Annual exam: Report card

It's too early to assume high marks across the board (my lab work hasn't come back yet) but, despite my worry and woe, my annual physical went swimmingly.  Resting heart rate: 60 beats per minute.  Blood pressure: 125/68.  And the icing on the cake was a "gift card" that reduces the co-pay on my  Lunesta prescription (sleep aid) to $0 for a whole year!  My doctor and I thought it too good to be true but, after activating the card online, I'm convinced it's the real deal.  If you're a Lunesta taker, it might be worth your while to call the doc and find out if he/she has a "gift card" for you, too! 

Because someone's got to set the example

Thank God Bristol Palin is making it clear she won't be wearing any of those revealing, un-Christian costumes during her stint on "Dancing with the Stars." Otherwise, she might set a bad example for all those teenage girls out there who look to her as a cautionary tale role model. Snarky? Sure. But, I say bring on the vamp, Bristol baby!  The more carnival-like you make your family appear, the less likely the Tea Party will be in electing your mama come 2012.

How cute are these?

It's a good thing I have no kitchen or I'd be ordering way too many of these tins from one of my favorite places, Pasolivo. We tasted these oils last year on a trip to Paso Robles, CA, and fell in love. We even joined their "Press Club." They have recently switched from glass bottles to these adorable tins.  I will patiently await my club shipment, arriving next month, but, if you're an olive oil lover, I encourage you to check them out here.  Bon appetit!

"La Marmot"

I'm getting in touch with my animal side in preparation for our weekend visit to Omaha and their world famous zoo.  I hope we see some talking marmots.  (Actually, any talking animal would be a highlight.)

Our daughters, ourselves, our businesses

Could you work side-by-side with your daughter? (My answer would have to be, "It would depend on the day and time of the month."  I found three moms who do....or did....in today's feature story.

Mad Men & Emmy: A perplexing post-game

   I don't know what I find more bewildering - January Jones' odd cone bra Versace number and bed head hair at the Emmy's last night, or Mad Men's "Waldorf Stories."
  So many questions, not the least of which is why, at his ego's highest point in months, did Don go on a "Lost Weekend" bender, to the point of introducing himself as Dick to Doris the waitress? And did you catch the kiss Don laid on Joan when he won the Clio (after the classic under-the-table hand-holding sandwich scene with Roger?) Was a Don-Joanie hook-up being foreshadowed there? Please, Matt Weiner, say it ain't so!
   And did Don intentionally get Roger drunk, on that first meeting, so he'd hire him? Or, did inebriated Roger really tell Don to report to work, at all? Was the episode suggesting Draper's career started, and may very well end, in a blackout?
   On the other hand, cheers to MM and my favorite comedy, Modern Family, for kicking butt at the Emmy Awards.  'Loved that the show began with an award for Piper, Kansas boy Eric Stonestreet, who won best supporting actor for MoFam. It almost made up for January's inexplicable fashion faux pas.
   P.S.: Oh!  And is there a woman alive who wouldn't love to get the best of an obnoxious male co-worker in a naked stare down and make fun of his shortcomings? "I just changed one tiny little thing." You go, Peggy, you 1965 woman!

Rocked....and I helped!

The kitchen has walls! This view is looking over the breakfast bar into the work area. Large hole on right is for my flat screen TV, a Christmas present from last year, which will be mounted on a swivel-type bracket. Little hole is for thermostat controlling radiant heat floor, which will feel fab next Christmas morning under stocking feet.

This is the lifter which did most of the work.  That's not to say my assistance wasn't invaluable.  I'm quite sure he couldn't have done it without me holding the gypsum board in place while he...

...put the screws to it.  Well, OK, he could have done it without me. But, it wouldn't have gone as smoothly, I can tell you that.

A scent-sational place

My Sunday "Worth the trip" feature is about Penzeys Spices, a store (and catalog) I hadn't heard of until recently, even though they've been around for 40 years.  (They have 47 stores - maybe one near you?) After my visit, I've asked my contractor to custom-build a big spice drawer for the kitchen, to hold nothing but Penzeys spices in glass jars, especially the little 1/4 cup size. No more tins for me!

Confessions of a jealous wife

My column today has been a longtime coming.  It speaks of a situation best illustrated by this picture:

 At least, he's still sleeping with me at night.  Or we'd REALLY have a problem.

Time for a break

   "On three," he said. "One, two, three...lift!!"
   While hoisting a piece of sheetrock high onto the wall, I said to my contractor, "Let's blow this pop stand next weekend and get away," fully expecting him to say, "Are you kidding?! We've got a project to finish."
  "Hell, yes," he grunted.
  In life, just as in sheetrock hanging, timing is everything.
  I think we'll check out Omaha.  It's close, it's supposed to have a cool downtown and there's a bridge named for Bob Kerrey.  What's not to love?

Dry wall day!

    While the rest of you are out hitting the shops or hiking the trails on this glorious Saturday, I will be assisting my able-bodied contractor in sheetrocking the new kitchen. I know. You're jealous.

Michael Bolton...who knew?

I hereby take back all the Michael Bolton jokes I made in the 80's:

I still wish he'd cut that hair, however.