PSA
It has been brought to my attention that today is the last day to make your national "do not call list" registration effective as of 10/1. If you don't register today, your registration will be delayed by three months. Get to it.
posted at 02:28 PM | link-

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You own it - you better never let it go

OU defeated North Texas 37-3 in its season opener last night. It was in front of a record crowd of 83,073 after the stadium expansion -- the most to ever witness a sporting event in the state of Oklahoma. The players took the field in throwback uniforms honoring the Bud Wilkinson teams of the late 1950s, the cheerleaders wore uniforms honoring teams from the 1940s, and the coaches wore outfits honoring the Barry Switzer teams of the 1970s and 1980s. OU opened the season No. 1 for the first time since Switzer's 1987 squad had the honors. Next week...Bama at Bama!
posted at 08:43 AM | link-

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May we see your photos, please?
All of "Todd's 31st birthday photos" have now been added to Shutterblog. Thanks again to Dan and Stacy for the wonderful nite out!
posted at 10:51 AM | link-

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Signs you're getting old...

Sign #402 that you're getting old... Your friends throw you a big birthday bash at Chuck E. Cheese, and not only does your cake have enough candles to light the entire room -- but after the birthday song is over and the hostess goes to cut it -- she asks, "Is there something burning?" And it turns out, there was. Your 31 candles had started to melt their plastic cake display. Whoops. Hope you had a happy birthday, baby!

Stay tuned for more photos later this weekend...
posted at 06:01 AM | link-

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I'm so excited -- and I just can't hide it!

I love the smell of football in the morning. Kickoff at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports.
posted at 05:47 AM | link-

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I'm just a girl
Had to go out and get all pretty for the meeester's birthday:

Ahhhhh...nothing like a new haircut to make you feel good!
posted at 01:46 PM | link-

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They're the people that you meet each day
I won't be around today, so here's reading material in my absence:

Glimpse of a Grrl -- her birthday was yesterday!
Spathic -- don't know what it means? Look it up!
Beware of the crusty french fries -- mmmmm, tasty.
Incoherent Babbling -- thank Mikey for this one, kiddos.
Pixie with a Crash Helmet -- this is not to be confused with "the special helmet"!

If you still can't get enough of their love, start here...
posted at 04:44 AM | link-

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You say it's your birthday? It's my birthday, too! Yeah!

[Happy birthday baby - I love you Todd!]

Today is a very good day for birthdays. Not only does my darling husband turn the big "3-1" today and officially become a "thirty-something" -- one of my very best friends since high school, and Todd's cosmic soul sistah, Kitty also celebrates her 31st today as well. So give it up for the Wonder Twins! Happy birthday! And -- I love you, Todd! -Robyn
posted at 04:23 AM | link-

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The city that never sleeps
Next week is the actual ceremony on "Today Throws a Wedding". This week it's a chance to vote for the couple's honeymoon destination. (The New York souvenir gift pack was the audience choice last week.)
posted at 11:16 AM | link-

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Sixty minute man...give or take fifty
Rapper Busta Rhymes has made a somewhat unusual request for his backstage room at tonight's MTV Music Awards. He wants two boxes of condoms. Personally, I don't find the request all that impressive Mr. Rhymes -- although I'm quite sure that was your intent. The average box of condoms has 12 each for a grand total of 24 requested condoms. The awards ceremony is slated at 3 hours long. Add in another hour for pre-show preparations, and you've got 4 hours total. Divide 240 minutes by 24 condoms, and you get exactly 10 minutes per lay -- not accounting for the time you might actually be presenting, performing, and/or in the audience. My what stamina you've got there, Busta. *swoon*

Other star requests include:

Six bottles of Cristal champagne, of course (Ja Rule)
Drinking straws, to save her lipstick obviously (Shakira)
48 towels -- is there a significance to that number? (Pink)
Nintendo games console (Justin Timberlake)

Oh to be so famous, rich, spoiled, footloose and panty free!
posted at 05:07 AM | link-

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Kiss traditional animation goodbye
This entry was written by a guest-blogger -- my husband Todd. Enjoy:

This is what I call "disturbing news". A mistake is about to be made. A fork in the road of history is about to be reached. And to be honest, I'm not sure there is anything we can do about it.

Word is that Disney will be closing the door on traditional 2-D animation in the coming months, and if you were an employee in the animation studios, you were either told to drop your pen and paintbrush and pick up a computer, or you were shown the door.

Traditional animators are a dying breed in the new 3-D culture at Walt Disney, as Michael Eisner declares that "2-D is dead". Eisner has panicked given the poor box office that movies like Atlantis and Treasure Planet, for example, have shown. Disney has two traditional animated features in the pipeline for the coming year, Brother Bear and Home on the Range. Those are expected to be the last feature films featuring 2-D hand-drawn animation that Disney produces.

The same thing is happening at Dreamworks, where Jeffery Katzenberg had, in the past, made it his mission to reinvent classical animation. Well, after Katzenberg had flops of his own in Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (I guess every Dreamworks title has to be subtitled...), he too is panicking and beginning to focus exclusively on computer animated features.

What probably didn't help these gentlemen in their irrational thought processes is that Pixar studios, makers of the excellent Toy Story films, A Bug's Life and Monsters Inc. just had a tremendous box office smash hit with the computer animated Finding Nemo.

What they failed to realize through visions of dollar signs dancing in their heads, is that although Pixar is a CG studio, it is first and foremost a teller of compelling stories. And therein lies the fatal error that Disney and Dreamworks have yet to discover.

Take a look at the film that won the inaugural Oscar for Best Animated Feature - Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. This feature was almost entirely hand drawn, painstakingly, over a process of several years. Miyazaki himself is intimately involved with every frame of his films, and the quality shows. He has been rewarded for it.

But there is something more sinister at work here, and that is the potential loss of an art form so that these animation houses can continue to churn out low quality stories in order to sell more cross merchandised junk. It started to happen sometime not long ago. The studios became more interested in selling you the toys, clothes, and food items that were branded with the films name, than actually telling you a story.

The problems with the traditional animated studios are deep here in the U.S. Above and beyond the inability within the last five years to put together a film that actually tells a story that is worth seeing, one of the biggest errors that animated film producers have made recently is an asinine use of Hollywood film actors to voice the characters of their animated fare instead of hiring voice talent that's trained to do that kind of work. Why are Brad Pitt and Michael J. Fox and Catherine Zeta-Jones doing voice work? They aren't voice actors. They're just actors, and often poor ones at that. I have found famous voices distracting in animated features for years, and voiced that opinion regularly. The quality of the voice acting has gone down since the early 90s when films like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid served as a renaissance for Disney.

3-D animation continues to look fake as well. There is something distracting in it visually that I can't place my finger on yet, and I can't quite suspend disbelief at times. Granted, a compelling story will help alleviate this a great deal, but aside from Pixar and Dreamworks' Shrek (which could have been a lot better than it was), no one is producing quality 3-D animated stories right now. The horrible Final Fantasy comes to mind as a computer animated film (with Hollywood voice talent) that just wasn't ready to be made, technology wise or vis-a-vis the storyline.

I feel that 3-D animation is really a novelty right now, and audiences are seeing some of these films just for the "wow" factor of "look what they can do with computers". As the audience's tolerance level matures, I suspect we will see a corresponding drop in the numbers of computer animated film revenue - so long as they cannot tell a compelling story.

Let us all hope that an art form is not lost forever as thousands of pen and paintbrush animators are kicked to the curb because of the severe lack of vision from the heads of these studios. I don't want to see all computer animated films. I suspect no one really does. What is it going to take to save traditional animation? Don Bluth jumped ship from Disney years ago and produced amazing films such as The Secret of NIMH and An American Tail, successfully challenging his former employer and forcing them to rethink their entire game. We should all hope that a star emerges from cuts at these animation studios that can rise up and again challenge them and force compelling animated stories to be told on their own merit.
posted at 08:02 PM | link-

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ATTN. Fontaholics Anonymous
I was just kindly pointed towards DaFONT -- a very nice font archive with lots of scripty fonts. Have fun kids.
posted at 11:25 AM | link-

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Brother, can you spare a dime?
Use Blogrolling? Love it? Never quite got around to paying for it? Well now's the time to get off your collective arses and help a brother out. New user sign-ups have now been suspended due to a rapidly growing user base. 95% of the traffic and overhead comes from free Blogrolling accounts.

I firmly believe in paying for what you use. And things are never able to continue on for free forever, people. There are hard-working, devoted people behind the curtain that should be rewarded for their time (and bandwidth). If you use it -- don't abuse it. Spread the word and pony up.
posted at 07:17 AM | link-

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So here's the deal
Thanks so much to everyone for all the responses. I really appreciate 'em!

Here's the decision I've made. I'm going forward because it's something I said I would do -- and it's something I want to do. I'm very proud of what we all accomplished in 2002. However, it won't be a one-woman show this year. I'm going to take on help and lots of it. And I've developed an amazing amount of control -- especially with pre-approved comments -- and the ability to just walk away if something gets to be too much -- here over the last year. I'm not above stopping donations and entries mid-swing and cutting Komen a check for the amount earned to date and saying "that's it". My health, and especially that of my child, will always come first. And believe me, I have a husband sitting right here next to me making sure of that. You might have noticed he's walked away from blogging altogether because he simply got tired of all the BS that can be associated with it... He is the main reason why I went on brief hiatus in July.

But despite all the flak, flaming, and general bitchery I took last year -- and still take for it to some extent with all of the name calling I receive -- again, 2002's event is something I'm proud of. Being able to make the final donation call to Komen, and purchase Statia's plane ticket, was truly one of the highlights of my year. I've been blessed a lot this year. I'd like to pass that karma on... I've always been a firm believer in doing that.

So there you have it. You may say I'm a dreamer. But I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us. So...I can quit quoting lyrics for maybe five seconds? -Robyn
posted at 06:01 AM | link-

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Do that to me one more time...once is never enough
[mmmmm pickles]

I'm now officially a statistic. And I don't care. It also suddenly makes sense why Vlasic has a stork for their company logo... Blonde moment #4,720.
posted at 05:17 PM | link-

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Part deux
Ok, looking at the results below now -- one more pop-quiz.

Do you think hosting this event is worth my time/energy?

If you answered "no" to either of the previous questions, are you still planning on looking at (and looking forward to) the photos submitted?

UPDATE: Will you link to it on your site this year?

I put in 14-18 hour days last year with the Boobie-Thon, and that was when I actually had energy. If we're going to raise substantial funds this year, by all means I'll pull in help if need-be and find a way to do it and keep it going. I just don't want to spend unnecessary time putting together a design and maintaining the site / manning the donations if we're only going to raise a $100 or so. I'd rather spare myself the time and headache (and potential flame-storm again) and make a donation in that dollar amount myself if that's the case. Basically I need everyone's word they're going to help promote it and help me make it a success. Thanks again! -Robyn
posted at 12:56 PM | link-

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About that time
Ok, it's just about time to start thinking of preparations for the Boobie-Thon 2003. Things are going to be run a little differently this year, so I want to take a couple of informal polls (please don't multi-vote and skew the results) as to where we're at... For obvious reasons, I'm participating in a behind-the-scenes only manner this year now -- so I need to know if it's even going to be worth it for my time and bandwidth.

Do you plan on donating any funds this October?

Do you plan on submitting photographs* this year?

*Instead of putting the names on the images this year, all images will remain anonymous. There will be a master list of participators -- in addition to the list of donors -- but no boobie-photos (covered only, please, for the public page) will be paired with blogger names for privacy and security's sake.

My readership has changed a lot in the last year -- and I just want to make sure we can equal or better last year's event before I spend the very little, precious energy I do have right now. So please answer truthfully and thank you for your time! -Robyn
posted at 02:51 AM | link-

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This second-hand living, it just won’t do
Lollapalooza: Then and Now (from FARK.com)

I'll never forget camping out overnight for hours back in college with Kitty down in Dallas for tickets to the '92 show -- Chili Peppers, Ministry, Ice Cube, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Lush, and Jesus and the Mary Chain. Or the euphoria we felt for being so close to the front of the line. Or the sheer letdown when they started handing out numbers just before the tickets went on sale, meaning your place in line meant absolutely nothing -- the number you were assigned meant your order. (Yep, some of the little hellions that showed up an hour before the tickets went on sale ended up with better seating options than we did.) Or the kick in the gut I received for getting the worst case of food poisoning in my life the day before the show and watching my roommate take off for Big D with the tickets I'd stood in line for -- and all I got was this lousy t-shirt. But $53.50 to see Jane's Addiction, A Perfect Circle, Jurassic 5, Incubus, Audioslave, Rooney, and The Donnas today? I think I'll pass... Thanks for the memories.
posted at 10:58 AM | link-

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Buon Compleanno!
It seems just like yesterday I was sending Michele wedding wishes and happy 40th birthday greetings... Now today is her first anniversary and 41st birthday. Make sure to stop by and give 'er one to grow on for good measure. With all that working out she's doing lately -- can't have her losing the ass, too! Happy birthday schnookems!

posted at 05:30 AM | link-

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Goddess on a mountaintop

[kiss my tiara]

I got the greatest little care package in the mail this week from Lisa. It had a toy for the baby and this shirt. Could it be any more perfect? Thank you!
posted at 02:25 PM | link-

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You make me feel like dancing
Blender has named the 50 worst artists in music history. The only one that left me scratching my head and saying "huh?" was The Doors at #37. C'mon people. You gave up a spot on the list for Leo Sayer for that? Other than said-Doors CD -- here are the CDs I've purchased or owned by other bands on the list:

Tin Machine - Tin Machine - at #12 (Bowie in the $1.99 bin ain't all bad...ok, maybe this time it is)
Richard Marx - Richard Marx - at #30 (it was the best of times, it was the worst of times)
Live - Throwing Copper and Mental Jewelry - at #34 (it's a never-ending debate in this household, I can't help myself and Todd cringes every time)
Blind Melon - Soup - at #40 (Galaxie is one of my all-time favorite songs so deal with it)
The Spin Doctors - Pocket Full of Kryptonite - at #46 (you show me the early 90s college student without a copy, or a copy of a copy of this CD, or a roommate sans one of the above, and I'll call you a freakin' liar)
Toad the Wet Sprocket - Fear - at #49 (actually I didn't buy this one, it was a gift from someone that knew I liked "All I Want")

Leave your purchases in the comments if you'd like. It can be our own little support group of sorts... (Link courtesy of FARK.com.)
posted at 10:41 AM | link-

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With this ~~ring~~ lugnut...

Because nothing screams "timeless romance" like a lugnut wedding band...

Coming soon to a Tiffany's near you — the official platinum NASCAR collection! Tuxedo t-shirt not included.
posted at 04:17 AM | link-

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Reach out and touch
I think one of the best things about being married is being able to roll over in the middle of the night, stick out your hand, and just touch the other person -- if for nothing else to make sure they're still there and reassure yourself they're ok. It's a habit we both have if we wake up or get up in the middle of the night. And every time my hand meets his, there's still electricity. Even seven years of marriage later. I simply cannot imagine any longer what it would be like to reach out and just find pillow next to me... I am truly blessed.
posted at 03:12 AM | link-

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If I had one wish
You know, I have one simple request. And that is to have sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads...throw me a bone here!
posted at 03:54 PM | link-

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About damned time
(Big XII) College Football starts today! And there was much rejoicing...
posted at 08:39 AM | link-

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And monkeys might fly outta my...
I have just found Todd's birthday present...hope they ship to FL!
posted at 07:05 AM | link-

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Baby boom!
I finally get to announce some news that my fingers have been patiently sitting on for ages now. I just got the green light!

I get to be pregnant with one of my best friends in the whole wide world -- Tara and I are expecting just a couple of short weeks apart! This will be their second child, and Maggie is going to be a big sister!

I just can't express how happy I am for Tara and Tommy -- and how excited I am to be sharing this experience closely with six other friends and mommies-to-be... CONGRATS!
posted at 04:16 PM | link-

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Ain't nuthin' like the real thing, baby
A quote from one of my favorite movies of all time states:

"But - and I am only saying that because I care - there's a lot of decaffeinated brands on the market that are just as tasty as the real thing."

I'd just like to officially state for the record that I beg to differ. Hmmph.
posted at 12:25 PM | link-

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Go, go, go shawty - it's your birthday
Hope you have a fabulous birthday, dahling -- you look mah-vel-ous!

posted at 10:49 AM | link-

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I want to ride it where I like

Statia is participating again in the MS 150 City to Shore Bike Tour. Please go to her site to help support -- and donate to -- the cause!
posted at 06:54 PM | link-

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Take that, Michele!
Weezer is coming out with a new album soon (recording starts late this summer or fall) -- and it sounds like this one is going in a more "Pinkerton" direction. They're also releasing an expanded edition of the "Blue Album". This.....I can't =w=ait for!

UPDATE: I just told Todd about the Blue Album expanded release, and he replied, "I wonder what that means?" My reply? "Another twenty bucks I'm spending." Well, am I wrong?
posted at 11:15 AM | link-

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The best gift is your friendship *cough, cough*
More "Today Throws a Wedding" updates... The hairstyle I liked last week won. Another rather boring topic this week -- the wedding favors. I picked choice #1 merely because I'd probably pass out if I received a box like that from Sephora filled with Philosophy, Bliss and Jack Black stuff. Yeah, I'm a girl. Wanna make somethin' of it?
posted at 10:36 AM | link-

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Maybe you'll get a replacement - there's plenty like me to be found
"It’s hard to take seriously anyone reminscing on the ’70s who was born in 1981. Cough - Kelly Rowland - cough." —Test Pattern on VH1's new series "I Love the 70s"

UPDATE: Michele briefly blogs about this series as well today.
posted at 04:21 AM | link-

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10K in 2K3

Every year, I start a new MT blog -- and the blog for 2003 just reached 10,000 comments this week. Angel gets all the glory for this comment.

And I don't have the heart to tell Kevin that he missed the honors by just one comment...yet again...
posted at 03:45 AM | link-

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My love don't cost a thing...really
If smelling like J-Lo isn't enough for you, now you can have a replica of the rock Ben gave her for only $39.95. But wait! There's more. For that low, low price you can even afford to send your fiancé to a strip club so you can throw it at him in the parking lot when he exits.

Ain't that America for you and me?
posted at 04:52 PM | link-

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Brides gone wild
Michele sent me this story and it was too funny not to pass along. Ever wonder what Jerry Springer guests do on their wedding day? Ask no more.
posted at 10:36 AM | link-

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Please stop frightening the children
As mentioned below, tonight the Bucs take on the Rams in pre-season Monday Night Football. When this occurs, I am morally obligated to issue my own special kind of terror alert. That's right, you run the very real risk of coming face-to-face with Brenda Warner on your television screens this evening. Be prepared, since I can't be any longer. I have compiled a list of things to watch for in the "Brenda Warner Drinking Game". The telltale signs are as follows:

feather boa (1 shot)
dressed in neon (1 shot)
any kind of animal print (2 shots)
frosted hair (2 shots)
hair shorter than Kurt's (3 shots)
nails longer than 2" (1 shot)
fingernail with diamond in it (3 shots)
leather mini skirt other than black (2 shots)
frosted lipstick (3 shots)
baby blue eye shadow (2 shots)

The best defense is a good offense. Keep your Cuervo Gold standing by. And feel free to add to this list in the comments if you'd like...
posted at 04:23 PM | link-

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Wanna get dirty - it's about time for my arrival

I have a new default skin just in time for the Bucs' debut on Monday Night Football 2003-04. To reset to this skin, pick a new one, or to change back to one of your old favorites, please visit the skins page.

Just remember, foosball is the devil.
posted at 01:14 PM | link-

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The day they'll wear the Crimson and Cream
Here's one more video I've put up online for you to enjoy and get you pumped up for football season. This one is much smaller than the one I put up yesterday, so it should download for you fairly quickly. It's required viewing for anyone who wants to know why Todd and I want to be parents so badly (just wait 'til about half-way through). We're both Sooner born and Sooner bred and very much looking forward to passing along the Saturday tradition...

The video's narrated by Oklahoman (and my OU graduation speaker) James Garner.
posted at 10:25 AM | link-

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Irv, we were never IN aisle seven!
Quote of the day:

"I understand that you little guys start out with your woobies and you think they're great ... and they are. They are terrific. But pretty soon, a woobie isn't enough. You're out on the street trying to score an electric blanket, or maybe a quilt. And the next thing you know, you're strung out on bedspreads Ken. That's serious."
posted at 04:15 AM | link-

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Pinch. Poke. You owe me a Coke.
I blogged about the Madden cover jinx earlier today. Todd just found this ESPN article from last week (pre-Vick injury) that goes into all of the recent gaming cover jinxes -- not just the football ones.

If I was a player's agent and they approached me about cover time for my athlete, I think my standard reply would be, "Thanks but not so much..."
posted at 08:59 PM | link-

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Sheep go to heaven
I dug up two of my favorite cake recipes for Stacy today, and thought I'd share here and at "The Red Kitchen". Both are absolutely divine.

The first is for Banana Split Cake. I alter the recipe slightly by filling two 9" round pans, making a layer cake, and icing the area in between the two layers with chilled hot fudge sauce. Then I ice the whole thing, and add the suggested toppings.

The second is not for the weak of heart -- and it's recommended for true chocolate fanatics only. It's called Chocolate Celebration Cake with Chocolate Ganache Icing. It's very similar to the "Great Wall of Chocolate" at P.F. Chang's. I only use Ghirardelli chocolates when baking it, and keep a CPR team on standby just in case.
posted at 03:24 PM | link-

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Here comes the BOOM!

I linked a few of these last season, and new ones were just put up for 2003-04. I uploaded one for your viewing pleasure. I promise that you don't even have to be a Sooner fan to enjoy the video. But if it doesn't get you pumped for football season, I would like to check your pulse.
posted at 01:46 PM | link-

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Baby blankets & baby shoes, baby slippers, baby spoons, walls of baby blue
I'm not making a habit of weekly pics here or anything, but I put my first maternity outfit on yesterday and Todd snapped a couple of shots before we headed out to Dan's birthday party. (Which, I might add, I was "teh big winnah" at roulette.) I'm fourteen weeks along here. Not quite ready to be in maternity, but too far gone for my old fitted clothes... So do I have 'the glow™'?

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"Break a leg" is just a saying, dude
Looks like this blogger had it right all along. Hopefully Vick's recovery will be as rapid as Griffin's appears to be! Blasted Madden curse...I want the Bucs to win it all again on their own merit. Not "just because...".
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God speed your love to me
A beautiful Lebanese wedding is this month's "Fifteen Minutes of Fame" feature.
posted at 11:35 AM | link-

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Aaaaaaa...afternoon delight
You know how you get a song stuck in your head for days, so you finally go snag a copy? Well that happened to me this week with a song called "Mouth". It's a few years old, and I'm not sure if a commercial sparked the memory or what... Then I went to search for the lyrics. How did the meaning of this song skip by me all this time? I played the song for Todd to see if he remembered it, and he replied, "Oh yeah." So I asked him if he knew what the song was about... Blank stare. So I showed him the words and he was just as shocked as I was. At least it's not as bad as when "I Touch Myself" went over my head back in high school and I had to have it 'splained to me. I swear...I'm such a blonde sometimes! So here...now you can feel all sweet, yet dirty, right along with us:

[click here for lyrics]

And since we're on the subject of oral fixation today, here's a bonus track:

[click here for lyrics]

posted at 12:36 PM | link-

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The name game
Just for the record guys, the baby won't be named "Tobyn". That nickname is short for our names combined until we know the gender. (Todd + Robyn = "Tobyn".)

posted at 09:48 AM | link-

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And.....twins!
Countdown to the Playboy spread in T-minus 5...4...3...2...1! (Link via FARK.com.)
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Inquiring minds wanna know
Since it's been brought up now...what do you think we're having?

UPDATE: Just to further confuse people, the Chinese Conception Chart says "girl" -- but the old wives tales definitely say "boy". And we will be finding out the sex soon.
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Darlin' don't you go and cut your hair
The cake I voted for last week won on "Today Throws a Wedding". This week, it's the bride's hairstyle up for vote. Make sure to click the "view details" link with the photos for a full front and back view. I picked the "Romantic" style. Her smile seemed to be the brightest and most genuine in it, and I really liked the pins in it...
posted at 09:30 AM | link-

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Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee
Your favorite coed naked blogger has been nominated for The Blog of the Century. This dance ain't for everyone. Only the sexy people... Voting begins at noon, Mountain time on Friday the 15th -- so stay tuned!
posted at 03:21 AM | link-

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We're not laughing at you - we're laughing around you
It's nice to know that when I'm up at the ungodly hour of 4:48 a.m. craving linguine with marina sauce and Olive Garden breadsticks -- when I should mention I never even order linguine -- that I can finally share that tidbit with the world, knowing many of you are all chuckling along in solidarity. Why do I hear Nelson's "ha ha" though?
posted at 04:48 AM | link-

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Hodgepodge
The AP article made today's St. Pete Times. I've scanned a copy from the paper itself -- which includes a photo of me -- if you'd like to see.

Also, I updated my sidebar with a due-date countdown. It's just above my current desktop image.
posted at 03:07 PM | link-

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Do not pass Go...
If FARK'ers made Monopoly cards...these submissions are priceless!

posted at 01:14 PM | link-

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Nineteen days to go! But who's counting?
A new photo of OU's new Grad Assistant, my Joshie, Josh Heupel --
and OU's quarterback, my hunka hunka Sooner love, Jason White.
You'll have to excuse me for a moment while I collect myself...

posted at 12:01 PM | link-

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Although it's been said many times, many ways...

posted at 10:36 AM | link-

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Mighta took the long way, but we knew we'd get there someday
You might remember that recently tampatantrum.com celebrated its one-year birthday. Well tomorrow, August 12th, is my two-year blogiversary.

Todd and I have seen a lot of changes in the last year. Some bad, many good -- the yin and yang of life always making its presence felt. I've learned a lot. Grown a lot. Gained friendships, and sadly lost friendships. And hopefully come away from all of it just a bit wiser and a better person for it.

"To grow mature is to separate more distinctly, to connect more closely." — Hugo von Hofmannsthal

This all brings me to something I can finally share with the class. It might help explain why the quality and quantity of several of my sites -- this one included -- has been lacking as of late. And why the posting times are always so sporadic. And why I haven't been able to visit blogs like I used to, and my "reply to" box currently has 156 items (84 unread). I fully expect these changes to carry forward as I begin my third year of blogging. Why, you might ask? Because this past weekend I safely passed into my second trimester of pregnancy!

That's right, Todd and I are expecting our first child on February 15, 2004. (For many of you, that due date will hold a bit of life's bittersweet irony.) To say we're thrilled and over the moon would be an understatement. I won't be blogging about my pregnancy here -- but so many of you have prayed for us and sent your well-wishes over the past several months, I couldn't fail to acknowledge it here. "Thank you" just never seems to be enough...

We had our fourth ultrasound on August first, and everything is going extremely well with the baby. The heartbeat was good and strong at 162-170 bpm. It's been that high since week five. We've already heard it on doppler as well. I can now finally present to you...the first public photos of baby Tobyn... Don't you think our little slice of immortality has Todd's good looks and my sense of style?

I especially want to take a second and thank those of our friends who've been able to sit on their fingers and zip their lips all these weeks, and help keep this mega-secret for us. I know it hasn't been easy! I'm also excited to say that ~~five~~ of my friends -- in real life and online -- are all due within a month of me from January - March of 2004. (UPDATE: Another friend from college just announced today and she's due in February, too. Better make that six!) It's an exciting time for so many of us -- and I'm thrilled to have the chance to share this life-milestone with them!

So there you have it. My big blogiversary news! This is the time on Sprockets where we dance... Cake and punch to the right. Just warn me if you spike it, mmmk?
posted at 04:20 AM | link-

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Gotta photograph, picture of
Many thanks to a certain someone who dropped this AP photo in my lap!

[AP Photo]

If you catch the article in your paper tomorrow, this picture just might run with it!
posted at 09:49 PM | link-

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To password or not to password...revisited
I've noticed people wondering how to password-protect an MT blog after dicussion here this week -- and most recently this new AP article.

To my knowledge, there are four ways to do this. I'm opening it up for discussion because there may be other methods -- and I'd love for you to share what works best for you:

The .htaccess and .htpasswd combo (obviously make sure your server is capable of handling these types of files first)
Passwording your site directly through your server's Cpanel -- click on the Web Protect (or similar) icon and follow directions
Using software with cookie-password protection in php -- this web company offers a free version of their software
Scripty Goddess has a restricted post tutorial for Movable Type blogs -- you can see an update on the hack here (this method will password protect certain, but not all, posts on your blog)

Again, if you have other recommendations not listed here -- or better links than the ones I've already given, please speak up and leave them in the comments! Thanks.

UPDATE: Here's another javascript option just mentioned in the comments -- Gatekeeper Password Protection. And yet another script to request access.
posted at 02:30 PM | link-

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It's in the photograph...
It sounds like the photo (and I guess blog story with me) are out there now. If anyone happens to catch either of them, PLEASE pass 'em along! There's a chance our local papers won't carry the wire story. Thank you!

UPDATE: Here's the article, and here's the photo -- and my commentary on it. Annessa gets featured in this article, too! And check the comments, as several wire services have picked it up now and what's been found is linked there.

UPDATE 2: The article made the St. Petersburg Times as well.
posted at 12:33 PM | link-

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Oh, snap!
I swear, if it weren't for bad luck with Sooners in the pros here lately...
posted at 05:09 AM | link-

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Because I haven't accepted it's not time for Saturday foosball yet
"The Sooners defense is fast, tough and mean. First they tackle you. then they humiliate you. Then they go after your credit rating." —College Football News
posted at 10:52 AM | link-

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Are my 15 minutes up yet?
I just spent the last 10 minutes being photographed by an AP photographer. Kinda surreal. A blogging article, separate from this one, should be running this coming Monday in papers. If anyone happens to catch it online or in print, please give me the heads-up. It depends on which papers choose to run it as to where it will appear.

Thanks! -R

UPDATE: Here's the article, sans photo -- and my commentary on it. Annessa gets featured in this article, too!
posted at 01:06 PM | link-

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Every (toilet) rose has its thorn
This one is just for Mikey...who I also need to wish a very belated happy birthday...

[Please right-click image or this link to save, go here for lyrics]
posted at 11:12 AM | link-

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Postcards from the edge
Spotted over at Blogdex: web design postcards. "Look through these postcards for coding, design and content tips for your own sites, and if one of the sites you visit regularly doesn’t measure up, why not show them you care by emailing them the URL of an applicable card?"

I break this rule. Often. So sue me. I likes it how I likes it...
posted at 10:42 AM | link-

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Man's best friend
We saw this story on the local news last night, and both took turns hugging Claire repeatedly. A dog (now) named Quentin was put in a Missouri gas chamber to be euthanized with other unwanted/unclaimed dogs, but when the door was opened following the gas, it stood there very much alive. Because of the divine intervention, the dog has now been taken to a local no-kill shelter, is doing just fine, and has several people wanting to adopt it. Please -- spay or neuter your pets if you haven't already. Little Quentin was very much the lucky one in this daily scenario repeated all over the country. Unfortunately not all shelters are no-kill.
posted at 12:07 PM | link-

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Banned in the U.S.A.
I recently learned that my blog has been blocked by the Florida Seminole County Government. My mission here is complete.
posted at 10:34 AM | link-

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Hey, hey - Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay bloggers are too cool for school... I'm the second paragraph in this related article -- and get a mention about half-way through it as well. So does Jen.

Whoo whoo. (Article Section 1, Article Section 2)
posted at 10:08 PM | link-

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Are you pumped? I can't hear you!
Today is "Meet the Sooners Day" and tonight is OU's first practice. It has begun. Oh yes, it has begun.

UPDATE: Glad I'm not standing in these lines in 104° weather!
posted at 01:06 PM | link-

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Let them eat cake!
Looks like traditional tuxes were chosen for last week's "Today Throws a Wedding".

This week is the fun part. The cake! Tough choices, but my vote went to #1. In different colors, it's exactly how our back-home reception cake should have looked...but so did not... (This was our actual wedding cake in New Orleans from a French pastry shop. Fresh strawberry filling and white chocolate flowers.)

Ok, now I'm hungry. Did anyone check out my t-shirt in those pics, btw?
posted at 11:25 AM | link-

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New blog smell
Just got a new Sekimori Design launched and finally off of Blogspot yesterday -- danieldrezner.com.

Stop by for a look-see when you get a chance. And thanks again, Daniel! -Robyn
posted at 11:18 AM | link-

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But I want is to be left alone in my average home
Is blogging changing? I noticed Erika is thinking of going passworded. Jen also adds her 2¢ on the issue. I've received several e-mails lately asking about passwording (how I do it, do I regret it, would I recommend it, etc.) The answers, in order, are with cookie-password protection in php - absolutely not - most definitely 'yes!'.

Do you have a passworded blog? If not, have you thought of starting one? As blogging continues to grow more and more in popularity, I fully expect to see the number of locked-journals increase. "Words are weapons - sharper than knives." And they can, and will, be used against you. Sometimes even by people you know well and believe in. Trust me on this. When even the anonymous bloggers start to have spin-off passworded sites now, it's time to sit down and re-examine the medium and how much you share is too much, and just when to share it, IMHO.

Because I seriously doubt I'll share my politics - or our misfortunes - here again.
posted at 06:19 AM | link-

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Hey, Mr. Postman!
Huge thanks go out to Quinn -- I just opened up the front door to find No Doubt's "Return of Saturn" -and- "The Photoshop Book for Digital Photographers" by Scott Kelby. The book is something I've long-lusted for after seeing it recommended at Dawn's -- it's very much going to come in handy. And I lost my copy of that CD awhile back, so I'm very happy to have it back in my greedy little hands. I was glad to help -- but random acts of kindness like this just make my day. THANK YOU!
posted at 12:26 PM | link-

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Gonna dress you up in my love
The August 2003 (wedding) "Dress of the Month" is now up!
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The stars at night are big and bright
Amazing how a one-night bender during a supposed break-up could keep most of us fed and housed for months on end.

At least FARK is there to help us put it all in perspective!
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Dude, where's my General Lee?
You have GOT to be kidding me... Ashton Kutcher is remaking "The Dukes of Hazzard" movie-style. (He'll play Luke Duke and Paul Walker will play Bo Duke.) But who has Ashton handed the part of Daisy Duke over to, you might ask? None other than Britney Spears. Give me a break. I'd put Shannon Elizabeth in that role long before the teen queen. Who would you cast in the role(s)?

UPDATE: Jen has blogged about this, too!
posted at 08:50 AM | link-

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Bum bum bah bah
Monday Night Football is back. John Madden...is even fatter, and presumably more senile, this season. Lisa Guerrero...is not as hot as Melissa Stark. And the Football Hall of Fame building looks like a giant OJ juicer. But, c'mon let's hit it!
posted at 08:02 PM | link-

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My "I don't have to run" day
Robbie's coming back down for another overnight-stay today, so things will be more quiet than usual. Please stay tuned for your regularly scheduled programming (and enjoy what's left of the weekend)!
posted at 12:14 PM | link-

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Awwww...crap!
D'oh! I guess it's somewhat fitting that I just accidentally left my own 25,000th comment at ATPTB -- because hey, when it's replying about Chrissy Smith, and making fun of the 'whorns, it can't be all bad! So I'll just have to give the honors out to Kevin instead, who was theeeees close at #24,999 (and also at #25,001). Thanks to everyone who has never been afraid to say 'hi'! Keep 'em comin'...
posted at 11:50 AM | link-

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Are you ready for some foooooootball?
If you've ever wondered just what kind of ~~stupid, idiotic~~ rabid Bucs fans we are -- yes, we are up for the live telecast from Tokyo, Japan, as the Bucs take on the Jets in pre-season play.

Bars across the Tampa Bay area are open this ~~Christmas~~ Kick-Off morning. But we're at least being sensible and watching from the comfort of our own bed...

Bring. It. ON! Click more for final score.

UPDATE: The Bucs defeated the Jets 30-14. Congrats guys!
posted at 05:05 AM | link-

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