My new blog project: The Pretty Gene. Fans of America's Next Top Model will get the reference. It's really fun and a much needed outlet for artsiness.

"These plastic bibs smell awful...time to bleach them...I'll wash them first with Dawn and then add a bit of bleach to the washwater...what a strange smell...I know you are not supposed to mix ammonia and bleach...but there's no way there would be ammonia in dishwashing detergent!...okay these are definitely noxious fumes I've created...it smells like sulfur gas and I'm a bit lightheaded...drain sink! turn on fans! take child into the other room!...what the hell?...why yes the Dawn bottle does say Do Not Add Bleach...no it's not obvious that there would be AMMONIA in Dawn dishwashing detergent...this is why I usually buy Method products, but I have to drive all the way to St. Augustine or Daytona Beach to get them at Target...never again will I use anything other than Method...I can't believe I've been washing my dishes (and my hands) in something as caustic as ammonia."

I do not know why in the hell I switched to the new beta version of Blogger. I hate it so much. I am having numerous problems and I don't have the time to figure out how to fix them. I have always resisted upgrading to new versions of applications for this very reason, until I absolutely have to, and I don't know what possessed me to do it this time. I hope after a while I will be glad for the new features but for now I'm annoyed as all get out.

It doesn't help that we all got sick AGAIN this weekend.

Here is a good list of places to send any new beauty and health products you have lying around, that you know you'll never use.

Justin's first Thanksgiving was quite wonderful. He turned exactly half a year on that day as well. He's such a divine child and will eat anything I give him. I am starting to cut down on my eating in response, knowing that he will be taking less calories from me now. I still have ten pounds to lose before I'm pre-baby weight. It would be nice to take off five more besides.

I'm getting my braces off January 22nd.

Justin had his first solid food at the dinner celebrating his Christening on Sunday night. We were all feasting and I just couldn't resist giving him some of my mashed up sweet potato. He loved it as expected and feeding him new things is such a pleasure--the thing I really missed out on with Merritt.

I am getting rid of the email address I have had for seven plus years, not just because of spam, but because the spam filters that my provider used were blocking legitimate messages. Spam doesn't bother me that much but missing notes from friends just pisses me off. So I have a new Google mail address (tuskart at gmail dot com) and it feels really good to start off fresh.

I'm launching a new blog soon. Right now it's still in the development stage. It's probably a silly idea considering I barely have time for this one these days.

I had a piece of brown plaid gauzy fabric and I got my sister Jessica to sew a poncho for me out of it. It's my favorite new thing and I've worn it for four days in a row now. Ponchos rule. I NEED this cashmere one:

Halloween costume pictures...

Merritt as an alligator:



Justin as a bumblebee:



And Mary as Angelina Jolie:

Cool things about the recent election:
The Democrats took control of the Senate and House
Katherine Harris lost in Florida

Not cool things about the recent election:
Harold Ford Jr. lost in Tennessee
Florida elected another Republican governor

Some plants that will grow in our northeast Florida climate with minimal or no care:
Spider lily
Amaryllis
Agave
Aloe vera
Hibiscus
Oleander
Jasmine
Poinsettia
Hydrangea
Saw palmetto
Rosemary

Plants I wish I could grow but can't:
Lilac
Tulip (I planted some bulbs anyway)
Peony

Some animals we have seen in our backyard:
Tree frog
Green and brown anoles
Gopher tortoise (currently in hibernation)
Bobcat
Blue-tailed skink
Wild turkey
Raccoon
Painted bunting


Animals we could see but hope not to:
Alligator
Coral snake
Black bear
Florida panther
Brown recluse spider

The order in which we all recently caught a bad cold:
1) Merritt
2) Andy
3) Connie
4) Justin

What I plan on doing once the kids go to school:
Attend a weeklong yoga retreat
Work as a substitute teacher
Go on a trip with my best girlfriends
Go on a trip with my husband
Start painting my fingernails again

Home improvements we plan to accomplish someday:
Extend the width of our driveway
Replace most of our carpet with laminate, cork, or better carpet
Paint all our walls in beautiful colors
Construct a built-in bookshelf/computer desk/media center on one large wall of our great room
Upgrade the shower door in master bath
Fence in the yard

Stuff I would buy if I could bring myself to spend the money:
Flatscreen television
Flat top stove
Two drawer dishwasher
Toyota Prius
Refrigerator with built-in water filtration system
Haitian voodoo art
TIVO
Flying lessons
Classic UGG boots in tan
Creme de la Mer skin cream
A trip into outer space!

My friend came down with whooping cough (pertussis) recently and encouraged me to get a booster. I also read in a magazine it was a good idea, that pertussis was on the rise in the USA. So I went to the doctor and told him what I wanted--he said okay, left, and when the nurse came in to give me the shot, it was a tetanus/diptheria booster. She said I couldn't have the pertussis booster with the TD booster and that what she was giving me would do what I wanted. When I questioned it she acted as if she really didn't have time to go on about it so I just got the shot. Now whenever I notice the soreness in my arm I get pissed because I never got what I asked for. Upon further research it appears that only as recently as 2005 has there been an actual pertussis booster available for adults and I would guess this doctor had no idea. What bothers me the most is that he obviously was not listening to what I was asking for. If I get charged a lot by my insurance company for the TD booster I am going to write him a letter of complaint. I guess I should be happy my vaccination against tetanus and diptheria is updated but STILL.

Justin is nearing the six month mark. He got his first tooth yesterday and it made me a bit sad. A sign that he will be out of babyhood before you know it. He doesn't eat at night anymore but he can wake up frequently anyway. So I'm still pretty wiped most of the time.

The message from a fortune cookie I opened last night:

Art is the accomplice of love.