I love playing Scrabble! I like the real board game and I like the iphone app ‘Words with Friends’ too. It’s the perfect combination of skill and luck.

Today, though, I heard appalling news: (more…)

WE and I drove by Crossroads Mall a few weekends ago when we were in OKC for the NCAA. It was a pathetic piece of property. Come to find out, the Fed owns it as part of the Bear Sterns bailout a few years back.

NPR did a planet money on it, and aside from the brief synopsis of the podcast (including references to Oklahoma, JCPenney, and Toxie) – I was highly amused by the reader’s comments. On that note, I just wanted to let you know that NPR has officially named their toxic asset:

I must admit, that I’m disappointed that Tulip didn’t win…and Kenny? Come on, seriously?

In case you didn’t know, you can track Toxie to the bitter end on npr.org

Okay, so after yesterday’s post about ants for pets (lame!) I just have to write about the kind of dog that I really want for a pet. I’ve been researching online a little and I think that I’ve come to a conclusion about the breed of dog that would be best for our family. Here’s the basics to look for:

1. Doesn’t need a big yard…since we don’t have one

2. Good temperament and great with kids (no this is not an announcement!)

3. Little to no dander…for WE and since the dog will be inside

4. Toy to medium sized

That said, I’m thinking about a Cockapoo (Cockerspaniel/Poodle Mix). Ideally you get the poodle’s smarts/fur and the cockerspaniel’s temperament! I’ve read that they are easy to train and very good dogs. But I guess that’s what people say about every kind…I’m sure it depends on how they are raised/trained.

I can’t decide if I want chocolate, gold/white, or spotted, or black. Since they won’t shed I’m not too picky. Here’s some pics.

PS. For those of you that know Hugo, doesn’t the chocolate pup look almost exactly like him?!? (Hugo was my bestest stuffed friend in the whole-wide world growing up)

I found a breeder here in Dallas that has litters twice a year. Since I’ve never done this before – I really have no idea how to judge whether a breeder is good or not. WE says we should just go to a rescue and find one. But I don’t know about that. I guess I’d rather know more about the dog (i.e. parents) and error on the safe side. But I’m up for suggestions from any of you dog lovers out there. Here’s a picture of the parents if we decided to go with this breeder.

(Ha, it looks like the Mr. Poodle told a funny)

This breeder’s website doesn’t say a price, but I read that they can go from anywhere between $250 and $750. Again for any of you dog owners out there, I’d be interested to know approx. how much you spend a month (or year) for your dog on food, vet, grooming, dog sitters, etc. I wouldn’t want any surprises for WE

Ha, I’m totally kidding myself.

I’m pretty sure it’s gonna take an act of congress for any of this to actually happen. But hey, there’s no harm in dreaming, right?

Lately, we’ve all witnessed in the media super inappropriate and disrespectful outbursts. And it’s all around us – in music, politics, and athletics.

What is going on???

I say tough break to Serena, Kanye, and Joe. In the end, you can’t change the call and still lost your match, you can’t change the music video award, and whether you like it or not Obama IS still the President. Outbursts of anger and insincere apologies aren’t going to change anything.

There is no amount of ‘passion’ that should ever warrant the public humiliation of another human being just because they are of a different opinion. AND the worst part of all is that these kind of people are the role models we have set up in our society.

Somehow we have to counteract this influence so that our youth don’t actually believe that “There is no Dynasty without the Nasty.”

The other day WE and I were babysitting and one of the little boys (after he had gotten into trouble with his older sister for talking back) said, “Sometimes I act saucy. But I never sauce my mom.”

It was super cute. He’s only 3 or 4 years old and as I later found out, that Mom has what she calls her Sassy Sauce. She uses white vinegar or Tabasco sauce as punishment when her kids start talking back to her. It’s harmless and yet quite brilliant if you ask me.

I’ve always hoped that when I am a parent, I will be creative enough to keep most parental punishment as real to the actual consequences of a poor decision as possible. Even though I doubt that when kids are older, they will somehow magically get a nasty taste of vinegar or lemon juice in their mouths every time they speak without thinking, I bet that those kids will have developed a real sense for watching their tongue as well as the real feeling of regret when they don’t.

Words are very powerful and can do much good or much harm – depending on how they are used. What a great lesson to be learned in a very poignant way at a very early age.

So that got me thinking…what if my kids are sarcastic or mean? What if they ditch school? What if they pee on the street? Or hit their little brother?… Then what will I do?!?

Man, suddenly I don’t feel ready to be a parent at all.

…so maybe I’ll just stick to using the Sassy Sauce on WE =)

Well, since I’m on the topic of TV shows – let’s talk about the Eli Stone series. This show for me was one worth watching – family friendly, interesting issues, likable characters, etc. Apparently other viewers disagreed since it was cancelled after only a few seasons.  SAD.

In case you haven’t heard of it (I hadn’t until WE introduced me to it), the storyline is as such:

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