Gifts for No Reason

Today I had this great idea to buy a gift for a good friend of mine, for no reason. It's not this friend's birthday. This friend didn't get a promotion. There's nothing to celebrate. I just felt like buying a gift for my friend. Just because.

So I thought and thought and tried to figure out what this friend might like. And then I remembered a recent conversation in which this friend casually mentioned a love of Harry Potter.

Luckily for my friend, a first edition signed copy of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was up for auction. You may not recognize this title from the famous series, but surely you're familiar with Harry Potter and the Sorcercer's Stone. Philosopher's Stone was the name in Great Britain, but it was changed for the US.

This book is very rare. It's a softcover and one of only 200 from the first printing issued with illustrated wrapping papers from London publisher Bloomsbury. It also includes an illustrated card signed by J.K. Rowling.

Unfortunately for my friend, the book sold a tad bit outside of my price range . . . $19, 120.

Oh well. It's the thought that counts, right?

You Wish You Were As Loved As I Am, But You're Not

I am the luckiest woman in the world. And clearly I'm also the most loved woman in the world. Some people used to think Princess Diana was the most beloved woman in the world, but she clearly ranks somewhere below me. Michelle Obama is also enormously popular and beloved, but again, not nearly to the degree I am.

How do I know this? Well, first, in December, you'll recall that Mrs. Theresa Brown from the Netherlands gave me $8.6 million! Then, just last week, Bollywood came calling!

Look at the wonderful email that arrived today . . .

Greetings To You.

I have a proposal for you however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honor against your will. I have to introduce myself first, my name is Dr.Anthony Hobson a banker, working with one of the leading banks in United Kingdom.

In this bank existed a dormant account for the past two years, which belong to a Syria national who works with London Mining Plc but he is now late. When we discovered that there had been neither deposits nor withdrawls from this account for some time I decided to carry out a system investigation and discovered that none of the family member or relations of the owner is aware of this account. That is the story in a nutshell. Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer these funds and come over to meet with you for investment in your country. Thereafter, I had planned to destroy all related documents for this account. It is a careful network and for the past three months I have worked everything out to ensure a hitch-free operation. The amount at the moment, plus all the accumulated interest in this account stands at £15,000,000 (Fifteen Million Pounds Sterling GBP).

Now our questions are: 1. Can you handle this project? 2. Can I give you this trust? 3. What will be your commission? Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible.

Finally, it is my humble prayer that the information as contained here in is accorded the attention, urgency as well as secrecy it deserves. I hope my message did not come as an embarrassment to you? But if it does please kindly accept my apologies and if you are interested to proceed with me kindly send me your names and mobile number for further discussion. Thanks in anticipation.

Respectfully yours,
Dr.Anthony Hobson.
+447045729266

How in the world could this kind man think I would be offended or embarrassed by his desire to give me $15,000,000 pounds? I don't know what the exchange rate into dollars is today, but I'm sure it's okay. What will I take in commission? 100% of course. Does Dr. Hobson think I'm some sort of sucker?

Why do so many people I've never heard of keep wanting to bestow their riches (or someone else's) on me? I don't have the answer to this either, but it doesn't really matter.

The only question that remains is what in the world will I do with all this money and fame I keep receiving? Should I blow it all on some Jimmy Choo shoes, Louis Vuitton bags, a few Hermes Birkin bags, Dior, and Burberry? Nah. That's not like me at all. I mean, I'd use a little on some luxuries for me and take some fun trips, but I'd rather donate a boat load of money to Lake Forest College, feed the poor, help rebuild New Orleans, ensure my family is taken care of for generations, and share a little with my friends.

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

Yes, I know I talk about Betsey and Ross far too often on Little Merry Sunshine. So sue me.

This post isn't about them. It's about cat ownership in general. Trust me, even if you've never owned a cat or can't stand cats, the following video will make you laugh out loud.

John Stewart vs. Rick Santelli

Don't mess with John Stewart and The Daily Show.

Rick Santelli of CNBC was supposed to be on The Daily Show last night, but CNBC nixed that after Santelli's recent rant against President Obama and the firestorm that has occurred. John Stewart then lit into Santelli, Jim Kramer, and all of CNBC.

While it was depressing to see just how far we've fallen over the last 2 years, Stewart, as always, was spot on and the result was hilarious.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

Score one for John Stewart and The Daily Show. Rick Santelli, the ball is in your court.

Update: Read "What Battered Newsrooms Can Learn from Stewart's CNBC Takedown" by Will Bunch on the Huffington Post.

Bollywood Here I Come!

I'm going to be a movie star! Move over Kate Winslet and all those cute Slumdog Millionaire kids. I'm about to be the next "It Girl"!

Last night I received an email from a gentleman named MR. "Tony" at rbrt.migliore@gmail.com with the following message:

Hi Sir,

R u interested to play a roll of Hero in bollywood movie.

Tony

I'm sure the typos and reference to me in the masculine form are no big deal. MR. "Tony" was just trying to be hip. I mean, MR. "Tony" wouldn't have sent that to me if he weren't 100% legit, right?

Rush Limbaugh Mad Libs!

Do you remember Mad Libs? I loved Mad Libs as a kid. I remember on days when we had indoor recess in elementary school my friends and I always had Mad Libs that we'd complete together. We had so much fun. And playing with Mad Libs with my friends is where I learned that curse words could be used as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.

Well, the DCCC has created Mad Libs for us to apologize to Rush Limbaugh for our transgressions against him! Yeah!

Worth minutes of fun for kids of all ages, I'm Sorry, Rush is a great website that will teach you the fundamentals of kowtowing to the biggeset blowhard of our time.

Oh, damn, I have to go apologize now. I'm sorry, Rush. Really, I am. I messed that up. I should have capitalized Blowhard.

Got a Question? Ask a Librarian

I've written about this before, but it bears repeating. The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is the best library in the world. Seriously. The librarians there are completely accessible and ready to answer any question you might have on any topic at any time 24/7/365. Really. And the best part? It's all free.

A few months ago, I was writing a blog post and needed to cite a Supreme Court case. Now I used to be a litigation legal assistant and once upon a time knew how to properly cite cases for every court in my sleep. Ya, I'm a geek. But I wanted a very specific citation and couldn't find it online.

What did I do? I IM'd the Arlington Heights Memorial Library via AIM and asked a librarian to look up the official citation for me. And within minutes I had my answer! If you've got AIM, just send your question to AHMLQuestions. I've added the Arlington Heights Memorial Library to my AIM Buddy List and they're really good about keeping their status updated so you know if a librarian is available. It's great, quick and best of all, it's free!

If you've got a business in Arlington Heights, there are also a ton of resources available to you for FREE. Call the Business Librarian, Barb Vlk and she'll answer all your questions.

The library has other ways to get help too. I received the following article from Bill Pardue, the Virtual Services Librarian at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library and am reprinting it here for your benefit.

Need to settle a friendly bet on the train? Want to know if a book is on the shelf while you're in the middle of a meeting? When there's no computer nearby and it's inconvenient to make a call, you can now send a text message to the reference librarians at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's Answer Center.

The steps are simple:

• Send a text message to 265010
• Start your message with "ahmlq:" (leave off the quotes though). That's basically it!
• Here are some examples:

ahmlq: What time does the library open tomorrow?
ahmlq: Starting pitchers in game 7 of the 71 World Series?
ahmlq: Arlington Hts curfew time for teens?
ahmlq: Copy of Obama's Audacity of Hope available?

• After the first message, you just proceed with the texting as normal (no need for the "ahmlq:" part).
• This service is free from AHML, but other standard carrier charges may apply.

Generally, texting works better for quick questions, given the restriction to shorter messages. If we feel that the question needs more in-depth work, we'll offer to follow up via phone or e-mail.

The text messaging service is available Monday-Friday, 9 am-9 pm; Saturday 9 am-5:30 pm; Sunday Noon-5:30 pm. This is most of AHML's open hours, except for the last hour on weeknights.

Of course, you can still call the answer center at 847-506-2633 or use the 24/7/365 chat service via the Ask A Librarian Live Online links on our website (http://www.ahml.info).

The library's main number is 847-392-0100.

More Things I Know for Sure

To follow on last night's theme of "things I know for sure," I have realized a few more today . . .

I know for sure that Annie was right. The sun will come out tomorrow. Sometimes literally and sometimes figuratively. And sometimes it takes more than just one day. But it always comes back out.

I know for sure that sometimes I just need a good friend to shake some sense into me, figuratively, not literally.

I know for sure that there's more than one way to look at everything. It's all in how we choose to spin things.

I know for sure that I'm loved.

I know for sure that nothing ever really gets accomplished when I get stuck in my head.

What I Know For Sure

Earlier today I wrote about how I am feeling overwhelmed. In the process of writing that post, I flipped over and read Kittens Farting Rainbows, a new favorite blog, and couldn't believe my eyes as Bergsie put many of my exact feelings into words. But she ended her post in a postive way, which I couldn't figure out how to accomplish. She ended with the things she knows. And I thought that might be the perfect cure for what ails me today.

Without further ado and in no particular order, here is partial list of the what I know for sure.

I know that Betsey and Ross are always eager to snuggle with me when I'm feeling down. They're not fair weather cats.

I know for certain that true love is out there. I haven't found it yet, but it's there somewhere. I just have to keep looking and being hopeful.

I can always count on my friends' Tweets to make me giggle.

I know that my purpose is greater than just being someone's daughter or sister or caregiver.

I know that there's some music that makes me dance and lifts me up and there's some music that makes me sad and cry. I have to stay away from the latter.

I know that I have the capacity to be a great mom. Whether that's in the cards for me or not, I'm not so sure. If it's not, I have to find a way to channel those energies.

I know that hard wood floors beat carpet any day.

I know my failings only too well and work everyday to overcome them.

Sometimes I stumble, but the only way I can recover is to get back up and dust off my knees. There's simply no other choice.

I know that when God closes a door, he always opens another one. My job is to find that door because sometimes it's hidden.

I know that most of what happens, the good and the bad, is what I choose, whether consciously or not. I am in control of my life and I can change what I don't like.

I know that every situation presents me with opportunities to learn and grow and be better.

I know that I'll keep being presented with the same lessons over and over again until I learn them.

I know that second chances don't come around very often and when they do, I have to explore them. I don't often get to find out the answer to the question "What if . . . ", but every time I've gotten to find out, it's been well worth it.

I know that the Cubs are bound to win the World Series . . . one of these years.

I Feel Overwhelmed

I feel overwhelmed. I don't know if it's the snow I woke up to this morning that just feels like the last straw (I do get that it's winter in Chicago, but this winter just feels longer and snowier than usual). I don't know whether it's the economy. I don't know if I've spread myself too thin. I don't know if I've lost my focus. I don't know if I'm just bad at time management (something I've always prided myself on). All I know is that I feel like I'm being pulled in a million different directions and achieving nothing in the process. I'm not sleeping well. Some days I have an appetite and others I don't (not that it's stopped me from eating).

Sure, in certain moments, the feeling of overwhelm disappears, but it keeps returning. I feel like I've spent the last month pleasing no one, including myself. I feel like I haven't been a very good boss to myself, friend, daughter, sister, or volunteer lately. It's partly why I haven't blogged much in the last month. I haven't known what to say or how to say it even if I did know.

I've tried the things that usually work to de-stress me and help me overcome the feeling of overwhelm . . . hypnosis and meditation, long bubble baths, a massage, a glass or two of wine, cleaning, snuggling with Betsey & Ross (I dare anyone to argue a purring cat is not soothing), exercise . . . and am not sure how to lose this feeling.

I don't mean to whine about this. Really, I don't. I'm only writing about this today in hopes that by throwing it out to the universe, a solution will come to me.

Update 2:56pm: In the midst of writing this post, I happened to jump over to one of my new favorite blogs (can we say ADD?), Kittens Farting Rainbows (seriously, doesn't that title make you giggle?) and read a post called "100% Better 60% of the Time." As I read it, I kept thinking to myself, "yep, that's how I'm feeling." But then Bergsie ends her post with the things she knows and that got me to thinking that maybe I should write about the things I know for sure (not to sound to Oprah-ish). Maybe that will make me feel better. Look for that as my next post. See, maybe the universe does give me the answers I need when I reach out.