The Post About Legal Amphetamines

This is how I started my day on Monday:

Since I was more productive in those 5 hours than a Harvard-trained brain surgeon, it will repeat today.
--------------------------------------------------------
What do you do to get through the day?

The Post About Fair Share or Unarmed Robbery

I'm often impulsive when it comes to buying shoes or puchasing a pint of ice cream. However, when it boils down to spending cash in more respectable amounts, I become a sponge for things like pros and cons and testimonials. I can spend months making lists and checking them more than twice before swiping my debit card. And then, even still, I'm googling for every coupon imaginable. For example, I recently chose to stay at a hotel only after knowing it was the safest, served the best waffles and cost the least (By using the promo code for the US Table Tennis Association which saved me $20. What?)

Recently, I've been researching all things hosting for both a work project and my own pursuits of a home on the willd, wild web. Part of gathering intel included my local Books-a-Zillion. Several books had great info, but most was simply a repeat of recommendations I'd already found on the internet. Until I came across 4 suggested providers in one particular text. The book cost $24 and all I really needed was this:

As you can see, I took a photo with Sammy the Samsung (I didn't have a pen.) Was this a poor choice? I'm guessing by the way I shoved my camera phone in the cushion of the seat when the teenager in a book apron rounded the corner, that I may have done something of which heaven would not approve.

Condemnation? Absolution?

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.11

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

I love Dooce's blog, so I thought I might like her book, It Sucked and Then I Cried. Understatement. Dooce (aka Heather B. Armstrong) wrote this tale about having a baby and the quick-to-follow depression - which I assume would happen to me. Here's a quick excerpt: "My parents were worried that I'd end up a bitter spinster covered in cat hair because I inherited many of the annoying qualities of their own brothers and sisters. I can be loud and say inappropriate things, I will always laugh at a fart joke, and I often don't look in a mirror before I leave the house. But I am most like my aunts and uncles in that I have to take a lot of medication to prevent myself from throwing rocks at people." I consider myself an elitist when it comes to funny. This is the Ivy League.

Watch

Yes, Netflix. I WILL come back for only $4.99 a month. What did you say? I could upgrade for just pennies more? Okay. That's the short version of why solicitation emails and late night infomercials were created. It's lucky I go to bed before midnight or I'd be living in the box my Ab Rocket was delivered in. The good thing about Netflix is you see some things you might not otherwise choose to see. I really loved Changeling. I couldn't figure out why it's rated R until I encountered Angelina Jolie's birthday suit while she was being hosed down at an insane asylum. Be informed.

Listen

I loved Jason Mraz's music as soon as I heard this song, Curbside Prophet. And my love hasn't faded. You can download my favoritist live and acoustic ear candy from him here. Jason also shares his thoughts on his own blog. (notice how we're on a first name basis.) My friend Sam will appreciate this musical praise since she thinks she is Mrs. Mraz.

The Post About What I've Been Inhaling

Before:

3 days later:

I haven't baked or been tempted by the Starburst, but the eggs have taken a serious hit.

(Note the photo quality is point & shoot versus Sammy the Blackjack II. He has many other redeeming qualities besides his washed out view of the world. SLR is coming.)

The Post About March Hare Giveaway Winner

(Drumroll, please...) The winner of the March Hare Giveaway is....
Benita Roberts.

Congrats! I hope you enjoy the Reading Package!

The next Jamie's Rabbits Giveaway will be posted on April 9. Stay tuned!

As a sidebar - I really loved everyone's entries to this giveaway! I decided to crown "runners-up" based on content:

• Glutton Goofy Girl Going Gutsy, Caine
• Well Behaved...rarely make history, Connie Rogers
• Making the most of life, Jordan

All of them win the joy of knowing they were acknowledged.

The Post About Sunrise Frustrations

Here are just a few of my morning problems I need help solving:

1. How do you get rid of that dried up goopy that gets stuck in the lotion dispenser and causes the moisturizer to eventually shoot across the bathroom like a bottle rocket?

2. How do I communicate to CNBC it's time to hire guys who are at least half as pretty as the women who try to explain finance to me in Today Show segments? (Melissa Lee vs. Jim Cramer?) They're lucky I now find Matt Lauer uber-attractive after this picture surfaced:

3. How do I determine the exact amount of cereal and milk to combine in each spoonful so I finish without an excess of either?

These are my AM crises. Solutions? Your own issues?

The Post About Burning Buses in One Day

Here are my reactions to tonight's episode of Lost “He's Our You.”

**Sayid's been a killer since Osh Kosh Omigosh.
**Needy and anxious are not pretty colors on Juliet.
**Quote Break: Sayid "A 12-year-old Benjamin Linus brought me a chicken salad sandwich. How do you think I am"
**Sometimes it's a compliment to meet your twin. Unless he's as good at torture as you AND sounds like he's from Hee Haw.

**Who knew all it took was a fat druggy sugar cube to make Sayid belly laugh?

**Dharma is so white.

**Puhshaw. I need super bounty boots like that.

**Quote Break: Sawyer "Even the new mom wants you dead."

**Benny is such a creepy tween. A mix of Harry Potter and Charles Manson.

**I wondered when I would say it - SHUT UP!!!!!

Preview: Where is Faraday? What is Locke up to? I miss Sun!

The Post About Shopping While Starving

I stopped by the Dollar General to pick up some bread to make it through the end of the week. I like going there because the staff are super friendly, you don't have to park 67 spaces away, and the milk is not 1/2 mile away from your parking space. (I'm talking to you Wally-World.)

The mistake I made was going in before I had adequately satisfied my hunger since eating lunch 5 hours earlier. Suddenly, everything looked like gourmet high-end menu items on a shoestring budget. And my salivary glands were telling me I needed it all. And then I saw this:

This was a gentle reminder that if I were to purchase everything in my reusable tote, that my own muffin top would be ready to debut itself just in time for capris and flip flops. So I made the best decision and returned everything but the bread to its rightful place.

Since I made a decision that would positively affect both my financial and physical life, I rewarded myself with these:

Wait.

The Post About Touring My Culinary Home

The title of this blog is slightly misleading since it hints that I "live" in my kitchen. If grabbing a box of Cheez-its and pouring Kool-Aid equaled residence then it would definitely be my humble abode. When I moved in, it had khaki walls, beige countertops and matching beige cabinets - nice and neutral. But I've never been accused of riding the fence.

The other side...

Yes, those are decorative cookbooks on those shelves.

You always need somewhere to sit in your kitchen (my leg length is in the 12th percentile for a woman my age, so sitting on the countertops takes bionic strength). The ottoman doubles as storage for excess candy and my favorite quote is on the wall - "The only thing I have ever successfully made in the kitchen is a mess. And several little fires."

My pillow-creased mug loves Ugly Mug in the mornings. Thank you heavenly Father for a coffee maker with a delay timer.

One reason I will camp out in the kitchen is to bake cupcakes. These were my latest creation for the Twilight party I hosted Saturday night (yes, I know I'm not chronologically 15-years-old). I snagged the recipe for Triple Strawberry Cupcakes from the lovely How To Eat A Cupcake blog (I downgraded to double so the fang marks would be extra-ferosh.)

Finally, Easter is upon us. I'm very grateful Jesus lives in my heart. I'm also very grateful Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs live in my tummy.

The Post About Aunt Flow Apologies

As I've mentioned before, we're walking through the book of Genesis in my weekly Bible study (31 chapters in...) I thought I would do a recap of some things we've learned so far:

1. Women were very attractive even into their 80's and later. This is why their husbands would pretend the women were their sisters. This prevented the "other" men who clearly couldn't control themselves around these hot mamas from killing the "man of the house." In reality, they weren't brother and sister - more like, half-brother and sister or cousins. That's much better.

2. Babies were often named after something significant related to the circumstance of their birth. For example, Jacob (son of Isaac and Rebekah) has a name similar to the Hebrew word for "heel" because he was holding his twin brother's foot upon exiting the womb. If my parents had employed this method, I would have been named Melonheada.

3. Stealing something from a family member never works out well. If you did attempt this, you needed to leave home immediately and only return when you could provide 100 sheep or a water well named in their honor as a peace offering. The exception to this rule was Rachel (wife to Jacob). She stole her father's household idols and hid them in her riding saddle. When he began the search, she apologized for not being able to rise from the camel because she was "in a woman way." It's good to know this special monthly arrival has been a go-to excuse for women for thousands of years. I knew it.

I've also been reminded that God is slow to anger when His children are putzes. I'm a regular recipient of this mercy.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.10

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

I have no doubt cats are plotting and scheming about how to take over the planet. Unless we heed the warnings of the prophet Bob Barker, this could happen sooner than later. In the meantime, enjoy mocking them by reading one of the web's most popular sites - I Can Has Cheezburger. I heart this pic the most.

Watch

I am not ashamed. This comes out on DVD today and it's already in my possession. I'm even hosting a Twilight party tonight with some friends who enjoy a good vampire tale or at least like the card game, Mao, which will be played in the other room. Your best bet for owning it (and I know you want to) is a 3-disc special at French retailer Target. (Includes a bonus iTunes download.)

P.S. I really loved Kings last week. Really.

Listen
No clip today, because my rec requires a bit more commitment. My job requires the regular road trip across the state and silence simply won't do. And as much as I love Lady GaGa to travel with me, I try to also incorporate a bit of God. If I could link you to my pastor's sermons I would, because they are heart-on. Since that's not an option, I'm pointing you to David Platt, the pastor at the Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. I would specifically like to highlight his 7-part series called "Attachment" he preached 5/11/08 to 6/29/08. It covers issues of Womanhood, Manhood, Parenting, Marriage, Singleness, Divorce, and Homosexuality. (Note: listen to the first section of Womanhood no matter which you choose to get Platt's take on what authority pastors have on any of these issues - powerful.) You can download a free mp3 or mov file of almost all his messages here.

The Post About the Downer of Being Knocked Up

Luckily, I'm not pregnant. This is positive because I'm not married or financially stable or completely comfortable with others needing to be held by me.

However, if you could get preggers by osmosis, then I'm the next deca-mom. I have three baby shower invitations stuck to my fridge. I have 4 friends on Facebook who just delivered newborns in the last week. One college roommate has birthed 2 babies in 14 months and the other is expecting her first nugget in 28 days. I'm surrounded.

For some women, the presence of infants in or outside the womb prompts spontaneous ovulation. Not me. I tend to calculate how long I can hold my breath until my uterus is a safe distance away. Strangely, I'm actually good with kids of all ages and they tend to be rather fond of me (having facial features similar to a cartoon character only amplifies affection). But I think my apathy about my own offspring is simply because I was meant to be the snazziest aunt and fairy godmother ever. Or at the very least, I've yet to meet the guy who gets my eggs to scramblin'.

The Post About March Hare Giveaway

What's the March Hare Giveaway? In honor of the Rabbit Recommends, my weekly highlight of a readable, watchable, and listenable that I love - one lucky winner will receive the following readables:

• One year subscription to Relevant Magazine.(first-time or renewal subscription)
• A new copy of Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller
• A new copy of the Jane Austen book of your choice

To enter, all you have to do is leave ONE comment below answering the following question: How might you describe yourself in only five words?

My entry would be "Waiting for shoe to drop." Be creative or uncreative - winner is chosen randomly. No sign-up required to comment.

Important Details: Must enter before 11:59pm CST on Thursday, March 26 to qualify. Winner will be chosen randomly using Research Randomizer on Friday, March 27. One entry per household. One comment per person. Obviously, anonymous folks can't win unless they leave a name in the comment box . This is just a friendly contest so I reserve the right to make any changes that put me in a better mood.

The Post About Lost: I Vote for Not Camping

Here are my reactions to tonight's episode of Lost “Namaste”

**Ajira Airways couldn't possibly just gently land on the beach this time, could it? Although, that crazy landing was enjoyable to watch.
**Ben is never not creepy.
**Kate, with her pretty hair and her Madonna arms looking at Sawyer. Blech.
**Quote Break: Hurley: “Uhh...what?”
**Casear needs to simmer down and leave the Islandese to the alumni.
**Nice to see Radzinsky back. I guess we don't have to yell at him for yelling at our sweet Jin since we know his fate is pushing that dumb button every 108.
**SHUT UP!!! Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be psychopath-followers-of-Ben.
**What happened to Faraday? We must Save Private Ryan!!!
**Sawyer is somewhat attractive when he's multitasking and plotting. Somewhat.
**THAT IS WHAT I'M TALKIN' ABOUT!!! Whip that oar.
**Juliet ain't afraid to scare the bejeesus outta you to keep her man.
**I am now referring to Christian Shephard as Casper the seems-to-be-friendly Ghost.
**Sayid, this is the time to choke tween Ben. Seriously.

Preview: Looks like Sayid might take my advice. And Juliet will draw a line in the sand. Yippee.

Visit Doc Jensen at Entertainment Weekly for his dose of Lost clarity.

The Post About Follow the Rabbits

There are a number of ways of following Jamie's Rabbits:

RSS Feeds: If you like to visit multiple blogs or websites, you might want to try subscribing to their RSS Feeds. I use Google Reader (thanks to a suggestion by Scott Crews) and subscribe to 43. All the feeds of that HUGE number empty into my easy breezy feed reader when anything new is published. No need to visit 43 websites everyday just checking to see if there is a new article on Gyllenspoon. On my blog, you can do this by clicking on the orange RSS symbol at the very top right hand corner. This will direct you through the process of setting up a free “feed reader” account.

Twitter: By signing up for a free Twitter account and then choosing to follow me you will receive a “Tweet” (short 140 word description) when a new post is ready to read. I love this method because you can follow me, Han Solo and Tina Fey.

Subscribe: You can sign up as an email subscriber to this blog in the section to the right titled, “Rabbits by Email." You'll receive emails about any new posts along with a link to the full article. This is perfect for my Mom who finds the rest of these options a tad complex.

Social Bookmarking: You’ll notice at the bottom of every post on the blog there’s a little button with the word "share" on it. If you put your cursor over this button a little window opens up that allows you to share the post on a variety of "bookmarking" sites. Some of the more popular ones are Digg, Facebook, and Delicious. In bookmarking my posts, you have a way of finding them later when you need them but you also spread the great news about Jamie's Rabbits. How about "good" news?

Visit: Bookmark this page to check out my latest posts. No need to get "too" attached to me. I completely understand.

The Post About A Rabbit's Recap

Tomorrow is a big day in the life of my blog - 200 posts. This will be the last anniversary I'll be celebrating in hopes this has simply become a regular part of my life (unlike not having a french fry in 76 days which is a discipline I would drop in a nano-second if given the right circumstances.)

My rants and raves and randomness have only been a moment compared to some of my favorite writers who've been putting it out there for 1000's of posts. This leads to a dilemma when I come late to their party. It's hard to catch up. I had a reader tell me he spent hours trying to revisit all the the crazy from the last 8 months of my life. He suggested I share a list of my favorite posts. This is me hearing and doing:

a. Dirty Jobs: Anytime a writer can combine Mike Rowe and universal healthcare - it's a good post.
b. Traffic: I'm a productive driver. Don't send me pictures of babies who almost died from being hit by a texter. Just don't.
c. Pretty - Part 1: I manage conflict like most folks - act as if it doesn't happen and pretend to talk on my cell.
d. If I Could: This is one of the best glimpses into my true self. My wallpaper is selfish.
e. Being Dainty: Oh, to go back to having only one lizard.
f. Halloween Candy: You Smarties lovers need to step back.
g. Malaise: I'm at my best with matted hair and in a pseudoephedrine-induced euphoria.
h. Thanks and No Thanks: I love lists and sarcasm. Combine the two for a delicious dish of "take that!"
i. Fairy Godmothering (The Epilogue): Children are scary but make for great stories.

Any great blogs you would recommend?

The Post About Worse than Green Ketchup

I have a few coworkers who work from home, including my boss. The idea was pitched that I might consider following suit and I immediately started shaking my head with confidence that there had never been a worse idea in the history of ideas (including slavery and Crystal Pepsi).

Here's the shortlist of reasons why:

1. Easy access to a value pack of 100 frozen waffles.
2. Talk shows.
3. The nap after talk shows.
4. No clear rationalization for vast array of handbags and shoes.
5. Lizards.
6. My obsession with creating the perfect playlist.
7. I can lie down anywhere in the "office" and no one will know.
8. Youtube.
9. Very clear rationalization for vast array of pajama bottoms.
10. Bathing moves quickly off my priority list.

Why would it be a bad idea for you to work from home?

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.9

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

Read

Donald Miller's flashy child, Blue Like Jazz, tends to get all the press; but Searching for God Knows What is the one where he grabs the face of Christian Culture and encourages it to look in the mirror. His dissection of how the Garden of Eden took a greater toll on us than we acknowledge is a great thread that's sewn throughout.

Watch

One more week of recommending you watch something I haven't seen yet... (But it worked out if you watched America or ER this week...hi Dr. George.) NBC premieres "Kings" on Sunday, March 15 at 8/7c. This show is a contemporary take on the life of King David from the Bible. There was the cheesy when I heard David's last name was "Shepherd" but I also learned crazy Ian McShane is in it (I'm in for at least one eppy.) Here's an article where the Executive Producer explains how faith and sci-fi will mix and mingle.

Listen

I've had an unshamed music crush on Kelly Clarkson since day one of her American Idol stint. I love all her albums, including the poorly received "My December" (it deserves a second listen.) Her new CD "All I Ever Wanted" debuted this week and I haven't stopped listening. This song, "Already Gone" is a definite keeper.

The Post About Fries with That

I've already written that the economy is in the crapper. I've also written that despite this fact, I will continue supporting Chick-Fil-A during these tough times (everybody deserves a helping hand.) I planned my errands last night around the fact that I had a coupon for a free Chick-Fil-A sandwich tucked away in my wallet. A dilemma presented itself when deciding on a side item. You see, I haven't had a french fry in 72 days (a commitment I continually regret.) This rehabilitation effort puts a dent in my picks for the combo side dish. At Chick-Fil-A, your choices are side salad, soup, or fruit cup. Since I was driving, it would seem I was left with one option:

Was this a poor decision? The US Postal Service took a stance on the issue. This was waiting in my mailbox:

The mailing label indicates I have a one year subscription. I didn't buy it. One of the lead articles suggests to add more fruit to your diet.

No need to yell.

The Post About An Eye for an Eye

I have tragic vision. Can't-make-out-the-E-at-the-top-of-the-chart vision. This weekend, I was popping out my right contact and failed to account for how dry my eye was. (High levels of MSG combined with one less hour of sleep.) Even upon meeting resistance, I kept tugging and found myself with only part of the lens when all was said and done. But I'm a trooper. I'm on day four of wearing ripped eyewear.

As I recounted this story to my friend Caryann, she explained my poor choice could cause damage to my cornea and literally "put my eye out." I immediately poo pooed that idea and reminded her I could always get a cornea from an organ donor (It's important to have a Plan B.) She supported me by pointing out the purchase could be made on Craig's List - even encouraging me further by noting I could buy a cornea/kidney combo. She's a good friend.

Of course, I told her the whole thing was hogwash and my eye would be fine. Here's how the conversation played out:
Jamie: Nuh-uh. That's not gonna happen.
Caryann: Hasn't your eye doctor ever told you about the risk of wearing a torn contact?
Jamie: The only thing an eye doctor has ever told me is "Ma'am, you'll need to move to that side of the shop to pick out glasses. Your head's a bit big for a regular pair."

Thank you Lenscrafters.

The Post About When I Was a Kid...

Less than 10 years ago, I would need almost 1400 of these to carry what now fits on my keyring.

Repondicium antiquipotacium-(commonly referred to as the 3.5 inch floppy disc): "This particular species evolved fairly quickly from much larger ancestors. First seen in the mid 1980s, examples are rare, but by the mid 1990s, they became very abundant. They became very scarce and almost extinct by the early part of the next century. Some speculate the recordable compact disk had a hand in the demise of the Repondicium antiquipotacium."

Visit www.heartlessmachine.com for more modern fossils.

What extinct gadget do you actually miss?

The Post About Spit-take Allies

I wrote last week that I enjoy folks who bring a sense of humor to the table. I think it's crucial you have at least one person in your life who makes you not only laugh, but forces you to clutch your side wondering what just shot out of your nose. For me, I actually prefer this trait over compassion or encouragement.

Here's a non-comprehensive list of my friends, both in real life and perhaps only in my mind, who are required reading in the classroom of laughter:
1. Cari Kates: Some have told us if they had friends like us, then they'd want to kill themselves. Others have said we should charge for the show. If you live in the central California valley, you should buy her Chick-Fil-A in hopes of being her friend.
2. Joel McHale: I can't decide if it's his portrayal of the "Male Nurse" or his affection for Lou, the chihuahua. No matter, his sarcasm had me at "REALITY SHOW CLIP TIME."
3. Tina Fey: We would be friends.There's no doubt. But I would always feel inferior due to her sharp wit and therefore be forced to develop other valuable traits, like aggreeableness or heat ray vision.
4. Joseph Kinnaird: You know those lines that pop up between your eyebrows when someone says something incredulous? Mine are named Joe and Willy. But I'm willing to Botox to keep laughing.
5. Heather Armstrong: She's all things I'm not - a wife, a mother, and a recovering Mormon. Differences aside, her blog is worth every golden egg she's paid to write it.
6. Austin Cranford: I wish I could link you to Austin's web profile, website, or webcam - but he can only truly be appreciated in person. He gives OCD a funny name.

Who in your real life or Tivo life is hilarious?

The Post About Easy Like Sunday Morning

I've decided Catholicism may be in my future. I normally wake up around 6:30am on Sundays to have some quiet time, eat a waffle, finish prep for Bible Study, and try to negotiate my hair before leaving for my Southern Baptist church at 8:30ish.

Since I was in Atlanta this weekend, I was planning to attend Mass with my college roommate Angie and her hubby, Victor. So after downing yummy Thai food at 10:30pm on Saturday night - I asked what time I should wake up. Since Daylight Savings Time would be plaguing us in a few short hours, the answer to that question was already being prayed over in my own head. Angie replied "Whenever." I'm sorry, what? That's right. Angie and Victor would be attending church at 5:30pm, so the wake up call was suddenly null and void. I started praising God 12 hours earlier than normal in that moment with eyes closed and hands above my head.

I continued to worship Him in that very same fashion until 11:30am. Soli Deo Gloria.

The Post About The Rabbit Recommends v.8

Each weekend, I post a readable, a watchable, and a listenable of which I'm fond. You can choose what happens next. Earlier volumes can be found here.

--Down Emory Lane Edition--

Read

Yes - I was a double major in Sociology and Women's Studies. The reading lists were diverse, but nothing provided more practical application than Deborah Tannen's "You Just Don't Understand." She proposes many of the conflicts between the sexes result from simple difference in communication styles. One of my fave theories is we learn to communicate based on games we play as kiddies. Boys tend to play games with an end or goal - sports, video games, even cops and robbers (death is the finale of that one.) Girls tend to engage in activities where there's no goal - house, grocery store, doctor's office, etc. Therefore, boys talk to solve problems and girls chat to build relationships. This plays out in some fascinating ways, but I'm not going to read the book for you.

Watch

Thursday nights in the Fall of my freshman year (1994) were great for television. Friends and ER debuted and captured the hearts of Dickey Dorm. You were a Rachel, Phoebe, or Monica (I was sadly more a Chandler) and you scanned the Quad daily for the pre-med John Carter. ER will take its final bow on April 2, but this week's episode is the one to watch. George Clooney returns as the sexier-than-sexy-can-be Dr. Ross. My Tivo is set.

Listen


I discovered a whole new world of music when I went to college (not that Amy Grant and Paula Abdul weren't fulfilling). One artist I became slightly obsessed with was Sarah McLachlan. This solo piano version of "Possession" is the best.

What reads, watches, or listens take you back?

The Post About Class of 1998

Since I've already gone there - let's talk about Emory. My alma mater provided four of the loveliest years of my short-ish life. I know not everyone can reminisce on their college years with stars in their eyes because they may have dropped out or divorced a classmate, but for me it was bliss. Here are some reasons why:

1. Two extraordinary roommates. Jen and Ang loved me in spite of my messiness and my seemingly inability to pay the power bill on time.
2. A great education. Small class sizes and actual professors (no offense to TAs). It cost a premium, but you can get a nice payment plan of $49.95 per month until Social Security kicks in (for your grandchildren.)
3. New view of the world. I learned the art of volunteering and discovered the world's a much bigger place than my mind had imagined. I served in housing projects, domestic violence shelters, and on clean-up crews.
4. The purpose of a major. For some, a college major is a means to a paycheck. My advisor, perhaps in a mary-jane-induced state, recommended I leave Math behind and pursue classes I loved. That included the liberal arts highlights - Sociology, Women's Studies, and African American Studies. Confession: A paycheck was a bit of a needle in the professional haystack due to this study path.
5. A change in leanings. My faith and politics were explored without help - no youth group or parents to guide the way. A wonderful gift. Confession: My father is only now starting to claim his femi-nazi bleeding heart daughter who reads a non King James version of the Word.

I loved the campus so much I planted a little homage in my front yard.


What did you love about college? (And it's never too late to go!)

The Post About Hooter Hider

I'm in the middle of a whirlwind tour down Emory lane as I take road trips to see both of my college roommates. Angie and Jennifer were, are, and always will be two of my favorite people. For no other reason than they both make me laugh. Like stop-what-you-were-doing-so-you-check-and-see-if-something-fell-out-of-you laugh. (There's about 7 people I know personally who are on that list - a post for another day.)

Jennifer has just given birth to her second child in 13 months (talk about commitment) and Angie is currently knocked up (by her husband) with her first little one. And that child is sure to be the sassiest, because it will be half Caucasian and half Thai. Yay for caucasianasian babies! Biracial ALWAYS trumps Uniracial. Always.

However, Jen's oldest - Christina - is quite a looker (despite her lack of genetic diversity):

Earlier this week, when I knocked on Jen's door in Florida - she greeted me with 2-week-old Elizabeth attached to her breast. Now normally, I might need to look away from the headlights, but they were covered with a contraption called a "Hooter Hider." The quintessential example of naming your product based on its purpose. Since I decided it was better to avoid a photoshoot of Jen wearing her feeding aid, I give you this generic woman on a park bench wearing hers:

It's really phenomenal - baby stays cozy in the dark with a nice entree while the rest of us are left unsubjected to the boobies. And some men might say that's a loss but remember, an infant is latched on - not so sexy.

The one thing diverse about both of Jen's girls is their spiritual heritage. Jen is a Southern Baptist and her husband, Stephen, is Catholic. Do you know what you get when you mix the two?

Pentecostal.

The Post About Hold Your Horses, Bonsai

Here are my reactions to tonight's Lost episode "LaFleur"

**We have a sassy body to go with that not-so sassy foot.
**I love the word “hootenanny.” I shall use it more often.
**SHUT UP LaFleur!!! You found some hair products.
**Hi Michelle Dessler – welcome to being Amy Goodspeed. And being sneaky.
**The 70's clearly improves your English. It must be all the polyester.
**Yellow flag for the molesting look in your eye, Daniel.
**Quote Break: Sawyer: “Uh oh.”

**That's right - be in love. Together forever.

**Three years is long enough. EVEN IF SHE COMES BACK, STUPID.

Preview: This show has just taken a turn for the even better. Where is it headed?

The Post About Answer It & They Will Come

Yesterday I had a top five day in unique visitors to my blog site. That's an unclear way of saying - "A lot of folks took a gander at Jamie's Rabbits on March 3." In my heart, I'd like to believe it was the rumor of fanciful lizard tales or useful tips and tricks for rationalizing your way through any decision. But I acknowledge the power of a Tweet and a Facebook Status Update. Mine read like this "Jamie is multitasking her way to Dothan, Alabama. Check out one of the reasons she may be single at http://jamiebg.blogspot.com/"

Well, the curiosity killed the kittens, because many came to find out why I might be unmarried at this certain point in my life (I've actually been unmarried at all points in my life, but that's neither here nor there...) Were some so intrigued because they can't imagine why a fun, articulate, educated, well-accessorized gal at the young age of 20-13 would be without a soul mate? Or were they simply checking to see if their guess was correct?

Perhaps biscuits are the least of my concerns.

I'll be digging through my own theories in an upcoming post, but feel free to share your thoughts on singledom in the comments section which I affectionately refer to as "Love it or Leave it." Need not be single to reply.

The Post About Biscuit Tumors

Lent is upon us. As is a recession. Not surprisingly, these events can serve each other well. As I pondered and prayed and rationalized my way in and out of various sacrifices for the 40 days leading up to Easter - I landed on my current disaster of the moment for inspiration. I may or may not always make the best financial decisions. I try to be a responsible steward of the money I have, but sometimes pretty dresses, Amazon mp3 sales, and book club memberships can overwhelm my ability to make good choices.

I decided there was no better time than Ash Wednesday to make a fresh start. My "fasting" commitment is to try and eat out of my pantry for the next several weeks (sans milk and eggs which truthfully I sometimes leave on the counter, but should be kept fresh.) Although my diet will primarily consist of marinara sauce, Fiber One bars, and vanilla extract - I did realize I had quite a few baking basics. I combined that inventory with my love for all things flour-based and got to cooking. The first recipe on the outside of the White Lily all-purpose bag was Light and Fluffy Biscuits. I halved* the ingredients, since "light" is not a reference to the way they would look on my hips. Plus, I've been known to eat biscuits like grapes, but with melted butter and honey.

Here's what I created:

A couple of things you may have noticed that I'll try to explain. The recipe should have made six, but I didn't have a biscuit cutter. So I used a juice glass with an obvious less-than diameter. This led to 7 biscuits and an inordinate amount of leftover dough.

So I snatched a handful and created Biscuit B, which sorta looks like a fluffy dropping from a white labrador. And still I had excess dough, so I split it between biscuits A and C. Waste not, want not.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I am single...FOR A SEASON.

*I had to look up on whether the correct word is "halved" or "halfed" - thank you www.wordreference.com.

The Post About Darth Vader's Options

I'll admit it again. I really love Star Wars. There's a particularly warm and fuzzy spot in my heart for the black, yet white Sith lord who was simply misunderstood. This may be due in part to the plastic Darth Vader head my older brother had that held all of his action figures. I coveted it like my neighbor's manservant (Exodus 20:17).

In honor of the one who put the "Daddy" in "Daddy Issues":

Artist Adam McCauley imagines the other paths that might have been available to the Empire leader had his choices been different. I personally prefer "Barth" - nudity notwithstanding.

The Post About Bread & Milk

This is my first and very likely rare video blog. Mother Nature demanded it be shared.

It's Snowing from Vimeo.

Sidebar: This vlog was approximately one minute long. Dear friends, let the peer pressure overtake you.