Who's Shermy and why does he show up once a week at our house?

If you're a certain age, you might remember a simply drawn cartoon series featuring Sherman, Mr. Peabody, and The WABAC Machine. Mr. Peabody was the intelligent dog, Sherman the be-speckled kid, and The WABAC Machine was Mr. Peabody's invention taking them back in time to various adventures.

My nickname is Shermy. Actually it is a term of endearment bestowed on me by my husband in honor of that famous Sherman cartoon character. Here's why: I wear contact lenses 24/7, then throw them away and give my eyes a naked overnight rest. The following morning before I insert new lenses, I walk around the house wearing my Sherman glasses. Yes, there is tape holding the lens in the frame and yes, there is tape holding one of the ear pieces onto the front. Not only that, these are HUGE glasses from the 1980's (when everything was big) and they look pretty dorky on my little face.

So if you know the story of Sherman and Mr. Peabody, you will understand that I was taken in by my husband and am now not only his pet, but also his buddy on amazing adventures through time.

It's the nose and hair.

Anyone else notice that Bernard Madoff loves money so much that he's beginning to look like that famous face on the $1 bill?

Pulling my hair out

If you think doing your own taxes is rough on you, just look how doing over 600 affects me. It usually grows back by the 1st of June.

I hate to admit it.

I've always hated the recent use of the word "suck" in contemporary dialogue, so when I heard the title of Kelly Clarkson's new song, "My Life Would Suck Without You," I was immediately turned off. That is, until I heard it. I loved this and man, she can belt out rock songs equal to those of Cher from her prime years. I absolutely forgive her for using that dastardly suck word.

And, like Jessica Simpson, Kelly may have put on weight, but she certainly isn't fat!

Random Question Meme

Courtesy of Sunday Stealing and Going Like Sixty:

1. How old do you look? Old enough not to get carded and young enough to fool people

2. Where do you live? Farm Town, Illinois

3. Are you waiting for something? Tax season to be over.

4. What’s one pet peeve of yours that is not common? Someone wasting everyone's time asking a question at a meeting/conference/forum when the answer was just given minutes before.

5. Do you want/have kids? Not any more; already have 2

6. Have you ever thought about converting your religion? What religion?

7. Last shocking news you heard? Brother had pancreatic cancer.

8. What was the last thing you drank? Pepsi over lots of ice

9. Who do you most look like in your family? Paternal grandmother

10. If you could have something right now, anything, what would it be? Dinner with both daughters present.

11. Where does most of your family live? Illinois, California second

12. Where did you grow up? Illinois

13. Where do you want to go on vacation? San Francisco to see kid #1

14. Have you ever had a panic attack? Yes, inside a plane that had interior temperature of 100+ degrees at Greece airport.

15. What can’t you wait for? People who are late.

16. When’s the last time you told someone you loved him or her and meant it? yesterday

17. Have your parents ever smoked pot? Very likely not.

18. Want someone back in your life? Too many friends and relatives to name.

19. What do you order at the bar? Usually water; sometimes cosmo or metro martini

20. When was the last time you cried really, really hard? When kid #1 moved to California.

21. Ever licked someone’s cheek? Face or butt? Yes and no

22. What is your favorite thing to eat with peanut butter? Pepperidge Farm whole grain oatmeal bread

23. Where were you on July 4th, 2008? Home watching the PBS broadcast of Boston fireworks

24. What are your nicknames? Pookie, Shermy

25. If you could go back in time, how far back would you go? 1920's for the music, dancing, speak-easys, fashion, and good times.

No right to bare arms

Some in the country are abuzz about Michelle Obama wearing sleeveless dresses.

If she can bare her arms in the middle of winter, I say they're wasting energy in those government buildings and they need to turn the thermostats down like the rest of us must do. Cutting federal spending and saving energy should begin at the White house if this "energy crisis" is for real.

Mrs. Obama can wear a Snuggie if she is too cold. Then she would be the ultimate fashionista.

And speaking of Snuggies, here's something from a great Central Illinois comic strip The Dinette Set, by Julie Larson: