Car wreck, financial wreck, the joy of childhood and the love of a dog

Posted on 28. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in animals, economy, inspirational people, my life, parenting, shopping

While I was on my way to take my daughter’s car to the body shop today,

three people called me on my cellphone, but I was a good girl and didn’t pick up the phone. But when I stopped at the corner of Lake and Walnut in Pasadena, I took my camera out of my purse and snapped some pictures of the people protesting in front of IndyMac:

Later in the afternoon, my daughter and I had fun watching these delightful children in the fountain at Paseo Colorado in Pasadena. They waited patiently for the water to come back up, and  would step on where the water had come out previously to get it to come, just like adults press elevator buttons over and over.

When the water finally came, they laughed and giggled with such delight that it took a cold or hurried soul not to stop and smile. I think Paseo Colorado management should pay kids to play there and make us all happy.

When I got home, my dog ran to the window to greet me.

It’s the little things that bring the most delight.

I won’t get any awards for dog training, but that’s ok

Posted on 28. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in animals, my life, shopping

As soon as I adopted my new dog last fall, I signed us up for dog training classes. He proved to be a quick study, and was putty in the hands of the wonderful, original Dog Whisperer, Paul Owens of Raise With Praise. He was ok with me, too, but he liked Paul’s chicken treats better.

It was hard to find time to train my dog at home, however. But we’ve managed to do pretty well on sit, stay and come. I’ve even got him trained to sit at the top of the stairs and wait until I ask him to come down. If I don’t do that, I might trip over him. He’s turned out to be my canine shadow, so I need to be careful.

My biggest breakthrough came a week ago, when I took delivery of a chair with sides from Staples. It prevents my dog from jumping on my back from the couch, or poking my thighs with his nose. He literally cried for 10 minutes when I got it, and for a few minutes each day for the next few days, but now he realizes that he can’t bother me while I work. I play with him about 20x more than I played with our old dog (see above picture) because he needs the attention. But I can’t play fetch and rub his belly 24/7.

Today’s Etsy Friday Find is the cool dog trainer lariat necklace to the right. The artist who designed it, BirdlandCreations, has lots of other witty and stylish jewelry.

I’m sure I could train my dog to jump through a hoop. He would have been a great circus dog. But he might not have as many belly rubs there.

Every driver needs this in their car in case of an accident

Posted on 26. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in life lessons, my life, parenting, shopping

Every driver needs a in their car. Period. This compact zippered case holds insurance and DMV information, a disposable camera, a pen, a clipboard and a checklist that details what to do in case of an accident.

I purchased one for my daughter last summer when she got her first car. I am so glad I did, for this evening she was in an accident and says that having this kit allowed her to stay focused and do what needed to be done.

Thank God she’s alright. That’s by far what’s most important. I partially credit this kit for keeping her ok after the accident, because she was able to maintain her wits about her and drive home. If she’d been too flustered trying to figure out what to do, she might not have been able to do that.

By the way, I bought a kit for myself last summer. Having everything in one place keeps my glove compartment more organized, and now it gives me a little more peace of mind that this truly does help in an emergency.

I purchased my kit at The Container Store, but I’ve also seen them at Target. You can also purchase them from several vendors on and other online stores. It might be the best $14.95 you ever spend.

My new mug: Chloe O’Brian for President, 2016

Posted on 25. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, shopping, tv

Now that I’m trying to drink tea instead of Diet Coke, I figured it was time to get a few new large mugs. I couldn’t find any I liked online, so I made my own. If you don’t watch “24″ this won’t mean much to you, but it features my heroine, Chloe O’Brian. To spiff it up, she’s sporting an Aretha Franklin inauguration hat and posing for a presidential candidate poster, a la 2016. I put the graphics together in Fireworks, and then had them printed up at Shutterfly. You can download my image here. Feel free to make your own mug!

My kids don’t understand why I like Chloe so much, but to me it’s obvious why I love this self-described “stay-at-home mom”:

• She’s always on the right side.
• She’s a total geek, and knows how to do just about anything.
• She says it like it is.
• She’s not afraid. Ever.
• She’s incredibly loyal.
• Her bosses couldn’t do their jobs without her.

My gosh, she sounds like Chuck Norris!

I’m not sure she’d be the best President, since she probably wouldn’t want the job, but I thought the mug was fun anyway. I love Jack Bauer, too, but I’d never pretend I want him for President. He might be a little too…trigger-happy.

California already ranks last for most school staffing ratios, but it can get worse

Posted on 23. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in education, startling statistics

My kids are lucky: they’ll graduate from the California public schools before they get even worse. Today’s LA Times reports in “California schools struggling with budget-trimming decisions” that school districts across the state are struggling to find ways to cut back on already tight budgets.

Under the budget approved by the state Thursday, schools and community colleges will be forced to cut $7.4 billion from their budgets this year and $3.2 billion next year. And a $787-billion federal economic stimulus package that is expected to send billions to school districts isn’t enough to backfill deficits, educators say.

Wasn’t California once known for valuing education? Those days are long gone. According to EdSource, California ranks 51st in many student-teacher and student-staff ratios, behind even Washington, DC. When my friend Paul lived in Mississippi he’d (not-so-proudly) note in his Christmas letter all the categories in which his state ranked. Too bad he moved back up north, since I could beat him now.

Here’s the EdSource chart. These figures are already four years old, so I’m guessing we’re in even worse shape now. Maybe if they count Guam or Puerto Rico we can be #52 or #53.

I love my adopted state, I truly do. But this is shameful. I hope we get our act together before even more children suffer.

It’s no wonder our prisons are overcrowded.

Why I give money to the Father of the White Monkey

Posted on 22. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, international, religion

Can you imagine putting yourself in mortal danger by training medics and bringing humanitarian aid to besieged people in an ongoing civil war? Would you bring your spouse and young children behind the enemy lines?

Several years ago I heard the founder of the Free Burma Rangers speak, and that’s exactly what he does. He’s the son of missionaries and a former U.S. Special Forces major, so he’s well-equipped to risk his life to bring medical care and hope to the ethnic Karen people of Burma. In order to shield his identity, he’s referred to as “Father of the White Monkey” in the recent Atlantic article, “Lifting the Bamboo Curtain.” Here’s how he describes his work:

“We stand with the villagers; we’re not above them. If they don’t run from the government troops, we don’t either. We have a medic, a photo­grapher, and a reporter/intel guy in each team that marks the GPS positions of Burmese government troops, maps the camps, and takes pictures with a telephoto lens, all of which we post on our Web site. We deal with the Pentagon, with human-rights groups … There is a higher moral obligation to intervene on the side of good, since silence is a form of consent.

I was incredibly impressed by him (and his family). He’s brave, honest, hardworking and loyal. I feel completely confident that my donations to the Free Burma Rangers are used wisely and have an incredibly positive impact.

If you want to learn more, visit the Free Burma Rangers website. It uses photos and stories to document what the FBR relief teams have found on their missions. Note: it’s not for the faint of heart, for the Burmese Army has perpetuated some horrific atrocities.

Someone should make a movie about the Father of the White Monkey. In the meantime, I’ll keep donating, praying for them (I have a Memo to Me reminder to do so every day) and will make sure to wear the Good Life Club t-shirt he gave me to Curves tomorrow.

Do “Madea” movie ads contribute to racism?

Posted on 22. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in movies, sports, things that bug me

Studies show that a majority of whites in this country harbor an often-subconscious racial bias against blacks. According to Charles M. Blow in today’s NY Times op-ed piece, “A Nation of Cowards,” no matter how hard we try, our brain often has a mind of its own, and will process the input it receives to form an opinion that goes against what a person doesn’t consciously want it to.

If anyone’s wondering what these inputs might be, one should just take a look at today’s print edition of the NY Times. After reading Mr. Blow’s piece, the first image of a black person I saw was this one of Tyler Perry in the new Madea movie. It was on the front page of the Arts section, and was 7.5″ high.

On page 2 of the Arts section, I saw this article / picture of Chris Brown at the top of the page:

Then, a few pages later, I saw this ad for Madea:

That was it for the Arts section. There were no blacks pictured in the Business section, but Mets players Duaner Sanchez and Francisco Rodriguez were pictured in the Sports section. (Are they black?) There was also a black man sitting on the bench behind Utah State basketball coach Stew Morrill.

I finally took a look at the front section (I’d read the racism story online) and the lead story featured this picture of the Stanford Superstars cricket team with the club’s owner, Robert Allen Stanford. (No relation to my alma mater!!)

The front section also included a picture of Illinois Senator Roland W. Burris, who is being urged to resign.

Final tally:

• 4 pictures of blacks in trouble with the law
• 3 pictures of blacks in sports

With images like these, it’s no surprise that many whites show a bias against blacks.

Of course, I try not to have these thoughts. I truly believe that God created all races in His image, and everyone should be accorded the same respect, opportunities and rights regardless of race. The article points out, however, that often whites who try not to appear biased are perceived as more biased.

Aaargh!! It’s like Angelina Jolie, when she’s stuck in the asylum in “Changeling.” A fellow patient advises her that if you try too hard to appear “normal” they’ll think you’re crazy. But I digress…

As Blow concludes, it’s good to face the facts and start a dialogue. I think a good place to start would be the entertainment industry, which produces movies such as Madea and bad-boy artists such as Chris Brown.

My #2 favorite sound: capiz wind chimes

Posted on 20. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in my life, shopping, videos

When I was little, my grandparents lived in one of the coolest houses in the world. It was an old stone house that was three stories high (plus an attic, I think) on a beautiful suburban lake. They had a tiny canoe, a sailboat, and fishing poles. There was a public beach a few houses away, so we’d sometimes swim there. The town would launch fireworks from the beach on the 4th of July, and we’d all gather in my grandparent’s backyard to watch them.

My second most favorite sound in the world is the sound that their wind chimes made. (Click here to go to a page where you can hear the sound.) They were made of capiz shells, and looked something like the ones to the right. They’re not too loud, or too soft, so they’re the perfect accompaniment to a spring, summer or fall day with a soft breeze blowing. I can’t have them where I live now because it’s too windy. I’ve tried replicating the joy of wind chimes over the years with heavier-duty metal ones, but they’re just too loud for me. These days I keep my windows closed since I’m near a freeway, but I miss that soft sound.

For Etsy Friday, I’ve chosen some cool wind chimes I’ve found on the Etsy site. If the links don’t work, it means these have sold since I created this post, so click on the seller’s name to see other wind chimes they make.

I love this sea glass wind chime from tskDesign’s shop. I bet the thin metal pipes aren’t too loud.

My sister used to make things out of sea glass, but she never thought of making wind chimes.

I like how the artist combined the glass, wood and metal.

I bet the glass chimes on this one from windechoes’ shop sound somewhat like the capiz shells.

It probably wouldn’t hold up to our intense winds, however.

I like the clean, geometric design, and how the delicate, organic shape of the glass contrasts with the industrial look of the metal circle.

This one

I wish I knew what it sounded like! I bet it’d be neat in a pond.

And if you’ve read this far and are wondering what my #1 favorite sound is, it’s . It’s the sound of hope and joy all wrapped up in one.  :)

Reminder to myself why I should avoid Diet Coke

Posted on 19. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in food, my life

I’ve tried for awhile to stop drinking Diet Coke, but haven’t quite kicked the habit. Anyone who knows me well knows I don’t have many vices, so this has been my daily treat for awhile.

But since I started drinking Diet Coke, I’ve gained weight, my sleep patterns have been wacky, and (probably TMI here) my left foot gets itchy.

The Frontal Cortex blog recently reported that an article in Behavioral Neuroscience confirms that humans aren’t satisfied by artificial sweeteners such as Splenda. Here’s how the blog summarizes it:

The essential lesson is that the brain doesn’t like being tricked. When you give us sweetness without the caloric energy, we end up craving calories more than ever.

That pretty much sums me up. When I drink Diet Coke, I get an (often appreciated) energy boost, but I also become hungrier, and wind up eating more.

I also read recently (but can’t remember where, sorry) that many of the scientists who ran the tests to determine whether Splenda is safe refuse to consume it themselves. Even though their tests didn’t find any problems, they’re spooked by the complexity of the chemical formulation behind Splenda.

I’ll treat myself to Diet Coke every once in awhile, but I’ll try to remember this post and stay away from it.

I’m giving Apple two demerits

Posted on 18. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in my life, technical

I love my iMac. But perhaps I expect too much of it. I’m peeved about two things that happened last night that I don’t think Apple handled well.

When I purchased my iMac this Fall, Apple offered a special deal on several printers. I had a working printer, but figured that if I could get a new printer with the computer I’d be guaranteed that they’d work together.

Wrong! Yesterday I discovered that when I’m operating the computer in the Mac OS environment, there’s no way to tell my Canon MP620 to pull paper from the back printer tray. I’m trying to print some pictures, and that’s the only place that I can successfully load the glossy paper. I called Apple, and they said that just because I purchased the printer at the Apple store it didn’t mean that it would work with Apple computers. The rep said it was like buying two products at BestBuy: there’s no guarantee they’ll work together. That’s a bad analogy, since the only type of computer that Apple sells are Apple computers.

My next step was to see if there were any updated Canon drivers I was missing. I found one, and after I downloaded it I restarted my computer. The computer froze. At 9:45 p.m. I tried calling Apple customer service, since I’ve paid to be on their AppleCare Protection Plan, and the message I heard was that I needed to call back between 6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. I was shocked. I guess that’s the price I pay for speaking to Americans instead of overseas representatives, but I’d thought that for the extra price I paid to be on the protection plan I’d get better service than that.

Eventually I remembered the recovery step I was missing (unplug the computer, turn it on, press option + command + p + r immediately, let go after three chimes) and the computer started. But, I still can’t print from that back tray. Thankfully I still have my old printer, so I’ll install that. Grr!! There goes more desk space.

I’m adding Anderson Cooper to my Favorite People list

Posted on 17. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in inspirational people, tv

OK, I don’t really have such a list. But if I did, Anderson Cooper would definitely be on it!

I had the pleasure of hearing Anderson Cooper speak this evening at the Distinguished Speaker Series of Southern California at the Pasadena Convention Center. (Thanks, JB!) I was impressed by the dedication, humility and heart he brings to his job. He could have easily sailed through life living off his trust fund, but instead he’s chosen to go to the world’s most dangerous and heartbreaking locations and report on the real stories behind events. He makes a big effort not to take sides, and isn’t impressed by celebrity or power. He said his favorite interviews are when he finds an everyday person whose story illuminates a given situation.

Here are a few of his main tips, all of which I agree with:

• Never underestimate the power of working harder than everyone around you. Now to teach that to my kids…
• Follow your bliss. Amen to that, too. There’s no job more rewarding than doing what you love. Not everyone is blessed to be able to do what they love like he does, but it’s worth a shot!
• Always keep your heart in what you do. I think that whether you’re reporting or doing any other job, you should always remember your humanity and respect those around you. You’ll do a better job and live a fuller life.

I wonder if he’s friends with Nicholas Kristof? I bet they’d hit it off quite well.

Our newest breakfast treat: Danish Pancakes

Posted on 16. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in food

Every culture has its pancake, and my new favorite is the Danish Pancake. It’s like a thin souffle, and it’s incredibly easy to make. Here’s the quick version:

1. Heat 4 TB of butter in an ovenproof 12″ skillet or dish at 425 degrees.
2. Mix the following in a blender for about 30 seconds:
   • 4 eggs
   • 1/2 cup whole milk
   • 1/2 cup flour
   • A pinch of salt
3. Pour the mixture into the skillet or dish and cook for 18-20 minutes at 425 degrees.
4. Serve with powdered sugar, lemon juice and fruit or jam.

Yum! Here’s a picture of our second attempt. I don’t have an ovenproof skillet, so I used a Corelle dish. It serves 4, or even less if you’re piggy like we were today. This picture was taken before we slathered the sweet stuff on it.

I’m not a “cool” parent, but that’s the way I like it

Posted on 14. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in my life, parenting, things that bug me

Many years ago, I was awakened in the middle of the night by shouting in front of our house. I was amazed to see what looked like a scene out of “West Side Story,” where the Sharks and the Jets square off against each other. I called 911, and was taken aback when the operator asked if there were any weapons involved. But then, a few seconds later, I saw a guy pull a knife out of his back pocket. The Sheriff’s deputies soon arrived, and the party that these people had spilled out of broke up.

Here’s the most amazing part: the next thing I saw was the father from the house the party was at step out of his side door and dump a bunch of bottles into his recycling bin! Yes indeed, the parents had been home the whole time. The father was in his bathrobe, so he’d probably been holed up in his bedroom, but he had to have had a clue about what was going on.

Powder Springs, Georgia police allege that 43-year-old Kecia Evangela Whitfield also had a clue about what was going on the night of Jan. 24th. She allegedly served alcohol to her stepson and his friends, one of whom, 16-year-old Garrett Reed, subsequently crashed his car into an oncoming vehicle and died. She’s been charged with serving alcohol to a minor and reckless conduct, and could wind up spending a year in jail and thousands of dollars in fines.

Why would a parent (or stepparent) do that? Are they trying to be “cool”? Do they think “everyone” does it? Are they just trying to protect their own child by letting him drink at home, even as they endanger the lives of the other children and people on the road?

I don’t understand the logic here. Please be assured that if your child ever visits my house, I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure this doesn’t happen.

It’s hard to stop the babies when there’s chemistry involved

Posted on 13. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in international, parenting, shopping

I’m pretty proud of myself for this week’s Etsy Find: a “sugar and spice and everything nice” card for the baby shower for a chemistry whiz friend who’s expecting a little girl.

There was definitely chemistry between Great Britain’s 13-year-old Alfie Patten and 15-year-old Chantelle Steadman about 9 months ago. Alfie, who looks like he should be in 4th grade, became the proud papa to little Maisie Roxanne this week. Click to see the video.

So sad. I hope it works out for them.

It’d be easy to judge them, their families, and the society in which they (we) live. But if there’s one thing parenthood has taught me, it’s humility. I’m just grateful I’m not a grandma right now, and will just keep doing what I can to teach my kids to make good decisions. And when it comes to sex, I’d better be the teacher, because they’re not getting any sex ed. at school.

Maybe this situation will be a wake up call to others who can help prevent more 13- and 15-year-olds from becoming parents.

Give to the octuplets…or don’t…but I guess we all are anyway

Posted on 13. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in health, things that bug me

What’s your first reaction upon seeing that Nadya Suleman, mother of the recently-born octuplets, has set up a website soliciting donations?

Here’s my range of reactions, in the order that they occurred:

• Disgust, since a single woman with six children on public assistance should have never been encouraged to have fertility treatments, and this just looks like she’s looking for more attention and money for herself,
• Sympathy, for the sweet little babies who didn’t ask to be born to this woman,
• Curiosity, for how she got such a nice website up so quickly,
• Hope, that if she gets enough money, she’ll actually get psychological help for herself, since if she doesn’t help herself, she’ll never be able to handle these babies in her current state,
• Sadness, that besides any lasting effects from being born premature, these kids will always be known as one of the Octuplets, and that might not be a good thing.

I hope things work out well for the babies and for the mother, though it’ll be a tough uphill road. And I hope that the doctor who facilitated this is never permitted to do this again.

My much-appreciated care package

Posted on 11. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in health, my life

My friend Tina saw on Facebook that I was sick, so she rushed over with the most marvelous care package: Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea, fresh Meyer lemons from her tree, and bear honey:

I think I had about 5 mugs of this today. It really helped, and I didn’t take a cough drop all day.
Thanks, Tina!

Here’s a tip that may save your life next time you have a prescription

Posted on 10. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in health, my life

Did you know that many pharmacies include a description of the medication on the bottle and paperwork? I have a friend who found out the hard way: she couldn’t figure out why her young daughter’s medication wasn’t working the way it used to, and she finally looked at the bottle and it described a completely different pill than what her daughter had been taking. She had it checked out, and it turns out her daughter was taking a medication used to treat Parkinson’s Disease. Thankfully, she was taking it at a dose that wasn’t dangerous.

Not all pharmacies provide this service, so I switched to one that does. I’ve circled how it’s noted on a prescription I had filled yesterday:

I love the warning in the upper righthand corner: “Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking this medication.” Yikes! What would happen if I did?

I wish I weren’t allergic to penicillin, or I might be able to take more standard medications that might work better. As it is, my doctor’s trying a second round of antibiotics to knock out the cough I’ve had since just after Thanksgiving.

Students need a grievance process so they don’t resort to extreme measures

Posted on 08. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in education

Imagine this:

• A high school student completes the in-class assignment and hands it in. Weeks later, the teacher finally marks the grades in the online computer program and gives the student a 0, saying he didn’t complete the assignment. The student complains to the teacher, explaining that he was in class that day and handed in the assignment, but the teacher refuses to even check the attendance record. The 0 stands.
• A student is absent, and when he attends class the next day he asks the teacher what was assigned. The teacher mentions one item, but neglects to mention the other. The following day, when the teacher asks for both items, the student says he only knew about one. The teacher says he should have found out from the other students, and gives the student a 0 for the assignment.
• A student receives an assignment back from a teacher that has a grade on it, but no explanation. When the student asks the teacher for an explanation, explaining that he’s not complaining about the grade but wants to learn from his mistakes, the teacher is not able to explain the grade.
• A student’s paper is graded by a student in another class. The name on the paper is not hidden. The student in the other class doesn’t like the student who’s paper he’s grading, so he gives him a bad grade. The teacher counts the student grade for the assignment.

I’ve heard of all of these (and others) happening, but to the best of my knowledge, none of these were pursued any further. Many students and their parents are too afraid to complain about unfair situations, because they are afraid that the teachers involved will take it out on the student for the rest of the year. I can definitely sympathize.

I also sympathize with Katherine Evans, who was a high school honor student when she became frustrated with a teacher’s refusal to help her with assignments and reproach when she missed class for a blood drive. She was angry enough to post the following on Facebook:

“To those select students who have had the displeasure of having Ms. Sarah Phelps, or simply knowing her and her insane antics: Here is the place to express your feelings of hatred.”

I wouldn’t advise my kids to post that on Facebook, but it wasn’t a threat and it was no worse than what kids talk about to each other over the lunch table. Unfortunately, Katherine’s school disagreed, and two months after she posted and removed that, she was suspended for three days. She’s now fighting to remove that from her record so that it doesn’t hurt her chances of getting into graduate school or hamper her employment opportunities.

Katherine’s not the only one who complains about teachers on Facebook. A quick search of the term “worst teacher” will connect you with many Facebook groups that have formed in reaction to reviled teachers. Again, I think it’s mean and risky for a kid to join a group like that and to post on its wall, but unless it’s a threat to the teacher, I think it should be considered free speech.

The root of the problem is that students don’t have a fair grievance process when faced with an unfair situation. To be sure, there are some teachers who respect the students they teach and are willing to admit mistakes and rectify their wrongs, and there are many teachers who are careful enough to avoid these problems. Also, there are some students (and parents) who have no problem being a “squeaky wheel” and complaining about a problem. But the bulk of the students and parents I know keep their mouths shut in fear of retribution.

That’s sad. I think there should be a way for students to advocate for themselves without fear of having it backfire on them. I also think that all teachers should be encouraged to to take student concerns seriously and treat them with respect. School districts should also be sure not to give teachers such an oppressive workload that they’re tempted to cut corners and compromise the learning and grading process.

These things would take cultural changes, more supervision, an actual grievance process and more money for smaller class sizes. It’s a tough bill. But I hope it happens, because in the meantime it’s breeding a generation of cynical, cowering students.

PS – If you want a mood boost, search for the term “best teacher” on Facebook. You’ll be impressed by how many teachers have fan clubs and groups dedicated to honoring them and sharing favorite memories. I wish there were more teachers like these!!

If I had short hair and lived in a colder climate, I’d buy these hats

Posted on 06. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in shopping

It’s the second week of my quest to bring you the coolest products I’ve seen on Etsy. This week I found some amazing hats. If I had short hair, and didn’t live in L.A., I’d definitely buy these.

I LOVE the “Jersey grey Aretha Franklin inaugaration inspired bow detail hat” by oddsandsod’s shop. This classy little hat is made of a jersey/lycra fabric, and it’s adorable. There’s no way I’d realistically wear the chapeau that Aretha Franklin donned for inauguration, but this hat’s downright cute. I have too much hair to pull it off, however.

I also love the “Leia Wig, Fleece Edition” from ansleybleu’s shop. Wouldn’t that be cool on Halloween, or for movie nights? I had a boyfriend in high school who dressed up as Luke Skywalker for the second Star Wars movie. If I’d had this, I could have dressed up, too. My kids would be completely embarrassed if I wore this wig, so they’re lucky I’m not getting it. I still like it, though.

And finally, if my dog was a girl and would promise not to eat it, I’d purchase “The Aretha Hat for Your Girlie Dog” from bowwowbonnet’s shop. My little dog would tear this apart in about a minute, but there’s probably someone out there who would appreciate it. It’s silly and frivolous, but that’s healthy sometimes!

Maybe I’ll buy my son “The Amazing Beard Hat.” It looks like a fun way to keep warm.

It’s not just for kids: Women 55 and over are the fastest-growing Facebook demographic

Posted on 05. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in cool websites

Where’s your Mama? She’s probably on Facebook! In an effort to retain their mantles as our nation’s matriarchs, that women 55 and over are their fastest-growing demographic. Since the end of September, they’ve increased their membership at a rate of 175.3%, whereas their male counterparts increased theirs by only 137.8%.

They also reported that women outnumber men in every age group on Facebook:

In total, women now make up about 56.2% of Facebook’s US audience, up from 54.3% late last year. Women most outnumber men in the 18-25 and 26-34 age groups, where there are 1.4 females for every 1 male on Facebook.

The age distribution of Facebook users has also shifted dramatically. Whereas only a few years ago, Facebook was limited to college students, 45% of the 45.3 million active users in the U.S. are 26 or older, and nearly a quarter of the active Facebook users are 35 or older.

Why do I care? Because I want the rest of my friends and relatives to get on Facebook! I want to keep in touch with you better, and Facebook makes it so easy! Don’t let the kids convince you that it’s just for them. That’s not true!!!

Yo, MJ! If you’re reading this, here’s another official reminder to get on Facebook! You’re missing news, photos and videos of family members!!

Amazing close-up view of inauguration

Posted on 04. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in cool websites, history, politics

No matter how you voted, you should check the amazingly detailed Fullscreen Gigapan View photo of the inauguration. You can click on the upper lefthand side to zoom in or zoom out, and then drag the picture as you wish.
What an amazing view of history!

The stitching errors are a bit spooky. It looks like Aretha Franklin has a ghost on her lap. She’s in the upper lefthand corner of the second picture I cropped below. You can get MUCH closer than this picture shows.
Today I saw someone who swore she saw me on television at the Neighborhood Ball. I had a hard time convincing her that it wasn’t me, although I wish it had been. She must have had me confused with Shakira.  :)
I’m often confused with other people that look like me. I wish I could meet one of these lookalikes sometime!

Extreme landscaping on the 210 Freeway on-ramp

Posted on 02. Feb, 2009 by kchristieh in local news

When I exited the westbound 210 Freeway at Angeles Crest Highway at 2:40 pm this afternoon, I spotted this truck on the westbound on-ramp from northbound Angeles Crest Highway. I can’t figure out how it managed to jackknife like that, but there were tons of dirt spilling out the back.

Thank goodness it didn’t slide down to the freeway.