Girly Girl by Author Kristin Billerbeck

My Sadistic Laundry Room...

Usually, I find laundry therapeutic.  I mean, it is an excuse to sit and fold in front of reality TV with the innocent, batting eyelashes, "What?  I'm doing laundry."

When we built the house, the laundry room was essential.  It was huge.  And it had a bright window next to it, a big dog washing sink, and lots of storage.  But then I moved back to Silicon Valley and I get it's my choice to raise four kids in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country.  Sacrifices must be made.

But seriously?  Seriously, this had to be a man who designed this laundry room.  With the hopes that his pregnant, barefoot wife would never get fat (even when pregnant) because otherwise, she could not starch his shirts properly.  Seriously, is this a joke?  I mean, let's just say there is no laundry room and put the machines in the garage, you know? I mean, if I'm having a bad hair day, I feel like I can't do laundry.  

It may not seem that small from the picture, but there is no way to get a laundry basket in or out, and nowhere to put it once it's in/out.  Dang, I am so happy there are women engineers (remember the old car seats for kids? Strollers?) and architects.  Let the fruitful living begin.

 
 
 I put those shelves up myself.  With a power tool.  No barefoot, pregnant chick here. But I am a little bruised from laundry.

Novelists with Macs & Too Much Time...

Her Fearful Symmetry...

Sorry I've been AWOL for a few days.  I'm at my mom's house for a little R&R before DH goes back to work on Monday.  WOOOHOOO!!  And how does the school celebrate?  They give my kids the day off.  What?  

So I'm taking luxurious baths, reading in bed and do you know, we had this house designed so that you can turn the light off in bed?  Oh my gosh, if only this house were in the Bay Area, I would be set.

Oooh heard there was a drug bust in my old neighborhood of Saratoga.  Must look that up -- because they gave as an excuse that the pot paid their way through Davis (where my DH did undergrad)  Um, yeah.  That's nice and all, but still totally illegal.  Even if you are now engineers with a green thumb.

I introduced my mom to Glee tonight.  Okay, now I realized why I didn't want to get into it.  Because I KNEW.  KNEW that it was going to be kind of dirty and I would get that look from my husband.  The one that says, "What is wrong with you?  Why are you watching this?  Are you sixteen?"

Yes, actually I am.  My body doesn't know it.  Even my Wii Fit won't go that low.  But I am definitely sixteen.  So last night, he gets into the shower, and I jam to watch it and he comes in I SWEAR.  He comes in when the line is: It was a message from God and that message was… (it goes down from there, I won't repeat it)  But not only do I get the look, but I get the question. "WHAT are you WATCHING?"  

He knows I have this dark sense of humor.  And he puts up with my "Flipping Out" but he never gets why I laugh at it.  So tonight, when I'm watching it again, I go.  "THIS.  THIS Mom is where Bryed walked in!"  

My mom goes, "NO! Oh that's awful!"  See?  My mom gets that I'm sixteen.  Why is it so hard for this guy I've lived with for 18 years?  Hmmm?? To make matters worse, he did his nightly Bible reading next to me while I watched it.  Just to make sure I got the whole heathen message.  (I did.)

I am really not loving on the doe-eyed redhead in "Glee".  I think I have too much leftover animosity for her taking Henry away on "Ugly Betty".  But I did love her scene where she blurts out "sunglasses...sexy".  I have the best story about myself fumbling my name one time and my best friend there to laugh at me when I did it, so I loved this scene.

One more thing, and I'll shut up.  Though I'd be surprised if you're still with me.  I might even question your sanity.  But the reason I've been AWOL is I'm reading a book.  Now, I normally read about three at a time, and I'm fast. But this one, I am literally savoring.  I just LOVE it.  It's by the author of the "Time Traveler's Wife" (which I never read) Audrey Niffenegger.  "Her Fearful Symmetry" It's a ghost story, but it's so much more.  It's this incredible tale set in London with a very gothic feel (though it's present day.)  So I am reading it very slowly, not wanting it to end. And it's getting so good, so I must run.  Happy Friday everyone!

Starbucks' Experiences, A Memoir

One of these days, I'm going to write this book on all the wild and weird encounters I've had in coffee shops.  Honestly, it's one of the main reasons I couldn't live in the country. There just isn't the cross-section of people to give you these kinds of days.  So here's my morning today.  Incidentally, it's raining out, but I hadn't looked before I got dressed and I'm wearing jeans, a long white T-shirt and my Donald Pliner wedges (open-toe -- and like I said, it's raining.)  So just by the looks of me, you can see I'm a girl who doesn't pay attention.

So the line is long, and I'm on my Crackberry and this guy is on the cell phone behind me.  Only he isn't behind me.  He moves up so that he's right beside me.  The line moves, he moves with me.  Like we're on a date or something.  And I'm avoiding looking over, wondering what is this guy up to.  So finally, he hangs up the phone, and I glance over and he's got this big grin on his face and he says, "Good morning." 

I say "Hi" and go back to my Crackberry, then he looks at me while he's putting creamer in his coffee, and I am totally thinking I must have toilet paper on my shoe or something.  But then, as I'm standing waiting for my mocha, this guy walks by and he has a seeing-eye dog -- but he obviously sees, and now I'm hoping it wasn't for his eyesight because he says, "Good morning.  How are you?"

And I say, "I'm good."

And he goes, "Well, you look great!"

So single girls take note, I go to this same coffee shop daily, and this has never happened.  Suddenly, I am Angelina Jolie, so get out there today.  Rain must make men romantic.  LOL  

Why Hollywood Romances Sizzle and Die...

 
Sorry if you're eating breakfast when you get this, but you will be happy to note, I sized it down for you. The Daily Mail assaulted me with it in full size.  So I'm a big Katy Perry fan.  I think she's darling and artistic, and sadly, right now thinking with her heart.  Maybe she tasted too much cherry Chapstick?

I don't know if many Americans are familiar with Russell Brand.  I've never seen one of his movies, but I have heard him on British talk shows and saw part of his Comedy special.  Two things: his comedy special wasn't funny and he is crass beyond crass.  And I'm Italian.  It takes something to be crass to me because I've heard old Italian women mad at their husbands. 

So the world gets that Katy is making a mistake.  Brand is said to be bipolar, a sex addict, a recovering alcoholic and let's face it, skinnier than Katy Perry.  And she is a stick!  Back to my point.  

These romances that happen in Hollywood are so hot because you have these really talented, creative people with money at their discretion.  So let's say, you fall for Russell (and hopefully, if you have a mother, you do not) but let's say you fall for Russell. 

Well, imagine being able to walk through Paris have a romantic week during Fashion Week, and then you fly home to LA and this lovesick puppy follows you home.  It just feeds your passionate soul and you're able to give into every whim.  But of course, nothing can really satisfy that soul but One.  Eventually, Katy will realize what so many others before her have realized -- and Russell will slink off to his next conquest.

But here's the good news:  If you're feeling bad about the economy right now, I want you to think about why having it all has its drawbacks.  You might want Russell Brand.  

You, however, do not have the money to fly to Paris/Thailand/LA.  Nor the fame to be in the front row of John Galliano's show.  Contentment is good.  Lack of trench mouth better.  Do they still have trench mouth?  Or am I showing how old I am?  LOL

Henna Tattoo

 
 So this is what it looks like when it's washed up.  I think it's so cool.  Elle has one too.

My fabulous weekend: A Video Blog