Another Example of Meridth's Great Work

http://www.posocreekpuppies.com

The logo is up that Meridth did in exchange for Radar the pup!  It looks great Meridth!  I love the romping, happy puppies!  Almost makes me want to get a Corgi....almost :)  

Boo Walmart!

Saw this article (not like I read the WSJ - an Obama newsletter I get told me about it) and it made me think of ED...

Walmart Warns of Democratic Win


I don't know, but I don't think that's legal?? Richard?

The List

Here are all the subscriptions that mom and dad have.

1.  Ensign

2.  New Era

3.  Friend

4.  Creative Keepsakes

5.  Simple Scrapbooks

6.  Making Memories

7.  Paper Crafts

8.  Newsweek

9.  U.S. News and World Report

10.  National Geographic

11.  National Geographic Adventure

12.  National Geographic Travel

13.  Outside Magazine

14.  Adventure Cycling

15.  Bon Appetite

16.  Chicago Magazine

17.  Detroit Hour

18.  Road and Track

19.  Car and Driver

20.  Wired

21.  The New Yorker

22.  Vanity Fair

23.  Details

24.  Educational Leadership

25.  Middle School Journal

26.  Dwell

27.  Automotive News

28.  Chicago Home

29.  Portfolio

30.  Truck Trend

31.  Forbes

32.  Business Week

33.  This Old House

34.  Metropolitan

35.  American Bungalow

36.  Real Simple

37.  Smart Money

38.  Interview Magazine

39.  Muscle Machines

40.  Fast Company

41.  Home

42.  Architectural Digest

43.  Hemings Motor News

44.  Radar Magazine

45.  Off-Road

46.  Cruising World

47.  Solidarity

48.  AARP Magazine

49.  Corvette Magazine

50.  Fine Homebuilding

51.  Bike Magazine

52.  Math in the Middle (NCTM Journal)

53.  Automobile

54.  Autoweek

55.  INC.

And the Winner Is....

STACEY!!!!

The answer is 55 subscriptions.  I'll type the names of the subscriptions later.  I gotta feed this baby.  Stacey, put in the comments the subscription you want and Ed will deliver.   

Ed and Claudia's Contribution to Killing Trees

As I have been enjoying my luxurious stay at Hotel Gimbel, one of my favorite activities has been reading the boat-load of magazines that Ed and Claudia receive each day.  Something fun and new comes everyday!  Ed has an excellent reading station in his office that includes a plush chair, a rack for your magazines and a trash can for the inserts in the magazines.  It is quite the set-up!  

I started wondering today about how many subscriptions to magazines Ed and Claudia have.  I asked them, and they didn't even know!  They are currently brainstorming the list and it will be posted on Friday evening.  

But before then, I want to have a little contest for all those who read this wonderful (if a little stagnant) blog.  I want all of you to weigh in.  I know there are many lurkers here, but let's get the comments going on this!  In order to encourage comments, I am offering an excellent prize. The prize includes the following:

One wallet sized picture of Nora at six months

A Hoosier Girls State plastic cup from when Margie attended Girls State.

A subscription to a magazine of  your choice from Ed and Claudia (not the Economist, it is a pricey $100 a year!)

A Tears for Fears cassette that used to belong to Rusty (aka Edward)

A life-sized cardboard cut out of Michael Jordan that used to belong to Karl

A mug from the Bellmont High School 1994 Prom that Ryan used.

Okay, I may not send you any of that, other than the picture of Nora and the subscription.  Unless you really want a life-sized cardboard cut out of Michael Jordan at your house.  

Okay people, let's start guessing!

The winner will be announced on Friday at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time

  

What's your favorite cereal?

So as the title asks, what is your favorite cereal?  My favorite cereal this week is blueberry muffin flavored frosted mini-wheats.  I think my all-time favorite might be Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch. 

I think dad's favorite cereal is Cracklin' Oat Bran.  After all, he is Mr. Ed.
I think mom's favorite cereal is Cocoa Krispies.  She thinks they are healthy for you since they only have 110 calories per serving.
I think Ryan's favorite cereal is Fruity Pebbles because... well... he's FRUITY!!!!!!

We got a puppy!!!!!

Read the full story here.

ps. This dog (being that it is a "small dog") has been approved by Ashley Perkins)

Laugh it up, Fuzzball

It isn't very often that I laugh out loud at something I read (okay, maybe you HAVE heard me laugh out loud at something I read), but after this past year at school, I'm always grateful to find something funny.  This week's NEWSWEEK magazine did just that.  In last week's issue they had panned Bill O'Reilly's new book, "A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity", and of course Bill-O went on air and trashed the editor, and trashed the magazine with 'its far-left posture'.  

Not to let a perfect opportunity go by, NEWSWEEK staffers felt duty-bound to offer up more-constructive criticism, and offered the following alternate titles for his book:

1.  "A Big Steaming Lump of Male Vanity"

2.  "A Deep Barking Voice of Inanity" and my personal favorite...

3.  "A Large Bag of Gas Who's No Hannity"

Tee Hee.

They also had an interesting article by Kathleen Deveny about little girls being labeled bossy.   Those are many times the same girls who are called the B-word when they grow up to be assertive women.  She noted, correctly so, that little boys NEVER get called bossy, and that it's a very sexist label.  Anyway, having been a somewhat bossy little girl, I thought it made for very interesting reading.  

So...here I am, reading away my summer!  Love,  Claudia

Just a little article

My friend from grad school just sent me this link.  Another reason to vote for Obama in November.

I know you people hate the links, but this was a great op-ed from a well respected economist.  

Something to get the comments moving

While Richard and I were in Indiana a few weeks ago, Emily and Karl came to Decatur to enjoy the Saturday with us (well, with me while the 'Chard studied for the bar, he is very diligent!).  We started talking about chain restaurants and the quality of some well-known chains.  

Now, correct me if I am wrong, but Emily argued that TGIFridays was better than Chili's and Applebees was above both of them!  Karl agreed with Emily.  I was shocked.  I had always thought of it as Chili's, then TGIFridays, and finally Applebees.  Places like Macaroni Grill and Cheesecake Factory clearly rank above Fridays, Chili's and Applebees (at least that is what I think, does anyone disagree?)  

So, what do you think?  What are some of your favorite Chain restaurants?  Do you think that Applebees is better than Chilis?  Where does something like Denny's fit in the mix?  How about Chevys, Chi Chi's or Banditos (Dad has strong feelings about Banditos).

Now people, don't get all snobby on me and say "Chain restaurants, they are all so lame!"  You can't tell me that you don't love the chicken tenders and Chilis, the delicious Pasta Milano at Macaroni Grill, and I KNOW for a fact that Claudia LOVES the Jack Daniels ribs at TGIFridays.

Discuss

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RUSTY

So I know... I know... It's "Edward" now and not "Rusty", but old habits die hard and even though it is your birthday and I should accommodate to your every wish... I am a mean, mean older sister. ;-) Only teasing, Edward. I love you and hope that you are having a fabulous b-day with Meridth.

xo!

-M

Thank you Apple!

Apple just announced they are coming out with a faster and better iPhone... at half the price... I'm a little irritated... feel kind of dumb... cheated... dooped... swindled...

but in better news, they changed my title at work from Administrator to Technical Specialist... that sounds like an engineer.... yeah... engineer... purchasing engineer... I like that. I'm gonna go engineer myself a PB&J.

Emily and I went to the Leonard Springs nature park. I'm always amazed at the little hidden treasures in Bloomington. It's really a great place! This spring leads to a marshy area that used to be dammed off and supply all the water to Bloomington. Indiana University actually thought about leaving Bloomington because the spring was having trouble supplying water to the growing campus. Thankfully they didn't leave.
Emily said I was standing too close and would not come stand with me. The water felt really good on my feet though. I was getting something out of my backpack so that's why it is on backwards... leave me alone.

I thought I looked ugly in the last picture, so I took a close up. PHEW!!! Back to my beautiful self.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

I just wanted to be the first to wish Mom a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Brandon and I are thinking about you and hope you have a fabulous day with Betsey and Baby Nora.

Love Always,

-M

The End of an Era

GM announces the closure of Dad's old plant.

I guess the plant's been open since 1919. With gas at the prices it is, I guess things'll have to change.

(That reminds me, I need to buy a bike. I'll post about that next week.)

Anyway, any thoughts Dad? Regrets? Shout outs to Janesville?

-Rusty