Silly Product Name du Jour

 Yes, you read that right. It's Youpee Baby Shampoo! Talk about stating the obvious. I'm sure there's a really good reason for naming a baby shampoo "Youpee", but I can't find it. Not even on Google. 

Real Rhapsody Rant

I hate Real Rhapsody right now!!!

I had subscribed to their service before I got my iPod and iTunes. Now that I no longer use Rhapsody, I wanted to cancel it and save the money.

Do they allow you to cancel it online, as easily as they allow you to subscribe??? Of course not! You have to call a toll-free number that has been outsourced to India. I spoke with someone named "George Wilson". Where do they get these names - from comic books?, I told him I wanted to cancel my subscription. He informed me that I'm currently paid up through February 21st, that he would give me a free month's extension, and I could continue using Rhapsody for an additional thirty days. Hello! I don't use it, which is why I'm calling to cancel it!!! He then went on to say that if I wanted to cancel before that, all I would have to do is reply to the e-mail he was sending me.

So, the next thing I know, I get this in my e-mail:

"Per our conversation, your Rhapsody membership has been extended through 03/21/06 and will continue on an on-going basis. However, if at any time you decide that you would like to cancel, please contact Customer Service or simply respond to this e-mail with your request.

Remember, Rhapsody now provides you unlimited access to over 1,000,000 songs, available whenever you want!

If there is anything else we can do for you, please contact us at 866-311-0228.

Thank you for choosing Rhapsody and enjoy your membership!"

What part of "cancel my subscription" did he not understand???

So, in addition to calling them, I had to e-mail them to finally get this thing cancelled. Save yourself some aggravation and don't sign up in the first place.

It Came Upon a Christmas Clearance

 For the S'mores-loving doctor on your list. What do you mean, you don't know any S'mores-loving doctors??? 
 This looks like something out of Anna Nicole's post-Trim Spa Christmas box. Like my body? 
 "Butt-Kickin'": What most of us would like to give other holiday shoppers, especially the person who got that last X-Box. 
 A bobble-head baseball dog ornament. Without a doubt, this has to be one of the ugliest ornaments I've seen. I don't even want to think about what the rest of the tree must look like! 
 What's worse than a stale gingerbread man? A stale chocolate gingerbread boy wearing a sparkling blue yarmulke and holding a broken Star of David. Guess he didn't have such a Happy Hanukkah. 

Design a Life That Brings You Joy!

I've added two new sessions for the Design a Life That Brings You Joy Workshop: Monday nights from 8-9:30pm ET, beginning February 13th, and Wednesday nights from 7-8:30pm ET beginning February 15th.

Beginning the week of February 13th, we will spend eight weeks of group coaching working with Martha Beck's book, 'Finding Your Own North Star'.

During the course of the workshop, we will:

• - Learn the difference between your 'essential self' and your 'social self'.


• - Learn how to tell when your 'essential self' is saying 'yes', and how to tell when it's saying 'no'.


• - Learn how to say 'no' to people, places and things that no longer bring you joy.


• - Learn how to incorporate more joy into your life on a regular basis.


• - Learn who your 'everybody' is, how to evaluate your 'everybody', and how to change it.


• - Learn how to repair and read your emotional compass, so that you are living a life you love.


• - Identify the four stages of change, and what they mean.

Get a Daily Joy Tip in Your E-mail!

"A Joyful Year" is my new newsletter for 2006 which contains a daily tip for adding more joy to your life. Subscribe to "A Joyful Year", and get a daily joy tip in your e-mail.

Previous joy tips can be viewed here.

Caption This!

See if you can come up with a caption for this! Share your captions by clicking on the "comments" link below. 

I'm Doing it Again

The "it" being participating in the 2006 MS Walk being held in April 2006 in New York City. I'm already registered and ready to go! This year, weather permitting, my goal is to walk the full 12 mile route and raise $500.00.

If you'd like to make a pledge to help me reach my goal, just click here. Many thanks in advance for your support. I'll keep you posted, and yes, I'll take pictures!

Welcome to My First Tenant

I've rented out a space on my blog to my first BlogExplosion tenant, Haunted House Dressing. You can visit by clicking the picture above the "Rent My Blog Now" link in the lower right margin.

Don't Try This at Home!

Someone on the Sweet Potato Queens message board started a discussion a while back about the worst idea you've ever had. I wrote about it back when I wasn't updating my blog as regularly, and figured I'd share it. So, here's my personal contribution to the world's list of really stupid ideas:

Microwaving a Barbie doll to see what would happen, while on the phone with my friend in California.

First, her face and hair melted. Then, the metal in her legs sparked, her rubber legs caught fire and filled my apartment with the smell of burning Barbie flesh. This, in turn, set off my smoke alarm. So, I flung her out of the microwave and into a zip-loc bag, and tossed her in the freezer to cool off.

All of this was happening as I was giving my friend a play-by-play over the phone. We were laughing so hard we couldn't breathe. We named her "Three Mile Island Barbie" aka "Nuclear Meltdown Barbie". I completely forgot about her, and found her in my freezer several months later.

The worst (and most embarassing) part of the whole thing is that I did this as a "grown-up", and no alcohol was involved. I was 40 years old and stone cold sober at the time.

I learned that a microwave is not a proper Barbie tanning salon. I also learned that Molten Barbie-flavored Lean Cuisines do not taste very good.

Foods That Make You Go "Hmmmm..."

Proof that Little Debbie is the spawn of Satan.

For those who can't afford SPAM, there's Armour Treet, with Virginia baked ham taste. Made with chicken, pork, and real smoked flavoring!

Now doesn't this look appetizing! Yummmm... it's Marie Callender's "Barf in a Box!"

I Thought it Was a Sick Joke at First

Thomas Kinkade Paint by Number

When I first heard about this, I thought it was some kind of sick joke.

It isn't. Such a thing really does exist. Scary, isn't it? The fact that it's geared towards 8-12 year olds is a bit of a relief, but not much. I wonder how many "grown-ups" are buying these for themselves.

I wonder... if you paint it backwards, does it reveal a satanic message?

The Book Of Daniel

All I have to say, after watching the first episode of The Book Of Daniel, is that I am hooked! I really don't know what all the fuss is about. While it's not exactly conventional, it definitely appealed to my twisted humor. I lost track of how many times I laughed out loud. I give it two thumbs-up!

Yet Another Pilgrimage to Big Lots

Kathie Lee's "Rock-n' Tots Cafe". Probably the only thing worse than a Barney video. I wonder how many children will be irreparably scarred for life after watching this. 

Does anyone else find it interesting that this video is surrounded by copies of "Matrix Reloaded"? Is Kathie Lee part of the machine? 

You, too, can turn your child into a Bobblehead for Christmas! 

Yearning for hot flashes? Want to turn into a raging hormonal nightmare? Have yourself a refreshing cup of "Menopause Day"! 

Sometimes, you just gotta wonder about the stuff that ends up on the shelves at Big Lots. Guess there wasn't a really big demand out there for herbal stimulant laxative tea. It's definitely the last thing I would want to drink before going to bed! 

I'm not sure what she's holding in her hand, but it looks like one of his body parts. 

And to Think I Used to Like This Guy

Jeff Conaway melts down on "Celebrity Fit Club 3"

If you think the clip is bad, the upcoming episode promises to be really interesting. Watching Jeff under the influence of a substance he claims is Benadryl looks like it could be trainwreck TV at its finest.

It's sad, though. I used to like Jeff Conaway in "Grease" and "Taxi". Seeing him now is just plain scary!

I Did It!!!

Some of my friends have been relentlessly urging me to do something with the pictures that I take. So, I've taken a stab at it, and created a Fabulous Florals Wall Calendar for 2006.



I picked twelve of my favorite floral shots, and am really interested in opinions and feedback. So, take a look and let me know what you think!

I Hate Bratz

These dolls should be called Slutz instead of Bratz. Bratz are like Barbies in need of an intervention.  

They also have this weird collagen trout-pout, Botox-gone-bad, brow lift from hell look about them. This one's even got her own pair of stiletto FMPs. 

Because I want my 7 year old niece dressing like a crack ho. She looks like something the Spice Girls threw up. 

I mean, look at the guys... ummm.... make that Boyz they go out with! Please don't tell me they named this poor guy Sherlock. He'll be scarred for life, or worse, celebrities will start naming their kids after him.