J and I are up in Meadow Vista, CA doing the vocals for the Resolved CD.



Check out our progress at www.johnandlis.com

I don't know about you, but I can't remember the long URL of this blog - homepage.mac.johnandblah blah blah. So, we've created a new one.





If any of you have the old name in your rss reader, don't worry, the homepage.mac.yadayadayada URL will still work.

Thanks to Melissa, I have now seen it all. Yes, Melissa has been awarded

The Gordo's Blue Ribbon for
"Most Ridiculous Online Finding"



(No, that's not Melissa. No, that's not her prize winning discovery,
but have you ever seen such a nicely groomed alpaca?)


Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present to you
(drum-roll please)

KITTY WIGS!!!




That's right, no need to rub your eyes, you're seeing it right. Someone out there decided that cats need wigs and Vogue-style photoshoots.

And I quote:

Pink is the color of fantasy. Our model, Chicken, looks like her mind is elsewhere when she wears this wig -- somewhere in a land of cotton candy and pinwheels where the air smells like sugar kisses. Pink makes your kitty feel elegant, modern and quintessentially feline.

Now, I'm no cat person, so this is just plain disturbing to me. Any cat lovers out there that care to take a stab at defending this waste of cyberspace? Would YOU spend $50 on a colorful wig for your kitty?

I suppose a more technical title would be "Spanglish", but I didn't want anyone to be confused with my blog post and that movie.

This display was found downtown at the LA Flower Market on one of my many trips for the Dixon wedding. Thanks to Michelle and her good eye for catching this fun little nugget. Michelle and I have officially nicknamed the market "Flowers 'n' Plus" (that's for all you Master's peeps )



Look at all those DUCKS FIGURE, what a steal - 50% off on a SET/ 12!

Lukas did a fantastic job photographing Matt & Sarah's wedding!

You can see some of HIS PICS HERE


Below are the ones from my camera ... thanks Mom!

Today marks 1 year since the first post here on Yet Another Blog...

In honor of the anniversary, I've recorded some sounds of our neighborhood - one block from Gordo's taco stand. Hope you enjoy...

Click Link for audio → R09_0018

CARING FOR A BABY
Part 2

Those of you who missed last week's part 1 may want to go back and get up to speed on the first 14 flashcards.


The baby doesn't like the cage because there is no room for the toy.



In general, babies like to see what's happening.



Blahhhhh



An eye cover followed by a high 10 is a much more fun game than chess - besides the baby can't reach the timer.



Again, babies like to see what's around them when they're riding in a car



Once again, babies want to see! Get the picture?



It's important for your baby to be able to join in the shopping process. He has opinions about food too.



If we're honest, no one really likes the chop-chop massage.



Dogs? Yes. Babies? No.



You can only use the dryer method with cats.



Fish bite.



We don't use dresser drawers as beds in America



C'mon, this isn't safe for anyone.



Always look for a 1950s college sweater when choosing a babysitter.

Matt & Sarah's wedding was just beautiful! It was such a privilege to be a part of it. Arranging the flowers was an exhausting, but really fun experience. I couldn't have done it without the help of some sweet friends - Michelle, Tricia, Rachel, Diane, Stephanie, Kathleen and my wonderful Mother! THANK YOU all so much!

"Thank you" also to Jessica, photographer par excellence, for the lovely pictures....

CARING FOR A BABY
Part 1

Are you thinking about starting a family or starting a baby-sitting business but really have no idea how to take care of a baby? Are you a Grandparent who has forgotten how you raised your own children? Are you worried you may not know how to properly handle a baby's daily needs? You will be happy to know that the internet is chock full of instructions on how to properly care for any baby!

The following flash-cards from a German blog will be particularly helpful.


Yes. A child's head is not a basketball nor should it be handled like one.



Obviously, the problem with this method is that you may burn your tongue.



Despite popular belief, young babies cannot eat turkey legs. Many suggest you introduce turkey leg at the child's first birthday...he doesn't really appreciate cake yet anyway.



I would venture to guess that neither of these options are good ones, though both are better than the traditional hold the child's rear up to your nose and sniff vigorously.



Babies do not like the feel of skirt fabric.



How would you like to be awakened by an air horn?



Never toss a baby into the air without burping him first.



This one is pretty self-explanatory.



Even if the baby prefers shoes, it's still not a good idea
...he may choke on the laces.



Young babies cannot hold their liquor



The problem with the TV set up is that the baby really doesn't want to be reminded of his time in the hospital.



The chat-over-coffee method may cause your baby
to question your sanity.



Personally, I find puppets much funnier than fingers in my mouth.



This one is simple...picking bugers is gross.

Mom and Baby get to come home today!

I love the commentator on this clip...

Meet my new little niece!!

Abigail Ruth
8 lbs 12 oz
21 3/4 in long







Welcome, little girly! I love you already!

It seems to me that in the midst of the current presidential race it would do us good to hear from one of our greatest presidents, Ronald Reagan.

In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable, with no one group singled out to pay a higher price. ----Inaugural Address, January 20, 1981

Click Here for an interesting article about the current global warming threat to our individual freedom.

I discovered this week that Fritz likes broccoli. I fed him some from my dinner and to my surprise he ate it. I gave him another piece to see if it was just a fluke, and he ate that one too! Normally, the only way to get him to eat a fresh vegetable of any kind is to cook it with a roast.



While prepping this post, I searched "dog eating broccoli" in google and the first result that came up was "Veterinary Information: Toxins that Affect Dogs"....OH GREAT!! Apparently broccoli has been known to have a "toxic ingredient" known as "isothiocyanate and it is reported to be a pretty potent gastrointestinal irritant."



The last thing Fritz, the walking gas chamber, needs is a "gastrointestinal irritant." I've always said that if I could bottle and sell his emissions to the military, they could win wars with it. I mean, seriously, it's toxic. We keep bottles of air freshener around the house to combat its nauseous effects. (BTW, Pure Citrus Orange is the absolute best air freshener for all your freshening needs). Apparently, elevated gassiness is a Boxer trait and I've tried numerous things to lessen it....plain yogurt in his food, easily digestible food, never changing his food brand, anti-gas tablets, etc., etc. I imagine, the only thing worse than dog gas,
is broccoli dog gas. BORK.



I was relieved when I continued reading and found - "But I did find several references suggesting that broccoli should be fed to pets because of the bioflavinoids in it and their cancer fighting capabilities."

What do you think of when you see these pictures?




Costumes from a movie set in the "Old West" ?
Clothes taken as evidence from Eldorado, TX?
A homeschooler's home-ec project?

What if you also saw this:


"She has desired for awhile to design a line
that is a little more of a treat for the moms."


"Girls bloomers! Dresses on girls are girly, but not always modest without bloomers. Bloomers are comfortable and practical, and now affordable. April has been sewing bloomers for her younger sisters for years and is now taking orders for your family! Place an order and within two to four weeks you'll be in style!"

If you'd like your own pair of bloomers, be sure to visit www.jumpinbloomers.com/

The bird is still here. He's still pecking at the window. Apparently, he still hasn't figured out that it's a window, not a tree or another bird.



There is quite a bit of evidence that lets me know he's been here even when I'm not....he's left some gifts, if you know what I mean. He's also starting to damage the tint film on the window. There are little peck marks all across the window right at his beak level. This is not good, but no one here is sure what to do about it. Aside from putting up barbed wired along the window sill, which would really add to the curb appeal of the building, we don't have any ideas. Do you? 100 points to the commenter who comes up with a viable option.

This morning when I returned from my daily-coffee-for-the-boss run there was a man repeatedly driving his mini-van around the block trying to find parking for the Post Office across the street. This man was obviously upset about there being no parking spots open. I must have watched him drive around the block about 10 times and every time he would drive in front of the PO with no empty spaces he would yell, very loudly, about his frustration that no had left yet. His windows were wide open and every time he would yell, anyone on the street would look over at him, startled and disgusted at his obscenity laced anger. This didn't seem to phase him...he kept driving around the block, yelling.



I couldn't figure out why he would angrily drive around in circles instead of parking in one of the several spaces open on my side of the street...unless he had specific directions from Jack Bauer that he must park on the south side of the street and he only had 20 minutes to send the parcel by global priority mail at that specific Post Office or else Nina would come back and take over CTU.



The ironic thing is that in the amount of time he spent driving around and yelling, he could have been to the other Post Office just up the street, parked, mailed his package and headed on to his next destination.
What in the world...

Michelle and I had fun throwing a shower for our friend, Sarah, on Saturday. Kellie opened her perfect party home for the occasion and we had about 15 guests.

Sarah's is going to use classy greens and whites in her wedding, so we decided to use the same colors.








The lovely bride

MENU
Chicken Salad with Curry
Open-Face Cucumber Sandwiches
Cream-Filled Strawberries
Raspberry Scones
Lemon Mascarpone Ebleskiver Shortbread
Strawberries & Cream and Jasmine Green Flowering Tea
Coffee
Virgin Mojito with fresh mint and lime


Naomi, Megan, Gillian, Stephanie


Dr. Simons, Sarah, Mrs. Mills, Mrs. Dixon


Mrs. Salinas, Mrs. Bloomfield, Dr. Jones, Katherine

Now I don't know about you people, but I'm really not a fan of shower games. We did, however, play 1 game - Make-Your-Own-Veil Contest. I played this game at Audra's shower back in the Fall and thought it was actually pretty fun.
We gave each table a stack of white tissue paper, a bag of silly decorations, pipe cleaners, scissors, glitter glue and tape. Here are some of the results...






Thanks Kellie and Michelle!

Your dry cleaner deep thought for the day...

Animals are an important part of our world. They provide food, clothing, entertainment, companionship and sport. Of course, we're all familiar with the common animal sports such as horse racing, horse showing, dog racing, dog showing, polo, bull fighting, cock fighting, pig wrestling and well, hunting. But did you know about these?

ELEPHANT POLO








According to the World Elephant Polo Association -

Elephant Polo, the world's unique sport, which has been there for twenty-five years yet remains so novel and still like a big tale to many as it remains yet to be discovered. Yes, the long journey of the great elephants, their admirers and this grand game is reaching its twenty-fifth year in coming November 26th.

Yes....It is still like a big tale to many as it remains yet to be discovered.

I understand that horses are not exactly little and they are rather fast, but can a horse do this? C'mon....





RAT AGILITY
That's right. You read that right. People have pet rats....(deep breath)....and they train them to compete in agility courses...(Shudder)



According to The Agile Rat -

Fancy Rat Agility is gaining popularity as it is fun to participate in as well as to watch the Fancy Rats maneuver the agility equipment. Fancy Rat agility equipment is FAR easier to store and transport then either cat or dog agility equipment. As a matter of a fact... so are the Fancy Rats easier to house and transport than a cat or a dog... and quieter too.

I can see why this sport is gaining in popularity...who doesn't love a pet rat? Did you know you can even train a rat to use a toilet? I'll spare you that video since I wish I had never seen it.


I REALLY hope this is a joke...



CAMEL WRESTLING






According to All About Turkey-

In reality it doesn't happen and camel wrestling is more akin to comedy than to blood-sport. Bull camels normally wrestle and butt one another in a knock-out contest for precedence in a herd, and more importantly, precedence in mating. In the arena two bulls are led out and then a young cow is paraded around to get them excited. It's very easy to know when a bull is excited as streams of viscous milky saliva issue from his mouth and nostrils. Mostly the two bulls will half-heartedly butt each other and lean on the other until one of them gives in and runs away. This is the really exciting bit as the bull will often charge off towards the crowd, with the conquering bull in pursuit, and the spectators must scramble hurriedly out of the way. The antics of spectators trying to avoid a thousand kilograms (nearly a ton) of camel running towards them can lead to pure comedy and is the best part of camel wrestling. Miraculously there are few accidents.

Ah yes, nothing I love to see more than two HUGE camels, issuing viscous milky saliva from their mouths and nostrils heading full boar toward a crowd of onlookers. It's especially funny when some slow Joe doesn't move fast enough. Comedy, pure comedy.