and should be used for fun things, but the two-moments-of-cute-dog doesn't seem worth it, particularly since Toto is cute naked.

So very true. I bet I could get him a little halloween scarf at Target (where I have a gift certificate), and he doesn't mind those. The more I was thinking about it, the more I was thinking it was just not a very sound decision.

and think he'll hate it.

Remember the whole poncho incident? [link] He was all, "Mom?! Do I have to go out in this? Now, imagine this: [link]

Hee. I feel evil even considering it.

Ha! I could have trauma induced by either, because I'm soft that way. But I mean the store, which is the addictive sort of store that seems to have something for me every time I go in, which means I go in more often that vaguely necessary.

I have a skirt from there I've still never worn--it's really nice, but I can't work out what sort of top to wear with it. It has a high wide waistband of smocking, which'd be easily workable, but then it foofs out a bit at the top of that, and has a cord inside that to tie. Hits slightly above my natural waist.

And, wow, that made no sense.

Is Zara a store? Because my mind went to (first) Zora Neale Hurston and then to a smoosh of "Kara" and "Zor-El."

Whereas I came this close to posting "Thus Spoke Zara trauma".

Oh, wait...

Lucy has a costume this year, but by accident - something I bought that was way too small for its intended purpose, i.e., me, but works perfectly for her.

Her past costumes, when I've gotten the urge, have been minimalist. One year I attached a barrel of monkeys to her collar. She was a St. Bernard!

vw, it's adorkable, but you could go out for a nice dinner for $26.00 or buy your mom a spontaneous I-love-you present, or get yourself fresh flowers for a few weeks, or a couple of good bottles of wine, or buy a DVD you've really been wanting. It's probably 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost of one of your text books. It's groceries for a couple of days. It's new base, blush, and mascara. It's new shampoo, conditioner, gel, spray, and a new brush. It's cheap lunch out for five days. It's a great amount to put in the kettle of a Salvation Army bell ringer. It's...even enough that I'll stop now.

Oooooo...wine! That's what I've been missing! Sorry Toto. No costume this year. Mama needs wine! :)

Who started the rule that says when my brother looks over my shoulder while I'm typing, I'm ogling celebrities? I mean, as far as I know, it's still constitutionally protected, and I don't really care what my brother thinks, but it is kind of credibility-undermining.

Thanks, everyone for the birthday wishes!

And Cindy, you KNOW that picture of JD with his hands in his britches slays me every time. The other ones were also very pretty.

C took me out to lunch today with the kids and they were so well behaved. And we got over-fresh chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

My birthday has been perfect.

Jars, good luck becoming one of us Smug Marrieds!

need to make sense