Baby Thought of the Week ...

We just introduced cereal to Lydia's diet ... and I've realized that things won't get any easier from here ... poop is smelling a bit stronger now ... sigh.

Wacky News Stories

We've gotten so much rain around in the past month, that I've begun to grow webbed feet ...

1. On a man being in a critical condition after being shot in the head with a potato gun in a forest:
"According to sources, his brain is a littled 'mashed...' - a-thank-ya!"
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/man-critical-after-potato-gun-discharges/story-e6frfku0-1226043645734

2. On a retired bus driver who loved comic books dying in a house fire that virtually gutted his modest home ... except for his comic book collection:
"My guess is that he probably didn't have a wife ..."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1379697/Comic-book-collection-worth-millions-thing-survive-rips-enthusiasts-home.html?ITO=1490

3. On a substitute teacher who was arrested for drinking at school ... police found a bottle of Grey Goose in her drawer:
"Hic ... now, who in here wants to learn how to add using shot glasses ... hic!"
http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-news-westlake-high-school-drunken-teacher-arrested,0,5326128.story


4. On a man who ran into a school because he had to evacuate his bowels causing an entire school evacuation:
"Wow ... that must've been one heckuva growler!"
http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-jefferson-co-elementary-school-evacuated-20110421,0,2604250.story

5. On beavers being blamed for Harrisburg water snafu:
"This sounds like a plot in a porno ..."
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/04/report_beavers_blamed_for_harr.html

80's Corner

Oliver North's name was part of a big political scandal during the Reagan years of the 1980's. In a nutshell, this is an overview of the situation, according to Wikipedia:

"North was at the center of national attention during the Iran-Contra affair, a political scandal of the late 1980s. North was a National Security Council staff member involved in the clandestine sale of weapons to Iran, which served to encourage the release of U.S. hostages from Lebanon. North formulated the second part of the plan: diverting proceeds from the arms sales to support the Contra rebel groups in Nicaragua (funding to the Contras had been prohibited under the Boland Amendment amidst widespread public opposition in the U.S. and controversies surrounding human rights abuses by the Contras). North was charged with several felonies and convicted of three, but the convictions were later vacated, and the underlying charges dismissed due to the limited immunity agreement granted for his pre-trial public Congressional testimony about the affair."

But I'll always remember him with that goofy smile in the military outfit ... he seemed like he could've been friends with Gomer Pyle.

Dope or Nope ...

Pabst Brewing company is promoting a new "drink" called Colt 45's Blast. It's supposed to taste a little like soda, and it is marketed heavily that way. Plus, it is much stronger than regular Colt 45. So, is this a good idea - you know, for those people who don't really like the taste of alcohol but want to get drunk anyway? Or, is this something that is really being marketed to kids?

What are your thoughts? Colt 45 Blast - Dope or Nope?

Song of the Week ...

You've undoubtedly heard this song in a popular beer commercial recently (hint - from Amsterdam). The song, by a band named Brazilian Girls, is called Good Time ... the chorus is like an anthem - "All the Time ... All the time." The song itself is quite simple, with a "4-on-the-floor" disco-style drum beat, a rumbling base line, and simple guitar backing, with some creative keyboards weaving in and out of the song.

But what makes the song work is the chorus - it's simplicity is what makes it work - the lyrics are also quite simple, which can be refreshing in a complex world. The band states that all they want to do is have a good time ... all the time. Sometimes, that's what I want too.

Fast Food Corner

Chick Fil-A has some really good options for people watching their fast-food caloric intake. I haven't had a chance to sample their chicken wraps yet, but I did recently try their Chargrilled Chicken sandwich the other day ... and yes, I skipped the fries, opting instead for the fruit cup (which is very good, by the way). So, here's the description of the sandwich, according to Chick Fil-A: A boneless breast of chicken, marinated in special seasonings, grilled to perfection and served on a toasted Golden Wheat Bun with dill pickle chips, Green Leaf lettuce, and tomato. Served with 1 package of Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce.

And folks, let me tell ya - at this point, this is the best grilled chicken sandwich from a fast-food restaurant that I've had ... yep - it's that good. So, it runs about 290 calories - not awful. And it has 29 grams of protein - which is excellent for people looking to lose weight. The carbs are a bit high, but not bad for a fast-food restaurant. All in all - a good healthy choice.

Baby Thought of the Week ...

Lydia is going to be introduced to some "real" food shortly ... she is now 4 months old, and at this point, it is ok to feed the baby some rice-cereal, and maybe even some other baby food like pureed carrots.

So, here's the thing - I hear the diaper poopie gets smellier at this point ... Liddy's poop is smelly enough for me as is ... Not sure if I'll be able to handle additional stench!

Wacky News Stories

Caught a couple of trout on bass lures a few weeks ago ... yes, I'm proud of myself!

1. On Gasoline prices, on the rise for more than three weeks, potentially topping all-time highs by Memorial Day:
"Thank goodness it's happening during Memorial Day, because with that kind of news, I'm going to need a vacation ..."
http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/187394/250/Gas-prices-could-soon-break-July-08-record

2. On a teenager using a candle to search for his dog igniting a fire that destroyed his house:
"That story is a dog-gone shame ... hey-yo!"
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/04/15/20110415florida-boy-burns-house-looking-for-dog.html

3. On an Oregon mailman being suspended for defecating in a yard on his route:
"Talk about special delivery!"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42614045/ns/us_news-weird_news/

4. On a Scottish butcher laying claim to 'the world's hottest sausage:'
"No word yet on a potential grievance filed by the estate of the late Johnny Holmes..."
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/scotland/Scottish-butcher-lays-claim-to.6752699.jp

5. On a study finding diet plus exercise is more effective for weight loss than either method alone:
"Next thing they'll tell me is that there is no Easter Bunny ... or that Marv Albert wears a tupee."
http://www.labspaces.net/110230/Study_finds_diet_plus_exercise_is_more_effective_for_weight_loss_than_either_method_alone

Dope or Nope

Michael Scott (Steve Carell) is leaving The Office this season. The show became immensely popular over the years in the U.S. (after it was originally done in England), taking every office-setting stereotype imaginable and weaving them into the show's characters and storylines.

The show is apparently going to go on without Carell and nobody's really sure who, if anybody, will be replacing him. So, dope or nope - on the show going on without its main character?

80's Corner

GI Joe was originally created back in the 1960's (I believe) ... I remember my older brother owning one of those 12-inch GI Joe figures - he looked more like a true Army GI, and had removable Army fatigues and guns - he even came in his own Army box.

GI Joe was revived in the 1980's, but became more ... um ... sci-fi ... his main enemy was Cobra (and eventually Destro), and these characters were much more Super-Human than the original iteration. The action figures sold like wildfire, and they even had a cartoon that was wildly popular in the 1980's. Heck, at one point, even wrestling legend Sgt. Slaughter became part of the GI Joe machine.

I remember having a few figures back in the day, but for the most part, GI Joe had passed me by.

Song of the Week

The Twighlight Singers are a band I follow less than I should. Gregg Dulli, from the Afghan Whigs leads the band (and I'm a huge fan of the Afghan Whigs). The band's new album, Dynamite Steps, is another strong effort, and features a song called "On the Corner."

This song sounds very much like some classic Afghan Whigs work - it is dark, starts quiet and gets loud, and features some strong violins in the background. And Dulli shrieks and yells like it was 1992 again - just awesome! Great guitar solo in the center of the song, along with some catchy semi-choruses.

It's what rock and alternative rock should've become (not the main-stream emo-crap that has hijacked the airwaves ... I'll get off my soap-box now!).

Fast Food Corner

Last week, I tried the Grilled McWrap at McDonalds ... This week I tried the Grilled Chicken Wrap at Wendy's (as promised). So, here's the comparison:

Honestly, there isn't that much difference. I would say that the tortilla wraps themselves are almost identical, and the "toppings" are about the same. If I had a gun pointed at my head, I would say the grilled chicken tasted a little better at Wendy's than at McDonalds. However, Wendy's price is a little more expensive - the wrap sells for $1.99 at Wendy's and only $1.59 at McDonalds

Wendy's Chicken wrap has about 260 calories, while McDonalds McWrap also has 260 calories ... with a little less fat (at least the Honey Mustard one does). So, they are almost at a dead heat ... now I have to find another fast-food joint that serves wraps to see if I can break the tie! Any suggestions?

Baby Thought of the Week ...

My daughter Lydia's smile can melt me ... no matter what mood I'm in ... I long to see her smile at me ... especially, when I'm at work.

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! This week, I chose the following prompt: A time you covered your tracks and avoided punishment. My cousins and I were playing a game in my parents' basement when we were growing up ... the game involved jumping on furniture and avoiding touching the ground. My has some semi-expensive plates she hangs on the walls around the basement - most represent a town in Germany ... you probably are getting where this is going.

As I was jumping on a piece of furniture, the back of my head hit one of the plates, dislodged it, and if fell to the floor, and shattered into 3 big pieces. I held my ears, as I waited for my mom to inevitably scream and run down the stairs to punish me ... but mom never came. As it turned out, she was outside, unaware of the plate problem.

I quickly surveyed the damage and came up with a contingency plan ... I would use Elmer's glue to glue the 3 pieces back together ... the plan HAD TO WORK ... and you know what? It actually did - to this day, the Elmer's glue has held the plate together ... I still don't think my mom noticed the cracks in the plate

Wacky News Stories

So, if the democrats and republicans can come to compromises, shouldn't the NFL players and owners be able to do so, too?

1. On a French physician who says his design for foldaway toilet is biodegradable, lightweight and would be useful following natural disasters:
"Um ... after a natural disaster, if your main concern is searching for a foldaway toilet, maybe you need to reset your priorities..."
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/04/08/Cardboard-toilet-could-be-disaster-aid/UPI-84951302288120/

2. On a report that finds that drinking too much alcohol is blamed for a "considerable proportion" of cancer cases:
"Since I don't curse on this blog, I can't really express my true feelings about this ..."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2011/04/08/alcohol-cancer-deaths-europe.html?ref=rss

3. On a woman accused of attempting to circumcise her baby at home using a box cutter and a pair of pliers:
"Even McGuyver probably would recommend against this ..."
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/119482484.html

4. On a state senator wanting N.J. students to 'opt in' to paying activity fees for college campus events, following Snooki's Rutgers visit:
"Especially if Snooki doesn't even know how to spell Rutgers ..."
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/04/following_snooki_visit_ro_rutg.html

5. On a bill passed in the state House of Representatives in Texas raising the speed limit to 85 miles per hour on certain long stretches of road or designated lanes:
"Gives a whole new meaning to the word Fahrfegnugen!"
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/07/texans-need-speed/?test=latestnews

Dope or Nope

Baseball doubleheaders are apparently a thing of the past. Back in the day, double-headers were played almost every weekend! Now, they are only scheduled when there is a rain-out. This contributes to the season being ungodly long ... my guess is that we got to this place for two main reasons. First, the players union fought for this (no need to have overpaid players over-exert themselves). Second, owners, being as greedy as they are, don't want to give their fans any opportunities for a 2-for-1 deal ... pay for each game, darn-it!

I remember going to a Phillies double-header with my dad ... it was awesome! A full day of baseball, hot dogs, and soda ... what could be better? Well, I guess my daughter won't get to find out.

So, what are your thoughts on baseball double-headers? Dope or nope?

Song of the Week

Bands in this era have crazy names .... maybe all the good ones have already been taking. This is definitely the case with "Two Door Cinema Club," an indie band from Northern Ireland. The band has been semi-popular in the indie community, having even toured with indie heroes Phoenix. The band is poised to gain more popularity as their songs have the right mix of "catchy," and "simplistic-yet-complex."

Their song "What You Know," has almost a tango-like undertone mixed with an alt-poppy sound. It almost sounds like Duran-Duran mixed with Phoenix ... I can hear Rio in this if I listen closely enough. A very cool sounding guitar laces the entire track, along with some synth-elements ... just a great mixture ... this is a song I could listen to over and over again.

80's Corner

Rob Lowe was at the top of his game in the 80's ... he starred in some great movies like Youngblood and St. Elmo's Fire ... he was the teen heart-throb of the time, and he seemed to have no ceiling ... until a sex scandal... I remember it vaguely, so I had to look it up on Wikipedia.org.

Here is what they had to say about it:
"In 1988, Lowe was involved in a sex scandal over a videotape of him having sex with two women, one of whom was 16. She was filmed with Lowe during the night before the Democratic National Convention. Lowe has asserted that he did not know that the second girl was underage, and it was confirmed that the two had met at a bar.[13] At the time, Lowe was campaigning for Michael Dukakis.[14]
Another part of the same tape was leaked at the time, showing Lowe and his friend Justin Moritt, later the line producer, both having sexual intercourse and oral sex with a young American model named Jennifer, in a hotel room in Paris. This part of the original tape was sold as one of the first commercially available celebrity sex tapes, damaging his public image.[15] He later entered a rehabilitation clinic for alcohol and sex addiction."

The funny part is if this happened today, he would've probably become even more popular! At the time, he basically was black-balled and took him years to rehab his image ... I think his role in Waynesworld was probably the start of this.

Fast Food Corner

So, I've been on a "healthier eating" kick ... definitely don't want to call it a diet, because diets often fail ... it's really just readjusting eating habits ... smaller portions, more protein and less fat, and staying away from cookies, fries, and chips (not an easy task for me).

I went to McDonalds on Thursday ... I haven't been to one of those in months! I got the Grilled Chicken wrap ... or McWrap ... or whatever they call it ... I got two of them ... and that's it ... no fries ... not drink ... and you know what? It tasted pretty good ... surprisingly, it tasted better than the fried chicken McWraps ... seriously, it did! Anyway, I think I'm going to try the grilled chicken wrap at Wendy's and make a comparison between the two ... So, without trying the Wendy's grilled chicken wrap, I have to say that the bar has been set pretty high!

More to come ...

Baby Thought of the Week ...

I hate dressing Liddy in pants and a shirt ... she doesn't like it, and it's a pain in the butt. I'd rather put her in a sleeper all day ... she doesn't mind this so much (she prefers naked), and it's a lot easier to clean a dirty diaper ... am I being lazy?

Weekly Homework Assignment

It's time once again for Mama Kat's Weekly Homework Assignment! This week, I chose the following prompt: If you really knew me, you would know that ... (top 10):
10. I don't like ham BECAUSE I got sick on it on a couple of occasions as a child.
9. I've been to the Ukraine before to visit my dad's birthplace ... it really put things into perspective for me.
8. I was engaged more than once.
7. I have a hatred of reality shows.
6. The only real dance I can do is the Mick Jagger "rooster" strut.
5. I value trust and a good sense of humor most in a friendship.
4. I am addicted to sports.
3. I have trouble listening to country music and hip-hop.
2. I find today's mainstream musical "artists" awful ... translation, the music scene has passed me by.
1. Barry Bonds is my least favorite athlete.

Wacky News Stories

Hockey playoffs getting ready to start ... baseball season in full-swing ... it's a beautiful thing!

1. On the cofounder of Bojangles passing away:
"He can now resume his battle with the Colonel in heaven ... or hell."
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/04/02/2147215/co-founder-of-bojangles-restaurants.html

2. On Athiests at Fort Bragg launching an effort to get recognition, equal treatment on the base:
"Unfortunately, it doesn't look like God is on their side ..."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42391558/ns/us_news-military/

3. On social conservatives taking aim at Gay Days in Orlando and at Disney:
"Good to see the conservatives being more tolerant ... not."
http://sunshinestatenews.com/story/social-conservatives-take-aim-gay-days-orlando-and-disney

4. On the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is urging city leaders in San Francisco to change the name of its legendarily gritty Tenderloin to something with decidedly less gristle:
"I hope they're only 'horsing-around,' because if this is the battle they decide to wage, I think they're 'barking' up the wrong tree ..."
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/31/us/31tenderloin.html?_r=2&ref=sanfranciscobayarea

5. On the possibility of ground-up animal meat and bone being turned into biodegradable plastics:
"I'm not sure why my dog loves my plastic lawn furniture so much ..."
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-03/ground-animal-byproducts-could-be-turned-oil-free-biodegradable-plastics

Dope or Nope

Chad Occocinco is not letting the NFL lock-out slow him down ... in fact, he's apparently taking up another sport ... soccer. He used to play it as a child, and he's very athletic, tall, and fast. He's also a big soccer fan, or so he says. So, an MLS team gave him a chance to make their team, and guess what ... he made one of the MLS feeder teams as a reserve ... it's good publicity for both the MLS and Chad, but what do you think?

Chad Occocinco and the MLS ... dope or nope?

Song of the Week

Plan B is the "alter-ego" of Benjamin Paul Ballance-Drew, and according to Wikipedia, he is a British rapper, singer-songwriter, actor and film director from Forest Gate, London. Plan B first emerged as a hip hop artist releasing his critically acclaimed début album Who Needs Actions When You Got Words in 2006. His second studio album The Defamation of Strickland Banks (2010) was a soul record and went straight into the UK album chart at no. 1. He has also collaborated with other artists such as Chase & Status most notably on the top ten single "End Credits" (2009).

So, I'm not really into rap or hip hop, but for whatever reason, I like this song. This song seems be more alternative-rockish ... good guitar riffs, nice uppity beat, and even though he's singing falsetto, it works.

The chorus of "Always stay too long" by the background singers, and the driving piano is catchy ... sure, there's a rap in the middle, but it's not overly long and not annoying. The song works, and is a great toe-tapper.

80's Corner

Calgon became famous for a commercial they did in the 1980's ... The setting was a Chinese Dry-Cleaners or Laundromat (can't remember for sure). But one of the customers asked the owner, "How do you get your clothes so clean," to which the owner responds, "Ancient Chinese secret!"

The wife of the owner smirks, and says "Ancient Chinese secret, eh?" under her breath. She has a laundry basket filled with clothes and a box of Calgon.

Calgon had a second equally famous commercial in which a lady is stressed, and all she wants to do is take a bath. At the point of complete exhaustion, she screams, "Calgon, Calgon, take me away!" And the next thing you know, she is laying in a bubble bath, and a pure state of relaxation ... I believe the tub is even flying around space ...

Fast Food Corner

Angus seems to be the big thing these days in fast food. Over the past few years, McDonalds and Burger King have both released and heavily promoted their angus burgers. Arby's is the latest fast food giant to enter the Angus market, with their "Angus Three Cheese and Bacon sandwich."

The Angus beef really looks like their regular roast beef, at least in the commercial,but the roll seems to be a hoagie roll (haven't had it yet). I'm intrigued by this sandwich, as both Burger King's and McDonald's sandwiches are very good. Let me know if you've tried this yet!

Baby Thought of the Week ...

Liddy is finally taking to the Baby Bjorn ... I just don't know if I am ... sigh.