Quote of the Week: "As the New View Campaign points out: just as the fight to rid Africa of female genital mutilation is gaining real momentum, the West appears to be picking up the very knives they are putting down. And yes, there are numerous differences between FGM and labiaplasty. But there is also the eerie similarity that both are born of cultural standards imposed upon the women of a society. While our surgeries may be done entirely by choice, one wonders at what point the disconnect occurs between denouncing the use of a scalpel by others and then picking it up ourselves." - from BUST magazine's "The Vagina Dialogues" by Johanna Gohmann

5 things that happened this week:

1. I watched that new 10 Things I Hate About You show on ABC Family. Surprisingly, I didn't think it was horrendous. When I heard this show was coming out, I was outraged. Why take a classic movie and 10 years later reinvent for the small screen? There's no need for that! But this show has some cool new developments going for it and a pretty stellar cast. It's just not a remake of the movie; there's actually something fresh about it. I thought it was kind of cute! Would I purposely set aside time on Tuesday nights to tune in? Probably not. But if I'm doing my nails again and need something to watch while I do that, then sure! 

2. I was thinking about goats the other day. Why do they eat whatever is in front of them? They're like babies. Oo, a shirt! Let me at it! Yum! What other animal just walks up to you and starts eating your pants? None that I know of. So how does this happen? Why are goats like this? Anyone?

3. Also, how did dialects come to be? I mean, the English come to America and gradually lose their English accents. How? If everyone is speaking with a British accent, then wouldn't everyone continue speaking with a British accent? Or were they like, "Let's try pronouncing our words differently from the British because we don't want to be like them anymore!" And then every time a new band of Americans pushed further westward, they were like, "Let's try pronouncing our words differently because we're in a new part of our country!" Does anyone else wonder this? Anyone? Has someone written a book about it that I could read?

4. I went to a media party Monday night, which I thought would be a good networking opportunity for me. Plus, there was the enticement of Guitar Hero. Well, the party was held at a bar in Manhattan (bar and GRILL, sorry) and they herded us into a small area at the back of the bar and grill where loud music was playing. I was one of the first people there (need to stop doing that) so I awkwardly attached myself to a group of people who were talking about something or other and then that broke the group up (go me) and I ended up talking about random things with a freelance writer. Then more people came in and I found someone else who I knew and we sort of got stuck in a corner by the mob of people in this tiny space and ended up talking with two Hungarian ladies who are trying to get people to visit Hungary on their vacations (I struck up that conversation, thank you very much). That conversation got cut short because I was called up to play Guitar Hero, which kind of sucked. It was the Aerosmith game, they put it on "easy", and the girl I was playing with (even though we were supposed to be playing against each other) had never played before, so was kind of sucking it up, but I wasn't paying attention to her and we started going in the red and then we lost. :( However, after a while of standing around awkwardly by myself, I started to head out and was stopped by a group of people who told me that I was really good at Guitar Hero and so I talked with them for a bit. And then I had to get out. It was hot and I was starting to sweat. My voice hurt from having to yell over the roar of the crowd, the loud music, and the blaring Aerosmith songs from Guitar Hero. Parties really aren't my thing. Especially when it seems like everyone knows everyone else and how do you break into people's conversations without looking like a weirdo? *sigh* I need someone to do this for me.

5. Last night Mike and I ran a book club for a couple middle schoolers. We read the book Tangerine, which was pretty good, if not a little dark and deep. Thank goodness for back-of-the-book reading questions! The kids who were there did a really good job of discussing. They all had good insights, which I found really impressive because some of them were starting 6th grade in the fall and one of them was starting 7th grade. I think these kids will do well in English classes.

A friend on Facebook, who is a Christian author, updated his status and said that he was going to see the new Harry Potter movie. One of his friends commented back on how terrible this was! "These books/movies are occultic and the author is being used by our greatest enemy. Deuteronomy 18 condemns witchcraft, sorcery and spiritism. In ministry and counseling, I pray for people to be delivered from exposure to these spirits. Why would anyone want to willingly engage in witchcraft? ... If the Lord rejected Samuel as king for 'rebellion being like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry' why would Christian's [sic] choose to indulge in the 'real' portrayal of witchcraft?"

*shakes head and sighs* I'm going to say it again... there is nothing wrong with getting kids to read books, especially books that teach kids about friendship and being a good person and going to school. If you don't want kids reading these books or seeing these movies, then fine. But you better come up with a better way to make the Bible more appealing to 7-year-olds. Or how about you write a book for kids that will rival J.K. Rowling's books? Does Harry Potter turn people into witches and warlocks? NO. Is it an entertaining story with a good message? YES. Have you read any of these books or seen these movies, aside from trailers? Probably not. Should you in order to know what's really in them? Couldn't hurt. We're supposed to be "of this world" in order to reach the people in it, right?

When will some Christians stop representing the rest of us with hatred and boycotting and start representing Christianity with love and kindness? I'm pretty sure that Jesus would have been friends with Harry Potter and the rest of the "demon" witches. Why? Because that's what Jesus did. Even if he thought that the witches and warlocks were bad, he still would have befriended them because that was his way. He was all about the outsiders, the others. And come to think of it, didn't Jesus perform magical feats, too? So it's okay when Jesus does it because it's a "miracle" but it's not okay when a fictional character in a fantasy land does it because it's devil's magic?

Now I'm just being devil's advocatey (oooo better watch out!) but come on, folks. I know plenty of Christians who enjoy Harry Potter and that doesn't make them horrible people who are spreading filth and lies to innocent children (ahemAdvertisingahem). And even if God does think Harry Potter of all things is a sin, folks, there are TONS of other things that each and every one of us do ALL DAY LONG that are sins. Don't go off on other people without taking a good look at yourself and some of the stuff you like to do/see/read/etc. None of us are perfect. Not even Harry Potter—Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, anyone?

Alright, off my soap box.

Oh and p.s., the Harry Potter issue came up during a high school choir trip to Florida. Our choir director wouldn't let us watch a Harry Potter movie on the bus, but we were allowed to watch Bring it On, with its blatant sexual innuendos and questionable language (I love that movie!). Oh, really now?

What do you think of President Obama's dad jeans? Personally, I'm more offended by the White Sox jacket.

OMG, ROFL, and the like are so out of date. Learn a new abbreviation: GMH. (Thanks, Danae.)

Hebrews 10:25
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Romans 12:5
... so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

The Bible is all about the virtues of the church community—being surrounded by like-minded individuals who will support you and join you on the mission to spread God's word. But what if someone isn't meant for that type of community?

I often find myself wondering this as I try to get involved with yet another church. Am I too picky? I think. Why don't I fit in here?

This has been happening to me since my Sunday School days. I was the only kid at our Lutheran church who went to a different school and, as a shy kid, connecting with these kids, who talked about teachers, friends, and places that I didn't know, became even more difficult for me. It also didn't help that almost none of my peers attended church, Sunday School, youth events, or confirmation camps. How was I supposed to have a community when my community was "too cool" for God?

In college I hoped to find more people like me. After all, the campus had 8,000 students so surely I'd be able to find some type of religious community. Freshman year, a girl on my floor invited me to a Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) meeting. Maybe it was because she had come to my door offering fresh baked goods along with her invitation (always a good way to grab someone's attention, fyi), but I said I'd go to a CCC meeting the next week. This same girl later invited me to sit with her at lunch one day, which I also accepted. Great, I thought. I'm making new friends!

The CCC meeting was on a Tuesday night and by the time I showed up, the small classroom was super crowded. I squeezed myself into an empty desk right next to the overhead projector. The meeting began. I remember some singing. And some preaching. I also remember that whenever the professor presiding over the meeting would begin quoting a verse of scripture, everyone in the room would quote it out loud at the same time... from memory. I hadn't even brought a Bible with me to college! I didn't know how these people could memorize this stuff and then I felt bad for not having the entire Bible memorized. The whole meeting was intimidating to say the least and didn't get any better.

When I first got to the meeting, someone had been standing outside the door handing out small, blue pieces of paper. "Just fill out these questions and then hand them back after the meeting," the person told me. The first few questions were normal fare: What is your name? What is your major? What dorm do you live in?

But then things took a weird turn: Do you believe in the teachings of Rene Descartes? Would you ever name your child Rene?

Uhm, who? And no. (The name Rene just reminds me too much of Celine Dion's son.) Were there right answers to these questions? I had no idea, so I folded the piece of paper up and stuck it in my pocket. I debated whether or not I should go back the next week but ultimately decided to steer clear of future CCC gatherings. The group didn't really seem like a good fit for me. My lack of interest subsequently caused my new CCC friend to ignore me every time I passed her in the hallway.

On some Sundays, I went to services held by Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF). This was fine for awhile until they implemented mandatory pray-out-loud times during the services. Basically everyone had to get into small groups and pray out loud. Now, let me preface this by saying that I HATE praying in front of people. I stutter and stammer and can never think of anything good to say. I can barely pray well when it's just me and God. (Sorry again, God.) I dreaded going to the CCF services because of this and so eventually stopped altogether. It wasn't like I was meeting anyone new there anyway. Somehow everyone else already knew each other and there was never any room for me.

I became disillusioned after a time. Sure, I joined a contemporary Christian church when I moved to New York and met some great people through a growth group, but another move took me farther away from them and a New York community. This caused me some confusion. Why would God bring me to this church and allow me to meet these people only to take me away from it? (Perhaps He knew of my growing frustration with the church's constant call to "give the church money" even though I never saw too many constructive things being done with it.)

After my move, I searched for something local. I wanted to get involved in my immediate community, make a difference and make some friends. Unfortunately, the majority of New Jersey churches are 13-people large traditional congregations with an average age of 75. (An old pastor of mine told me, "You can look at a church's website and know immediately if it's the one for you." So true.) Again I wondered, where were the people like me? Where did I fit in?

And then I found it. Or so I thought. A contemporary Christian church not far from where I lived. So I went. It was good enough for what I was looking for at the time even though the demographic of the church seemed to be people over 35 and under 18. I decided to join a Life Group that fall, one geared toward women in their 20s. I was really excited about it, mainly because I had been looking at a friend's pictures on Facebook and going through a major case of jealousy. She belonged to a Life Group through her church and was always posting pictures of holiday parties and bowling outings and everyone was in their 20s, everyone looked like such good friends, and they were all God-centric. It was awesome to see that, but it made me want what my friend had. So I joined the Life Group at my church in hopes of finding community with other girls who lived near me and who were my age.

But I didn't.

To say that I was the youngest person there at 24 would be an understatement. The women were in their 40s and had joined the "women in their 20s" group because they were "young at heart." They started talking about husbands and kids, both things I didn't have at the time (still don't have the kids part). I felt so awkward and out of place that I cried on the drive home because I didn't understand why I wasn't getting what I so desperately longed for. If God wanted us to be a part of a church community, then why was it so hard for me to find one that was a good fit for me? (Whiney much? I know. Move on.)

And that's when I began to wonder. What if God didn't make me for community? Perhaps I needed to make my own community, find my own way to worship God and do good things in the world. I don't know God's plans for me and that makes me angry. I don't know what He has in store for me, but I can only assume that good stuff awaits. Maybe there is a church somewhere in my future with a congregation made up of people like me and my husband. Until then, I can only continue to worship God in my own way–even if that means doing it outside of a church community.

P.S. I know there are better Bible verses about church and community, but I've been too lazy to open up my Bible and look them up. Sorry.

So this weekend was pretty fun, if not relaxing and low key, which pretty much never happens for us. Friday we took Mike's car in for an oil change and to have the brakes replaced. And then we ate at IHOP b/c we had a coupon and it was right near the car place. YUMTASTIC. Then we went home and I was super tired (probably a mild migraine) and so ended up watching a marathon of What Not to Wear. Of course Mike was thrilled, but he got the TV at 10:00 when I went to bed and the Yankees game came on.

Saturday we had planned on having a baseball party, but it had to be canceled, so Mike and I just chilled out. I got my ring cleaned and scrapbooked. We had hot dogs, potato chips and soda while we watched the Yankees lose pretty badly. We also finished season 4 of The West Wing and started in on season 5 just to find out how the cliffhanger plotline finished up.

Sunday we went to check out some open houses in the area and fell in love with a townhouse in a beautiful complex, complete with swimming pool, tennis courts, sidewalks, and playground. If our condo was in the proper condition to put it on the market, I think we would have definitely considered placing on offer on the townhouse. As it is, we still have a lot to do in making our condo look presentable for potential buyers. The plan is to get it all cleaned up and ready so that by the time we return from the honeymoon, we can put it on the market and hopefully find a place that we want to buy. Fingers crossed!

Quote of the week: "When I do morning radio to promote a show, there's always the Morning Zoo guy, and out of one side of his mouth he'll say, 'You know, normally I don't think chicks are funny, but you're pretty funny.' To which I always say, 'Really? Would you say to a black person, "Normally I'd think you were lazy and shiftless, but you seem to work hard"?' And then they always just go to commercial." - Kathy Griffin

5 things that happened this week:

1. I met up with a new acquaintance this week to hash out plans for a book club that we want to start. I'm excited! She's a super nice person and is married too and is from the Midwest like me and very charity-minded. I hope that we get some people to come!

2. I had some free time between work and the meeting so I walked up Madison Avenue sipping my blueberry, chocolate, and graham cracker blender from Red Mango and made my way to Grand Central where I began a guided walk tour (just me and my New York walking cards). The cards took me past the Chrysler Building and instructed me to go inside. It was pretty cool! Then I walked past a building housing plants and a cool elevated part of the city to the UN building, which I've already had a tour of. Then I walked back to Grand Central and checked out the inside. My mom once did a tour of Grand Central and she said it was very interesting! My goal for this year is to do at least 3 walking tours using my cards and I've already done 2, so I think I'm in good shape.

3. Mike got sick Thursday so I stayed home with him and drove him to the doctor. We're blaming it on the meatball sandwich he ate the night before.

4. I had a lot to do at work today and more still to do next week! It's nice having lots of work. Kept me busy and migraine free!

5. It's my mom's birthday today! woo hoo!

Better Than Ezra, Paper Empire, 3/5

For the first time in all my years of Better Than Ezra fandom, I missed seeing them in concert. I was deeply ashamed because the band is so good live!! Yet if the tour was mainly a "here's our new stuff" deal, then I'm sort of glad I missed out. Not that I don't like the new album. There are some sweet songs on it such as "I Just Knew" and "Fit" even though I don't quite know what the lyric "I'm head over you" means. I've heard "head over heels" and "so over you" but "head over you"? Sounds like someone was stretching for a rhyme. And then there are songs that just sound out of place. "All In" (some random song about a party and people getting high and then the chorus comes in and everybody's "all in" - uh, okay) and "Black Light" (which sounds like a Franz Ferdinand copy) are the only two upbeat tracks on this very mellow album but they aren't fun and funky like "Juicy". Instead, BTE comes across as 40-year-olds who are trying too hard to be cool. I had to go back and listen to BTE songs of yore and there's just something about those tracks ("Good", "Desperately Wanting", "Get You In", "Sincerely, Me" - pretty much the whole Closer album) that stand out, that make me want to listen, that get me singing along. Paper Empire isn't that kind of album, unfortunately.

Universal pulls a scene with LaToya Jackson from the Bruno film out of respect for MJ's death.

Why is it that so many Christians focus on social justice overseas while neglecting the need for social justice next door?

One of my favorite authors, Jennifer Weiner, weighs in on the whole Alice Hoffman-goes-crazy-on-bad-

The U.S. Catholic bishops offer four principles that should guide our faithful political engagement:

1. As an institution we are called to be political but not partisan. The Church cannot be a chaplain for any one party or cheerleader for any candidate. Our cause is the protection of the weak and vulnerable and defense of human life and dignity, not a particular party or candidate.

2. The Church is called to be principled but not ideological. We cannot compromise our basic values of teaching, but we should be open to different ways to advance them.

3. We are called to be clear but also civil. A Church that advocates justice and charity must practice these virtues in public life. We should be clear about our principles and priorities without impugning motives or name-calling.

4. The Church is called to be engaged but not used. We welcome dialogues with political leaders and candidates, seeking to engage and persuade public officials. But we must be sure that events and photo ops are not substitutes for work on policies that reflect our values.

taken from The Great Awakening: Reviving Faith and Politics in a Post-Religious Right America by Jim Wallis

Sometimes I hate computers. But that is not the reason why I didn't update last week. I decided to take the week off because of the holiday. Go me. I also decided to continue updating my life's events on LiveJournal for the time being because I'm hoping that the next person who friends me is actually a Hollywood exec who wants to turn my LJ into a movie or a literary agent who wants to make it a book. With sequels (for both). If I post only on Facebook, then I would be depriving the world of my witty musings and general self-indulgence and that would be a pity. So on I go...

Friday I had the day off from work so I went to The Limited because I had a coupon. There were some good sales to be had there, too, and I took advantage: two camis at the price of buy one, get one 50% off (The Limited is the only store in the world that makes camis without the stupid shelf bras), a bold flower print dress on sale for $25, a deep purple short-sleeve top with ruffle neckline (not on sale), and a sea foam green 3/4 shirt on sale for $9.99. Plus an extra $30 off with my coupon. AND they gave me more coupons!! I think it's safe to say that the only place I'll be shopping for clothes for the next two months is The Limited. It doesn't take much more than coupons to make me a loyal customer.

Friday night Mike and I tried to eat at the Sonic that just (FINALLY) opened near us. Seems that every person in the state of New Jersey had the same idea because there was a long line. So we left. I'll just take him to one in Missouri the next time we go because no one there really cares that much about Sonic anymore and there are, like, 25 million to choose from.

Saturday was the Fourth of July and Mike and I drove down to his parents' beach house. We walked along the boardwalk and I got a free sand pail and shovel and frisbee. Then we ate subpar hot dogs at Windmill. Then I fell asleep on his parents' couch while we were reading books and listening to the Yankees game on the radio. We played some pool. His dad BBQ'd chicken. We went back to the beach to watch the fireworks and listen to obnoxious people talking behind us. Then we tried to do a puzzle back at the house while waiting for the traffic to die down so we could go home and that puzzle was gosh dern hard! It's unfinished on the dining room table.

Sunday I did not much of anything. Practiced french braiding my hair, which turned out okay. Scrapbooked a lot and used up all of my adhesive so I need to go out this weekend and get more. I also need more paper for my wedding album and I hope that the good Michael's still has it in stock! Other than that, I think the weekend has been succintly summed up. So yeah! I hope everyone had a good Fourth of July. Kind of sucks to be back at work after a 3-day weekend, but what are ya gonna do?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "New York is a different country. Maybe it ought to have a separate government. Everybody thinks differently, acts differently --they just don't know what the hell the rest of the United States is." - Henry Ford

5 things that happened this week:
1. I've started importing these updates into my Facebook and I'm wondering if I shouldn't just get rid of LiveJournal and do all my updating directly on Facebook. That way, I wouldn't have weirdo people who I don't know adding me as friends through LJ with me having no way to block them from friending me. Not that I don't mind people reading my LJ. It is public, after all. But I mind when these people friend me and it's rather obvious they are only doing it because they just decided to randomly friend people and not because they like my writing style or have any care about knowing what goes on in my life. Done ranting. I think I've made my decision.

2. I bought Turkish apricots from Whole Foods the other day. At first, they were disgusting. Imagine what anything Turkish would taste like and that's what these tasted like. But upon further mastication, I think I do enjoy them. They have begun to taste more and more like regular apricots. I won't be going back to Whole Foods to buy more, but they were good for $2.99.

3. I worked from home because of a doctor's appointment on Monday. I have high levels of good cholesterol and low levels of bad cholesterol but I still have slightly high cholesterol overall. No cause for concern, according to my doctor, but some Cheerios for breakfast can't hurt, right? I also have to eat more fiber. But I refuse to get it from prunes and/or prune juice. What am I, 80? Oh wait...

4. Scheduled another appointment to see a house this weekend. (Yes, a real house, not a townhouse.) Let's hope it's in better shape. It has central air!!

5. Today I am 25.5 years old.

Green Day, 21st Century Breakdown, 4.5/5

Never judge a book by it's cover and don't judge an album by its first single. Even if you don't like the repetitiveness of "Know Your Enemy" (and you have to admit, it's better than "Birthday Sex"), the rest of the album is exactly what you would expect from a good Green Day album. Listening to it, at times I felt like I was watching the opening of a John Hughes film mixed with a less campy Rocky Horror Picture Show. But maybe that's just me. You'll definitely feel like you're listening to a Green Day album, though. It's been five years since American Idiot, but the band's still got it. The album is broken up into parts, like a rock opera with three acts: Heroes and Cons, Charlatans and Saints, and Horseshoes and Handgrenades. From the title track to "Murder City", "Viva La Gloria" to "21 Guns", the music tells the story of a young couple living in Detroit, navigating their way through life after the mess our 43rd president made. Through this connecting thread, you'll hear lyrics that are personal, lyrics that say something. I'd say this album rocks.

David Archuleta's dad is arrested for soliciting a prostitute!! I feel bad for passing this on because Archuleta is so innocent (maybe), but then again, come on!!

Autographed William Hung photos for sale! Only $9.99!!!

I do not want to eat at a place called The Hut. I want to eat at Pizza Hut.

I have to admit... even this old Wheel of Fortune clue stumped me. But it's still fun to make fun of these people. The final Wheel clue was super easy, though. Come on, lady.

Saturday Mike and I went to lunch with Danae, Steve, Lauren, and Matt at Harold's Deli. I'm STILL eating the left-overs of my turkey sandwich! HUGE PORTIONS. Good milkshakes, too. Then we went to visit a weird grave in the parking lot of a Loew's Movie Theater. Thanks, Roadside Attractions.com (or did Danae find it from Weird New Jersey?).

Sunday was Father's Day. Mike and I checked out a townhouse nearby with a realtor and the townhouse layout was good, but the way the previous owners left it... no thanks. Definitely not move-in condition. Kind of disappointing because I would really enjoy TWO walk-in closets.

Quote of the Week: [Jennifer] Aniston responded by making fun of her own love life saying, "I have a strange parallel with movies I was doing and my life off screen. First, it was The Good Girl...which evolved into Rumor Has It, followed by Derailed. Then there was The Breakup. Followed by the lighter side, Friends With Money. If anyone has a movie called Everlasting Love With an Adult Stable Man, that would be great! I'm at table six, and my agents are at table 12."

5 things that happened this week:
1. I had another strange dream last night, this time involving American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert. In my dream world, Lambert and I were best friends. He was my "best gay" (Isn't that what Kathy Griffin calls them or something? Did I just make that up and possibly offend people?). I had invited Lambert over to my parents' house and I guess he was staying with us for an extended period of time, but he was a HORRID houseguest. At midnight, we were still awake and he's like, "Let's make tea and sandwiches." I agreed and he starts making the messiest sandwich ever and not even bothering to clean any of it up. I don't think we got around to eating and drinking our late night snack because then some old man, who in my dream world was a cousin or uncle of Mike's, came over and was trying to get in my parents' house, which looked nothing like my parents' real house btw, because he wanted to talk to them. Lambert and I went to my parents' bedroom and I thought they'd be sleeping (Lambert was also very LOUD), but they weren't. One of the neighbors was over talking to my parents for some reason (keep in mind, this is midnight) and my mom looked pissed. So I tell my parents that crazy uncle/cousin someone-or-other is outside and we go into the kitchen to let him in from a door there and my mom sees the mess that Lambert and I have left and she gets even madder because all she wants to do is sleep.

2. I didn't get home from work last night until after 7:00 because the bus driver (who might have been new) took us on a very strange and out-of-the-way route. And we got stuck in Newark traffic. Awesome times.

3. Mike and I received a belated wedding gift in the mail this week: Coleman camping grill! Hoorah! Now all we need is a tent and a place to store both items and then some spare time to go camping! :)

4. I started a scrapbooking business. Just a little side thing. http://sites.google.com/site/thesidescrapper/

5. I went to the post office the other day and the guy who waited on me took one look at my box and said, "They must call you for Christmas because you did a good job wrapping this!" And then he asked me if I needed anything else and I didn't and he said, "You're easy like Sunday morning." I should have asked him if his name was Lionel.

I failed to listen to the new Green Day album this week, so instead I shall tell you about a strange dream I had last night involving musicians.

So, Fergie (yes, the G-L-A-M-O-whatever singer) was married to Josh Duhamel as she is in real life, except for some reason, she decided to start having an affair with the singer from Barenaked Ladies. The one with glasses. I don't know his name. Possibly the one who was arrested for cocaine possession?

Anyway, they were making out on a couch or something and the BNL guy was all, "What about your husband?" And Fergie was all, "I think I should tell him before we take things any further."

Now why in the world would I be dreaming about these people of all people? I wasn't even in the dream! It was just them!!

Happy Birthday, Igor Stravinksy! Love, Google.

So, she's not sorry that she emailed a racist picture of President Obama, only that she emailed it to the "wrong people."

Check out these awesome photos from photographer Dina Goldstein. If I can find out where these pictures are to be exhibited, I would totally try to go. Thanks to Teresa for the heads up on this one.

And on this one: I'm assuming this man just got laid off or maybe he was pretending to be homeless just so he could get some free soup and a picture of Michelle Obama.

Just another example of why this former Americon Idol contestant did not win! Who says "TMTH" anymore? Who ever said it?

I'm not sure if this is good news or what but Kendra, the annoying one from The Girls Next Door (one of these things does not belong here. Now it's time to play our game!), is pregnant.

James van der Beek and his wife of almost 6 years have split!!

Yum, yum, yummy, yum, yum. White chocolate and sour cherry scones.

"If you can't feed a hundred people, just feed one." - Mother Teresa

Quote of the Week: "I'm sure you are all graduating with big career goals. You may also have a dream of being married and having a family, and at some point the career may take a backseat. There is no more challenging, rewarding or important job than being a mom. I just want to say this -- sometimes dreams of domestic bliss are interrupted by reality. People get divorced. People die. You need to protect yourself. I was very happily married to a wonderful man. He was diagnosed with colon cancer and nine months later, he was gone. I was a single mom with two very young children. This was not part of the plan. Luckily, I had a career and therefore the financial independence to support my children. Many women in my situation are not nearly as fortunate. And while I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, I want you all to be prepared for the unexpected and approach some of the big life decisions you'll be making with your eyes wide open." - Katie Couric addressing the women of the 2009 graduating class at Princeton

5 things that happened this week:

1. I hate you LiveJournal.

2. It rained every day this week. My hair was not a fan.

3. Mike chaperoned the 8th grade field trip Monday through Wednesday. I slept with the hall light on.

4. I got a bonus check at work! Just a one-time thing, so not a raise, but still! A bonus!

5. Yeah....