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...and the pursuit of happiness

  • Blog to Book to Goodbye

    I'm thinking about hanging up the ol' blog. Actually deleting it. Now that my kids are older I feel less like I have ownership of the things that are happening to them. I don't want to compromise any of that and though this has never been a blog 100% about' [...]
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    Posted: November 06, 2009, 10:13am EST

  • This One Might Be Worse Than Swearing

    So, last night hubby is downstairs working on a cleaning project, had the radio on and "Single Ladies", which he hates, comes on.

    He yelps in annoyance and runs over to snap the radio off.

    Sammie, in a sign of solidarity, says, "Yeah, that song sucks".

    Hubby [...]
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    Posted: October 26, 2009, 9:21am EDT

  • I Guess Hell Can Freeze Over After All

    There are some scenarios, prior to being a parent, that you don't anticipate happening with your own kids.

    For example, there was a time I realized that there would never be a need to teach my children how to operate a rotary dial telephone. Obviously,' [...]
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    Posted: October 19, 2009, 2:41pm EDT

  • Slumber Party at the Meth Lab

    I'm faced with a parenting issue I never thought in a million years I'd face. Ever. Never ever.

    My 2nd grade daughter came home with a birthday slumber party invitation. This is not unusual, she's been to a few of those in the last year' [...]
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    Posted: October 09, 2009, 9:11am EDT

  • NyQuil Costs Less Than Real Drugs

    Was talking with a college friend about how STUPID, and I mean really really stupid, we were about our health.

    Now, those four years were the sickest four years I've been in my life. The lack of sleep, possible imbibing of drugs and alcohol, and stress....well, that's like the [...]
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    Posted: September 29, 2009, 12:10am EDT

  • So, What Does It Take Exactly to Be an Evil Sidekick?

    WARNING: You might be in this post.
    DISCLAIMER: Names have been shortened to protect the guilty.
    REQUEST: Reader participation needed in the comments

    Since everyone I've ever met in my entire life (almost....almost) is on Facebook, the most interesting conversations take place in threads there. And the most social' [...]
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    Posted: September 18, 2009, 6:34am EDT

  • A Letter to Kanye West

    This is a little piece written dazzlingly by my good friend Gunfighter. He said I could post it, so I'm gonna...I hope Kanye's publicist reads it.

    Dear Mr. West,

    For the sake of full disclosure, I feel that it is important to say that I have [...]
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    Posted: September 14, 2009, 5:44pm EDT

  • TV, How I Love Thee - and Brian Boitano

    I make no secret of it.
    I love TV. (My DVR makes it all possible)
    And I watch everything from Emmy-winning critically acclaimed masterpieces to reality trainwrecks. I love it all. Well, almost... I'd love to see the Kardashian clan go away, still can't figure out [...]
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    Posted: September 08, 2009, 2:57pm EDT

  • High School Casualties

    I've mentioned before that I had a fairly satisfactory high school career. Friends I did (and still do) love dearly, supportive teachers, and relative success in many areas...one of the benefits of going to a small high school.

    I also didn't have any money. My [...]
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    Posted: September 02, 2009, 11:42am EDT

  • You Deserve It

    We humans, we're so different and yet, so much the same.

    Something happened the other day that struck such a chord with me, I started wondering if other people have some of the same moments.

    At the most base level of this thing we call life, we need' [...]
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    Posted: August 31, 2009, 9:07am EDT

  • When It Comes to the Kennedys, I Like the Chicks

    I address politics on occasion here, and would like to think that I'm your favorite Libertarian.

    I also have the same position that many of you may have as well...I have friends on both ends of the political spectrum, from the incredibly liberal to' [...]
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    Posted: August 26, 2009, 10:33am EDT

  • I Need To Stop Watching the News In Front of the Kids

    We're back full swing into the school morning routine. And as is my habit, I watch local news then Today show (generally).

    There are so many shocking and horrifying things that are discussed first thing in the morning. Like the would-be model who was murdered and dismembered, stuck in' [...]
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    Posted: August 24, 2009, 9:11am EDT

  • It's Not You, It's Me

    I broke up with you.
    All summer.

    I was having a fling with life outside the computer screen.

    It wasn't intentional, but the more I was spending time away from you, the more I didn't miss you.

    Tomorrow the kids start school and while we've had a' [...]
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    Posted: August 18, 2009, 2:26pm EDT

  • Iowa State Fair - No With No Michael Jackson!

    As I enjoy a few days off (not from the blog, I've been doing that all summer!) I'd like to remind you that it is almost Iowa State Fair time! Remember, last summer about 80 of you were going to come stay with me while you attend??

    I'm reposting' [...]
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    Posted: July 29, 2009, 11:00am EDT

  • It's Better to Be Stupid, Ignore Dr. Google

    I'm not gonna say what it is, but I've had a medical issue come up recently.

    And I did what a ton of people do when they start experiencing symptoms. I went to Dr. Google.

    The thing that's bad, though, is that you then start freaking yourself out' [...]
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    Posted: July 21, 2009, 9:16am EDT

  • I'll Be Sure and Turn the Lights Off When I Leave

    First and most important, I want to thank 'Sunshine' for inviting myself and our great friend Nicole to guest blog in her absence. I am honored and hope that I can bring some joy and entertainment to her readers as she has for years. I feel as if I have [...]
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    Posted: July 08, 2009, 11:30am EDT

  • On Iowa, Touchstones and the Chupakabra. A Cautionary Tale.

    My name is Nicole, and I went to high school with Sunshine. She asked our friend Robert and I to fill in for her while she's on vacation and suggested writing a bit about ourselves, and then about growing up in Iowa. I'm 39, and turn 40 this October. No, [...]
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    Posted: July 08, 2009, 8:11am EDT

  • Be Our Guest....

    I have a very special surprise.
    While I embark on a family journey for the remainder of the week, I have two friends from high school blogging in my stead.

    They're not bloggers. I don't even have any idea what they're gonna say here. They could really trash the' [...]
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    Posted: July 07, 2009, 2:58pm EDT

  • To Ebay or Not To Ebay

    I have been asked to put up a post on Ebaying. You see, after our garage sale was over, I took stock of the items that were worth Ebaying (oh, yes, there are things not worth the time it takes to even bother putting on there) [...]
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    Posted: July 06, 2009, 2:21am EDT

  • Eating Rolls Instead of Sushi Probably Means I'm a Poser

    Just in the last couple years I've become a sushi chick.

    But I should clarify.

    The sushi part of eating sushi isn't my favorite part. A tray full of slabs of raw fish and seafood. Nope. That isn't my thing.

    It's the rolls, [...]
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    Posted: June 25, 2009, 11:51am EDT

  • All the Fun is at the Farmers' Market...Who Knew?

    I've still been wavering on the whole hanging up of the whole blog altogether but then some stuff has happened and I was thinking about "hey, I need to post this for some feedback". So I think I'm gonna start with this post and work backwards, [...]
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    Posted: June 16, 2009, 8:37am EDT

  • Another Chapter Ends, Another Begins...with Facebook Flair

    Today is the last day of school. They go until five minutes after noon to make it barely count. They had seven snow days. SEVEN. Actually, a couple of them were for those days back in January when it was -45 below zero with the windchill [...]
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    Posted: June 01, 2009, 8:54am EDT

  • Remembering the Fallen

    ***This is a repost from when I started this blog. But the message is exactly the same save for the fact that this summer, when we take a family vacation to South Dakota, we'll be visiting Hans' grave in Lead to pay our respects.***

    Today [...]
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    Posted: May 25, 2009, 8:59am EDT

  • Do You Know How Fast You Were Going?

    Many of you know that a long time ago, hubby used to be in law enforcement. He did great at his job. He was tough but fair.

    And when it came to speeding tickets, he was never decided about whether he was going to ticket somebody until he got [...]
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    Posted: May 11, 2009, 12:01pm EDT

  • Onward Christian Soldier With the 70s Rock

    I'm still on the fence about the blog but this was a moment that will go down in infamy.

    This past Sunday at Sunday School, they have kind of a fellowship time at the beginning before they divide up by classes. The leader was asking the kids what their' [...]
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    Posted: May 05, 2009, 3:05pm EDT

  • Is 3 Years Enough to Get a Well Wish from Willard Scott?

    Today is my 3 year blogoversary.

    I'm thinking of hanging it up, folks. This may be the incredibly busy time of year talking, but I've thought of it more often...wondering if I have anything valid to say.

    Really, I don't. I'm not saying anything new. I don't steal' [...]
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    Posted: May 03, 2009, 10:28am EDT

  • Swine Flu? Seriously? WTF?

    The older I get, the older I sound when I ruminate about how things were "when I was a kid" back in the 70s.

    People. Is it just me or does it seem like there is more weird sh*t to get sick from now?

    Seriously, all I remember [...]
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    Posted: April 29, 2009, 9:38am EDT

  • Feats of Great Athletic Skill

    Haven't been reading much around these parts lately.
    At all.
    April and May....my busiest time of year, even more so than Christmas - by a long shot.

    Haste is in junior high track. In addition to piano recital coming up and testing for his black belt.
    Zach is in' [...]
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    Posted: April 24, 2009, 11:46am EDT

  • High School Drama, It's Not Just For Teenagers Anymore

    I've been on Facebook for quite some time but have used it regularly just for about a year because of the college reunion I had.

    Now, people from decades past are finding their way to it in droves it seems.

    And I see a lot of people, even' [...]
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    Posted: April 22, 2009, 8:56am EDT

  • Iowa and Gay Marriage? Makes Sense to Me

    First, I must address that my guest posters were the best. I mean, I have several times in the past lined up people to post in my absence while I get out of town for a few days and I always like to offer up a "theme" for them. With [...]
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    Posted: April 17, 2009, 11:30am EDT

  • Gay marriage in Iowa - why not in California?

    Greetings from California, the redder-than-you-think state that's the not-so-proud home of Proposition 8! This is Florinda from The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting, and Randomness. When Sunshine asked for some guests to fill in during her Easter vacation and talk about the recent' [...]
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    Posted: April 14, 2009, 8:00am EDT

  • Being Kind to our Gay Neighbors

    While Sunshine's away the bloggers will play. Sunshine's vacationing -- hopefully somewhere sunny and warm -- and she asked us to take over her blog with our thoughts on the Iowa Supreme Courts ruling on same-sex marriage. As I say on The Bean Blog, "I'm opinionated, therefore I rant"' [...]
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    Posted: April 13, 2009, 10:00am EDT

  • Iowa, Have a Drink on Me

    Psst…….don’t tell Sunshine that we’ve staged a coup of her blog. Wink. But it is quite a pleasure to be asked to guest post for a dynamo lady that perks up my virtual life on a frequent basis. Have a great vacation girl! I'm Shannon, and I write over at' [...]
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    Posted: April 12, 2009, 11:29am EDT

  • Iowan Justice

    Sunshine had the notion that while she is on vacation that I should be allowed to guest-blog here at her place, which is proof positive the she is either crazy or is a real genius. I'll try not to break anything while I am here.


    The guest' [...]
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    Posted: April 10, 2009, 6:11am EDT

  • Beyond labels: gay marriage in Iowa

    Sunshine has skipped town. Something about a "vacation." (I can't imagine why she would need a vacation....) While she's gone, she's asked a few of us to come in and talk about Iowa's Supreme Court gay marriage decision. I am happy to oblige. My screen name is Goldfish, and on [...]
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    Posted: April 09, 2009, 10:10am EDT

  • Leaving

    You see that?
    It's the light at the end of the tunnel.
    I have, for all intents and purposes, been a SAHM for 13 years now. Like 99%. Of course I started working my TV job at the end of last summer so very sporadically arrange daycare for Em when' [...]
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    Posted: April 07, 2009, 9:14am EDT

  • It's Illegal...So It Must Be Really Awesome

    I was having a conversation the other day with a friend about something...it's escaping me, that "used to be" and is no longer because somebody sued somebody else over it and now it's illegal? Did you follow that at all?

    Like, our school used to take anything for snacks. [...]
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    Posted: April 03, 2009, 9:22am EDT

  • The "R" Word

    Many of you know April is Autism Awareness month. And for you new readers, you can ready a bunch of posts I've written about having a brother with autism.

    You could start with this one that has some other links in it.
    Or there's this one from [...]
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    Posted: April 02, 2009, 9:14am EDT

  • Lingering Candles

    It's the end of birthday month here at ye olde blog.

    It was so darn busy that I barely had time to update! I'm working today taping my show and I'll be gone all day but I just might get a chance to update later.

    But I'd like [...]
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    Posted: March 31, 2009, 7:08am EDT

  • Starving and Famine: Teen Edition

    Well, I'm pretty proud of my oldest son lately. And considering some of the "growing pains" you've read here over the last couple years, that's saying a lot.

    He just turned 13 on Sunday, as you know. As I write, he is at church right now. The youth group' [...]
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    Posted: March 28, 2009, 8:51am EDT

  • It's Wednesday, Must Be Time For Deep Religious Questions Again

    There was a time when, seriously, I didn't watch the news. At all.

    I hated it. I felt bad and awful and helpless if I watched.

    So I skipped it altogether.

    I guess that makes me kind of a ostrich, right?

    And' [...]
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    Posted: March 25, 2009, 8:59am EDT

  • The Teen Years

    It's official.
    As of yesterday I have a teenager. Haste turned 13.
    He's been "practicing" for it for about a year and a half already with the sullenness, mood swings, sudden growth spurts, random zits, bad smells, etc.

    For those of you who really enjoy reading pregnancy and birth [...]
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    Posted: March 23, 2009, 12:00pm EDT

  • We've Discovered a New STD!

    I love when things happen accidentally that make you laugh. A full, hearty belly laugh.

    So Sammie, out of the four kids, being in 1st grade she brings home the most papers and homework and stuff from school. Daily I'm going thru her folder and' [...]
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    Posted: March 19, 2009, 1:45pm EDT

  • Gettin' Lucky

    I could say a bunch of stuff about St. Patrick's Day, an informative and interesting post like I've written before (of course!) but I'd rather ask a bigger question rather than if you're Irish or if you'll be drinking and subsequently vomiting green beer tonight.[...]
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    Posted: March 17, 2009, 11:02am EDT

  • Sure, I Bet God Totally Has Bluetooth

    So a couple weeks ago I got a new van. A Toyota Sienna, and the coolest thing is that you can sync your cell phone with the bluetooth feature so that you can talk hands free. Your cell phone just has to be in the car [...]
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    Posted: March 16, 2009, 11:13am EDT

  • Birthday Reflections

    I've been talking a lot to a college friend and the, um, "pressure" about birthdays and life in general has been much of the topic.

    See, in a lot of ways, growing up, I felt guilty about my existence at all. I was the result of teen pregnancy. Not' [...]
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    Posted: March 13, 2009, 9:29am EDT

  • Birthday Wishlist - 2 Shopping Days Left!








    [...]
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    Posted: March 11, 2009, 9:08am EDT

  • It's Either This, or Delete the Whole Blog

    Just for my own sanity, I'm going the fluffy route. Lollipops, rainbows and kittens. It's good here in Lollipop-Rainbow-Kitten world. If you want, come visit. I may stay awhile since this week is my birthday.





    [...]
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    Posted: March 09, 2009, 7:31pm EDT

  • Is It Ever OK to Go Back to an Abuser?

    I realize I'm not going to be the most original person talking about the Rihanna/Chris Brown situation. (Hey, Oprah already chimed in with her two cents.) And for the most part, nothing that happens regarding celebrities really surprises me all that much nor do I care.

    This one seems' [...]
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    Posted: March 09, 2009, 9:08am EDT

  • Designer Humans: Logical Next Step or Oh So Wrong?

    The notion of having babies where we have supreme power of the outcome is not exactly new. I mean, back in the day, people had sex, got pregnant, and didn't know squat until the little tyke was born. Not so much anymore.

    Now, because of the advancement of medical' [...]
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    Posted: March 04, 2009, 10:18am EST
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