I feel dirty. I've been watching this past Friday's Joan of Arcadia episode, you see, which featured "Special Guest Star Hilary Duff!" My original thought was "Okay, whatever, I survived Paris Hilton guest starring on Veronica Mars" and decided to grin and bear it.

But....

I kind of liked her. A good bit, actually. She was really quite good.

It can't be good that I'm now tempted to find episodes of Lizzie McGuire on the internet and see if she's always this not!annoying when she's not singing.

I just spent 15 minutes on the shelf above my computer. Before it looked like a precarious mound of junk that might topple over and engulf me at any moment. Now two magazine bins sit on one side, the first holding manila envelopes and mailing labels, the other all my romance industry/market magazines. The binders holding all my conference planning info rest against them. In the center is a neat little stack of boxes, mostly checks and note cards. On the other side is a neat, orderly stack of notebooks and office supplies. Spike and Boromir stand guard over all.

I feel good about myself.

Strength and peace to your family, Sail.

People, people, the cleaning, while impressive? Is making me eye my desk and sewing table with a certain gleam in my eye, which could be dangerous.

"That mess? Swallow you whole. A little shakin', a little tenderizin', and down you go."

Nova! I know -- she was good.

Perhaps we can hope that her sister, who it appears will be in the following episode, will suck eggs? Just to keep the universe in balance, you know.

Anyone got advice on how to hold a nice intervention with my bridezilla before she gets unbearable?

go go cleanin gpeople. one place and one step at a time. While I think some of the flylady's advice is Crazy ( shoes - not til I need em) - but the idea of doing things in 15 minute intervals - or only dealing with what you can put away in an hour - good, good ideas.

as for the bridezilla- she needs a reminder that 's lots of people are geting married on the same day she is. and a reminder that church , it's not just for weddings anymore. But as for real advice, none yet.

Tranq dart.

(Wish I had more/better/useful/actual advice.)

Tranq dart.

Tempting.

Anything to keep me from using a clue-by-four between now and the wedding.

The quicker she learns she's not the center of the universe, in spite of the fact that it's her "special day", the better for all involved, Susan.

I say use the cluestick. The big one.

Does anyone want an aging, cranky dog and a gimpy, middle-aged dog and a recalcitrant, evil cat? I've had it up to my eyeballs with the pets, right at the moment.

The cat, of course, keeps shitting in the hallway.

And today at noon, when another bum (yes, B-U-M, NOT a little kid) knocked on my door to "shovel the drive" in spite of NOT carrying a shovel, the dogs went crazy with the barking (yes, it's their job and I appreciate that they scared the guy). But it also woke the baby 20 minutes into a much-needed, and much-abbreviated nap.

Then this morning at 3 a.m., in our bedroom (where the whole freakin' pack sleeps beside our bed), Mac took exception with something Sam did and growled, snapped and BARKED VERY LOUDLY. Loudly enough that the baby, who sleeps three feet across the hall with an OPEN DOOR nursery heard and woke up.

And wouldn't get back to sleep.

FUUUUUUCK.

sumi: That would definitely make me feel less like the world was slowly shaking apart.

But then, ever since Lindsay Lohan released a pop album and got a boob job, I can no longer support her in the Lohan vs. Duff War without quinges of guilt, due to the sudden influx of disrespect. Maybe I should just switch sides entirely.

Or I could just do the smart thing and say that as far as pre-legal blonde actresses go, Evan Rachel Wood deserves all the respect.