Natche, if you're listening....

....this would make a very nice anniversary, birthday and Christmas present all rolled up into one. Please.

I'm nervous.

I'm currently away on a business trip; before I left I was supposed to delete some of my old DVR recordings so there'd be plenty of room for last night and tonight's television fare.

Oops!

So now I have no idea if Reaper taped...nor do I think I have enough room for Pushing Daisies and/or Bionic Woman.

Yes, I know what this says about me: I am watching waaaay too much television this season. But what can I say, I get addicted to shows--no matter how pathetic (read: The Biggest Loser)--and refuse to give them up until they're cancelled. And I have a penchant for SciFi disaster flicks.

That said, I plan to stop recording Journeyman (yes, it is that bad) and probably Moonlight (it's worse).

Let's hope one of my friends has more DVR space and the same taste in shows.

Ricky Martin, as sung by a four-year old

"Her lips are deli red and her skin's the color ocha. She will way na na, livin la pina loca. Livin la pina loca."

Classic.

It's back!

One of my favorite reality shows returns!

The Biggest Loser debuted last week and this season looks to be the best one yet. Yes, I'm a bit disappointed that Caroline Rhea has been replaced by Sammy Jo, but I'm thrilled that Jillian, the uber-taut, psycho drill master has returned to captain the secret black team.

See, now I can look forward to Tuesday nights again.

For the best show recaps, turn to TWOP. I can't promise they'll be politically correct, but I can promise you'll laugh your ass off.

P.S. I am *so* over BB8 now that the Donatos are guaranteed the money. I'm boycotting the finale.

P.P.S. Edited to add: Since I TIVO'd the finale of BB8, I decided to watch. Dick? You people voted for a chain-smoking, loud-mouthed, misogynistic asshold like Dick? Wow. That's all I have to say.

"For my stuff"

So I'm going to Texas tomorrow on business and decided to bring Ray Ray with me. Why? Because I'll be in Dallas and it's a good opportunity for my mother and Ray Ray to bond. Why am I not bringing the Pet, you ask? Because Ray Ray flies for free (lap child!) and Pet can't.

I know, I know. It's not fair. But Pet will get lots of special attention given that Thursday is her actual birthday and she'll have a school party that day.

But yes, she was understandably upset when I told her that Ray Ray and I would be going to Texas without her. I practically had to bribe her (no, not practically...I really had to bribe her) to calm down by telling her I'd bring back some sort of treat/gift/present. And I plan to. Especially because my mother went shopping last night for Pet's birthday present. At Walmart. Which means that it will be some fantastic toy that Petra won't be able to live without.

So last night, as I was packing (because it will take me FOREVER to pack everything I could possibly need to travel with a four-month old, which meant that I had to start last night), Petra walked in with her pink Dora suitcase:

P: Here, mommy (handing me said suitcase).
Me: What's this for?
P: For your trip.
Me: But I have my big suitcase. It should hold everything.
P: No, this is for all of the stuff you're going to bring me. Do you want the pink one or the purple one?
Me: Petra, I think I'll be able to fit your gifts in my suitcase.
P: NO! You need to take my suitcase. Now do you want the pink one or the purple one?
Me: (thinking, thinking) I'll take the pink one.
P: Good. I'll put it in the car for you.
Me: Um. Thanks.

So, methinks I'll have to drive to the airport with a pink suitcase perched next to me. I'll simply leave it there and when I return, I'll stuff it full of (whatever). She won't know that the suitcase didn't actually go to Texas....will she?

Down to the Final Three

BB8 is down to the final three: the Donatos (Evel Dick and Daniele) and Zack. Let's just say I hope Zack kicks Dick and Daniele's asses up one side of that house and down the other and sends Daniele packing this week.

Can I tell you how much I dislike the Donatos? She's smug and more than a bit self-absored...and he's just a bigoted asshole who abused (mentally and physically) everyone in the house.

It sucks that the odds are stacked in their favor. Go, Zack, go!

This is a test.

I just installed a new widget on my blog and I want to see if it works. My four-year old made me watch this movie the other day. Can you tell me what it is?

EDITED to add: Dammit, it didn't work. I need to figure this one out....

Tragic

So a guy I used to work with died on Wednesday. He didn't show up for a meeting at work, so one of his co-workers called his house. His wife knew he'd been at the gym and called there to locate him. They found him dead in his car. No cause, as of yet.

He was 38. His death has rocked me to the core for many reasons: We're the same age, we both work out and we both have small children. I feel like I'm grieving for a close friend.

I wonder what it must've been like for his wife....to assume that the day would start, go on and finish like any other day. I'm sure when she called the gym it never crossed her mind that something could be tragically wrong. Did they tell her over the phone? Or did she race to a hospital thinking that perhaps he was still alive only to find out he'd died in his car after a particularly strenuous workout.

I wasn't that close to Owen and hadn't seen him in years. But I can't imagine that I'll forget his death so quickly.

I wish his family nothing by peace during this difficult time. I hope they'll draw comfort from each other.

There is nothing more depressing.

Have you ever worked on something...given it your all....bent over backwards....put in crazy hours....gave up time off...to find that it was all for naught?

Can you imagine what that could do to your entire outlook--professional and personal? What that would do to your teeth? (I'm a grinder)

I may need to go back out on maternity leave. For my own sanity.

It's mine!

I didn't coin the phrase, but I plan to use it as often as possible. It might be the best one yet:

"She needed the break, because her belfry really didn't have room for one more bat."

Miss Alli from TWoP describing houseguest Amber and her departure from the BB8 household.

Tea Partay

Tell me this isn't hysterical. I. dare. you.

The MeatLoaf is bad.

And no, I'm not referring to last night's dinner, but instead last night's performance given by the hard-living (former) rock n' roll icon, Meat Loaf.

I went to the show with Al, and I have to say, it was bad. Actually, bad isn't the word...tragic is.

But let's face it, if the concert had been mediocre, I wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much. It was so bad it had that "train wreck" effect; I just couldn't take my eyes off of it.

For the encores, Mr. Loaf performed (or tried to perform) a few covers including, Black Betty, which is attributed to Ram Jam, and Gimme Shelter by the Stones. So. Sad. Words. Cannot. Describe.

All I have to say is this: Meat Loaf's prime was long ago. And far away. And so much better than it is today.

What is the quickest way...

...to get into a fight with your spouse? Go on a long driving trip with him and your two kids, one of whom is on a feeding schedule so tight, you could *literally* set your watch to it. Seriously, that. will. do. it.

Oy, I have a headache just thinking about it. Actually I have headaches all of the time now. I believe eye problems are the cause, but we'll see when I go back to the opthamologist later this week. Either that or it's hormonal....because, you know, I haven't just birthed a baby or anything.

Oh, and speaking of babies, wanna see another picture of mine? I certainly can't get enough.

Women and Family

So a friend of mine has asked me to contribute a short story to a book she's publishing entitled, Women & Family, 2nd edition.

Ay Carumba! I know I'm a decent BUSINESS writer, but I always find my personal writings to feel...well, contrived.

So what do you think? Do I give it a shot? Or do I just blow off the whole thing. You just know this is going to fill me with such *angst* it will be all I fixate on for a while.

Ooops! Gotta run. I hear the wild call of the Raya-bear in the distance.

Me, the Space Geek

Call me a space geek, but this weekend I plan to check out the Perseids, a meteor shower that will be visible in the skies over the northern hemisphere. Best visibility is apparently between midnight and four am, so it will be a bit of a challenge, but well worth it: the shower should be very intense thanks to the pitch black skies of a new moon.

I've never been all that interested in anything "space-y", but this article on MSNBC persuaded me to check out the shower. So look for me, out on my lawn, in a beach chair, wrapped in a blanket, gazing at the skies like a complete fool.

What does Billy Joel sing?

"Every dog must have its every day...."

Mine soon will. I plan to buy a dozen.

Dogs will have their day: Vick doll coming to St. Paul

Update

And I decided "to" Restylane. Well, at least to consider it. I've got a consultation with a cosmetic dermatologist next month.

Yes, go ahead and say it: Vanity, thy name is Michelle.

The Summer Cold

Oh how I hate the summer cold. It seems so wrong to be sick in the middle of summer, yet here I am pulling out all the stops (i.e., Theraflu, vapor plug-in, boxes of tissues, etc.).

And I'm not the only one: my ENTIRE FAMILY is sick - the baby, my husband, my mother; it seems the only one who might've escaped the cold is Petra, but I refuse to count those chickens just yet.

So here I sit, working away whilst sniffling and coughing (actually, it's more like hacking). I can't wait to go home and sleep. Wait, I can't. I have a family to take care of.

Oy.

To Restylane or not to Restylane: that is the question

So, I have these parentheses on either sides of my nose that just seem to get deeper and deeper. I went for an eyebrow wax yesterday and my aesthetician gave me the name of a cosmetic dermatologist, who supposedly, can eliminate those deep lines with a few injections.

I'm seriously considering it....

Your thoughts?

So, apparently you can't do it all.

At least that's what I'm starting to believe. This week I've:

• Been to NY and back in the same day (thus pulling a 16+-hour workday)
• Handled major work crisis
• Had my hair colored and my eyebrows and lip waxed (and at the same time got the name of a good cosmetic dermatologist!)
• Worked another two 10 hour days (putting me just shy of 40 hours in the first three days of the week. Ramping up for yet ANOTHER 60 hour work week)

Here's what I haven't done:

• Spent enough time with my children

Ugh. I got home last night with enough time to feed Petra and get her settled and then snuggle Raya for five minutes before she passed out for the night.

Methinks my priorities might be a bit whacked.