I was annoyed with my framing experience at Michael's, but part of it was my own ignorance -- so make sure to ask enough questions to know what you're really getting. (I didn't know how wide the "standard" matting was, so figured it would look like it looked when they held the pieces together to show me.)

I have that problem, too, shrift, but oddly not with Michaels. Which I too have used to decorate sets. In fact, I sort of miss decorating sets, but I am stuck with all this nasty sewing.

My cheap framing solution is buying frames at thrift stores, and learning to cut mattes myself. I paint all my fames the same color, so it works for me. But I think Michael's is best for tommy, as he is trying to be reasonable, not crafty and inexpensive.

I guess I just have an overly sensitive snoot. Or perhaps an allergy to craft stores.

Someone once tried to convince me that the folks who owned Michaels were avid George W Bush supporters. I figured they usually have what I want for cheap.

nearly half of Americans between ages 18 and 24 do not think it necessary to know the location of other countries in which important news is being made. More than a third consider it "not at all important" to know a foreign language, and only 14 percent consider it "very important."

Good news is, I have figured how to use block quotes. Bad news is I have a sneaking suspicion this statistic might actually be close to valid. As a teacher of college freshmen and sophomores (mostly) in our rhetoric and composition program I am continually amazed at what my students don't know when they come into my classroom. I know I am only a child of the 80s-90s but "back in my day" we took geography. . .right?

Kat, if we come westward it couldn't be until April.

My MiL is obsessed with getting things framed, but I have to say she's right. A good frame is KEY. It can make all the difference. Of course my big problem is getting all the pretty framed things UP ON THE WALL. It's a shame I'm so damn lazy.

Okay, why is it so friggin' cold today? I can't take the kids to the park, they'll freeze their asses off.

I guess I just have an overly sensitive snoot. Or perhaps an allergy to craft stores.

I'm that sensitive too. Which means I generally have a plan and limit idle browsing. Or, take breaks at the coffee shop which seems to follow every Micheal's around.

I've had a spastic sudden coughing fit the last 3 times I've been waiting in line at a Victoria's Secret. I hold my breath when I walk past the Yankee Candle in the mall for the same reason.

I probably haven't been in a Michaels in decades. I keep thinking of places but..nope that one was an AC Whatever, the other was a Hobby Lobby... I don't even know where one is.

Most awesome park sculpture evah? [link]

Now sweetie, tell Cthulu Claus what you want for the UTTER DESTRUCTION OF REALITY AS WE KNOW IT!!!!!!!

Awwwww. I think Cthulhu Claus is cute-looking.