Not the most remarkable day ever...but a necessary one.

Just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive and kicking. I was in Dallas last weekend visiting my brother and his family, and from there, I went straight to Salem for business. I returned home on Friday and have been relaxing and recharging my battery ever since.

This picture represents our weekend: fleece blankets and sleeping.

Hope your weekend has been as cozy and lovely!

Snow day!!

Now it's the Midwest's turn! We're in the middle of a snow emergency, but due to the media's Northeastern (read: NYC, WDC, and Boston) bias, probably no one knows that we're getting as much snow as our NE friends. It's ok, though - I'm not bitter! :)


Here's the view from my back door. It's hard to tell how hard and fast it's coming down, but it's blustery!











Here's my driveway, along with Anne's car.

We're supposed to be in a "white-out" situation by this afternoon because the snow is coming down at a rate of 2" per hour.










I'll be staying home today - my s.o. is at work (boo!) - so I may be posting pictures of my snowman in a little while! :)

...scout's lady

Where's the birthday cake?

Phoebe: Where's the birthday cake?
Monica: Ok, we're not having birthday cake, we're having birthday flan.
Chandler: Excuse me?
Monica: It's a traditional Mexican custard dessert.
Joey: Oh that's nice. Happy birthday, Rachel, here's some goo.

Because I'm not a humongous fan of birthday cake (except the Uncle Ken special - Pollyanna Cake), I asked my s.o. if I could have birthday pudding instead of birthday cake.

It's a bit non-traditional, but it's yummy!

Thanks, everyone, for a wonderful birthday!!

It's not the greatest picture of me...I'm a little tired today. :)

What's goin' on?

Good morning! It's Sunday Feb 5 at 11:00 am. I was sitting on the couch drinking yummy coffee (in my favorite new Starbucks mug) and eating a delicious scone from Barriques, a local coffee shop. I decided to write a little update on what's going on to my adoring fans (note the sarcasm :)).

1. Work is busy but satisfying.

• I think I'm finally starting to get it! I've found my niche. I'm now the manager of our internal library of helpful documents, so I get to badger everyone to submit their favorite helpful document. Badgering equals nagging, I've realized - is it wrong that it comes so naturally?

2. My new car up and died last week.

• In August, I purchased a 2002 Eddie Bauer Explorer that was fully loaded (4WD, V8 engine, leather, etc). Except that now I know why it was such a good deal!!! The 4WD never felt quite right (although I'm not a master at driving in the snow, so I guess I didn't have much to compare it to). But when it snowed last, and I slipped and slid more than I did in my old Explorer, my eyebrows raised in suspicion. Then, all of a sudden, it stopped shifting from 2nd gear to 3rd. Just stopped. So, $2000 later, I have a new transmission and a new 4WD transfer case. We're in ship-shape now!! Except that I'm a tad grumpy.

3. As previously posted, I'm going to London in April!

• There were a few questions about this post. Apparently, I was too mysterious. :)
• I'm joining Mom and David in London on April 9, and we'll be there for a week. They had planned this lovely trip to London, and I got wind of it and invited myself. They've had enough romantic get-aways for one year, thank you! :)
• I'm super excited because it's one of my top 3 places I'd LOVELOVELOVE to go, and I'm going! (For future reference, my other 2 are Italy (cities, countryside, and beach) andJapan.)

4. I joined a gym.

• This gym is like no other. There are no fitness machines, no free weights, no blaring TVs, no scary musclemen.
• Instead, it has classes - fitness and yoga/pilates. There's one major area that's like a high school gymnasium where the fitness classes take places - classes like "recess" and "push 'n pull." Fun! Then there's a yoga studio where the yoga, pilates, and yogilates (ha! The OC!) classes take place. There are little rooms for personal training where you can work on strength and conditioning.
  
• This gym was made for those who get squeamish at the thought of a normal, meat-market gym.
  

5. I'm going to Dallas in 2 weeks.

• I haven't seen my brother and his family since JULY. JULY, people! Insane. So, I'm crashing my nephew's 13th birthday party (along with Mom and David).
• I haven't been to Texas since December 2004, and it's way overdue.
  
• For any of you VWs that may read this, I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU!!!! :)
  

6. I turn another year older next week.

• I'm not saying this to draw in the Happy Birthday emails (hee), but to say that with another birthday comes the requisite "where is my life going" question. It is a fun time of year, as my s.o.'s birthday is 3 weeks before mine, so we go through this at the same time each year. Hey, at least the sun is shining!
  
• Last week was a bit rough, but I *think* I've got it all figured out. Haha. I'm sure God is laughing.
  

I just had to go chase Scout back inside after I'd let him outside to enjoy this Sunday morning sunshine, and he ran to chase the birds in our neighbor's bush. When I approached him, he started purring and meowing and rubbing his cheek on the side of their house. He was totally unfazed and probably happy to show me all the birds that he'd been pursuing. I couldn't be mad at him! It's like when you're trying to punish a child and they just smile up at you.

Back to my coffee and book (I am Charlotte Simmons by Tom Wolfe - anyone read it??).

Have a great day!

...scout's lady

I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Anne to answer the following questions:

Four Jobs I've Had in My Life:
1. Nanny
2. Research/teaching assistant
3. Starbucks barista
4. Project manager

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over Again:
1. The Bourne Identity
2. Sliding Doors
3. Kill Bill (vol 1 and 2)
4. Emma

Four Places I have Lived:
1. Houston
2. Memphis
3. Raleigh (briefly)
4. Madison

TV Shows I Love to Watch:
1. Friends
2. Sex and the City
3. Alias
4. Lost
5. Felicity
6. Chappelle Show

Four Places I've Been on Vacation:
1. Paris - March 2004, to visit Jennifer
2. The Outer Banks, NC (Ocracoke, Nags Head) - so many times!
3. San Francisco, CA - several times especially when my brother lived there
4. Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia - June 1998, with my high school choir

Four Websites I Visit Weekly:
1. www.google.com (who hasn't googled recently?!)
2. www.nwa.com/mall (each time I buy something, I get FF miles!)
3. www.amazon.com (looking for my next great read)
4. www.people.com (my daily dose of celeb gossip)

Four of my Favorite Foods:
1. hummus
2. black-eyed peas
3. macaroni and cheese
4. sushi

Four Bands/Singers I Can't Live Without:
1. Coldplay
2. Mark Knopfler
3. John Legend is really growing on me.
4. Sarah McLachlan

Four Places I'd Rather Be:
1. at Granny's house in Austin
2. riding a horse
3. sitting on a beach with a great book, my iPod, and a great friend
4. at a Longhorn football game in Austin (yes, I'm a die-hard)

Four Bloggers I'm Tagging:
1. sopheathene
2. ANYONE ELSE?!?

A new expression for a cute boy!

Yesterday, I was spending a relaxing afternoon at my friend's house where she and I visited, drank tea, and played with her very cute son, Sam. As she and I sat on the floor talking, Sam played with his little Fisher Price toy. Then, out of the blue, he looked up into my eyes and made this very face. I laughed so hard.

Turns out that this is a new expression, and I just love it! It's so demonstrative and purposeful. It's so fun to watch little children come into their own and develop their own quirks. How *does* that happen?! Another one of God's mysteries...

London Calling!

I'm going to London in April, and I'm thrilled!

I know that many of you have been to the UK before, so I'm taking recommendations of little holes in the wall that I just shouldn't miss.

Here are the sights that are on my list so far:
1. Trafalgar Square
2. Buckingham Palace
3. Westminster Abbey
4. Big Ben
5. Harrod's

How about these places? Worth visiting?
1. Piccadilly
2. Covent Garden
3. Notting Hill

Cheers!

...scout's lady

Who is Scout?

In the spirit of MLK, I thought I'd look a little closer at Scout, the main character in To Kill a Mockingbird. Not my kitty, but Jean Louise "Scout" Finch, played by Mary Badham.

Except that I really don't feel like writing a whole blog about her...I just wanted an excuse to post her picture!!!

She's toooooo cute!





And who could post a blog about Scout without mentioning the greatest movie father of all time, Atticus Finch?!

















So, there, I've done it. My mini-shrine to TKAM and Scout and Atticus. Maybe my next cat will be named Atticus.

...Scout's lady

God bless you, MLK.

"...I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood.... I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama...will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South....With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring." And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So... [f]rom every mountainside, let freedom ring.

When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

These words hold true today as much as they did 43 years ago. I've highlighted the most meaningful, true words (to me) in red. That's what life is about, to me:
EQUALITY.
CHARACTER.
SISTERS.
BROTHERS.
SYMPHONY.
TOGETHERNESS.
FREEDOM.

We must continue to fight for what is right. Look inside each person - you'll see God in everyone.

(excuse the cheesiness, but this is truer than true.)

...scout's lady

And if you haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird, go do it. Now!

Getting lost in Lost

Ingenius creator JJ Abrams has struck again. I should've known it was inevitable and that I shouldn't fight it. As we all know, history has a tendency to repeat itself.

First came Felicity. And I was sucked in to the ups and downs of the co-ed-next-door who survived college the same 4 years I was in school. What's not to love about the down-to-earth curly-haired girl who unwittingly captured the hearts of 2 young men? I couldn't help myself - I had to purchase all 4 seasons on DVD the minute they were released.

Then came Alias. Somehow, JJ Abrams managed to create a show where Felicity is in the CIA. Syd and Felicity share a vulnerability in relationships and a tenacity to do the right thing, and they always seem to prevail - Felicity in normal life, Syd as a spy. Oh, Sydney and Jack, will you be MY spy family? Vaughn, I'll go to Santa Monica with you and live happily ever after!

How a non-violent Texas girl relates to a spy chick, I'll never know, but leave it to JJ - he manages to reel in even the most macho of men (ahem, I'm not naming names!).

And now, there's Lost. It's almost impossible to ignore. Computer geeks are hypothesizing about what's next. Critics are raving and handing out awards. JJ strikes again. It seems absurd - 48 people marooned on a tropical (haunted) island are captivating America! Relatable? YES! Fathomable? no. Realistic? More so than Survivor!

Check it out. Join me and legions of fans who've fallen prey to JJ's creativity. I promise you'll like it.

...scout's lady

Texas Fight!

Come early, stay late, be loud, and wear orange! It's a good day to be a Longhorn!

T minus 23

The clock is a-ticking, and my heart is a-thumping. People are calling it the best championship game ever in college football history. Put your spurs on, folks, it's gonna be a dandy!

On sportsillustrated.com, a columnist listed the Top 10 Behind the Scenes moments with the Texas football team. I picked out my 3 faves:

1. Texas head coach Mack Brown downloaded plenty of hip-hop as part of his "loosening-up" before the season. He maintains that he enjoyed sampling all different types of music and kept a straight face as he stated, "I know Fiddy."

Ummm, yeah, Mack. Stick to football, man.

2. In October, with the Astros facing the Cardinals in the NLCS, junior safety Michael Griffin wore an oversized Albert Pujols jersey to the weekly Monday press conference. When asked about the timing of his clothing, Griffin admitted that he didn't know who Pujols was. "I just like the color," he said.

The best thing about this blurb is what it reminds me of. My aunt tells the story of when she and my cousin (her son) and his wife were watching an Astros game. When the announcer announced Albert Pujols, both Jordan and Gina busted out laughing. My aunt asked them what was so funny. "Say his name again!" they said. "Poo-holes!"

That's just good, old-fashioned potty humor right there. And darned hilarious.

3. Though the BCS has cracked down on celebrities fawning on the sidelines at college football games, Vince Young wants to hold up Texas' share of stars at the Rose Bowl. Actor Matthew McConaughey spoke to the Longhorns before the Big 12 championship, and stood on the sideline in Houston alongside Roger Clemens. "We can get Jay-Z [and] Beyonce on our line. We can get a lot of people on our line," said Young in response to SC's A-List following. The Texas connection with hip-hop's first couple is that Young reportedly took part in Beyonce's sister's wedding.

Huzzah! Let's name the USC celeb fans: Nick Lachey, Alyssa Milano, Shannen Doherty, Kirsten Dunst...need I go on? B-list, anyone?

Matthew McConaughey was recently crowned Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. Roger Clemens = best pitcher ever?? Jay-Z and Beyonce are hip-hop royalty with uber-hotness (not that I really love them, but whatever). Texas totally has better fans!

Hook 'Em, Horns!

...scout's lady

On Wisconsin!

Everybody likes a good story, right? Well, kudos to Barry Alvarez who is stepping down as UW's football head coach. He won his last game today - the Capitol One Bowl vs. Auburn - and went out on a very high note.



















Congrats to the Badgers, and don't forget, you Wisc-ies, root for my Horns on Wednesday!



Hook 'Em, Horns!

In the harshest place on earth, love finds a way.

Mom gave herself the DVD of March of the Penguins for Christmas, so we watched it yesterday. It's definitely worthy of all the attention and praise it has received as it is a heartwarming story of Emperor penguins in Antarctica and their struggle to breed.

The most amazing characteristic of these animals is that they truly share the duties of bringing the baby penguins into the world. Before winter, they migrate to a breeding ground (where the ice is so thick that it won't thaw enough to be a danger to their young), find a mate to whom they'll stay loyal for a year (yay, monogamy in animals - it *does* exist!), and breed. The female lays the egg and pushes it to her mate who will sit on the egg to let it incubate for 2 months. Meanwhile, the female waddles the 70+ miles back to the sea to eat. The male remains at the breeding ground without food until the egg hatches 2 months later.














Soon thereafter, the mother returns to feed and protect her baby (from the elements) while the male returns to the sea. They continue this trade-off for months until the baby is large enough to fend for itself, at which point they all return to the sea and the baby is fully weaned.

I'm sure they are smelly and loud and yes, they are wild animals, but how cool would it be to have a penguin in your house?!? They could be so cuddly and cute.



















I highly recommend this movie - it's really wonderful to learn about these unique bird-fish animals. And how cute is their waddle?!?

That's my plug.

...scout's lady

Airport mayhem...and we haven't even left yet!

PREFACE
My s.o. is a bad planner. He's knows this; I know this; anyone who knows him knows this.
Yours truly is a good planner. Call it genes, call it estrogen; whatever it is, I thrive on calendars and planning ahead.

A few things that make me happy:
1. Checking in online 24 hours before my flight. You can change your seat to exit rows or get bumped up to first class! What's more exciting than that?!
2. Better prices when you plan ahead.
3. More time to look forward to planned event!

But, the s.o. doesn't care about such mortal things.

STORY
We're both flying home today. He to Baltimore, me to Raleigh. We're on the same flight from Madison to Detroit (note: my good planning pays off!). I've arranged it so that we're sitting next to each other (yay!). (Small side note: I'm really excited to fly with him this evening. Here's why: every other time I fly, I wish I were somewhere else. With him. And the instant that we land, my phone is on, and I'm texting him. But today, there's nowhere else I'd rather be than beside him. Perfect contentedness.)

So, last night, he and I are discussing today. When I'll come home from work, when he'll come home, when we'll leave for the airport. The flight's at 6:09. It takes a healthy 30 minutes to get to the airport. When would you like to leave, I say. 5, he says. My heartrate quickens. Umm, I don't think so, I say. How about 4:15? 4:15?!? That's ridiculous. I don't want to sit in the airport all afternoon, he says. Yes, well, I want to actually MAKE the flight today, I retort.

My conflict skills rising to the occasion, I say, well, since you don't get stressed out if we're late, and I DO get stressed out if we're late, and you hate it when I get stressed out, why don't we just go with my plan?

Grumble grumble grumble.

He caved. We're leaving at 4:15.
THE END

Some would say I'm a handful. And to them, I say, bollocks to you! I'm just opinionated. And passionate. And a little neurotic. Nothing that a little medication can't tame. :)

Merry Chrismukkah, everyone!

...scout's lady

Oh, Nora, you clever girl!

I never thought I would write a post about the talented Ms. Ephron, but alas, with credits such as Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and the peerless When Harry Met Sally, she remains one of my favorite screenwriters. (We'll temporarily pardon her for going to Wellesley...blech). Bless TBS for continuously showcasing her work.

Here's a hearty smattering of wonderfully memorable quotes (thanks, IMDB):

"You've Got Mail" (Meg Ryan [Kathleen], Tom Hanks [Joe], Greg Kinnear [Frank]):

• [Frank and Kathleen discussing her older friend's former fling.]

Frank: She fell in love with Generalissimo Franco? Kathleen: Don't say that. We don't know that for sure. Frank: Who else could it have been? It was probably around 1960... I mean, it's not like he was something normal, like a socialist or an anarchist or something... Kathleen: It happened in Spain. People do really stupid things in foreign countries. Frank: Absolutely. They buy leather jackets for much more than they're worth, but they don't fall in love with fascist dictators.

• [Joe standing on line at Starbucks, ranting to the cashier.]

Joe: The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino.

"When Harry Met Sally" (Meg Ryan [Sally], Billy Crystal [Harry], Bruno Kirby [Jess]):

• [Sally and Harry discussing relationships.]

Harry: You take someone to the airport, its clearly the beginning of the relationship. That's why I have never taken anyone to the airport at the beginning of a relationship. Sally: Why? Harry: Because eventually things move on and you don't take someone to the airport and I never wanted anyone to say to me, How come you never take me to the airport anymore? Sally: It's amazing. You look like a normal person, but actually you are the angel of death.

• [Harry and his friend, Jess discussing Harry's recently broken marriage.]

Jess: Marriages don't break up on account of infidelity. It's just a symptom that something else is wrong. Harry: Oh really? Well, that "symptom" is fucking my wife.

And now, for some one-liners from my new favorite show, Family Guy:

Peter, riding a circus elephant: Look Lois, the two symbols of the Republican Party: an elephant, and a big fat white guy who is threatened by change.

Peter: Lois, everyone has their sanctuary. The Catholics have churches, fat people have Wisconsin, and I have the Pawtucket Brewery.

Peter: Brian, there's a message in my Alpha Bits. It says "OOOOOO". Brian: Peter, those are Cheerios.

Peter: Now, I know you're a feminist, and I think that's adorable, but this is grown-up time and I'm the man.

Peter: Yeah, I'm looking for some toilet training books. Salesman: Oh, yes, we can help you there. "Everyone poops" is still the standard, of course. We've also got less popular "Nobody Poops But You". Peter: Huh... well... you see... we're Catholic so... uh... Salesman: Oh, well then you want "You're a Naughty Child and that's Concentrated Evil Coming Out of the Back of You".

Stewie, after Lois tries to feed him his broccoli "airplane style": Damn you, damn the broccoli, and damn the Wright Brothers!

Stewie: [plucks a banjo] Oh! I feel so delightfully white trash! Mummy, I want a mullet!

This show is too funny; it's hard to represent accurately in writing. Catch it on TBS, Cartoon Network (Adult Swim), and Fox - check your local listings. I sound like Barbara Walters on The View.

Have a great day!

...Scout's lady

Splash Sara All Over! or Men Can't Help Acting on Sara.

Wow, that's kinky.

Go here to try out your name with the slogan generator, then post your slogans in the comments - it'll be fun!

Does You Does, or Does You Don't Take Kevin?

I DOES I DOES!

'Tis the season...

...for super-cool movies. Take Memoirs of a Geisha for instance. It's an unbelievable book, and I can't wait for the movie. Go see it Friday, Dec 9!
Also, on my list of movies-to-see:

1. Rent
2. Chronicles of Narnia
3. Walk the Line
4. Pride and Prejudice
5. The Family Stone

...for yummy holiday meals. We stayed in Madison for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful meal.

He's an excellent cook while my cooking leaves a lot to be desired. I helped with the mashed potatoes! And Anne's pumpkin pie was awesome...and gone in a day.
Thanks, Anne, for contributing to our great meal!

...for snowy days. It snowed here all yesterday, blanketing the city in about 3 inches of snow. The s.o. and I walked to the grosto (I'm trying out a new slang term - whaddya think?) while it was snowing - he grumbled the whole way ("Tell me again why we can't drive??"), but I love taking brief jaunts in the snow. Especially at night - it just feels magical to be in the freezing cold weather, plodding through the snow, with few cars on the road. Everything just quiets down. It's just wonderful.

...for insanely amazing football. It would've been great if UCLA had gotten its act together yesterday to put up SOME sort of fight against the Trojans, but I suppose it's in the cards that Reggie will win the Heisman. I'm okay with that (I mean, look at the guy).

As long as Vince wins next year. If only we could rewind time to give Reggie the 2004 Heisman (Matt Leinart = overrated), then Vince would be a shoe-in for the 2005 trophy. Oh well. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. But, in great news, the Horns laid a Texas-sized beatdown on the Buffs. 70-3. I felt a *little*bad for the Buffs, but not really.

Did you know that the Longhorns scored an average of FIFTY points per game this season? FIFTY. The only team that held them below 40 was Ohio State. How's that for a cool stat?! Bring on the Trojans.
Texas vs. Troy - two mythical lands collide in Pasadena, January 4. Be there or be square.


...for cars to break down/die. As I type, the s.o. is in the garage fixing Old Faithful who is old but not so faithful. She has died. Her thermostat died, her intake gasket died, and she was just tired. But, in the effort to save at least $1000, he's agreed to give it the ol' college try.

So, with the help of friends' tools, he's out there banging around and cursing. Cross your fingers that he can lure the ol' girl back for a few more months anyway.

...for celebs to have babies. Ben and Jen welcomed their little girl last week - congrats! She can join the legions of other celebrity children hounded by the press: Apple, Rocco, Ryder, Sean Preston, Sam and Lola, and Ava and Deacon.

...for warm cups of coffee with friends. Anne is going to work at Caribou Coffee which opens up in about a week in Madison. I'm so excited - free drinks will reign again! Maybe I'll start calling it "the 'bou." What do you think?

...for trips home for the holidays. The s.o. and I are going our separate ways for the holidays (sniff), but we're on the same flight to Detroit on Dec 22nd. I'm excited about it because I usually fly alone - it'll be nice to sit next to him for the hour-long hop to DTW. It's the little things, really.

We have our stockings hung by the "chimney" with care...and that's about all the decorating we could muster this season. We debated about getting a tree, but decided against it since we'll both be home for Christmas Day. I'll be in Raleigh, he'll be in Columbia, Scout will be in Madison, and there we'll all be.

It'll be great to see the fam in NC - it's been too long. Sopheathene and I will be reunited at last.

A flat world...and a more bimodal America?

I'm reading Thomas Friedman's latest, The World is Flat, and I'm captivated. He discusses America's standing in the global marketplace of, particularly, science and technology. Granted, I'm only in the first chapter, but Friedman has already cited several vivid examples of outsourcing of American jobs. Radiologists overseas interpreting CAT scan and xray films at a fraction of the cost of what an organization would pay to keep a large staff of full-time radiologists on board. Call centers and software developers. Accountants. Even reporters. India's cost of living is significantly less, thus companies can easily afford to pay Indian employees a fraction of what they'd pay an American. You can see the temptation.

I'm among the first to flinch when people rant about buying only American-made products, and staunch patriotism makes me edgy.

However, I can't help but wonder (ahh, Ms. Bradshaw, you clever girl!) if the outsourcing of these jobs (aka. leveling of the international playing field) isn't bad for America. Are we rendering ourselves dependent on too many others? Already, our country is funded by oil money from the Saudis (I won't proclaim to be very knowledgable about this, but Fahrenheit 9/11 was convincing in its message on this issue), so by sending valuable jobs overseas, what are we doing to middle-class America?

You can't replace the face-to-face interaction, so we'll still need radiologists back home to meet with families to discuss a diagnosis or accountants to discuss investment or retirement options in the flesh.

But, by sending the "grunt work" elsewhere, what will happen to those without college educations? Or entry-level positions (aka. college grads with a liberal arts education!)? Will we turn into a society of two classes? Upper and lower?

If the world is becoming more and more flat, where does that leave the people in America's valleys?

...Scout's lady

The proud owner of a Poang

The funny thing about Poangs is that they sound a LOT cooler than they actually are.

What is a Poang?

A Poang could be a sub-species of koala bear (maybe it's the "oa" paired together that leads to the association).

A Poang could be a kind of deadly virus, spread only by blowing on a dandelion (I don't know how that would work, exactly).

A Poang could be a new dance move (but then I would surely not be the owner of one, given that I'm not one to dance with any real frequency).

But really, a Poang is simply a chair.

From IKEA.

Land of awesome, Swedish words.

Perhaps, on my next visit, I'll go for the Ektorp Tullsta.

Or the Klackbo. Or the Klappsta. The fun never ends! Where do they get these names?

Obviously, it's my bed time.

Signing off for now...Scout's Ekeskog.