One more for today, a little sappy

Patricia McConnell has been an invaluable resource to me as we've brought a difficult dog into our house, and this blog entry is just one example of why her approach resonates with me. I'm so happy we can love and accept both of our dogs for who they are (barking, squirrel-chasing troublemakers) even as we want to help them improve.

Two wheels and whatever else you can fit

Several media outlets have picked up on this, and even Daily Candy got in on the fun of bicycles that do more than transport people.

Follow-up with a vengeance

Steven Colbert has one-upped his previously mentioned sponsorship of the 2010 US Speedskating Olympic team. He also decided it would be totally awesome to have his picture taken in their uniform, and SI has decided it would be totally awesome to post outtakes. Warning: Do not sip any beverages while viewing this slideshow. They will end up on your computer screen and/or keyboard.

Help for the holiday traveler

A comprehensive airline fee chart by carrier, domestic and international.

Pretty as a picture

Or in this case, magnificent, moving, striking, gorgeous, etc.

A girl can dream

When I finally win the lottery, I will fill my closet with these. And I will hire someone to make my hair do this every day. And I will find a time machine to take me to an appropriate decade so I don't look like I'm in costume all the time.

It's all about the music

When you just can't get enough Glee, check out New York Magazine which publishes a recap and, more importantly, musical number evaluation for every episode. Camp with a side of snark - yes, please!

That's a WHAT? And it tastes like WHAT?

That would be envelopes and bacon. Yes, really.

A worthy cause

If you've got a bit of extra cash or if you need a tax deduction here at the close of the year, consider donating to Steven Colbert's newest love - the US Speedskating Team. This Olympic team's main sponsor, Dutch bank DSB, crashed and burned in the recent financial mess and the team is desperate for help. Steven Colbert has stepped up to keep 'em in Spandex, how about you?

Wee Goatee Ponytails

Oh Brad, I hope you're trying out for a tv show.

The follow-up

Ken has a new incarnation as well (the Consumerist comments are particularly entertaining). WTF is in the water at Mattel? :)

Fangirl squeeeeee!!!!

Yeah, I know it's Barbie, but these are soooo cool! However, this Jem and the Holograms rip-off is not. Campy, okay I'll give him that. But he's no Debbie Harry.

When you need a laugh

A laugh that may be NSFW, offensive, or both.

A message worth repeating

After hearing just a few months ago that a couple I know was considering giving up the family dog because she growled at their toddler (oblivious to behavior such as the toddler banging on the dog's crate with the dog inside), this is a well-timed reminder.

Before you consider giving up a long-time family member because she behaved like a normal dog, please consider the example you're setting for your child. When he asks what happened to that doggy in the pictures, will you say that you sent her away after years of love and devotion because you couldn't take 2 minutes to set up a baby gate?

Look who's next

Oh Target, Rodarte was a bit disappointing, so where are you going with this? Also, will there be cone bras?

Boxing really IS good exercise

I hope by now you're all familiar with the Fug Girls' Celebrity Terror Watch (including sad Skeeve Watches such as this) but now Trent brings us a bit of an unexpected reverse. Wow, who knew?

Silly Facebook

Makes me forget to post my cool links here, too!

To wit, a cool blog and a (very subjectively) cool movie list.

But what does the stuff INSIDE the box look like?

Food "styling" makes it all look pretty, but is it accurate?

The secret is out

I knew Industrial Light & Magic could not have been responsible for that travesty of "special effects."

When is a Starbucks not a Starbucks?

When it's stealth!

Squeeeeeee!!!!

Even if it has 1/10th the ruffles, flowers and chiffon contained just a single Rodarte goddess gown (old ones, not new weird poke-your-eye-out ones), and even if the material is closer to office supplies than actual fabric, this is going to be amazing. FYI my birthday is Dec. 17 and I do not object to late presents.

It finally happened

Will Farrell did something I can respect. Not that Ron Burgundy isn't a great role model for kids... but yeah... this is cooler.

A new life for old shoes

It's not often that I actually need to get rid of shoes, but I'm approaching that point with my current pair of running shoes. What do I do with them? Runner's World has several ideas, including the one I'll probably use for this pair since they are pretty worn out - Nike's Reuse-A-Shoe program.

Dogwood trees

We have them in our neighborhood and are lucky enough to have two in our yard. They are a striking shade of dark pink that gets lighter as they bloom bigger. But I never can remember to take a picture of them - I just end up sitting at my kitchen table staring out at them with a stupid grin on my face.

Luckily, one of my favorite bloggers loves many of the things I love and has a knack for photography.

One in eight

That's an ugly statistic. That's a woman's chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer. My chance, your sister's chance, your mother's chance. Survival is more likely now than ever, but it's a miserable path - and an expensive one for many women.

Let's be real. Money makes the world go 'round - money for research, lobbyists, medicine, outreach. Where does that money come from? You and me.

So this year I'm doing a bit more than donating my own money. I'm running the Komen Race for the Cure here in Atlanta, and I'm asking for donations. I'm not a fan of "benevolent consumerism" - buying something pink is lovely and all, but I want my money to have the greatest impact. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is a four-star charity as rated by CharityNavigator.

So if you have a few bucks left from tax season and you're wondering what to do with it, think about giving to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, as a general donation or as a team or participant sponsor.

Doggie smarts

My new favorite author has a blog! If you have a dog and you're not familiar with Patricia McConnell, I encourage you to become so. She's no whisperer - she's a PhD in animal behavior, an experienced trainer and a positive reinforcer.

Need another bracket?

Then behold, Consumerist's 2009 Worst Company in America bracket! The 2008 winner, Countrywide Home Loans, isn't in the running for obvious reasons, but 2008 runner-up Comcast is back to try for the title again.

Tournament of champions

I heard there was some other tournament going on right now, but everyone I know is checking their Fug Madness 2009 brackets. Round 2 starts today (R1 recap & R2 preview here) - go Swinton go!

I love my husband

Because he sends me things like this.

Wanna see a bald pageant queen?

Miss Virginia has joined other fundraisers (many of whom have already been shorn) with St. Baldrick's Foundation in setting a donation goal to shave her head, with the donations benefiting pediatric cancer research. She's trying to raise $500k before April 11, and she can't shave her head until she reaches that goal. She has a long way to go, so get your wallet out!

A couple of handy links

1. When you're totally over your obsession with eBay/Friendster/Twitter, how do you actually get rid of your account? For some sites, it's not as easy as you'd think. PC Magazine has published a cheat sheet for the most common/difficult.

2. Despite the catchy (or horribly annoying, if you're me) jingle, FreeCreditReport isn't the real deal. AnnualCreditReport is.

All in one picture

It was an exhausting weekend around our house. Playing in the snow, getting baths, cleaning the house and every towel we own after the baths... and after over a week with our newest addition, I finally got them all in one picture. Sort of.

Bet you can guess who's really in charge around here, eh?

Avoiding Facebook-induced professional suicide

Check it.

Early Valentine's Day cuteness

So back when J and I first moved to Chattanooga, I was amazed that 99% of the bars there were overrun with college kids from UTC. A guy I worked with at the time told me not to fret because three guys were opening a bar in a building his dad owned, and the bar would be awesome. The name? Hair of the Dog. Fast forward about a year, and indeed the bar opened and it was awesome. They even served Abita Restoration, one of my favorite beers.

When the bar opened, they had this weird concrete statue just inside the front door. They strung a marker around the statue's neck and encouraged people to 'decorate' the poor guy. The result was so successful that they removed the marker about a month later.

Fast forward about another year, to The Wedding. Hair of the Dog is our favorite bar, so naturally we drag all our friends (and family!) there both after the rehearsal dinner and after the wedding itself. More fond memories of the best bar in Chattanooga.

































Fast forward two more years, when we're visiting Chattanooga and take a beverage break at our favorite bar. And finally, after three years of secret-keeping, I tell J about my adventure with a concrete statue and a permanent marker.





















Awwwwww.... ;)

Save handmade!

Some of my favorite toys aren't plastic manufactured ones, but sturdy handmade ones. These types of toys are inadvertently being threatened by a well-meaning consumer protection law, which has already been amended to exclude consignment shops but still places craftspeople under an unreasonable burden. If you value the durability and quality of handmade toys, there are a lot of ways you can help protect them.

When retro is uncool

What is this, 1950?

Do a little good in your neighborhood

Next time you need supplies for a little work on your house, why not bypass your local "big box" store and head to your nearest Habitat ReStore?