I Need This.

The below print entitled "Hipster's Kiss" is SO needed.  Not so much because I fancy myself a "hipster," but this is SO me and Chris:

I think I will buy it for Chris. For us.  Hope he doesn't read this soon (ha).

PS: It's from artist Nan Lawson on Etsy.

PPS:  I have LOT of pics of the family to post, which I will do this weekend. :)

Productivity

I cleaned the crap out of my house yesterday, not to mention gave Linny a bath and fed her three times, AND gave Aden the best day ever as we hid from the hot sun outside.  He played his keyboard (bday present), played with clay, and played with his new Hot Wheels (thank you Grandpa Chuck!).  He even had home-made chicken nuggets for dinner (with the ingenious addition of melted cheesy sticks on top of some), which Aden declared were "better than Disneyland!" 

THEN I surprised him by fulfilling an earlier request of making his room like a movie theater. Dressed up in a vest a hat, I welcomed him to "Paquette Cinemas" at the "concessions" stand I set up (a box on top of a laundry hamper) by the door of his room, After he chose his selection from the DVDs presented, he "bought" buttered popcorn, two Milk Duds, and "water-flavored soda" with hugs, all of which were delivered up to his "suite" (aka: loft bed), complete with wet wipes to clean his hands.  He got to stay up late and watch "Emperor's New Groove" in his bed and have room service.  He couldn't stop smiling.

However, I got the biggest compliment of all today, overheard as I dozed in the back bedroom (Sundays are my "go back to bed" days): 

"Daddy, build the fort like Mommy's.  Mommy's forts always stay up!"  (yesssss!!!!)

Life is good.

American What?

Right.  So I am going to diverge from my usual anecdote-telling,  baby-gushing family life usually discussed on this blog, and delve into pop culture.

Everyone who knows me, knows I love pop culture.  I'm like a sponge.  I don't know how I do it, but I just absorb useless factidotes from the media and world a

round me.  For example, I know that the entertainment world around me is currently focused on Cannes Film Festival, Ashlee Simpson's wedding, the release of the new Indiana Jon

es flick this week and Sex and the City (yessss!) the next, and of course... American Idol.

I really don't watch TV much at all these days - no time - but I do watch American Idol.  The best and worst of singing, bright eyed wanna-be stars, snarky commentary... love it.  In fact, I'm watching the finale right now.  

Unfortunately, Idol's one weak point is the forced, cheesy production numbers and numerous commercials hawking the Ford cars and latest Fox movie.  This year's finale is rife with them. Really, they've outdone themselves.  So much so that I'm blogging about it.

And now, without further ado, I give you the top awkward (and just plain wierd) moments from this year's Idol finale (in no particular order):

1. Big-voiced, skunk-haired rocker Amanda Overmeyer - see above - suffer through those cheesy girl group numbers. In pants.  (Damn those contractual obligations).
2. Poor Brooke attempting to dance during the aforementioned group numbers. Love me some Brooke, but girl's got zero body awareness.
3. Jason Castro.  (See: awkward).
4. Two words: ZZ Top?????
5. Carrie Underpants, Stevie Nicks called. She wants to show you the right wear to gypsy sleeves (and no, they're not supposed to be attached to each other).
   
   
6. David Cook's choke hold on new best buddy Bryan Adams. I hope for his sake they are as good of friends as he thinks to think - I kept waiting for him to lose that hand (below). 

7. David "Archie" Archuleta trying to comprehend the humor of Mike "Guru Pitka" Myers.  Mariska Hargitay to you, Archie.
8. Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and... Robert Downey, Jr?
9. David "I'm not gay, I just strip that way" Hernandez whispering "naked" during the George Michael medley.  Ew.  And speaking of George Michael...
10. George Michael gets the last star spot on the family friendly Idol?  Guess that wierd park moment from years back is forgotten at last, eh George. (We know, we know... it's your culture).

and last but not least...

    11.  Jordin Sparks, please shoot whoever told you to wear that gold lame party dress.  Immediately.  (I'll try and find a pic, but for now, here's the video)*

On a positive note, props goes out to my boy David Cook... I'm so glad he won.  Yes, he's a sell out, but I love how he's kept his rocker side throughout and just has fun with whatever he's doing.  Whether he's forced to wear some horrible white suit or dress like a gay matador in some horrible Ford Commercial, he does it with the enthusiasm of a bartender plucked from the obscurity of Blue Springs, Missouri and fixed - I mean voted - to win fame and fortune.  Good on ya, David Cook.

*My apologies for the YouTube quality on the links; it was just posted so it's fuzzy bootlegs. :)

The weather gods have forsaken us.

It's supposed to be 103F tomorrow. It's the middle of May!  This is just not right.

Oh, and I meant to post this earlier, but Spring allergies have again beaten my family down. Especially my poor husband.  He went to the doctor a couple weeks ago, and came home with this:

(Mind you the Zyrtec is missing in this picture)  

The pharmacy has helped him become a functioning human being once again, but he's still got along way to go.  I think he's getting tired of the "heroin chic" eyes.

You may have won this round, Spring. But we'll see how you do against your next opponent: Air Purifier.

My new favorite website

I love love love learning new things. If I could be paid to take college classes, that would be my chosen career.

An online learn-to-do-anything site? I'm there.

Love this article!

Someone forwarded me this. Love it!

The Weatherman's barometer needs a tune-up

The weather was 90 degrees today!  90!  The forecast said it would be a high of 70. 

It was a beautiful day though.