The bird died.

So, yesterday, whilst taking out the trash, I almost stepped on a teeny, tiny, baby sparrow. It was wobbling around on the ground, not really able to walk very well, let alone fly. The little guy chirped at me a few times and wobbled over to a nearby planter and hid behind it. At the time, I just kind of assumed it was dying and really had no idea what to do for it.

I came inside and placed a call to Lakeside Nature Center. I already knew that they didn't take non-native species, as I once tried to save a pigeon that had been hit by a car on Ward Parkway. I was hoping that in the very least, they'd have some advice for how to keep this poor little guy from getting eating by a cat.

Sure enough, a spunky, cussing, very knowledgeable, bird rescuer called me back and told me that yes, indeed, house sparrows are an invasive species, they steal vital habitat from endangered species of native birds, they are a menace, they are loud and messy and obnoxious and I should build the little guy a nest and carefully feed it some dry cat food that I've moistened with water and place the nest where cats cannot reach it, close to it's parents nest in hopes that they will continue to care for the little clumsy thing. She said that these babies can take falls of 50-60 feet and be just fine and that I should check his poop tomorrow, and that if it has both the white (pee) and the dark (poop) stuff, that it's being fed by mom and dad and will probably be flying within a couple weeks.

So, I took one of my favorite baskets that I've had for like 20 years, that my darling husband was using to hold crap on his nightstand, and filled it with shredded newspaper and dry grass and carefully picked up the little squeaker, using and old washcloth, and placed him in the nest, while under close observation and protest of his parents, who were practically dive-bombing me. I took this as a very good sign that they are indeed looking after the little booger.

Then, there was the dilemma of where in the hell to put the improvised nest. The parents are currently nesting on a horizontal piece of downspout, just below the overhang of the roof, on the second floor. In other words... no way in hell I'm getting him back up there.

This is where the sweet husband comes in to save the day. He came outside and MacGyvered a stand for the nest.

So, that was my good(?) deed of the day.

Yes, I'm still alive. I had tomatoes with my falafel tonight and I feel just fine, thanks.

Not a whole lot going one. Sydney has a checkup tomorrow and I am dreading having to watch her get her vaccines. I am very much pro-vaccine, but it's never fun to watch your baby scream in pain. I just have to remind myself how much more it would suck to watch her hooked up to tubes and crap in the hospital with measles or pertussis.

Sydney cut her first two teeth this week and has the most adorable, toothy, drooly smile. We wondered if she would take after her Daddy and cut her canines first, but apparently, vampirism is not that hereditary. She cut her bottom two incisors, just like a normal little girl. Today, however, I noticed the telltale bubbles of teeth about to erupt from her upper jaw, right where her canines should be. So, maybe she'll be a little fang baby after all.

I don't get it.



it's like the FDA is run by born again Christians or something. What ever happened to deductive reasoning?


Some food-poisoning experts say the CDC missed a key step in not taking those studies a step further and trying to trace why some of the healthy ate tomatoes without harm.

For now, the FDA continues to urge consumers nationwide to avoid raw red plum, red Roma or red round tomatoes unless they were grown in specific states or countries that the agency has cleared of suspicion. Check the FDA's Web site — http://www.fda.gov — for an updated list. Also safe are grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes and tomatoes sold with the vine still attached.

That advice is coming under fire too because tomatoes are sent through multiple repacking and distribution sites around the country, even to Mexico and back, regardless of where they're grown. But Acheson said the advice would be fine-tuned only if new science emerges.

full story: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080702/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/tomatoes_salmonella

Hmm.. what do people eat fresh tomatoes with the most? Possibly meat and cheese? -Just saying...

How many people have to get sick before they pull their heads out?

Screw it. I'm eating tomatoes.




If I die of food poisoning, you have my permission to throw rotten tomatoes at my corpse.

I'm sorry

I've been absent

I know, I suck.

Happy Birthday, my sweet friend.

Save me a seat at the party. ;)

Happy Valentines Day, peoples! May love treat you well!

Here's a little something for you to chew on:

The Most Wonderful Of All Things In Life

-Sir Hugh Walpole (1884-1941)

The most wonderful of all things in life is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a growing depth, beauty and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvellous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life.

My little girl is 3 today!!

How did that happen?

Happy Birthday, Grace. You crazy monkey girl.