What She Wants - When She Wants It

B wanted her picture taken yesterday - and I was more than happy to help out.

When she wants to have her picture taken - look out!

Sugar Plum Fairy

It has been a long and crazy Thanksgiving weekend. We took the kids to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy (from the PA Ballet) yesterday. S was smitten; B looked at her and said "She's just a lady in a dress". Oh no! Is the magic gone?

Chicken! They LOVE Chicken!

If you're in the market for some fan-flipin'-tastic chicken recipes, give these a go.

I like to cook, and don't mind doing it as long as the stuff gets eaten - below are two recipes that are kid and husband approved.

About a year ago, I made Chicken piccata for the first time. To my surprise and delight, the kids gobbled it up and raved about it. I've made it a few times since; most recently about a week and a half ago. I made it for dinner on Wednesday night, and by Sunday they were asking when I would make it again.


Not wanting to be a one trick pony, I went in search of another chicken recipe for this week. I settled on this version of Chicken Marsala (although I didn't make or use his BAM! spices). Phil liked it so much he got that "look" in his eyes; and again, the kids LOVED it.

Give 'em a try - they're delicious and super easy.

What Does Your Web Address Say About You?

I received this in an email today - cracked me up.

.

.

All of these are legitimate companies that didn't spend quite enough time to consider how their online name might appear!

1. 'Who Represents' is where you can find the name of the agent that represents any celebrity. Their Web site is: http://www.whorepresents.com/

2. 'Experts Exchange' is a knowledge base where programmers can exchange advice and views at: http://www.expertsexchange.com/

3. Looking for a great pen? Look no further than 'Pen Island.' It can be found at: http://www.penisland.net/

4. Need a therapist? Try 'Therapist Finder' at: http://www.therapistfinder.com/

5. Then there's the 'Italian Power Generator' company. Check it out at: http://www.powergenitalia.com/

6. 'IP computer' software; there's always: http://www.ip_anywhere.com/

7. And the designers at 'Speed of Art' await you at their wacky Web site: http://www.speedofart.com/

Green Goo

This evening, Miss B and I ran a little science experiment - she fondly calls it Green Goo. I kinda think of it as Green Volcano - but hey, whatever you call it - its COOL.

We've done this experiment with kids' tours at work a gagillion times - its fool proof (I'm living proof) and there has never been a kid yet that didn't think it was COOL.

The ingredients for our little experiment were:

Vinegar (our acid) - mixed with yellow food coloring
Baking soda (our base) - dissolved in water (a supersaturated solution) - mixed with blue food coloring
A few drops of dish soap
Interested kid


When the vinegar and baking soda are mixed, they form carbon dioxide. The gas created lots of little bubbles that quickly filled the glass and overflowed and spilled down the sides. The soap gives the bubbles a little structure. The yellow and blue food coloring mix and turn the bubbles green (color science too - damn, I'm good).

Miss B was thrilled - and there was very little mess. Like I said already - its COOL.

(I recently purchased a a better video camera, but for a variety of reasons, I had to shoot this on my 6 year old Sony cybershot. My apologies for the horrible quality. We'll do a better quality job next time)

I'm super sensitive to loud noises - so this one is not for me.

But give it a try if a Bubble Bomb is what you're after

Kung Fu Pandas

(Click on image to view gallery)

This weekend I took the kids (B, S, and G) to a Kung Fu Panda DVD party at Premiere Martial Arts. PMA is where my sweetie tales his Krav Maga classes (... I wonder what he's planning ...).

The kids had a great time - they were given karate outfits, took a class, actually broke boards in half, and earned their white belts. All that was followed by pizza, a pinata, free DVD's, and a screening of the movie.

Mom was a rock star ... for about 30 seconds.

BTW - B was not feeling fantastic (stuffy nose, etc.), so she sat out the karate stuff.

Sunny Day

Pen and Ink artist, Miss B, describes her latest work.

I Like Colors

Resident artist, S, created this work of art after school on Friday.

He calls it "I Like Colors". Listen to the artist explain his work

Fav Site of the Week

I came across the site Read At Work.
When the site opens it looks exactly like a Windows XP desktop.
The folders on the desktop have about 20 ebooks that look like Powerpoint presentations.
It is hysterical.
I am totally bookmarking this one.

Check out some other cool sites that may come in handy during long meetings.



.... I'm sensing a theme today

Fun With Performance Reviews!

Its performance review time at work.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about how ridiculous the process is.

I came across the “Hall of Fame of Review Phrase Shame” today and thought I would share.


My favs are 2, 4, 8, 11, 13, 14*, 16 *, 20, 21 - I may sprinkle a few into some reviews just to see if anyone actually reads the darn things.


1. Since my last report, this employee has reached rock bottom…. and has started to dig.
2. His men would follow him anywhere… but only out of morbid curiosity
3. I would not allow this employee to breed.
4. This employee is really not so much of a ‘has-been’, but more of a definite ‘won’t be’.
5. Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap.
6. When she opens her mouth, it seem that it is only to change feet.
7. He would be out of his depth in a parking lot puddle.
8. This young lady has delusions of adequacy.
9. He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them.
10. This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot.
11. This employee should go far… and the sooner he starts, the better.
12. Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thing to hold it all together.
13. A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus.
14. He certainly takes a long time to make his pointless.
15. He doesn’t have ulcers, but he’s a carrier.
16. I would like to go hunting with him sometime.
17. He’s been working with glue too much.
18. He would argue with a signpost.
19. He has a knack for making strangers immediately.
20. He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room.
21. When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell.
22. If you see two people talking and one looks bored… he’s the other one.
23. A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on.
24. A prime candidate for natural deselection.
25. Donated his brain to science before he was done using it.
26. Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn’t coming.
27. Has two brains: one is lost and the other is out looking for it.
28. If he were any more stupid, he’d have to be watered twice a week.
29. If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you’d get change.
30. If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the oceans.
31. It’s hard to believe that he beat 1,000,000 other sperm to the egg.
32. One neuron short of a synapse.
33. Some drank from the foundation of knowledge; … he only gargled.
34. Takes him 2 hours to watch 60 Minutes.
35. The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.

Meryl Runion and Speak Strong (SpeakStrong) provides Power Phrases (PowerPhrases) and other tools to help you improve communication skills at work and at home. She is the author of the books PowerPhrases!, How to Use PowerPhrases, Perfect Phrases for Managers and Supervisors and How to Say It: Performance Reviews. She can be reached by email:
E-mail Meryl.

Click here to find out

I am certain my little grey cat is plotting to kill me

Almost Back From Vacation

Phil and I are almost back from vacation (it may take a few more days). We've been totally out of touch for a week and loving it.
..... More in a few days

The Big Dig

(click on the image above to view the gallery)

This weekend we took the kids down by the C&D canal to search for fossils.

There are a bunch of fossil sites along the canal.

We went to one at the base of the Reedy Point Bridge in Delaware City.



We found lots of these. Sean is holding on in a photo in the gallery.

The kids thought fossil hunting was cool - but giant dirt pile climbing was even cooler.