Snow Day

RAIN – Beatles Tribute Band

Oh my goodness! Last night was SO INCREDIBLE! I got to see RAIN, a Beatles tribute band and it was phenomenal. They sounded just like the Beatles and played so many of their hits. The Orpheum was packed and everybody had an amazing time: clapping, screaming, dancing, singing. I absolutely loved it! Even Keith liked it!

Image credit: RAIN’s website

Thrift Store Shopping

I love thrift stores, probably because my mom dragged me around to so many that I finally learned to appreciate them. Yesterday I visited one of my favorites, Park Avenue Thrift, and found two great pairs of jeans for $4.94 each. A few weeks ago I visited a local Goodwill and found several nice sweaters. Next on my list is the Salvation Army store (pictured above) on Kirby Whitten Road. I love the prices, the variety, and the whole concept of recycling great stuff.

Read some thrift store reviews here. A handy list of area thrifts can be found here.

Happy New Year 2010!

Gracie & Henry ring in the new year – what a party!

The Teenage Brain

I love how this article in the Harvard magazine starts out:

Your teenage daughter gets top marks in school, captains the debate team, and volunteers at a shelter for homeless people. But while driving the family car, she text-messages her best friend and rear-ends another vehicle.

The article then goes on to explain the development of the frontal lobe (responsible for cognitive processes such as reasoning, planning, and judgment) and the gender differences in brain development.  Interesting reading, especially in light of the bone-headed things all of us did when we were teenagers.  And no, I won’t elaborate.

Pop It Quick!

THAT is a honkin’ big bubble, Keith!

Friends: Henry, Gracie, & Maggie May

Last Saturday we brought home the newest addition to our family: Henry.  He’s young, full of energy, and is adjusting well to his new digs and to Gracie (dog) and Maggie May (cat).  Originally I had tried to adopt from the Memphis Animal Shelter (MAS) but that was a nightmare, so I went to Collierville Animal Services.  Turns out they had rescued Henry from MAS.  When they got him his long hair was matted and filthy with waste, so they took him to a groomer who had to shave him.  I don’t know what he will look like when his hair grows in, but they think he is a combination of poodle and something else (Terrier?  Cocker?).  Don’t know, but he’s cute.

Happy Halloween!

Keith worked all afternoon yesterday carving our pumpkin (with a little help from a template).  I think it turned out great!  Best one we’ve ever had!

Darius Goes West

Wait until you have some time (an hour to an hour-and-a-half maybe??) and watch this documentary about a 15-year-old boy with Muscular Dystrophy and the eleven friends who take him from his hometown of Athens, Georgia to California in hopes that MTV will fix / equip his wheelchair on the show Pimp My Ride. I’m not much of a cry-er, but I definitely had to make an exception in this case.  You can watch the whole movie free online at http://www.dariusgoeswest.org/playitforward/

Etch-a-Sketch

Yeah, I liked Etch-a-Sketch when I was a kid too, but apparently not as much as George Vlosich.  This guy, astonishingly, has created many, many pieces of artwork with a child’s simple toy AND sells them all over the world for thousands of dollars.  Incredible.  Check out his site here.