We Are a Happy Tail

And speaking of Pound Puppy Rescue, I popped over to their site after seeing the bit on Bonnie and discovered a new video had been posted. Check out who's featured at the 2:25 mark!



That's right - me, Robert and Garfunkel! Along with the rest of the Snow White families. I always knew we were special! Ish.

Bonnie Biscuits

Another dog post, another soapbox moment. Pound Puppy Rescue (the place from which Garfunkel was adopted) posted a little blurb on Facebook yesterday about a 10-month-old puppy in dire need of some medical assistance. Seeing as I am a dog lover with a 10-month-old puppy and was born with hip dysplasia myself, it is only fitting that I pass it along to better guilt-trip you. :o) Here's the snippet:

Bonnie is a Pound Puppy that has been diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia. Her family cannot afford the surgery and she may have to be euthanized. We are posting her story in hopes that the PPR family can help. We will accept PayPal donations (the donate button is on the left side of our page) for her surgery. If you choose to donate, please make sure to type "Bonnie" in the purpose field. You may also send checks to the address listed; please write "Bonnie" in the memo line of your check.*

From Bonnie's family:

Bonnie (otherwise known as Bonnie Biscuits) is a wonderful 10 month old Border Collie cross that we got at 8 weeks old. She is always happy to be wherever we are and enjoys all life has to offer. Sadly, she started showing signs of difficulty getting up @6-7 months old so we took her to the vet. The x-rays revealed severe bilateral hip dysplasia which was devastating. It means that she needs costly surgery to repair the problem or to be put to sleep, otherwise she is doomed to a life of pain. Our family includes 3 children and a variety of rescued dogs and birds, so the idea of spending thousands of dollars on surgery is not even a remote possibility, given our current financial situation. But the thought of euthanizing this sweet, well mannered, devoted and loving dog is more than we can handle. We told PPR about our tragic situation and they kindly agreed to post Bonnie’s story on their Facebook site in the hopes we might be able to collect enough money to pay for her surgery and save her life. So if any of you have even $5 to donate to help our sweet girl, it would make our family so happy to know we can get the surgery, end her suffering and enjoy our sweet little dog for years to come. We need to raise $3,000 to make this happen and the sooner we get it done, the sooner she is out of pain for the rest of her days. Would you be willing to help save this wonderful girl? We are hoping for a miracle right now and we are so grateful to PPR for attempting to make this dream come true.

Thank you for your consideration, appreciate your help.

*Pound Puppy Rescue has agreed to help in this case due to the urgency and severity of the situation. This is an unusual case and we will not be making this a regular activity.

You can check out some photos of little Bonnie Biscuits at http://www.facebook.com/poundpuppyrescue. Even if every fan of PPR on Facebook donated only $5, the family would reach their goal...

Movie Morsels 56 - Overboard Remake?!

Blasphemous!!!

Overboard may not be a cinematic masterpiece according to AAMPAS but it's a very cute and funny movie that makes an excellent way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon. It shall NOT be remade!!! Especially with uber-snot Katherine Heigl (though, I agree with the writer - I doubt Heigl would deign to be in such a remake). Movie Gods, let it not be so!!!

From pajiba.com:

...Sony Pictures and Overbrook Entertainment are also developing a remake of Overboard, the 1987 Goldie Hawn slash Kurt Russel romantic comedy about a spoiled princess type who fails to pay a widowed father of three for work done on her yacht. The next day, the widower pulls her out of the ocean, and she has amnesia, so he poses as her husband in order to trick her into paying him.

I haven’t seen the film — not a lot of folks did, as it only amassed $25 million at the box office, which makes it perfect for a remake, I guess.

The remake’s script comes from Bill Collage and Adam Cooper (Accepted), who are also busy adapting Moby Dick for Timur Bekmambetov. Devon Franklin is one of three producers overseeing production of Overboard, which I mention only because he was also an executive on Robert Luketic’s The Ugly Truth, and because — as of the moment — there’s an offer out to Katherine Heigl to star in the Overboard remake... My guess, however, is that if Heigl — who already has a handful of projects in development — doesn’t bite on it, then perhaps the Overboard project will quickly sink, at least until another ditsy spoiled blonde rises the Hollywood ranks, at which time the script will be dusted off, polished, and put back into production.

My favorite part:

TV Tidbits 82 - Chuck

Dang! Chuck is coming back January 10th - so soon! More TV homework. Great. Well, by then I'll be 30... Maybe my increased maturity will make me more zen about TV watching in the future. One can hope.

Until then, here's a Q&A with Zachary Levi from TVGuide.com:

1. TVGuide.com: Congratulations on the show coming back and also being picked up for additional episodes. What's the feeling like right now?
Zachary Levi: It's good. When we only had 13 episodes, it felt good then, too. There's so many things in this business that are outside of your control, and you just have to let go and let God, as they say. Cable does 13 episodes and I think 13 episodes is a great number to do. It allows you to really focus on them and make them all great, as opposed to a lot of times with a 22-episode schedule, you end up with a lot of filler episodes. I'm a Lost guy, I love Lost. There were a lot of episodes where you hope to get a little mythology and you hope to get answers and there's nothing resolved because they have to stretch it out. If they only had 13 episodes in the season then we'd get to the meat of it more.

2. TVGuide.com: How are the six additional episodes incorporated into the original 13?
Levi: We found out late about the six episode pickup, so the writers had already molded and created the 13-episode arc. We couldn't try to fit six episodes into that without screwing everything up, so now it's six episodes that stand on their own in a lot of ways. They'll still be coming off of and informed by these 13 episodes, but it won't be a part of the bigger arc. I know that it will be its own mini arc.

3. TVGuide.com: What do you know about the back six episodes?
Levi: This season we've gotten to do some international travel with the show, taking it out of the domestic United States of America; that's been fun. I think maybe we'll try and do more of that. I know that everyone will continue to progress with the characters and the relationships.

4. TVGuide.com: Was it a little bittersweet getting these back six episodes since you had to turn down your role in Thor?
Levi: Yeah, that was a bummer. There's no way to slice it. I am Chuck Bartowski in a lot of ways, so to be able to not only be up for a really big movie, but to be up for a really big movie that is a part of the Marvel Universe, that Kenneth Branagh is directing, that Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins are in, you dream about stuff like that. It sucked having to let that go, but again, that stuff is out of your hands. I believe that, based on what's happened, this is where God wants me so you let that go. I wish them nothing but the best. I'm sure Stuart Townsend will do a good job. Hopefully Marvel feels bad and are like. 'You should be Captain America!' or Bucky at the very least. It definitely was tough to let that go.

5. TVGuide.com: What is the arc of Chuck's journey this season?
Levi: He's been gearing up to be a spy for a couple of years. How they've set up this new season with Intersect 2.0 and how that works, I think, is a great concept. It's a little Neo-Matrix, especially with lines like "I know Kung-fu," but then again, our show is a lot of homages to a lot of movies.

6. TVGuide.com: What do you say to fans who think the Intersect 2.0 version of Chuck will change the show?
Levi: People think it's not going to be the same show anymore with this kind of bumbling hero, but it is. Chuck is still a bumbling hero, but he's getting a little bit better. As an actor I love that because you get to actually be someone who evolves. I finally get to be a part of some of the action instead of sitting on the sidelines watching [Yvonne Strahovski] and [Adam Baldwin] have all the fun. The super-charged Chuck is not one that holds always. The way that it's worked out is that we're still able to accomplish the action and the comedy. Chuck is now a part of the action, but when the new Intersect is fritzing out — because Chuck is an emotional guy and his emotions mess with his abilities — that leads to more comedy, so it's the best of both worlds.

7. TVGuide.com: Tell us about Chuck's new love interest in Kristin Kreuk.
Levi: Kristin may well be one of the most adorable girls in the world. She's a, super nice, and b, really talented. It's tough when you only have one thing to go off of when you're watching somebody to get a feel for what their acting level is. It's only Smallville—and not to downplay Smallville— but she's got more range than you can even see from her previous stuff. I saw a whole different color and shade to her when she came in to play Hannah on the show. Last, but not least, just gorgeous. She's Dutch and Chinese, so I guess that's how you make 'em. Wooden shoes and chopsticks...both wooden, though! So I guess it's a wooden thing. Also, her and Rachel Bilson, just put me in your pocket small. She did a great job and I felt like we had a great chemistry.

8. TVGuide.com: Is her character a bad guy or a good guy?
Levi: Part of the fun of any one of these guest stars that we have is not knowing where it's going to end up, where there's going to be a turn. Rachel Bilson's character, for example, didn't turn out to be bad, she just happened to be getting illegally imported hard salami from the Greeks. Jordana Brewster was Fulcrum and bad, but also kind of redeemed herself, too. So people will have to watch and see.

9. TVGuide.com: Since Chuck is part of the action this year, what's been your favorite stunt that you've gotten to do?
Levi: In the first episode, there's a zip line, which was fun. It's me and Yvonne and I've got my belt over a cable. We did this episode, it's like a heist episode, and we have to rappel Mission Impossible-style into a vault. The harnesses are a pain in the a--. For whatever reason, they don't fit on my hips well. They're not comfortable by any stretch of the imagination, but it's certainly not something you get to do in your everyday life. The fight scenes are a lot of fun, too. I just wish I wasn't such a big wet noodle. It's like 'Go go gadget arm!' I'm long and lean. I feel like I'm getting a little bit better as we progress. Coming from musical theatre, learning the fights is easy, but making them look like I'm Jason Bourne is another thing.

10. TVGuide.com: Is Chuck going to find it even harder to keep his spy life from his family this season?
Levi: Absolutely. He always does. From day one, that's been the biggest struggle for Chuck, is trying to balance this world of espionage and his life at home, his sister, Captain Awesome,Morgan and everyone else at the Buy More, but specifically Morgan and Ellie. That's the toughest on him because they're the closest people in his life and he has to lie to them all the time. He definitely struggles with that this season. One of the cool things in the writing is that it's noted that Chuck is becoming better and better at lying, which is good and bad. He's losing himself in this world of espionage a little too well sometimes. Much to the chagrin of Sarah, who really likes Chuck for Chuck and doesn't want him to lose who he is. I don't think Chuck wants to lose who he is either, although he does want this spy life because it's something that gives his life meaning and purpose outside of fixing people's computers.

Yes, My Dog Licks My Face

Weehoo! It's another dog-related post! My dad sent this to me, though, so you can cut me a little slack. ;o) Actually, I found this article pretty interesting, seeing as many people find the fact that Robert and I are so indulgent with Garfunkel a little... unappealing. Yes, we do let him lick our face (mouth closed!) and yes, he does get to sleep on our bed (on, not in) if he so chooses (though for the past month or so he's decided there's just not enough room on our California king for two adults and a 60-pound dog. Go figure). But he's like a little person! And, see?! It's not as unhygienic as you think!! We're in the majority, people!

From sfgate.com's 'Tails of the City':

Do you let your dog lick your face?

I jokingly refer to my dog, Lorna Doone, as a "dirty dingo." And once an ex told me that he would never EVER keep a dog in the city because they were basically "walking germ bags."

Although I don't agree with the "germ bag" assessment, I'm not afraid to admit that I've never been a big fan of the dog kiss. Sometimes The Doone will sneak one in Snoopy-style when I'm least expecting it (Blech!), but otherwise I manage to keep my face slobber free. Meanwhile, I've watched more than a few perfect strangers happily get down on their hands and knees and let The Doone lick them silly. (Once saliva has been swapped, I always feel it's far too late to mention that she has been known to sometimes snack on HUMAN poo in the park...)

If you happen to be one of those folks who loves a good face licking, you are not alone. In a study published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, Dr. Kate Stenske, a clinical assistant professor at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, found that nearly half of all dog owners share food with their dogs, and more than half allow the dog to sleep in their bed and lick them on the face. She also found that these dog owners are no more likely to share the same strains of E. coli bacteria with their pets than are dog owners that are firmly in the anti-slobber camp. (E. coli is common in the gastrointestinal tracts of both dogs and humans.)

Stenske says she became interested in this topic because of the strong bond that often exists between dogs and their people. She cites one particular study in which 84 percent of people said they considered their dog to be like a child to them.

Her study examined fecal samples from dogs and their owners and looked at the bacteria's DNA fingerprints. Stenske found that 10 percent of dog-human pairs shared the same E. coli strains. She also found that the E. coli had more resistance to common antibiotics than expected, although the owners had more multiple-drug resistant strains than their pets.

"This make us think that dogs are not likely to spread multiple drug-resistant E. coli to their owners, but perhaps owners may spread them to their dogs," Stenske said in an interview with Newswise.com. While the research showed that bonding behaviors like allowing face licks or sleeping in the same bed had no association to an increase in shared E. coli, it did show an association between antibiotic-resistant E. coli and owners who didn't wash their hands after petting their dogs or before cooking meals.

For those who subscribe to the belief that dogs' mouths are cleaner than ours (they aren't), here are a few things to consider:

• Most human mouths rarely come into contact with external bacteria.
• Most humans also practice good oral hygiene, including brushing their teeth daily.
• Dogs have the unsettling tendency to wolf down bacteria-filled goodies, like rancid food and feces, whenever the opportunity arises.
• HOWEVER, even though dogs' mouths are pretty much teeming with bacteria, dog saliva usually won't cause infections in humans because most bacteria in dogs is species-specific. So although it's not especially dangerous to share food with a dog or to kiss a dog square on the mouth, neither option is going to win you any hygiene awards.

Rolling Dog Ranch

I know, I know, I know - my constant stream of schmoopy dog posts is making something of you want to throw up a little bit. And for that, I apologize. But I can't help myself! Dogs are just so darn fabulous! So you're just going to have to learn to love my puppy posts. Or skip out on my blog. But then you risk missing out on all of my HI-larious stories about Robert and his adventures in woodworking and, really, who wants that?

Today's schmoop-a-rific post is about the Rolling Dog Ranch, a sanctuary for disabled dogs, cats and horses. A married couple retired from their jobs at Boeing and bought a bunch of acreage in Montana for the express purpose of creating a home for those animals least likely to be adopted (i.e. most likely to be euthanized) from shelters. They finally posted a little video about what they do on their blog and I wanted to share it:

ASPCA Video "Rolling Dog Ranch" from V K on Vimeo.

What a fantastic place! It would be truly awesome to be able to dedicate your life to doing something you're so passionate about.

*** Oh, and if you feel like supporting the RDR, Love of Dog Bakery is donating 5% of all their sales in December to the Ranch. So, if you want to buy your pooch a vanilla dipped peanut butter bone or a peanut butter carob paw for Christmas, you should give the LoD Bakery a whirl!

The Amazing Race 15: Week 11

Well, last night was the finale which means Robert is sad. :o( I'm sad, too - I enjoy the Race very much. For Robert, though, the week will hold no joy, especially after Wednesday when the Top Chef finale airs. Yes, Tabatha's Salon Takeover is on and it is so very good but still... It's no Race. (The 16th season was/is set to film sometime around November or December so it'll be a bit before it's on the air. Sorry, Robert.)

And as much as I enjoyed the Race this season, it was a calmer, quieter season than those of the past. There wasn't a clear team to truly despise nor was there a team to get fully behind. I honestly would've gotten behind Brian and Ericka because, as much as he's a sad sap of a man who was waaaay too helpful for his own good, it seemed to payoff in the end. And he never lost his temper, he worked well with others, was encouraging to his wife even when the woman was dying for a good shoulder shake, and he actually knew the answer to "What is the most popular casino in Monaco?" Not only that - he knew Monaco was a country (Ahem, SAM. Geez. Though I guess if you don't know who Wayne Newton is, your chances of knowing anything about "MON-uh-co" are pretty slim). But Ericka was just too, too shrill, too prone to flying off the handle to the extreme and way too stinky at counting Roadblocks (Bells! Poker chips!) for me to ever truly root for the yellow team. Had Brian and Cheyne been on a team, Brian definitely would've fared better. If Brian was on a team with flatter-haired, real person-named Cheyne, they would have been unstoppable! If only...

-----

''Neat.'' That is the word Meghan used to describe how she felt after coming in first during this race around the world and winning a million dollars. Overwhelmed? Elated? Thrilled? Filthy f---ing rich? Nope. She opted for ''neat.'' Wow, she really is Skipper.

Now, normally, I wouldn't begin a column about the season finale with an announcement of the winner, but let's face it: Meghan and Cheyne winning was about as predictable as a hot day in Las Vegas in July. They won a majority of the legs, dominated in every challenge, and Cheyne managed to keep his hair perfectly gelled all season. How could they not win?

Not that the Amazing Race producers didn't do their best to play up the tension. In fact, each team spent some time in first place in the finale and had it not been for Brian and Ericka's spazzy turn with the bungee jumping (more on that later), the underdogs might have taken home a check.

But let's rewind back to the beginning of the show when Phil recapped much of the season. What, did they not have enough footage to fill an hour? Or did Phil think people would tune in tonight who hadn't bothered watching every other week? Whatever the reason, we were reminded about Skipper and Ken's dominance, Brian and Ericka's love, and Sam and Dan's ''bold game-changing moves.'' Wow, that's a euphemism for ''jerky, shady, bad-karma-accumulating'' moves if I ever heard one.

In fact, when Sam and Dan saw Brian and Ericka (from whom they'd stolen a taxi) at the airport in Prague, Sam actually said ''It wasn't our fault'' as Dan offered ''Please blame your driver.'' Um, what? It wasn't your fault? Blame the taxi driver? If you're going to be Team Evil at least own it. Don't be Team Wussily Evil. And not just because Wussily is not a word.

But back to the race. All three of the teams got on the same flight to Las Vegas from Prague, which seems only fair. And in fact, it seemed more than fair considering, if my airplane seat skills are correct (and they always are — I'm a major frequent flyer geek), the teams were flying business class to Vegas. Probably a good move to dole out the dough, CBS... I don't see anyone getting off a 6,000 mile-long flight in coach and be able to move, let along race. I wonder if any of them got wasted on the flight. Maybe Sam and Dan. I doubt Megan and Cheyne even asked for a refill on the warm nuts. They probably wouldn't want to be ''rude.''

Speaking of rude, I'm about to be. All the teams went right to the Graceland chapel where an Elvis impersonator (I think) serenaded a couple about to tie the knot. I want to be nice here and celebrate this couple, but the bride was wearing black pumps with her white wedding dress. Sorry, some of you have told me I'm too mean, but I can't overlook this fashion don't to end all fashion don'ts. TV bride, because you clearly need the help, here's my wedding present to you: Don't wear a denim jacket with jeans, avoid shoulder pads no matter who tells you they're having a comeback, and crop your wedding pictures from the ankle up.

Though Brian and Ericka were in first place getting to the chapel, they were in third on their way out. I was hoping they would pull out an upset, but after this inability to grab a clue from Elvis, I was starting to lose hope.

Next up, the teams had to go to the Mandalay Bay for one of the most hideously scary- looking challenges I've ever seen: Walk face first down the side of a building. ''Today I am fearless,'' Ericka said, once again in first place after an awesome taxi driver took Team Yellow on a faster route. Indeed, she was and it made me love the new Ericka who emerged in the final third of this race. Nothing like the bitchy, whiny, incompetent person who'd inhabited the early legs, new Ericka was competent and strong, even as the unnecessary doomsday music played in the background. ''I don't think a lot of people would ever expect me to do this,'' she said, adding how this act shatters some of the ''stereotypes about what a Miss America would or would not do.'' Honey, after Carrie Prejean's extracurricular activities, we've all stopped assuming what pageant contestants do and don't do. But bravo to Erica because she gave her team a nice lead as she left the close-eyed Cheyne in the dust (or whatever dust can stick to the Mandalay Bay's gold exterior).

As Skipper screeched, ''Keep going Cheyne!'' all I could hear was the Globetrotters talking about how annoying her voice was. Just as I was thinking that her voice would make me want to bang my head against a wall, Cheyne banged his head against the wall. Maybe he was thinking the same thing? Meanwhile, Sam might not be the nicest guy, but he sure can work a wall. ''Step aside, Tom Cruise. Step aside,'' he said with justifiable cockiness, before then negating all coolness with, ''Look at my little legs going.''

Next up, the teams had to ''join the cast'' of Cirque du Soleil's ''Love'' and one team member had to launch the other one with a bungee cord to get a bouquet of flowers. Brian and Ericka had a nice lead and seemed to have an understanding of what needed to happen to finish the task. Alas, Skipper managed to get there first, with the brothers scoring their flowers soon after. Poor ''New Ericka'' didn't stand a chance when she saw her nice little lead disappear a mirage in The Mirage. ''GET ME DOWN!'' ''I DON'T CARE!'' ''I WANT TO SWITCH!'' ''DON'T GET ME PISSED OFF!'' ''I'M NOT TALL ENOUGH!'' old Ericka said, having a full-blown meltdown, which looks both scarier and funnier coming out of someone who's bouncing up and down. Somehow they managed to finish, but not before losing way too much time. Luckily, Brian knew Geography 101 and when the next clue said to go to a ''famous casino in Monaco'' he knew exactly where to go.

Which is more than we can say about our other two teams. Sam and Dan scored good intel, while Meghan and Cheyne got answers they didn't trust until they successfully wasted enough time hearing ''The Monte Carlo'' from both a valet attendant and a concierge.

But one thing Skipper and Ken were able to do in Vegas — and consistently throughout the race (let's just ignore a little hay challenge, shall we?) — was stay calm. And sure enough, though they arrived last, they were the only ones to successfully count $1 million worth of poker chips on their first try. As they scored their cab to the MGM Grand, Cheyne offered to pay a taxi driver ''hundreds'' if the guy got them there quickly. I wonder if that driver was watching and if he cashed in. The brothers left second and our poor underdogs couldn't seem to finish their addition task. ''How does this happen to us every single time?'' Ericka wonders. Um, 'cause you melt down and cry and take too long to do things that other teams can do more efficiently without the histrionics? Oh, wait. Sorry, Ericka. Was that a rhetorical question?

You had to know Wayne Newton would pop up sooner or later and sure enough, there he was handing out a clue in all his cheesy glory. Skipper wanted nothing to do with Mr. Las Vegas other than score a clue, but ol' Wayne went in for the hug and she obliged. As we know, she doesn't want to be rude. Sam and Dan opted for being rude, however, when Sam said, ''How do I not know what your name is?'' I thought Wayne would frown or show annoyance, but for some reason* he kept smiling. (*For some reason = for reasons I won't state for fear of being sued).

At this point, the producers clearly gave up hope that Brian and Ericka were contenders and didn't even bother filming them anymore. Did they even get to meet Mr. Las Vegas or did ol' Wayne storm off with his everlasting smile and rant about how Las Vegas allowed people to visit who couldn't recite his name on demand.

With Team Yellow out of it, it was a race to the finish line for Skipper/Ken and the brothers. I always get choked up when I see the teams from the season, even though I can't ever remember their names. Ooh! There's the fighting couple with the bad accents! There's the token older couple who made kinda-senile decisions! Hi there, poker girls! Nice to see you again, candy apple-red-haired guy and your dad! It was wonderful to see my faves, Flight Time and Big Easy, again, though it made me wonder what would have happened if they'd been running this leg. In the end, everyone politely applauded as Skipper and Ken made their predictable entrance. As I said, Meghan decided to channel 1978 and use the word ''neat'' while Cheyne pointed upwards, apparently assuming that his god was following this season of Amazing Race.

The brothers were chipper and, for one of the first times, genuinely sweet when they checked in. ''We bicker… we kick each other… but at the end of the day we're still brothers… you know you have a great family whenever you look up to your younger brother…I just love him so much,'' Sam said. Awww.

Brian and Ericka were in decent enough spirits too by the time they made it. ''I just hope they fully accept him for who he is,'' she said, referring to her mother who apparently disapproves of Brian. Mrs. Miss America's mom? The fact that Brian is still head-over-heels in love after the way your daughter acted on some of these legs, I think you should probably reconsider.

And so another season is over. It wasn't the best race, but it wasn't the worst. I'm neither happy about the outcome nor angry. I guess all in all, it was pretty neat. What did you all think of the finale? Did Meghan and Cheyne deserve to win?

Another Regretsy Treasure

This had me cracking UP at my desk and I had to share. Someone somewhere will read this and it will make them happy, I'm sure of it! How could it not? It's priceless.

-----

Hold on, let me get a pen.

Got it.

I would like to ask what that means, but it may not be Monday, or within the 3 day period, so maybe
I’ll just write it down in my notebook.

Wait a minute, are you asking me questions now? Because that’s not what I signed up for. Plus it
hasn’t been 3 days.

So theoretically, you could not check in on me for 6 days, and then all day Sunday you’re up my ass, looking at my items and my ideals? I’m starting to feel a little pressered.

Yeah, okay we get it, you’re the one with the ideals. You don’t have to rub it in, oh look at me, I have
ideals all day, I need a notebook. We’ve established already you’re the one with the ideals about the
items. That’s why you’re getting the 19.99, and I’m just waiting until Monday so I can ask a question.

Do you take Paypal?

It's December!!!

And that means it's time to decorate my desk! Woohoo!!! I got a new toy this year and it's been a big hit at the office. Check it out - USB powered Christmas lights!



I took the pictures with my phone so they're not great but were you to see the detail, you'd see that the lights are little gift packages. Cuuuuuuuuuuuuute. They just brighten up my whole area!

The First Thanksgiving...

for which Robert and I were 'in charge' of the meal's execution. My parents have definitely been through the wringer the past couple of months and so Robert and I wanted to do as much of the Thanksgiving prep and cooking as possible. It really was a group effort, though - everybody chipped in and I think everything turned out pretty well! My parents let us have a go at the turkey, though, and that was my main worry. No one wants to serve up a big plate of salmonella for Thanksgiving, y'know what I mean?

Since neither Robert nor I had any turkey experience whatsoever, I decided to use the Stovalls' recipe for a honey brined turkey. They had put their recipe - with instructions! - on their blog last year and it got some rave reviews. I didn't want to pester my mom with turkey questions every five minutes so a recipe where everything is spelled out for me? Done. I made the brine, Robert manned the turkey while in the oven and aside from an initial hiccup locating the bag of "gibbly-poos" (those are giblets), the turkey was fabulous! Super moist and delicious... I think it turned out smashingly, if I do say so myself. :o)

Receiving an intial consult...




Robert was very proud of the turkey!





The pies were a big hit (I think), even without homemade crust.



This would have been a really nice photo if Garfunkel's eyes weren't so friggin' demonic-looking! Geez.