football, family and friends

My beloved Fightin' Texas Aggies opened the season last night at home with a solid and convincing win against New Mexico.

We spent the day tailgating and catching up with family and friends -- and wading through the excitement of college football gameday.

My sister made some killer stuffed mushrooms that we cooked on the grill. Another friend brought the hottest, cheesiest, and yummiest jalapeno dip that I've ever tasted. Drinks were strong and cold, and rain threatened all day (but never materialized), adding the perfect amount of breeze and tolerable temperature levels.

No matter how crazy life can get, returning "home" to College Station amongst the friendliest people in the world, always helps to ground me and remind me how fun this whole ride can be.

So ... beat the hell outta Utah State, Ags!

it's that time of year ....

... the most glorious time of year -- COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS UPON US!

Although my beloved Aggies aren't predicted to do much [again] this season, it feels so damn good to know that the best chunk of the calendar has officially arrived!

I'm not, and never have been, a big people person. I don't like crowds. I hate malls. I have very little tolerance for ignorance. But put me in a stadium -- Kyle Field, to be exact -- with 83,000 of my maroon peeps, and life is just about as good as it can be for me.

We're kicking things off this year at home in College Station against New Mexico. The good guys are picked to win. But for some reason, it doesn't much matter to me. What matters is that fall is in the air, our tailgate crew is already planning the menu (and the tailgate drinks), and we're ready to get things started with Aggie friends and family (minus Ty ... sniff sniff).

So ... beat the ever livin' hell outta New Mexico, Ags!

the best three or so minutes I've spent in a while

Congressman Mike Rogers of Michigan.

I think I love him.

break out your jackets, boys and girls

Lost Maples Nature Area, Vanderpool, Texas

(OK, well, maybe not your jackets.)

The 10-day forecast for Houston has lows around 70 and highs around 90 heading our way ... just around the corner! Woo hoo! Maybe I won't break a sweat until 8am, rather than as soon as I walk out the door at 6:45am (ok ... I'm lying. I start sweating as soon as I begin putting on my make-up. It's a way of life for me).

But back to the subject at hand, the mornings have felt noticeably drier and yes, even cooler. It's been a beautiful weekend, as far as August on the Texas Gulf Coast goes -- could be so much worse.

I'm such a cold weather girl. I know, I know. Why in the hell do I live in Texas and not somewhere like Colorado? It can't be helped ... it's in my blood. I love my peeps, and I love my state.

But I sure do adore trips to cooler climates. And even better, cool weather in my own backyard. So, based on the current forecast, a little mini-happy dance is in order.

holy "team jacob" batman!

Taylor Lautner was born in 1992 ... a year AFTER I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL!

How can that be?! When did this happen?!

I'm old. No, I'm old and pathetic ... no, wait. I'm an old, pathetic cougar. Because I find this picture (from Teen Vogue, no less ... oh the shame) so, so delicious. And he's just a BOY!

I mean, good grief. How embarrassing. But geez. If this isn't eye candy in a dirty shirt, I don't know what is.

Rawr.

how yummy do these look?!

For a quick sweet treat, these look awesome! Yoplait Delights! And at only 100 calories each, you can't beat it (visit the website for a $1.00 off coupon).

They come in Chocolate Raspberry, Crème Caramel, Triple Berry Crème, and Lemon Torte. DELISH!

Thanks, Yoplait. You've just sweetened my day.

one of my favorite after school treats

I've never been a chutney person. For some reason, it's always reminded me too much of fruit cake, and that's a major culinary negative in my food repertoire.

A few years ago however, I found a jar in my mother's refrigerator (which always has a random and various assortment of British-like stuff in it) that for some reason, appealed to my senses that day. To be exact, it was Patak's Hot Mango Chutney, and I fell instantly in love. You can pick it up at just about any grocery store (except for Thriftway in Forks, WA), and it's very reasonably priced. Nothing fancy -- just chutney.

So I put some on a cracker with a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano (one of my favorite cheeses on the planet ... you can buy a big hunk of it at Costco for a great price ... but I digress ....), which I always have on hand in my fridge. The result was divine.

I'm not sure if I'd like most chutneys, because, to be honest, I haven't ventured out and tried too many. But this particular chutney has since become one of my very favorite afternoon/evening treats, paired with a glass (or 3) of chardonnay. It's an absolutely perfect combination.

Today's version: a Rosenblum Cellars Chardonnay, Vintner's Cuvee. So, so good.

Even if you're chutney-shy, like I've always been, or set in your snacking routines, I highly recommend giving this a try. The spiciness and sweetness of the chutney, paired with the saltiness of the parmesan and bite of the wine is such a great treat.

the world would be a better place

... if everyone had the manners of my three-year-old.

Sure he sometimes forgets to flush the potty, and yeah, he loves to hear himself burp (the louder the better). But he's also very into giving compliments and saying sugary sweet things these days. I think he gets a kick out of my reactions more than anything else. But I know it won't last, so I'm enjoying every minute of it.

I swear, when he unexpectedly pulls out one of his sweet doozies, I completely fall to pieces -- its so darn funny and always totally out of left field, which makes it that much more endearing.

His current favorites are, "Sure, Mommy! I'd be happy to!" Even if I'm just asking him to open the back door for the dogs, or to turn off the TV before we leave the house, his cheery "Sure, Mommy! I'd be happy to!" is so totally sincere, I'm forced to scoop him up and kiss him to pieces.

And one day this week when I was feeling particularly rushed and frazzled while trying to get ready and get us out the door, he looked at me with those big brown eyes and said, "You look like a princess, Mommy." Holy moly -- is someone paying him to say these things?! I don't care if he doesn't know the difference between a princess and the lady at the McDonald's drive-through window (she's way cool, by the way), I DO! And damn if it doesn't feel good to have someone call you one. :)

But the hands down best is the the totally out of the blue, "I love you, Mommy." -- I'm a goner every time. I've been sort of blue and missing things over the past few days, and hearing this grounds me like nothing else can.

Yep. I'm thinking that the Palestinians and Israelis could probably iron out their differences if they just mixed in an occasional, "Sure, I'd be happy to!"

sunday smiles

Back-to-school manicure and pedicure at Bora Bora -- best in the city! I ran into one of my very favorite former students and so very much enjoyed listening to her excitement about starting high school tomorrow as she got a pedicure with her mama! Giggles galore.

Lunch at Freebirds.

Sunshine.

Hangin' out with my little guy (but missing my other).

Looking forward to new beginnings (yea room 32!).

So blessed.

more halloween fun from etsy

The rest of my signs arrived ... DARLING!

From the CountryWorkshop in Baltimore, Maryland.

I may have to leave the Vampire sign out year-round. ;)

mozart died of strep throat?

35 -- far too young for this genius to expire. And now it looks like nothing sinister (i.e. poisoning by Salieri) was involved ... just a nasty streptococcal throat infection that led to kidney failure.

How fascinating is it that there are scientists out there studying stuff like this? Every bit of enlightenment we gather as a society betters us.

The study was headed by Richard HC Zegers from the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands and colleagues Andreas Weigl from the University of Vienna in Austria and Andrew Steptoe from University College London in the UK, and is published online in the 18 August issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

"Consistent with Mozart's last illness and death being due to a streptococcal infection leading to an acute nephritic syndrome caused by poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis."

Some puzzles are worth solving. This is one.

amazing talent from alaska

Kate Earl.

Love her. Her dad is Welsh (like my own mum), so it must be in my blood.

You can download one of her songs for free right now -- it's the Single of the Week on iTunes. Here's their description of it ... spot-on:

Kate Earl comes to us directly from the Upper 49th. That's right -- Alaska. But don't expect icy tones or songs of isolation; this track from her debut is pure warmth and inviting soul. Abetted by some atmospheric string work and a retro soul bounce, this track is a great testament to music's escapist powers. Key line: "The missing piece of me I can find in a melody."

Check it out.

sorta creepy

For the Twilight fan in your life who has it all -- the Edward Cullen life-sized silhouette wall decal.

Hilarious, in a disturbing 'I'd have sex with a blow-up doll' kind of way.

i love etsy

One of my favorite simple pleasures in life is my Etsy.com addiction. I'm not a big shopper (malls suck), and over the past several years, I've pretty much done most of my purchasing exclusively online. Which leads me back to Etsy -- your place to buy & sell all things handmade. It feels great ordering stuff from a place that's made up of people who put their labors of love on display for the whole world to see.

I've bought jewelry, clothes for Aidan (I love the holiday applique shirts), crafting stuff (ribbon), luggage tags, wind chimes, personalized invitations and stickers, Valentine's Day cards for Aidan's class, signs for my classroom ... I could go on and on.

Recently I've been writing about my eagerness for Halloween. Part of my "in the mood for orange and black" had me browsing Etsy the other day for Halloween decor. I ordered a few things, and the first of my booty arrived today.

Love these signs from DreamCreationsArt. So fun.

some wolf goodness with a cherry on top

So I haven't made any Twilight comments in a while (despite the fact that Kristen Stewart and Rob Pattinson were caught smooching at a Kings of Leon concert a few nights ago) ... so here's the trailer that's debuting in front of the movie BANDSLAM. Thanks to HitFix for the link.

my british roots are showing

At the end of a hard day, with temps bordering on the triple-digit variety, there are very few items that hit the spot for me quite like a cold, loaded with ice, gin and tonic ... extra lime, please.

My earliest memory of a "grown up" drink goes back to this gin concoction. I remember my dad coming home after work and making himself and my mother the same drink. And when I became old enough to be curious about the taste, as odd as it may sound, I instantly loved the G&T.

When I turned 21 and watched my friends order beer or Jack and Coke, my beverage of choice at the local watering holes in College Station was my old friend, gin and tonic -- I felt officially big-time. And one of my only no-no "cheats" while I was pregnant was a gin and [heavy on the] tonic ... which I nursed nice and slow -- just to make it last.

G&T is still my favorite. Time and age hasn't changed my love for this potent potable. If anything, my affinity has grown stronger, as my choice and taste of gin has grown pricier.

So, Mom and Dad, thanks for introducing me to gin and tonic. I never drink one without a smile (or a lime or two).

storms are a-brewin'

After a quiet hurricane season so far, several tropical storms are churning out in the open waters of the Atlantic, just waiting to make their leap into the Gulf.

My post-traumatized-stressed-syndromed-self still has occasional heart palpitations whenever the lights flicker during a big thunderstorm, so just thinking about dealing with another major tropical event of any kind makes me want to crawl into a fetal position in the corner with a strong cocktail. Hurricane Ike still lingers in my brain ... not as a distant memory, but as a recent monster.

So as Gulf Coasters always do, we'll be watching, monitoring, and waiting as things begin to unfold.

go flag yourself!

To all you “fishy” Americans out there, go FLAG yourself!

i realized something today

I'm always telling my husband to "have faith," but I seldom follow my own advice. I'm really good at dishing it out, but frequently guilty of [over] worrying about the future and what might come -- to the point that I'm often missing the obvious -- I'm blessed. How insulting my doubt and lack of true faith has been.

I've decided to make a conscious effort to really trust in the Plan for my life, rather than trying to control everything.

I stepped outside of my box big-time at work today, and it felt unexpectedly good. It also enlightened me. I don't know when it happened, but somewhere along the way I learned to wrap myself up way too tight in my own comfort zone and fear any kind of unknown or risk. That's so not the way I want to live my life, or how I want to model life for my son.

So hooray for personal epiphanies on Thursdays. I love it when I can put some miles behind me on the road to discover who I am -- especially when the sky is so bright and blue.

i was dreading today

Today was the official last day of my 2009 summer vacation.

Usually by this point in the summer, I've put in about a week of my own time in my classroom, getting everything ready and making sure my anal-retentive, Type A personality has adequately kicked into gear as far as preparations for the year -- which always includes precisely arranging my desk and its contents, posting my bulletin boards just so, and beginning the early rough drafts of lesson plans.

Not this year. I just couldn't do it. I physically and mentally wasn't able to drag myself to campus. Not because I dislike my job (which couldn't be further from the truth) ... but rather because I just couldn't relinquish my hold on this summer.

It's been almost magical. That's a terribly melodramatic thing to say, especially out of the mouth of a terribly non-melodramatic girl. But magic is a pretty good description of my June and July.

So today I didn't even want to get out of bed and face reality. But I did -- and it was great.

Beverly came home from College Station (although she would say she left home ... haha) yesterday. Last night we watched one of our mutual favorite shows -- Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa. She recently made a Greek dinner that looked amazing, so we got daring and decided to tackle it today.

Beverly and Mom headed to Phoenicia, a local import market, and bought everything on our list (including Greek Feta ... the real stuff ... lamb, Greek yogurt, and pita for the grill). We both love to cook, but not when we're rushed or under any sort of time crunch.

So today, my last day of summer freedom, was spent in the kitchen with my twin sister. Our menu: spinach and feta spanakopitas, fresh tzatziki with toasted pita crisps, Greek salad, and marinated lamb kebabs. The only debate came when it came time to pick the vino -- Beverly wanted a Chardonnay and me, a Sauvignon Blanc. So we bought both ... I love compromise. ;)

And it was DELICIOUS! A perfect and fitting end to a perfect summer. Now, I'm officially ready to face life and all its craziness again. Look out, world.

democracy in action

A hell of a lot of anger is permeating America right now. We're polarized between two separate and distinct ideologies like I've never seen before, with apparently very little common ground to be found.

During the past few weeks (Congressional summer recess), citizens' emotions have run especially high surrounding the issue of the government's proposed health care bill. Many are panicked by it, as the bill was released and circulated with little explanation of some clearly alarming new proposals. It's understandable that such a sweeping change would heighten concerns, as is the case with any landmark change.

One of the results has been town hall-formatted meetings popping up around the country. These gatherings have billed themselves as opportunities for individuals to ask questions, express concerns or appreciations, and to voice their thoughts and opinions. Somewhere along the line, although these gatherings have been non-violent yet admittedly heated, concerned citizens participating in these forums have been labeled as members of an "angry mob", and accused of being part of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.

What a bunch of double-talk hogwash.

When Hilary Clinton went off on a particularly angry tirade while campaigning last year, she stated that she was tired of being labeled unpatriotic for questioning the Bush administration. She then received a boisterous and positive response from the crowd.

Yesterday however, the House's top two Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called opponents of the bill who are speaking out in protest "simply un-American." Are you kidding me?! Even the White House is distancing itself from these extreme comments made by Pelosi.

What is going on? Why the double-standard? Many of my democrat acquaintances have been telling me for years that protests and speaking one's mind is the most American of all actions. So why does that only apply to certain groups and certain causes?

We have to make some changes in our health care system -- its broken, and few people are arguing that point. But many citizens are FEARFUL and want answers to their questions ... and that's VERY American.

I just spent about an hour watching a live town hall meeting in Pennsylvania hosted by Senator Arlen Specter. He allowed 30 questions, and 29 of them were opposed to the current proposals. These people weren't angry mob members -- quite the contrary. They were average citizens who posed heart-felt questions and concerns, based on personal experiences.

Props to Senator Specter for staying and facing his constituency (many politicians are not), as well as for admitting that he has yet to read the bill (how the HELL that's even acceptable is another subject for another day). We need to see so much more of this.

And bravo, America. Don't give up on this country and what our founders created, according to the Constitution. Somewhere on some level, no matter how grand or small, I have to believe that our voices are being heard.

yankee fun!

Yippee! The 2009 Yankee Candle Halloween catalog arrived in my mailbox today! I'm going to take credit for the timing ... right after my Halloween post yesterday! Coincidence? Maybe. Who knows. ;)

I don't really indulge much, as far as fancy trips or expensive clothes. But I love, love, LOVE candles! They soothe and relax me and make me super happy. I even break the law at school and light one on my desk. Shhhh ... don't tell the Fire Marshall.

Anyway, the fun present in the mail today only added fuel to my already burning (haha!) excitement for fall. So I also swung by Carter's to pick up some new jammies and fun Halloween shirts for Big A.

Feeling festive ... and spooky!

i'm craving halloween

I must have had some pumpkin-filled dreams last night or something, because I woke up this morning with Halloween on the brain. Maybe it's a direct result of spending the summer surrounded by gloriously cooler temps ... who knows. But I'm all of a sudden totally wanting fall to hurry up and get here.

I adore October. The craziness of August and September (for teachers) is over with, and there's a hint of holiday excitement beginning to make some noise -- not so much that you feel like it's going by too fast (like December always does), but just the knowledge that Turkey Day and Christmas is right around the corner.

My mom is a total Halloween-decorator and she passed her love for all things cute and spooky down to her daughters. I love the the way orange, black, purple and white all look together, screaming fun and laughter.

Football is in full swing, the leaves are changing, pumpkins are everywhere, the mornings and evenings are crisp, and everyone just seems to be in an all-around better mood.

Now that Aidan is old enough to appreciate it, it's so fun watching and hearing him squeal about "scary" stuff. Speaking of, to help me indulge in my over-anxious Halloween mood, I found some cute Halloween shirts on eBay that I'm bidding on for my little guy.

For now, that's going to have to help ease my Halloween fix for a few more months. Where's the Martha Stewart Halloween issue when a girl needs it?

big brother is getting bigger

From an article earlier this week by Susan Davis in the Wall Street Journal .... be afraid. Be very afraid.

Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn is taking issue with a Tuesday posting on the official White House blog in which the Obama administration asks supporters to report back when they receive “an email or see something on the web about health insurance reform that seems fishy” to an official e-mail address: flag@whitehouse.gov.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. sent a letter to President Barack Obama on Wednesday questioning his administration’s request for supporters to report “fishy” behavior on health care to an official White House e-mail address.

“I am not aware of any precedent for a president asking American citizens to report their fellow citizens to the White House for pure political speech that is deemed ‘fishy’ or otherwise inimical to the White House’s political interests,” Cornyn writes today in a harshly worded letter to President Barack Obama in which he asks the president to immediately halt the effort.

It’s not the first time the Obama operation has asked supporters to report back on misinformation spread about the president on the Web—but those efforts were largely conducted through his campaign operation and more recently through the party’s political arm at the Democratic National Committee.

Cornyn, a former member of the Texas state Supreme Court, further suggests that the data that is collected by the White House could “raise the specter of a data collection program.”

“As Congress debates health care reform and other critical policy matters, citizen engagement must not be chilled by fear of government monitoring the exercise of free speech rights.”

If the effort continues, the Texas Republican is asking the administration to detail to Congress and the public the protocols employed by the White House on what they are doing with the data. He further inquires if the administration intends to notify the citizens reported for “fishy” speech.

“Do your own past statements qualify as ‘disinformation’?” Cornyn concludes, “For example, is it ‘disinformation’ to note that in 2003 you said: ‘I happen to be a proponent of a single-payer universal health care plan’?”

At least someone in government is still looking out for us. And it does my heart good to know that it's a senator from my beloved Lone Star State. Thank you, Senator Cornyn.

a picture speaks ...

... a million words.

We had family portraits taken this summer while we were up in Washington. Anyone who knows me at all is familiar with my near-phobia of having my picture taken. Honest-to-God ... we're talking cold sweats here.

The brilliant, kind, gentle and most of all, patient Tara Staton talked me out of my craze for a little while, and I temporarily put my neurotic thoughts on the back-burner. I'm so glad I did. We now have "official" memories of the best summer ever.

In addition to our favorite prints of the session, we splurged and actually purchased a large canvas and had some black and whites of Aidan dry-mounted for the wall. They arrived via FedEx today, and I'm so giddy with the results.

back to life, back to reality

My summer up in Forks, WA has come to an end.

Way too many memories to even attempt to re-cap right now, but I think the most important thing I'm leaving with right now is that we (me, Ty and A) have a better grip on things now -- though nowhere near a perfect or ideal situation, life doesn't seem to be as frazzled and confused as it was before. Aidan will understand where Daddy is now, and not think he's on every airplane we see fly overhead. And I'll know that he's surrounded by good people (though none that can take care of him [or fuss at him] like I can).

I'm not nearly as resentful of "this place" here on the far northern Washington coast. In fact, I've learned to appreciate its quirkiness, mixed in with its beauty and laughter. In fact, I'll think very fondly of it.

Don't get me wrong -- I can't wait for some breakfast tacos and time with my family and friends back home in the Lone Star state, but I'll miss this time dearly.

christmas in july?

Well, not really. But it's felt that way at times.

I love campfires (who doesn't?) ... especially the smells. A good campfire can awaken all senses -- the crackling of burning wood, the glowing embers deep within, the warmth it gives off, and the explosion of different colors as it smolders and grows. But for me, it's all about the smell.

I'm a smell girl. I have an extremely sensitive sniffer. Sometimes that's a good thing, often times it's a curse. For me, the slightest whiff can invoke more memories from the past than a vivid snapshot in a photo album.

Which brings me back to campfires. I adore the smell. So many memories: A burning fire that we kept alive for days on a family reunion trip to the Texas Hill Country. Year after year, the gorgeous and exciting smell of Aggie Bonfire smoldering from miles away. Sitting around a toasty fire with a glass of scotch on the back porch at my daddy's house. So many wonderful times.

Last night, we built our second campfire up here in Forks. And the beauty of it was, it was cold enough to really appreciate! How often is that the case in July? So, so great. And holding my son as he fell asleep last night, breathing in the smokey scent of his soft little three-year-old hair was as close to Heaven for me as it gets.

More magic in Forks. I'm blessed and lucky.

tapping into my inner domestic goddess

I love to cook pretty much any type of food ... appetizers, main courses, desserts, you name it. But I'm not much of a baker. The whole process involving absolute measurements intimidates me.

After a day of picking fresh berries in Washington state yesterday, we ended up with a bucket full of ripe strawberries and loganberries (similar to large raspberries). To let them go bad seemed sacrilegious. So the best option seemed to be to bake a pie.

I found a Bobby Flay recipe for Whidbey Island Loganberry Pie which sounded perfect. I mean, how can you go wrong with Bobby Flay? So I combined both types of berries and whipped up something that looks to be a great sweet concoction!

I have no idea why, but I've been wanting to make a fresh berry pie since arriving up here a few weeks ago, and now I've done it. So cool.

Who knows what's next -- fresh bread? A triple-layer iced cake? Nah. Think I'll just stick with the pie.

doesn't get much better

Anyone who has ever read my blog, or even remotely knows me, is probably aware of my Twilight addiction ... and I'm not talking the teeny bopper lust over Rob Pattinson or Taylor Lautner either (although I could eat both of those boys with a spoon) -- I'm talking about the Twilight story.

For several reasons that I've stated and written about in the past, the plot, setting and characters of Stephenie Meyer's now famous series is very special to me (thanks, Bella B!). So spending my summer vacation this year in Twilight land (aka Forks, Washington) is better than any Carribbean cruise or European tour.

The vampire and werewolf capitalists in this area have definitely taken advantage of the market -- seems like every local establishment in the general Forks vicinity has at least one store corner dedicated to Twilight. It's funny and worthy of a few snapshots.

But the absolute best part of being up here is the stunning beauty of the land and the ocean. It's powerful and gorgeous, and exactly how I imagined it, only better. When the clouds roll in over the mountains in the distance, I close my eyes and almost see Edward's shiny Volvo pulling in the drive. And driving out to La Push and spending time on the beach is almost a religious experience!

At night, I curl up with a Meyer novel (right now I'm reading Eclipse for the fourth time) and smile. There's just something magical reading about the Treaty Line and knowing that it's right outside my door. So, so cool.

Spending time with my son and hubby is priceless and second-to-none. Our little family is together and whole, if only temporarily. So far, Aidan's biggest thrill has been throwing rocks into the tidepools and rivers. However, there have been countless times this trip that I've also wished my Twilight girls were here with me. It's a giddy experience meant to be shared.

As much as I've resented Forks for the past year or so, I'm learning to enjoy and appreciate it's secrets and charm. The people are friendlier than I imagined, and the natural beauty surpasses any postcard.

So far, pretty damn good.

my big fat forks summer

For the past year or so, I've periodically written about Forks, Washington ... in many different capacities. It's rather of an enigma-town for me: it's the place that "took" my husband to serve away from us for a while, yet also the place that started my love affair for all things Twilight. But for the next six weeks, Forks will simply be the place where Aidan and I will spend our summer vacation.

I've been horrible about packing because, to be honest, I've been putting off breaking out our sweats and jackets again. But, despite the cold and rain (perfect vampire weather, BTW), it should be quite an adventure.

I have no idea what the next several weeks have in store for us, but it should be memorable. Maybe I'll experience a few things that will be blog-worthy. ;)

david letterman is pathetic

Just a thought ... would the public reaction have been the same had David Letterman made similar comments about an underage Sasha or Malia Obama being "knocked up" by a ARod?

Yeah, as if. I think not.

Double-standards suck.

And what the fuck is wrong with the collective [lack of] morals in this country? I mean, the laughter from the audience after Letterman's comments was almost as sick as the original slur.

Letterman came under fire for his Tuesday night monologue in which he noted that the 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate attended a Yankees game during a trip to New York City, where she was honored by a special needs group. Letterman referred to Palin as having the style of a "slutty flight attendant."

He then took a shot at Palin's daughter, saying, "during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez."

Letterman later attempted to spin things by saying he was referring to Palin's older daughter, Bristol, not 14-year-old Willow. Pssst ... hey, Dave. In case you weren't aware, Bristol wasn't even at the game ... Willow was.

"Acceptance of inappropriate sexual comments about an underage girl, who could be anyone's daughter, contributes to the atrociously high rate of sexual exploitation of minors by older men who use and abuse others," she said.

Palin's husband, Todd, echoed her sentiments, telling FOXNews.com, "Any ‘jokes’ about raping my 14-year-old are despicable. Alaskans know it, and I believe the rest of the world knows it, too."

The whole thing really pisses me off. The number of "celebrities" I can stomach these days is becoming fewer and fewer.

Totally out of control.

not on the team, but maybe a cheerleader ....

OK. I'm as Team Edward as they come.

But if Jacob Black (aka Taylor Lautner) keeps looking like this (according to People, that is indeed the plan), my inner cougar may have to make an occasional appearance or two. Meow.

As the anticipation for the Twilight sequel New Moon and future follow-ups get bigger and bigger, so does Taylor Lautner, who'll be putting on even more bulk for the third film Eclipse.

"Jacob's character is continually growing throughout the series," Lautner told PEOPLE at the MTV Movie Awards Sunday night, "so I got about eight weeks off before I go back again for Eclipse and I'm going to be hitting the gym."

Wow. Our little Jacob is growing up.

a girl can only take so much!

I mean, REALLY!

What's a completely, inappropriately obsessed Twilight addict to do when so much yummy vampire goodness is released for our viewing pleasure?!

This week was a dream for Team Edward fans. The New Moon cast and crew are in Italy filming the Edward/Bella reunion and Volturi scenes, and tons of pictures of the filming were captured.

Christmas in May! No, wait. Much better.

one of the greatest things I've ever heard ...

... my three-year-old singing "This Little Light of Mine ... I'm Gonna Let It Shine ...." Pavarotti couldn't have done a better job.

Life is so, so good.

adult "drink box"

One of the niftiest things ever!
Black Iguana Frozen Ritas!

You buy a box of these pre-packaged drinks, available in both lime and strawberry, and then stick 'em in the freezer for a few hours. The result is a frozen pouch of Mexican goodness! Just stick the straw in the pouch, and presto! Frozen margarita, baby!

According to the website, they're currently only available in the greater Houston area

(Here's one of the best reasons for living in Houston. We've launched Black Iguana Frozen Ritas in the greater Houston area.)

Here's the "official" description, straight from the Black Iguana website ...

• Black Iguana Frozen Ritas are READY-TO-DRINK.

• We've just made your life much simpler. Put away that blender. No more crushed ice, limes, beverage glasses. And no more messy countertops!

• Black Iguana is premixed with 100% Blue Agave wine -- imported from Jalisco, Mexico

• Each Black Iguana Frozen Rita is individually packaged in a 187 ml pouch.

• Freeze until slushy or enjoy on-the-rocks.

• Drink straight from the pouch or pour into a beverage glass.

Why the hell didn't I think of this?

change of plans

I'm married to a good man. A very, very good man.

He puts up with my craziness. He's a fantastic father. He's excellent at the grill, but can also more than hold his own in the kitchen. He's a true guy -- he fixes things (or at least gives it a great effort ...), thrives when he's in the great outdoors, drives a truck (and not some pretty sports car), loves sports ... but smells good, and is about as supportive a husband as there is.

Our recent years with the Coast Guard have been tough. No, they've sucked. He was deployed way more than he was home, including during two hurricanes (one a major one) that we were forced to brave without him, he received orders to a duty station where we were unfortunately unable to join him as a family. We fought a fight against something we believed in, and then lost. As a result, we've been focusing on the eventual date when we could get as far away from the military as possible.

But life, true to form, enjoys games. And fate has a funny sense of humor. Yesterday we found out that Ty made the final cut to become a Chief Warrant Officer. So in June 2010, he'll accept his [monumental] promotion and sign up for another three years serving our great country.

And I'll be there with him, smiling and wondering where this journey will take us next, and grateful that he's by my side.

chasing venus

I've been drinking a Sauvignon Blanc that I adore -- Chasing Venus. It's a New Zeland Marlbourgh with a ton of personality.

The sommelier at my local H.E.B. pointed me in this direction. I'm a huge fan of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blancs, and he told me that this was from the same region, and even better. I tried it, and totally agree.

Some comments on Venus from ArtisanVinyards.com:

Nose of grass and passionfruit. Great acidity that carries the fruit well. Tangy and fresh with a mouthful of tart pink grapefruit. A wonderful experience and a great value. -KS, tasted October '08

This wine just keeps getting better. It is as unmistakably New Zealand as ever, but with much more poise and balance than ever before. Apricots, grapefruit, cut grass, and juniper berries. Grapey and gulpy. -BH, April 2009

If you enjoy a really crisp, fruity white, give it a try. It runs about $13.00 a bottle ... a great summer wine.

sunshine, pigeons, water and smiles

A great Saturday.

Pictures from the Williams Tower Water Wall in Uptown Park, Houston.

My boy.

tornado warning

There's something about getting that message in your email that makes your heart race some ... if only just a little bit.

It's absolutely black outside (even though the sun should be shining brightly). The lightning and thunder is shaking the windows, and the dogs are pacing.

Aidan is eating waffles and watching Ni-Hao, Kai-Lan ... totally oblivious to the menacing weather around him, which is as things should be. I'm enjoying a glass of wine and a chunk of parmigiano reggiano.

I love this weather, but I've always been a [bad] weather junkie. Life is a blessing.

"old school Republicans are scared shitless..."

Anyone who's followed my blog for a while knows that I love Meghan McCain. Her views are about as closely aligned to my own as just about any others that I've read or heard out in the "main stream" media.

Sometimes, it's tough for a white, protestant, socially liberal, fiscally conservative Republican girl to find much of a common ground with others ... well, Meghan is one of the few with whom I can identify. Time and again, I find myself saying, "AMEN!" to stuff of hers that I read.

Here's the latest slam dunk by my fellow "goes against the grain" Republican girl. Love her guts.

McCain, at one point, declared herself a proud member of the GOP. But her pot shots at the Republican Party and its flashier figures were not thinly veiled. Describing her public tiff with Ann Coulter as non-delicate, she went on to refer to the brash conservative talker as "overly partisan and divisive." Later in the speech she insisted that "most of our nation wants our nation to succeed" - a pretty clear dig at the now-infamous remarks of talk radio host Rush Limbaugh.

my faculty meeting ran late ...

... so I didn't get to join my dear friend, Missy, at the Tea Party in Downtown Houston. Dammit. And Dammit some more. I try not to get too political on my blog, but I obviously voice my feelings from time to time, because its important to me. Today is one of those days.

I support my President, and I respect the will of the people. It's called a democracy, and it's a beautiful thing. But I've been increasingly concerned with the trend of events recently, mainly and primarily events revolving around more and more big government.

I'm so, so proud of all the folks who DID make their voices heard today, despite the bashing from the "main stream" media. So, instead of making a long rambling post about why I felt so strongly and passionately about the Tea Parties today, I thought I'd post some of my favorite Tea Party quotes from my browsing around the 'net today ...

"Your fair share is NOT in my wallet."

"Spread my ambition, not my wealth."

...at the Greenville, S.C., Tea Party, "They will be selling the 'Obama burger' — you pay for one and they cut it in half and give the rest to the guy behind you for free!"

"Next time read the bill."

"Member of the the irrelevant, lunatic fringe!"

"Your only HOPE is that I'm paying your mortgage."

dude ... excellent

Suh-weet! One of my favorite former Idol contestants (who also happens to be a Fightin' Texas Aggie! Whoop!) has a record deal!

Jason Castro has signed with Atlantic Records.

I've missed dread-locked Jason and his laid-back, guitar-playing ways. When he made a brief appearance during one of Idol's audition shows earlier this season (as a show of support for his brother who was trying out), it hit me why he's so appealing -- despite his talent, he doesn't take himself too seriously, which is a rare thing in this day and age ... especially in the entertainment industry.

Plus, I just love his music. The folksy, Colbie Caillat/Jason Mraz-ish stuff that comes from Castro is soothing and makes me smile. I mean, come on -- who didn't love his rendition of Over the Rainbow?!

I'll be buying his CD (produced by Grammy-winner John Fields) when it comes out later this year. Can't wait!

snakes and snails

As one of three daughters in an all-female family (except for my poor Dad), I wasn't exactly "prepared" for the antics of boys ... specifically, for my son, who appears to be, without a doubt, 100% pure boy. Add that to the fact that my dear husband is currently deployed and living on an opposite coast -- I'm on "boy duty" without much guidance. Each day with my three-year-old is an adventure -- sort of "on the job training" that takes new twists and turns at the most unexpected times.

I'm finding that the inner workings of these things called boys are a total and complete mystery to me.

Boys are weird. They say weird things. They do weird things. They make weird noises.
And sometimes, I just dont get it.

growing pains

My baby bumped his head ... in a really solid way. It was a bloody mess -- literally.

Big A was horsing around and fell head-first onto the edge of the brick fireplace last night. I've been waiting for that to happen, and up until last night, we'd managed to avoid it. But he's now officially earned his first good scar.

So Saturday night was spent in the ER (not a fun place to be in Houston on a weekend night ... ugliness abounds). After way too many hours sitting in the waiting room, and the growing realization that we were [rightfully so] at the very bottom of the triage list, we left the hospital and journeyed over to a local 24-hour urgent care clinic, which is where we should have gone to begin with (but I was initially worried about his noggin, as well as the laceration). It was awesome.

We walked right in, they cleaned up my little guy, gave him a popsicle and put him in the "Lion" room (with a way cool lion bed), put some cartoons on the flat-screen TV in his room, and sewed him up.

So, a few staples in the head later, we're all good. And like Ty always says, "Chicks dig scars." I'm getting a crash course in this whole motherhood thing now, I guess. Boys will be boys, and I'm proud of mine for being so brave.

Milestones