I was browsing political commentaries today, when I happened upon this 2005 pic of columnist Arianna Huffington. Is it me, or should she have worn a more stagelight-proof bra?? And possibly better deodorant? Maybe this has already been discussed  years ago across internetland, but its new to me, so I'm going to dish about it.

You can see nipple!  Luckily for her, she has a slamming figure, so she can get away with it. What appears to be a pit-stain might just be a shadow, but weigh in with your own comments.

Today I went shopping for summer clothes...and it bordered on feeling like a chore.

I was so glad that my husband was home from work today (he took me out for a long lunch for my birthday) so that he could watch the kiddo while I went up the road to a local shopping center. There is a larger chain store, a sort of discount yet "upscale" department store that I have never browsed and so I ventured there and was pleased with the selection and the prices. However, I was not pleased with how many of the items looked ON me once I got into the dressing room.

*sigh*

I suppose the good part of this, is that I end up buying only things that truly fit well, are comfortable, and make me feel confident. I have gotten quite fussy over the years in regards to fit and flattery of any given clothing item. As noted, the upside to the challenege of finding anything I like is that it keeps me on budget. The downside is that I find myself washing the same few items I do like over and over again so that I'll have SOMETHING to cover me to leave the house!

Add to my conundrum that I have figure flaws (as does virtually everyone) and I'm short (5'2") so many items are often out of proportion and the amont of tailoring that clothes off-the-rack need gets to be frustrating. I can hem pants (which I do.) I've even put darts into a pair of jeans that gapped in the waist. I have stitched closed some suplice necklines that were too generous in the cleavage department.

But I draw the line at hemming T-shirts. Yeah, tees. I tried this once on some modal tunic tees that were so long on me, they looked like nightgowns. The result was sloppy. Luckily they were inexpensive to begin with, so I didn't mind the "experiment."

So many cute tops that have wonderful "strategic" neck/waistline embellishments or "gimmicks" like knots, pleats, pintucks, etc, so as to camoflage the tummy area...but every single one I tried on today was so LONG. I also found ZERO tank tops with any kind cut that flattered. And can I just say: enough with the cropped cutesty-retro swing jackets already!!!



Suprisingly, I did find some shorts that fit nicely, although, as I was trying them on, the communicated a very important message to me: start using self-tanning lotion STAT!!!!

Since my supply of stealthily-obtained IBS meds has run out again, I thought I'd try once again to do without. My stomach has become increasingly bloated, my lower GI tract is cramping/siezing up again and none of my other "remedy" options seem to work. However, I was still feeling a bit uneasy about obtaining the necessary meds for wellness through the overseas pharmacy I have used in the past. Not that I have had problems with the company - their service has been stellar. I just question the morality of obtaining this medication (even though my doc says its totally legit) through the loophole of an overseas supplier (the particular med has been suspended for sales in the US indefinately.)

At mass yesterday, I sat in the pew, my lower GI feeling full and painful. I prayed after communion for some direction. Then they announced our recessional hymn: "Go."

I turned to my husband and whispered, "I think that must be the theme song for people with IBS!" As in , "I wish I could just GO! (me before meds)" "Ooh, I feel better 'cause I gotta GO.(me on meds)" "Oh dear, I better find a bathroom quick cause I gotta REALLy GO! (people with the OTHER form of IBS)"

To me, that unusual hymn selection was a pretty clear validation. I ordered the meds after we got home!

The reception was well-attended but as I guessed: no little cups of wine :( It was a district-wide show, ad we have a rather large district (7 elemenatry and 2 middle schools), so this was a neat honor for her.

Here is the kiddo posing beneath her piece, which is the Picasso-esque number that was done in cray-pas AND multiple pieces of paper. It is in the uppermost left corner on the brown background  as you are looking at it.

I was pleasantly surprised to receive an envelope adressed "to the parents of..." my daughter in her homework folder the other day. It was in a "fancy" envelope, so I knew it had nothing to do with bad behavior or the like.

It turned out to be an announcement that my daughter's artwork was selected to be displayed at our local mega-library and an invitation to an "Artists' Reception" tonight.

I'm guessing, unlike downtown gallery openings, they won't have little plastic cups of wine lined up next to exhibit brochures. We are excited nonetheless, and plan to head over to the reception as a family, take pictures, and then enjoy a restaurant meal at one of the many eateries adjacent to the library area in downtown Arlington Heights.

My husband fashioned a security system for our Wisconsin cabin with a webcam and a dial-in pc. He checks it a few times a week, mostly to marvel at the deer or turkey grazing on our lawn. Yesterday he noticed that sometime between Friday and Saturday, out back door went from closed and locked to wide open!

He notified me, somewhat worried, and said he would drive up after work and jet down early in the morning sohe could still make it to work Tueday. It is a 3 hour, 15 minute drive from home to there.

I had nothing onmy agenda, and I had just put the kid on the school bus. If he could make it home early enough to get her off the bus, why shouldn't I drive up during daylight hours? So, I quickly packed up the van, and decided, since I was a bit apprehensive, to take my trusy personal bodyguard: Megan the Scottish terrier.

I knew it would be chilly and damp up there, but I did not anticipate the amount of SNOW and fog I encountered - nearly white-out conditions- on the highway! Fortunately the downpour only lasted for a few miles and a good thing - as my winshield wiper blades began to fray!

Before heading to the cabin I headed into town. First, to get new wiper blades. Second, to call the county sheriff to aid my "investigation" into the open-door mystery.

The cops up there are SO helpful. They advised me that they couldn't get a car there right away but why don't I get myself some lunch and then they'd call my cell when they were on their way. They also advised me NOT to enter the house before a sheriff got there and investigated first.

While polishing off my chicken tenders and onion rings at a local diner, I got the call, packed up everything in a doggie bag, and headed up higway 13. When I pulled into the driveway, the sheriff was waiting for me in his car.

He told me he already went through the house and there appeared to be no sign of forced entry. I was relieved to hear that. As we approached the door in question, I noticed the very large, old, tv antenna lying on the ground next to the house, completely torn away from the chimney. I knew my husband purchased a new antenna, and I assumed he removed the old one in anticipation of installing the new.

I walked through the house with the sheriff, we looked for any sign of robbery but there was not so much as a grain of rice missing. The sheriff suggested that since it had been so windy over the weekend that likely a large gust of wind rattled the house enough that the door jamb shook and the door came unlatched. I found this theory to be somewhat plausible. I thanked the sheriff for his time and proceeded to call my husband.

"The sheriff wondered if the antenna got blown off the house, but I explained that you took it down last weekend and..."

My husband interupted, "The antenna is DOWN? I didn't take it down! Did it hit the house? Check the roof!"

My inspection as well as the prone position of the felled antenna offered evidence that the cabin was spared any damage.

"I can't believe it didn't smash the porch in," noted hubby.

"Well, you see, its a good thing that SOMEONE in this family prays on a regular basis!" I replied.

Below: the mystery solved - the antenna blown off the house.

I have been activie in a committee at Church for about 18 months. It has been a wonderful experience, allowing me to utilize my "talents," share insights with other adults, and help my parish and local community.

We got a new member that someone (I"m not sure *who*) nominated to join our group. And I am on the verge of quitting because of this person.

I thought I was alone in the level if discomfort I felt as I listened to this new member complain, criticize, and through these unjustified negativities, reveal a lack of true connectivity and understanding of our parish community. A wonderful woman I work with on the committe approached me and said, "Is it me, or is The New Person completely ABRASIVE?"

Abrasive.

That word is the perfect description, because it not only indicates the stinging attitude, and coarse mannerisms, but also the physical rawness of the vocal intonation used.

I'm going to nickname this person "sandpaper" - because he/she sure as sh*t rubs me the wrong way!!

I have been spending less time writing and blog-browsing, and more time getting dirt under my nails as I work in my garden.

One of the most troublesome weeds I have sparred with over the years is burdock. It has a thick, extensive root that is very difficult to extricate from the ground once the plant is established. However, I just learned that the root is edible, and, once soaked for 5 minutes or so, resembles shredded carrot.

Since I rarely run out of carrots in my 'fridge, I decided not to "harvest this plant and instead opted to use my fave frugal and earth-frindly gardening method for weed control: newspaper.

Just rake away any mulch, lay down sheets of newpaper over weed-prone areas (torn if needed to allow desired plants to pop through) and cover the paper with mulch/wood chips. Water can soak through to the ground but weeds have a tough time popping through.

I was able to control a nutsedge problem in the garden with this method, and I'm hoping for similar success with the blasted burr-releasing burdock.

Trivia: a Swiss inventor took his dog for a walk and was curious about the burrs that stuck to the dog's fur. He removed these burdock seed pods (cockleburs) from the fur, viewed under a microcope and marveled at the ingenious hook-and-loop design that nature provided for this plant's seed dispersal. Guess what he invented? Click here for the answer.

I am tired of hearing the sound bites coming from my home state of PA in which voters declare, "I'm excited that my vote matters this year."

Why? Because EVERYONE'S vote should matter both in the primaries and general election.

I was visiting with a friend from Michigan last weekend and, of course, her vote mattered naught toward the primaries because of bizarre scheduling rules.

Why, if we are capable of a national general election, are these insane random-dates assigned to various states for primaries? And then voters in "follow-up" states are led to base decisions on stupid clips (and even less substantive "debates") hosted by our rapidly-disintigrating-into-full-blown-tabloidism media.

We need to have a NATIONAL primary day. Let VOTERS decide who their "team" will be, not "superdelegates" and other backroom dealmakers. The conventions can still happen, but they could be for team-building, workshopping, and other productive activities to get the foot soldiers of each party revved-up and prepared for the general election.

Then, we have the debacle of the electoral college. Enough! One person, one vote. That is democracy. Right now...I have no idea what the hell you call our system. Any suggestions for names?

Right now I'm leaning toward "The Greased Palm and Sound Bite Express" Suggestions are welcomed and will be considered by committee, then the leaders from that meeting will be brough before a renaming caucus, and ratified by ANOTHER committee of delegates.

My daughter's First Holy Communion was a wonderful day for all involved. We were blessed with decent weather, and though it wasn't needed, she insisted on wearing the complete Communion ensemble - which included not only the dress, veil, shoes (and hairpiece!) but also her white rabbit jacket.

Here are some cute snaps of her at home bfore Mass, with me and our wonderful, caring priests, and enjoying some of her gifts at the after-party that I hosted at a local "upscale" Italian restaurant. You can see the hairdo in the pic without the veil.