Ah, my first "but I have to have this for the wedding" item.


A long time ago, when Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro were getting married, I remember Carmen bouncing around on the big day in a personalized white track suit (similar). While the personalized ones I've found have been incredibly pricey, yet rather cheap looking, and sort of limited to pre-wedding wear, a plain white one has years of wear in it! Plus, I've always oddly wanted a pair of white sweatpants. Go figure.

But, $60 for a track suit, just so I can have something easy to get off without messing up my (likely expensive) hair and makeup? I probably have enough coupons to make it reasonable. Then again, I was really excited to get paid this week, because that meant I could make the photographer's deposit. With about $20 left over for ... you know ... everything else.

I hate money. Le sigh.

This is such a cute story.

People seem to forget all the good that goes on in the world. Yes, even Americans sometimes do right.

As for the commenter who said the Bush administration was neo-nazi-ism ... way to reveal your ignorance.

See me trying to get better at blogging?? Here's the latest:

Lately there have been a lot of babies around. Really amazingly beautiful and cute babies! Usually they kind of scare me when they're first born - they look like pruny little old men. Heck, even I looked pretty pruny and red (funny how some things don't change)!

The past few days have been good shopping days for me. And yes, I know, the semester is over in just a month and I have quite a bit of work to do. But yesterday, exhausted as I was, I managed to get from across the street:

• two pairs of shoes from Payless that I've had my eye on all summer, and on clearance!
• a little gift for a certain someone's birthday coming up quite soon
  
• jewelry findings for my someday, hopefully, bridesmaids, as well as the grand designs I have for my own necklace

Today after work, I purchased:

• a pair of jeans that fit comfortably, without me wishing those last 10 pounds were off, from Old Navy of all places. You have to understand, this is monumental. Their pants haven't fit me in years.
  
• a free pound of See's candy with a certificate I've had for over two years
• Japanese food galore: buckwheat soba and short grain rice. I miss Japanese food.
  

Which, by the way, made for a nice bland little chicken and rice dinner for my delicate tummy. I even used one of Martha's daily dinner recommendations and put a little lemon and rosemary on it. Five emails a day, one good suggestion.

Andy has been getting the wedding website up, and so far it's looking great! Meanwhile, I've been still plodding toward securing our photographer, and thinking of things to do when my parents visit. I wonder if we can get some engagement photos done by then ... ? Although, it's not like ordering save the date materials off the internet is anything ceremonious.

All said, I'll leave you with this reminder: be kind to your IT folks. Chances are good that while you're thinking they're a useless idiot, they're thinking they same of you. I'll try if you do!

I saw this article on my favorite internet news (who got rid of their entertainment blogs ... ugh!) about how Walmart is profiting off your misery. Way to feed the fire, guys.

Anyway, there's a long list of things that are offensive about this article. Well, maybe only to me, as I've been too poor to snub Walmart my whole adult life.

1. First we have the "it's too embarrassing/humiliating to shop at Walmart!!" I do it all the time. You will get over it.
   
2. The amazement that it's cheaper. I mean, really, can you not read the prices from your high horse?? They have affordable eye exams and glasses/contact lenses, too ...
   
3. Product quality. OK, I'll concede that one ... partially. I won't buy their clothes any more, nor would I buy electronics or furniture there. But Walmart is for staples! Toothpaste! Shampoo! They even have an amazing store-brand daytime and nighttime cold medication that costs $3. You can shop around for the other stuff. Correction: you should shop around for the other stuff.
   
4. It's not a pleasant shopping experience. This, I'll agree with also. But then again, I don't find shopping for boring stuff pleasant anyway. I'm agoraphobic (OK not really, but internet shopping will do that to you). I shop at odd times, like right after work. Never on weekends. And don't even get me started on the "with such a large store, she said it can seem like a workout to get from the shampoo aisle to the milk case."

Sure, you could work really hard at finding things cheaper elsewhere. Gas prices are pretty much negating all the shopping around you might be doing. Unless you can walk to these stores, in which case I am supremely jealous. And no, they aren't really kind and gentle toward their employees. I'll be the first to admit, though, that I'm pampered by my benefits package. But, with so much turnover and who they're hiring, I can't imagine the headache that causes - it's beyond me. So, consider that before you judge. For some people, saving $10 ends up being a lot of money ... maybe you could use it, too.

Oh, what a cute, cute movie.



I'd give it 8-9 stars, but I was put off by the preachiness so I can only give it 6-7 stars. I mean, we walked to the theater, didn't buy anything but a ticket, and made microwave popcorn afterward at home (about 1/100th of the calories, cost, waste ...).

Ah, well. I still love my little guy.

{edit: Oh yeah. This was after the commercial where the family going on a road trip to the St. Louis arch, apparently located in wester Missouri about where you'd find Kansas City, waxed their car and got 7% better mileage. I always heard that was an urban legend, but now I can't find it! Argh!}