why I gave up on "even cowgirls get the blues"

it was the second tom robbins book i read after his "still life with woodpecker" (which i absolutely loved). frankly, it just didn't live up to my high expectations. i tried for many years to pick it up and continue on... then the movie came out which was (as a rule) worse than the book - just more proof that my imagination is superior to that of hollywood. i'll never finish it as i gave it away to a friend and will probably never buy another. that is unless i can find it at a garage sale for 25 cents - then i still wouldn't finish it because my kids will want me to read "if you give a pig a pancake" for the umpteen zillionth time.

my road-trip mix tape

ol' 55 by sarah maclachlan

rock me amadeus by falco

could you be loved by bob marley

how I'd spend $1,000

1) a better camera

or

2) a 1T external hard drive

or

3) another ipod

then, as a result of #3

4) more itunes stuff

if I had easy access to a helicopter, I'd fly to chicago this weekend

it's the only place close enough of interest. we'd do all the usual touristy type stuff: navy pier, shedd aquarium, lincoln park zoo, frank lloyd wright's houses, the field museum, sears tower, etc. and, of course, i can't forget my three favorite stores - anthropologie, ikea and sephora. then we'd let out the inner barbarian at the medieval times.

we're outta here!

it finally happened.  our cats have jumped ship.  i woke up this morning to find a "dear john" letter on the litter box.  apparently our decision to not take them with us to florida was the straw that broke the camel's back.  they opted for a romantic winter getaway at a resort/sculpture garden in ada, michigan.  the place must have every amenity (or at least wi-fi, breakfast buffet, karate lessons, spa services and karaoke night) as i found these in my inbox:

i'm beginning to think that we got the raw end of the vacation deal. hope you guys have lots of fun.  party like a rock star.  i just don't want to get any bills for trashed hotel rooms.

testing mom's limits...

this is what happens when you tell a 3-year-old "hurry up and get dressed, otherwise i'll leave you home with dad".  yep, that would be a t-shirt around his waist and pants on his head.

wit and wisdom of youth...

this also falls under the category of "woo-hoo!  dad's in charge!"

mom:  "what is this?"

sophie:  "tiger boy."

mom:  "who did this?"

sophie:  "laura."

mom:  "who is laura?"

sophie:  "laura is in trouble."

yes, laura, you are in trouble!

random quote...

"some people never go crazy. what truly horrible lives they must lead."

-henry chinaski in barfly

"i'd hate to be you if i were me."

-eddie in barfly

"i remember ordering a draught, barkeep.  what, are you out of brew, or has that lobotomy finally taken hold?"

-henry chinaski in barfly

artistic expression...

little girl carrying a bag of treats to her grandma

sophie, age 5

this creation is inspired by the movie hoodwinked (a twisted whodunit take on little red riding hood).  i especially love how the big bad wolf's character pays homage to chevy chase's "fletch".  that, along with red's sarcasm and granny's love of x-treme sports, makes for an awesome adventure.  awesome purple pigtails, soph.

confessions...

if you ask my husband, he'll emphatically proclaim "kim hates westerns".  and that would be about 99.99% accurate.  but, i must admit, during my late-night channel surfing sessions i have found myself pausing on (and subsequently enjoying) the following movies:

the magnificent seven

a fist full of dollars

the good, the bad and the ugly

westworld (yeah, yeah i know "technically" it is sci-fi)

but i still can't get into the unforgiven.

shhhh!  whatever you do, don't tell orhan.  he'll never let me live this down.  he already makes me watch shalako everytime it's on.