A Matched Set

One of the things I like best about my job is that I get to work with family.  My brother is my boss, my sister is my co-worker and, pretty soon, my dad will be poking his head into stuff again.  It's a lot of fun {don't tell my brother that}, and I feel pretty lucky to have this set-up.

One of the things I don't like about my job is the number of times my sister and I come to work dressed alike.  Seriously.  It used to happen about once a week, but since we've become aware of it, the number of occurrences has significantly decreased.  I'm not kidding - we mentally note what the other is wearing each day, so that we don't show up matching.

Which is why it is even funnier that it still happens.  Did she not know that I was going to wear my navy blue pants and white shirt?  We might have to work on {un}coordinating.

Don't worry.  I'll keep documenting as it continues to happen.  I'm sure it will.

P.S. One day last week I came dressed the same as my brother.  But that's not even the best part of the story.  The best part is that he kept arguing that my shirt wasn't purple enough for us to be dressed alike.  Ha!

Did I Mention #22?

Oh, because he joined us yesterday.  And he's pretty much precious.

I know, right?

As my newest fan, I'll try to make sure he gets all the extra attention he deserves.  Because that's the kind of giving aunt I am.

Listen, My Little Unemployeed Waif

I've been thinking about "Reality Bites" a lot lately. Not sure why. Still one of the greatest movies ever. It makes me burst with fruit flavor.

"There's no secret handshake. There's an IQ prerequisite, but there's no secret handshake."

"I'm late for a jeans-folding seminar. Let's locomote."

"You look like a doily."

"What are you doing here, Sammy? You don't even live here!"

"He's the reason Cliffs Notes were invented."

"You've been waiting for this since the day we met."
"Oh, who told you that? Your psychic partner?"

Hey Boo

It will be 50 years on Sunday that To Kill a Mockingbird was published. I first read it on my own in college since, for some reason, I got all the way through school without having it assigned to me. And I know I'm not being original at all when I say that this book changed me, changed the way I thought about stories and their characters, and made me wish Ms. Lee had published more books. It remains one of my all-time favorites.

Later I saw the film with Gregory Peck and was again blown away. Movies are never as good as the book, but in my humble opinion, this one comes the closest. Hearing the music from the score or Kim Stanley's voice in narration puts me right there again with Scout and Jem and all of them in Maycomb.

A documentary by Mary McDonagh Murphy called "Hey Boo: Harper Lee and To Kill a Mockingbird" comes out soon {or has already come out or something - I'm still not too clear on the details}. I'm so interested to see it and learn more about this great book and the woman who brought it to life. And watching the preview has only intrigued me more.

And if you're interested in reading a great article about the 50th anniversay of the novel, I suggest you check out this great one by Lynn Neary at NPR.

One question, do you need someone? Or do you need me? Forget it. I don't really care.

I really need to stop watching "Say Anything" because everytime I do I end up getting slightly depressed because I wish I could marry Lloyd Dobler . . . which is silly obviously.

Because as we all know, he and Diane are still together.

Some Culture for the Masses

I just ran across this wonderful article this morning. I highly recommending you taking a look. You know, get some culture.

Portraits of Celebrity Weirdness

Five Friday Thoughts

1. I can't decide if it's a good thing or a bad thing that my morning mantra in the store this morning had to be, 'Walk past the PopTarts. Walk past the Poptarts.'


2. I had a dream last night that I was comparing wedding dresses with someone who was either Hilary Duff or Vienna from The Bachelorette. All I know is that mine was lovely and her dress was awful.


3. Finding the exact shade of nail polish you want can be a cause for celebration.


4. I got an email this morning letting me know that my out-of-state nieces were asking about me. I actually got teary-eyed sitting at my desk at work while I read it.


5. Due, I suppose, to the long, holiday weekend to celebrate our nation's birth, I've had John Cougar Mellencamp songs going through my head all morning. And now, hopefully, so do you.

Happy Friday.