Valentine's Day

Oh, the number one is not my favorite number (why?)
'Cause one means only me and there's no you (aw, Ernie)
But one plus one you see
Makes two, that's you and me
And it's more fun when one and one make two

Oh, one and one make two
At least I'm pretty sure they do
Oh yes it's true
One and one make two

Now, everyone needs somebody to share with
A pal to help and care for through and through
And there's no one that I've known
Who can do those things alone
It's a lot nicer when one and one make two

Oh, one and one make two
At least I'm pretty sure they do
Oh yes it's true
One and one make two

-One and One Make Two, sung by Bert & Ernie

From my kitchen window this morning...

The sun is rising upon a beautiful new day.

You know it's cold when...

You wake up in the morning to find a pillow frozen to the window by your bed.

Christmas is a Feeling in Your Heart

I generally complain about how long the Christmas season is - I think most of us do. But doesn't it always seem like Christmas is here too soon? I never feel I have fully celebrated. I wish I had a full week for decking the halls, figgy pudding, and one-horse-open-sleigh rides.

I have, however, come up with some small, everyday (okay, somewhat kitschy) ways to celebrate that have become cherished traditions.


Gaudy Christmas Pins
Wear one on your winter coat. Pins with jingle bells or flashing lights get extra points.


Green and Red InkUsing green and red pens will feel particularly festive in cubicalville.


Nog in Coffee
Use egg nog, soy nog, whatever nog best suits you.


Pandora
Holiday Music on Pandora


Christmas Socks
Again, jingle bells are a nice touch here (your coworkers will love them, I promise).


Merry Christmas!

Fake Empire

On my playlist these days: Fake Empire by The National. It was used in Obama's Signs of Hope & Change video sans lyrics - but I'm thinking it might have been chosen because of the lyrics. Hmm... (Good work Obama campaign.)

Stay out super late tonight
picking apples, making pies
put a little something in our lemonade and take it with us
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

Tiptoe through our shiny city
with our diamond slippers on
do our gay ballet on ice
bluebirds on our shoulders
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

Turn the light out say goodnight
no thinking for a little while
let’s not try to figure out everything at once
It’s hard to keep track of you falling through the sky
we’re half-awake in a fake empire
we’re half-awake in a fake empire

"Is how we have been really how we want to be?"

Ailing economy a chance to teach kids something they'll have forever

I will definitely want to be reminded of this article when I am doing Christmas shopping for my own future children.

Things I Love About Life - Part I

Yes, they're called Crispy Hexagons. I would love to meet the marketing people who came up with the name.

Our New First Lady

I'm not sure I have ever in my life been more excited for the next four years. Is it okay that I adore everything about the Obamas? Or am I just setting myself up to be disappointed?

I ♥ this article - hopefully every member of the news media will read it. Well done, Vanity Fair.

Welcome to the White House, Mrs. Obama!

Given all the other things Mrs. Obama stands for, do we really need to critique every dress, hairstyle, and daily make up job as if she were some teenage contestant on America’s Next Top Model? She is smart, hard-working, dignified, well-intentioned—and human.
. . .
Let’s let our new First Lady be a fully dimensional grown-up woman, with strengths and weaknesses and idiosyncrasies and unconventional quirks and adult sexuality and cranky moods and even—oh, the horror!—opinions that sometimes diverge from those of her husband. We accept all those things in the women we know in everyday life, but it’s still a radical idea to stop imposing absurdly hypocritical, quasi-Victorian standards on our First Lady.

Signs of Hope & Change: Election Night

Vote Smart on November 4th

Of course we should all vote. It's part of the responsibility of being in a democratic society. But I would actually prefer that most people didn't.

We really don't want to elect someone like Rahn V. Workcuff accidentally. He's running for the Hennepin County Soil and Supervisor seat on an anti-gay marriage and affordable healthcare platform. I am definitely not joking.

Yes, I understand how fun it is to fill in all of the little boxes - but please use caution and try to do a little bit of research first.