Obviously

On Google reader, you can look at John McCain and Barack Obama's reading lists.  The last item on McCain's list? The Fox News site.  The last item on Obama's list? The Daily Show site. Love it. 

California

For anyone out there who actually reads this blog, Jon and I are traveling in California right now, so go here to check out a photo blog from our trip.

Transformation

Painting Tess' room, before (or...during) and after:

California Love

Oh and also! (God I'm on a roll...)

I just noticed that there is someone who reads my blog from in or near Mountain View, CA (sounds picturesque).  First of all, hi, thanks for reading, and do I know you?  Second of all, I'm coming to Cali next week, San Diego-San Francisco, got any suggestions? (that goes for anyone...)

Screw You, John McCain!

Having moved into our current house a little over a year ago, we occasionally receive mail for the previous owners, for whom we have no current contact information.  So, being courteous, my mom sometimes returns the mail to the sender. 

Apparently these previous owners were somewhat odd.  They lived in this house, newly built when they moved in, for five years without painting a single wall (hence my summer "job").  In addition, it has come to our attention that these people were also Republicans.  So Republican, in fact, that they receive frequent mail from the McCain campaign, including the letter pictured below that we received today. 

So, I would like to take this opportunity to return the mail to the sender, but this time with a special message.  I'm opening it up to you, my loyal blog readers (ha!) to decide what message I should send to the Republican National Committee, or better yet Senator McCain himself (but more likely an underpaid intern).  I'll choose the best response, scrawl it across the envelope, and return to sender.  And no, no messages that actually support McCain will be chosen, so don't even try (Tim Frost...).

Day 2

So I took two pictures on my cell phone yesterday and today that I wanted to upload, but of course I accidentally erased one of them.  It was a picture of the back of a pickup truck that I saw while driving.  This person had taken a couple "Support the Troops" ribbon stickers and cut them up into a dove holding an olive branch and the words "no war!"  

Here's the other one I took:

Just thought they were two interesting reflections on today's society.

Day 1

So day 1 of the new photo blog, and I did well! Here a select few pictures from today, mostly from the Fenway Tour:

Aunt Julie and Cousin Chris

View from the Monster

Chris

Press box

New Goal

Ok so the me blogging thing just really isn't working.  I'm struggling to find my niche as a blogger.  Jon and Tony have their very specific man-applauding blog, Emily has TWO blogs for which she never runs out of material, and I can barely post once a week.  What is my problem?  Emily says I need to be less private but...sorry Eems, that's not happening anytime soon.

So here's my new thinking.  I was inspired by this website I found called The Daily Nice where this dude posts one picture of something he likes everyday.  Well, I have this swanky new (does Christmas still count as new?) camera, so rather than trying to document my life in words, which is clearly not working, I am going to try to start documenting in pictures.  I can't make any promises that this will work but hey...it will get me to use my camera more, take more pictures which I always want to do, blog more, and maybe even inspire me to write more.  We'll see...

I may be taking a tour of Fenway tomorrow...if that doesn't inspire some cool pics, I don't know what will.  I may discover that this blogging thing is a lost cause...

You all know me. I love movies, and it doesn't take much to please me.

However, this looks like the worst movie of all time. 

McKinley Pool Party 2008

This is what happens when my family and margaritas mix:

And, surprising no one, this is what happens when Jon and margaritas mix:

And this is what happens when I'm designated driver because I have class all weekend:

Untitled

From one of my textbooks, as requested:

Like you I

love love, life, the sweet smell

of things, the sky-blue

landscape of January days.

And my blood boils up

and I laugh through eyes

that have known the buds of tears.

I believe the world is beautiful

and that poetry, like bread, is for everyone.

And that my veins don't end in me

but in the unaninimous blood

of those who struggle for life,

love,

little things,

landscape and bread,

the poetry of everyone.

-- Roque Dalton

Acrostic Shout Out

Emo

hoMies

my foot Is stuck in the...stroller? 

fLava flav

sundaY!!!

Finally, Something to Write About

OK so obviously I suck at blogging, mostly because I don't think there's much in my life that is worth putting into words.

However, I've been inspired to post today after having brunch with my old friend Julie yesterday and hearing about her upcoming volunteer expedition to Tanzania as a Kiva Fellow to do work in microfinance.  Microfinance, if you don't know, is kind of a new wave in economic development in Africa (or at least that's what I think...).  Julie is trying to raise $12,000 to fund her trip and her work in Tanzania, and, because I'm unemployed and financially irresponsible, I can't do much to help her out right now.  However, I thought I would put a link to her blog where you can donate as much or as little as you want (every small amount helps) through paypal to help Julie out.  I see it as a way for those of us who can't make the gigantic commitment to quit our jobs and volunteer for 9 months to do it vicariously.  So anyway, here's the link:

http://kivafellowjulie.wordpress.com

I'm know Julie would be incredibly grateful for any help you can give!

:(

This really puts things in perspective.

RIP Nick. 

Art Imitating Life Imitating Art...or something

This is very cool.

This woman created photographs based on kids' drawings.

Haha!

Things Younger Than McCain

No Wonder I'm So Poor

Yet another reason why I can't wait to move out of Connecticut:

Gas Prices By County Across The U.S.

You Have My Permission...

So today one of the sweetest girls in my class, and in the whole grade for that matter, came to me and told me that two other girls in the grade have been telling her that nobody likes her, she has no friends, she's annoying, and she asks too many questions.  

I don't understand what kind of parenting creates children who are such little beeyotches by the time they're 10. Please shoot me if I'm ever that kind of mother.

Cheesy Goodness

Yum.

Exhibits for Emily and Me NOT to See

God, seriously? People are so disturbed.

Gross

I don't care what you think about abortion, this absolutely disgusts me. 

Because They're Both So Happy

Two things I have taken a particular liking to recently, both of which I am enjoying as I write this post, are:

Gummy Bears

Sean Casey

Black Bean Chipotle Dip

OK so here's another simple, cheap, not terribly unhealthy recipe for you masses of blog readers.  This is one I invented on my own (even though it looks like similar recipes exist out there).

Spicy Black Bean Chipotle Dip

1 can (normal size) black beans

2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (usually found in the Mexican section of the grocery store)

olive oil

multi-grain tortilla chips

Drain and rinse the whole can of black beans.  Put the blacks beans and chipotle peppers in a food processor (or mini-chopper).  Stream olive oil into the food processor while the black beans and peppers blend until you have a smooth, dip-like consistency.  Serve with tortilla chips (or pita chips, or whatever you want).  Enjoy!

Note: Use fewer peppers if you're not a big spice lover, or more if you have taste buds of steel.

Whoa!

This is nuts!  Have you guys heard of this?  I just read it on perezhilton.com, I'm surprised I hadn't heard about it in the (legitimate) news!

An Accent is an Accent

Wow I thought that Cate Blanchett was British until five minutes ago.  But really she's Australian? Who knew?!

Delicious

So I have decided after various $80 grocery store excursions to make one mediocre recipe that those recipes that require only a few non-standard ingredients are key for those of us on measly young person's salaries (standard being things like salt and pepper, olive oil and, if you're me, unreasonable amounts of garlic).  So I am going to start posting some such recipes that I find.  Here's one of my recent favorites from Giada De Laurentiis and foodnetwork.com:

Crunchy Parmesan Chicken Tenders

Note: If you like vinaigrettes, the one in this recipe is pretty good, but totally unnecessary as the chicken is good enough to be eaten on its own.

I Should Get Paid For These Endorsements

These are seriously the best band-aids I've ever used.  I had one on my finger for four days this week, through multiple showers and hand washings, and it never fell off.

Catch 22

OK so this story has me thinking.  It might be weird to us that this girl's family isn't going to get her medical treatment and she is instead going to live her life worshipped as the reincarnation of a Hindu goddess.  It may seem irrational to us, but how nice is it that she isn't going to grow up in America where she would be ridiculed rather than revered for her appearance?

Addiction

I can eat a whole bag in one sitting without even noticing.  I comfort myself by telling myself that it's mostly air.

Something Else I Like

Bought this new moisturizer.  Love it.  It's the little things that make me happy.

Tim, this is my fourth post in two days.  Are you happy?  And no, they will never be more interesting than this.

People Watching

So I was sitting in the parking lot of CVS for about a half hour tonight waiting for my prescriptions to be filled.  Watching people come out of a pharmacy is really interesting.  One guy I saw walked out carrying only an ice cream bar.  Who would think to go to CVS just to buy an ice cream bar?  Then another guy came out carrying just a thing of dental floss.  He subsequently opened the package in the parking lot and started flossing his teeth as he walked to his car.  Weird.

Meet Meadow

As in the daughter of Tony Soprano. My "new" New Jersey-bred 1998 Chrysler Sebring. Yeah, I know you're jealous. Trust me, you'd be even more jealous if you saw the hot camel leather/wood control panel/black dashboard interior.

I'm In Love...

...with my new computer.

Now In Theaters

OK so I'm generally a sucker for children's movies and have used my little sister as an excuse to see every children's movie to hit theaters for the past twelve years. However, I have to say that" Horton Hears a Who" is one of the best I've seen in a long time. Regardless of your age, if you find yourself needing a pick-me-up in the next few weeks, go see this movie. It is super cute and funny (voices in the movie include: Jim Carrey, Steve Carrell, Amy Poehler, Jonah Hill, Isla Fisher, Seth Rogen, and Will Arnett...how could that possibly be bad?) and will put a big grin on your face.

For more Florida ridiculousness, click here.

c-h-o-n-g-a-l-i-c-i-o-u-s

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uVHdqmN7-XE&feature=related

Stay tuned...

I Could Bake That

Holy crap! Does anyone remember the wine-stain Jesus from wine tasting senior year? I knew we should've put that on ebay!! It's amazing what a bunch of crazy Christians will do. I could afford like 5 MacBook Airs with that money! Ahh hindsight...

Keep Your Eye on the Sky

Lunar eclipse tonight.

A Long Way Down

Chicago.

Seriously, guys?

Mike Huckabee won my poll? Who are you people?

Almost As Good

OK so I didn't get a snow day, but this news is almost as good.

Come on, Snow Day

If this entire storm passes through Connecticut and we don't have a snow day tomorrow, I am going to be P.O.'d.

Spores

So, some people who know me well know that I have an aversion to what I refer to as repeating dot patterns. This blanket statement has started to confuse these same people because my bedspread is covered in dots as is, clearly, the background of this blog. So I thought I would give some examples of dot patterns that bother me and dot patterns that don't to get rid of any confusion ( my life is so exciting!! ).

Patterns That Disturb Me



Patterns That Don't Disturb Me




PS - Do yourself a favor and never do a google image search for the following words: fungus, tumor, mold, spore, or insect eggs.

Hi!

So, I've decided to join the blogging bandwagon like the sheep that I am. I guess it's only appropriate that I give shout-outs to Stub and J.T. who have inspired me to do so. And who will probably be the only people to ever read this. If they even do.

You have absolutely no reason to care about what I write on this blog, and I recognize that. Hopefully it will alleviate some of your boredom while you read it, and some of mine while I write it. I promise it won't only be about bread, but I can't promise that it will document anything more than my mundane life. How about I start off with a list of some of my favorite things for lack of anything more interesting to write?

* FutureSex /LoveSounds


* Perez Hilton


* The Cheesecake Factory


* 75 degrees


* Brutal comments that children make ("Ms. L, your hair makes you look like you woke up all crazy this morning")


* Jewelry, of the cheap variety


* Traveling


* The Food Network


* CVS


* Showering and getting into clean sheets



* Carbs, obviously