Last weekend was enhanced by a visit from our dear friends, Julie & Lucy. They came up from Texas (returned from exile) primarily to see their parents/grandparents, but we managed to grab a bit of their time - even if it was between midnight and 2am.

I took the girls to the National Arboretum for a photo shoot among the azalea collection. It was so fun to watch our girls enjoying their reunion.

It's Earth Day. Do you know what your carbon footprint is? Mine is shamefully huge. We would need 6.5 Earths if everyone lived like I do. I see I need to try harder.
Try the quiz

It is also the PA Primary. I am reminded of the succinct campaign speech in the classic movie Napoleon Dynamite:
"If you vote for me, all of your wildest dreams will come true."
Isn't this what Barak, Hillary, & John really mean to say?

Tree Tunnel in the Springtime
These pictures were taken about two weeks apart.

A new day has dawned in my household. This weekend my 14 year old daughter did all her laundry herself claiming she was tired of waiting. I rejoiced.

I have been updating my resume, which needed major updating after this busy year. My Dear One caught the typo "Business Networking Intentional" rather than "Business Networking International." Good catch, but the error was amusing. I intend to network my business, but often just don't get around to it;-)


My youngest is at the Kennedy Center on a field trip today. In preparation, her music teacher turned the class on to Gershwin. I found this out when I helped her use her iTunes card to download "Rhapsody in Blue" along with the latest by Mylie Cyrus.

And now for something completely different...

I was doing some background research today for a business highlight magazine assignment for a spa who offers eyebrow threading.
Whuh? (spoken in a Scooby Doo voice)

Am I alone in my ignorance here? Even though the spa owner, who described herself as an "eyebrow artist" gave a quick description, I could not understand it.

I came across this video clip, which I'm hoping was an attempt at humorously informative. I really wish that my friend John the Trucker could replace the voice-over on this 5 minute clip and you would cry with laughter.

Anyway, if you have five minutes to spare considering ancient Persian eyebrow treatments, enjoy.

I can't get John Mayer's new song "Say" out of my head. I have it downloaded onto my iPod and play it often, followed by that sappy sounding "100 Years" by Five for Fighting. I don't have time right now to figure out the slick music downloading like my friend Dan does. You'll have to settle for these cool lyrics scrolling boxes and hum.

It occurs to me that Mayer should write a corollary song, "Shut up when you need to shut up."

I have gotten better at saying what I need to say, but then I often keep talking and ruin everything. Which are you better at: Saying what you need to say, or shutting up when you need to shut up? Which do you think is more important?


- John Mayer Lyrics


100 Years Lyrics

I've been sidelined by house work. I've been cruising along through some great events - like my son's lacrosse games, dinner with friends, working on fun writing assignments for a growing client base, starting an aerobics class with my daughter - and I realize that I have let things go around the house.

The laundry is all backed up. All my favorite socks and underwear need to get back into circulation. My kids are pulling stuff out out their baskets - helping on request, but preferring that hamper smell to stepping up to their own laundry yet.

Light bulbs are burnt out. The dishes are all in the dishwasher or the sink. Mail is stacked unsorted. Messages left unplayed. Someone spilled sugar on the coffee table and I just decided to leave it there. Too much stuff on there to clear away before I can wipe it up.

But it's all OK. Those are all just the detritus of the fun I'm having with my kids, my family and friends, my really cool and growing job, and my wonderful boyfriend who eases that frayed feeling at the end of a busy day.

My wheel of fortune had been on a downturn a few years ago, but it is certainly on the upswing now. Where are you on that cycle of the spinning wheel of fortune? Zen encourages you to move to the center so you don't get dizzy with all that spinning.

Here's one of my favorite jokes that I get periodically via e-mail forwards. Can you post one of your favorites in the comments? It's April Fool's Day. Make me laugh!


A woman was driving through Arizona on a long stretch of highway through the desert and stopped to inquire if an old Navajo woman wanted a ride. The gray hair woman nodded gratefully and asked what was in the bag on the front passenger seat.

"Oh, that's a bottle of whiskey I got for my husband," the woman explained as she cleared her seat for her passenger.

The Navajo woman smiled and said, "Good trade."