Sunday Link Love

The good:
I have long had a fascination with anything Hawaiian, and although Hansen's Disease is most certainly not of Hawaiian origin, what happened on Molokai is both mind-bendingly horrifying and intriguing.
My favorite books are a combination of books; for me the read was nearly a life-changing event.
'Molokai'; fictional characters and story in a historically accurate setting, beautifully written by Allan Brennert. After reading Molokai, I then read, 'The Colony', written by John Tayman; a non-fiction piece spanning a century of historical documentation and following the stories of the residents of Kalaupapa.

I am very happy to report that Father Damien de Veuster will be canonized by the Catholic Church on October 11, 2009, becoming Saint Damien.

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The Bad:
Speaking of large families with public notoriety (and no I am not talking about Octomom), I clicked on this video yesterday. You know - it says 'gift of song' and I am a music teacher, if not full of cynicism I can appreciate a good gift of song along with the best of them.
But this clip just made me squirmingly uncomfortable.
The small dark children are obviously being forced to sit there, feign cheerfulness (fail), and endure the impromptu Sunday school concert by the shining white faces.
And it makes me wonder about the producers....what were they thinking? The kids just do whatever the glory of their dad tells them to do, but the producers had a choice here to air it or cut it.
Wow.

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The Ugly:
I don't write too much about political issues on this blog; not because I don't have very strong opinions, but because there are far more eloquent bloggers on these topics and I do not wish to embarrass myself with the repetition of my favorite superlatives and the use of inappropriate language which I resort to far too often when the subject arises.

But I think it's safe to say that you understand what I am talking about when I express my extreme frustration about the misuse of funds in a corporate world - a very special fantasy world in which bankers and CEOs are rewarded for there mere existence with very special money which has been reserved for very special them - as the economy crumbles around us and most of the humans serfs are scraping by and trying to eek out an existence in a bleak future.
Our president is sick of it as well.
At least one third of my friends are out of work.
Which is why I cannot stomach the deluded news that Morgan Stanley and Citigroup will be paying out THREE BILLION dollars to their brokers, just to stay on. Oh hey - your salary isn't enough to stay here and work? No problem, we will give you money just to pledge your faith in us - because we wouldn't want to stir up an investor scare, now would we?
You know, the motivation behind this just brings to mind what Michele Bachman complained about last week, and perhaps what we should all really be focusing on here, the real problem: "we're running out of rich people in this country."

Sunday Link Love

Guess what? I also write here, now. A brand new parents of special needs consortium, of sorts. As a matter of fact, I wrote there today.

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I have seen anatomically correct dolls before, but this one made me gasp.

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Last week's waxing story just begged for another....Thanks, Linda.

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Jenijen has been putting the squeeze on me to attend Bacon Camp. I am almost her bitch.

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This condom commercial proves why commercials in the US suck.
This one is just highly embarrassing. You've been warned.

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This video of Jennifer Lin, pianist extraordinaire, when she was playing at the TED conference, blew my mind. Especially interesting from about 17:00 in....

Sunday Monday Link Love

I love to laugh, and these have kept me laughing for days:

Joe Cocker's lyrics demystified!!

Why I will never ever try a self-waxing kit.

And if you haven't seen this already, make sure you hang in there til about the 4 minute mark:

Sunday Link Love

Chalk this one up to eye candy....

Sunday Link Love

I am a huge fan of Sara Benincasa - don't miss the final Sarah Palin Vlog - and a huge fan of her Democracy Porn. Cindy and I would like her to convince her that she is on the wrong coast, and she should come on out and Join Us.





If you toss your roasted pumpkin seeds in a little maple syrup and then put them in the oven on 'warm' until they are dry, they are....awesome. (And they will disappear.)




I've been waiting for this woman to call me or come visit for hours. Does anyone know where she is? We may get tired of waiting and head to the beach. Tell her to meet us there.


How many of you have a therapy cupboard? With all of our recent transition travails, I have started one for Bubbles. Which is why Kelley made me cry real earnest-like tears of joy for her when she wrote about her therapy cupboard. (Which, I assume, is now full of shoes and chocolate.)


I just found this craft and can't wait to try it! I am sending my children out this instant to harvest acorns!

Sunday Link Love: When Children Die (Dammit!) Everyone Loses

I know that many of you who read this blog have experienced great loss.

I know that some of you have been touched by or appreciative of advice or personal suggestions I have offered in the wake of someone's death.

I know that many of you know more than I do, and can help my friend right now.

Her daughter's friend and schoolmate died yesterday.

Please stop by and offer some words.

Sunday Link Love

File this under: Topsy's Roost - Stuff you can't believe you didn't know about!





And this one under: Stuff you need in your yard.

I Totally Rock. (Or: Sunday link love goes the other way sometimes, baby!)

Oh, this proves that there is a goddess out there who believes in the magic of my super special original equation of:

motherhood+beer+cupcakes+domesticPoseur+deadbaby+bleedingheartliberal+(appreciation of corn vomit, the re-release of native spider monkeys into the city of Phoenix, the word cunt, and other controversial issues) = getting a spotlight on the Houston Chronicle.

HA! SUCK ON THAT, TP! (you know who you are. toilet paper, that's who!)

Oh, and HIGH ALERT, Kelley!

I RAWK!!!













Okay, I can't go away on a Sunday without offering you one more linky.
This is a political joke that even my not-quite three year old got!

Sunday Link Love

I guess I would wonder what help this father was offered for his nine children after his wife died, but before he legally abandoned them at a Nebraska hospital.
Seems that a 'Safe Haven' (otherwise known as: leave your unwanted baby safely in a hospital) Nebraska legislation has had some unexpected results.
I am guessing there are some strong opinions about this?


Does anybody else remember Space Food Sticks (energy bars before we knew what those were)?
Did you know they are back?


I am sorry I missed this one earlier. I, personally, am afraid of clowns and would prefer not to dress like one or hang out with one, drunk or not, but I know plenty of people who might have been great at this gig.


Am I the last mama to hear about Pocoyo? Oh, the cuteness! We don't have Teh Cable here at Chateau Gwendo, and I stumbled upon it today via youtube.
My advice to you? Obtener un poco pocoyo ahora. Prontamente.


Having a very hard time not saying her damn name, but since SaraB has only given me one little burst of light last week (albeit, a damn funny one), thank goodness for Tina Fey stepping up to the plate to do her job.
The truth? The truth is was that it was the easiest writers' mockdown in the history of ever. All they had to do was use a portion of the actual transcript.


OH YES....and speaking of Sarahs....have you seen The Great Schlep?

And, we find out the meaning of 'hubris'

Sarah: I have a special needs child. And I cut funding so he will not be able to go to school!

Dina: You're so against the special interests, that you're not gonna support special education.


This has me laughing so effing hard today.


If you haven't heard, I am lobbying Sarah Benincasa to be my new best friend. Sorry, BOS.

Sunday Link Love

One of Ms. Palin's aides got up in someone's grill about her...you know...discussing her....
“You should be ashamed!” Ivy Frye, the assistant, told her. “Stop blogging. Stop blogging right now!”

It's important to remember, however, that Alaska is a state with a small population. (~650,000)
So let's not blow this 'welcome back parade' for Sarah out of proportion, shall we?


I found this thing attached to my ear today. Yes, I am freaking out, thank you for asking.


Everything else around here is hard to describe.
I either feel like this....or like this.

Sunday Link Love (oldies but goodies)

I'm sure you've seen this by now, but it still makes me laugh. Heartily.
Sarah Palin's Vlog.



One might feel a bit of sympathy while watching this video, if one can try to imagine the pain and deprivation of the asses he missed looking at for over 5 years
However, the uncomfortable vein bulging swallowing makes me very... uncomfortable.



And just because this isnt' all about politics today....This one never fails to crack me up. But then again, cracking me up is as easy as thinking up flame-throwers for Jenny, The Bloggess. Plus, she hardly gets any traffic, so you should go visit her and tell her I sent you.

Sunday Link Love

POPSICLES, ANYONE? This is a classic parenting issue, candid and sensitively written by AspieMom. You will love the surprise ending.



We love bacon. But Sain't Christopher may have just paved his way to heaven with delicious bacon with the generous sharing of the Wake and Bake invention. Easy-Bake Oven's got nothin on this.



Find out how we can save America by marrying the country off to a younger, richer country.



You may like her or not, but I am completely enamored with her accent. Recently, Lemonette was triple dog dared to tell us a story 'bout paynises.



Speaking of accents, meet my new friend Bennie. He has an accomplished redneck accent (claims to have a truck-up-on-blocks in his yard but all I can see is a giant swimming pool), a gorgeous tweenaged daughter, an adorable and exceptional zen master for a son, and a wife who he orders around as his personal redneck chihuahua videographer.

Awards, Links, Speshulness

Awards, gifts...I feel like I am all warm and fuzzy all at once and whoa.

I kinda like it.

First, the exciting I Won Big Package Day.

Then? Then I got this from Headless Mom.

Because apparently, I kick ass. Which I do. And she knows that. Not that I'd kick her ass, because I totally wouldn't. I would pinch it, but just a tiny bit and then I would pretend it wasn't me.
Here's the thing. I think she kicks ass, because she is:

• pretty


• kind


• really smart


• and apparently not afraid of my severe godlessness or guilt by association on judgment day.

So, in turn, I am supposed to award five bloggers the kick ass award. I hate chain letters more than root canals (because with root canals you usually end up with some reasonably good drugs, whereas chain letters? nothing but trouble.), but I love to kick ass, so the way I see it, if every kick ass blogger awards five more bloggers, eventually we all will kick ass. Which will then make it less special, sure, but who are you calling elitist? I didn't think so.

So...I am going to award five women whom I met for the first time this year at Blogher (which narrows it down for me and makes it slightly easier):

• Rachel, mother of six, residing in Israel and writing about infertility and beyond (yes, six)...we had a meaningful conversation in the shoe department of Macy's with mayhem all around us. I heart Yirmi.




• Melanie of Left Coast Mom, who found herself partying with the other crazy left coast chicks by some awesome layout of fate. Her mom just died. Her dog died last week. Be extra nice to her.




• Laurie, of Laurie Writes. Again - another happenstance of meeting, partying and secrets. (Shhhhhhh)




• Kelly, who is MochaMomma. She is smart and nice and pretty and tall and wears great shoes without falling over and I want to be her when I grow up.




• Loralee. I can not believe I had never met her before. I am totally smooching her next year now that I know she has no boundaries.




• (I totally have at least five more. Damn this is harder than I thought! FAIL!)
  

BUT WAIT! DON'T GO AWAY YET!

Then I got notice of this.

I have been honoured for writing about my son Elijah.

A bittersweet honour (I say honour because sweet Kate is Canadian), (and I say bittersweet because I have been honoured for spinning thoughts into words which were spewed out in attempts to hold insanity at bay), but one which bears the prestige of being recognized for sharing one's barest truth. Kind of like a bravery medal.

And one which comes because I have written about my son Elijah. There is no greater honour; and no greater way to honour him.

But to take it one step further, I was also nominated for another post in the very same month. (Thank you, whomever you are...)

Evidently, the emotional arteries are in a clearing phase.

Thank you, Glow, for reminding me to not keep my words to myself.

~Give sorrow words.
The grief that does not speak
knits up the overwrought heart
and bids it break.~

~Shakespeare

Sunday Link Love

Behold!
I bring to you humor!


Why did his daughter learn the expression 'screw the pooch' when he tried to take her to see an American Girl Movie?


A stay-at-home dad with (alleged)(mine) superpowers shows off his mad sewing skillz and his latest fashion a'la' VonTrapp accomplishment; worn by his favorite model, the levitating daughter.


It's nice to know that someone else is as ready to thank their immensely bored concerned trolls readers as I am. It's important to give back.


This person describes single motherhood for the glamour it truly is, from the moment she fell out of the toddler bed in the morning to the chef at work refusing her a boozy booze lunch, to her plan to takeover the world with a paper towel that will pour you a glass of wine and tell you you are pretty, while scooping poop floaters out of the tub.


You can help with every weekend installment of link love! Because I am one lazy assed mama Because it takes a village, people.
See the funniest, most poignant, strange, or otherwise notable post?
Send me the link!
If it meets my incredibly high standards, I will post it on Sunday, the day God chose to link to other blogs.

Thank you for indulging me.