Pass it on

Photo courtesy: SarahMoffett

As I've noted before on these virtual pages, I'm addicted to reading and collecting books. I have piles of them in every room in the house. Our children have what could easily rival any elementary school classroom book shelf of their own in their mini library. It used to drive my husband crazy, but I started buying him books purposely directed to his political issue at the time. Now he buys them for me, too.

I will say though, that I see a lot of his point when I scan some of the titles and find that not only can I not remember the characters or plots in a few of the titles I'm holding on to, but I have some titles in my collection that I don't even remember buying. I even have some favorites that I wouldn't mind sharing the wealth with the next fan, so to speak. So I took some initiative and found out that there was a great way to sell books that didn't require me sitting out in the driveway in the sun/rain/heat/cold. Even if I only earn diaper money... the reward will be a happier husband, a less cluttered home and knowing that I'm making another avid reader's day.

Men's Best Friends

One of the great but little-noticed stories to come out of one of America's two forgotten wars is one that details the loyalty, bravery and camaraderie of not just our soldiers, but of some unlikely suspects, a trio of stray dogs.

That the three mutts were used as target practice by the local Afghani police is reprehensible, but to then read about how our men earned their devotion and protection is worthy of sharing with a nationwide audience.

One would think that reading and sharing such a tale would be slightly more interesting to the national media than detailing the costs of band-aids, aspirin or a finger pulse oximeter in Obamacare, but they obviously don't know their audience. Just look at the coverage of the Tea Party events on any outlet other than Fox News Channel.

the bees' knees

It's like living in a Terry Gilliam movie sometimes. I can't figure it out. How many different companies selling cheap auto insurance can there be?

I thought there were a lot in L.A. but out here they seem to be one of the most ubiquitous products around for your average consumer. And yes I do mean average as in "nothing better to do, I hey... is that a lizard?". Even now, the news program I usually watch is on a break and that "hey! I'm cute and quirky spokesperson so buy my insurance!" spot is on in the background.

I have a great idea for people trying to save their money by lowering their bills and buying "as seen on TV" products..."Keep looking." If they thought about it after the fact, it's hard not to realize yes, they probably did buy insurance based on a caveman being offended. Or a Flo-wannabe charming the clogs off crusty old men. Or a funny lizard with an accent having better ringtone taste than an old man. It's like we tell our girls: remember - all those ads cost money. Money that is doubtless better spent invested in providing a decent product over a gimmick.

But sometimes you take what you can get. And get something better with the money you saved.

Like a new computer.

Eve of Disruption

Image courtesy: Free Canuckistan!

Nothing like the stomach flu to really dampen what was to be a nice birthday celebration, or three, for the family. 1/2 of the six of us (for those of you in 'don't-make-me-do-math-land' that's three...) are celebrating birthdays over a period of 5 weeks. Of course, sacrificing sweets for Lent didn't factor in those events, but imagine how much better the cake will taste after looking forward to it for so much longer. Yep. I really did say something very similiar out loud to our oldest young child. I keep telling myself that for the kids, the anticipation of frosting alone is worth the wait. For hubby, I could have giften him a box of discount cigars and it almost would have resulted in a "who needs cake" smile of satisfaction.

You Are Not Alone

We've all had those days where we felt trapped inside the hollow shell of ourselves... the unfeeling stranger who couldn't seem to get through the most mundane of days without either falling to pieces or practically collapsing in a broken heap of tears.

Thankfully, the New York Times has bravely stepped forward to let us all know that depression might not be such a bad thing:

While such thoughts reinforce the depression — that’s why therapists try to stop the ruminative cycle — Andrews and Thomson wondered if they might also help people prepare for bachelorhood or allow people to learn from their mistakes. “I started thinking about how, even if you are depressed for a few months, the depression might be worth it if it helps you better understand social relationships,” Andrews says. “Maybe you realize you need to be less rigid or more loving. Those are insights that can come out of depression, and they can be very valuable.”

Interesting hypothesis. So instead of looking for a shrink to talk your problems out, find a mirror and talk to yourself. Work it out, and go run and buy some helpful joint supplements to ease the stiffness you feel every night from sitting in the corner of your room weeping.

Utter Goredom

# of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere? or # of days until we all succumb to climate chaos?

Al Gore has emerged from the white-wash that is Blizzard 3.0 and written a fun and inspiring mission statement in the NYT. Consider the opening shot:

It would be an enormous relief if the recent attacks on the science of global warming actually indicated that we do not face an unimaginable calamity requiring large-scale, preventive measures to protect human civilization as we know it.

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Wow! I was so relieved when I double-checked and confirmed that his dire words of warning were indeed in the Opinion pages, and not the main news section as is usually the case when the topic is the Earth's temperature. I was all set to skip reading all those diet pill reviews and instead embark on a trip to New York City to document the effects of melting snowbanks on the streets of Manhattan for the cause.

I'll keep an eye on the pages of the NYT just in case a summons goes out to true believers.