So did I mention that I got a new desktop computer (an iMac with 24 inch screen and 1TB hard drive)? Well, I did, but it didn’t work. It started freezing up on the 2nd day and randomly shutting itself down on the 3rd day. So we took it into the Apple store where the tech pronounced it dead and suggested that since it was so new I should just ask for a replacement. Which I did. And they very kindly agreed with me. So I sent the dead one back and they are sending me a replacement via FedEx since I got it online. The new computer is on its way to me as we speak (via Oakland and Memphis - wth?). It’s supposed to be delivered on September 30, and for some reason I was totally convinced that September 30 is tomorrow (Monday). So, I was also very sure that it would show up while LG and I were at dance class. My SIL, who is a FedEx driver, gave me advice on what to do if it hadn’t arrived by the time we left. But just a few minutes ago, I finally realized that duh…September 30 is TUESDAY. A day on which I have nowhere to go so I will be home all day to accept delivery and not have to worry about it coming during dance class. This after I whined all weekend to anyone and everyone about how I thought it would come during dance class. I feel kind of silly now.

Everybody Needs Gadgets

Would you use this telephone?

Food! Glorious Food!

Grape juice has the same benefits as red wine. I drink cran-grape juice - a good double whammy for the bladder and the heart.

Why you should eat animal fat.

Chocolate chip cookies

Pasta Carbonara

Creative Pursuits

More about aperture.

Even more about aperture.

5 elements of composition in photography.

5 more elements of composition.

Techno Geekery

Find out where a username is already registered.

Send photos to different sites at the same time.

Manage meals for those in need (as in new parents or friends who have suffered a death in the family).

Life Is a Highway

How to clean stuff.

Make a household notebook.

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Two really cool and interesting articles about Math. (Thanks to Bright Star for the 2nd link!)

Good Reads

The stories behind 10 Dr. Seuss stories.

For the Kids

Tips for cooking with kids.

How to accident-proof your kids.

Weekly Features

Pretty recipe of the week

Cupcake of the week

Video of the week

Everybody Needs Gadgets

Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?

If you use a touch screen and you live somewhere that’s cold, these gloves are for you.

I like my pasta al dente. Mike, not so much. Maybe this would help?

Food! Glorious Food!

I really want this cake for my birthday. :D

The best chocolate chip muffins in the universe?

Ten foods to eat this fall.

How to make ravioli.

Creative Pursuits

Outdoor photography tips

Techno Geekery

Thoughts from the inventor of the world wide web. The real one, not Al Gore.

I totally need this.

Lost a wikipedia article? Look here.

Life Is a Highway

Tips for critiquing

10 reasons you should write something every day.

How and when to cancel a credit card.

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Mirror, mirror on the wall…

Some people might say this looks good enough to eat. I think it looks weird.

Riding out Hurricane Ike - with a lion.

For the Kids

Kid tip of the week

Laughter Is the Best Medicine

This video is for you, Bright Star!

Too Much Time on My Hands

Test your color IQ.

Weekly Features

Cupcake of the week

Video of the week

Video of the week 2

LG’s project today was making a sheep with cotton balls. After she was done, she turned the paper over and decided to write her name on the back. She can’t write her whole name yet, but she wrote three letters of it. Oddly enough, those three letters happen to spell my mom’s first name. LG and my mom share the same middle name.

Even stranger? I rarely dream about my mom, but I had a dream about her last night. She was about to say something to me, but before she could, I woke up and had goosebumps all over. Kind of makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

This is really not a political rant per se, and I’m not going to talk about one side or the other, just an incident…

So, on the Arizona ballot this fall will be a marriage amendment - as in defining marriage as being between a woman and a man. I have my own ideas on that. And I’m sure you have yours. I don’t honestly care what they are. What I do care is that our diocese and our bishop sent out a video to all the parishes in the diocese that basically tells them that their faith requires them to vote yes on the proposition.

I am not here to tell the Catholic church what to believe or what it should or should not endorse. If they want to send me a letter, fine. If they want to put a flyer in the bulletin, fine. If they want to put a video on their website, fine. If they want to buy advertising on local television stations, fine. But how DARE they hijack the Holy Mass of Our Lord Jesus Christ for a political ad???? I am so livid I can barely see straight. I have had many reasons to be angry at our bishop, but this one takes the cake. I am absolutely furious.

And furthermore? Don’t you DARE tell me what MY faith says I should do. You have no idea what my faith says. You do not know MY faith. You want to tell me that my church thinks we should vote yes? Fine. You want to tell me that my religion says to vote yes? Fine. But don’t you dare tell me what my faith says or is or does. My faith is mine and mine alone. And only God knows what it is and how it is manifested. As a very wise young woman said, my religion is how I celebrate my faith. It is not my faith.

/end rant. For now.

Everybody Needs Gadgets

Pasta fork!

Alphabet ice cube trays

Cake decorating pen

Food! Glorious Food!

Chocolate peanut butter cake

Meatless dishes for meat lovers

Creative Pursuits

All about exposure

How to take great group photos.

Master Photoshop in one week.

Techno Geekery

For the nosy among us.

Instead of looking outside to see if you need an umbrella, just check online, because that makes more sense?

An alternative to Craigslist and eBay

Find the best seat on the plane.

Life Is a Highway

50 ways to make your home more organized, more attractive, and more efficient.

Are your spending habits wasteful?

How to recycle anything.

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Vases made out of books

Unique and creative sofa designs

Scary.

Tea is healthier than water?

Good Reads

Sometimes we all need a little help.

For the Kids

The chickenpox vaccine is doing its job.

Cooking with kids - cream carrot soup

Kitchen science

Too Much Time on My Hands

If you’re worried that the Large Hadron Collider has actually destroyed the earth, you can always check here or here.

Where in the world is your surname most common?

Weekly Features

Tip of the week

Pretty recipe of the week

Pretty recipe of the week 2

Pretty recipe of the week 3

Cupcake of the week

Cupcake of the week 2

Video of the week

Seven years ago today, we were united as a nation. In sadness. In horror. In solidarity.

Seven years later, we are divided again. Too many people have forgotten. We must never forget.

Yesterday was one of those days. You know those days when your poor little one just can’t seem to catch a break? Yeah, one of those.

In the afternoon, LG darted behind her dad, he didn’t see her, took a step backwards and accidentally “hip-checked” her into the countertop. For that she received a lovely swollen temple and many tears.

Then we went to dance class. Isn’t it awesome when stuff like that happens on a day when you have to go out in public. Awesome. :P

After dance class, we rushed home, changed clothes and went to church for our monthly religious education program. During our break, the music group was sitting in the courtyard and LG somehow managed to tip her chair backwards. You know that thud you hear when a kid’s head hits concrete? Takes ten years off your life. Poor kiddo. Rough day. But she was okay - no bump even - just a lot more tears. However, if I hadn’t just had my hair colored last weekend, it’d probably be even grayer. I’m telling you, being a parent can be heartstopping sometimes - and not always in a good way!

Now feel free to share your stories of injured children so I don’t feel like my kid is the only one who gets bumps and bruises!

Everybody Needs Gadgets

I want a castle cake!

No more burning fingers on hot toast!

Food! Glorious Food!

Cheesy cornbread

Giant gummy bear!

Things to do with zucchini

Cookie baking tips

Creative Pursuits

How to be a curious photographer

Photo essay tips

Shutter speed

Paper flower tutorial

Techno Geekery

Make phone calls without revealing your number.

Life Is a Highway

MMR vaccine NOT linked to autism.

Uncluttered exercise

Things That Make You Go Hmmm

Why it’s so hard to swat a fly.

Good Reads

For the love of teaching

Animals teach us amazing lessons of love.

For the Kids

Make a matching game from your child’s artwork.

Too Much Time on My Hands

One of those annoyingly addictive games.

You Are Spaghetti with Pesto

Compared to most people, you have complex tastes. You’re a bit of a walking contradiction. You like a little bit of everything, even if the things you like don’t go together. You aren’t picky at all. You can find something to like about almost anything. You don’t judge on appearances alone. You like to experience something before you judge it.

Weekly Features

Pretty recipe of the week

Cupcake of the week

Video of the week

You might notice, or you might not, that my recent posts of a political nature have disappeared from this blog. That’s because I have yet another blog, because I really do like my writing to be compartmentalized. I also don’t like to talk politics with my friends unless I know they agree with me (or unless they are Mr. Syndromes). Anyway, I really do want to write about my feelings right now because I’m excited about certain things, but I don’t want to do it here because of the ten of you who read this on a regular basis, probably half of you don’t agree with me, and I respect that. So, I’ve moved those posts to another blog where I can talk about my Conservative leanings without offending people I like and/or love. If you want the link, please leave me a comment or contact me via email. Just be aware that I don’t really want to get into a debate over there. It’s not about that. It’s about me saying what I want to say in a forum where I don’t have to edit myself because I don’t want to offend people.

Sometimes I see the light reflecting off your golden curls,
and I imagine how my own mother felt when she saw my golden curls.

Sometimes you smile at me or tell me you love me
and I melt into a puddle of goo at your feet.

Sometimes I hear you giggling from another room and no matter how sad
or frustrated I am about whatever else is going on, I can’t help but smile.

Sometimes I look into your beautiful deep eyes
and I think my heart will burst with love.

Oh wait, that’s not just sometimes…that’s forever.