New Trick! Hooray!

We have been working on this one for a while but he never seemed interested until today. It's funny how things click in their heads overnight.

Winter Song

Keith reminded me of this great song. We saw this pair on a late night show months ago and loved it...

Depression

I am totally digging these depression glass earrings. Depression glass is clear or colored translucent glassware that was distributed free, or at low cost, in the United States around the time of the Great Depression. I can't quite explain my recent obsession with this glass, pink and pale blue in particular. These are a great "earth-friendly" aka "hippie" way to recycle glass. Borrowed from Etsy seller bottledupdesigns

Keith's Project Du Jour

Keith has been waiting, wishing, no...aching to build an entertainment wall framed around his beloved new flat panel TV. This particular project is stage two of the grand plan, the first being mounting the TV on the brick. The next being cabinets to hide our electronics. He framed our fireplace surround using molding, our existing mantle and some detailed trim. Here is the process:
Before. No frills:
Hanging the cross piece. Painted with an oil based paint. The cords will be hidden behind this:Framing the surround:Almost ready for some finishing touches:Done!
Details, details.
Keith did such a great job on this project. Once he got going it only took two days to complete (after arguing over design details for two weeks.) This is the first time I have given him a strict budget for a project. Because let's face it, we all know how much mischief a man can get into at Lowe's. I don't think he was entirely thrilled, but he actually managed to come in just about $10 over budget. Hooray for handyman Keith!

No ZZZ for mama or child.

We have been having a rough week. I've been sick with a nasty cold and Rems has forgotten how to sleep. He wakes up about midnight and stays awake anywhere from two to four in the morning. Crying it out, feeding, bouncing, music. Nothing seems to work. It seems after all that, he is trying to tell me he'll go to sleep when he is good and ready. It is such a strange contrast from the sweet little baby that would kick and smile when I put him down for the night, then fall asleep without another peep. The only relief I have been able to look forward to is Keith! He has taken Rems down for breakfast and playtime everyday this week so that I can rest and catch up on my z's. He is my knight in shining black T-shirt!

Ca-ching!

Remington was down for the night, Keith was preoccupied with the laptop, so I decided to dedicate some time to grocery shopping with coupons. It took me a little longer than usual (walking up and down the same aisle over and over to find the right thing) and I bought some things I normally wouldn't, but considering coupons, sales, and double and triple coupons, I saved $57! That's a savings of about 39% off my total bill. Yippee!

President Obama

Well, off to a shaky start. A botched oath of office, the most absurd benediction ever, and the worse dressed wife. Not to mention two Senators taken to the hospital (Kennedy and Byrd). His speech was depressing and uninspiring. It was more like a campaign stump speech than an inaugural address. Some of the parts were incoherent. He said "our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint." How naive is that? Security emanates from strength and force! Did the Jews have a just cause against the Nazis? Yes. Did they have any security? No. Was the justness of ending slavery enough to end that evil institution? No, war ended slavery. Stunning stupidity. He spent too much time in the university bubble.

He was also meshing personal responsibility with the necessity of larger government involvement. Which is it? Is the government going to solve all our problems or will it be the citizens? Or is "personal responsibility" synonymous with "don't bitch when I raise taxes"? What happened to "the buck stops here"? I don't know, perhaps it is my personal political bias but something about him troubles me. Perhaps it is because we really do not know who he is. Our only exposure to him has been in the light of a campaign where everyone is on their best behavior and cautious of polls. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

I wonder how long the honeymoon will last with his own party members. I think that all the hype is setting his supporters up for a big letdown. He may be popular now, but that can all change very fast. His approval ratings are about the same as Jimmy Carter's were, back when he took the oath. We all know how Carter turned out.