Good News Is Always Good

Some of you may be aware that I have been considering making a move from my current job. The day has come. Today, I accepted a new position with another company. It's well suited to my talents and experience and I am really looking forward to it. Transitions are hard, especially when you are tired, but as Nemo once said, "keep swimming".

So I have. And the results are in :) This is a very positive change in my life.

This must stop

So I'm at Target this weekend and I venture over to the food section to pick up eggs for cookies. Here I am walking through the aisles, and at the end of the aisles are coolers. Staring me right in the face is my nemesis. Reddi wip.

"Who invited her?" I muttered under my breath. Everything was going along fine and dandy. I got closer and squinted and said, "oh, it's you".

Damn straight I bought it.

I gave up the fluffy stuff for Lent and clearly, I have not been successful. I also gave up sweets, especially chocolate. How can you go wrong if you get these two little brats out of your life? For a long time things were going fine and dandy and I had broken the habit, but now it's back with a vengeance.

Bye Bun....

Our family bun passed away yesterday. Losing a pet is always, always hard. She used to sit right by your hand and wait for you to pet her. After a while, she'd stop being polite ;)

I never had a chance to say goodbye to her. Hold you furry or feathered friends close, and be sure the people that you love know that you love them.

Totally Perfect Noir

Boots and Saddle 6818, originally uploaded by Achileese.

The Quotable Co-Worker

Me: So, what are you doing?

Co-Worker: Fondling my blackberry

Caption This

I'll start.

Oh nevermind. I need to keep this family friendly!

They Don't Mess Around

I was at the bar at the Mason Street Grill last night, which is in the same building as the Pfister. I got up and went to the ladies room and when I returned, the bar, the place was lit up like Christmas. Police, secret service vehicles, you name it. Nobody knew if it was Hillary or Barack, but it turned out to be neither, because apparently they just went into the hotel. Which I was sort of okay with me because I was having a nice time. And this sideshow was kind of sideshowing the situation. The secret service was scanning the place. Once upon a time I wanted to work for them (sometimes I still do). That was probably the only cool part of it :)

Taking A Risk

Well, once I year, I buy perfume. It's definitely a yearly thing because let's face it, these things cost money.For the past year I have been wearing Marc Jacobs - a perfume that has been very good to me and I would continue to wear it (as a matter of fact, I think I will). But today, as I shuffled through the perfume department, I took a detour. I wondered what the Marc Jacobs for men would smell like. Turns out, it smells pretty good. So good, I darned well bought it.

Yep, you heard me. I bought men's cologne for ME. And I must say, it smells wonderful on a lady. I've been wearing it since about 1:00 and it hasn't gotten stale or stinky. Were you to ask me, that's a good deal.

Strong Leadership

Chief Flynn. Stick around, okay?

Already you can tell by the actions and statements of his staff, that he is allowing the police to do their job. From the proactive handling of a perp who could have shot them, to the way Anne E. Schwartz is starting to handle herself in front of the camera. He is empowering them, supporting them, and leading them. Gone, it seems, is the apologetic tone in the face of doing simple police work.

Welcome.

Rut Ro

I haz found a dog after my own heart...

Although, I don't think I make enough to cover both of our habits.

It's time to roll out the Flat Cat

Flat Cat is my weird way of declaring a day off when I have needed it most. So today, February 15, is yet another Flat Cat Friday!

It defies explanation. I know.

Why we must end the Death Tax once and for all

By now, you must surely know:

Madison - (where else could it be) Two parts of a possible deficit-repair package - a tax on hospitals and continuing to collect the estate tax that officially ended on Jan. 1 - were suggested by Democratic leaders Thursday.

Do your part and give back to the community for now and for the future. Sign the petition to end the death tax once and for all:

Link to the petition

Brought to you by Fred Dooley over at Real Debate Wisconsin


Read more about this initiative to keep the tax dead.

Anyone else having Blogrolling problems?

Because my links...

I liken them to the dog that Chevy Chase had in the Great Outdoors....you know, where he lets the dog out to run in the fields and the dog keeps running...

Saturday music worth your time

Video of the Canadian sunset just before the summer solstice. The music track is k.d. lang's version of "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. Her voice is always amazing, but this one is a real treat.

Enjoy!

So Who Is My CD&M Reader?

Drop me a note!

Hot Chicks With Douchebags

There are things you just can't make up, and those things are much funnier than fiction. Especially when it comes to people who take themselves too seriously.

Michael K. at Dlisted had a post that I couldn't ignore, linking to a blog called "Hot Chicks With Douchebags". I'll admit, I haven't read a word on the site yet, I can't get past the pictures of these knob sandwiches. This is some good stuff. And so true. Fuzz, if you're still out there old buddy, I'm sure you would approve.

(Let me guess, she wants you)

(What a man. Hold me back sister)

(oh, look at me with Dirk. Take a picture, he's such a fun guy)

(Highlights and sunburn. Chicks dig them...)

The number one douches in my book?

Gottis. Hands down.

Can words fully capture how cool these guys are?

Nobody cares. Except for really desperate chicks and TV producers. Sorry fellas, that's about where you top out.

A little Lenten Humor

Check out Fr. Z's blog for the rest.

Snowpocalypse Must Be Stopped

Because I has no more energy to shovel myselfs out. Again.

Ash Wednesday - The Show Must Go On

I would like to save my sentiments about returning to my Catholic roots and faith for another post. But the long and short of that is, that after many years of misunderstanding the faith and enduring criticism for being Catholic, I have decided to say screw all of that: I am Catholic, and make absolutely no apologies or exceptions about it.

With that said, Ash Wednesday is a very important day in the faith - it's not a matter of "having to go to mass". Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Spiritual preparation for the risen Lord. It is a start. You do not delay the start.

It would be unsafe for me to attend my Parish's service today with the weather, but I am fortunate enough to have three parishes within walking distance or short travel by car. I called one of the local churches that I will not name - the priest told me that there would not be a service today and that he "doubted that any would be taking place elsewhere."

What?????

So I called three other churches in my area. None of them were answering the phone, and none even recorded their Ash Wednesday schedule. Forget about zeroing out.

Then I got lucky. I called my childhood parish, St. Bernard. Typically I don't like going to the two churches where I went to grade school, but that's just my issue. Well I called St. B's and was greeted by a very cheery woman who informed me that yes, they would have ash service at noon, and a regular 6:30 mass. They would also have ashes Thursday morning.

That is what you do. Not throw up your hands and say "oh well, nobody will come today, we might as well do this later". Having an ash service on Thursday is the right thing to do, but today, serve the faithful. Surely it's difficult to get to church to put on the service, but it is also difficult for the faithful to get there. But they will.

Staying Inside

One of my favorite songs by The Who. Not visually riveting, but a great song.

Real Headlines

I thought Fraley was kidding when he linked to this. But he kiddeth not. Here is the proof.

Totally

Swiped from e, who swiped it from ol' broad

Fat Tuesday DR

Folks, am going to try to make it this evening, but I can't breathe through my nose at all. I'll do what I can to make it!

The No Child's Behind Left Behind Act

Who cut the cheese?

Middle school issues ban on intentional flatulence

CAMDEN (Feb 1): The Merriam Webster Dictionary definition for flatulence is brief: "flatus expelled through the anus." And while it's a natural bodily function, it seems some Camden-Rockport Middle School eighth-grade boys are taking it to new heights and making a game of seeing who can expel the loudest and grossest flatus.

According to this week's Fire Cracker school newsletter though, the joke's on the boys as the penalty for "intentional farting" is now a detention.

I sent this to a friend of mine who really should have his own talk show or at least a blog. I totally miss working for him. Here's why:

"The obvious defense here is "unintentional" flatulence. The only way to affirmatively prove intentional from unintentional is the absence of an "announcement" that typically proceeds intentional flatulence, so the kids could keep up their game, and feign "mistake."

That said, they can always substitute burping, knuckle cracking and shoulder punches for farting.

Don't school administrators have something important to do..., Like EDUCATE the kids?!?!

Instead of "No child left behind," is it now, "No child's behind left behind?"

Rocket 88

Some Fat Tuesday, Pre-snow, keep this week in gear kinda music!

I Think I'm in Love

Not literally, but Patrick van der Eem is really the hero. What he has done to bring the truth to light regarding Natalee Holloway is outstanding. Not a cop, not a reporter, a regular Joe or Jane like you and me. Good work, sir.

Dear Tom Brady

Hooray Giants!!!!!!

I just felt like sayin' it!

Hold me back, man!

Just a little pre-superbowl thought.

They Don't Shoot The Liberals, Huck

From KCBS:

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was heckled by protestors during a speech in San Francisco Thursday.

Members of the anti-war group Code Pink shouted down the former Arkansas governor during an address before the Commonwealth Club. They were eventually hustled out of the Fairmont Hotel ballroom, but the affable, engaging Huckabee took note of the disruption.

"The beauty of America is that a person can come and even make a disruption, and you know what, that person is not going to be taken out and shot."

And he's right. We don't really do anything to the liberals. But it's the conservatives that get shouted down, remember. Conservatives are pretty lenient on disruptive liberals, but liberals aren't lenient or tolerant of conservatives who are simply trying to speak. Whether they are Mike Huckabee or just a conservative member of a college campus.

Just you wait.

"Leave Britney Alone"

It's come full circle. The people most responsible for Britney Spears' downfall have now committed her.

This is a really unfortunate story. Lots of people had fun with this, I know I did for a time, but the way her life has been handled to this point couldn't have put her in any other direction. Well, it probably could have, but that would have required Britney to have been born with a very different will.

She was pulled out of grade school (grade school, btw)so that her parents could cart her around to various talent shows and other places she could perform. She did not ever experience 8th grade. Of course there was no high school after that, either. No abstract reasoning being taught to her, no logic being introduced into her life.

All she experienced from one moment to the next was "handlers". Britney let's go here, Britney put this on, now we're going to review this dance. She peeked over her shoulder at her parents for their approval and permission and they ushered their hands at her, pushing her forward.

Once things began to wear off she clearly wanted a normal life and tried to do that. Marriage, kids, a house, except she had no ability to navigate that situation or the decisions involved with it. She was simply and utterly unprepared. She didn't have the skills, and most importantly, was never, ever taught the emotional control that would lead to emotional maturity. People were always around her to handle that for her and tell her what to think, say, and do next. She relied completely on external structure - however fleeting.

Mental disease is real. Make no mistake about that.

It is also learned. And it is unfortunate. If she had a stronger will she might have been able to navigate the situation differently but probably not by much. Think of anyone who has been abused since a child. Their perceptions require nothing less than an intervention in order to set straight.

The best hope for her is to stabilize her, bring her to some environment separated from what she has been spiraling around in, and to deprogram and reteach her. That's a very big job. I don't think her parents are truly capable of that although right now they are being portrayed as heroes. I think they are the problem. But I think they also see the error of their ways and now are feeling remorse about how they have treated her which is - a cash cow.

I'm keeping her in my prayers, and I ask you to, too. There are a lot of Britneys in the world and we laugh at "the stupid". But this is one way it happens. Ben Stein put it pretty well in a recent commentary - love your children, keep them close, and teach them well.