alien photo

This is a picture of our baby at nine weeks. Wait. Did I tell you we’re having a baby? Oh. Well in case I forgot to mention it… we’re having a baby in April! So Rob helpfully put a red box around the baby in the picture, since there was some disagreement about its exact location. I won’t tell you which one of us was wrong and which one was right.
We should have another picture at the end of November. Hopefully by then, the baby will look less like an alien peanut and more like a regular alien.

so close to calling in ugly

My doctor has recommended removing products with salicylic acid from my skin care regimen. So I gave up my great Clean & Clear astringent for Dickinson's witch hazel which smells really bad and doesn’t seem to do a thing for me. And I gave up my awesome life-saving Aveeno Clear Complexion moisturizer for a non-complexion clearing version. And guess what? My skin looks like hell. I am approaching my very first 29th birthday, and I have the skin of a hormone raging teenager.

So does anyone have any recommendations for products that keep your skin clear, but don’t contain harsh ingredients like salicylic acid?

Thanks.

benefit of owning a Saturn

I was walking through the parking garage after work yesterday and my car didn't seem to be where I remembered leaving it. And I had this moment of panic when I thought my car must have been stolen.

And then I realized, "wait, why would someone steal my car?"

Cupcake Courier

Oh, and this isn't on my wishlist, but I totally need one.

reminder

Did you know my birthday is only one week away? Aren't you glad I have a wishlist?

A Buffy List

In honor of my friend Brian making his very first journey through the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" DVDs, I'm listing my favorite top 13 episodes. I actually tried really hard to whittle this down to a top ten. I simply couldn't do it.

"Once More With Feeling"
"Passion"
"Hush"
"Something Blue"
"Graduation Part 1/Graduation Part 2"
"Helpless"
"The Gift"
"The Prom"
"Fool for Love"
"Selfless"
"Crush"
"The Body"
"Prophecy Girl"

Hey Ya

This is my new favorite song.

Ann Richards

September 1, 1933 - September 13, 2006

Back from Montana.

We returned from our Montana adventure very late last night. The wedding was beautiful, the weather was gorgeous and the mountains were amazing. I was hardly near a computer for a solid week which means I didn't even have a headache (And is also why I didn't jump on the whole Suri Cruise thing. Duh Sally.)

Pictures anyone?

Gone to Montana.

Tomorrow morning, at the ungodly hour of 5am, we're headed off to the Airport. By 3pm we should be in Hamilton, Montana for the rest of the week with Rob's family. And then this weekend, we'll drive to Jackson, Montana where Rob's brother John, and John's fiance will be getting married. The high temperature shouldn't get out of the low 70's. Maybe I'll send you a postcard.

all TV, all the time

It’s that time again! You know, the time of year when I get inordinately excited about Fall TV shows? Here’s what I’ll be doing this Fall instead of having a life:

“Bones” (premieres Aug. 30): Procedural drama, but instead of cops, it’s an FBI agent and a forensic anthropologist. What can I say? I love David Boreanaz. It’s actually a nice change to see him getting to go out in the daylight. This show has a pretty good supporting cast. And Emily Deschanel is growing on me.

“Nip/Tuck” (premieres Sept. 5): Two plastic surgeons in Miami and their screwed up family. It’s shallow. It’s seamy. It’s twisted. It’s awesome. I’m a little concerned about the advance buzz about way too many guest stars. But the Carver is gone, and I can’t wait!

“Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” (premieres Sept. 18): Behind the scenes of an “Saturday Night Live” type variety show. It’s Aaron Sorkin y’all! Show some respect. This can’t be anything but great, it’s just not possible.

“My Name is Earl” (premieres Sept. 21): Loser wins lottery and tries to make up for his past wrongs. Everyone on this show is freakin’ hysterical, and I hope Jaime Pressly wins the Emmy. Who ever thought that sentence would ever be uttered?

“The Office” (premieres Sept. 21): The office of Dunder-Mifflin paper company. Jim kissed Pam! He told her that he loves her! But she’s marrying Roy! I can’t even tell you how much I’m dying to know where they go from there.

“Ugly Betty” (premieres Sept. 22): Based on the telenova about an ugly ducking in the fashion industry. The advance word on this makes it sound very The Devil Wears Prada. But I love America Ferrera (ever since Real Women Have Curves) so I’m thinking of trying this one out.

“Gilmore Girls” (premieres Sept. 26): Abnormally close mother and daughter live in quaint Connecticut town. Lorelai and Luke called off the wedding! Then she slept with Christopher! I’m actually kind of glad the Palladinos are gone (writers/creators Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino). The last two seasons have been lacking and a fresh show runner might just save this sinking ship.

“One Tree Hill” (premieres Sept. 27): The lives and loves of high school students in Tree Hill North Carolina. I don’t care what you say, I love this show. It’s a ridiculous and shallow teen soap opera, and I can not stop watching it. At the end of the season, there were at least four different girls who could be pregnant, and at least three people who could be dead. It was that good of a cliffhanger.

“Veronica Mars” (premieres Oct. 3): Teenage detective noir. Veronica is going to college! With Wallace and Mac! And Logan... sigh. Last season was uneven, but I still think this is the second best drama on TV. And I'll be brief now, because we all know I won't be in the future.

“Lost” (premieres Oct. 4): Forty plane crash survivors stranded on one creepy island. The hatch done got blowed up! Why is Charlie so creepy? Will Kate ever choose between Jack and Sawyer? What happened to the polar bear? And Lostzilla?

“30 Rock” (premieres Oct. 11): Yep, it’s completely ridiculous that NBC has not one, but two shows about an "SNL" type variety show. This one is a half hour sitcom written by Tina Fey and starring Tracy Morgan and Alec Baldwin. I’m gonna give it a shot.

My 25 Favorite TV Characters Ever

Inspired by James Gunn and Joss Whedon’s postings at Whedonesque:

Using their rules:

No puppets or cartoons (because then it’s just Daria, She-Ra, and Cookie Monster)

No mini-series (because there isn’t room for the entire casts of Lonesome Dove and Angels in America)

No reality show people (that means no Anderson Cooper on “The Mole”)

All characters must be regulars on the show (rules out all those people who came on just to improve flagging shows, like Robert Downey Jr. on “Ally McBeal” and Tom Selleck and Paul Rudd on “Friends”)

1) Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

2) Al Swearengen (Ian McShane), DEADWOOD

3) Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), THE X-FILES

4) Rayanne Graff (AJ Langer), MY SO-CALLED LIFE

5) Jim Halpert (John Krasinski), THE OFFICE

6) Chris Stevens (John Corbett), NORTHERN EXPOSURE

7) Reva Shayne Lewis (Kim Zimmer), GUIDING LIGHT

8) Logan Echolls (Jason Dohring), VERONICA MARS

9) Sam Seaborne (Rob Lowe), THE WEST WING

10) Christian Troy (Julian McMahon), NIP/TUCK

11) Darlene Conner (Sara Gilbert), ROSEANNE

12) Spike (James Marsters), BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

13) David Addison (Bruce Willis), MOONLIGHTING

14) Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham), GILMORE GIRLS

15) Doug Ross (George Clooney), ER

16) Joy Turner (Jaime Pressly), MY NAME IS EARL

17) Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), MASH

18) Angelus (David Boreanaz), ANGEL

19) Fox Mulder (David Duchovny, THE X-FILES

20) Perry Cox (John C. McGinley), SCRUBS

21) CJ Cregg (Allison Janney), THE WEST WING

22) Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell), VERONICA MARS

23) Lorenzo Lamas (Reno Raines), RENEGADE

24) Karen Walker (Megan Mullally), WILL & GRACE

25) Billy Bob Davis (Billy Bob Thornton), HEARTS AFIRE

This was actually a really tough list because there are several shows that it’s nearly impossible to narrow down to single characters. Really, the casts of “My So-Called Life”, “The West Wing”, “Northern Exposure” and “Veronica Mars” are so uniformly excellent that I wanted to include every single person. But I persevered. It’s a tough job, but someone had to do it.

Hello 1990! How ya been?

You can always count on Urban Outfitters to bring back an unnecessary trend.

You Are How You Camped

What your enjoyment of summer camp, or lack of, says about your character.

According to that article, I should be a CEO or a governor.

Where did I go wrong?

Maybe next year it will be a mandolin.

Today is Rob's birthday. Since he's only 31, I'm not making as big of a deal out of it as we did last year. This morning he did get to open the banjo I got for him. So if you happen to be in the vicinity of our house and it sounds like Deliverance, you'll know why. Happy Birthday killer!

what Fridays were made for

Ever wanted to bend Dubya in half, whip him around by the foot, bash him in the head, or watch him free fall through space?

Now you can, just by manipulating your mouse.

One of my friends dubbed this link "immensely satisfying".

Dear new Curra’s Grill at the Parmer-McNeil Plaza,

Your food is pretty good. Four triangles is a little skimpy for the quesadillas, but your queso is tasty, and your fajitas are generous.

But I gotta tell you… you don’t look good.

I don’t know if it’s because you just opened about a week ago, but you’re kind of bleak. Not one piece of art on the walls, hard plastic chairs and laminate benches, metal tables, metal trim, metal ceiling and giant metal fan. It’s all way too modern and Scandinavian. It makes for a very cold and hard atmosphere, not at all fun and relaxing. And considering that there’s a brand new Chipotle with equally stark décor opening in the same shopping center- it’s an ill-conceived business decision.

Oh! And your metal patio furniture sitting in the July Texas sun isn’t such a great idea either.

Please consider copying your Burnet Road sister. She’s cozy and colorful, with lots of murals and soft lighting. Everything a Mexican restaurant should be. Trust me, I eat out way too much.

Sincerely,
Kandis

Seriously, where is Suri Cruise?

Tired of waiting? Make your own Suri!

because Sally complained about my neglected blog

Here are pictures from last night's dinner at Ichiban. We took our friend Brian out for a belated birthday dinner. These photos were taken with his camera phone (which explains the blurriness). But what is my hair doing I ask you?

a confession

Since most of my favorite TV shows are on hiatus for the summer, I find myself flipping around with nothing to watch way too often. This week I managed to catch the “Dharma and Greg” pilot on the WE network, and now I’m hooked on “Dharma and Greg”. I DVR it and watch all four episodes that air daily. For a typical sitcom, it’s not bad at all. And I really like that crazy Jenna Elfman. She should get more work.

So in addition to my new “Dharma and Greg” fixation, I also find myself watching movies that I’ve seen too many times before. You know how when you’re just flipping around, there are some movies that seem to be on TV all the time? And there are some movies that I find myself watching every single time they’re on. Even if I’ve seen them a hundred times before. Even if I own them on DVD. Even if they’re actually bad movies.

Some of these are really embarrassing, so if it’s ever brought up, I’m going to deny ever having said that.

• Bring It On
• The American President
• Office Space
• Where the Heart Is
• Dazed and Confused
• 10 Things I Hate About You
• The Object of My Affection
• Bend It Like Beckham
• She’s All That
• That Thing You Do!
• Dogma
• Footloose
• Pleasantville
• Fried Green Tomatoes
• The Matchmaker

And God help me if they run a teen marathon of Bring It On, She's All That, and 10 Things I Hate About You (it's been known to happen). Then I wouldn't leave the house all day.

Which ridiculous movies can you not stop watching every time they come on?