My place just has too much stuff that I'd either get sad if destroyed or it'd hurt someone and while catproof? Is not kid proof. Cats don't have thumbs and grasping.I mean, I'm all about the philosphy of adaptation but I really don't want my czech crystal glass, bowls of Caribbean or Med coral, gargoyles or cobblestones clocking my friends' kids' heads because they were just curious.

I love telling the stories to the older kids who visited (and man, there's a part of me who'd love to be it if I were the spark that makes them take the study abroad option, even if I never know!) but they aren't lovely tornados of tactile curiosity.

A cousin of mine wanted to bring over her bright-eyed four year old and her even brighter-eyed developmentally disabled two year old.

If I hadn't had a migraine that day, I'd have tried to talk them into meeting at a neutral third party location. As is, I just bowed out.

My apartment is standard not childproof, with added weapons and medication. Of course, the funnest-looking stuff is never safe, right?

Watching Blade: Trinity. Had no idea CKR was in it, much less John Doe. Blade's lack of a sense of humour is delightful. As is Ryan Reynold and Jessica Biel's every move.

Okay, so I've decided I was unproductive today, and that's just the way it's gonna be.

Thanksgiving at Big Bear! Yes, I really wanted to go, but was foiled in several stupid and tedious ways.

I am freezing and bored. Hmm.

Also, in looking over vw.com for some sort of idea on where to get some paint for my car, I have fallen in love with the Eos, and I don't even care about my car anymore. The Eos has a hardtop convertible with a built-in sunroof! It's like it's made for people like me who don't like to choose stuff! You can have all the options! Or maybe I'm just extra bitter over non-hardtop convertibles since I just spent $500 on my deductible to get my roof replaced because some horrible homeless man took a box cutter to it, and in the fixing of the roof, the autobody shop broke my radio somehow, and now they're taking their sweet time about getting that fixed. Plus, that just makes me listen to the engine now, which doesn't sound as quiet as the Lexus I was driving for the past week that I borrowed from a friend. Plus I liked the steering wheel on the Lexus better too.

My car is way too much work. I think that is why I'm too exhausted to get anything besides grocery shopping and complaining done today.

Alibelle! I've missed you! Oh, and I got your call, but haven't called back yet. Erg. But I will call soon for a similar reason.

Eyeliner is tricky, frustrating, and fun.

and that's coming from the trained make-up pro.

I have never even attempted smoky eyes. I am really only capable of minimal make up myself, but I am happy to be someone else's canvas.

ita's place--or at least her old place--may not be toddler safe, but it is very toddler fun.

I've never attempted smokey eyes. I have enough trouble with just regular eye makeup.

My neighbors are playing very loud salsa music. This is not terribly condusive to sleep.

Bears Fan Loses Bet, Must Change Name

DECATUR, Ill. (Feb. 8) - Scott Wiese, a die-hard Chicago Bears fan, will legally change his name to that of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning after signing a pledge in front of a crowd at a Decatur bar last Friday night. He vowed to adopt Manning's name if the Bears lost Sunday's Super Bowl.

So on Tuesday, Wiese went to the Macon County Courts Facility and started the process of changing his name.

"I made the bet, and now I've got to keep it," said the 26-year-old, who lives in Forsyth, just north of Decatur.

Wiese will now have to advertise his intention in the local newspaper - the Herald & Review - for several weeks and then have a judge give him the OK to become, legally anyway, Peyton Manning.

The men have little in common, Wiese acknowledges.

Manning the quarterback is 30 years old, stands 6-foot-5 and has a contract with the Colts worth more than $100 million.

Wiese is 5-foot-11 and works at a Staples office-supply store for somewhat less.

"I think I kind of represent all Bears fans," he said. "Not that I'm saying they're all idiots like me, but I represent their passion because I really care about my team, you know?"

While he pledged to take on the new identity, Wiese didn't make any promises about how long he would keep it.

It could be worse. He could've said he'd change his name to Rex Grossman.

Bets are like the current day equivalent of dueling, aren't they? Doesn't the person who wins the bet get to call it off?

I've woken up far too early courtesy of a headache and the cats, but overall I still feel better than I did yesterday, so win on the whole.

Alibelle, it's great to have you back!

ALIBELLE!

we are up way too early.

I second the motion, truly.

Things I accomplished yesterday: shaved legs (badly), called in expiring prescription and made dr appointment, backed up laptop data, downloaded and watched TV show, caught up on another TV show. Didn't leave the house, didn't get dressed, felt like shit. So pretty much already I'm ahead on points today.

I didn't leave the house either. I did laundry, cleaned out kitchen and bathroom, tried to read more of that library book due back Monday, put chicken breasts to marinate and then freeze for later grilling. Not bad, mostly.

Won't get to do squat this weekend, probably.