Peanut Butter Chaos

Because none of us can agree on the same kind of peanut butter... we had four jars to toss out because of the Salmonella scare. One wasn't even open yet!

Cliff Hanger

OMG!!! Have you been watching Grey's Anatomy?

What's up with Meredith? They left us tonight with her life wittling away.... surely this isnt the end of her character. It is Meredith Grey.... Grey's Anatomy. They will have to change the name of the show!

The Show formerly known as Grey's Anatomy and then there will have to be a sign to take its place.

Do you think they are going to start narrating it with Meredith (like they do now) but have her do it from the grave (Desperate Housewives)!?

Snake Girl

Yesterday was a strange day. It started with BW taking a magnificent dump in the bathtub and yours truly almost catching him in the act still making feeble attempts to cover up his dastardly deed. Once again I was dressed and ready to head out the door much like last week when I discovered Spikey’s puking deposit on the bedroom carpet. That time I played dumb and fled the scene of the crime before I could get shanghaied into clean-up duty.

At noon, I fluffed off the gym and was parked in my cozy chair when a frazzled female student rushed in proclaiming she needed assistance with this mysterious rash she had on her neck. As I’m in the IT dept I am rarely called upon for any medical expertise but my vast knowledge of the various specialties of each sector enabled me to direct her toward a more accommodating office. I left her in experienced hands who urged her to visit the local physician.

Yesterday evening, a tribute band played in our performing arts center and TBC, sis, bro-in-law and I were seated close to the front. Though it pains me to say it, after a similar show several years ago I earned quite the infamous rep after boogying to this band and the moniker, "Wild Thing" was bestowed upon me. While in line before the auditorium opened, several coworkers felt the need to remind me of my past frisky gyrations but I assured them there would be a much more sedate Ms. Circe in attendance on this night. I feel certain they were disappointed. Indeed I was a paragon of virtue, but the same could not be said for all members of the spirited audience. As entertaining as the show was, several students in the front row put a diverting show of their own by making sophomoric asses of themselves with silly dancing and occasional heckling. By far the most distracting exhibition was the snockered coed I nicknamed "Snake Girl". Her continuous arm movements could best be described as slithering as all eyes watched her either swaying to the music, draped across the edge of the stage, bowing to the audience, or yelling out incoherent gibberish. At one point when both her arms were raised in the air (and oddly no music was playing), one of the guitarists glanced at her and yelled, "touchdown!" Odds are she’ll be summoned to the dean’s office today. During our absorbing confinement, a thin, white blanket of snow fell and continued to wend its way earthward from the darkened skies. An ideal ending to a peculiar day.

VD Update

For Valentine's Day, Richard sent me to the spa for a Pedicure... and then he took me out to eat at Keller in the Castle, which is now Castle Falls. I guess at some point in time in the last few years, the ownership has changed and the name was changed. However, rumor has it.... that the chef has stayed the same.

It was scrumptious! It's German food... and absolutely delicious! We also did some beer taste testing and Richard found the German beer i've been looking for! Many years ago I tasted a German beer in Arkansas that I just loved. I didnt know the name of it (because I couldnt pronounce it) but I knew it was a dark beer and had a sweet taste to it. We've sampled many a beer between the time we met and tonight and we've not been able to find the one.... but we found it!

I still don't know the name... cuz I still can't pronounce it, but Richard knows....

I love you baby... thanks for dinner and being persistent in finding the drink! You're an awesome date!!! I'm very lucky to have you..... *kisses*

Happy VD!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This is day 3 (or 4 if you count Sunday) of P's flu. He got up this morning and wanted to try to go to school, but within an hour of being there the school nurse called me and said P's temp was at 101 and he was groggy. So... I sent his Auntie to pick him up and I came home to baby him some more. Thankfully my job is one that I can work just about any time of the day and I can do part of it from home, so I'm working at night so I can be with him during the day.

A true test for a man - to see if he's really sick - is the food test. I bought P a pizza for lunch and he nibbled on one piece. Usually, he can put away 3 or 4 pieces. He also grabbed a piece of chocolate candy, took one bite and said 'that tastes weird' and threw it away.

He's definitely not feeling well.

Officious Offerings

MSN has just been very helpful with VD-related articles so to help those romantic souls out there in Blogland, here are the 10 worst V-Day gifts. For further discussion, their URL gives the reasons why, and some alternate gift-giving solutions. Enjoy! Personally, I prefer this site. :)

”Choosing the right gift can be quite a challenge: Too many frazzled sweethearts reach into the Valentine’s void for gift ideas and come up with something that’s just plain wrong. To help you avoid joining their ranks, we present the ten worst presents possible—and what to give your sweetie instead.”

1. Ye olde bouquet of red roses and baby’s breath
2. A box of assorted chocolates
3. Jewelry in a ring-sized box
4. Something girlie and decorative like a sachet, a candle holder, a silver
wishing stone
5. A cute stuffed animal bearing a message of love
6. Racy lingerie
7. Anything that could be considered a small appliance
8. A nice bottle of cologne or perfume
9. A tie
10. A gift certificate

Some Topfive.com’s Things Overheard on Valentine's Day

"A stuffed teddy bear, holding a heart? How utterly original."

"I now stand corrected -- there is *one* gift a woman does
*not* prefer to come in a small package."

“The jeweler said you'd never notice. Of course, he also
said he needed to move to another street corner because the
cops were closing in."

"How did you find a stuffed animal that looks exactly like
the neighbor's cat?"

"Troop levels aren't the only thing surging, baby."

"It's like a cosmic convergence -- Valentines Day and
Hump Day occurring simultaneously!"

"Everyone *else* gives chocolate hearts for Valentine's Day,
but I love you so much I went out and got you the real
thing. It's not easy finding a cow heart, you know."

"I *did* get you roses. I just skipped the middleman and
 sent them to your divorce lawyer."

"Technically, the lingerie doesn't make your ass look fat--the
chocolate hearts do that."

"Charles, I want you to take off *all* my clothes. You really
  don't look that good in lace."

"I don't understand it either, honey. It was smokin' hot on
the Victoria's Secret model."

"I said send it *FTD* -- not STD!"

"You had me at 'a dozen red roses will get you oral.'"

"No, not exactly... but I really, really LUST you."

"Sweetheart, guess what? I may be the father of Anna Nicole's 
  daughter!"

Aw what the heck, happy Victory/Viceroy/Vanquish Day, darlings! :)

Perplexing Pairings

From MSN Movies, we review wild disparity in supposed cozy couplings. Agree or disagree? You be the judge…

“Love is not only a battlefield but also a puzzle. Why do we so often experience an involuntary surge of romantic feelings for someone so utterly unsuitable? Here are 10 strikingly mismatched pairings found on film":

“Howard the Duck” (1986) with Lea Thompson and well, quick frankly, a king-sized duck.

"A scientific experiment unknowingly brings extraterrestrial life forms to the Earth through a laser beam. First is the cigar smoking drake Howard from the duck's planet. A few kids try to keep him from the greedy scientists and help him back to his planet. But then a much less friendly being arrives through the beam."

I did see this one and I have to admit how creepy it felt to watch Ms. Thompson get hot and bothered over a giant quacker. I refuse to mention what city this clunker is set in.

“Swamp Thing” (1982) with Ray Wise and Adrienne Barbeau.

"Dr. Alec Holland, hidden away in the depths of a murky swamp, is trying to create a new species - a combination of animal and plant capable of adapting and thriving in the harshest conditions. Unfortunately he becomes subject of his own creation and is transformed .Arcane, desperate for the formula attempts to capture the Swamp Thing. An explosive chase ensues that ultimately ends with a confrontation between Holland and a changed Arcane."

Oh brother.

“Edward Scissorhands” (1990) with Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder.

"A modern day fairy tale which tells the story of Edward, the man created by an inventor, who died before finishing him and left Edward with scissors where he should have hands. One day when the local Avon representative calls at the historic mansion where Edward has been living alone, she takes him home to stay with her family. He has to adapt to the new life and environment that he isn't used to. Soon he shows a talent in cutting hair and hedges, and wins every body's heart. But life isn't always so sweet."

Yes, it’s off-the-wall but I liked this unusual story.

"Six Days, Seven Nights" (1998) with Harrison Ford and Anne Heche.

"Taking a romantic tropical island week off with her boyfriend, an ambitious, decisive New York girl agrees to help her magazine out by covering a story on a neighboring island. The only plane available is piloted by a laid-back heavy drinker with whom she shares a mutual dislike. But she has no choice and he can't refuse the money. When the plane crash-lands on an uninhabited island with little chance of rescue they both wish they had made other arrangements - at least to start with."

I liked this one but mostly because Han Solo was the male lead. The chasm-like age gap and Anne’s mercurial gender choice made for viewer’s suspense of disbelief when viewing this flick.

"Frankie and Johnny"(1991) with Al Pacino and Michele Pfeiffer.

"Johnny has just been released from prison, and gets a job in a cafe beside waitress Frankie. Frankie is a bit of a loner, but Johnny is determined their romance will blossom."

Never saw it.

"As Good as It Gets"(1997) with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.

"Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer, finds his life turned upside down when neighboring gay artist Simon is hospitalized and his dog is entrusted to Melvin. In addition, Carol, the only waitress who will tolerate him must leave work to care for her sick son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast."

Greg Kinnear was terrific but Jack and Helen as a couple was completely unbelievable.

"White Palace" (1990) with James Spader and Susan Sarandon.

"Max Baron (James Spader) is a 27-year-old high flying advertising executive still recovering from the death of his wife. One night he is in a bar when he meets Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon) a 43-year-old waitress with a fixation on Marilyn Monroe. The couple gradually fall in love, though age and social differences mean that the path of true love is strewn with problems."

Never saw it, but loved him in "Pretty in Pink" as the spoiled rich boy.

"Harold and Maude"(1971) with Bud Cort and Ruth Gordon.

"Harold is a depressed, death-obsessed 20-year-old man-child who spends his free time attending funerals and committing suicide in front of his mother, but he does not die. At a funeral, Harold befriends Maude, a 79-year-old woman who has a zest for life. She and Harold spend much time together during which she exposes him to the wonders and possibilities of life. After rejecting his mother's three attempts to set him up with a potential wife, and committing fake suicide in front of all of them, Harold announces that he is to be married to Maude. However, Maude has a surprise for Harold that is to change his life forever."

Never heard of him. Didn’t see this, but apparently it received good reviews. Pairing a 20-year old and an almost 80-year old is pushing the envelope.

"Monster’s Ball" (2001) with Billy Bob Thornton and Halle Berry.

"Set in the Southern United States, 'Monster's Ball' is a tale of a racist white man, Hank (played by Billy Bob Thornton), who falls in love with a black woman named Leticia (Halle Berry). Ironically Hank is a prison guard working on Death Row who executed Leticia's husband (Sean Combs). Hank and Leticia's interracial affair leads to confusion and new ideas for the two unlikely lovers."

Didn’t see this but Billy Bob doesn’t strike me as a good match for the lovely Ms. Berry.

"Beauty and the Beast" (1946) with two people no one’s ever heard of.

"A half-ruined merchant lives in the country with his son Ludovic and his three daughters. Two of the daughters, Felicie and Adelaide, are real shrews, selfish, pretentious, evil. They exploit the third daughter, Belle, as a servant. One day, the merchant gets lost in the forest and enters a strange castle. He picks up a rose for Belle and the castle's owner appear. He is a monster, half-human, half-beast, and possesses magic powers. He sentences the merchant to death, unless he give up one of his daughters. Belle sacrifices herself for her father and goes to the castle, discovering that the Beast is not so wild and inhuman as it seems."

There is also the 1991 animated version.

I sort of remember the fairy tale but plead innocent on having ever caught this flick.

I’m sure many others could be added to this list, but there you have it—incongruous couples on film.

Tis the Season for Kleenex

Today is day 2 of P's flu. Actually, I guess it could be day 3.... but I really wasnt counting sunday because we didn't stay in or anything. We ran around with him sick, not realizing how sick he was.

P is never sick. That kid is tough as nails and shakes off every snotty sneezing thing that comes his way but sunday I should have paid more attention. I woke up to him fully dressed in jeans and a sweater. This is the kid that strips at the front door.... chooses nudity over chocolate!

Sunday night he had a temp of 101, so I knew that it was highly possible that we might not be going to work/school on Monday. Sure enough. He was feverish, eyes all red, chest rattling, labored breathing, etc. I tried to get in to see his doctor but after 15 minutes of being on hold I said 'ahhhh screw it!' and we took off for the Urgent Care Center.

We nestled down in our chairs to wait for our names to be called, I chatted with a guy waiting and P dozed off to sleep. It wasnt but a few minutes later he sat straight up and said 'I think i'm going to throw up'. My pointer finger reacted and I very urgently commanded 'get to the bathroom!' He took off running for the door. *wheew, he made it* I heard the gut wrenching hurls and in a few minutes he opened the door.... and I spotted it. chunks all over the floor. He walked up to the nurses desk and told them he needed a cleanup on isle 5 *blah*

He said down (said he felt better... of course) and I asked him if he 'made it'. He said, 'not really. I got most of it on the floor and some in the sink'. My stomach churned. I don't do vomit. I'll be right along beside him if I have to go in there. I checked with the receptionist and she said they would clean it up and she tried to explain to me that it was 'ok'... that's why he's here. True.....

They got us in very quickly after that. lol He has Type A flu. I have no idea what that means... there is type A and type B... both are the flu. So, he has the flu.

On the way home, I called Richard to give him the results and I said 'he threw up his cookies in the doctors office!'. P looked at me and said 'no I didnt mom, it was bacon. I had bacon for breakfast.... not cookies'.

HAHAHAH that kid is so cute!

Amour Angst

Yes my darlings, we’ve come to that specific segment of time again. *audible sigh* I promise not to subject you to an entire week of anti-love verses penned by famous poets like I did last year but I just couldn’t resist sharing this article from MSN.

“When you're not in love, everyone else appears to be. No matter where you go, mushy couples scorch your corneas with their public displays of affection and cram their sweet nothings into your adjacent ears. And maybe you'd like to think it's lovely, but the truth is that you'd rather not be forced to remember. You don't want to think about how happy you once were, or how happy you could be again if only, or, especially, how happy you might never be again. And you definitely don't want to think about the possibility that your cat might be your longest-running relationship, like George Clooney and his pig (RIP, Max) because you're probably not one of the "sexiest people alive," and you can't afford to live high-on-the-hog in Italy.

Nothing epitomizes the single person's challenge quite like Valentine's Day—the one day each year that seems defined solely by gestures of romance: the delivery of red roses, thoughtful cards and phone calls, candlelight dinners, etc., ad nauseum. So this year, here's a suggestion: You can simply choose to hate love. I mean, really despise the sucker. Wear black. Spit on flowers. Fill your ears not with the sweet nothings of others but with the wails, moans and cries of musicians who have the decency to remind us of love's disastrous qualities."

You may read the specifics regarding each song at MSN Music’s URL, but here are their picks for the top “I Hate Love” songs of all time.

1. The J. Geils Band: “Love Stinks”

2. Def Leppard: “Love Bites”

3. Nazareth: “Love Hurts”

4. Kelly Clarkson: “The Trouble With Love Is”

5. Alanis Morissette: “You Oughta Know”

6. Maria McKee: “If Love is a Red Dress (Hang Me in Rags)”
7. Michael Buble with Holly Palmer: “Down With Love"

Tied for 8:

John Mayer: “I’m Gonna Find Another You”
Beyonce: “Irreplaceable”

9. The Dixie Chicks: “Hole in My Head”

10. Adam Sandler: "Somebody Kill Me"

To recap, love stinks, bites, and hurts. Sounds painful! :P

It's Not Special K

Apparently, I have a severe addiction problem.

To Strawberry Cheerios.

This weekend C and I had gone to the mall to do some shopping and afterwards we ran by Target to get a few things. On our list was milk and I ran down the cereal isle to get cereal. Specifically Cheerios. C said "mom! you have a serious problem! We already have cheerios" That is true, but we go through about 4 boxes a week and its stupid to buy one box at a time.

So I grabbed two.

C said "can't we get something different this time?"

No. We all like it... and I think we're all addicted. Cept C.... obviously.

I got home and opened up the pantry to 3 existing boxes of Cheerios (one Vanilla and two Strawberry)...I added the two new boxes.

If you need me, I'll be at my Cheerios anonymous meeting.