Its a Boy!

From The Huffington Post:

People magazine reports that Bristol Palin, daughter of the Alaska governor, has given birth to a baby son:

Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, gave birth on Sunday to a healthy 7 lb., 4 oz., baby boy in Palmer, Alaska.

"We think it's wonderful," said Colleen Jones, the sister of Bristol's grandmother Sally Heath, who confirmed the news. "The baby is fine and Bristol is doing well. Everyone is excited."

The baby's name is Tripp Easton Mitchell Johnston, according to Jones.

The baby's father, Levi Johnston, is training to be an electrician. Bristol is taking correspondence courses to obtain her high school diploma. The couple has been together for three years.

See photos of Johnston and Palin here. Johnston's mother was recently arrested on drug charges.

With Mikus' assistance, I've been using parts of my Christmas trip to scare my mother-in-law with my ideas (some real, most ridiculous and suggested to drive her a little crazy) for potential names for our offspring. Tripp Easton Mitchell, although obviously the work of a Palin, seems nearly run of the mill compared to Beatbox Cayenne Dustbunny for a baby boy and Errand Fennel Gherkin for a little girl.

People magazine reports that Bristol Palin, daughter of the Alaska governor, has given birth to a baby son: Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate S...

People magazine reports that Bristol Palin, daughter of the Alaska governor, has given birth to a baby son: Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of former Republican vice-presidential candidate S...

Dear Jesse

I am writing to inform you that the time has come for us to expand our family. The addition of a pug puppy should happen instantly. Please use the following video as proof of the immediacy of this request.

Your loving wife, Lisa.

via Slog

Christmas Trip to Wisconsin: The First Day

Jesse and I are in Wisconsin for Christmas this year. Because we're away, we didn't decorate at home. I think this is contributing to my minimal holiday cheer. Also contributing: being away from my family and the lack of any real "traditional" Christmas day. For the Godell's, traditional Christmas entails "Christmas dinner" and presents the day before Christmas Eve. The morning of Christmas Eve is a 3-ish hour drive to northern Michigan for a few days: a gathering with the Maki family (Barb is nee Maki) and a gathering with the Godells and shmoozing with a wide assortment of people I don't know. I have scheduled a massage for December 26. We'll spend the balance of the day in MI before returning to WI on Saturday morning. I know I'm being a Mastroberti/Edmondson elitist and that I am, in part, now a Godell/Maki. I know I'm being a princess and that J has willingly and without complaint spent at least two Christmases with my family and, therefore, away from his. ::huff:: As Tovah said to me when I was fussing to her, "Maybe its time for the princess to be dethroned." Classic Toves, if you ask me. HA!

So, on to the trip thus far.

Day One:
We left Endicott at 6 and drove to Syracuse in the heavy snow. We had a 9:04 a.m. flight to Detroit. Although the drive was slow and slippery, the Subaru successfully got us to the airport with a smidge of time to spare. Check bags ($15 bucks!), security, board almost immediately. The flight still is supposedly on time. So we get all situated and wait. We get in line for deicing which takes, ready? 70 minutes. The deicing, of course, didn't take 70 minutes but the combination of waiting for our turn to deice, the emptying and refilling the deicing truck a few times, and our actual deicing after a heavy snow took 70 minutes.

The flight was uneventful and we still thought it might be possible to catch our connection.

......

We didn't. We missed it by, perhaps, only a few minutes. Boo.

We got rebooked onto a flight 5 hours later, for which we are lucky. Many people were getting rebooked onto flights the next day or who knows what other nightmares people experienced. So we ate lunch and we poked around. I got mad upon hearing that Barb insinuated that I wasn't fast enough and that's why we missed the flight. Although iring, the delay was fine. Our rebooked flight was delayed again but it wasn't too long. 40 or 50 minutes, maybe.

The balance of our travel day was smooth, thankfully. Aside from being totally exhausted and our of sorts, I was happy to be in Wisconsin.

Then I exited the airport and felt the -5 degree weather. Brr. Still happy? Okay, I guess so.

Our flight landed in Appleton which is about 90 minutes or so from the Godell homestead. We had dinner and stopped at a grocery store so we could further stretch our legs before getting packed into another small space and heading to Antigo, where the Godells live.

More to follow.


Princess Hyacinth image via AllPosters

Required Viewing: Cat+Roomba=Transportation Hilarity

This has been making the rounds on the wide world inkernets but I've only just come upon it via my husby.

Enjoy:

Today in Heterosexual News: At Least He's Not Marrying a Man

From ABC:

Drew Peterson, the former Chicago police sergeant who is a suspect in the disappearance of his fourth wife, Stacy, and the homicide of his third wife, Kathleen Savio, is engaged again.

Drew Peterson, 54, recently proposed to his 23-year-old girlfriend of four months, his publicist confirmed to ABCNews.com, but he will not reveal her identity in an attempt to shield her from the media.

Congratulations to the happy couple!

via SLOG

Andrew Reminds Me to be Less Selfish

My friend, Andrew, has put together this beautiful and thought-provoking video.

I found Andrew's message so poignant. I know I have been all fussy and wound up about how this Christmas isn't going to be exactly like I want it to be or like it has been for the prior 26 Christmases.

I needed to be reminded what is really important. Thanks, Drew.

O Come from Andrew Means on Vimeo.

Caption This Photo Contest

J just early-gifted me this terrific silicone and stainless steel splatter screen from Williams-Sonoma. Now I can make beignets for Christmas with my family without coating my entire kitchen in greasy bits.

So, upon my receipt of this gift, I say, "Husby of mine, take a picture of me with my new, terrific silicone and stainless steel splatter screen!" The first picture is my initial pose.

I took a look at the image on the camera and reacted thusly:
After all, it is a pretty damn funny photograph.


I gave J a LUSH Gold Frankincense and Beer shower jelly. Yay for early Christmas prezzies!

Dakota Culkin, Macaulay's Sister, Dead at 29

From ABC News:

Dakota Culkin, the 29-year-old sister of actor Macaulay Culkin, died yesterday from injuries sustained after she was hit by a car in Los Angeles Tuesday.

"She was taken to UCLA hospital with massive head trauma and passed away on Dec. 10th at 12:45 PM," the LAPD said in a statement. "The driver stopped, rendered aid, and identified himself as required by law. Detectives have determined that the driver was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so no crime was committed."

In a statement to reporters, Macaulay Culkin's spokeswoman, Michelle Bega, called Dakota's death a "terrible tragic accident" and said the family had no further comment.

There are Plenty of Reasons to Love Ithaca

My newest reason:
At GreenStar, the local natural foods cooperative market, when you are checking out, they ask you if you want paper or corn (bags).

I love it.

If only Bingo could be even a little green.... Even a smidge would be better than (almost) nothing.


P.S. If you're wondering what we chose, we chose neither since we brought our own bags.

Overheard in the J and L House

Lisa to Jesse: I have never loved yellow mustard as much as I do this year.








image via Annie's Naturals

Stop What You're Doing and Watch This Because it is Hilarious

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

via Imago Andei

The Past Few Days in Review

I know I've been an absent blogger for several days. Everything is busy and I'm feeling sluggish but here is a brief update:

• Thanksgiving: J and I had a really nice Thanksgiving with my family. As always, there was plenty of good food, good company and good booze. We made whole wheat crescent rolls, raw broccoli salad, pear sauce and whole wheat monkey bread. Of course, we also brought pomegranates and an array of craft brewed beers. Unfortunately, Lauren was sick for most of the evening (she subsequently ended up admitted to the hospital with severe belly pain and bad viral infection. Thankfully, she is home now and on the mend.). Everyone was pretty relaxed-even me. I have noticed a pattern recently: during family gatherings, I tend to be either
  
• a) sullen and moody which is no fun for anyone. Its tough on J; I'm sure my fam wonders what's wrong even though, most likely, nothing is wrong. I'm just sullen.
  
• b) wildly hyper, goofy, off-the-wall. Certainly, this is preferable to sad sack Lisa but the hyper crazy Lisa often leaves me tired and panting.
  

Is this what the Godell's have in store for them? Yikes. I don't think they could handle it; they wouldn't know what hit them.

• TanDrew: J and I were lucky to have some great company last night. Tovah and Andrew were driving from CT to IL after Thanksgiving and stopped at our place for the night. Although brief, the visit was fun and relaxing. Time with them is always a treat. I made vegan vegetable soup with garlic crostini and Dorie Greenspan's chocolate chip cookies for the omnis. We caught up, played some Wii, snuggled on the couch and watched The Simpsons mock (m)Apple (thoroughly timely and appropriate since Andrew is such an apple lover).
  

I'm already starting to get excited about my trip to see Toves and Drew in March for my birthday. Yay! See you in 115 days.

Army Wife Tries to Kill Husband, Instead, Kills Two Young Children

From Seattle PI:

GAINESVILLE, Ga. -- An Army wife accused of setting her apartment on fire botched an attempt to collect on her husband's $400,000 insurance policy when he survived and her two children died instead, a federal prosecutor said.

Billi Jo Smallwood, 35, was denied bond at a Friday hearing in northeast Georgia, where she appeared on federal charges of damaging government property by fire.

"She set fire to her own home in hopes of killing her husband and wound up killing her kids," Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Gabay-Smith said.

::shakes head:: What an awful story. Gay couples in Arkansas who would love to have a family can't adopt kids. Unfortunately, crazy, irresponsible bio moms everywhere are permitted to raise their children with no questions asked.

Rest in peace, Sam and Rebekah

via Slog
image via Seattle PI

Autumn is Great and All

But all the special things that happen when its winter time are incredibly enjoyable.

Here is a list:

• Christmas! This includes:
• family festivities and a giant feast
• church
• anticipation
  
• preparing; cooking and baking
  
• decorating the tree
• splurging
• shopping for, wrapping and giving neat presents
• stockings
  
• Advent calendars
• reminiscing
  
• charity
• Christmas cards
• seasonal microbrews
  

Additionally:

• flannel sheets
• pomegranates
• down blankets
  
• down vests
• bundling up; layering

Now, I'm off to find my down booties and a sweatshirt.

Tim Mollen and I Talked

and we agree that you should replace your antiperspirant with a nice, aluminum-free deodorant. I like the Crystal Rock but that's no secret. Read Mollen's take on the pits of dealing with your pits (with permission) and tell your friends:

The Lost Journal

Tim Mollen

Journal Entry: September 23, 2008 (age 39)

Sweating the Details Can Be Good For Your Health

Once in a great while, a marketing campaign can actually make you stop using a product that you’ve used for years. Recently, I’ve started seeing ads for “clinical strength antiperspirant.” So far, so good. I think I fit into the sizable demographic that doesn’t like to be involuntarily wet and smelly, or at least not during business meetings or family functions. And like most people, I usually reach for the product that says “extra strength,” rather than the one that says “regular strength.” Regular strength is for common people, not exceptional people like you and me. We have atypical needs that require extraordinary solutions. Let the peasantry get by with half-measures; we power-users must be fully satisfied!

But the next ad I saw went on to say that clinical strength antiperspirant achieves its improved results by increasing the aluminum compound content. Aluminum? Increasing the aluminum? Huh? I went to my medicine cabinet and got out my regular strength, sweat-battling stick. Sure enough, the label listed the active ingredient as aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex. Just the aluminum part sounded bad enough. With the added negative connotations of zirconium (cheap diamonds?) and tetrachlorohydrex (bleached fish?), I became truly concerned.

After some online research, I realized that for the past 30 years, I have been plugging the pores under my arms with…metal?! “That oughta do it,” I imagined the product development engineers saying. But is cutting off a natural process of the body by filling openings in our skin with metal really the best option? From what I gather, the science on possible health problems resulting from this approach is unsettled. Nonetheless, the idea just sounds wrong.

That didn’t stop me from toying with the idea of stitching Reynolds Wrap into all of my shirts. Sure, I’d make crinkly sounds whenever I moved, but I could also get a little closer (and not be shy). I began to rationalize this iron-clad method of preventing B.O. The electrolytic reduction of aluminum is referred to as “smelting.” Therefore, I reasoned, he who smelts it will not smell it.

Following that kind of unassailable logic, what other innovations in personal hygiene could be achieved by getting past such outdated concepts as “safety” or “health?” We could make toothpaste that’s 50 percent bleach. Or an eye drop that actually kills blood vessels. Or skin-toned spackle to fill in laugh lines. The possibilities are endless! Cement styling gel. Lip em-balm. Flesh/odor-eaters. Q-tip drill bits. Perhaps one day, nature’s most poisonous protein could be injected into people’s faces to get rid of wrinkles. Oh wait – that one is already being used. (It’s not just toxic – it’s bo-toxic!)

On third thought, I think I’ll just try a deodorant without antiperspirant. If Mennen Old Spice can’t be Sure of the Degree to which Secret methods are being used to make their underarms Arrid, Soft & Dri, there should be a Ban.

Tim Mollen is funny and he is aluminum-free, right, buddy?

Green is Good for My Body, Good for the Planet

This past year, J and I have seriously overhauled the way we consume groceries, produce, meat, household items, gifts, personal care items and more.

Previously, I blogged about my switch from mass market antiperspirant to Crystal Body Deodorant. I have been using it for months and not only do I still use it, I want everyone else to use it. I even started a dialog with local humorist Tim Mollen who wrote about his pits and his concerns regarding toxic antiperspirant in his weekly newspaper column. I told him about my love of the rock and love of not being poisoned; we became "sweat buddies" with an unusual commonality.

I also blogged about my switch from traditional lady part products that add waste to the landfills to the Diva Cup. I made that switch in July and, after a couple awkward months of adjustment, I now am happily using and reusing my Diva Cup and feeling good about eliminating some trash.

Recently, I have discovered LUSH Cosmetics, a company that makes handmade, 100% vegetarian cosmetics with fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. 75% of their products are vegan, they are all nearly preservative-free. PLUS Lush buys ingredients only from companies that do not commission tests on animals.

I am currently using Coalface Cleanser with ingredients including licorice, charcoal and sandalwood oil. Since it is a bar soap, the only waste is the small plastic bag in which it shipped (70% of their products are available "naked"). The scent was a bit strange to adjust to. Its very licorice-y and woodsy but now that I have grown accustomed to the smell, I find myself craving black licorice which I have previously disliked. The soap really does great exfoliating work because of the powdered charcoal, also a great detoxifier.

I have already noticed a great improvement over my previous chemical-laden, contained in several ounces of non-recyclable plastic facial cleanser. I have no more mini-breakouts along my hair line and the mini-breakouts along my jaw line are almost all gone, too!

Lush says the following about Coalface:

Removes impurities and tones combination skin

Who would have thought charcoal and liquorice could get along? One is tough and gritty, the other sweet and syrupy. But charcoal and liquorice could just be the odd couple of skin care, teaming up to fight oily, troubled skin in our Coalface cleanser. Powdered charcoal removes impurities and mildly exfoliates while liquorice heals naturally. Sandalwood oil tones the skin (and mediates should charcoal and liquorice disagree about anything).

I bet you're wondering what I use to follow such a great first act! I'm glad you're curious. I'm using Tea Tree Water toner, which I also love. I do a few quick spritzes after my licorice wash and I am ready to go. My skin feels so smooth and I love the tingly feeling I have from the tea tree oil.

LUSH describes Tea Tree Water as such:

Tea tree and grapefruit detoxifying facial spritzer A spritz of Tea Tree Water here, a spritz there and all your worries soon vanish along with inflamed pores and pesky blemishes. We combine tea tree with grapefruit water and juniper berry to make this calming elixir. Use it daily or as a pick-me-up in any dry environment. Our special mixture tightens pores and lifts away dirt and oil so your skin can breathe. What more could you ask for?

Oh, and remember I mentioned that all LUSH Cosmetics are handmade? Well, check out who made my Tea Tree Water toner. Its NIC! I've got his picture and everything.

I dig it!

Future greening of this bod: solid shampoo. NO BOTTLES!

To be continued....

Dan Savage on Bill Maher

Plus they make fun of Ashton Kutcher (referenced emails) and an Episcopalian defends gay marriage with scripture. A great show! It almost makes me regret tossing HBO and requesting the same fate for the balance of the fancy cable.

Gayest SNL Ever

SNL responded to California passing Prop 8 by doing a show packed with gayness: pixelated male nudity, man on man make out sessions, Justin Timberlake in a leotard, men proposing to men, more gay gay gay.

Also: Justin Timberlake is hilarious during the Weekend Update when he hosts the show in 2 minutes flat.

UPDATE: I had to replace Justin in a leotard with the "Kissing Family" sketch. The video I found was illegal (eagle). Boo.

I Guess I'm Not the Only One Who Thinks I Should Eat Shit and Die

My application for admission to Binghamton University for their Human Development program has been rejected.

A Baby Penguin and His New Buddy, a Toy Penguin, Will be BFF!

From Daily Mail:

A baby penguin which had to be separated from its family after a greedy sibling continually ate all its food has found companionship - with this stuffed toy.

The penguin - called Pingu - began to lose weight and appeared weak after its bigger relative regularly helped himself to all the fish on offer.

Concerned keepers were forced to remove Pingu from the enclosure, but at just three-weeks-old the penguin was in desperate need of company.

Staff bought a £3.99 toy penguin from the zoo shop which acts as a surrogate sibling to the chuffed chick - who cuddles up to its new friend all day.

via Slog
ridiculously adorable images via Daily Mail