Fresh veggies at the White House!

For those of us who signed the petition to take back the White House lawn,
there's good news. It seems it has been decided that the First Family will have a vegetable garden at the White House! What great news and a wonderful example to set for the American people. I can't wait to see what is planted. I hope Sasha and Malia will get involved. I've heard they aren't very fond of certain vegetables. Maybe if they have a hand in growing them, it will make the girls feel differently about them.

Yay! Someone was listening!

March is for Birthdays

With Nathan's sixth birthday on the 7th, Lauren's third birthday on the 13th, my pal Cindy's on the 14th and Daniel's on the 18th, March is a very busy birthday month around here. Nathan's and Lauren's are the big ones and I'll let the pictures tell the story.

 

 

 

Wistful and wishful girls.
Don't worry Lauren, your turn is coming soon.

 

Blow hard, Nate!

 

It's Lauren's turn.

 

Busted!

 

Don't burn your hair!

 

 

And a few of Matthew.

 

 

 

Facebook, shmacebook

I confess. I was a member of (gasp!) Facebook for, oh, let's say....five minutes. Somebody poked me and I poked back and then it went downhill when I got poked by some weirdo. So I cancelled my account after realizing I was getting sucked further into the giant black hole of the "interwebs". Lord knows, I spend enough time on here already.

Anyhoo, I found this amusing little article which I shamelessly lifted from today's Columbus Dispatch which shamelessly lifted it from The Chicago Tribune. I added the photos without shame.

"So you're trying to give up Facebook.

That a Web site can become a time-eating vice shows how we humans have devolved into double-clicking automatons.

Well, good for you, because the first step toward recovery is admitting you have a problem.

We will tell you now that temptation will avail itself as you try to wean yourself from the compulsion.

It's hard, we know, not to post that cute picture of cats eating cheeseburgers.(Guilty!) But fight the urge.












Use this guide as an inspiration:


1. Give a real gift to someone you really want to have it--much better than "virtual coffee" or any of the other Facebook tchotchkes.







.
2. Watch Tron. Consider the fate that awaits those who stare too long at the computer. (Dude, really?)









3. Try playing real Scrabble (or Scramble, as Nathan calls it)--the version with the tactile game board and wooden tiles. (My favorite board game.)




4. Poke people. Actually poke them. Then walk away without saying why you poked them. (I would not suggest doing this to just anyone on the street!)




5. Write down the last five things you did. Wait 10 minutes. Read the list. Ask yourself whether you care. ('Nuff said.)


















6. Join an actual group--the Shriners, for example. Resign after two weeks.








7. Develop a real-world obsessive-compulsive disorder. Wash your hands a lot; wash your hands a lot; wash your hands a lot. (My apologies to those who might be suffering from OCD.)

















8. Instead of posting pictures, organize the ones you've already taken.

9. In the grander scheme of things,do you really need to know that "My favorite color is blue" is one of 25 random things about Julie, your middle-school algebra classmate?

10. Join Twitter. It's like Facebook for people with short attention....Ooh! Shiny object!"


Ummm, maybe not.

Home and Garden and Movies Show

My best friend Cindy and I went to the Central Ohio Home and Garden Show at the Ohio Expo Center on Saturday. I broke one of my cardinal rules about going to anything like that on the opening day. I think everyone in central Ohio was there. The venue seemed smaller than usual, probably affected by the economy, and the bodies were really packed in there. I kind of hate tight crowds, so we didn't stay long.

I was hoping to see an equal balance of inside and outside displays, but there was only one featuring an ultra-gourmet kitchen. (Anyone watch HGTV?) Not that I aspire to one of these over-indulgent monstrosities, but it's fun to look at them occasionally. I was mildly impressed by the movie blockbuster garden theme which prominently focused on outdoor kitchens and living areas. Well, I suppose that's the new "in" thing and they're very nice, don't get me wrong, but who can afford to create that kind of landscaping these days?

It was hard to get pictures because of the crowd, but here are my favorites. Oh, and my batteries died in the point-and-shoot, so I didn't get them all. I'm sure this will be enough to start you yawning.

'Cast Away' was one of the most detailed displays. Notice Wilson beside the grass shack.

 

 

 

'The Secret Garden' was sweet.

 

Herbie was ridin' high in 'The Love Bug'.

 

'Ratatouille' was cute and imaginative, but I couldn't get people out of my way to actually get any flowers.

 

'Mary Poppins' was a little insulted when I asked if she was twelve. No, sixteen.

 

 

Lastly, three water features that I liked.

 

 

 

(Of course, you can click on the photos to make them bigger.)