Thursday, December 29, 2005

My Husband


At least I know he loves me! :) He's my favorite...

I wish I could make this my desktop. I know, I'm a sap. What can I say!?

Gary's Adventures 2005

I have finally heard news from Gary! He sent me his pictures in the mail and I just got them last week! He seems to be having a great time and really living it up! I am actually quite jealous as he has been to so many places now that I never have! Man, what a life...




I don't believe I have laughed harder than when I saw all of these pictures. I love my friends...

Why do we "Hang stockings by the fire with care?"



Jean has asked a lovely question.

"I know it's after Christmas, but why do we 'hang stockings by the fire with care'? Why stockings and why the mantel? "

There are several reasons in history that seem to lend to this tradition we have adopted as put down in the well known poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore.

According to Germanic folklore, the god Odin would have a great hunting party each year at Yule. Children would place straw, carrots or sugar in their boots by the chimney for Odin's flying horse Sleipnir to eat as they went by on their way to this hunting party. Odin, being so thankful for this kindness to his horse, would then replace the food with candy or gifts for the children. After the spread of Christianity, this tradition was adopted throughout the region and associated with Saint Nicholas, who also rode around on a horse and was rumored to replace the straw with gifts.

Both Odin and Saint Nicholas were commonly seen as being an old mysterious man with a long white beard. As these traditions changed and moved across countries, when they came to America, it changed from the shoes by the chimney to the stockings or socks by the fireplace and rather than just leaving them on the floor, they were "hung with care" on the mantle.

He has different names in different countries. Sinterklaas is from the Dutch and was a mythical character based on the idea of Saint Nicholas. He rode a flying white horse and was known to have helpers and climb down the chimney to deposit gifts in children's shoes. Britain and the United States took this name and changed it to Santa Claus.

And we still put out a snack for Santa (cookies & milk) and quite often for his reindeer (carrots) and hope fervently for him to replace our offering with gifts and candy. At least I do. :) I was a good girl this year.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Save the World

I just found a spiffy idea from the Complimenting Commentor that I think I will work on.

I have lots of amazing friends who are so good at earth health, preservation, economy and all that and I always wonder how I can really help. I mean, I recycle but I also use aerosol. I buy some organic produce, but a lot of commercial crap. I have my own garden, but I still buy most of my summer veggies. I do however, carpool and drive as little as possible in my little stick-shift economy cavalier! No gas-guzzelers for me. But I know there are so many better things I could be doing.

I also never know what charities to contribute to. I give weekly or monthly to our church (depending on when I remember...I write the check weekly, but sometimes it doesn't make it in for a month...) and have given to a few different other charities, but man, there's just so many out there, it makes it so hard to choose. Plus, I don't set enough aside to designate specifically to good charities.

Ok. So here's the challenge. Collect your change from every transaction, pick it up off the street, take it off your neighbor's desk. (C'mon, it's for a good cause!) Don't use it to buy a mocha (Andy, that means you!), don't put it in for a pop. When you have a good amount, (even $10 is a good amount) take it to the bank or the store and trade it in, write a check and donate it to a charity. You can pick a different one every time, or use the same. Katrina Effort still needs money, United Way is always good (and that way we can gear them up for the next emergency), Red Cross, your local animal shelter, food bank, church, etc.

"Here's the thing. People think that pennies and nickels don't add up. And with one person they don't - much. But with 100 people collecting 100 pennies, that equals $100. And that's just pennies!"


Are you in? I just started a coin jar on my desk.

Froggie Hit & Run

Our poor little frog Smacky has been murdered.

Or at least mutilated.

It's a sad tale, indeed.

We came home from work the other day and he was split in twain. In twain, I tell you!

I'm blaming it on the paper boy.

The thing is, we don't even read the paper. It just piles up on our front porch. My brother says he canceled the subscription since he never has time to read it, but it keeps coming. And coming, and coming. Papers everywhere. It's ridiculous.

Friday, December 23, 2005

Amy's Visiting

And time moves on...

Andy's sister Amy and her hubby Mark were able to spend a little time with us this past weekend. Since he has a teaching job down in Florida, he gets off the prescribed two weeks or so for Christmas holiday. (slight desire to be a teacher brewing) They decided to drive up this year and go to all the required family sites. Stopped first to drop off their kitty with Amy's parents (a kitty who does not travel well at all--barfing, pooping and peeing in her cage) preceding up to Illinois to see Mark's family, then stopping to see us in Michigan. We got them to stay with us for two whole days! Though not nearly enough, in my estimation.

I took Monday & Tuesday off of work (one of my wisest decisions in life) so we could have as much time together as possible. Plus, I didn't think it would really be right to make her just sit around my house while I worked. Plus, I wanted to sleep in. Plus, I had to set up for a girls' Christmas party Monday night and the M Christmas party Tuesday night. Yep. Good decision.

Amy & I got lots of good catching up done, chatting about everything under the sun as I painted one of my rooms, cleaned and finished wrapping presents. We went shopping together which she said she was thrilled about as her husband just isn't quite as much fun to shop with as another girl. And myself especially as I am an amazing shopper. I totally understand--my hubby isn't the most fun to shop with either. I am finally getting used to his 'needs' when it comes to shopping. Get in, get it, and leave. He will then be happy. Bah. Men.

Anyway, we got to bake Christmas cookies, have Christmas morning together with presents, hot coffee, sausages & French Toast, and got in a bit of family game time too. Andy got a gift card to Guitar Center and nothing could be better for him! I got a great new hot pink scarf she knitted for me AND a gorgeous afghan for my room to snuggle in with a book! She knows me too well. It was perfect.

Sadly, we had to bid them off again Wednesday morning. They stayed with other friends Tuesday night and then came back before we had to leave for work on Wednesday for a final hug and goodbye. Sigh.

We're planning on a girls' weekend in Chicago in February with Amy, her mom and me. Then Andy and I are hoping to escape the winter a bit to visit Mark & Amy in Florida in March. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

The Amazing Malskis

Last night we had a great big ol' dinner party to welcome some friends back to Michigan for a couple weeks. They left our lovely state for the warmer climes of California (slight jealousy brewing) to go to grad school back in the beginning of September and were just able to come back to visit for a week or so now for Christmas. It's always hardest when you have a limited amount of time to visit and you want to be able to see everyone but can't make it everywhere. So we figured we would bring everyone together for one night and make it a little easier on them.

We had about 18 people crammed into our living room & dining room and set up three big tables to seat us all. Everyone brought something tasty to eat and a bottle of wine. I cooked up one chicken for each table so we had half "family style" and half "buffet" serving. The food was excellent and the wine flowed freely. We even had mulled hot wine which was so tasty and festive. Mmm...I need to have that more often!




Andy made up a Dinner Playlist for his ipod and we had a great classy mix that seemed to suit everyone that was there. The 'Garden State' soundtrack always seems finds a way onto our dinner mixes as well as the 'Donnie Darko' soundtrack. Good tunes. "No Bebo," was the only request I heard, and that was already taken care of!


Since it was a Christmas-y party, I made up a bunch of sugar cookies and we had a cookie decorating contest! No fancy decorating tools...just spreading knives, a bowl of colored frosting, sprinkles, nuts, chocolate chips and marshmellos. The results were surprising. We had the 'Big Bang Theory'--a star cookie that looked like it exploded, a Martian complete with a mace and Martian seal, several splendid gingerbread guys and lovely angels, and a spiffy Santa Claus who had sold out to the Levi corporation and was wearing jeans instead of his usual red pants. But the top three winners were: a highly overdecorated Christmas tree, an adorable kitty and a gingerbread man with whitey-tightys. Andy gave the last prize out just for the novelty of seeing frosting underwear. Quite impressive.

The boys seemed to be solving the problems of the world while sitting in our living room sipping wine, while the girls played Catch Phrase and laughed uproariously. Every now and then we would rope a boy into playing with us. We are just so fun to be around!





I love you all and thank God that I have such cool friends. Luke & Nikki, I am so glad to have you around for a little while even though I have to say goodbye again so soon. I can't wait until next month--keeping my fingers crossed that we can visit Cali and get some surfing practice in!

Frog in the Tub

Remember this little guy? Well, now he has a new friend.

Every morning, I get up, shuffle to the bathroom, turn on the heater, turn on the water to the shower, pee, put in my contacts and then I shower. Yesterday, I follow my routine as usual. Except when I opened the curtain to turn on the water, I thought I saw something green. So I put my contacts in right away...looked again (I am really really blind without my contacts) and there she was. The other half to a little froggy family. Smacky now has a friend. I think I'll call her Lily.

Friday, December 16, 2005

What is a Snow "Squall"?


Heather (that's her over there...isn't she cute?!) has asked an excellent question.

This time of year in Michigan, we get snow warnings, watches, showers and "squalls." And it often changes every day .


Snow Squalls are much more dangerous than snow showers. Initially because they are defined as "a brief very intense snow storm with heavy winds and near whiteout conditions." All of those things together make this quite a trecherous condition. A squall also seems to come out of absolutely nowhere, whereas with a snow shower you can see it coming and also still see through the snow--visibility is not so limited. There may even still be blue sky suring a snow squall, but because of the intensity of the wind and snow, you wouldn't ever know it.


The other reason that squalls are so stinkin' dangerous is that once the snow starts falling, people freak out and forget that they have anti-lock brakes, that there are other drivers on the road, and that they will loose control quickly and plow right into the snow bank. Or into another car. Crazy Michigan drivers. You'd think we would have learned by now...

Thursday, December 15, 2005

My Frustration This Year

Christmas... Holiday... Christmas. Holiday. CHRISTMAS. HOLIDAY. CHRISTMAS!!! HOLIDAY!!!

Please, Lord, make it stop!!

I know we all have differing opinions and viewpoints and make different decisions. But this year has been the most frustrating pile of opinions and viewpoints that I have heard. Everywhere you go, everything you hear, everything you see, has this debate. On the news everywhere, on blogs and discussion boards all I hear is how horrible it is that the word Christmas has been changed to Holiday in stores and cards and all over.

I have thought it out.

I don't believe I care what word you use. Regardless of what religion or denomination you are or aren't, I don't believe it matters. We are a nation at war, a country fighting hunger, a church trying to share Good News, and we would rather spend our time arguing about what we want to call this season and who is right or wrong for not saying what WE want them to say. And why WE are offended. Bah. It rather all makes me want to vomit.

Since I am not all that eloquent, I have attached an article from Relevant Magazine which says so much more clearly how I (and I'm sure others) have felt throughout this past month. It's long, but so meaningful and well worth the read.

"I am nearly confident that if Christ were born in 2005 the brief verses
involving the magi in Matthew 2 would read something like this: 'Now after Jesus
was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east
arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." [But those who
believed in the deity of the Messiah prevented the magi from worshipping Him
because they were pagan Gentiles and did not call Jesus the Messiah but rather
by the Greek name, Christ. Frustrated by their blocked attempt to worship the
one who came to bring hope and salvation to all men, they returned to the
east.]'
The evangelical Christian movement today finds itself deadlocked in
an ideological battle over Christmas. The American Family Association boasts
nearly 3 million members and has an active campaign to put Christmas back into
the holiday shopping season. Bill O’Reilly mentioned on The O’Reilly Factor that
businesses should be thanking Christ for the holiday season that boosts their
sales. Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert has ordered that the Capitol tree be
renamed the "Capitol Christmas Tree" after it was changed in the late 1990s to
the "Holiday Tree." Never before has there been such an overt war against
secularism at the holidays.
Satan is clever, make no mistake. It is possible for us to take our eyes off the deep issue, think we are fighting the good fight, only to discover we have our sights misaligned and are missing the target. Satan spends his time making sure Christ’s birth never gets the attention it deserves. How we play into that process is crucial to the bigger picture of the Church being salt and light to a dark world.

Before Christ was born, the ancient Romans had more holidays than any other culture in history. They were wild partiers who took every opportunity they could to drink, carouse and fornicate. In many ways, their religion was constructed around these opportunities to act like the gods they worshipped. One holiday was the winter
solstice festival, appropriately named Saturnalia after Saturn, the god of
farming. This celebration lasted from the Dec. 17 to Dec. 23 and was filled with
decorating and partying. They even had evergreens that they would chop down and
put up to celebrate the life of trees in the harshness of winter. This holiday
eventually devolved into debauchery—so much so that the word saturnalia came to
mean "orgy." Early Christians coincided Christmas with Saturnalia to avoid
religious persecution.
So where did the gift-giving and Santa Claus come into play? As early as the fourth century, Saint Nicholas, a bishop in modern day-Turkey, was known for a gift-giving lifestyle that benefited those who were impoverished. He once presented three dowries for three poor daughters to avert them from turning to prostitution in order to earn income for their family.
There are also links to German and Dutch folklore that trace back to
Christianity. Eventually, around the 17th century, these tales evolved into the
notion we have today of Santa Claus. It is in the late 1800s that the commercial
appeal of Santa Claus and Christmas took off to the astronomical economic
figures we see today. It appears, unfortunately, that the birth of the Messiah
has mostly played a backseat role to the mythological gods and
folklore.
While the war we fight is ideological, we have apparently chosen to
fight a battle over semantics instead of lost souls. Whether Christmas (from old
English, meaning "Christ’s Mass") or holiday (also from old English, meaning
"Holy Day") season is employed as the term of choice, Christians appear to have
taken issue with the non-use of the term "Christmas" in stores.
While I don’t have an issue with the auspices of the debate, I think the larger war is left unfought.
Tell me, what relevance does Christmas have to a corporate executive who does not have a faith in Jesus Christ? Further, how do upset Christians appear to that executive when they demand that he recognize a holiday that he doesn't understand or to which he doesn't ascribe? As believers, why would we even want a corporation who cares nothing for the birth of Christ incarnate to capitalize on His observed birthday and name in their holiday advertising? Despite how duplicitous it is for these companies to fail to mention it altogether, it seems heretical for believers to demand that unbelievers trumpet Christ for financial gain.
It is as if the moneychangers returned to the temple demanding this time that the temple, be renamed a market. That idea is horrifying to us, yet we allow the celebration of our Savior's birthday—the entrance of hope into the world and one of the holiest days in all of redemptive history—to remain commercialized and more about what Santa may bring the kiddies than about the hope of salvation to all our weary, wayward souls. We have let Christmas become what it is—an argument over semantics. Well, 'tis the season.
There are people who turn away and turn off the magi of today from worshipping because their corporate creed does not fit our warm, fuzzy sentiments about a holiday whose true meaning we only half-heartedly embrace amid the more tangible celebration of gift-receiving and merrymaking. We should be pointing them to the reason we have to celebrate in the first place!
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our salvation. Unfortunately,
it’s never been a holiday dedicated solely to its impact on all of humanity.
Much of the debate today centers around the narrow-minded and hypocritical view
some Christians take toward their perceived rights of ownership on the holiday
season. It is almost as if we are trying to be recognized by the world for what
we think, and in doing so, we have distracted everyone from what it is we
celebrate.
My suggestion is humble and simple: instead of worrying over whether we call it a holiday season or Christmas—neither of which is actually historically accurate given, its unholy origins and current forms of celebration—let’s invite everyone we know to be magi, recognizing the star in the east, the Light of our lives, and coming to see and to worship the King wherein we find hope, joy, peace and life to all.
If we are fighting the ideological battle at its root—the heart—then those who disagree with our choice of semantics or holiday displays will discover that the hope we celebrate at Christmas is universal and relevant to all mankind. We will not have to engage in the battles we are in because our message would be more easily embraced this way. Not through attempts to strong-arm unbelievers into a faith they do not yet understand because they have not been invited to come and see the King for themselves. This year, let's show them that Christmas (or the holiday season) is about more than an idealogical battle; it's about a Savior."


Relevant Mag

Cutest Story Ever


If you are in need of a smile this morning, check out Ellen's cute book: The Box. I love it!

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Ask Anything

If you haven't noticed yet, I have added a new sidebar and new items on the sidebar to the left.

My recommendations in all forms of media will be forthcoming...but first I'd like to kick off this lovely advice column. I have a very random wealth of knowledge. Health, Budgeting, Gardening, Religion, Dating, Relationships, Animals, History, Music, Movies/TV, etc. And things I don't know, I can very easily find out. I have my sourches.

So, need advice? Have a general question? Ask away and I will be sure to solve the problem! Or at least make a really valient effort at doing so. Post a question here and we'll see what the magic eight ball comes up with!

Monday, December 12, 2005

What City Do You Belong In?

I Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern.
A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock.
A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything.
No wonder you and London will get along so well.

Ok, so when are we moving, honey?

Bowing would be appropriate


I have been crowned a Queen by Ellen from The Reign of Ellen ! See for yourself!

All along, I have had a hunch, but now it's proven true. Amy and I have planned for this day for some time. Now we just need to get her crown also.

I think Andy should buy me a tiara to wear around. That would be appropriate.

New & Improved


A huge and hearty thanks to Kelly at Diary of the Nello for redesigning my blog and making it amazing! I am no longer "just like everyone else", but now I have a bit of originality!

Check our her site sometime...she has original t-shirts! I wish I was that clever!

Friday, December 09, 2005

2005 Blogger Awards

I have followed Erin for some time now. I'm what can callously be called a "lurker" or a "stalker," but really I'm just someone else that thinks she's funny and don't want anyone to know how funny I'm not.

But vote for her. Because she is funny.

gc_vote_design.jpg

The Elusive Truffle


I think I just ate the best truffle in the world.

We have an advent calendar from Starbucks that has 24 little drawers in it and in each little drawer is a brightly wrapped truffle. Plus, I just went to a Christmas dinner on Monday night that had truffles and I brought home about four more of them. I have had a truffle every day this week.

The exquisite truffle that I just consumed had a delicate white chocolate shell outside with soft chocolate filling and tiny crisped rice pieces inside. Oh...it just melted deliciously in my mouth.

Yum, Yum, Yummy. Happy Holidays to my mouth.

Friday Fiver

Friday Fiver

Head to Toes

1. What's on your feet? Black Boots

2. Turn to your right -- what do you see? Myself---in the mirror

3. What is the last thing you ate? Hard boiled egg

4. What can you smell right now? Coffee

5. Do you wear hats? When it's cold or I just feel the need for cuteness

Adult Snow Day

Couldn't we start lobbying for work snow days? It just seems to me that kids shouldn't get to have all the fun all the time. Don't we teach them to share?

There is a school right across the street from my house. And there were no children scurrying in this morning to learn. But I had to shuffle out through the snow to my ice-laden car and plow my way through the snow covered streets.

I think I may start up a petition. The entire city must close down if the schools close down. Or at least we should be able to sleep in until noon.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Kitilin

Turns out that most kittens born in the United States have ADD. Or ADHD. It's true!

"Los Angeles, Calif. -- Veterinarians across the country are reacting to Monday’s release of a UCLA study claiming that as many as 90 percent of all felines currently being born in the United States will develop Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) during their first month as a kitten. "

I had suspected this before in the several times that I have had kittens in my home, but now it's a scientific fact. I've raised two kittens of my own and fostered seven to other homes. So I know whereof I speak. This new information is so overwhelming, we can't but accept it as fact.

“Our research shows that an overwhelming majority of kittens begin displaying classic symptoms of ADD and ADHD within their first two to three weeks of life, symptoms such as uncontrollable, aggressive hyperactivity, constant squirming and being easily distracted by irrelevant sights, sounds and extraneous stimuli – a ball of yarn or a toy mouse, for example,” said UCLA researcher David Berman, who led the study. “In the past these symptoms have simply been attributed to youth – passed off as cute or playful, instead of being acknowledged as symptoms of a disorder. But we now know that when a kitten is bouncing hastily and randomly between playing with a loose string, chasing a remote controlled car, trying to give the goldfish a heart attack and tonguing herself clean, it’s actually a physical sign of the kitten’s neurotic psychological condition.”

So there you have it. Kittens are officially neurotic as declared by a scientist. Lucky for me, my cats seem to have mostly grown out of this disorder. Every now and then though, it creeps back in. I'll still catch them showing this agressive hyperactivity and uncontrollable squirming. They may never be cured. It may be a life-long struggle.

Read the full article here . You won't believe it either. But it's obviously true.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Just One More Snooze...


Really. That's all I ask.

Ok, so it's usually about 10 or so snoozes.

I have my clock by my bed set 15 minutes fast. It's not really a trick to fool myself with, it's more of a reassuring, "sweet, I have 15 minutes more to sleep," kind of situation. Most of the time, I have to be out of bed by (real time) 7:30. So I set my alarm for (clock time) 7. This means I hit snooze for 45 real minutes. This is the way it must be for me. I have to have my snooze hits.

However, on Wednesdays, Andy has men's group in the mornings so he leaves very early and then comes back to take me into work. I get a theoretical extra half hour to sleep as work is understanding and lets me come in a little late those days due to his group.

Anyway, I have to get up on Wednesday at (real time) 8 am. So I set my alarm for (clock time) 8 am. This means I get to hit snooze for only 15 minutes.

I think I like this situation because I end up getting a whole hour of extra sleep.

Yes, I am a moron. (50 points for whoever gets the clever musical reference)

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

I can't paint my nails well for my life.


Really. It's true. I used to be really good at painting my nails. Or at least I used to think so.


And it doesn't always have to be exactly perfect, right? Unless it's bright, bright red! And since it's Christmas, it has to be bright, bright red. But last night it was all over my hands. Well, to be honest, it was this morning too until I peeled and prodded it all off. Not very attractive, I must say.

Toes are one thing, since this time of year, I'm the only one who appreciates how cute they are. And they are definitely cute. Now that I've gotten the extraneous paint off.

This is how exciting my life is right now.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Worse than Cat Claws...

That's the ferocity of my Christmas tree branches this year. Seriously, I have worse scratches after decorating our tree this weekend than anything my cats have ever done. (Granted, they are declawed. But still.) We had to both wear thick snow gloves to put on the lights and ornaments.

We are planning on being first in line the day after Christmas to buy a pre-lit, really nice, we'll-keep-it-forever fake tree. I can't wait!

But we spent all day Saturday listening to Harry Connick sing carols and now the tree is up and decorated and my entire lighted house village is arranged (I haven't gotten all of my houses out in years and we finally have the room and perfect place for them) and my hubby even started buying and wrapping my presents. He doesn't want me to snoop and find them. What he doesn' t know is that I am amazing with scotch tape. Ha ha ha haaaaa!

Yes, I am a snooper. If he says, "Don't look in the backseat, one of your presents is there," I won't do it. However, if he says, "Somewhere in the house there may or may not be one of your presents hidden," then obviously that's a challenge. And I won't lie to him. "Did you snoop and find a present." "Yes. Yes I did." And I will pretend to be surprised when I open it, too.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to find anything interesting this year. Either he's getting better at hiding, or I'm getting worse at seeking. And now it's too late. I hate waiting. At least I know all the things "Santa" is giving me. And I know they fit too.

Question of the Week 2

Thank you for playing Monday Madness! Just a few light, happy questions to start the week off in a fun way!

1. I've always been afraid of ________.
2. People should not talk on cell phones while ________.
3. The one thing I look forward to every day is ________.
4. My first meal of the day usually consists of ________.
5. It seems like ________ is a never-ending job.
6. The last time I painted a room in my house/apartment was ________.
7. The next time I paint, I'd like to paint my ________(room) ________ (color).


1. Those freaky muppets on Seasame Street that make phone noises. It's true. I'll admit it. They used to fly in my window to scare me when I was little.
2. In restaurants. Especially while on a date.
3. Coming home to my hubby.
4. Coffee. Sometimes I add a donut or yogurt. Usually only coffee. I know. It's horrid of me.
5. Laundry. Usually it even has a hard time making it down the laundry chute. Then it's lucky if it gets sorted and washed. If it's clean, it's not folded. If it's folded, it's not put away. If it's put away, it's definitely not ironed!
6. Three weeks ago.
7. Dressing room. Pink. :)


Your turn!

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Notes Can Groove

The 1/2 Note rehearsal was a success! I am quite tired and ready for bed though. Who would have thought I would feel this old already!?

We are only doing three songs with them but there are a lot of words and tons of moving and motions. We mostly worked this week on the motions and getting used to the songs and next week, I'll focus more on them actually singing the right words and maybe even hitting some of the right notes...luckily Andy and most of our leaders will have a mic so that there will be some melody carried here and there! I'm working on getting a spiffy wireless headset mic so that I can run around and do all the motions and singing and announcing and everything with both hands. Otherwise, the kids follow me on the motions and then only do things with one hand if I'm holding a mic. It's rather funny.

One of the songs we are lip synching to. It's a pop boy band type of song with a lot of groove and a ridiculous "white boy" rap. Very silly but loads of fun. I don't think they quite have the idea down yet of what it means to "pretend to sing." I may just tell them to sing out loud, but quietly. It's so funny to watch them just do the "watermelon" type of singing along!

I am definitely not afraid to make a fool of myself...I screw up more than they do most of the time...fortunately with 8 year old, they think I'm cool no matter what. Ha! Who knew!? Almost makes me want a kid...

"Lost" Review Day


Warning: if you haven't seen this week's episode, read no further!



Man oh man! What a good episode. We are finally finding some things out. Kate definitely has some baggage (though no more than anyone else around the island) and blowing up her house with her father in it was enough to freak out her mother. Though I can't understand why she would turn her daughter in. That wouldn't really solve anything. She could have entirely gotten away with it. But then, she would never have been on the run or gotten on that plane.

Though there are also more questions now than there were before.

In case you didn't notice, Sayid was on the tv getting arrested when Kate was in the army office talking to her dad...
Horse on the Island? Or just a ghost from the past?
Walt is sitting at a computer somewhere? (another hatch site?) Or is it a ruse to lure them out?
Sawyer loves Kate?
Kate kisses Jack...
Jack goes drinking with evil Ana Lucia...
And I still think Eko knows more than he's saying. He's becoming my favorite.
I am wondering how Eko & Ana Lucia fit into everyone else's backstory. And I don't believe we've ever seen Rose in anyone else's flashbacks. Though she and Eko have never had flashbacks either. They have to fit in somewhere because they seem to be becoming bigger characters.

Your favorite parts? Your least favorite? Something you wish they showed?

My fav was the kiss. Not really romantic, but a good smacker, none-the-less.
I wish we got more info about how everyone else was doing. We know that Jin & Sun are back together and happy, but nothing about Claire & over-protective Charlie or about how the new tail-folk are integrating into the rest of the group or any reference at all to the crazy monsters ripping up trees or black haze dragging people into holes in the ground. We really need more information here.

(and Andy wishes me to let everyone know here that he called that it was Walt who would respond on the computer. He believes he should be a writer on the show as he is so intuitive, or at the very least, he should be writing the soundtrack, which that part I don't disagree with at all)