I was stunned to see the photo accompanying this article about a local case that made nationwide news: the Zara Baker case wherein the evil stepmom (pictured) admitted to killing and chopping up her disabled step-daughter.

The woman pictured is 43 years old!!!!! Not 83 – 43!!!

In my own effort to stave off resembling that photo, I just returned from the determatologist. I had not been to one in years – I was given the sobering news that what I thought were two new moles were really “old people spots”

Time to get out the duct tape which worked the last time!!

Pet Update: thank you for all of your thoughtful responses. We have made the decision to hold off for now. There is a whole big story behind it involving someone who we let get too close to us – and things finally hit the fan yesterday. I do not want this sweet little pet to be associated with people who bring me unhappiness. That in addition to the other concerns mentioned brought us to this conclusion. My break from school has not been much of a break stress-wise…

I may need to do a password protected post to get it all off my chest, after all, my chest needs to look perky for the recital this weekend

I’ve been contemplating disappearing back into obscurity and yet I am called to post once again. We are in the middle of a pet conundrum.

VC has fallen for a precious little kitty at the Humane Society. He was helping a friend who volunteers at the PetSmart where the pets are kept when not with the foster families.

MB was dead set against getting a pet, but he has since made a complete 180.

I am so confused!!!! Do I really need anything else to take care of? NO. I’ll have 17 credit hours this semester which will be stress enough.

MB has promised he and VC will care for the pet. We all know how that goes…

And I have some allergy concerns since 10 years ago when VC was tested for allergies he was allergic to several things, including dust, but his cat dander reading was 13 and normal is considered less than 15. His dog dander was slightly above normal at 16.

But this was 10 years ago. He hasn’t shown any signs of allergies when playing with the kitten the two times we visited but I can just see us getting the kitty in the house when things flare up.

I am sure I am making a much bigger deal of this than any other person on the planet would. That’s just my nature

His doctor’s office recommended that he should be seeing an allergist. You know by the time I have him allergy tested the cat will be long gone.

What to do? What to do?

Please share your positive and/or negative pet experiences with me. It will be most helpful.

In the meantime, I’m busy shopping the internet to save some bucks on my school books. Glad this is the last time I will be having to do that.

P.S. I’d post a picture of the kitty but it is much too adorable and hooks me in every time I see the photo. She is a “tuxedo” cat. 13 Weeks Old.

Watching the Golden Globe nominees being read this morning, I couldn’t help but think that this blog is like one of those nominated films where the parties involved are thrilled to be nominated but hardly anyone has seen the movie, nor will many more ever see the movie

Not that this blog is nomination-worthy but you can see the analogy in terms of the relative obscurity….

And now I know why I shouldn’t do any BIG thinking until after 10:00 AM

What does your blog compare to?

Two words that go hand in hand. Kind of?  Now that I’m on Christmas Break, I’ve been trying the whip the place back into shape.  Although I didn’t completely let things go over the last semester, it was short of my normal standards.

Before putting up the tree I make sure to vacuum the area so as not to stir up extra dust.  That was ingrained in my head from growing up in a tidy household.  I finally splurged on some more Swiffer Dusters too.

Here’s a small glimpse of some of our christmas decor.  Although VC is now a teenager, we still put the Sesame Street ornaments on the tree- and the key chains from the Rudolph movie that we converted to Christmas ornaments because he liked the movie so much.  A friend gave it to us when he was about 2 years old since with his then blonde hair that flipped up in front he looked like Hermie the dentist.   While the tree is not very beautiful in the classic sense,  we fill it with fun memories.

Immersed in with these family memories are several beautifully handmade ornaments as well as a few ornaments that were carefully laid beside a dumpster. I kid not. We’re all about reusing and recycling and perhaps the occasional dumpster diving

I’d be lying though if I said I can’t wait until the decs are stored back away so we will have more open space.  I’m a big fan of open space

Are  you a traditional holiday decorator with classic decorations or more of a this n’ that dumpster diving decorator?

I am sharing my holiday home decor and cleaning tips for the chance to win prizes from The SITS Girls and Great Cleaners

The infamous Black Friday  ”Walmart Pepper-sprayer” is now contemplating SUING Walmart.  A commenter raises a good point: were her kids “allegedly” being trampled before or AFTER she unleased the pepper spray??

This is exactly why this country is getting so wack (to quote VC) – definition 2 in the urban dictionary.

As I mentioned in my profile – I was maced once – accidentally and man, it was NOT pleasant.

This B needs a dose of her own mace.  Hopefully a sane judge will throw out any potential lawsuit…

Workin’ on my Christmas Cards. Already received 3 from people who were not on the list – YIKES!!  but I refuse to get more printed

Uh-HUH, that would be me. I still can’t believe I’m already 14 credits in and getting closer to the end.

Hopefully I’ve gotten most of the rote memorization courses out of the way. It was a killer taking Med Terminology I and II and Anatomy & Physiology together.

My mind does not memorize things quite as well as it did oh, 20, years ago, so it’s been particularly grueling.

I’ve picked up some scrubs. White bottoms, which I’ve probably already b*tched about. I despise white pants. Even in the 80′s when white pants were cool, with a comb in the back pocket, I steered clear, but that is the requirement. No cute scrubs with teddy bears or chili peppers *sigh*

VC says I look very “gangsta-like” with my baggy scrubs and white clogs.

P.S. I still am not receiving email confirmations when you comment on my posts so it may take me a few days to get back with all of you xxoo

It’s been a while since I’ve done a review, so bear with me as I gush about the new addition to my cookery.  Last year we somehow got hooked on paninis. Not wanting to invest in another grill, when we had a tiny wafflemaker that could turn into a sandwich maker, we’ve been making due with tiny paninis that look like this:

Cooked one a time I might add…

So I when I was offered an opportunity to review a product from the wonderful Wayfair.com, I immediately thought Paaannniiiiis!!

Instead of bread that was squished like a pancake, we are now enjoying bread that stays fluffy, but with a delightful crispiness.   And with the Delonghi Retro Panini Grill, I am able to cook 2 at a time, which allows me more time to spend with my loved ones having pleasant conversation around the dinner table And you know we only have pleasant conversastions.

They may not look cookbook perfect, but they tasted that way. I made up a couple sauce concoctions, that’s what you see oozing….

VC is already asking when we’ll be making them again, which is a good sign, because he always gives me the honest truth, teenager that he is..

What are your thoughts on paninis?

disclosure: I received this product to review. No other compensation was provided.

I’ve written before about my Alec Baldwin crush which is really quite ridiculous.  Love him on 30 Rock although I haven’t watched it at all this semester.  His awesome youtube skits with Jim from the office and his Capital One commercials and SNL appearances are a hoot too.  He has a dry wit that makes me happy.  What can I say.  I used to call it a “man crush” when referring to him but then someone informed me that I would need to be a guy for it to be considered a man crush.  Whatever.

Don’t agree with much else he says outside of his acting.  Calling your child a “thoughless pig” is never a good idea, but whatever. I ignore it because it is Alec!

Now he goes and gets himself kicked off American Airlines.  I know one must take aviation seriously but I still would have liked to have been there to see it all go down and hold his hand and calm him down  Kidding.

Who is your celebrity crush that makes absolutely no sense and that you should not admit to?

Thanks for all of the good wishes for my finals week.  Yesterday my first final was one of those where I probably would have gotten the same grade whether or not I studied, which is sad.  Tomorrow is Anatomy & Physiology, which reminds me what I should be doing instead of updating the blog….

P.S. Judging from the comments thus far I would say there are not many Alec Baldwin fans present.  And now I read on the reputable news journal TMZ that he was an “epic jerk” according to eyewitnesses  :-(

P.P.S. Is anyone having problems with wordpress not sending comments to their email or is it just me, the Alec Baldwin Loser???

bellieeeeeeeeve me, I should not be blogging with finals next week.

But there is this local commercial that completely freaks me out.  It is on the radio and features employees of a local healthcare organization telling things they do for the community so the organization looks like the next best thing to Mother Theresa.  I will not name them as I may be applying to work there someday soon – seriously.

So there are a few voices. And they say, “I am a ____ (their position) and I dole out food to hungry kids” etc.  About the third voice in is this squeaky voice that sounds like a 6 year old. I kid not – and she says “I am a doctor” – WHOA!!  A DOCTOR!!

Not that I’m one to make judgments but I like my doctors to sound like I picture a doctor would sound, namely with a voice in the normal voice range, not like that of a kindergartner.

Now I’m sure she is probably an incredibly competent doctor who I will not be visiting.

Ever judged like this and been proven wrong?

See you on the flip side (of finals)