Breakthrough!

I went to the pdoc today. I told him to look at me and not his computer, that it was very important to me that I be able to trust him. He obliged and had a real conversation with me.

It was a little difficult on my end at first because I knew there was so much to say and not a lot of time to say it (15 minute appointments, Hello!). I even said I was in a bit of a quandry because of the time crunch and I didn't want to sound like I had 'pressured speech' but what can I do?

First of all, he thought it very smart of me to up that certain medicine on my own. He says he is here to work with the patient and that I obviously did the right thing. (I guess because I'm better today?). He praised my intelligence, which was, well, nice.

We talked honestly about Abilify. There was some questioning as to why I got off it, why I had asked him to take me off it. I explained that my husband was worried about the shakes, and that he worried that they were permanent, especially because he would see the damn Abilify commercials and it said something about permanent issues. Before the pdoc could say anything, and he tried, I continued that I thought the commercial was talking about tarkive diskonesia (a supreme effort on my part to spell that!:). The pdoc confirmed that - he said that the shakes are a side effect of Abilify (and later I confirmed that anxiety is also a side effect of it!) - but they are not permanent, as is obvious because when I stopped the Abilify the shakes went away.

So upshot: we decided to put me on Abilify again.

I am much happier with this scenario than any other, although I might have been willing to go on Lithium again, yes I feel that bad.

For those of you not familiar, the whole drug thing and mental illness is such a crapshoot. The fact is, we are all different and different drugs work for different folks. That is why I am not fond of posting what I am on, or saying to someone this is what you should be on. Also, there are plenty of people that don't want to be on medications, although in my view there are plenty of people that need them regardless. I have been doing this - meaning taking medications and advocating for myself - for a long time. I know, without a doubt, that it is the wagon that I need to be on.

I know that I have the right diagnosis. The more time goes on, the more I read, the more textbook I realize I am. That is a good thing. Thank God, and I mean that with all my heart, that He saved me at a young age with my real diagnosis. I know many are not so lucky.

But what sucks, is that even with the right diagnosis and the knowledge that I should be on meds, even with taking the meds religiously and correctly according to how they are prescribed, even with complying with all outpatient activities, so to speak, the Monster still has the capacity to take me down. I am not immune, nor probably ever will be, to the effects of my bipolar. I am bipolar, or should I more correctly NAMI say it, I have bipolar.

Additionally, that some of you may find of interest, I realize that I must compartmentalize my life, in some fashion. This idea came to me when I was watching a recent documentary on the Kennedys (after Ted's death) on PBS of course (the channel full of documentaries!) and they were talking about Teddy's older brother JFK. Whatever you think about the Kennedys, it clear that JFK had a womanizing problem, even while married to Jackie. They were discussing it, with a cameo of one of the his secretaries saying that he admitted that he just couldn't help it. But what was interesting to me was that JFK certainly had to compartmentalize his life in order to have all the aspects of it, to keep some grip on it. He must have sectioned off, in his own mind, these different aspects of his life, in order to perform all his duties, be enormously in the public eye, be a husband, a father, an occasional runner with the 'Rat Pack,' and so forth, not to mention that he had Addison's (sp?) disease, and worked diligently to keep it from the public eye. He was actually quite sick, it was cortisone shots that made him look healthy for the Nixon debate.

In some way, I know I compartmentalize, because even though I discuss it ad nauseum here on the blog, that fact is I've got an illness with a massive stigma, and I don't wear it on my sleeve for the outside world. I'm sure most of us do it in some way, to keep our lives in order.

Blah, blah. The real point is I have some HOPE after seeing the pdoc that maybe things can be better, maybe Me will come back (which has been a serious concern for me). I will try to keep everyone updated on how that switch from no Abilify to 10 mgs of being on Abilify goes (people should know they can get shakes and anxiety with the stuff. I know I would have appreciated knowing!:).

Gonna go make dinner! Hope Things are going well for blog land!:)
And we're out,
:)'Tart

Monday's 'Adventure' post.

The Carters, including Maybelle, June Carter (Cash's) mom.

I was thinking very hard about what to put on the Adventure of a JungleTart's blog, after knowing so easily what to put up on 'The Good Stuff' (go check it out).

I thought about updating you on my mental state. The update: I am still a little fragile, but I get a little better every day, perhaps quite shockingly having to do with an emergency medicine change done last week. I honestly didn't think it would work. It was hell to get through, but I think I won't be going into the hospital and that is just an unbelievable blessing.

So then I looked through My Pictures, of which I have many, and after posting about Johnny & June Carter on my other blog, well this one seemed perfect.

I don't know who each person is, I just know that it is the original Carters and that Maybelle Carter (June Carter's mom) is in it. I love old-timey anything, I love bluegrass, and this picture reminds me of family members that grew up in the Deep South.

I also think that it must have been rare for women to go out wearing/playing guitars & music and how pioneering these ladies were. I think it is beautiful and powerful. Good night to all.:)

(PS - Please pray for Denise's Dad who had a heart attack earlier today. I am thinking of you Denise, and your family. Love, 'Tart)

Out sick.

I am not feeling well physically. I have an eye problem which I got drops for and my throat was afire this morning which chloroseptic helped. I have been taking it easy, but I guess I need to sleep today, which I will try to do.

I am really saddened by the Michael Jackson thing, as well as Farrah Fawcett deaths and I may elaborate further on future posts.

I hope all are well and I wish blessings in the blog world. I'll be back to post when I have more energy.

My husband is taking care of me, bless him. I'm sorry I haven't visited blogs in a while, I have been busy, before I got sick. I can tell you about that later. God bless, and have a good weekend.
Sincerely,
Tart

Self-soothing through movies.

In the past few days I’ve been feeling cranky and good for nothing, so why not watch a movie.

On Wednesday afternoon I watched ‘The Bee Movie’ which is a PG animation movie with Jerry Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger’s voices. I don’t know if I get tired or it just can’t keep my attention span – read: it may be boring for adults – but I have fallen asleep several times during that movie, both times I’ve seen it.

Thursday was a day for drama, as I watched ‘Benny and Joon’ – Mary Stuart Masterson as a schizophrenic (best line ‘Having a Boo Radley moment?’ I love it. I will use that some time), Aiden Quinn aaaaaaand – Johnny Depp. He is sooo hot. I’m sorry, I’m allowed my opinion, he is hot in just about every movie I’ve seen him in.

He renews my faith that there are sexy men in this world, we just never see them because the world’s too busy showing us all the skanky supposedly sexy women for men consumption. Know what I’m sayin’? Anyway ladies, let us revel in this ‘national treasure’ (who now lives in France with his fiancé and children but God bless him, works in the good ol’ U.S.A.)

To further the film fest on Thursday, I watched Waitress (all of these movies I had seen once before anyway). Keri Russell’s character has an abusive/overly needy jerk of a husband and gets pregnant from him. She is a gifted pie-maker for a local diner and just wants to get away from her husband but now its too late, she thinks. It has a good ending, I won’t say more.

For people who keep up, it’s the last film by Adrienne Shelley who is a character in the film, its screenwriter and director and was murdered in real life. Her husband started a foundation for women in film after her death.

This watching movies thing during the day when I’m all by myself is a great thing. I get to see what I want and ultimately, movies are so soothing and thought provoking for me.

I go into another world, I am transported, which is what I am sure movie connoisseurs or even people ‘with no life’ also adore about movies. It’s a way to self-soothe and ‘safely’ open up the world at the same time (watching dramas that I’ve seen before).

I mean I know I’ve seen it before and have a general idea what it’s about and if I’m in the mood for it, but being burnt (because of bipolar) and having CRS (Can’t Remember Stuff (!) I have forgotten many of the particulars, so its new to me! Thank God for movies!

I'm thinking about watching 'The Hours' today. Talk about an intense movie. But I keep remembering awesome bits and pieces of it and Nicole Kidman did an awesome job as Virginia Woolf (I guess it's a mental illness fest this week) that I'm thinking that I want to see it again. At least I want to do something, even if it's just veg and breathe.:)

Living the Good Life on a Rented Boat! - aka a Warm, Toasty August Saturday!

Yesterday was a beautiful, warm Saturday day.

I went fishing A-gain! on a rented Jon boat with Husband, with our little put-put motor that we kept from the IG debacle (Indian Giver Debacle).

So we go down the river a ways and decide several times where to cast and stop for fishing, (we have this great anchor that we bring with us on these adventures) and get cooked, fried, hot, sweaty, bit, bugged a little (by bugs) and get really hurting backsides!

Even with a cushion that doubles as a life preserver, sitting on a Jon boat is hard on the bottom! Sometimes, you just have to stand up, in the middle of the boat, in the middle of the water!

Or, on the way put-putting back with that motor, (I say that because at one point Husband rowed, we were going soooo slowww!!) and Husband pushing it in the right direction (he's so much better at it than myself, believe me!), I hunkered down with the seat as my backrest, putting the cushion underneath me, and the rest of our life preservers as backrest and used my black umbrella (yes, I think of every comfort! and believe me, bringing that thing is one of the smartest things I bring) to shield myself from the sun and I swear I felt like I was on the Riviera or in Venice and got sleepy and napped or at least dozed for a little.:)

It was so warm and toasty under that umbrella, with my bug-eye sunglasses on, fishing hat and hair back in a small pony tail! My feet would feel burny (I was wearing my purple Speedo swim shoes that also double as pool shoes when I go to my aqua fit class) occasionally with all the sun on them, so I would tuck them under and try to shield them with the umbrella sometimes. Such is the life! and all on a rented Jon boat!

And Husband did indeed catch another fish, a medium-size catfish, caught on a double hook with a lead sinker on a line that he just drops in the water next to the boat, while he casts and pulls in another line (that I don't think could even have a chance to catch anything because it has no worms on it, and he pulls it in so fast! Just my 'fishy opinion' though!:).

As we left the house yesterday morning to go fishing, I noted that I forgot my camera, but we didn't want to go back and get it. Just figures, because we couldn't tell what kind of fish his catch was at first, so we netted it and took a look at it before getting it off the line and I probably could have a gotten a decent shot of it.

Aw well, you know what they look like, little tendrils of shocks coming out of their faces. We bring gloves with us now, since learning that they are really handy for getting the fish off the hook, especially since that river is Full o' catfish!

We're getting old for this, as hours on a boat, as relaxing and fun as it is, is a bit tiring! but I think it is so good for Husband to end his stressful work week this way and have some relaxation and Fun! I get sleepy being in that hot sun even when I come home and end up napping a little on the couch while watching 'Glamour's 100 Glamourous People 2008' or something like that. The Pugs aren't the only ones with the great life!:)

Going Retro: The New York Times has been good to me today.

The New York Times in email, that anyone can sign up for, often prints a 'This Day in History' blurb on the bottom.

I love yesterday's (I couldn't get it here in time to be yesterday's post). It's from the McCarthy era, where the jerk blacklisted tons of people in a 'witch hunt' over Communism. In a classy way, he was put in his place, as only a 1950's proper person could do:

"On June 9, 1954, Army counsel Joseph N. Welch confronted Sen.
Joseph R. McCarthy during the Senate-Army Hearings over McCarthy's attack on a
member of Welch's law firm, Frederick G. Fisher. Said Welch: ``Have you no sense
of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?''"

Only in the 50's could being reminded of your lack of decency put you in your place.

Then today, I read about 'true divas,' the beautiful and mysterious, gorgeous Sophia Loren and Catherine Deneuve, who are having box sets of little known movies of theirs coming out soon. See here to go to the page in the NYT's talking all bits juicy about the two. I love the older, retro Hollywood, and the actresses that put it on the map.

I figured out one reason I like People magazine so much...

Eva Longoria Parker without makeup, probably printed in People magazine at one point, and probably something I snagged as an MSN pic (I'm guessing).

...I like still pictures and still words. I like words on a page or even a (computer) screen. But I'm not fond of video, YouTube even, or rolling pictures off MSN. I avoid the videos off of MSN!

TV I can stand, for short spurts, usually at night when I'm going to sleep. I like movies for some reason. Maybe because it's a set plot or it has parameters or boundaries and I usually have some idea what it's about, I guess. But I don't always know what's going to happen in video, and it puts me on edge.

Say it with me, "I'm not a baby, I'm NOT!" It's one of those weird things that I'm willing to let out at this time.

One of the most popular posts that people come to on my blog is the Connie Talbert YouTubes when she sings!

I don't recall what caused me to post that.

Anyway, are there any bipolars out there that like to slowly digest their news, and much of their entertainment?

Especially to the point where it's noticeable and they notice themselves avoiding video's in emails or online? I can stare at a People magazine page, flip the page, and be totally engrossed in it from cover to cover. I invite other bipolar's to delve into the reasons why, because I surely don't know!

Maybe because it stays still and I can be engrossed in what I want to see (and flip past what I don't?).

MAYbe its the control factor, as my therapist suggested today.

I am not bombarded with stuff instead I choose what to be bombarded by, just like when I lay still on my bed in my room, shunning all life on this planet, except for a little HGTV (Home something TV), after eating a Cloapin or two (bad, don't do that!). In other words, control the world - keep that bitch a-WAY.

Maybe because it reminds me of years of having a hard copy, a written page to hold, or even computer screen that stayed still for me to look, think, and edit?

That and E! news on television makes me just stare. Or 'ridiculously' wholesome shows like 'Clean House' or stuff on the Home Network (they are predictable!) What is the fascination?

I don't care what the answer is because there's no other answer for me.

The Poem read by Oprah - composed by David Wagoner

BigHorn Sheep, North America, Webshots

Wow! This is the 499th post! Anyway, I have a poem to share from Oprah's class she's doing on 'The New Earth' which I admit I'm not involved with, but adored the poem.

But they are doing the 5th chapter about forgetting your past, something I could probably use (if I could really remember it, a short term memory problem I have. I have people around me that remind me, lucky me.)

Anyway, this poem is nice for me, because I take it as be happy with where you are, even now. Again, some more love for those scared to move at this time, that would be me really. Being stuck in now, Maybe better than being stuck in past, no? I don't know.

Yet, I feel positive when I read it, that it loves me even in my present messed up state.

This poem is by David Wagoner and I'm having you go to Oprah's site because I never know what to with the fact that it's all rights reserved. I never want to take another's work, but it's a good poem and wanted to direct all to it. Oprah read it aloud during their lesson.

The_Poem_read_by_Oprah_as_composed_by_David_Wagoner_ThisWillGoToHerSite

It's okay Chris, I never read Maxim magazine anyway

Imagine my delight when, while trawling across the MSN main page this a.m., finding this headline:
Black Crowes Say Maxim Review a Fraud
http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=302156&GT1=7702

Huh-huh. They said 'Black Crowes.' Instant attraction.

Peter Angelus, the band's manager, says Maxim didn't listen to the album 'Warpaint' (as there were no pre-released copies to the March 4 date (yaaay!) except for one song, "Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution"). Maxim gave an unheard album 2.5 stars and, well, The Black Crowes are pissed.

I never read Maxim, Chris. I love you, so maybe I'm easy and already in the fold, but I will buy 'Warpaint' regardless and think five star thoughts about you.
'Still hot for Chris'
'Tart

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson & Chris Robinson, SAG Awards 2001: Ah, young love.


Kate H., 2003. That's one of the most beautiful pics ever.



Kate H., 2003 In the middle of marital bliss.


K. Hudson, 2005, marital unbliss apparent (to me anyway), looking thin, dejected & tired.


K. Hudson, during 'Almost Famous' during the time she first met Chris Robinson

Here's a Jungletart first: I will tell you that I have the biggest Un-secret crush on Chris Robinson, singer for the Black Crowes.

He was married to Kate Hudson in 2001 (New Year's Eve to be exact) for about 6 years. They have one spawn, Ryder Russell Robinson.

So it goes with all crushes (mine's lasted since 1991) everything having to do with the crush is oh-so-interesting, and so it is with Mr. Robinson's connection with Ms. Hudson, the only wife he's ever known.

Kate's very in vogue right now, because her comedy 'Fool's Gold' is number one in the box office. So MSN had the obligatory photo gallery of her and I chose some interesting pics. I hope you enjoy the fruits of my crush to Mr. Robinson. You see, it's because I care. And fun.

(480th post!) I love my...

I love my celebrity fascination and may I still remind all that Matt Damon is the hottest man alive all year!


I love my Billy Dee Williams. He is Mr. Smooth, and the guy that sneakily helped Princess Leia and good friend Han Solo (Carrie Fischer & Harrison Ford) in 'Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi.'


I love my Ashton Kutcher in a chicken suit. Classic.


I love the really funny, sweet stuff that comes in my emails. Oh, and did I mention I am partial to the animal ones?


I love flowers. These are orchids.


I love this cute, for-real story. A chihuahua breeder in Japan fortuitously and unwittingly bred a puppy with this heart shaped patch on it. The breeder will NOT be selling it, and they named it 'Heart-sun.' I know when you put -sun on end of a name in Japanese it is a sign of love.

Britney Spears from a Real Bipolar's perspective

Every day I hear that Ms. Spears is closer to doing 'the stay' in a mental hospital, and getting the help she needs.

Good.

Look, Britney is truly experiencing the hard part - the years where she must be convinced that those docs handing her meds really know what the hell they are talking about.

She may have to find, as I did (withOUT attitude bought by money: I didn't have that. I was just a semi-normal kid.), that she is dependant on them for life. A real life.

One in which she gets to SEE her children. We'll talk about her capacity for more later.

I feel for her. Despite the fact that I do not relate to being so rich and all that entails (and got in her way),

I do relate to the illness. To psychosis. To highs that are scary. A life that is out of control and nobody seems to know how to help you.

That's why they made hospitals, with 'high walls.' To keep out that which is not helpful and help you when you might be too weak to tell the difference.

If nobody else will say it, well, that's what the Tart is for.

God bless you, Britney, and every bipolar out there needing some real help. May you get it. You all deserve it.

I mean that, my friends. Peace.

www.sunsetgun.typepad.com for Kim Morgan's words and pictures about Heath Ledger 1979-2008

I'm not sure if there are people out there who don't understand the pull of movies or 'the movies.'

As though it were strange for any segment of the population to embrace and hold dear the the alternate reality, the magic that are movies, the writers that write them, the actors that act, taking what's on the written page and sometimes making something that causes one to cry, to laugh, to relate, to feel vindicated - all from what I think is celluloid 'film,' mostly fake, and created for our pleasure.

I'm bipolar so I happen to be a bipolar who loves celebrities, movies, actors, writers. But clearly, the quite 'sane' can be involved in loving these activities.

I found a blog called Sunset Gun at sunsetgun.typepad.com written by Kim Morgan, an entertainment writer for MSN Entertainment, who writes and runs MSN's daily film blog, Movies Filter and writes for Huffington Post (this from her profile).

For her January 28, 2008 post she wrote a wonderful, insightful piece about the recently, now dearly departed Heath Ledger.

I direct one and all to Sunset Gun for that post to commune with someone who expresses the shock and sadness that many of us feel over his death and who writes with a real sense of creating for the reader who Heath Ledger was, and makes us realize powerfully, if we didn't already know, what a loss the end of his short life is.
Tart

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech

It has to be one of the most powerful speeches ever. This version has it in it's entirety, from the moment Dr. King stepped into the shadow of Lincoln's statue.

I don't care for the 10 second commentary after, I was just looking for the pure speech.

Take 11 minutes out of your day, to see why today is his.
Tart

Suzanne Pleshette Dead (2008)

Suzanne Pleshette, dead at age 70 (2008)

See here for MSN's blurb about her - http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=293627&GT1=7703

For my part, I guess once an obituary writer, always an obituary writer. I can't help watching for the 'celebrity dead' but the difference is I print here what I'm truly interested in.

This is it, this is the day, for Ms. Spears

Britney was taken on a gurney into an ambulance last night, after a stand-off concerning her boys, a supposed custody battle with Federline.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080104/ap_on_en_mu/people_spears

All I can think of is NOW is the time to get the help she needs.

Britney, I have been toted, just like you into the ambulance, twice, with neighbors gaping (the equivalent of paparrazi in middle America).

You can do this girl, take care of yourself. For once, it is so about you.

If they think you have a 'mental issue' please go with it - don't be afraid, just get the help you need.

Millions of us are living with these things, responsibly and still creatively. If Britney handled this one thing well, I know its selfish on my part, but she could advance the cause of bipolar.

If she got the medication and therapy and started getting her life together and being what she wants to be most, a real mom, what would that show?

If she did these things while making records and videos, being creative, while on meds w/ therapy - the world would see if you can't hide it, then girl, have pride in it.

Because 'Carters' Rock & lead to even better things!

I'm not saying it's my name (it is not) but please follow my interesting line of thought as 'The Carters' lead to such fascinating women!


Helen Bonham Carter. Besides being a little cutie that worked really hard on her latest movie, while suffering the travails of pregnancy, she sports a hairstyle that resembles my own in the morning. And that makes me feel good about myself.:)


Again, a Carter in sepia tones, making me feel good about my hair & probably my baking skills.

If you're talkin' Carters, you would be amiss to not mention those famous singing Carters who are icons of country music. I believe the Carter on the end is Ms. Maybelle Carter, mother of June Carter.

June Carter was destined to marry Johnny Cash and have a son who made a movie about their lives.

And that brings us to Reese Witherspoon, who played Ms. June Carter in that wonderful movie, 'Walk the Line,' annnnd got an Oscar for it.

So you see, in the end a 'Carter' led to a 'Witherspoon,' who had an 'Oscar.'

That would be your complex brain exercise for Today.

(The World needs people who think like me, and you know it.:)

A Really Nice Guy

A Really Rich Guy.

A Very Inspirational Guy.

The source of Will Smith's phenomenol success, obvious in both his professional life and personal (from what I can see) is that he works his ass off. His co-stars say so, and when he went on the Actor's Guild with James Lipton and was asked the famous question: What turns you on? Will replied: "Seeing someone work really hard, at anything." Conversely, his turnoff is: "Laziness."

I know I'm not good enough for him.

But it sure is a thrill to watch him do his thing on the silver screen. And to know such a person even exists (self-actualization, it's a beautiful thing).

To top it off, he's box-office gold. For Real.

The measure of a movie by Hollywood standards is how much money it makes on the first weekend and does that amount cover the cost of making said movie.

If Will's in the movie, opening weekend will break the previous records and he naturally will rake the dollars for the studio & all involved.

'I Am Legend' just opened to the tune of approx. 76 million dollars. For the first weekend.

I am interested to see how Sweeney Todd does, because it feels destined to be a classic. The myth it's based on was started in the 1700's and the tale has been told maaany times on the stage.

In this movie version it is recreated with Tim Burton's very singular, albeit weird vision, using close-ups and his macabre mind (and penchant for fake blood) - hey, we know what to expect with him - is sure to have produced something sensational, and reviewers, etc. have pretty much said so.

Did I mention my beloved Johnny Depp sings? Tim Burton, nominated for Best Director, Helena Bonham Carter nommed for Best Actress, Johnny Depp: Best Actor, The Entire Shebang: Best Movie - I feel a deserved, well-anticipated sweep at the Oscars this year.

Nicole Richie, Joel Madden Shower 100 Moms with Baby Gifts (story via People.com)

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20164093,00.html

As some of you remember, I have been accused of being (sometimes very) harsh about Nicole Richie. I'm proud to say that pregnancy, impending motherhood, a much talked about impending entrance into married life, and a desire to set things straight with family and the world(?) seem to have matured Ms. Richie greatly and I admit, in nice ways, in the last few months.

I feel somehow proud and good, myself, that Nicole and baby daddy Joel Madden showered 100 Los Angeles Health Clinic moms with $200,000 of gifts this weekend. These shocked moms received the same things that Nicole will be using for her soon-to-be newborn, which has probably got to be special if you're a Nicole fan. Let alone that this was truly a gesture in giving to the poor and needy.

Yes, this could all be a publicity stunt, meant to get all of us to forget some of Nicole's problems (the same previous unniceties that I've mentioned before), but it was such a nice stunt, backed up with perhaps one or two previous things that the couple mention on their new joint website.

Joel & Nicole seem to be a very nice united front, and say that their families are very close to each other (I assume that means emotionally, as well as living 'near' to each other) and that they helped with this endeavor.

The two have established the richiemaddenfoundation.com, which, in a way, is dedicated to their baby that is yet waiting to be born in January. Nice.

They say they have been putting this together, or thinking about it, since learning of the pregnancy. Sweet.

I've looked at their site and their companion site www.babycenter.com and I'm pretty impressed. Not only as a consistent lover of baby education, myself, I am now a considerer of the lifestyle for me, myself & Husband, and found the information alone on http://www.babycenter.com/ to be very interesting. Oh! And you can buy baby stuff there too!

The two lovebirds seem to perform their acts of kindness coinciding with what is going on in their own life, meaning I don't know if they'll still be handing out toys when Nicole's in a totally different stage with her own tyke, but they really seem sincere.

And that's a profoundly different thought than the ones I had earlier this year about Nicole and I'm not afraid to report a change in my feelings, especially when she's done something to 'wow' me. Nice job Nicole & Joel! Thank you for making Christmas more real for one bipolar blogger, giving me a celebrity turn-around moment. I wonder if I should have put this on my 'Good Stuff' page? Maybe if you keep it up.:)

Not complain unduly, but has anybody else noticed what a beast it's become to format on the Blogger page these days? This and a couple of my last posts have had horrible formatting problems, especially in spacing between paragraphs. It's a 'whut the' moment./Discuss

Truly the Best Celebrity Quote (True Dat) for this past week (via People.com)

"We're like cranky trained monkeys if we don't get to perform."

– Amy Poehler, on why she and her SNL cast mates got together to do a live theatrical performance of their show during the WGA strike, to the New York Times