Cutest purse of the decade

And I own it now.

And it's no wonder I love it. Here is an excerpt from Betsey Johnson's bio on her site:

Now firmly part of what was considered the “Youth Quake,” Betsey soon found herself in the unforgettable 1960’s Warhol scene. Edie Sedgwick was her house model.

Broken rib update

My friend was released from the hospital yesterday. He went straight from the ICU to his house. Huh? Wonders never cease.

My job now is to keep feeding him. That is something I can do.

Teaching her right

Two months ago, my sister and I took my niece to a Houston Rockets basketball game. My niece was mildly interested in the game, but she really enjoyed the popcorn and ice cream.

Tonight, I called my sister and asked to speak to my niece. She got on the phone and heard my voice and immediately said, "basketball game." I told her that the season was almost over but that I would take her to a a basketball game for her birthday next year. Her reply: "birthday cake!"

This is a child after my own heart - basketball and cake.

No matter how bad a day I think I have...

at least I'm not in the hospital with every rib on the left side of my body broken.

My friend R was in a terrible car crash last week, and every rib on the left side of his body is broken, some in multiple places. Someone hit his Scion on the freeway and spun the Scion around so that a dualy pickup hit him head on. They needed the jaws of life to get him out of the car. He was wedged in between the steering wheel and the air bags. Amazingly, his tiny dog was not hurt at all. R, on the other hand, is suffering. The doctor explained that each rib is covered in muscle, and the ribs act like an accordion when you breathe. When your ribs are broken, you feel pain with every breath. Ouch!

I'm trying to be a buddy and keep him company in the hospital as much as possible. I know how unpleasant the hospital can be - basic cable TV, crap meals, uncomfortable bed, and constant interruptions. I'm worried about him losing weight, so I take candy bars every time I go.

By the way - no one has ever had to stuff me with candy bars to ensure that I kept weight on. I was in the hospital for six days and did not lose one ounce. And in a subsequent day surgery, I gained 4 pounds in one day when all I ate was one bowl of ice cream.

From now on, I can't say I'm having a bad day - unless I am in ICU for the second time in a week, unable to get in and out of bed on my own.

It puts things in perspective.

Why didn't I think of this?

A cupcake making kit? Seriously?

Call me old-fashioned, but when I make cupcakes I open a cake mix and follow the grueling instructions (adding eggs, oil, and water). Then I pour the batter into cupcake liners that I bought separately. Separately! The horror!

On the grocery aisle, just next the cake mix and cupcake liners, I can buy a can of frosting and various sprinkles and other decorating accents. But buying all these things separately - and then using a smidgen of imagination to combine them to make a cupcake - is just exhausting.

I do have to admit - this is pretty clever marketing. And I love the store that sells it. It just never occurred to me that you needed to put all of this together in one box.

From brakes to a break-in

The week began with me driving crosstown to get new brakes on my car. It ended with someone breaking into my garage.

The garage is detached, and therefore not wired into the security system for the house. When I moved into the house 10 years ago, I needed to replace the side door to the garage. I was pinching pennies, and He Who Cannot Be Named (HWCBN) hung the door. We visited Home Depot and saw the prices of secure doors vs. flimsy doors, and I chose the flimsy door. We installed a simple lock, similar to what would be on a bathroom door. At the time, HWCBN said that the door wasn't secure but that he would do what I asked because it was my house.

For 10 years, the door and lock held just fine.

On Friday, the last day of spring break I might add, someone used a screwdriver to pop the lock. The only things they took were HWCBN's bicycle and an air compressor. (They left my bicycle.)

We called the police, who actually showed up in about 20 minutes. We then spent the rest of Friday night installing a deadbolt lock on the flimsy door.

Now I need to get a stronger door or wire the garage into my security system. Either way, it will cost me.

The fun never stops.

Green beer

What's the appeal of green beer? Isn't regular beer good enough? It is the elixir sent to us from the heavens. It's what Homer Simpson calls "sweet, sweet beer."

In honor of green beer day, here is a great scene from the Simpsons:

Homer: Got any of that beer that has candy floating in it? You know, Skittlebrau?

Apu: Such a beer does not exist, sir. I think you must have dreamed it.

Homer: Oh. Well, then just give me a six-pack and a couple of bags of Skittles.

For years, I have enjoyed Skittlebrau at basketball games. A few months ago, I was walking through Costco on a Friday night (because I have such an exciting life), and I heard someone say "Skittlebrau." I nearly choked. I stopped the young guy and asked if he had really said "Skittlebrau" as in Homer's favorite drink. The guy and his girlfriend looked at me like I was the crazy old drunk cat lady, but confirmed that he had indeed said "Skittlebrau."

Ah, Skittlebrau. If only I had some Skittles in the house. I'll have to manage with simple brau tonight.