The Drive-by Randomness Gene Mystery

TD: “Mom, can you help me make holi dye?”

TGIM: “Son, you can’t murder Holly! That would be wrong.”

Who passed on the quirky drive-by randomness gene? Mystery solved.

More Drive-by Randomness

TGIM: “Cat! Do we have any crackers?”
TD: “Crackers?! Dad, that’s racist!”

I seriously [heart] my family.

Drive-by Randomness

Drive-by randomness from my almost 15-year-old daughter:

Mack (suddenly popping into my bedroom): “Momma, which do you like better? Brown dragonflies or iridescent dragonflies?”

Pause. Then–

Cat: “Um, iridescent?”

Mack: “Ohmygawsh! Me, too! It’s like we’re the same person!” (dances out as quickly as she appeared)

Pause. Then–

Cat (to empty room):  “Wait… what just happened?”

Everyone Hides Something

You know how sometimes you hear a seemingly throwaway quote– a line in a movie, a voice-over on a television show– that catches your attention, I mean really grabs you when you least expect it, just sneaks up and has you by the short hairs before you even know it, and it hurts, because it burns into your brain and soul, and it doesn’t let go? Ever? You know how that happens?

No? Me neither. That’s so totally weird.

But if that were to happen, not that it did, because apparently that is not a “thing,” I’m just saying if it WERE in fact a thing, then this quote from In Plain Sight (thank you, Netflix!)– which, super good show, by the way, I am NOT even kidding, but it’s over now and why didn’t anyone tell me about it, because RUDE?– well, you could say it still has a mighty firm grip on me, a figurative vice-grip tightening on my poor short hairs which is not a pleasant feeling, I tell you what:

Mary Shannon: [voice-over] We all live in hiding. In one way or another, each of us conceals pieces of ourselves from the rest of the world. Some people hide because their lives depend on it, others because they don’t like being seen. And then there are the special cases, the ones who hide because… because… because they just want someone to care enough to look for them.

And while you may read this and wonder, What is she on about? Well, first of all, have you met me? And B, it’s the damnedest thing because I know I can’t ever go back to NOT understanding that I… well, I’m one of the special cases. And honestly? I don’t know what to do with that.

Seriously. What do I do with that?

Yep. Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking Diet Dr. Pepper.

And with that lame (but, come on, still funny) play on the classic Airplane bit… Cat out.

Be a First Follower Not a Nut

Hoo! This video (below) is such a fun, genuine example of “tipping point”… AND a cautionary tale about attending concerts while jacked up on goofballs, especially in this era of camera phones and YouTube, but mostly, “tipping point.”

Oh, and how groupthink and peer pressure can influence one’s decision making process, obviously. And the nature of leadership.

Also, just say no to drugs. Because the shirtless dancing guy? He crazy high, yo?

Hmm. Maybe you should just take a little look-see and determine for yourself:

Honestly, it is clear to me that the lone nut’s “leadership” is somewhat wasted in this case. I mean, he’s not tripping all over himself to acquire a following or anything, right? No, he’s just doing his thang! Reveling–nay, baking!– in the fresh air and sunlight! But he is lit, I mean, he lit the way– blazed a trail, if you will– for the first follower, the linchpin to creative leadership. Where others saw a lone nut, the first follower recognized the dancing dude’s potential and knew how to tap it.

Hey. It’s MY blog! Deal with my punning.

Yes, the lone nut only inadvertently sparked a movement; it was the first follower who fanned that spark into a flame– fanned it higher and higher!– created the buzz, and convinced others to act, to follow. Inspiring a movement. Which, to me, makes the first follower the actual innovator and TRUE leader.

FINE! Done with the puns now.

Heh. This video should be called “Leadership and the Tripping Point.” Heh heh.

Okay, NOW I’m done.

The Pun Snap of ’09

Hannah is heading to a friend’s Bat Mitzvah this morning. Which, fun?! And her friend’s name is Zippy, which only makes it even awesomer, because you just can’t make this stuff up, you know?

Also, why don’t I have a cool name like Zippy?! What were my parents thinking calling me Catherine?! People called me Cathy, y’all. Cathy! Which, of course, with my somewhat… loquacious personality, lent itself to the horrifying moniker “Chatty Cathy.” Oh, yes. That. Honestly, I could have been Zippy! Or Sassy! Or Firecracker! Or any other name ever! But NO.

Cathy. (Fail.)

Anyway, this happy event also totally reminds me of the infamous “pun snap” of ’09. You know, that time TD went to a friend’s Bar Mitzvah and came home chock full of wild stories of crazy chair dances and professional DJs and AWESOMELY delicious food and, oh yeah, how much freaking MONEY his friend scored when he turned thirteen?! And all my kids seriously considered the merits of converting to Judaism? And then came the punning?

So I’m super excited for Hannah to get home and thrill us with all the cool details about today’s coming of age celebration. Because with an awesome name like Zippy? This Bat Mitzvah is sure to be epic. Right?! Am I right?!

Just sayin’.

Getting Schooled

Life Lesson #1,437: Here’s the thing… sick kiddos and hellacious work-related stress are– shockingly!– not conducive to creativity in blogging…

…Half a mo’, Alli has rushed into my room to pitch story ideas at me! Honestly! I am not even joking! How fortuitous! Or is this serendipity? No, no, I will stand by fortuitous! Mostly because I am too lazy to look it up but also because I am pretty sure I’m right. I’m almost always right. Ask TGIM. He’ll tell you.

Oh! Oh! Here’s my opportunity to do something i’ve always wanted to do– live blogging! Fantastic. And we’re off.

Ah, okay, so the first idea, oh yes, I see, it involves young children–twins, I believe–who have the ability to control fire and water. Huh. Solid idea. I say, “Oh, like the Wonder Twins!” and then I correct myself, “No, NOT like the Wonder Twins! They were water and animals. Duh?”

Alli doesn’t pick up on my pop culture reference. I find that incredibly sad and somewhat unsettling. What kind of crazy world are we living in now? A world of children who have never experienced the joys of Saturday morning cartoons, that what kind!

However, I just barely call out “Wonder Twin powers, ACTIVATE!” before she is peppering me with her back-up ideas. OH EM GEE, she has BACK-UP ideas!

I ask her to give me time to catch up with her and she agrees but she is bouncing on the bed next to me, her excitement too wiggly and giddy to hold in. I’m a little tired just looking at her, truth be told. And there’s this feeling building inside me. I’m not quite sure, but I think it may be… shame. Shame! Here I am, sulky and idealess, blogging mojo on the fritz and whatnot, and my daughter swooshes into my room, literally bouncing with ideas! Literally! With all these ideas! Just bouncing on my bed! (My daughter, not the ideas. In case you thought there were actually ideas bouncing on my bed. Which would be very Sesame Street and weird.)

Oh, dang, okay she’s moving on to the backup ideas now (yes, that’s shame all right…)

So if the twin story doesn’t pan out (“That’s crazy talk!” says I) she will write the story of two orphaned children who are raised by a pack of lions (“Pride,” I say, but she is lost in the moment so I drop it for now), and the other is about five teenagers who live in a world with monsters in it, and they’ve been trained to fight them.

Good LORD. I just suggested she call that last one Monster Ninjas… which I think very clearly makes my initial point for me– you know, of the total non-conduciveness going on ’round here? Because, oh! The shame!

Monster Ninjas.

*sigh*

Oh Do You Know The Muffin Man

Today I passed a store called Victoria’s Cakery. My question is… what in the what now is a “cakery”? Is that a thing now? You know, cakeries and whatnot? If so, can anyone recommend a good pancakery? I’m craving waffles.

That said, a decent muffinery (or even a honeybunnery!) would do in a pinch.

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