Wow, that's messed up. It's amazing to me that there are still people like this in the world. Never heard of "Steak and Shake" but it sounds like a real klassy joint.

Congratulations!

Devious, yes, but my kind of parenting.

Snort — Snort — Guffaw!

Oh man, freaking ditto.

You all know how much I love Mondays — that's when the previous week's work comes home from Kindergarten. So let me share some of my recent favorites from Mike's stash.

9 Wheels in a Wheel-Holder

Six Cakes

10 Shooting Stars

What? You've never seen a Wheel Holder before? Sheesh, you just don't get out much, do you…

Don't you just love this kind of ca-razy?

OK, maybe bad, but also hilarious.

Snort.

I'm just happy that this wasn't written from prison!

Alternatively, you could just come over to my kitchen where I get to do this for free. (Maybe I should start charging admission?)

Sweet!

Stop by these new digs and check out the new mission.

pwnd.

WTF?

NEVER has a post screamed out for a photo more than this one.

Hey, at least it was strangers. I mean it could have been worse. (Not much, but a little.)

Excellent news! I'm happy Archer had a great day. That can be a tricky transition.

(And by the way, I'm giving away a Nikon over on Momsational.)

It seems only appropriate to start a Monday off with bad tidings, so here we go. Friends are having hard times, go see what you can do.

If you then need some kind of relief, here's a sweet one :)

And after the above tornado of emotions, I promise the rest of this post will be peaceful.

I agree. I don't think Britney Spears will be alive come 2009, and that is a tragedy. And her kids… it is all just so awful.

Phew, I was worried there for a minute!

Conclusion is debatable ;)

Contemplation under the cork tree.

Now unlike what we're having in California today, that's real weather.

(And a personal confession: I'm ashamed to admit that I don't really care for haiku posts… For me, they're right up there with posts which begin "Let me tell you about the dream I had last night." There. I said it. I feel so much better.)

Thank you SUEB0B for this fantastic call to action against the drivel that passes for news programming these days. I agree 100% and haven't watched that crap in years. "Be very afraid" is definitely their mantra. Instead, I watch:

• News Hour (PBS)
• This Week with George Stephanopoulos (ABC)
• Meet the Press (NBC)
• Washington Week (PBS)

And that is all. These shows won't scare you — unless there's really something scary out there. They won't waste your time. They won't talk down to you. Stick them on your TiVo and flip through the stories which interest you.

I think Tim Russert is the finest living interviewer on the planet, with George Stephanopoulos coming in a close second. I admire Gwen Ifil's brain, her bravery, her character, and her integrity.

I just don't have the time to care about what Emeril is cooking, or another reason I should be shitting my pants over child predators, or the next thing that just might kill me or it might not but hells bells it makes for good TV, or the latest "lock bumping" / "magazine salesman" way I could die in my own home at the hands of nebulous evil.

If I watched this stuff I think I would never leave the house again.

"So definitely until Summer." I love it.

What a beautiful memory.

Ha! And I think that pretty much there is no such thing as educational television.

Argh, that really sucks.

Solution: move to Hawaii ;)

Bossy, woman-to-woman, I've just got to tell you… You're a force to be reckoned with. I hope your trip is fabulous!

Have you all heard about these big storms we're having out here in California? We're supposed to get something like 40 - 50 mile an hour winds, with gusts up to 100 mph!

So yesterday afternoon I had Mike and Robbie out with me in the backyard picking up all the toys and piling them behind the playhouse. The plan was to avoid having giant plastic vehicles sail through our windows. It has never looked cleaner, but you would have thought I asked them to pull out their own fingernails. The complaining — it was intense.

It looks good out there except for one thing — notice the green hose? The other end is connected to the lovely sump pump in our basement, and it has been continually pumping out water for hours now.

At first I really wasn't impressed by the storm. I saw all the rain, but it just didn't seem like that much water. Well, until THWACK, a large oak tree two houses down completely split down the middle. Craig went over and everyone seems OK, but yikes.

So I've spent considerable time today in the rain staring at all the huge trees which surround us while Craig has been going around the neighboring blocks clearing storm drains.

It's actually not too bad, except there are, I think, two more storms on the way. Remember how sad I was a few months ago when we had to chop down a tree in our yard?

I am SO GLAD we did that now! The remaining trees are strong and all the other oaks around us are all supported by strong cables. So we're pretty safe. (Hi Mom — everything is fine :)

(Led Zeppelin, The Rain Song)