The Post About The Grand Gorge

I'm headed to the Grand Canyon in September and would love any advice from those who've been there. And done that.

Suggestions from my friend Joseph and my initial thoughts.

• Stay on Route 66 as much as possible. Makes me think of Lightning McQueen.
  
• Meteor Crater. Makes me think of Mighty Mouse.
  
• Sedona / Red Rocks. Makes me think of John Tesh.
  
• Eat at restaurants that aren't franchised. Makes me think about not eating at restaurants with foods in the name.
  
• Stand on a corner in Winslow, AZ. Makes me think of Police Academy.
  
• White water raft the Colorado. Makes me think of Deliverance.
  
• Drive. Makes me think "no."
  
• Don't fly. Makes me think "heck no."

So what's your rabbit advice?

{image: Michael McDonough}

The Post About Defending the Cause of the Fatherless

There are 302,000 churches in the United States.

There are also more than 123,000 legal orphans in foster care ready and waiting to be adopted.

So why are there orphans in the United States?

I'm privileged to sit on the front row watching colleagues who work diligently to find forever families for children in Alabama.

You can search for foster children available in your own neck of the woods by visiting Adopt US Kids.



{image: Jamie / video: Heart Gallery Alabama}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.63

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

I decided to fish through my Google Reader to find a blog labeled "Must Read" to share this week. And 1px Dashed is just that - must read. Especially if you blog on Blogger or you'd like a peek at the life of an LA blog designer who's actually interesting. I cyber-met Ellie when I begged and pleaded and paid her to makeover my bloggy home. She's as funny via email in "professional" exchanges as she is on her blog. Plus, I love every tip and trick and photograph she unveils.

Watch

Glee returns to Fox on Tuesday, April 13. Opposite Lost. Need multi-tasking TiVo.

Listen

When I was a kid, I wanted to be Punky Brewster, Smurfette and Cyndi Lauper at the same time. I still love all three. Cyndi is known for some of the best and most covered songs, but my favorite is "Fearless" included on her album, The Body Acoustic - a great addition to the music library of anyone known to give Malibu Barbie a crewcut.

The Post About Unmovtivational Speaker

I went to the store today and pushed around a buggy of flowers.

Upon bumping into a woman I know, we had the following conversation:

She: You know it's going to freeze again and those plants will die.

Me: Well, that's why I picked pansies since they might survive a bit longer.

She: It can frost until April 15th. That's why I wait.

Me: They only cost a couple of dollars each so it won't be a huge loss. (I start to push the cart towards the potting soil of freedom).

She: Just so you know, pansies die as soon as it gets hot.

I wonder if the security cameras caught her trying to steal my joy. I persevered despite the downer in aisle 7.


Before


After

{images: Jamie}

The Post About Being Behind in My Reading

I may subscribe to too many magazines.

I may need an intervention.

What's something you need to catch up on?

(image: Jamie}

The Post About Acting Someone Else's Age

I asked last time if there was anything about you that reads a bit younger than you actually are? Since you were fairly quiet on the issue, I thought I would self-disclose the areas in which I struggle to be mature:

1. Nail polish. I have a hankering for black and I don't worship the devil.

2. My birthday. I still like to celebrate more than one day. I party on the day I arrive until the day I was scheduled to arrive - so a solid two weeks.

3. Celebrity Crush. One word: ZacharyDavidAlexanderEfron

4. Vacation with my parents. I'm not afraid to share a car and a table at a cafeteria with my Mom and Pop. Grand Canyon 2010.

5. Decor. I do so enjoy the second floor of Urban Outfitters when needing design ideas.

6. Pranks. A night that ends with 500 forks in someone's yard is a good night.

7. My Father. I often call him "daddy," especially when I need a ladder or someone to underwrite my bills.

8. Pop Culture. I may obsess over such fare as Sonny with a Chance, the music of Selena Gomez and books categorized as Young Adult, such as Twilight, Harry Potter, etc.

9. Lunch. Peanut butter and jelly make for a delightful meal. If only there was kool-aid and a note in my sack.

10. Personality. Sarcasm will take 10 years off your life.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About Piercing Blue Rings

A transcript of a recent text conversation between me and my "close friend" Caryann who has more than one piercing.

Me: Enormous amount of TV today has taught me that mean skanks always have nose rings. No surprise

Caryann: Do they have lip rings too? Because that's what I want to pierce next.

Me: You've already MISSED your FIFTEEN YEAR high school reunion. Calm down.

Rabbit Readers - is there anything about you that reads a bit younger than you actually are? I'll share mine tomorrow.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.62

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

I recently revisited one of my favorite books - Little Women. Not surprising, it was still relevant. It's a bear of a book in length, but the full and detailed tales of these 4 characters helps the pages turn a scant more quickly. I find a bit of each March daughter in myself. Unfortunately, more bratty Amy than tenderhearted Beth. More more.

Watch & Listen

My friend Joseph posted this gem and I now need to help increase its virality. Is that a word? Firefox says no. This video features Fredrick and his take on some of my favorite TV show themes. Joining him is himself. The two of them are delightful.

The Post About Medically Relevant Shopping

First, I need to keep scratch paper in my car.

Second, I need to moisturize.

Third, every item should be covered by my Flexible Spending Account as health-related. See item #1 for more information.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About 10 {Worries} on Tuesday

Here's a list of just a few of the things I worry about.

1. White hair. Thanks Dad for your phenomenal, yet aging chromosomes.

2. Malapropisms. Am I pronouncing "automatically" as "automagically" or "insinuating" as "incinerating" and no one's telling me?

3. Parking. Maybe it's worth it to be an expectant or new mom for that sweet spot at the grocery store? Maybe not.

4. Favorite tree. I'm concerned it will fall on my house. Another note of gratitude to my father who planted that seed.

5. My funeral. I have outlined the important parts and how no one should sing about heaven or lighthouses. However, I'm confident the powersthatbe won't let my friend Joseph do the eulogy since he doesn't tuck in his shirt.

6. Dreams. Will I ever start my own business or write a book or land a triple axle?

7. Multitasking. Perhaps growing older will enable me to find an address while driving without having to turn down the radio.

8. Commute. Will I ever beat my fastest time of 19 minutes?

9. Habits. What happens on the day when I tug and no eyelashes are left?

10. Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I just know it's the delicious source of all our woes. It will probably lead to my funeral where I'll be in an open casket while someone sings "Beulah Gospel Train."

What worries you?

{image: FlowingData}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.61

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Cindy Morgan Edition: I've referenced this singer/songwriter before and I like her enough to give her exclusivity this week.

Watch

This is a performance of Ms. Morgan playing in my bestie's living room as the result of winning a contest. How can winning be wrong?

Listen

Cindy's newest album is Hymns: Some Glad Morning. The title would normally have kept me away. The idea of fanning myself in a small country church while a quartet of permed men and women sing Southern Gospel is about as close to a nightmare as I get. And that's the image the phrase "some glad morning" generally conjures up for me.

However, I've loved Ms. Morgan from album #1, so I was willing to take a chance.

And she did not disappoint.

This album is much less sweaty-potluck and much more folksybluesgrassy rewrite.

Here's a sample of my favorite song: "Working on a Building"

This is only a taste of a great project, which includes such favorites as "It Is Well" and "I'll Fly Away."

Do not hesitate to take my advice and snatch this one up.

The Post About Girls Scouts Are Tricking Us

See this?

I can only get it at special events at my church when they pull out the deep fryer. Or at places where they fry candy bars.

In other words...rarely.

To be honest, I could never eat another funnel cake and I'd be perfectly fine.

But I will eat another one.

Do you know why? It's the economics principle of supply and demand.

As the supply of an item becomes scarce, the demand for that item will drastically increase. With no real regard to the quality of that item.

Exhibit A: Girl Scout Cookies.
I'm not anti-Girl Scout. I love a sassy sash with some flare. But let's be honest. A $3 box of Do-Si-Dos are not better than a $2.50 package of Nutter Butters. Not by a long shot.

For any Girl Scout Cookie, there is likely a better-tasting and much cheaper alternative.

But we don't care.

Do you know why? Supply and Demand.

When we see that order form pop up in our workplaces or in the little hands of a girl outside a department store, our hearts begin to race because THIS IS OUR ONLY CHANCE.

A tip of my hat to you girls in green.

Well done.

{image: Jamie}

The Post About The Old Rugged & Candied Cross

Umm... This is not okay.

You are to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior by eating Reese's Easter Eggs and Marshmallow Peeps.

GET IT TOGETHER PEOPLE.

So spill - what's your preferred Easter treat?

{image: Jamie}

The Post About My Potter Hands

Chalkboards always mean learning.

And asthma attacks.


I went back to class to endure mudpie flashbacks.

Great flashbacks.


But potters with skills and tools and favor of the Lord can actually create something more practical than a dirty dessert.


And much more beautiful.


My learning would be tested on the front lines.


A wheel with a gas pedal.


Block of mud.


Gas Pedal + Mud + imagining Patrick Swayze guiding my hands = bowl.

This changed my life.

Plus, this wasn't some crackpot studio in the woods with master potters who don't brush their hair.

Oh no.

Earthborn Pottery has beautiful pieces found in restaurants across the country including Hot and Hot Fish Club, The Bellagio, The Beau Rivage, and more! You can snatch your own gorgeous pottery by visiting Earthborn's home on the web.

If you live in the metro Birmingham area - you have more options to make the mud a part of your life.

• Six week classes (2 hour class each week plus unlimited studio use for working out the kinks)= $150.
  
• Pottery Shindigs - $35 per person, lasts two hours and can be scheduled anytime. Find at least 5 friends and make it happen. P.S. I will be your friend.

Information can be found at Cahaba Clayworks.

Drinks-n-Drawing is so 2008. Pottery is the new black.

My pottery shindig was spent with the following:
Rachel from Grasping for Objectivity and Alabama Bloggers
Tammy from Greek GRITS
Nanci from Birmingham Mom Online
Trina from XOXO, Trina
Mama Hen from Long Days, Short Years
Leigh from Tales from Bloggeritaville
Rhoda from Southern Hospitality
Jill from Jill's Real Life
Cheri from Chez Cheri
Jessica from Thoughts of a Bama Belle
Beth from Unskinny Boppy
- thank you for such a fun day!

{images: Jamie}

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.60

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Academy Award Winning Edition: I'm wrapped up in the Oscars right this second, so I thought I'd highlight 3 of the 10 nominees I've seen that I think you might like. I've seen them all but Avatar. I know - don't say it. Three hours is a long-term commitment to funny glasses.



Up
Every time a new Pixar movie comes out I think "This cannot be as good as Finding Nemo." And even though each film is really superb, they still fall a hair short. Until Up. Any movie where I cry in the first act is likely to be a keeper. Just in case you haven't seen it, Up is the tale of a grumpy old man and an eager wilderness explorer who fly to South America in a floating house suspended from balloons. It received a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes for a reason.

The Hurt Locker
Most movies about the war in Iraq have an agenda. This one didn't. It seems so real that you forget it's not actually a documentary, although the screenplay was written by a journalist embedded in a bomb unit in the war. The Hurt Locker will make your heart pound a little harder as it examines the effects of combat on a soldier.

Precious
I think a lot of folks have left this movie unseen because they're uncomfortable. And that's a good thing. The story of 16-year-old Precious Jones and the abuse she suffers should make us uncomfortable. However, Precious is truly a movie about hope. About resilience. About overcoming. And Mo’Nique scared the begeesus out of me in her supporting role as a toxic and angry mother. She absolutely deserved the Oscar she just won.

What movie have you seen in the last year that you'd highly recommend?

The Post About Better Friend Semantics

I recently asked a favor of a friend of my friend, Cari Kates.

This is how I referenced her in the email:
"Cari Kates, who is a good friend, suggested I contact you!"

Since Cari was CC'd on the email, she responded to her friend by emailing this:
"Do it! Do it! Do it! Jamie is one of my closest friends, so I know it will be a great experience."

Here was my response to Cari:
"I like that you called me 'one of your closest friends' and I called you a 'good friend.' It seems that I’m a better friend to you than you are to me. Which, by the way…I knew all along."

She replied:
"What??? Closest is DEFINITELY more meaningful than good. I win."

I countered:
"That’s what I’m saying. You win as the friend in word, but I win as the friend in deed."

Who is the better friend? Cari or me?

{image: Jamie - part of my Project 365. All previous photos can be found at Flickr.}