I HEART the World Wide Web

For all the obvious reasons, of course. But for these two very unique ones:

1. The Kind Journal Project.

Over a year ago, I stumbled across a great blog managed by Karen. She's an amazing woman, with an energy that permeates through cyberspace. She's just good people. She's the reason for my Kind Journal tag on my blog--she focuses on the good of things, the good of people, the good of everything.

Well, after being a regular lurker and sometimes poster to her site, she put out a proposal. This idea of hers was to seek interest in her online community of friends to create a Kind Journal. If you signed up for the project, you would be willing to receive the journal at a given point in the process and would contribute one page to it -- whatever you wanted, so long as it was positive and promotes kindness.

How freaking cool is that? So cool and so different, that I signed up.

Well, sure enough the schedule was published and I am second on the list to receive out of 40+ participants. Almost any time in my life (except during the annual holiday gift swap) have I wanted to be picked first or at least in the top 3. This was not one of those times.

My creative insecurity flared up. I wanted the luxury of seeing at least 10 people go before me as a form of inspiration. I hemmed and hawed and flitted and fretted and before I knew it, the Journal was in my hands. As I debated, I took some time out and visited a friend's blog and was immediately inspired and I promptly stole the content from her site (giving credit where credit was ultimately due).

The quote I found resonated with me and was the exact definition of a friendship we all deserve and one I am so fortunate to have in a few dear people. Here is my page (and here's where you can see the Kind Journal as it progresses).



2. The Geniusly Talented Irisz.

Where else other than the WWW could a gal in Arizona stumble across this way cool site, to read an interview by the author of this way cool book and find this super sweet illustration that inspired me so much I had to know who made it. By clicking on the picture of the sweet girl in the rain. I was directed to the site of the woman who created it and she is an illustrator and she lives in Budapest and she does illustrations for a living. And yes, she will make some of Emerson. And, boy did she!

For those that know my sweet child, his mop top hair and crazy cowlick, his love of reading and animals and books and cars and swimming will see that she captured his spirit and has immortalized this little dreamboat at the tender age of 3 and a half.







It's not enough for me to shamelessly brag about how cute I think my son is, but how great she is too. See Irisz's amazing works of art.

Sweet Treat Midweek

Last night Cynthia and I partook in a sweet treat - seeing Snow Patrol perform. It was a pretty good concert and a great venue (not a bad seat in the house and the acoustics are good.)

Better yet, no traffic, parking or walking drama there or back. Amazing, indeed.

If you haven't checked out Snow Patrol, what the heck are you wating for?

Here's their best album, followed by this this close second.

Good Things

KIDDO: Every day on the way home from school, I ask Emerson how his day was. Last week for the first time ever... after he told me about his day, he says, "Mommy? How was your work?" I gushed of course and looked back at him telling him how sweet he was to ask only to have him thrust his finger at me and say, "Look, mommy! I got a booger!"

GADGETS: I got a cool new phone, a Palm Treo! iPhone, shmiPhone. I will wait until a second release...

KIDDO, PT 2: One of my favorite parts of a Saturday is putting Em down for his nap only to hear him reading books. He gets most of the stories right from the sheer fact that we have read most of them 19 million times; but, it's also great to hear him switch things up and put in his own stuff.

MUSIC: Sara Bareillas, Little Voice - Fantastic debut. Artists never want to be compared, but if you haven't heard of her, she's a mix of Fiona Apple and Maroon 5. Interestingly enough she's opening for Adam Levine and the boys on their current tour.

KIDDO, PT 3: You never think you are going to talk so much about poop, but when you have a kid, you surprise yourself. Emerson is fully, daytime potty trained, but Number 2 is another story. He has advanced to knowing when he has to go, but is very embarassed. When the time comes, he discreetly asks for a diaper and to be left alone in his room where he will lie on the floor playing with his cars or reading (so this is where it starts!). Over the past week, though, we have made a smidge of progress...we have advanced to going on the toilet, but while still wearing a diaper. Keeping my fingers crossed this kid won't be wearing Depends in high school.

BOOKS: I am reading something I should - as an adult, as a citizen of our great country - Food Fight: A Citizen's Guide to the Farm Bill. But I must say it's not something I would have picked up on my own. Thanks to Book Club for keeping me current and informed. But the Libra in me needs balance and a little bit of fun, so I am trading off and going back to summer in New York in the 40s and am enjoying Marjorie Hart's Summer at Tiffany.