Spank my booty
In a new study out this week, after analyzing six decades of expert research on corporal punishment, psychologist Elizabeth Gershoff found links between spanking and 10 negative behaviors or experiences -- including aggression, anti-social behavior and abuse of children and spouses in adulthood. The one positive result of spanking that she identified was quick compliance with parental demands. "Americans need to re-evaluate why we believe it is reasonable to hit young, vulnerable children, when it is against the law to hit other adults, prisoners, and even animals," Gershoff writes in the new edition of the American Psychological Association’s bimonthly journal.

Todd and I were both spanked as children, and I couldn't find this study's results further from the truth in both our cases. Were you spanked as a child?

If you were, do you feel it affected you negatively? Because quite honestly, that time I threw my arms and legs around a gumball machine in the bank and screamed bloody murder 'til my Popeye pried me off kicking and screaming...well, it is my firm belief that my hiney needed tanned that day. Not "time out". And believe, me I never pulled that with him again! (Article from MSNBC.com.)
posted at 04:22 PM | link-

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Mrs. Robynson
Today's horoscope...anyone wanna audition? Heh.

"Your sensual side might show itself today, Robyn, and you might find yourself viewing young men in tight jeans more appreciatively than you usually do. Racy novels and movies may suddenly seem appealing, and you might want to make some purchases at the perfume or lingerie counters. Romantic encounters are intense and passionate - so make sure you allow plenty of time for them! Don't be surprised if you turn into a Siren! Enjoy yourself!"
posted at 03:33 AM | link-

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You found out I've got a crush on you
Guess who we both got to talk to on the phone tonight? This country is just too friggin' big sometimes! We all need to be able to meet up at the local pub on weekends for dinner and drinks just because...grumble, grumble... It was great talking to you, Mikey!
posted at 02:49 AM | link-

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Dirty Deeds done dirt cheap
We went to see "Mr. Deeds" tonight. If you're a Sandler fan, two thumbs up. Not his best...but definitely good for a few laughs. If you don't care for him all that much, make it a rental. Before we left Todd took a new photo of me in the shorts I started my diet in. They fit snug back then. My hips are the only thing holdin' them em up now -- I've dropped about two sizes. Goooooo water!

And I bought these tonight after admiring Stacy's new blog skin all week -- froggies!
posted at 01:34 AM | link-

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Looks like Batman brought his own Robyn

Bitches and gentlemen, it's showtime, hurry hurry, step right up...

Let's get down to business. I don't got no time to play around, what is this? Must be a circus in town. Let's shut the shit down on these clowns. Can I get a witness? Hell yeah!

That's it. I hereby decree every Friday to be Eminem Friday. I kinda like this bouncy feelin in my computer chair goin' on...lightning? What storm?
posted at 05:48 PM | link-

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Squish the bug
By the way, I discovered a small little bug last night regarding MT 2.2's TrackBack feature. If you want the fix Ben provides one here.
posted at 03:50 PM | link-

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Am I ever gonna see my wedding day
In week two of "Today Throws a Wedding", you get to choose the couple's reception location. NBC's picking up the tab -- I pick Tavern on the Green! Sixteen bucks for a shrimp cocktail? You betcha! It's obvious their fancy money didn't go into web design though...
posted at 03:20 PM | link-

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Señora, you're a whore-ah!
E! has a new list of Adam Sandler's Funniest Moments. It's worth it just for the video clip of "Schmitt's Gay"! I still remember watching that live in the dorms back in college and nearly falling off the couch I was laughing so hard. Ahhhhh... Good times. But how in the hell (pun intended) did Little Nicky make the list?
posted at 01:48 AM | link-

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Hitting the trifecta
Hey Stacy -- remember when we were asked to come up with original reasons for disliking President Bush? Well can you please add these to my list now? (Article from MSNBC.com.)
posted at 01:22 AM | link-

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Lizard lovin'

"Yeah, I shagged 'er baby. I shagged 'er rotten!" The view we had at dusk tonight when we were weeding the front yard. Couldn't resist capturing the moment and sharing it here...

posted at 10:07 PM | link-

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A new World order
The Daypop Top 40 has a link to "The New World Trade Center 2002", and most of the reviews of the design seem to be positive. But the first thing that popped into my mind when seeing it was "sticks of dynamite" and the thought of that gave me the willies. Is it just me? (For more info visit the New World Trade Center 2002 site.)
posted at 03:28 PM | link-

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Why buy the cow...
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- It's official. Men really are afraid of commitment.

Confirming what women have long known, an American study released on Wednesday shows men are dragging their feet on getting married.

Researchers say one of the biggest reasons that men are delaying marriage is that more and more couples are choosing to live together before marriage. As a result, sex -- traditionally one of the main reasons for men to marry -- is relatively easily available, they say... (Read full article at CNN.com.)

We got married at 23 and lived together beforehand. Oops.
posted at 02:28 PM | link-

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CAT FIGHT!
Damn. I missed it. (Transcript at Dawson Speaks.)
posted at 02:19 PM | link-

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He's got the cutest little baby face

Kieran Nicolas was welcomed into the world with wide open arms at 2:22 a.m. on June 25, 2002. He weighed in at 8 lbs., 1 oz., 20-inches tall. Mommy, daddy, and son are at home now comfortably resting. Many congrats Nikki and Ryan. He's precious!
posted at 02:05 PM | link-

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ASSMAN
I love creative license plates. Here are "red lists of banned tags, letters taking umbrage at supposedly offensive plates, official letters notifying drivers that their plate is objectionable, plate holders's passionate pleas to keep their beloved tags, and more" from The Smoking Gun. Make sure to hit the "Letters of Complaint" section first. Apparently saying "RAIN SUX" is a very bad thing -- and quite offensive -- here in Florida. And of course, the best accidental plate ever, also from right here in the Sunshine State! (Link from The Smoking Gun.)

P.S. I think I'm related to this guy. At least, I want to be...
posted at 02:53 AM | link-

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She's one in a million girl
Did you ever see "Mumford"? Looks like Jason Lee's wet dream just came true. (Pun intended. Ba dum dum.) $5749 a doll though? And $6999 for a male doll with $800 shipping? Yikes. It's been awhile, granted, but I don't remember it ever being that bad to be single! (Link from nastybastard.org.)
posted at 02:00 AM | link-

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I came to help restore your pluck...
Dear Sandra,

I have seen your ass all 20 times you have mailed it to me in the last two days (at every single account I have). I promise. Really, I have. I wouldn't lie to you. Although it is nice, I have seen better to be honest. I also do not want to download your MPEG and watch you <censored for mom!> -- there's no telling where that ass has been. Now go away and pester that guy who wants his penis enlarged naturally -- I'm quite sure he could use your help/services.

Love,
Robyn
posted at 01:01 AM | link-

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It's in the photograph
Finally! Todd's cousin Susan just e-mailed me recent photos of her trip to Austin, so now you can all see the face behind the wit (and that bitchin' new haircut she's sportin').
posted at 05:14 PM | link-

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Valley girl
Another new WM! client to check out -- Napa Villa Vineyard Retreat. "The Villa is a privately owned luxury rental property completely furnished and equipped for destinations that could include vacations, executive retreats, family reunions or weddings."
posted at 04:05 PM | link-

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Tempted but the truth is discovered
I love Jason, yes I do -- I love Jason, how 'bout you? Because I always admire and respect a fellow overworked, underpaid perfectionist that doesn't know the definition of the word "quit"... After reading stuff like this yesterday, he went to work on Blogrolling again.

"I saw on a bunch of people's blogs how they were creamin' their undies about the feature in that other service where you roll over the blog's link and it tells you when it updated last. Well guess what? Go roll over your blogrolling links... If there isn't a description set for the link already and if I have a timestamp on file it tells you to the second when the blog was last updated. It's using GMT right now because that's the standard but I'll have it in soon to use custom timezones. That's a piece of cake but I can't be editing the DB tables tonight. Not exactly all that with it. But if the blog isn't found in the weblogs.com updates and you don't have a description set then it reverts to the URL in the description. Now isn't that snazzy?"

Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
Happy Happy Joy Joy Happy Happy Joy Joy
Happy Happy Joy Joy!

I don't think you're happy enough. That's right! I'll teach you to be happy. I'll teach your grandmother to suck eggs. Now, boys and girls, let's try it again!

Thanks Jason!
posted at 03:01 PM | link-

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Always a bridesmaid
DeKuyper Schnapps recently held a "Worst Bridesmaid's Dress Contest". I seriously would have hurt the bride that forced the poor winner in her dress if it had been me! I realize the goal is make sure you, as the bride, are the most beautiful woman in the room -- but this and this and this are just darn-near criminal to do to a friend! At least the winner, Robin Durr, got a free trip to Puerto Rico out of the deal -- considering she was out $210 for the frock.

And speaking of weddings, today is my mom's anniversary -- we both hope you and Gary have a very happy one!
posted at 02:57 AM | link-

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When I wake up in my makeup it's too early for that dress
This blog entry about Courtney Love's fight with Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic (formerly of Nirvana) reminded me of this link Queen e-mailed me. Her caption said it all. "What the hell happened to Courtney Love?" There was a period a couple of years ago where she cleaned up, lost a lot of weight, and looked...dare I say...beautiful. But those photos are just frightening -- even if they were taken during a morning show. "Wilted and faded somewhere in Hollywood" is right!
posted at 11:04 PM | link-

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The freshest you've got - this year!
Just spotted over at Meryl's...freshblogs.com. "Unlike other programs, it doesn't rely a timed list like weblogs.com. If you don't do weblog rounds for a week, you can still see what's been updated since your last round of reading. Move the mousepointer over any blog in the list and it'll give you the date and time it was last updated."

Straight from the freshblogs.com website: "Freshblogs enables web users to track new content on their favorite weblogs. Your published watchlist displays the most recently updated sites at the top. As time passes, weblogs that are updated less frequently will drop in 'freshness' and disappear from the list."
posted at 04:24 PM | link-

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Don't hate me because I'm beautiful
Sorry Chris -- I swear I didn't mean to! It seems, at least for now, that Christine and I are the two slices of bread in a Chris Pirillo sandwich over in the Blogrolling Top 100 Links.
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Think I wanna drive your Benz? I don't.
As if we couldn't see the security cameras a mile away... E! is going to air a "True Hollywood Story" about Winona Ryder on Wednesday, June 26th.

E! also ranked the "best and worst TV moments" of the 2001-02 season. Their "best love triangle" was Ross, Rachel and Joey on "Friends". What-evah!

Arnold Schwarzenegger accepted an honorary doctorate on Sunday from Chapman University in Orange, California. His advice to the 2002 graduating class? "Buy when Martha Stewart buys. Sell when Martha Stewart sells. And if at all possible, marry a Kennedy."

Kermit the Frog is getting his own star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame".

Entertainment Weekly asks "Is J. Lo the new Julia Roberts"?

And last but certainly not least...I found a new (well to me) entertainment blog discovery...anythingbut.com!
posted at 04:28 AM | link-

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Here comes the bride...
One of my long-term destination wedding forum members is getting married today in Vegas by Elvis. She left a note over the weekend saying "anyone who wants to view the wedding live can see it Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. Las Vegas time". If you catch the ceremony, let me know (and please take a screen capture or two if you can)! The address to watch for it is here.
posted at 02:59 AM | link-

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Blow the candle out dear and make your wish come true

Statistics prove, prove that you've one birthday,
one birthday ev'ry year.
But there are 364 unbirthdays --
that is why we're gathered here to cheer.
A very merry unbirthday to you, to you.
A very merry unbirthday to you.
It's great to drink to someone,
and I guess that you will do.
A very merry unbirthday to you!

I'm sorry I missed your actual birthday Erika, but I wanted to wish you a very merry unbirthday today!

posted at 01:54 AM | link-

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Permanent vacation
"So why don't you tell us -- what did you do this summer, Robyn?"

Well we got to the Disney World Hilton about 2 p.m., even though check-in wasn't until 3 p.m. We were hoping to get a king-size bed if we got there early enough, since you can't specify room or bed type with Priceline.com. We didn't have any problem checking in at all, but after exiting the elevators and walking down literally the longest hallway I've ever been down in my life (while Todd fought the urge to skip and sing "I Want to Be an Airborne Ranger"), we got to the very last room at the end -- you guessed it -- two double beds. So we had to go back down the hall and try again. I told Todd this was probably their scare-tactic. By the time most people found the room they'd be too tired to argue. But a couple of apologies and few clicks of a keyboard later, we were off to our next room. And they must have upgraded us because it was literally twice the size of the other one! It had a long entry hallway, a separate little office area with desk and computer chair (better than our own!), walk-in closet, a really nice entertainment center, fully stocked fridge, two chairs, terry robes, bath sheets instead of towels, and a king bed with a feather duvet and feather pillows. *cue Robyn singing "I think I'm gonna like it here"*

We got settled in and then decided to head out for a late lunch. After about 5 minutes of "I don't know...what do YOU want to eat..." I had an epiphany. We'd yet to make it to CityWalk at Universal Studios so we headed over in that direction. We literally arrived just minutes before the rain. We had settled on Pat O'Brien's (a New Orleans institution) for lunch, and barely got our drink orders before the floodgates opened. The food was so-so. It was just enough like New Orleans fare to make us want an authentic muffuletta. But the drinks were perfection and we were both just a little lit when we made our exit. We decided to head over to the Cineplex and try to catch a show and wait the rain out. We bought tickets for "Minority Report", and then killed the hour before showtime "wastin' away again in Margaritaville".

No spoilers here, but I thought the movie was just "ok". I was very glad this theater sold alcohol to keep me distracted. I've seen a lot of very positive reviews floating around, but quite frankly, I don't like Tom Cruise. I'm sure that had a bit to do with my "eh, take it or leave it" opinion. Some of the technology was fascinating -- and some (like the advertising) was downright frightening to stop and think about. The thing that REALLY drove me bonkers in the plot line concerned Cruise's eye scans while he was a fugitive though. Hello?! Anyone ever thought of deleting him from the computer system and denying him access? Anyone? Most companies have your login and password out of the company's computer system before the security guard can even escort you and your belongings out the front door. But oh no. Not in this plot line. He had access to just about any room he (or his wife...ahem...) wanted to enter. Pretty weak if you ask me. But enough of that...

It was still raining when we left. Being good little Floridians we had rain gear, but the crowds were thin and there just wasn't all that much going on. We shopped for a bit and then decided to head back to the hotel about 10 p.m. We dried out for a bit, and then drove over to the Downtown Disney area. To be honest, I don't know how the folks at Disney are going to compete with Universal in this regard. The only thing Disney has going for them is better bus service to and from their resort (and nearby) hotels. Everything at Universal was just done better. We say this after having three years of Disney annual passes to back us up.

For instance, admission to Disney's Pleasure Island is now $19.81/person. This only includes your admission to the clubs inside. It does not cover food, drinks, or the AMC Movie Theater in the West Side. By contrast, for $8.95/person you can get an all-club access pass at Universal's CityWalk. Or for $12.00/person you can get all-club access plus a movie ticket. And $18.00/person will get you dinner (at either Margaritaville, the Hard Rock Cafe, Pat O'Brien's, Motown Cafe, NASCAR Cafe, NBA City, Pastamoré, or Latin Quarter) and a movie. Universal's Cineplex was much nicer inside than Downtown Disney's AMC as well.

We weren't in the mood to fight the rain all night, so we didn't bother with Pleasure Island admission. We just did a bit of shopping and then went on a hunt for food. Disney has started closing up the West Side earlier than they used to. Up until recently, you could shop and eat until 2 a.m. Lights started going off at 11 p.m. last night. So we gave up and drove off-property to search for food. It seemed everything was closed. Chili's here in town is open until midnight -- but not the one by Disney World. We threw our hands up in defeat and had a lousy late-nite meal at Steak 'n Shake that made us leave regretting the choice. We went back to our hotel room and curled up to watch "Shallow Hal" before going to sleep (and requesting a late 1 p.m. checkout).

We woke up today to sunny skies, but when the noon news came on it was already raining at the beach. There went our plans... So we scrapped them and went to the Orlando Premium Outlet Mall instead, after a yummy lunch at Chevy's. We didn't buy all that much (just a few shirts at Banana Republic, some Bobbi Brown cosmetics, socks, etc.) but it was a nice end to a fabulous quick get-away. Claire was very happy to see us again!

If I owe you e-mail, I do apologize. It's going to take a couple of days to catch up and I have a mountain of work waiting for me... At least we have more rain to look forward to tomorrow. Our new front lawn is loving it!
posted at 10:46 PM | link-

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Orlando Magic
Hi! 'Member me? Well we're back home with many tales to tell... (And of course a few new photos at Shutterblog.) Unfortunately we didn't get a lot of photographs because it pretty much poured buckets from the time we got there until the time we left. But we made the most of it.

More to follow soon!
posted at 08:48 PM | link-

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It's time to play the music - it's time to light the lights

"As a superstar, moi knew it was only a matter of time before I would be asked to star in my own music video. And how could I say no to Weezer, with the adorable Rivers, Scott, Brian and Patrick begging me to be their muse." ---Miss Piggy

"It was wonderful returning to the set of The Muppet Show to tape Weezer's new music video for "Keep Fishin". I know I speak for all the Muppets when I say it was great working with such a talented band. I just hope Pat has recovered from Miss Piggy's extra attention--both the kissy kissys and the karate chops, sheesh." ---Kermit the Frog

Just when I think I couldn't love Weezer more, I go and see this. My favorite track on Maladroit ("Keep Fishin'") and the Muppets are in it! And Rivers Cuomo is clean-shaven once again. I...need a moment.
posted at 01:30 AM | link-

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Turn me on tonight, 'cuz I'm radioactive
Todd just found this for me -- Blog.Elements, the periodic table of weblogs for 2002.

I am 93, Np, (Neptunium): Neptunium is a radioactive rare earth metal. It is the first transuranium element to be artificially produced. Edwin M. McMillan - Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1951 - and Philip H. Abelson first found neptunium in 1940 after uranium had been bombarded by neutrons from the cyclotron at Berkeley, Calif. Neptunium has been produced in weighable amounts in breeder reactors as a by-product of plutonium production from uranium-238. All neptunium isotopes are radioactive. Neptunium, a silvery metal, exists in three crystalline modifications. Neptunium is chemically reactive and similar to uranium. Neptunium ions in aqueous solution possess characteristic colours: pale purple; pale yellow-green; green-blue; colourless to pink or yellow-green.

Pretty freakin' cool, no? Don't you stand, stand too close - you might catch it.
posted at 12:13 AM | link-

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Robyn is...
Here's a fun one I got from Michele -- type your name and the word is (with quotes around them) in Google, and see what you come up with. The following are my top 15:

Robyn is...Here
Robyn is...my sexy swinging wife that love sex at swingers sex parties
Robyn is...caught up in the hectic pursuit of attending high school while maintaining a career as a much-booked country singer throughout southern Ontario
Robyn is...mean
Robyn is...hard put to think of something as impressive; she even considers stealing
Robyn is...a pitcher/first baseman who has the potential to see time at both positions (at least I'm not the pitcher AND "the catcher")
Robyn is...currently doing a short solo tour of the United States
Robyn is...abroad alone in this hostile land
Robyn is...one of our international priorities
Robyn is...the trendsetter of the 2000's
Robyn is...a professional photographic model
Robyn is...available to give presentations or workshops at your college, university or community group
Robyn is...only 14...her amazing yodeling and singing talent is past her years
Robyn is...in fact, one of the few art dealers in the world
Robyn is...super cool! She smells okay too!

So what is/are you?
posted at 06:31 PM | link-

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Birthday and anniversary greetings
Happy first day of summer everyone! I wanted to wish Todd's brother, Brian a very happy birthday -- and also pass along anniversary well-wishes to Lynn and Michael. I can't believe it's been five years since we joined you at the Disney World Wedding Pavilion! Here's to many more happy years ahead for all three of you...

posted at 02:45 PM | link-

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Today's the day we'll say "I Do"
The Today Show is throwing yet another wedding on-air -- click here to vote on this year's couple. (I voted for choice #3, Rick and Dori, because of the way she got her ring and I got mine.)
posted at 05:32 AM | link-

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The price is WRONG, Bob
I haven't used Priceline.com for awhile, but I thought what the hey earlier tonight and bid on an overnight hotel stay for this weekend to surprise Todd. I somehow managed to snag a room at a 4-star Florida Hilton for sixty bucks! (The Hilton website offered a "discount rate" of $239 for the same room, same weekend.) Since we're not getting a full-week's vacation for awhile, and Todd has an extra week's worth of personal days to burn as a result, he's taking Monday the 24th off. Hilton, here we come!
posted at 04:57 AM | link-

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If you need me, let me know, gonna be around
July 18, 2002 is "International Blog MEETUP Day". Check to see if there's a gathering in your community! Both Tampa and Orlando are listed... (Link thanks to Christine.)
posted at 04:07 AM | link-

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Sock it to me, baby!
As a rule, I don't like Heather Graham all that much, but this photo is just damn cool.
posted at 05:14 PM | link-

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Well I hate to say but pop ain't going solo
Todd just sent me this link about one of my biggest peeves these days...the radio. We're too poor to fork over the bucks for satellite radio, but we just can't subject ourselves to the constant crap that is the Tampa Bay airwaves. No, I do not want to hear Creed for the 337th time today, thankyouverymuch, Mr. DJ. Instead, we live off CDs and MP3s.

One station in town has what they call "Sunday School" on Sunday nights. We actually find ourselves purposely going out during this time just to hear decent music. They play all "old school" alternative music, before it even was alternative music, during the 3 hour program. All the best in new wave and retro from early Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, The Smiths, Violent Femmes, Jane's Addiction, The Pixies, etc.

Beyond that, we're pretty much screwed. The show ends and we're back to six days and 21 hours of more Clear Channel "all Jimmy Eat World, Puddle of Mudd, Blink 182, and Linkin Park all the time" -- with playlists created specifically with 14-year old girls in mind. I also find it amusing that Tampa Bay has not one, but two self-proclaimed, "new rock alternatives". Unfortunately the "alternative" the other station is talking about includes piping out Ricky Martin and Eric Clapton over the airwaves. Yeah, I guess they didn't get the memo.

"FM is creatively tired," said Lee Abrams, a veteran radio consultant now employed by the satellite radio company XM. "The attitude is, 'We're making money. Why change it?'

"They make their money, they pay the bank, everybody is happy," Abrams continued. "And music is very low on the totem pole."

You said it, brother! For more of the above article, visit CNN.com.
posted at 03:19 PM | link-

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The greatest thing since bread came sliced
Here are a few blog reads for your Thursday viewing pleasure:

desine.net -- I just LOVE this design
The Aurora Chair -- you can thank Jason for Blogrolling
Annessa's Blog -- my next partner in "Florida Blogger Goldschlager" crime
color me pink -- if I bribe her, maybe she'll bring us Sonic and let us use her pool
Nasty Bastard -- just look at those eyes

And if that's still not enough for ya', here's 10 more from last month...
posted at 04:05 AM | link-

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Better cut off all identifying labels...
I'm down to the oldie-but-goodie part of my t-shirt pile as a mountain of dirty laundry starts to grow. The one on top tonight? An OU NROTC Naval Ball shirt from 1992. I love this shirt. It's old. It's comfy. It's one of those that just makes you feel safe and snuggly when you put it on, because it reminds you how you got it. It was a loaner (that I obviously never returned) after a fabulous fall break in Pensacola... Everything I had to wear home had sand on it, so Bryan tossed me this shirt my final morning in town.

What's your favorite "I swiped this from my ex and never returned it" possession -- clothing or otherwise? Is there a good story behind it?

(P.S. Bryan, if you ever read this one day -- you can't have the shirt back. Sorry, but I've had it longer than you did now.)
posted at 11:53 PM | link-

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Yakkety-YACCS, don't talk back
Until this weekend, I didn't even know it was possible to export/import YACCS comments from Blogger into your Movable Type entries. (The Timekeeper found the link for me for his blog.) I'm about to attempt it for the first time, so I'll report in the comments how it went. Wish me luck! And detailed, step-by-step directions are here if you want to attempt it for your own blog.
posted at 08:44 PM | link-

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Update those links
Stacy has a new domain for Blogatelle. Make sure to update your Blogrolls and bookmarks!
posted at 04:47 PM | link-

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Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp-dressed man
Todd just sent me this link to an eBay auction...the auction title says it all! Too bad the auction has closed. They would have made such a lovely Christmas gift for him!
posted at 04:25 PM | link-

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Wait this is death here - I haven't even been to NYC
You've gotta feel bad for Britney. She's so depressed over the Justin break-up, that the poor thing can't even lip-sync anymore. Maybe lip-sync reminds her of N'Sync? But thank goodness the topic will bring us yet another album. Oh joy. (Article from MSNBC.com.)
posted at 05:34 AM | link-

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You say it's your birthday
We'd been married almost three months when I had a series of tests on my heart that darn-near killed me. (I was hooked up to a crash-cart during them.) Todd felt so sorry for me watching it all, that he promised me a puppy if I could just hang on. The next weekend, the same weekend Todd turned 24, we brought home Claire. (It's a family name. No really, Todd named her after Claire Danes.)

Our lives haven't been the same since. She's not just a Cocker. She was a human in a past life. Our dog tells jokes. Our dog snores like a 90-year old Jewish man. Our dog cheers with us when OU and the Bucs make touchdowns. Our dog doesn't just wag her tail -- she shakes her whole groove thang. Our dog is our child and she will melt the heart of anyone that meets her...even non-dog lovers. I'll put money on that. (Because I was a "cat person" myself until we got her.) So today, we both celebrate the sixth birthday of our little baby -- sometimes a lady, sometimes a tramp. (Just like mom.) But always our Claire. Carob-covered bones for everyone!

posted at 01:51 AM | link-

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Let them eat cake
It seems like a lot of people are singing the We So Po' Blues right along with us today, so I baked us all a cake to cheer us up. Here's your slice! If you hurry, Todd's still licking the beaters, so you can sneak two...

posted at 07:47 PM | link-

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No more wookin' pa nub
Since my husband is listing his interesting Yahoo/Google hits, I thought I'd list a few of mine today as well:

jello wrestling photos 2002 -- You'll have to ask Dave for those!
is you is or is you ain't my baby -- Sorry. I'm his blog blog baby.
what is the typical package guys want in a girl? -- Uhhhh...shouldn't the girls be wondering about the package on a guy instead?
celebrities with perms -- It's no longer 1988. Just say no.
ass liking kiss free photos -- I don'ta thinka it means what you thinka it means...

And now...a moment for us... I just wanted to say thanks to Chris (who just mentioned me on the air again!) and Gretchen (for her most amusing retraction). You could have thrown things at us, short-sheeted our beds, and put salt in our sugar shakers. But you didn't. You understood. August is gonna be soooo painful now -- Todd really planned on turning 30 sitting on Gretchen and Cat's laps. But you'd better believe we'll be first in line to read the daily updates and dig through the 'Dex photologs!

P.S. Forgot to mention (although I e-mailed her), Chris said Meryl's name on the air today, too!
posted at 05:54 PM | link-

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Snoochie poochies
Remember moviepoopshoot.com from "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back"? Well Kevin Smith just launched it as an official site!

"Uh...just what the hell is moviepoopshoot.com, you might be asking. After all, as far as anyone knows, that name was nothing more than a parody site in Kevin's last movie, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. So, what are we doing back here now? Is this our bid for respectability, our attempt at garnering critical praise? Our way to do right by our mothers and stop with all the poop jokes?

Oh, hells no. And at the same time, yes. See, the thing we've noticed out there in this expansive World Wide Web is that there are entertainment sites galore. There are serious news sites and rumor sites and review sites and porn sites... luscious, loving porn sites... er, sorry, that's a bit off-topic. But there's something for everyone. We know that. We're not trying to replace that. Some of the sites out there do a better job at what they do than we ever could. Instead, what we're intending to do is offer a slightly off-kilter (some might even say askew) look at all the elements of pop culture that we're into. Movies. DVDs. Comic Books. Music. Books. With the occasional foray into wrestling, video games, toys and maybe even porn. Sweet, luscious porn..." (From the "Inside Information" page.)

I'm just waiting for Todd to ask for one of these for his birthday...
posted at 03:52 AM | link-

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Hunka hunka burnin' love
Last week it was "Hollywood's 25 Hottest Blondes". This week it's the "25 Sexiest Men Still on the Market". Is it just me, or did the men end up with much more flattering photos?
posted at 03:30 AM | link-

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Reality Bites
So I'm sitting down paying bills tonight, and figuring out what gets paid this weekend as well after Todd's next check. While doing the mental math I flip through the calendar and think "mortgage check...bills check...mortgage check...bills check...", but notice that "extra paycheck" is written in Todd's handwriting on a payday for the mortgage. So I called him in and we did some fast page-flipping and calculations. Oops. Big oops.

You see, he gets paid on an every-other-week system rather than the first and fifteenth of the month. This leaves us with an "extra" paycheck each year that falls just so -- meaning it's a bills-free and mortgage-free two weeks. This year, it was "supposed" to be at the end of July by our original calculations as recorded on the calendar. But it's not. Math is hard and we screwed up. It's the check at the end of August.

Why does it matter, you might ask? Because the end of July is when we planned on booking (and paying for) everything relating to Gnomedex. Now that "extra" check will be showing up the week after the conference. Meaning...in the grown-up world...we won't be showing up. We just don't have the money out of our normal day-to-day budget to swing something that massive.

Surprisingly, I've taken it quite well. Normally I'm prone to throw huge, massive hissy fit tantrums in such instances. But instead I'm just bummed like I've let people down. Not that it revolved "around" me...but there were so many people I wanted to meet and get the chance to know face-to-face. Now I'm left with maybe next year...

We've decided to book a fall trip to New Orleans instead at the end of August. This October will be the 10th anniversary of when we met and first started dating, and the 7th anniversary of when Todd proposed. And we did marry there after all... So there you go. The true joys of being a one-income family. Anyone want two Gnomedex tickets real cheap -- it's New Orleans or bust now. Sorry Chris.

posted at 01:10 AM | link-

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Oh Lisa, you and your stories...
There's a lot of left-wing vs. right-wing brouhaha going on over at Stacy's right now. Someone asked for the original reasons we liberals hated George W. so much. Well, for starters, it would be a never-ending string of quotes like this:

"And so, in my State of the—my State of the Union—or state—my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation—I asked Americans to give 4,000 years—4,000 hours over the next—the rest of your life—of service to America. That's what I asked—4,000 hours." —Bridgeport, Conn., April 9, 2002

So sue me. I prefer my President to sound, uhhhh, Presidential -- and not so much like Homer J. Simpson 24/7. If that means a few displaced cigars here and there, well then so be it. (Quote, and many more just like it, from The Complete Bushisms.)
posted at 05:01 PM | link-

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Sloppy seconds
So Mikey didn't seem to think Todd's two photos with Darren's Dance Grooves counted as the extra-promised photos. So just for him, here are two more from our weekend o' fun. (photo 1, photo 2)

Have a great week ahead everyone!
posted at 05:03 AM | link-

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Shine like it does
All coding, no play, make Robyn something, something, something... There's still a day or two of tweaks yet, but the basic design is finally ready to roll. This is the reason I didn't get to share in all of the fun at Todd's blog Sunday night -- Horologium! Can someone please pass the bi-focals?
posted at 03:32 AM | link-

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Ahhhhhhh...wipeout!
Hope everyone is having a faboo weekend! Here are a few pics from our day in Orlando and Cocoa Beach. Check Todd's blog for more here in a bit!

1. let's go surfin' now
2. the best for your stick
3. let's play Frogger

Added later: (photo 1, photo 2)
posted at 04:45 AM | link-

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Dear Daddy, I write you in spite of years of silence

Father of mine
Tell me where have you been
You know I just closed my eyes
My whole world disappeared...

Father of mine
Take me back to the day
When I was still your golden girl
Back before you went away...

Father of mine
Tell me what do you see
When you look back at your wasted life
and you don't see me...

Sometimes you would send me a birthday card
With a five dollar bill
I never understood you then
and I guess I never will...

I will never be safe
I will never be sane
I will always be weird inside
I will always be lame...

Today my husband and I both join the legions of other 70s and 80s children (whose fathers left them, remarried, and promptly forgot they even existed) in sending a hearty "FUCK YOU" to the men who donated the sperm to make us all possible.

I did it without you dad. And quite honestly, I feel I'm a better person for it. So wherever you might be -- just know you will never, EVER be allowed to hurt my children one day the way you hurt me.

Happy fucking Father's Day. And thanks for saving us the cost of a Hallmark and a stamp.

Love,
Robyn
posted at 04:11 AM | link-

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