All that yellow was making me blue.

This morning, Daily Candy told me about an organization that is working to stop unsolicited phone book delivery in an effort to be more environmentally friendly. All you have to do is input your address and they sign you up.

I’m all for this no-phone-book idea. Every six months or so we find another gigantic phone book on our front porch. So we (I) lug it inside and we (I) replace the older book with the new, and we (I) put the older one in the recycle bin. And in the last three years, I bet we’ve used the phone book fewer than three times. In fact, I can’t actually think of an example of where we needed a phone book.

So, feeling smug and self-righteous, as we tree huggers tend to do, I signed up for the free service. I hope I never get another phone book in my life. If you also share my dream of deleting the phone book from your life, sign up at yellowpagesgoesgreen.org.

This Old House

It’s been too long. I bet you hardly remember it anymore. I know I don’t. But maybe these pictures will jog your memory. (Of course I’m speaking of our house renovations, which are sort of, almost, kind of nearing completion. Mark says three more days of work. Andrew says three weekends. My money’s on Andrew.)

Here is Andrew doing the limbo. Notice the wall color behind him. That is tinted primer, looking a tad jaundiced.

Here you’ll see a little ceiling painting action going on. Funny story about the ceiling paint: Mark and Stan came to paint on a Friday afternoon, when Andrew and I were at work (I love how that worked out for us). And they opened the ceiling paint, which was magical in that it was tinted purple, but dried white. You know, so you could see what you had already painted. But Mark and Stan did not know that it dried white. So they called me to see if I really wanted the ceiling purple. But I was, you know, at work and all, and did not answer my phone. So they didn’t paint. They went home instead. See? I told you it was a funny story. *cough*

I believe I may have mentioned the dust? This is a sampling of said dust, where the cats are learning how to tango.

Fast-forward to the next weekend. This is the actual paint color. We love it, and I mean that. The green looks completely different in different lights and times of day. Fortunately, we love it all the time. I think we’ll love it even more when the white trim and doors go up. I’ll love it so much, I may have to make out with it.

Here’s the room in the afternoon sunlight. Nice, don’t you think? All it needs is a mantel, white trim, window treatments, and some furniture.

And this is a lovely picture of me and my dear, dear friend Christy. We only see each other a few times a year, and I was lucky enough to get to hang out with her this weekend. Aren’t we cute?

It’s just four cards.

Hallmark recently added four cards to its wedding line that celebrate same-sex marriage. And for some reason, this is causing a bit of a stir in some places. So much so that some people are boycotting the company. Ummm . . . what? Where will they go to get their hoops&yoyo product? Am I just that naïve, or are some people actually that homophobic? These are the same people who don’t watch ABC, aren’t they? I find it difficult to grasp how close-minded people can be. How does one get through the day with that much hate?

Maybe I’m just too idealistic, too young, too sheltered. But really. Four measly greeting cards? Is that worth getting so worked up over? Is one complete stranger marrying another complete stranger a big deal? So what if they’re both men, or both women?

I don’t believe Hallmark released these new cards to make a political statement or to take some kind of stance. I think they saw an opportunity to make a few more bucks and fill a consumer need while they’re at it. And if that happens to make the world a little more accepting, then I’m all for it.

Oh, and full disclosure: I am currently employed by Hallmark Cards. But this comes from me, the consumer. I like to send the very best, too.

Shouldn't it be getting hot in here?

I’ve probably sunk to a new low when I write a “crazy weather we’re having, isn’t it?” post, but for real, crazy weather we’re having, isn’t it? For August, that is, or as I call it, The Worst Month Ever. It’s always miserably hot and sticky and full of hot hot sun. I hate August and think it should just go away, and some people agree with me. But this August? This I could live with.

Right now, our windows are all open. I can hear tons of crickets, or cicadas, or whatever buggy-type things are out there. I can hear kids playing (and alternately crying). I can hear the faint sounds of the highway, and an occasional train. I don’t think our windows have ever been open in August. We’re a/c kind of people. But it’s only 80 degrees. Maybe even 75. I don’t know, I’m no Bryan Busby. And it has been this pleasant for a long time. Two weeks, maybe? Don’t tell Andrew, but I think I may be falling in love with August.

Of course, this kind of weather is sort of Weird—capital W Weird. I’ve seen several flocks of geese, presumably flying south for the winter. A tree in our front yard has already begun changing color and losing a few leaves. The kids have even gone back to school. Don’t they know that school doesn’t start until September?

Plus, no one is going to believe that the Earth is getting warmer when it’s only in the 70s in August. And I am a big fan of getting people to believe that the Earth is getting warmer and that they should consider doing something about it. I won’t go all Al Gore on your ass, but I’m reading this. I think you should, too.

Because I haven't got a lot to say.

I am eating a Rice Krispie treat that was left over from someone's work anniversary party or something. Except it's not a normal one, it has Fruity Pebbles in it. Why? Why did they ruin the treat with fruityness? It tastes kinda weird. And yet? I will continue to eat it. And this sort of behavior is exactly why I must keep going to the gym.

10 Things I Learned In Florida

1. Sleeping in the same room as a four-month-old is not that difficult, really, if you are not the one who is supposed to get up when the crying starts.
2. I still dislike the greasy feeling of sunscreen.
3. Andrew looks hot with a beard.
4. Fried hot dogs are definitely worse than corn dogs.
5. It is exceptionally Not Fun to play miniature golf when it is over ninety degrees outside.
6. Chocolate-dipped waffle cones from Big Olaf’s are the best.
7. You shouldn’t bother walking the two miles back to the condo in the hot hot heat when someone has offered to pick your sorry asses up.
8. Shuffleboard is not just for old people.
9. The view from a beach-front, 4th floor condo can't be beat.
10. Andrew can make water come out of his hat.