months!

Hubby has learned to give me the shots, not sure I could do it myself. I think he secretly enjoys it. The needle itself doesn't hurt much, but the medicine burns like hell fire! Then Chuck has to put up with my whimpers and whines for about a half hour.

Since we barely have a spare minute outside of being at the hospital, our friends have been amazing at keeping us well fed. Jenny made Teeny Tiny Tuna Noodle Casserole, Aaron made us this scruptious banana-with-torched-sugar-crust dessert, people at Chuck's office made us Goulash and a very yummy homemade Chicken Pot Pie, and another friend, Mike, made us Chicken Orange and homemade apple pie. Many others have also offered to make food and while I don't often like to have people go out of their way, I am taking them up on the offer of food, otherwise Chuck and I would be eating cereal for dinner every night!

Jenny is making beef stew this week - to keep my iron up and get me to eat some veggies, she is very thoughtful about my (and Chuck's) health.

I may be sore and exhausted, but I am still a very lucky girl!

PS - added another photo album to my gallery - this one has videos!

Daddy held Lauren Rose for the first time this past week. My heart just melted to see our little peanut in his arms. She is doing well, though still on a little bit of oxygen as she has O2 saturation dips and a Brady (heart rate dip) every now and then, but this is pretty normal for a preemie.

Mommy, on the other hand, is falling apart. I have shoulder and arm pain, and the latest pain - in my calf - has set off worry of blood clots. Though they couldn't test for it today (everyone had gone home), as a precaution, they started treatment so I had to get a shot in my stomache today. While the shot itself didn't hurt, the medicine going in hurt ALOT. I hope they find it to be a false alarm - I'll take a charlie horse, please!

Oh, I posted more pics too.

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post. Most of you know, through Jenny's blog, that I was hospitalized and have had the baby, Lauren Rose. She was born two and a half months early and will likely be in Neonatal Intensive Care for another two months. She is doing well though, looking better each day. I'm sure there will be some more worrisome days, but she is at a top hospital in great hands. I can't wait to bring her home.

I truly believe that she and I are still here today with the help of all the kind thoughts and prayers of many people. I have been so touched by the thoughtfulness of not only family and some truly amazing friends, but also strangers who only know me through our blogs.

We are blessed in many ways and through this, Lauren will be sure to learn how important it is to give kindness to others.

Here are more pictures.

We are truly on a rollercoaster ride. One day things are great and I feel normal, the next day, problems and panic.

So the tv continues. Yesterday was Oprah's Favorite Things - where she gave away thousands of dollars worth of stuff to each audience member. The cool part was that everyone in the audience was a Katrina aid worker who thought they were coming on to talk about what they did after the hurricane. You just have to love Oprah.

She featured these Deeply Fudgey Brownies that had me about drooling. Today I am contemplating spending $25 on two pounds of the fatty goodness. Probably not a good idea for someone who is getting little to no exercise and seeing less and less of her bellybutton every day.

Well, had a "relapse" this week and was put back on bedrest. I'm trying not to get completely depressed and stressed out, as that won't help. Hopefully I just fall into the small percentage of women with unexplained bleeding.

I make Chuck play Scrabble with me, which he doesn't like to do, since I usually win. But he's getting better, he's won a couple times and yesterday, even though I used all my letters and got over 80 points that turn, I only beat him by 10.

I've also been watching alot of crime investigation shows: The New Detectives, The FBI Files, Cold Case. Good stuff. Other than OJ, seems that most people don't get away with murder.

A Note from Buddy

Buddy is back after a long vacation with Jenny, Aaron, and Oscar. He wrote this note:

I luved my vakashun. Oscar is the bestest frend a boy cud hav. He shares all his yummy toys and I only chewed up 1. Jenny and Airen took me to the best place in the woorld, Berger King. They no how much I luv dubble cheesebergers and driving in the car to get thair. I will miss my frends. Thank yu for taking such gud care of me. I luv you.

As for me, the Dr. says I can ease back to work. I'm nervous that things will go awry again, but I will take it easy and take it one day at a time.

Holy Shopping Withdrawls, Batman! This bedrest thing isn't really boding well for my shopping urges - especially when shopping is not just wanted, but needed!

The good news is that things seem to be better and I might be off bedrest this week. I hope so, or Christmas is going to be in jeopardy. I can't seem to do the online thing well this year, I get a bit overwhelmed.


Also, after watching all these food and craft shows, I want to make stuff. I want to make cookies (and then eat them). I want to make glitter snowflakes like Martha. I might even be able to do this on bedrest if I had all the supplies, but alas, I'm not well equipped.

Even hubby can't resist the urge to make. The other night he made Roasted Pears which we saw on Everyday Italian. He watches it because he thinks the host is hot. He also has made cookies twice, but not from scratch, from the package. Still, a good effort.

The View into Martha, Ellen, Tyra and Oprah

Still on bedrest. Third trip to triage yesterday, but everything seems to have settled down and we are ok for now. Hubby is taking great care of me - he is a Saint. I'm very lucky.

TV is still the easiest thing since it's hard to be in other positions for any length of time. The mornings consist mostly of various talk shows - not the ridiculous ones like Jerry Springer - the somewhat more redeeming ones like Martha, Ellen, and, of course, Oprah. Oprah is an amazing human being. Oprah for president!

I also learned that if you're going to be on The Price is Right, you need to wear a goofy t-shirt. And if you're pregnant, don't even try since it seems to be that you must jump up and down like a maniac when you get picked and/or win anything, which would probably cause immediate labor.

The new season of Project Runway started last night too. Oooh, I just love it. There are some great designs - and some that are just hideous.

I'm also pretty up on the Top 100 SNL Moments. Laughing is good for your health.

Food TV is a staple, though I find Rachel Ray very annoying and most often they are making something with fish (yuck). Bring on Paula and the Bacon Crisps for me! (crackers baked with parm cheese wrapped in bacon) or anything involving lots of sugar.

Now I'm hungry - time to call for lunch, "Honey..."

I'm sorry, 've been bad about blogging. So, let me first tell you - it's a GIRL! So girl name suggestions are welcome.

Now let me tell you the drama of the past weekend. Hubby and I were at the airport on Friday to visit the inlaws in Florida but after a trip to the ladies room, had to head to the hospital instead. Long story short, everything seems to be ok - they can't pinpoint a problem, but I am on bed rest until further notice.

Bed rest = bad tv.

Saturday I watched a marathon session of Making the Band 3. Now eagerly looking forward to the season finale on Thursday.

Sunday I watched a marathon session of America's Next Top Model. Now eagerly looking forward to the season finale on Wednesday.

Today, resorted to watching Blue Lagoon.

Kodak One Galleries

Kodak has opened two popup retail stores called Kodak One Galleries - one in NYC and one in San Francisco. They're only open for November. Pretty cool concept. I was hoping to get a gig working the store, but alas, was not to happen.

They've been posting pictures from the stores. It's interesting to see the differences between NYC and SF - mostly in the number of dogs. I can't get over how adorable this picture is!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/onegallery-sf

http://www.kodakgallery.com/onegallery-ny

If anyone lives in NY or SF and goes to the One store, email me a picture (they have the EasyShare One cameras that let you email from the camera)! That would be so cool. Send it to tinashop @ rochester.rr.com (my other address gets TONS of spam).

International Day of Tolerance

I find it very fitting that I share my birthday with the International Day for Tolerance, as I consider myself an open-minded, tolerant person.

An excerpt from wiki:

Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. It is fostered by knowledge, openness, communication, and freedom of thought, conscience and belief. Tolerance is harmony in difference...

Hooo Hoooo

Technically, it's my birthday, since it's now after midnight. Apparently I am rewarding myself by letting myself stay up really late. Here it is almost 1am and I am looking up fare sales on Jetblue even though I am going on vacation next month so not only can't afford another trip so soon, but probably won't even be able to fly in January. But that doesn't stop me from fantasies of going to Salt Lake for Sundance or Las Vegas for a gambling excursion or LA to have mac & cheese at Lola's.

Goldie Girl

Jenny has been giving me some great birthday week gifts. Today I got Goldie nail polish. It's so adorable, I'm torn between using it for my nails and using it as home decor!

Heart Beat

Heard the baby's heart beat for the second time. What a relief that is each time. Find out the sex on the 29th - if he/she/it cooperates. Then we can really kick into name figuring out mode.

So far

- no names from males from my side of the family

- no freaky names like Apple or Coco or Chanel or Prada or Nike

- but nothing too normal, like David (not that there's anything wrong with that name!)

- no Chuck Jr. (though maybe Charlie for a girl)

- Spencer? maybe

- Tucker? no, sing the name game and you'll know why

- middle name Rose? yes

- Wayland? Maybe. During our brainstorming the other day, Jenny came up with that. I actually like it alot. My Dad was a big Wayland Jennings fan. Too bad it's a boy's name or we could name a girl Wayland Jenny. Ha ha.

All name suggestions are welcome!

Lost in Ice Cream

Mya Ice Cream,
originally uploaded by tostina.

I love this pic of Mya. Her ice cream seems to have put her into a dreamlike state. Ice Cream will do that to you!

Happy Halloween!

So despite turning the clocks back an hour and despite the fact that I should be more tired, I was up until after 1am, watching, of all things, a true ghost story. About a mansion called Summerwind in Wisconsin. Of course reading about it isn't half as scary as a Discovery Channel re-enactment!

Scared out of my wits, I started thinking, "hmm, if I'm thinking about ghosts, will I inadvertantly cause one to move in with us?"

AAAggghh! It's scary just writing about thinking about it!

Buddy by a Nose

Buddy by a Nose,
originally uploaded by tostina.

I love this pic of Buddy. He's lucky he's so handsome, because Monday he not only ate a sock, he pooped it out onto the kitchen floor!

Not quite the angelic dog I thought he was, but still a very sweet, very loving, very funny friend.

Happy Birthday Daniela!!!

Bump

Yes, it's true. I am preggers and due in April.

So I am in the same boat as Katie Holmes, only I'm married... and to a sane person...

and Melania Trump, only I'm not married to a bzillionaire... and mine has good hair...

and Jennifer Garner, who'se husband, similar to mine, loves sports and strippers...

and maybe even Angelina Jolie, only Brad Pitt isn't the father, and really, I'm fine with that. I gave up that dream a long time ago.

And seeing as though we've tried on and off for about 9 of our 14 years of marriage, I didn't think it was going to happen. And I was thinking, "OK, I'll take the money and freedom and run with it", then, surprise, change of plans! Though still nervous that something could go awry, my belly is growing, as is my appetite. Bring on the pizza & donuts!

No More Bobble Head

Buddy eat frog

I got this picture and message from hubby. This used to be a bobble head frog.

Jenny provided me proof that her & Aaron are nuts, which is, of course, what I love about them.

My Hero

Jenny is my hero. She nourished my soul with Jamba Juice Sunday. On her way to Tennessee for a Storytelling Workshop, she came upon a Jamba Juice in the Charlotte airport. Once in TN, she kicked into action, buying a cooler, a lunch bag and ice packs for her trip home, and then proceeded to bring us all back a smoothie.

From now on, all of our travel plans will try to work in a layover in Charlotte!

Anniv

Today is 3 years since my Mom died. It doesn't feel so long. I can still remember the feel of her hug. The hardest part is knowing that her Grandchildren are missing out on such a wonderful influence in their life. She would be getting such a kick out of Mya (except when Mya is being bratty, which, unfortunately, happens alot these days - the terrible twos a little late)

Spray Yourself Skinny

Well, I knew it would be coming. We read way back that smells can increase your satisfaction with food, so now the Flavor Spray Diet is here. Spray angel food cake with Banana Split Spray and viola, a decadent dessert.

Now you know damn well that women (ok, me) will be carrying these sprays around in their purse and using them like breath spray. "Ooh, I think I'll have a dose of Birthday Cake Spray before my 9am meeting". I'm still not convinced, however, that it would keep me from downing half a pizza pie.

UGH

Ugh, I can't find my camera. I had it. I put it somewhere. Now I can't find it. UGH.

Thank You!

Thank you everyone for your donations! I've reached my goal and will not only be getting the t-shirt, but we will all be helping the animals!

If anyone still wants to donate, please help Sarah reach her goal too:
http://www.lollypop.org/sarahsthreads

And remember, to get an autographed photo of the doggies, send me your email to tinablog @ rochester.rr.com and make the subject line "Autographed photo".

Barktoberfest

Even though Buddy ate my elephant, I have forgiven him. He got a nice new dog bed yesterday and finds it quite comfy.

On Saturday, Buddy and I are going to join Jenny & Oscar in the Barktoberfest walk to raise money for the animals.

We'd really love to earn the "fabulous long-sleeved T-shirt" and just need another $25, so if anyone can donate - even just $5 - please do! It will be greatly appreciated.

http://www.lollypop.org/tostina

I know Jenny is offering an autographed photo of Oscar to those who donate, so I will do the same. Buddy is ready for his close up, Mr. Deville.

The Buddy Beat

My brother was sure to inform me that Buddy LOVES going for rides and LOVES double cheeseburgers, so Sunday night, I took him for a ride to BK and got him one. I got me a Bacon Double - so you can see how this can be a dangerous precedent.

How am I rewarded for this? Does he sit and stare at me lovingly? Yes, but only for a short while. Then he disappears into the other room. I wonder, but am too distracted by Desperate Housewives. When he returns, I notice fuzz sticking out of his mouth. He has nearly eaten my little stuffed elephant that inadvertantly got left on a lower shelf.

See, though Buddy is one of the most obedient dogs I've ever witnessed, he has a weakness for stuffed animals. An addiction, one might say. He wants to grab hold and carry them around in his mouth and NOT LET GO, EVER.

So in trying to get the elephant back, with distraction techniques a failure, I pried his jaws open and released the elephant... but it was too late. The trunk had been chewed off and it was covered in a slimy layer of dog saliva.

Goodbye Leetle Elefant, you were a good friend.

The Buddy Beat

waiting for cake,
originally uploaded by ljc@flickr.

Buddy had a great time yesterday meeting and celebrating Oscar's birthday. The pupcake didn't stand a chance.

He's been very good except at night. At night he decides to pace, shake, lick, make toys squeak, ask to go out, and generally keep me awake all night. I asked my brother about this and he says Buddy is a guard dog at heart and wants to make sure we are safe, which involves many perimeter checks. As for the licking, he tells me to tell Buddy, "NO LICKY" and he will stop.

Tonight I will try the discipline route, probably along with some earplugs, because as hard as I try, I can't fall asleep to "slurp, slurp, slurp, slurp, squeeeek, squeeeek, squeeeek... "

Tina and Buddy

Tina and Buddy,
originally uploaded by ljc@flickr.

Here's another pic of me and Buddy that Jenny took. I think he is very happy to be here. Even though we told him, "Rochester is not like Las Vegas, there are not nearly as many hookers or strippers here."

He seemed ok with that.

Buddy

My brother's dog Buddy arrived from Las Vegas yesterday. We are going to give him love and attention while my brother gets his life back on track.

Buddy is a very tall (as in, "hey, what's this on the counter" tall), intimidating looking Doberman, but is really a big, sweet baby. He carries around his toy and wants to sit on your lap. I am going to enjoy having Buddy around, despite the fact that at 3am, he nuzzled my face and needed to go pee. He's still on west coast time. =)

Devastating

I came home and watched the news. The disaster down south from Hurricane Katrina is so devastating. I can't figure out if the disasters are getting worse and more frequent or if it just seems so because we have massive news coverage, but either way, it's just heartbreaking.

At first I thought many who stayed were stubborn or stupid, but when I heard on NPR that many people did not have cars with which to leave, or money for gas or hotel, it began to make more sense. I remember a time in my life when I did not have enough money to buy a sandwich, much less fill up a $40 tank of gas. So I can relate to being broke and having little or no choices.

Now, with a good job and a comfortable life, I can, at the very least, make a donation. Along with a donation to the Red Cross to help the people, I donated to the Humane Society to help the animals.

For Peetza Sake

When I was in 6th grade, at the mall with some friends, I remember seeing a t-shirt that said,

Sex is like pizza, when it's good, it's good, and when it's bad, it's still good.

I had no idea about sex at the time, but I knew I really loved pizza. And now, after 14 years of marriage, if asked to choose between sex or pizza... let's just say, pms week would be no contest. Extra cheese please.

The pizza we had in NYC was delicious. One of these days I want to do my own Pizza Tour of NYC and identify my favorite. I guess I'd have to be there quite a while, then have pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I could do it. Don't challenge me. Or if the Dairy Council wants to sponsor me, all my Pizza evaluations will include something like "though the crust was perfect crispness, the amount of Mozzarella Cheese® was slightly deficient".

A wonderful weekend in NYC is coming to a close. We had a great time!

NY, NY

We are going to NYC tomorrow. I'm very excited. I love NYC. I love people watching. I love the culture. I love the food. I love the shopping. I love the fashion.

We will be seeing Spamalot again (so the guys can laugh as hard as we did) and going to a Yankees game. Jenny wants to buy a baseball glove, more for protection than to catch a souvenier ball. She doesn't want a Fever Pitch incident. My brother is excited too. He collects Yankee hats and is hoping I get him one (in the peanut-head size of only 6 7/8) and get it signed by Derek Jeeter. As if that might happen. But I'll try. We also may catch some Fringe Fest happenings.

I did my usual obsessive-compulsive nightly travel research and though at one point I had four hotels reserved, I finally narrowed it to the Dylan. It looks nice (and hip) and I got a great rate - I just hope the bed is comfy and the toiletries are good.

(Note as a result of hours on the internet: it seems you almost always find the cheapest rate direclty on the hotel's website!)

So, I am ready to guzzle down a Banana Berry Jamba, eat some Pommes Frites and enjoy the city!

Liccy Piggy

I don't like black licorice, but these little licorice piglets are just so adorable!

Route 29 Napa has lots of other yummies too, like chocolate covered potato chips and, something that sounds similar to one of my favorite candies, Chewy Peps - chewy peppermints. And since it's been shown that peppermint increases your alertness and decreases your appetite, those Chewy Peps might just turn out to be diet candy!

Goodbye

This really saddens me. I grew up watching Peter Jennings. Lung cancer is a bitch. It claimed my Dad at 46. Not to say that his 2 pack a day habit didn't contribute, but his generation got hooked before they knew how bad it was for you.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Abby!

Balance

Well, obviously the chubby comment was not enought to keep me from eating four - count 'em, four - Krispy Kreme original glazed today. One in the morning. One in the afternoon. Two in the evening. DEE-LISH. Mmmm, my chubby little cheeks were sore from smiling through the pure joy that is a Krispy Kreme.

Oh, and I had a banana. That's the key, balance.

Which reminds me, when the hell is that Cold Stone Creamery going to open here? Little ole Rochester with an Apple Store and a Cold Stone. It's only a matter of time before IKEA reocognizes the potential here.

PS - go Marty (Rockstar INXS)

Chubbarific

Someone on Jenny's blog saw her pic from In-N-Out Burger and posted a not so nice comment -

...all you talk about is porking out on highly processed foods! what a crack up to see your chubby face!

- well, that was my chubby face, not Jenny's.

The irony of the comment is that 1) In-N-Out uses only fresh, non-processed ingredients and 2) I'm well within the healthy weight range for my height according to the National Institute for Health

But either way, as for 'porking out' on yummy food, sign my fat-ass up because I'd rather enjoy life than be a stick in the mud (literally and figuratively).

At the Golden Gate Bridge - brrr

Shawn Cassidy was in my dream last night, looking exactly as he did in 1978. He was my first big crush. Until Andy Gibb came along and stole my heart.

Last week, as I'm driving to work, I notice a spider hanging from my side mirror, clinging on for dear life. Part of me is rooting for him but most of me is accelerating faster and faster to get him to blow off! Then floomp, he crawls up into the mirror, safe and sound. Push him down a little and he's easily the size of a dime, ie, big.

The next day, no spider. Can't decide whether I'm relieved or disappointed.

Friday I notice a fresh web. He's still here. Arrive at work, there he is, hanging down from the mirror and I think, did he really hold on the whole way? Through my 72mph driving? Holy crap, that's a super spider. Then, floomp, he crawls up into the mirror.

The real horrific part is that HE could be a SHE and in some short time, my car will be swarming with little spiders. For sanity sake, I resolve to believe it's a he.

As I get in my car after work, I begin to wonder if he might find his way inside my car. I'd feel this tapping on my shoulder and hear, "hey, nice digs in here... leather... niiiiccce" as he rubs his hairy little legs across the seat.

Then I think I see something out of the corner of my eye - AAGH! Nothing. Then I think I feel something on my foot. AAAGGHH! Nothing. I conclude that I am being parachnoid (paranoid of arachnids).

As I come out to my car the next day, I see a fresh web yet again from mirror to door. Ugh, he's still here. But I get in the car and - AAAAAGGGGHHHHH - there is a web built from my steering wheel to the dash. My nightmare has come true. I wasn't paranoid, he WAS in my car. Somewhere. Hiding. Waiting. Determining the best time to jump out at me. I can see it now, caught driving recklessly, "well Officer, a spider jumped out at me".

If I Raid my car, I'll probably do more damage to myself than the spider. He'll just find a way out and go, "aaah, fresh air", while I'm inside choking.

Well, he can have my car for the next few days while I'm out of town, but after that, I am RECLAIMING MY CAR and my SANITY!

more on this later

In Excess

Hubby and I are totally hooked on the show Rock Star: INXS. It's American Idol but dirtier, hipper, and cooler songs. I can barely resist the urge to pull out my black eyeliner, dig out my studded writstbands, make my hair REALLY big, and dust off my Iron Maiden albums...

I was pleasantly surprised at how well the guys in INXS have held up, a couple of them still look pretty hot for old guys (in denial that they may be dangerously close to my own age). Quite a different story over at Celebrity Fit Club. Imagine my shock and disgust to see Jani Land of Warrant all chubby and boring looking. Not that he was a prize back then, but what has to go wrong in your world to end up on Celebrity Fit Club? Ugh, and Willie Ames. Charles was in Charge, but Willie was in the kitchen.

This birthday calculator is silly but fun. For me it said,

"There are 126 days till your next birthday on which your cake will have 37 candles on it. Those 37 candles produce 37 BTU's, or 9 food calories. You can boil 4.23 US ounces of water with that many candles."

ouch, babe.

Then it said, "Of unusual beauty, does not want to impress, well-developed sense of justice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat, but irritable and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self-confidence, acts sometimes superior, feels not understood, loves only once, has difficulties in finding a partner."

Ah, horoscopes, they're just so magical (read: sarcasm)

Name and Fortune

Jenny and I were at Michael's the other night & spotted yarns from Moda Dea - whose website Natalie designed - and loved the cool yarns. And they had awesome names, like Fur Ever, Jai Alai, Chichi, and Vixen, whose name alone made we want to buy enough to knit every call girl in Vegas a dish cloth.

Then I was online-window-shoe-shopping to feed my combo shopping/internet addiction and realized all the shoes have cutsie names too, like Smurfs, Truffle, Smooch, and Tiki Bar.

Who has these jobs - naming yarns, naming shoes, naming lipstick, naming nail polish? It seems easy, but is it? How many ways can you describe pink?

I want to be a namer. I think I'd be a good namer. I'd have to go places to get inspired. Like the zoo. But then I'd probably end up naming some pink nail polish "Baboon Bum" or "Piggy Pants".

"If, as you live your life, you find yourself mentally composing blog entries about it, post this exact same sentence in your weblog."

I do, but then I forget, or I get nervous that I'll write and offend someone. But mostly I forget. Blasted aging.

The husband is ideal. The friends are extraordinary. The work can be enjoyable. The family is...

AAAAGGGHHHH! That's where things go awry. The family is challenging.

Somebody get me a drink, or grab me my credit card, or give me some Zantac, or let me sleep all day, or turn on some ridiculous reality tv, or tell me a joke, or feed me some Krispy Kremes, or give me a punching bag with my brother-in-laws face on it. Hurry.