Watch My Baby Daddy on Jerry Springer

One of Airan's many appearances on the Jerry Springer Show with the BS Brass Band is airing today. (He's the hot saxophonist.) The episode is titled "Music and Maniacs I." In Chicagoland, it's on UPN at 2:00 pm CST. I'm not sure whether that's true elsewhere. Sorry for the short notice -- I just found out myself! I'll try to give y'all more advance warning for future appearances.

Consumerism By Proxy

Evie and Sophie went to the kiddie salon for their first real haircuts on Saturday. (See before and after pics here.) Mind you, I've been dying to pay a visit to the salon for a trim and some highlights, but I guess my needs come second (er, make that third).

This got me to thinking about all the many, many things I do/buy for the girls that I'd also like to have for myself but put off because I don't want to spend the money on me. What up with that?

For example, I would love a new pair of shoes. If I got one, I'd wear them for years. YEARS, I tell you. But I don't want to spend money on that. However, I'd rather not tell you how much I spent on two pairs of these adorable boots that the girls will outgrow in another two or three months, max. Don't even get me started on the Gymboree.com bills. Ouch. And all the toys these kids continue to accumulate! We'd need a mansion to have storage space for all of it.

It's madness! Why can I exercise restraint when it comes to buying things for me (or Airan or the household), but all bets are off when it comes to the kids? I hope these girls have no interest in obtaining a higher education, because if this trend continues, there will be no college fund.

An Honor to Be Nominated

I've been nominated in the Best Commentor category for Share the Love Blog Awards at One Woman's World. I'm honored! Like the way I comment? Consider voting for me -- voting runs February 1-6. (Nanette, do I hear you laughing?)

Freeze Frame

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I've been thinking a lot lately about how quickly the twins change and grow, and how desperately I want to hold on to right now, this minute. I've been reading a lot of similarly themed posts at other blogs recently, which is leaving me even more consumed with the knowledge that this will pass, whether I want it to or not. These precious girls will grow and change, and there's nothing I can do to stop it, and I don't really want to stop it. Not really. Well, maybe just a little bit.

It boils down to this: Sure, the girls are super cute and fun and entertaining now. And they still will be in a year. And it two years. And three years. But soon enough, I'll blink and they'll be 15. They'll have their own lives, their own interests. What if they don't want to hang out with me anymore? What if they don't like the things I like, such as classical music and board games and science fiction? Will we drift apart? Will they think I'm a big geek? I know our relationship will change as they get older -- it already has. And that's a good thing. I think. I'm just scared of where this progression will take us, and I fear it's largely out of my control.

So I continue to struggle with this nostalgia for the present. I think I just need to relax.

Just Another Citizen of the Colbert Nation

I WILL stay strong, Stephen.

I believe I've mentioned before that I have the coolest husband ever. He has a history of obtaining autographs for me from people I admire and respect. This latest addition to the collection was meant to be a Christmas gift, but Mr. Colbert was running a little behind schedule. (I'll forgive you, Stephen.)

For those of you who might not be familiar with Stephen Colbert (I can't imagine who doesn't know and love Mr. Colbert, but I suppose I'll entertain the possibility that you exist), he is the host of The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. As much as I love The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, I've come to love The Colbert Report even more. Mr. Colbert is insightful, thought-provoking, and hilarious. In fact, what I consider to be the funniest moment of television ever was perpetrated by Mr. Colbert back in his Daily Show days. And his address at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner had me laughing until I cried.

Now I need to get a nice frame for this gem so I can hang it above the mantel -- those pictures of the twins will just have to go into storage, I guess.

(Many thanks to Jules and Peter for helping Airan obtain this treasure!)

For Two

I've been reading up on the Daimler-Chrysler Smart Fortwo, a super tiny "city car" that's been successful in Europe and Canada and will soon be making its US debut. There's much debate about whether Americans will buy such a tiny car. This micro car seats only two people and is all of 98.4" long (just over 8 feet, if you're willing to trust my math). This car is crazy small.

Me, I'd love to get one -- parking in my neighborhood would get so much easier! The problem, of course, is that there's no room for the twin car seats. (Do you think I could strap them to the roof?)

But will my fellow Americans really be interested in such a car? I don't think so. Here's why: (This is the part of the post when you get to laugh at how stupid I am.) What's with this "Fortwo" business? Who's going to buy a car with such a queer name? How do you even say that? Fort-woah? Fort-wuh? Fort-wu?

What's that? You say the car seats two?

Azeroth Addiction

The new expansion for World of Warcraft, Burning Crusade, came out yesterday.

One sacred rule I hold myself to is that I am absolutely, positively not allowed to play video games when I'm home alone with the twins and they are awake. This afternoon, I seriously considered parking the twins in front of Sesame Street so I could spend some quality time leveling my new blood elf mage, Qwghlm. It might be time for a twelve-step program.

(I think she kind of looks like me -- dishwater blond with ears that stick out and some out-of-control hair. Except that she's anorexic.)

Obama '08

Barack Obama, my favorite senator, announced that he's starting a presidential exploratory committee, the first step toward a bid for the White House. I have mixed feelings about this. I love, love, love Senator Obama. Love him. How can you not love that skinny kid with a funny name? I actually felt a swell of pride when I cast my vote for Obama back in '04 -- it might have been the first time I didn't feel as if I were merely choosing the lesser of two evils.

I think Senator Obama brings a fresh new perspective to politics, which our political landscape needs in a bad way. I can't even begin to tell you how much I prefer him to Hillary Clinton, who's generally considered the front runner for the democratic nomination.

Is it too soon? Is Senator Obama too much of a newcomer to really make a creditable run for the presidency? Or is his status as newcomer, outsider, fresh voice exactly what we need now? I don't know. I just don't know. But if Senator Obama needs volunteers in Chicago (like there's going to be a shortage!), he should feel free to give me a call. (But not after 8:00 pm.)

Will you still need me, will you still feed me?

I was just watching an ad for the Discovery Channel's "2057," about how scientists today are shaping the future and what life will be like in 50 years.

I thought to myself, "In fifty years, I'll be 81. Will I remember sitting here on the couch, watching that promo? Will I laugh about how absurd and off-base those predictions are? Or will I be amazed by their accuracy?"

Who am I kidding? I can never remember where my keys are NOW. In fifty years, I'll be lucky if I remember my own name and to chew with my mouth closed.

Dramatic Scene

[Kelly returns to the couch from a trek to the far-away beverage fridge, Cherry Coke in hand.]

Airan: I was going to ask you to get me one of those.

Kelly: Oh. I thought you were already drinking one.

Airan: [despondent] No. I wasn't.

Kelly: Are you going to be okay? Do you think you might wither up without one?

Airan: I feel myself wasting away. It's cold, so cold ...

Kelly: In these final moments, is there anything you want to tell me?

Airan: [dramatic pause] I'm a dude.

Peek-a-boo

Seriously, how cute are my kids?

Don't Be So Shy

Apparently, this is National Delurk Week -- all you folks who visit the blog regularly but never comment, countless thousands of you, now's your chance to leave a comment and say hello. Come on, lurkers, you know who you are. (And I know, too, thanks to site-tracking services -- here you thought you were anonymous!)

Peapod is like a box of chocolates.

You never know what you're going to get.

I am lazy, so I enjoy the convenience of Peapod. I don't use the service that often -- maybe once every few months. But when I'm desperate and the fridge is empty and the girls are tired of eating nothing but Cheerios, Peapod can be a lifesaver.

The problem with Peapod is that every time I place an order, something comes either not quite what I expected or else totally wrong. For example, there was the time when I thought I was ordering two leeks, but I was actually ordering two bunches of leeks. Eek! What can any normal household do with six leeks??

This time: I ordered soy ground "beef," and instead got tofu dogs. I know, I know -- most of you read "soy ground 'beef'" and thought "Gross!" But trust me when I tell you that soy grounds are quite nice. (Says the former vegetarian who longs to return to her old ways.) Tofu dogs, however -- there just ain't nothin' you can do to make tofu taste like a hot dog, and you shouldn't try. It's not natural.

What surprises will you bring me next time, Peapod? Shoelaces instead of string cheese? Instead of Sam Adams, will you bring Samuel L. Jackson? (Now that's a mix-up I wouldn't mind so much.)

click

Friends, I have been crazy busy lately. I have lots of freelance work (which is a blessing and a curse), and the twins' emerging walking skills keep me hopping all day long. I have so many things I want to write about and tasks I want to accomplish (like a certain promise made to FADKOG that I have not forgotten!), but everything is on the back burner for now.

While my blog is in deathly dull mode, might I offer up another diversion for you? Check out my oh-so-talented hubby's new blog: click. Chicago photography like you've never seen before. Visit. Comment. Admire.

More later -- it's back to the grindstone for me!

I See London

Low-rise pants have been all the rage for some time now. Personally, I love 'em -- they're comfortable, stylish, and perfect for short-waisted ladies such as myself. Of course, all the style experts warn that if you're going to wear those low-rise pants, you must wear low-rise underthings to go with them -- the world in general isn't interested in seeing your undergarments, no matter how pretty they are.

So here's what I want to know: When is someone going to come up with low-rise diapers?

Girls, Girls, Girls

Miss Libby and her mom, Kerri, paid us a visit this afternoon.

What a cutie pie! The twins had a great time sharing their toys with Libby and then instantly deciding they needed those toys back right away. Sure, they like the baby, but not that much!

Where's the Pause Button?

While there have been times throughout the twins' lives when I've thought, "This is so great! They're so much fun right now," that enthusiasm has usually been tempered with thoughts like "Omigod. I cannot wait until the girls are old enough to [insert self-sufficiency milestone here]." Every stage has been fun, and there are things about their early baby days I miss -- for example, they almost never fall asleep in our arms anymore. But I have always been looking forward to the next developmental stage. Won't it be great when they sleep through the night? Won't life be easier when they can feed themselves? How fantastic will it be when they can walk on their own? (Still working on that one.)

The tides are starting to turn. I realized yesterday that I love this age, right now, this minute. I don't want them to change. They are so sweet and cute and fun. They bestow kisses freely and happily. They have very earnest conversations in complete gibberish. (Or maybe I'm just not smart enough to understand them.) They take delight in the simplest things. They learn so quickly. And they are snuggly and cuddly and happy to let you hold them in your arms and just enjoy how wonderful they are.

Sure, they still have their less-than-shiny-happy moments, but we can deal with that. I love life with these kids exactly as it is at this moment. I don't want a thing about it to change. How can it get any better than this?

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Here's what I've been doing since I last posted:

1. Hanging out with family.
2. Opening an embarrassment of presents.
3. Eating way too much food.
4. Visiting the King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum.
5. Playing too much World of Warcraft.
6. Surfing the blogosphere almost none.
7. Eating even more food.
8. Doing absolutely no freelance work, despite the piles that need my attention.
9. Eating just a bit more.

Phew. That's hard work. The holidays wear me out.

Quizzes, quizzes, and more quizzes

Some quiz fun.

You paid attention during 80% of high school!

68-84% Pretty good, you know that there are libraries and newspapers, and you remember what you've read. You were a child that wasn't left behind!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

You Are 80% Democrat

You have a good deal of donkey running through your blood, and you're proud to be liberal. You don't fit every Democrat stereotype, but you definitely belong in the Democrat party.

How Democrat Are You?

You Are 4% Republican

If you have anything in common with the Republican party, it's by sheer chance. You're a staunch liberal, and nothing is going to change that!

How Republican Are You?