Campaign 2007: Vote for Not Martha

I'm not really into politics. You might even say I'm decidedly NOT into politics. But I am into my friends. You may remember back a few months ago when this blog was so boring and looked like many other blogs out there. Now it does not. And that is thanks to my buddy Retta. Now, I'm campaigning for her to win a free soda machine. She so deserves it. She's very generous with her time and talents even though she has four, count them FOUR sons. Yes, four. They need less sugar. Go vote for her: VOTE.

~t

Thankfulness

I've been a blog slacker today, but I was tagged by Alli, so I thought I should at least get this out there. Besides, I like it.

Three things I am thankful for:

1. My connection with the divine

2. The love of and for family and friends

3. I'm not in the living room right now as Kevin just let one fly

Oh dear, maybe I should pick a different #3.

New 3. Financial abundance

Now I have to tag, so here goes: Heather, Mel, and Elizabeth

~t

Postie Carnival 2: Worthy Causes and Charities

I know, I've been a carnival freak lately. (ha ha ha.) But, I couldn't help participating in this one for a couple reasons--first of all, this the Carnival of Worthy Causes and Charities. There are a lot of these near and dear to my heart, but apparently the nearest and dearest is till good ole Ten Chimneys. I feel like I grew up in my job there and it will always be special to me. Second of all, my friend and fellow Postie, Suni, is hosting. So hop on over, and check it out. I'm sure you'll learn something of value and maybe even feel inspired to give in some way.

~t

For Mr. Fabulous: COOKIE!

Oh dear, Tricia's Musings just gave me some FABULOUS linky love. There was a comment from Mr. Fabulous asking if we had cookies over here. This one IS half eaten, but you can just take it as proof that there is more where that came from, Mr. F. Enjoy! (I also just remembered that I have more cookies on my other site. Those are REALLY great.)



Thanks Tricia, you're the rockinest. (I think I hear that on Noggin all day.)

~t

At Night in San Francisco: Zabrina Tipton

I made mention of my friend Zabrina in the last post, but I wanted to give her a little more love. She's a talented photographer who's put together a couple of books of her work. Her website is the San Francisco Guild of the Arts. Here's the book I was lucky enough to be sent by her as a housewarming gift, At Night in San Francisco!



Not only is Zabrina talented, beautiful, and cool, but she's amazingly generous as well. Forty percent of the San Francisco Guild's services go to nonprofits. Also from the site, "'Gift from Zabrina', is our donation to the community. We donate photography services to the ill wanting to document their life for family, friends and awareness."

Check her out!

Postie Carnival!

Hey, Jessie over at Hunna's Happenings is hosting (what I think is) the first ever PayPerPostie Blog Carnival. Yours truly is taking part as well as a number of other great Postie friends and writers. Start your year right by checking it out!

~t

Great group of sites from a fellow Muser

Tricia over at Tricia's Musings and her husband, Chris, have a couple of other sites worth visiting, if you haven't seen them yet.

It's so funny, I was initially drawn to Tricia's Musings because I saw she had visited my site and we had chosen the same name for our blogs. (Plus, she has a funky-cool avatar that reminds me of one of my favorite periods of my hair.)





That's me, circa 1996. The color is actually a little faded in this shot. It was more like Tricia's avatar when it was first colored.

Kinda weird, huh?

I really like her site because it's visually appealing and has a great variety of content that includes substance and fun. So, I was excited to hear that she had another blog called Celebrity Scoop. I do like myself a little celebrity gossip, even though I try not to indulge too much. (It makes me feel guilty for some reason. I guess I feel bad for the celebrities' lack of privacy. Of course, some of them just thrive on it.) I do like that Tricia puts her own unique spin on the stories, including highlighting political figures like Saddam Hussein as well. Very interesting.

Her husband Chris' site, Odd Planet, reminds me of my husband Kevin's Shameless Stuff. How funny, huh? Tricia and I must be soul-sisters or something. While we girls write about our lives and like to peek in on the celebs, the guys are all about the weirdness in the world. Kevin's tagline reads, "Observations on the shameless world around me. Gads, we're all so weird!" The description for Odd Planet, is described as such, "Odd Planet is a humor/ entertainment blog that brings you odd new stories, stories about dumb criminals, and strange people. You’ll also find a good number of funny pictures and videos on the site as well." Perhaps the guys should write about the weird parallels amongst all our lives?

OMG, both Tricia and Chris are participating in Photo Hunters Scavenger Hunt. And oh boy, did they pick different topics. How funny. You have to go check it out to compare, especially if you know me and Kevin. It's very like how we might do something. I swear Tricia and Chris, we are NOT stalking you.

Anyway, get on over there and check out those blogs. They are worth a looksee. Yes, I just said looksee. So, sue me. I like weird words.

Happy NEW Year! (Maybe I have to try this photo scavenger hunt thing. Hmmmm.)

~t

Bestest Blog Carnival 1.2

I participated in a The Bestest Blog Carnival 1.2 yesterday. I forgot to write about it here! It's a bunch of bloggers all writing about their families. Check it out. Thanks to Jessie at Who Are We for hosting.

~t

PayPerPost Carnival

A fellow PayPerPostie, Jessie, has decided to get all of us bloggers together for a PayPerPost carnival in the new year. How cool! If you are a blogger for PayPerPost and would like to participate, here are the guidelines:

1. Be an active postie.
2. Email Jessie at hunnagirl063080@gmail.com the link to your blog as well as the link to your favorite post.
3.Submissions must be entered no later than 11:59 p.m. on December 27th.
4.Place a post on your blog directing other Posties to enter the carnival and then another post the day of the carnival directing readers to check the carnival out.

Jessie says this about the last carnival she in which she participated:

"This is a great way to exchange links, gain new readers, and increase your PR. The last time I participated in a Blog Carnival I got an extra 400 visitors that day, many of whom have become regular readers. I also found a lot of other really great blogs."

Wow! Count me in!

~t

Chat!

I have a confession to make. I love to chat online. I know many of you are shocked, especially considering how much I love to chat on my blog. I don't know what it is about a chat that works for me. Perhaps because it's fun, it's safe, and you get to meet new people. Or because you can just hang out with people you already know. A chat room is a great place to get a group of people together and watch the craziness ensue.

For some reason, it's different than talking on the phone. For one, we can all talk at once and somehow it works. Some of my most fun experiences were talking with my astrology friends in a chat room. And of course, I chat with Heather just about every day. It's great for moms because it's something you can do and be interrupted and go back to without having to apologize (much). Sometimes the person doesn't even know you're gone!

Anyway, if you haven't tried a chat, you should. It's just fun. Heck, sometimes I chat online with my husband from the different floors of our house. That's advanced geekiness, though. If you're new, start with a chat room.

~t

Pimp My Nutcracker & Zach Braff

I find the funniest things over at Julie's blog. She found this at The BenSpark. It's called Pimp My Nutcracker. People are doing the funniest things for the holidays. Here is my pimped nutcracker...




And, while I was at The BenSpark, I heard about a new Zach Braff movie!!! Quoi? I must be slipping. I heart Zach. With JASON BATEMAN (hi-larious) and Amanda Peet (Awesome). Could I be more excited? Did you see Jason Bateman in Dodgeball? OMG, too funny.



Ok, I basically just copied The BenSpark post. I didn't mean to. It was just that the post I was looking to site had the other info that thrilled me! What do they say about copying and flattery? I gotta help out my man, Zach. (Funny, after I did all this, I just noticed that ZB has it on his site, of course!)

~t

O Canada! (5:00 am Ramble for Steve)

Remember that episode of That 70s Show that had the guys all singing the Canadian national anthem to get them out of trouble? That was a crackup.

Kevin and I have had a fascination with Canada since we saw the Michael Moore movie, Bowling for Columbine. I think it's a somewhat common fascination stemming from that source, especially during this here Bush era. Now, even though I've lived in the Northern half of the U.S. my whole life, I haven't made it up there yet. Well, we have plans (just wish I didn't need to renew my passport.)

Ok, I was just thinking of all that as I was perusing my Canadian blogger buddy Steve's site: The Beginnings of a Blog. He's a Canadian currently studying in NY on a track scholarship. My fellow posties, Colleen and Cass, got all up in arms on his hawtness as they were talking about his site. I was gonna try to stick to the facts and was looking for some interesting "Canuck in the states" sort of stuff, but upon checking the archives, I got all distracted by him posting about his butt. Now, how'm I supposed to stay focused when that's what I find? Well, he's not always posting about his butt. There's also a lot of information on tech stuff and his life as a college student (finals recently) and just funny or cool things he finds online.

So, I look back to August (still looking for stuff on Canada--thinking he was home in the summer, no?) to find he has a girlfriend, but I think something must have happened, because he recently talks of not talking to the pretty girl at a party. Again, I ask, how am I supposed to stay focused on looking up Canadian information, when I get all sidetracked by romance and runners' butts? Oh well. I guess I'm just like the other girls.

Further searching has still found little in the way of long reminscinces of Steve's love of Canada. But I found this funnily honest post. Talk about disclosure! I like this one, too, because I question busyness as well.

I have to go search the archives for what happened to Steve's girlfriend now. I'm not gonna tell. Go there yourself. Until then, here's the pretty boy's pic. (It was just too tempting to not Colleen- and Cass-it-up a bit!)

Thanks for the import, Canada! (At least temporarily.)

How could he NOT talk to the pretty girl? Boys... Hmmm...I wonder if he would like Amanda. Hmmm...Scorpio. That would work with a Virgo. Of course, now she'd be the older woman. Ahhh...the things I do when I wake up at 4:00 AM with a raging headache. I think the ibuprofen has almost taken effect. He looks like a Scorp, now that I see that. Dark. Mmm hm. Girls like that, Steve. Next time you're at a party, go for it. I know, I know, you're a geek at heart, but if we find a cutie, with a runner's butt who can also make sure we never lose internet connectivity... Ok, I gotta end this before it gets even more outta hand.

But come on, people, go visit Steve. Go on, go. Now.

~t

Surfing Blogs Can Turn Up Some Dangerous Info

I am in the midst of a HUGE weight loss campaign that I am calling the Solstice Slimdown. I have to say that I was extraordinarily proud of myself today for not buying my favorite ice cream in the world: Starbucks Java Chip. You see, it's generally a little too expensive for my tastes, but tonight it was on SALE, and I still did not get it. Yay me. And then I find this. Cinnamon Ben and Jerry's. Wow, does that sound good.

I also had a good chuckle about the tagline to her blog, Thoughts Out of My Head, "After all, it's not talking to myself if I say it here." Also, it seems we have a lot in geeky common. And I thought I was the only one!

The Blogosphere is such a fun place. Can you believe some people don't even know it exists? Stay tuned for some more of my fun stumblings through it.

~t

Got an opinion? Try Review Stream

My fellow blogger, Deb, knows a lot. She just recently turned me on to Review Stream. At this site, you can write a review about just about anything and they will pay you $.30-$1.50 for it. I know, it's not much money, but it can add up. Plus, sometimes you just want to tell people about something you loved or hated. Why not go for it? And get a little dough in the process. Thanks Deb!

Check out Deb's blog or her articles to see about some of the many other things she knows!

~t

I love a guy who cooks

Mostly, that means I love Kevin, who is a kick-ass cook and my sweet husband. But, in this case, I'm talking about my blogging friend, Marcus, on his blog My Thoughts. Ok, granted, it doesn't sound like he cooked too well, but at least he's trying! He shares all sorts of things from his life and perspective, and he's getting pretty popular, so you should go check him out! (I also hear he wears Axe, which doesn't hurt. Although, I'm not sure that helps online. He's a nice guy ladies, and available--go check him out.)

~t

All Hail Dora

Dora the Explorer, of course! Zane loves Dora. When there is any mention of Dora, he says, "Dora, watch." In fact, I think that he is either psychic or can read, because he just said, that to me as I started writing this. That was weird. Dora is my best friend lately, too. He will just sit and be very calm and watch everything that happens on Dora. I feel a little bit like that bad mom I would never be, using the TV as a babysitter. But, as Heather noted, parenting is so much easier for the childless (love that). And I didn't know I'd be working from home, either. Challenges, challenges.

Now, he is bombarding me with the "Dora, watch." Must go put it on for him, so I can write my next blog post!

~t

Cool People, Part 3: morewillie.com

morewillie.com

Just go there. If you have any sense, you'll want morewillie too.

(This all sounds so dirty. Leave it to another Sagittarius. And the fact that we have like SIX planets in Sagittarius right now. Oh my.)

~t

Blogger Love: digicass.com

I love the idea of this new blog by my fellow payperpostie, Cass. Digi-Cass is about her journey to learn more about digital photography.

I am all about pictures, and I especially like to see them in my blog (and other peoples'), so I think this is a great goal: learning how to take better pictures. And with Cass as our guide, it's no doubt we'll enjoy the journey. She doesn't take life too seriously and shares with lots of fun, including a really horrid first picture of herself. To link or not to link? Well, she posted it, so I guess it's fair game. It's too funny--check it. Don't worry, I hear she is feeling better.

On the more topic-driven side, Cass has just started to get into the nitty-gritty of learning from other great photographers. Get on over there now so you don't miss anything! You know...Go. Go now. Go on...

~t

ps-I thought I'd post an awful pic of myself just to make Cass feel better, but I usually delete those! I did recently post a few funny ones that can be seen here.

Blogger Love: whateverifeellike.com

I've been into blogging lately. Obviously. At first, it was all about me. I wrote and wrote and wrote and wrote. Well, I'm still doing that, but lately it's really been about exploring the blogosphere, and it is a big -osphere! There is so much out there. I thought I'd share a little love for some of my new bloggy friends and what they do.

Up now: Amy, with whateverifeellike.com. I'm going to use a screenshot, because Colleen just retaught me how to do this and because I love the feel of Amy's site. It's relaxing and cool and clean and just feminine enough.

What do I love about Amy? Let me count the ways... Heh heh. Well, she's smart, funny, and has a great sense of style. She's been through some shit and she shares herself. She's deep, but accessible. She blogs about her family, her life, her thoughts, and funny and cool things she finds. And she does it well. I was impressed with her domain name before I even knew it was from Napolean Dynamite. It's a long story about why I haven't seen that movie, but that's where her domain name is from, and just further proof (as if we need any) of Amy's cool factor.

One of her latest little fun things (I can't believe it's been 4 weeks already!) is her weekly Musical Mystery with REAL CASH PRIZES! How cool is that? Ok, it's 5 bux, but 5 bux is 5 bux.

Allright, now get your Internet-surfing-flattened butts over there. You know...go. now. go on. GO! :)

~t

(I am so diggin' on the screen shot business! woo hoo!)

PPP Rap Smackdown: Terri Smacks LAURA

Allrighty then, the PayPerPost crew of staff and posties have been having some fun with a little game PayPerPost Prez Ted "Catfeesh" Murphy started. It's called the PPP Rap Smackdown. Here's the chain:

Ted smacked Colleen and told her to smack Chad
Colleen smacked Chad and told him to smack Julie
Chad smacked Julie and told her to smack Amy
Julie smacked Amy and told her to smack ME
Amy smacked me and told me to smack Laura.

Whew! You still with me?

Now, here's my smack to Laura, in which I instruct her to smack Sindy



I tried to enunciate as best I could while rapping, but here are lyrics, in case you missed any.

PPP Rap Smackdown on LAURA

Now Laura I don't know you
But Amy says you're dandy
Your bloggin' is so sweet
This is smackin' cotton candy

You say the PPP
has the whitest people evah
Girl that comes to haunt you next
if you think you so clevah

You got some groovy sites
right there on your computer
If you spent more time on Paul
He might not be out at Hooters

Which brings me to my next point
Girl, we all got sins
But your sweet hubby Paul
He sho likes hisself some twins

(You know what I'm talkin' 'bout.)

Carryin' those twins
Ain't no good for your back
And I notice girl
You sho like to type out ACK

You blog about your parts
Say you have seen Britney's
But you gotta wear Depends
When your mama makes yo' shit sneeze

(It's ok girl, I unnerstand.)

Laura you're my girl
I don't wanna get longwindy
Now my task to you
Is baby smackdown SINDY!


~t

Also check out our Behind the Music for this vid over at Shameless Reality Show. Is it worth it? Probably not. But I did it anyway. I think YouTube cut off the funniest part--the ending. Oh well. (What a linky post this was!)