news you can use #15: cars of the future, going postal, famies and lyme disease, the hunger games

cars of the future.  segways meet smart cars.  these GM city cars will be able to "communicate" with other cars to prevent traffic hang-ups and wrecks.  they're designed for use in very high population areas, such as shanghai.  i'm pretty sure we won't see any in america anytime soon.

{i'm pretty sure getting into a wreck in one of these babies with some of our "texas" trucks would mean certain death.}

no more mail on saturdays.  the u.s. postal service dropped to five-day delivery cutting out saturday deliveries.  this kind of sucks because i generally mail stuff out on saturdays, but i guess it doesn't significantly alter my life in any big way, so i'm already over it.  the postal service says this delivery change will save over $3 billion annually.  i certainly hope this means that the costs of stamps will stop going up every five minutes.  for real, i think it was $0.20 to mail a letter when i was born and now it's $0.44.  you can read the full article here.

{images found here}

ben stiller may have lyme disease.  after a trip to mozambique and falling in a ditch hurting his knee, actor ben stiller may have lyme disease.  just so you know, a mosquito bit me the other day, and i might have malaria.  i'm going to the doctor just to be sure.  and just in case you think i'm being insensitive (which may or may not be highly probable), lyme disease is an easily treatable inflammatory illness spread through a tick bite which is common on the east coast of the u.s.  and also just so you know, this was one of the top stories in houston's online newspapers.  we treat famies good around here.

{i'm so glad this story was front page worthy.}

books i'm loving right now:

{the hunger games is the first book and i'm nearly done with the second book, catching fire, and i still don't know when the third will come out!!  i spent all day yesterday home sick in bed just reading and sleeping.  eeeek!  i don't know how long i can wait!}

take me back tuesday: (flash)'s soristute days

remember how i promised some good ol' sorority pictures way back when?  well, today is the day i deliver, my friends.  they're not the greatest, but they're all i could get my hands on quickly and i was in a hurry.  unfortunately, i do have another job other than blogging and it seems to be consuming much of my time as of late.  nonetheless, i have found time for you, my love birds.  please allow me to introduce you all to (flash), circa her freshman year of college as a mere pledge of one of the biggest, baddest sororities on campus:

here are me and my girls freshman year at an 80s-themed chapter meeting.  just in case you can't find me, i'm the third from the left in the navy blue flash dance sweatshirt.  i really got in touch with my birth decade this chapter meeting.

here i am with one of my pledge class sisters and my big sis waiting for the party bus outside the phi delt house.  the phi delts had their annual toga party every december in the middle of the freakin' winter and it happened to be about 30 degrees on this particular night.  i don't remember being cold, though.  hmmm.  and please remind me why we thought it was okay to dress this way?  i'm fairly certain women wearing real togas wouldn't have had a toga anything like mine.  clearly, the movie 300 hadn't come out yet to educate me on spartan or greek attire.

last but not least is a photo from a "secs and execs" frat party.  (i.e. - secretaries and executives)  i happened to be "sober sister" at this party which meant it was my job to make sure i was there to help out any of my fellow sororistute sisters if they needed it.  i was such the good little volunteer girl.  plus, i had a soccer scrimmage the next morning and had to be up at the crack of dawn, so underage drinking was not an option.  the guy i'm with was a baseball player and boyfriend at the time; he and i are still good friends.

an (angry) open letter to "spring"

dear "spring,"

i put your name is "quotations" because you are no longer the spring i know and love.  you are a spring poser and i don't like it.  look spring, i don't know what the deal is.  you are i seriously used to bff.  you were all warm, sunny, with a light cool breeze all up in my face and i was looking all hot in my cute springy dresses, cardis, and wedge sandals.  to thank you for your generosity, i always spent as much time as is humanly possible soaking up your awesomeness.  i remember back in college, if i wasn't in class, i was either outside at soccer practice, studying on the lawn, or playing sand volleyball with friends.  we had a very symbiotic relationship, and it was good for a really long time.  but like all good things, they don't last forever.

this weekend, you really let me down.  like big time.  maybe you've forgotten what you did to my weekend; let me give you a visual reminder.  saturday a.m., instead of waking up to this:

{pretty flowers with blue skies and sunshine; and yes, i do expect a goat offering.}

i woke up to THIS:

{oh, and did i mention it was 34 degrees??!}

now how in the name of springtime goodness can you explain that?!  you could not have missed the mark further.  and for that, i am very disappointed in you.  and please spare me the excuses of el nino and "global warming;"  i hear that from al gore enough.  he's the guy who also invented the internet, remember??

please don't pull an apolo ohno and ignore my letter.  i don't like being ignored.  i hope we can resolve whatever rift you've created in our relationship because i have sundresses and new bikinis waiting to be worn.

waiting impatiently with love for 68-76 degree weather,

meredith

news you can use #14: trophy obesity, surferwife being famie, sandra and jesse, dog eats diamond, healthcare, vote for jess

it's thursday, and you all know what that means.  i know, it's your favorite day of the week around these parts and the only reason why you read my pandering.

aiming to be the world's fattest woman.  first of all, you read that right.  second, of all who does this?!  according to this article,  donna simpson is working as hard as she can to get fat - very, very fat.  she weighs 600 pounds, she claims, and is vying for the title of world's fattest woman from the guinness book of world records.  if she can't do it, she'll settle for world's fattest mom.  wow, lady.  wow.  so you're willing to slowly kill yourself and leave your children motherless.  i wonder what people's reaction would be if this woman was anorexic and she was starving herself to be the "world's skinniest woman."  this woman obviously has some sort of illness (other than obesity), and for the sake of her children, i hope she gets help.

 {way to stay healthy for your kids.  very admirable.}

surferwife is super famous which means i am kind of famous.  i am really lucky to be a part of an amazing trifecta.  (trifecta = jessalyn from cape cod awesome, monique from a day in the life of a surferwife, and yours truly.)  each of us ladies bring something awesome to the table.  for one member of the trifecta, we keep her around to get close to the famies.  surferwife and her surferhusband went to the... wait for it... taping of the chelsea lately show!!  if you have no clue who chelsea handler, chuy, heather "longboobs" mcdonald, or any of the other crew is, i've provided hyperlinks and pictures.  you're welcome.  not only was surferchick specifically invited by heather "longboobs" mcdonald, but "longboobs" also follows her on freaking twitter.  this in and of itself makes surferwoman a big effing deal.  let me spell this out for you: "longboobs" has over 28,000 followers and she only follows 30 people.  30 people, people.  surferwife is one of those 30.  insane.  be sure to tune in or set your DVRs to E!  at 10:30 p.m. CST.  surferwoman will be documenting the whole experience tomorrow on her blog so be sure and check her out.  she's promised jess and i it will be legendary.

{chelsea handler and her ever faithful sidekick, chuy.}

sandra bullock and jesse james split??  say it ain't so!!  there are reports saying that america's sweetheart, sandra bullock, and her tatted up husband, jesse james, are no longer living under the same roof.  people magazine is reporting this and people is usually pretty legit... i hope they're wrong.

{j.j. apparently cheated on sandy with a tattoo-porn star model.}

maryland dog eats $20,000 diamond.  i would have died on the spot.  at least i'm not the only one with a bad dog.  mine just eats dead squirrels.  nothing of significant value.

tab for house health bill: $940B over 10 years.  can i just be honest?  i don't mean to get all political up in yo' faces, but this really stresses me out.  house democrats are on track for a sunday vote on sweeping health care legislation that will expand coverage to millions of uninsured while also reducing the federal deficit, leaders said today.   the bill delivers on pres obama’s top domestic priority by providing coverage to more than 30 million people now uninsured at a 10-year cost of $940 billion.  it does so through a combination of tax credits for middle class households and an expansion of the medicaid program for low income people.  read the full article here.

go vote for jessalyn from cape cod awesome here!  you will be able to vote on the sidebar.  it's quick, easy and takes 2.23 seconds of your time.

to catch up on all the news you've missed, go here.

take me back tuesday: denim and bunnies and pinching boys trying to lift up my dress

 here i am on my preschool picture day, and clearly, i was ballllllin' in my denim and bunny print overall dress.  thanks to the date written on the back of the photo, i can say with certainty that this picture was take the month before my 5th birthday.  i'm pretty sure age 5 was the point at which my personality and attitude were permanently fixed.  let me explain: don't be fooled by my little smile, i had just pinched the little boy beside me in line for lifting up my dress and i received a time-out.  it was all worth it for me though, because i remember the little boy crying and telling me i was mean.  that taught the little effer not to lift up my bunny dress.  men start early, it seems.  and see those splotches on the photo??  it's spaghetti sauce.  i know this because the picture sits in my mother's kitchen, the glass in the photo was broken when someone carelessly dropped me, and she clearly doesn't love me enough to regularly windex my photos.

giveaway winner and a bad case of the mondays

first thing's first.  tha giveaway winna is...

auntBT @ sometimes choosing a window is better than a door

so congrats, lady!!  now, go on over to bomobob's etsy shop and shoot me an email letting me know which one of his amazing pieces you just hafta have!

-----

well, it's monday.  obvs.  and i know how much we all love mondays.  i like mondays about as much as i like going to my yearly "woman's wellness" exam.  (fyi - i HATE it, in case you couldn't get that.)  so in honor of today (i.e. monday - i day i'm not particularly fond of), i'm going to share with you some other things i don't particularly care for.  no, this isn't a negative post.  no, i'm not complaining.  i am simply spreading vast amounts of useless very important knowledge that you need to go on today.  so here goes, here are the things that i highly dislike:

first, mcdonald's.  i've already mentioned in news you can use #12 how unfond of mcdonald's i am, so this is just reason #359735707328345 why i dislike the golden arches.  have you ever wondered what exactly is in a "chicken mcnugget"?  no?  okay, well you're much less inquisitive than i thought.  i'm going to tell you even if you're not wondering. the "chicken" alone contains seven ingredients, and that's not even including the breading.  per men's health magazine (i read it because there are hot guys in it), the “meat” in the mcnugget alone contains seven ingredients, some of which are made up of yet more ingredients. nope, it’s not just chicken.  it’s also such non-chicken related stuff like water, wheat starch, dextrose, safflower oil, and sodium phosphates.  the “meat” also contains something called “autolyzed yeast extract.”  (there's your vocabulary word of the day.)  then add another 20 ingredients that make up the breading, and you have the industrial chemical known as the mcnugget.  mmmm, sounds delicious.

{remember last year when that lady called 911 because mcdonald's ran out of chicken mcnuggets??  no?  well, it's a true story.}

when i spend more than five minutes on my hair and the second i walk outside it looks like this:

{i don't have red hair.  and i'm not this pale.}

having to work when the rest of the world is on spring break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  ugh.

news you can use #13: breast milk cheese, old people, driving and your cha chi, green toilets, models i know, eclipse trailer, and sweet layla grace

can you believe it?  this is news you can use lucky #13.  wow, i can't believe we've been doing this for 13 weeks now.  and by "we," i really mean "i."  enjoy some of the highlights of the weeks; there are some real goodies in here.

new york city chef creates breast milk cheese.  disgusted?  yeah, me too.  you can check out the recipe here.  ugh.  let me know how you like it.

{feast your eyes on this: "mommy's milk cheese rolled in dehydrated porcini mushroom powder with burned onion chutney."  i don't understand 3/4 of those words.}

oldest u.s. woman dies at age 114 year, 294 days.  i want to live until i'm 112 and still be healthy.  i'll let you know how that works out.  i'm sure i'll totes still be blogging.  you can check out all things old people here.

{isn't mary josephine ray just as cute as a damn button?!  here she is at her 111th birthday party.}

don't drink shave your cha chi and drive.  this little gem is brought to you courtesy of none other than mrs. tinseltown herself, hotpantsTM at handbags and handguns.  she down with the celebrity gossip and is your go-to girl on all things oscar worthy.   you can thank jessalyn for the new urban vocabulary word of the day: "cha chi."  i still prefer pikachu, but i'm all for spicing things up around these parts.  this lady apparently had places to go and wanted to make sure she was nice and "tidy."  i just threw up in my mouth.

{stay classy.}

the no-mix toilet.  men, how far are you willing to go to save the planet?  are you willing to sit down to pee, rather than standing if it means you are being environmentally conscious?  ladies, are you tired of fighting the perverbial "i-told-you-to-put-down-that-damn-toilet-seat!"  men and women alike, if your answer is "yes" then boy have i got the toilet for you!  per this article, "this toilet separates urine and poo-poo at the source.  the nutrients in urine can be then recycled for such purposes as fertilizer.  and the other sewage can then be transported to waste treatment facilities where actually can be used to produce power rather than consume it.  the problem is that some people might not like the new toilet.  for men it means sitting down, not standing.  and apparently the toilets are more prone to blockages.  nevertheless, scientists are reporting that europeans seem amenable to the new toilets."  those damn europeans are so freaking trendy.

{you would totes be the coolest house on the block with this sucker.}

i know someone on america's next top model (!!!)  i don't usually watch this show, but i was flipping through the channels last night and this girl i knew back in college is on this season.  i feel famous.  she's from kerrville, texas and she is an ex-boyfriend's sister's best friend.  she was a couple years younger than me, but she'd hang out with my boyfriend's little sister so we'd hang out all together.  she's considered a "plus-sized" model and is one of those girls that looks gorgeous with absolutely zero makeup.

twilight eclipse trailer.  ahhhh!  the trailer's out and i'm so stoked for the movie.  okay, i'll admit, i'm totally down with the vamps.  you can watch the full trailer here.

{my best friends forever.}

sweet layla grace.  precious little layla grace lost her battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer early tuesday morning.  she was 2 years old.  many of you have probably already heard of her as her short life captured the hearts of many.  this precious life had a huge following on both her blog and twitter account and the outpouring of love and prayers has been amazing to see.  her family lives in one of houston's suburbs (the same suburb my parents live, actually).  please continue to pray for her family - her parents and her two sisters.

{layla grace marsh, 11.26.2007 - 03.09.2010}

* it's giveaway time: photography by bomobob *

i hope y'all are as excited as i am because you all are definitely in for a badass treat today.  we've got bob from photography by bomobob hooking one lucky follower up with one of his prints - of the winner's choosing - up to $30.  how ya like them apples, eh?  the winner actually gets to choose what they win.  for those of you who don't win, bomobob is having a spring cleaning sale and clearance that's most definitely worth taking a look.

here's the deal, i coaxed bob to sit down and have a little chat with me.  before we entered this whole co-hosting a giveaway thing, i needed to get to know him a little better and i thought my readers did, too.  my notes are in blue.

how'd you get into photography? 

bomobob: started early, and i'm certain that there's a photo of me somewhere with a kodak brownie hanging off my wrist when i was about 5 or 6.  (mmm, i love brownies.)  i just always loved the notion of being able to freeze a moment in time forever.  the jury is still out as to whether i was an artistic visionary, (i vote artistic visionary) or just preparing for when i was too old to remember anything.  or maybe there's a third choice... the interest never waned, and t began saving those bonus grocery stamps they used to have until i had enough to get a brand new kodak instamatic x-15, which i still use quite often.

{swinging at tibidabo}

where do you get your inspiration?

bomobob: pretty much everywhere.  i tend to look around when i'm outside.  constantly.  like a puppy.  (he clearly doesn't know my puppy. she has not been inspiring this week.)  it looks like ADD, but i'm just always looking.  looking at light and shadow, lines, shapes, near and far objects.  there's so much beauty in everyday, mundane things.  i'd have to say the two themes that dominate though, are nature and color.

 {i love you}

what are you favorite things to photograph? and where do you primarily photograph?

bomobob: didn't you read the previous answer ? :) (wow, bomo's getting a little lippy, huh?  my readers love snark, so you'll fit in just fine.)  as is probably obvious from my shop, nature and carnivals are dominate themes.  (LOVE the carnival photos.  amazing.)  both are very joyous to me, one naturally, and one completely man-made.  while they are opposites in so many ways, they evoke the same childlike amazement, and stimulate my creativity in a similar vein.  i also like to play around with more anachronistic techniques, like polarois transfers, cross-processing, and mixed media.  most of what i sell is shot on film, for no reason other than the fact that i love the tactile nature of film.  (you strike me as a kid who liked play-dough growing up with all that tactile talk.)

 {the unbearable elation of summer}

how do you feel about apolo ohno not responding to my letter?

bomobob: apolo and i disagree on several issues, so it doesn't really surprise me.  and he keeps missing that spot when he shaves... (omg, the soul patch.  i love them.  *sigh*)

 {birds of a feather}

how stoked are you to be hosting a giveaway on my blog?

bomobob: i'm totally pumped!  (i didn't pay him to say that.  swearsies.)  it was complete serendipity that you contacted me and i found your blog.  it's an absolute joy to immerse yourself in, and your readers are a really wonderful, devoted bunch.  (he knows how to get in good, doesn't he?)

{october skies}

of all the pieces you've done, what is your personal favorite?

bomobob: boy, that's a tough one.  so many resonate with me for so many reasons.  what i sell is actually a tiny fraction of what i shoot.  i've been lucky enough to travel around the globe several times, and witness cultures and natural phenomenon that will stay with me forever.  (you live a life so many only dream of.)  so many of those photos are ingrained in my mind.  as for pieces that i've created as artworks, "the unbearable elation of summer", "swinging at tibidabo", and "intimacy" are three of my favourites. (he's canadian, hence the spelling.  so classy!)

 

 {love is the word}

the golden rules:

- you've gotta be a follower of my blog and check out bomobob's etsy site and lemme know which photo (up to $30) you would choose if you won (mandatory entry)

-  follow me on twitter (1 extra entry)

- tweet about this giveaway and leave a link (1 extra entry)

- blog about this giveaway (1 extra entry)

- post this giveaway or my button on your sidebar (1 extra entry)

- become a fan of 'photography by bomobob' on facebook (1 extra entry)

you've got six ways you can enter!

giveaway ends sunday, march 14th at 12:00 p.m. noon CST and a lucky winner will be announced the following day (monday, march 15th)!

good luck!

take me back tuesday: college soccer days

seeing as though playing soccer is something i've spent a good seventeen years of my life playing, i should probably show y'all some soccer photos.  these pics take us back a few years ago while i was playing college soccer.  i LOVED it - playing soccer definitely made my college experience completely whole.  that and being a soristute.  we'll get to those sorority days another tuesday.

i think this picture is from a preseason game my junior year of college.  here i am being all fast like dribbling the ball down the field and sweating my little arse off.  it was seriously 99 degrees and 100% humidity that day.  it was always such a pleasure playing soccer in houston during the summer months and even into august and september.

this is one of my favorite pics that was taken during my senior year soccer season.  i distinctly remember the story behind this photo and it really did capture the emotion of the moment.  i was a senior, my teammate (gemma) who i'm hugging here, was a freshman who played forward.  she had been taking a lot of shots that day but most weren't on goal.  our coach was getting pissed and was about to pull her.  i pulled gemma aside and told her to calm down, shake the nerves, screw what everyone else was saying, and take a damn shot on goal.  (i was a good captain and pep talker like that.)  next play, i passed gemma a thru ball up top and prayed to God she'd do something with it or else she wouldn't see the field for awhile.  sure enough, she shot a perfect shot up top in the left corner of the goal and put our team on top.  this photo was taken just after she scored. 

p.s. oh, and something exciting is happening around these parts tomorrow.  if you like cool, free shit, i suggest you come back tomorrow.  i know you were planning on it anyways, eh?

p.s.s. or is it p.p.s?  anyp.s., i had a dream with k.stew and r.pattinson in it last night.  r.patz was missing his right hand.  it was weird.  k. stew was actually really cool in the dream, albeit a bit awkward as she is in real life.  i made out with r. patz.  he was an amazing kisser, you should know.

in which i am a bad puppy mother and almost committed murder

i should probably be writing about the oscars last night, but i'm not going to.  why?  because i've got a much more pressing issue to discuss with you today: this weekend i almost committed murder.  with a spatula, to be exact.  now that i've got your attention, let me tell you how it all went down...

late morning on saturday, i got up, fed bailey, and put her bed and all of her toys next to her bowl so she could play after she's finished eating.  (for those of you who don't know, bailey is my  eight month old little fur nugget head.  there's a picture of her and her bat ears on my sidebar on the right.)  after making her breakfast (beneful healthy puppy growth, no doubt) i went and took a much needed bubble bath.  i got out, put on my robe, and got bailey to take her out to go potty. 

because most, if not all, of you have no clue where i live, i'll describe it: a condominium/townhouse complex surrounded by lots of trees and nature (i.e. birds, squirrels, possums, raccoons, etc.) but not a lot of grass patches, just lots of leaves.  it's kind of irritating.  anyways, i have bailey on her leash, i'm in a robe, moccasins, and have a towel on my head and look like an indian sheik woman.  in order to do her serious biznass, bailey always has to go really far back into the trees and it drives me crazy because her leash only goes so far and i can only hike so far through the bramble.  and i can't let go of her leash or she runs like a convict escaping out of prison.  you're beginning to see my grave dilemma.

so there i was in my robe, moccasins, a classy towel on my head, and she's creeping through the forest-like terrain like she's freakin' rambo and goes by a tree and does her nasty stuff.  her leash gets caught on something, so i go to untangle it.  she moves in the other direction and drags the leash and MY EFFING HAND through the poop.  i throw up in my mouth, scream, and let go of the leash.  the little convict starts running like she freaking stole something looking back at me with sheer mischief in her eyes.  i'm pissed and have shit on my hand.  i scream at her to come.  she doesn't because she doesn't listen ever.  so i scream that i'm going to give her a big spanking when i get my hands on her (because clearly she understands me).

i run to my condo and furiously scrub my hands with bleach, then i run back outside to find the escapee. i spot batwoman in amongst the trees with a dead, decomposing squirrel hanging from her mouth.  i flip shit and start screaming at her.  and i mean i am SC.REAM.ING.  for reals.  like vein in my temples bulging, about to have a heart attack screaming.  

 {you see the resemblance?}

i know the absolute worst thing to do is chase her because she loves to be chased and thinks we're playing a game of tag.  plus she has some italian greyhound or whippet in her so she's shitballs fast.  BUT i cannot not chase her or else she'll stop long enough to chew on the dead, rotting, nasty ass squirrel.  so i do want any normal, sane puppy mother in a robe would do: i scream and i yell and i chase her all through the bushes and trees and sticks and unmanicured nature.  my legs still have the cuts and scratches to show for my efforts.  i look like a crazy woman.  i tried enticing her with treats, her favorite mr. mouse toy, mommy's favorite socks which also happen to be bailey's favorite... this whole scene goes on for nearly 40 minutes.  finally i tell her, i give up and she can eat the squirrel and contract HIV or STDs or rabies or tapeworm or whatever the hell it is you get from eating raw, decomposing rodent meat.  and i tell her when i get my hands on her i'm either going to kill her or give her away because she's being a bad little nugget head.  i leave my front door open.  a few minutes later batwoman - WITH THE DEAD EFFING SQUIRREL STILL HANGING FROM HER MOUTH - comes flying inside.  OMG.  the stench was overwhelming.  i'll spare you the details.

let's just say after many spankings with a spatula later and using a whole container of lysol disinfectant wipes and two cans of febreeze air effects spray, i can finally talk about this event, though i still don't find it funny.  at all.

p.s. bailey is still alive.  i haven't killed her or given her away.

dear apolo ohno (i promise i'm not a creeper)

dear apolo ohno,

to get my mom off my back, i had to write you this open letter.  and i sort of kind of maybe secretly wanted to, too.  my mom is convinced we should meet.  and maybe date.  or at least go on a date.  i promise i'm not some creepy stalker fan.  (whether my mother is or not is entirely questionable.)  i mean i think you're pretty badass skating all wicked fast in your skin tight skating suit that resembles an ensemble of spiderman's, but that's not why i like you.  oh, and winning an unprecedented eight gold medals is not why i like you either, though that is insanely badass.  really i'm into your soul patch.  it's kind of hot.  okay, it's really hot, soul patches kind of do it for me, but that's also not why i like you.  and i hear you were pretty cool on dancing with the stars, though i have to be honest, i don't really watch that show.  sorry.  but i do know you won, so you've got to at least give me credit for that.  maybe we could go ice skating or something on our first (and potentially last) date.  i wear hockey skates, though, not figure skates or speed skates.  i hope that's okay.  and i'm not wicked fast, just fast enough to skate past all the five year olds clinging to their parents' legs.  oh, and i'm really competitive, so we could race if you wanted to, but you'd have to give me at least a two lap head-start.  ooooh, or i'm really good at rollerblading, so rollerblading is definitely an option.  i might even be a better 'blader than you.  we won't know 'til we try.

so here's the deal, i'm going to hit you up on twitter.  please don't block me.  i promise i'll only do it once a day and then i'll leave you alone.  maybe.  i just gave my mother my word that i'd do it, and i like to keep my word.  i love the woman, but she's relentless.  i'm sure you get tweeted, chirped, and peeped at all the time so i'll just be another one to add to the list.  quite frankly, i'm still not entirely sure how the hell twitter even works, so there's a very good chance you won't even see anything from me.  it'd be cool if you could holla back.  otherwise, my readers will think i'm a total loser and no one wants to feel like a loser.  thanks, polo.  i knew you were nice.  or at least i hope you are.  (fingers crossed)

hearts and tight spandex suits,
meredith

 

{they don't call me (flash) for nothing, yo.} 

p.s. readers, this is how i hit him up.  he's not responding.  sads. :(

news you can use #12: newlywed in jailed bliss, the skinny on mickey d's, bill and tiger, and the ga

newlywed couple spends first night together in jail.  a newlywed couple spent their wedding night in separate jail cells after police said the bride tried to run over an old flame of the groom.  well, that's one helluva way to never forget your wedding night, eh??  this story took place in none other than the hometown of one of my intahweb soulmates.  and you just thought the cape was a boring place!

weight watchers partnering up with the golden arches.  say whaaaat??  first off, let it be known that i hate mcdonald's.  not just the food itself, but the whole global phenomenon of "mcdonaldization."  (don't get me started.  i'm a socio-political studies major and this could get ugly.)  word on the street is weight watchers is going to be putting its logo on some of mcdonald's menu items in new zealand now that mickey d's is trying to make all of their "nutritional" information public.  can it even be called "nutritional" when it's pure crap??  call me a bad future mother, but i will not be taking my kids to mcdonald's.  ever.  period.  i will feed them pizza.  and ice cream.  and green vegetables.  and i will pray to God that they don't inherit their momma's food allergies.  otherwise they will only be eating quail and manna from heaven.

bill clinton offering support to le tigre.  really?  apparently the former prez gives good advice.  well, b.clinton should know best.  guess tiger and ol' billy will be like two peas in a pod.

{B + T = hearts}

sorry, she's not taking calls she's kinda biz-zay.  how can you not love her, people?!

{t-t-t-t-telephone}

(a day late) take me back tuesday: oregon and nike factory billboard

*don't forget to check me out today at masala chica!*

i know, i know... i'm a day late.  sorrs.  i know you all are so compassionate and kind that you understand, right??  today's take me back tuesday takes us back to a 4th grade-ish meredith where i was around age 9.  my mom, little brother, and i went to oregon during a summer vacation trip.  my favorite part about the whole trip wasn't the scenery or the gorgeous mountain air - it was the huge nike store that had everything and anything nike and was like five stories tall. (really it may have just been two stories, 9 year old meredith may have made shit up.  whatever the case, the nike place was HUGE.)  remember, i was totes into soccer? well, since all my favorite soccer players wore nike, i thought if i did i'd be THE next pele or mia hamm all decked out from head to toe in my "just do it!" gear.  (google "pele" and you'll see how awesome he was.)  i was kind of a big deal, you see.  so here i am on one of our hiking trip all g'ed up from the feet up in my nike gear.  i clearly thought i looked good.  funny, i don't feel the same way now looking back at these pictures.  *sigh*

back on the saddle

today is my first day back among the living and i kind of feel like i've come back from the dead.  seriously.  i've missed you all like i've missed consuming bags of marshmallows, and i promise to play catch up reading all that i've missed in your lives the past couple of days.

in the meantime, check me out at my friend, kiran's blog.  many of you may know her as masala chica, and let me tell you, she is one hot and spicy indian momma and a dear friend!

even emeril doesn't get salmonella

any of you near and dear to me wondering why i've been M.I.A.?  no?  okay, fine.  wishful thinking on my part.  for those of you not wondering, i'm going to tell you anyways.  lucky you.  friday night, i hung out with a couple of my best friends from college.  my friend, sara, was cooking dinner for a few of us - and being the greatest best friend that i am - i offered to help her with the chicken.  chicken is one of the few things i'm good at cooking.  i was handling raw chicken meat and thought i washed my hands very thoroughly because i'm so obsessive-compulsive about washing my hands.  still, they obviously were not washed thoroughly enough...

i have had salmonella food poisoning and am still getting over it.  let's just say i woke up yesterday morning having an asthma attack and had a low-grade fever... shortly there after i began projectile linda blair exorcist style vomiting all.freaking.day.  i didn't even know there was that many fluids in the human body.  it was gross.  i ended up having to go to the ER last night because my fever was really high and would go down and i couldn't keep any liquids down.  slowly but surely i'm getting better and i'll be back in the blogosphere in no time!