mipmup.

oh sure, we're all equals, right?

found this at sweetney.com. as if things weren't bad enough.

great observations on this "phenomenon" by writer leon wynter here.

there's a b in my a.

for the international reader, southwest is the supercheap airline here in the states. their nickname is "southworst" i guess because it's a no-frills airline: they don't serve anything but drinks and peanuts on their flights. kinda like where the other airlines are moving.

the no-frills airline attracts a no-frills traveler and those who like efficiency. southwest is pretty darned efficient and that's why i like them. the flights are usually on-time from southern california to the bay area, which is where i go fairly often.

the problem is the line-up before the flight. there are three boarding groups, "a,"b," and "c." the whole goal in life is to be in "a." i usually get up early in the morning so i can print out my boarding pass to ensure an "a." it's a sickness, i know.

so there we were yesterday, anxious and pawing the ground like a herd of cattle. we were all in our appropriate groups and when we were called to the pen, we started to board.

however, i learned a new trick. instead of lining up in the appropriate line, these two women lined up at the front of the "b" line with "a" boarding passes to bypass everyone else who had been waiting in the right line. of course, the gate agent didn't stop them, so there they went, cutting off everyone else starting with me.

i think there is more politeness on a public bus. the thing is, you just never know how crazy the southwest traveler may get, so i refrained from saying anything. you've seen airline, right? i'm not taking my life into my own hands with these people. no matter how cheap the flight.

what is normal anyway?

because i am bored. like everyone else.

top five idiosyncrasies

1. i love to fill out forms. don't ask me why. i just do.
2. i never finish a glass of anything*. i always leave about 1/4 inch of liquid. again, i don't have any explanation for this behavior.
3. i de-clutter hotel rooms. normally, i'm not an ocd person, but when it comes to hotel rooms, especially chain hotels, i must de-clutter. i hate all those stupid plexiglas displays. i put them away with the gideons bible.
4. stationery stores turn me on. the smell, the look, the contents. it's all about forms and paper and great pens and notebooks. it is just all so great. my dream is to own one.
5. i always order off the menu. and it's not just because i'm a vegan either. this, i know, stems from something my dad told me when i was about eight: "if you're paying for it, you should have it the way you want it." well, dad. it stuck. i'm now the butt of the big family joke titled: "what will she ask for now?"

*ok. i admit it. this might not apply to cab.

friday favorites.

here are my favorites for this week:

• world of good goods. why is it that when i'm traveling all i want to do is buy stuff? it's no wonder that i fell for a new bag (it's hemp. do i need to change my name to flower?) and bracelet from this company. of course i justify it by telling myself i'm doing a "world of good." ha ha. prices vary, but they aren't bad! (no photo available).

• beer bands. this is the best invention for those god-awful "do-gooder" bracelets (and yes. i have some.). though we're out of the kegger stage, these would still be fun. $10.

• pretty lady coat. oh why oh why can't i wear wool? torture! $425. currently boycotting.

• marimekko notecards. ooooh. i love marimekko anything. must restrain self from ordering. too hard! can't do! entering shipping info! $12.95.

• non-toxic nail colors. finally! i like "vintage merlot." $5.99.

photo credits: world of good, plum party, j. crew, raindogs online, honeybee gardens.

wing-ed love.

i realize i'm probably going to hell or someone is going to come kill me in my sleep. but. isn't this simply the ugliest thing you've ever seen? .

i call this progress with a capital p.

i say, pat! jolly good for america's status in the world. your ideas are, simply put: astounding! running for an '08 spot, perhaps?

the readership shall decline.

who really wants to read about mr. no sense of humor touring iran? what the heck?

shhhhh.

no one tell me what happens tonight on "six feet under." i am away from home and sans hbo. sniff.

[and yes, my husband cheated and is currently watching above referenced finale without me. damn. is nothing between us sacred?]

ps using my time wisely and now my links and comments are healed through the miracle of science.

friday favorites.

here are my favorites for this week:

• "now what's wrong?" notepad. do i really need to explain this to the lady readership? $2.50

• ever-so-cute sweater for baby. ok. it's official. i need to start having kids so i can dress them in this stuff. not for any other reason. how adorable is this sweater? it puts all pedestrian mega-brand clothes to shame.$39.

• ergo baby carrier. one last baby item. i swear i'm not preggers; i just am totally in love with all things baby. it's all their fault, you see. anywhoo, my buddy and i spied one of these at the ferry plaza farmers' market this weekend and ood and aahhed over it. it just looks so comfy and the baby was hanging onto it all cute like a monkey. it was too much! we liked that it lacked the weird metal stuff and rigid fabric of others we've seen. $92.

• sweater-coat. do i lose street cred if i admit that i like this sweater-coat from j. jill (especially since it has the word "tweeded" in the name)? i know my mom - and probably all of our moms - shop there, but isn't this coat kinda ok? it's also not wool, which is fantastic for me since i am allergic. $98.

• pink wrap pack. i love this so much i want to ingest it completely. except the tulle. i'd leave that on the plate. $10.

photo credits: the ergo baby carrier, j. jill, soleberry modern stationers, papeterie délice, ana!s/virgin threads.

gimme summa dat.

saw the suh-weetest ride today. some kind of toyota four-door sedan (think corolla), metallic purple, tinted windows, huge wheels with the following emblazoned in huge zapf chancery white lettering on the rear window: "dts. disturbin' the streets." i gotta get me one of those. (actually, i just need a camera cell phone. and how!)