All New Husband-Minder Robot

This headline from Reuters "iRobot revamps vacuums, plans more home robots" got me thinking, what should their next robot be? I vote for the all-new "Husband-Minder" model, personalized to each wife's needs, programmable for up to 5 specified tasks, more programmable tasks available for more dough, of course.

My Husband-Minder would:

1. Automatically dispose of garments and shoes as they develop holes from wear and tear so that he cannot continue to wear them.

2. Follow him around when he has a cold and zap snotty tissues as he lays them on the kitchen counter.

3. Download sports information to his brain while he sleeps.

4. Mow the lawn once a month, or at the very least, act as an intermediary when code enforcement shows up regarding the forest growing in our front yard.

5. Bake him home-made cookies, buy his clothes, do his laundry, put away his things, clean his room, and tell him how wonderful he is, because frankly I don't have time.

What would your Husband-Minder do?

Musical Meme -- Seven Songs I'm Singing

Okay, so the meme rules don't actually ask for songs you are singing, but if I'm into it, I'm singing it. Hence the post title.

The Meme Rules actually are:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what they are. They must be songs you are presently enjoying. Then tag seven other people to see what they’re listening to.

These are the tunes that thump my ride:

1. Gwen Stefani's "4 In The Morning" from The Sweet Escape, a more grown-up, sophisticated sound from Gwen in a song about the trade-offs we sometimes make for love. View the video by clicking here to go to the Gwen Stefani site.

2. Gwen Stefani's "Yummy" from The Sweet Escape, perfect for driving the mom-mobile and singing like you are the hottest thing ever, totally.

3. "Now That You Got It" from Gwen Stefani's The Sweet Escape. Something like the SoCal equivalent of saying, "Cowboy up."

4. "London Bridge" from The Dutchess by Fergie. What can I say? This one speaks for itself.

5. Joss Stone's "Headturner" from Introducing Joss Stone. Nothing beats live music, but few artists get as close to the vibe of live as Stone does in this CD. If you don't have the urge to groove along, check for a pulse.

6. "Girl They Won't Believe It" from Introducing Joss Stone. Although new to my collection, this CD is destined to be a long-time favorite. It's got staying power.

7. India Arie's "Video" from Acoustic Soul. This is one I will play for my daughters as they grow up. If you haven't heard it, you can check out the lyrics by clicking here.

*Special note -- I love indie, new artists, and live music, but haven't been able to enjoy nearly as much since taking on full-time mommy duties. In that realm, I have to mention some favorite artists or risk becoming a total sell-out.

Garrison Starr -- the perfect mix of LA and the deep south, if you can imagine that. Great in concert.

Guster -- mellow, but good. Good in concert, if you can avoid the contact high.

Johnny Lang -- Best of Class in Blues. No longer indie or new, but still super good. Rocks the house in concert.

For more meme, I tag DoubleDutyDiary, Mom-101, Dragonfly, Chicken and Cheese, Blog Con Queso, Laurie's Reflections, and Oh the Joys, assuming they have not already completed this meme and I just totally missed it, having been such a bad bloggie citizen. Cheers Ladies, I would love to know what you're listening to.

I've Been a Bad Blog Citizen

I have been derelict in my blog citizen duties. I completely missed a meme I was tagged for by PunditMom, long, long ago. PunditMom is one of my most favorite bloggers, so many apologies. I can only offer as an excuse that I have two two-year-olds who since spring have launched a non-stop competitive offensive aimed at taking mommy down by seeing who can stay awake the most hours in a row, who can scream, "POOooo! POOOooo!" at the most inopportune moments at the fanciest restaurants in LA, and who can throw the wildest, most hysterical arm-flailing tantrums in any given hour. Oh, and I don't have a nanny. Any takers?

Sorry, PunditMom. My next post is in response to your meme tag.

Introducing Political Popsicle

A refreshing taste of politics from my alter ego, Political Pollyanna. Drop by and leave a comment -- Political Popsicle.

My husband says it's really cool.

Bad Toys, Bad Toys, What Ya Gonna Do?

Sign the petition. At least that's what I did, plus dumping what seemed like dozens of toys in the trash.

Click here to to go to Senator Chris Dodd's petition page. You can learn more there, and sign the petition if you wish.

And Now for A Commercial

Debating the Democratic Debate

Watching today's Democratic Debate, you might have thought Barack Obama was the front-runner and other candidates were desperate to bring him down. You might have thought that until you noticed Hillary Clinton's responses were largely unimpassioned and low-risk. Then you might have thought the nomination was hers to lose and the other candidates, in large part, would rather attempt to make themselves look better by stepping on Obama instead of sparring with the front-runner.

Biden, Richardson, and even Edwards (Say it isn't so!), nitpicked Obama's answers, while avoiding direct confrontation with Clinton. While Obama is perfectly capable of holding his ground in any toe-to-toe debate, the tactic of several individuals working together to belittle another can be amazingly effective, especially in public settings.

Edwards, Biden and Richardson came across as more interested in bringing down Obama than in answering questions. It is, after all, easier to point out somebody's inadequacies than propose your own solutions.

If you are competing for the nomination, why not point out the inadequacies of the front-runner? Is the nomination process really so far afield from populist democracy that before even the first vote is cast, Washington insiders know full-well who the nominee will be? It certainly seems so.

Clinton was never engaged in a full-court press. She simply held the ball, waiting for the clock to run out, while the other players scrambled to keep Obama at the other end of the court.

Dodd performed admirably, and Kucinich and Gravel used the debate as a platform to blast politics as usual, but overall, the lasting impact from today's debate is the way in which candidates who could be front-runners bowed to Clinton.

Political Bling

Feel free to download these buttons, post them to your blogs and share them in email. The catch? When the time comes, vote.

Just click on the icon to be taken to the album where you can choose from over 100 different designs.

Photobucket Album

*Brought to you courtesy of my ever-growing obsession with PhotoShop.

All Aboard the Potty Train -- Hope Springs Eternal

Just when you think you will still be changing their diapers at their prom, they surprise you.

This week, Baby K stood up from play, turned with a startled look, and exclaimed those precious words, "Mama, poo-poo!" Away we dashed to the potty. Who knew a mommy and toddler could run so fast holding hands.

Then the golden moment, or should I say brown. "Hooray! You did it!" reinforced with much cheering, clapping, and dancing.

To which Baby K responded with a slight smile and tilt of her head, as if to say, "Yep, I did it. I knew I could all along. But you, Mommy, make quite a silly dancing monkey. I think I'll do this again sometime . . . when I'm ready."

Inspiring Minds

If you like the new digs, I should give credit for inspiration that came from here, here, here, here and here:
(If you don't like it, it's all me.)

Artist James Naccarato

A truly innovative young artist whose paintings draw you into their midst and their emotions. Inspired in part by Salvador Dali, his surrealistic imagery speaks with a depth and complexity that surpasses words and will remain in your mind long after you view it.

Thinkspace Gallery

The best online gallery I have found. If you want to know what is going on in the LA Art Scene, this is my favorite site to cruise.

Artist Oliver Vernon

View his work online at Lineage Gallery. Geometrics, landscapes and life forms come together in swirling abstract beauty.

Artist Blaine Fontana

One of my most recent favorites. This is why I love to cruise art galleries online. Click on "Animal Council" in the left sidebar on his homepage to be inspired. You lucky people in Pennsylvania and Colorado can see his work in person at shows in August and December respectively.

"vin" the SuperBrain

Last, but not least, many thanks to SuperBrain "vin" at Dummies Guide to Google Blogger (Beta) for the excellent explanation of how to add a background to your blog.

Wacky Wednesday -- "Hooray!"

Upon arriving in our hotel room after five straight hours of road warrior travel, Baby K blurted out an energetic "Hooray!" Thinking she must be pleased to be out of her stroller and car seat, I turned to find her gleefully wielding the mighty, mighty television remote. All hail the power.

LA Night

Livin' La Vida LA.

LaVidaLA

Travelin' Mom

Look at me. I'm MoBlogging (mobile blogging).

On the road again. Okay, so traveling is not alll bad. (Please excuse the low resolution camera phone pics.)

Wacky Wednesday -- Hero Chihuahua

from FoxNews.com

Hero Chihuahua Saves Toddler From Rattlesnake
Sunday, July 22, 2007

MASONVILLE, Colo. — Zoey is a Chihuahua, but when a rattlesnake lunged at her owners' 1-year-old grandson, she was a real bulldog.

Booker West was splashing his hands in a birdbath in his grandparents' northern Colorado back yard when . . .

Body of Chihuahua, Heart of a Lion. My kind of dog.

She's Baaaack, and She's Earned Herself a Badge

No, I didn't fall off the edge of the planet, although some Benadryl I took during my absence made me feel like I was standing very close.

The little love tap I received from a sting ray Mother's Day weekend eventually grew to a throbbing, pulsating infection, landing me in squarely in the emergency room for healthy does of IV super antibiotic, to which I had allergic reaction, which led to a dose of IV Benadryl, which made me, well uhm, what's the polite term, hmmm, LOO-OO-OOPY, with a capital OOOOOO. After recovering from the insanity, or at least leveling out to my more usual level of insanity, and spending several days with my foot in the air (I so should have worked this for more.), I recovered.

So what's my excuse for no blogging? Well, it began there and grew. The twins, they began sleeping in shifts. One doesn't endorse daylight savings. The other embraces it with glee. Visitors came in May, June and July, and I had the crazy idea I should unpack the boxes (at least more of them) from our move a year ago before our company arrived.

Then I, overambitious twin mom that I am, executed a decidedly brilliant plan to take my two two-year-olds, with two strollers and two car seats, on a plane, cross-country, to a family reunion, in hothouse humid, 90+ degree, mosquito-infested climes, where the towns have no stoplights AND NO STARBUCKS. Yes, that's right. No stoplights AND NO STARBUCKS. Call me a big city sissy. It's true.

When I finally arrived home and allowed myself a few moments of sanity saving web browsing at CoolMomPicks.com (one of my faves), I found this most appropriate Mama Merit Badge, which I think I totally deserve times two:

Graphic Shamelessly Downloaded from Mama Merit Badges at www.mamameritbadges.com.(Please go buy yourself a badge, so they won't mind.)

*Note -- I am receiving no sort of recompense, payment or other undue persuasion for this brazen endorsement of Mama Merit Badges.

**Note 2 -- I loved every minute of the family reunion and would brave all the perils of travel to do it again in a red hot minute . . . on a different airline.

Post Pics of Your Pets Day

Kudos to Kelly of Digressions for coming up with Post Pics of Your Pets Day!


Benjamin The Mighty 20 Pound Warrior,



Guardian of Christmas Goodies,



and Eater of Large Stuffed Candy Canes



Age: Approximately 91 dog years and counting.
Origin: Adopted from a shelter.
Turn ons: Tummy rubs and ear scratching, oh baby.
Turn offs: People of the male persuasion. Once ran away from the pizza delivery man. Really, all the way down the block.
Strength: Would chew someones ankles off to protect me.
Weakness: Will kiss for waffles.
Proudest Moment: When he delivered to me as a gift the muffin he had snatched from the table on the sly a couple of days before.
Most Embarrassing Moment: Once winkled on a date, who surprisingly enough did not run away screaming in disgust.

For Memorial Day

A little slice of peace in remembrance of all that has been lost in war:

Wacky Wednesday -- Never Doubt the Value of a Good Shoe

Mom Beats Intruder with High Heel
from WOAI.com
Last Update: May 15, 2007 11:02 PM
Posted By: Walker Robinson

A single mother fights back using a high heel to protect her family from a stranger in their southwest side home, News 4 WOAI learned Tuesday . . .