Say What?
December 6, 2008
My feed reader is full, thanks to a lovely case of Pink Eye. So, in place of Blog Nirvana this week, I thought we’d go for a little humor. No worries though, I’ll post a double dose of quotes in the next Blog Nirvana.
hmmm.. which is less?
Well, no comment.
Do I still qualify as a teenager, then?
Wow, someone paid them for that.
Ouch, newspaper reporter gets slugged for insulting one armed man.
Hey! That happens here, too. Where’s the number for the Sheriff’s Department?
Wow, state quarters seem suspicious to me, too.
Dude, someone steals my mail, too because I never got a million dollar check from Publisher’s Clearing House like they promised!
Huh, go figure.
Here’s your sign.
Failure to stop for a train = prostitution?
Pen and Ink: the Perfect Gift for Under Your Tree
December 5, 2008
Warning: this post is a shameless promotion for a collaborative effort of two of my favorite bloggers. Writer Dad and Blogger Dad have teamed up to offer a holiday gift that takes advantage of their combined super-hero-like talents. Standing alone, either of these talented bloggers can write (and sometimes draw) the pants off any ordinary website. Combined, they are a force to be reckoned with. (Are you excited yet, or is this corny drivel putting you to sleep?)
Pen and Ink
Now for the obligatory sales pitch:
The Spectacular Christmas Gift is officially termed Pen and Ink. It’s a custom created art project, perfect for that hard to buy for person on you holiday list. It’s also a heart warming gift for that special someone in your life. Heck, it would even be a great gift for yourself this year.
How It Works
Sean asks a few questions about what type of gift it will be, and pens a unique and beautiful snippet of prose, as only Writer Dad can. He then sends the cadenced creation off to Blogger Dad for a bit of custom artwork to accompany the prose. The result is a stunning one-of-a kind masterpiece.
I’ve already ordered mine. The poem is complete, and truly amazing. Sean worked in my boys’ names and more than a few references to all the things I love about Christmas on the farm. Dave is working on the artwork now and I’m all a-tingle with anticipation to see what he creates.
The Details
You can get your own Pen and Ink creation by contacting Sean or Dave directly, but the easiest way is to fill out the adorable contact form for Pen and Ink here.
The custom creation will cost you $50 for a digital file, and a little more if you want a print copy mailed to your home. For fun, you can also pay Sean an extra $10 and he’ll tell Dave repeatedly that the artwork is the wrong color, or the wrong size, or the wrong theme, and you can laugh with Sean as Dave pounds his head against the monitor and fixes it over and over and over. 
For me, this is one of those special gifts that becomes an instant family heirloom.
I know money is tight for most of us this year, and $50 may as well be $500. If you love the idea, but can’t part with the cash right now, send Sean or Dave an email and tell them how much you like the idea anyways. I think it’s a great gift and if they get enough of a positive response, they may offer it again next year. Plus, they put a lot of brain power into this concept and would love to hear your praises for the idea. Everyone needs a little encouragement, even super heroes of the Blogopolis. 
Happy Thanksgiving
November 27, 2008
I’m off cooking for a crew of outlaws and in-laws, but I didn’t want to leave you empty-handed on this most important day of thanks. I searched high and low for a meaningful, insightful, and respectable blog topic or video to post for today, but my heart just wasn’t in it.
Instead, you get a little warm-fuzzied humor compliments of YouTube.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I pray your holiday is filed with laughter, loved ones, and warm memories. I thank God for my little blogging circle, and pray that He will extend his blessings over your homes, your lives, and your families.
Just Hit Pause
November 26, 2008
There’s a blanket of snow outside. The sky is grey and there’s a fresh pot of Blackberry tea with peppermint sprigs boiling on the stove. Fresh pumpkin pies are steaming on the counter.
The house cleaning ritual is complete for company tomorrow, and my little guy’s fever is down to a manageable 101. We pile under a soft blanket with our steaming mugs and listen to a little Billie Holiday- because it’s a Billie kind of day.
I should be doing a million things right now, but instead I choose to cuddle with my boys on a busy winter morning. Thanksgiving started early for me this year- right now, in fact. I am so thankful for my little guys and my family.
The job market is bleak, money is tight, the weather is atrocious, and there’s too much to do. But like Billie says, I’ve got my love to keep me warm.
I just wanted to share the arrival of Thanksgiving with you. Happy Holiday, and here’s a little Billie to warm your heart.
Meet Lily
November 16, 2008
Meet Tiger Lily. She’s my birthday present this year and I think she’s adorable. Since it’s Sunday, I thought I’d ramble about my little darling. For you cat-haters, we’ll be back to business tomorrow with tips for Online Business School.
The Cat Story
I mentioned to my husband that I would like to have a Pixie Bob. When he found out the price tag that goes with a Pixie, he laughed and said, “You’re kidding, right? A cat’s only worth about two cents. That’s how much it costs me to put a bullet in its head.” Boo. Hiss. Throw rotten vegetables at violent cat haters.
My son found little Lily at school, along with 2 other kittens. He was already enamored by the time I came to pick him up and said with those big beautiful blue eyes, “Can we keep her mama? She doesn’t have a home.” Now, how can you say no to that logic?
Lily Faces the Executioner
So Lily rode home and to my surprise, she won the heart of my husband. The first night, I caught him petting her. The second night, I saw him looking for her under the rocker before he sat down, and the third night he actually picked her up and declared she was “cute for a cat”. Tonight, he spent 20 minutes playing with her and told her she wasn’t tough enough to beat him, but she might be cute enough to live. Now that’s progress.
Getting to Know Lily
Lily isn’t a Pixie Bob, but she sure does look like one. I like to think of her as my designer knock-off cat. She is polydactyl and has fur of pure silk.
She likes to root around in my hair and occasionally latches onto my earring with a vengeance. I think she misses her mama yet.
She has spunk, and likes to swat me in the nose when I talk to her. My kids adore her. She’s already figured out that the four-year-old hangs out in the kitchen a lot, and if she goes too, she might get a bite of something tasty.
She likes to chase my fingers as I type and sits on the keyboard in Soup Nazi style and says, “No work for you!”
Right now, she’s a warm purring little ball of goodness curled at the small of my back. In five minutes she’ll be maniacally chasing her tail, or a catnip ball, or my eyelashes. So if you follow me on Twitter and get one of these messages, “kmkmadklmkikkm”, that’s from Lily.
(Maybe I should introduce her to Selma…do cats and ducks get along?)
Happy Birthday to You!
November 12, 2008
Today is Amy Derby’s birthday. You can find her on Twitter or at http://write-from-home.com. She’s a lot like the Welcome Wagon lady of Blogopolis and I heart her. So go wish her a Happy Birthday!
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, your words are like sunshine, and we all heart you!”
Sappy, I know, but a poet I am not.
Today is also my birthday, and and I’m spending it in a Neurologist’s office with 2 kids. If I survive the agonizing hours in the waiting room with two active boys, I’ll be back late. If I don’t make it out alive, someone feed my cat, please.
