Best thing I've seen all week

God bless the CDC. They've released a story on their Public Health Matters blog about Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse. Seriously.

And you all know how I feel about zombies.

It's not a bad article, although they're conspicuously silent on the relative merits of sawed off shotguns vs heavy blunt instruments when it comes to taking out the undead. Also missing: any mention of the First Zombie-Proof House, or recommendations about creating the ideal vehicle for traveling through undead-filled terrain (I favor a diesel powered 4x4 that's old school enough not to need computer assistance with repairs...perhaps a modified Range Rover would do the trick?). But I suppose we can't have everything...

P.S. Have I mentioned that May is Zombie Awareness Month? Pin on your gray ribbon, then go forth and become prepared for the inevitable apocalypse!

Prettyprettyprettyprettypretty

Behold the latest items on my want list:

Penguin is releasing these little beauties in October - hand sewn covers (designed and stitched by Jillian Tamaki) of Emma, Black Beauty and The Secret Garden. Well, the originals were hand sewn - the actual covers for sale are sculpt-embossed, so at least they feel somewhat like embroidery. Want a better look?

 

I definitely need Emma and Black Beauty on my shelf. I kinda want The Secret Garden just to round out the collection, but I have to admit I never really liked the book as a child. Too saccharine. Not that Emma is exactly on the same level as say, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (awesome, btw), but at least Austen brings a little sharpness to the writing table.

Oh! Speaking of books I want, have I mentioned the hardcover classics that came out last year? Penguin is killing me with the pretty lately. WANT.

Showtime!

Last weekend was the annual Royal Show (aka a country fair for you American peeps), so we packed the 500lbs of crap that twins require into a diaper bag and headed to the showgrounds!

First stop was the crafts pavilion, to check out the cool stuff people made and pass judgment on the winners of the floral competition:

Incidentally, can you believe that rocking horse won second prize? First went to the stagecoach thingy behind it. Judges must have been smoking something.

My mother-in-law romped home with prizes for everything she entered - go Pat!

I really love the community involvement in the show, especially for the kids - check out the walls of artwork and displays of cookie decorating skills from the local youngsters:

 That badass pumpkin in front was this year's winner of the Holy Shit That's A Big Pumpkin Biggest Pumpkin award.

Next up came a stroll through the ride section, which naturally included eating a corndog:

And then on to the animal shows! It'll probably come as no surprise that even though I live in a rural area, I'm not exactly the agricultural type. For example, when I saw this cow...

...I promptly shrieked, "Honey! Look! A poodle cow!" Bystanders gave me bemused looks, no doubt pitying my obvious mental handicap, while my husband pretended he and the kids were there alone and not with the crazy cow lady. But COME ON. Look at it! Totally a poodle cow:



I may not have a very solid grasp of animal husbandry, but I do love looking at the animals:

 

 

Oh, and watching the cat judging? Got me my best photo of the day, even if it is shaky from laughing:

All in all, not a bad day for the Pirates' first show!

Warm = awesome

Remember how cranky I was with the cold weather last year? My Awesome Stepmom Myra was paying attention and recently sent me her secret weapon for this winter: adult sized footie pajamas.

Yes. You read that right.

No, you don't get a full length shot. Being warm doesn't stop me from being vain.

It dropped well below freezing last night, but I was toasty enough in our non-heated bedroom to kick off the covers at one point. They are the least sexy thing ever, but I have never felt so cozy in my life. Who needs to look good when you're that warm?!

Puppieeeeees!

A few weeks ago, we visited my friend Alison to photograph of a litter of Jack Russells she was puppysitting. The end result was more cuteness than you can handle:

They were so adorable that I wanted to steal them all. But I didn't. But I wanted to. But I didn't. But...yeah, I could do this all day. How about we just say they were ZOMFG CUUUUUTE!!! and leave it at that?