Is Happiness Contagious?

I just saw an article on cnn.com this morning. http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/12/05/happiness.social.network/index.html

It states that in a University of California - San Diego study, that happiness spreads more than unhappiness in a social network.

I agree with this, to a point.

I find unhappiness spreads very quickly itself. It's the whole domino effect. Your kids are mad, they take it out on you, you get annoyed and take it out on the clerk at the grocery store, she gets mad and starts taking it out on the customers who come after you, and so on and so on.

With that however, you need a personal connection to make it spread.

With happiness.... you don't really need as much of one. How many times has someone's bad mood online affected me? Not very often, I just mute them. But how many times have I seen someone online clearly enjoying themselves more than they should, and it wound up making me a goofball?

Black Friday = insane people

Yes, I'm one of the idiots that go out on Black Friday. It's a tradition. Even if the sales aren't so great (like this year), I still go out.

I remember the days when I was in the thick of the frenzies... Remember the Furby? I remember that day we did 4 stores in about 45 minutes and FINALLY had success! I also spent a cold, rainy morning in line at Best Buy to get my husband a laptop computer. Or the year all of us huddled around a puny little table at Wal-mart to get the RCA mp3 player (that was a hunk of junk).

But what is up with the crowds? If you ever wondered about the "mob mentality" attitude that psychiatrists say exists, go to Walmart on Black Friday. Would there EVER be a time when one or two people would knock down a man and trample him? No. But somehow when a group of people get together, people don't think twice about it.

Hey, I realize you were out in the cold all night to get a good deal on a TV. Ummm..... who made you do it? Do you also realize that you probably could have gotten that TV from the warmth of your home by going online? What makes your want of a TV more important than a man's life?

And the Sexiest Man of 2008 is.......

My husband in Bizarro-land......Hugh Jackman!

Yes, People finally picked a real hunk!

Blatant Self-Promotion

Because I'm a busy mommy with NO time to exercise, I'm trying to win a Wii, in hopes I can get Wii Fit and lose some weight.

Can you please vote for me in the contest? Please feel free to give this link to everyone under the sun who might like to help a momma out by clicking a link.

Thank you!

Jiffy Lube

This is a post long-coming, but most deservedly due.

I used to go to Jiffy Lube religiously, on both of our cars. Then we bought cars from a dealership that provided free oil changes, and my trips to Jiffy Lube were relegated to occaisional trips when the dealership was going to charge WAY too much for other services.

I don't think I've personally been to a Jiffy Lube in about 3 years.

About 2 weeks ago, I had to take my car in to get something done with the differentials.

Oh my goodness!

I think they must have re-vamped their customer service process.

I pulled up, they asked me what I needed done, they opened my door for me, walked me to the lounge, and called me M'aam. At the end, they called me by name up to pay, opened the door to the shop, followed me to my car, opened my car door for me, shut it, and said thank you Ms. Mill-Irving.

I was shocked! It was just such outstanding customer service, I'm bowled over. I've never been treated so well.

If they keep this up, Jiffy Lube has an adamant fan for life in me!

How did I end up here?

Ever get to a point that you're not sure how you got there?

I love my boys, I really do.

And now here comes the "but" that Dr. Phil says negates what was just previously said....

Sometimes I wish for some peace and quiet. There's only so many tantrums, fights, times being hit, yelled at, punched, kicked, etc., before you say...I wish I was left alone.

There's a commercial, I think IKEA, that the mother says someone needs a time out, and then she retreats to her quiet, pretty bedroom.

I feel like that lately.

I try so hard to do my best at work, and get kicked in the gut figuratively, only to come home and try to be a good mom, and get kicked in the gut literally.

What do YOU do when you need to chill out?

DC Traffic

Gotta love DC area traffic. My husband wound up taking 2.5 hours to drive 35 miles home tonight. Why? Barack Obama was doing a rally in Leesburg.

And the most stellar part.... they blocked traffic on Rte. 7, which backed up the Greenway. So after my husband was sitting in traffic, police come by, forcing standstill traffic to move to the shoulders so Barack and the caravan can get by.

Well, VA State Police, maybe you shouldn't have turned the road into a parking lot, and maybe you could have gotten by easier.

The Wiggles

The Wiggles made their debut with the newest wiggle, Sam Moran, on The View last week.

For your viewing pleasure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EEwtv-pGFw

Frustrated with your Job Search?

Ever try over and over again for a job and you lose one job after another?

You could try the tactic this guy did....Suspect Arrested for Stabbing Man While Applying for Job

Blame your weight gain on Holiday Stress

There was a national stress survey done in October by the American Psychological Association that found that people turning to food to help them feel better increases to 1 in 3 during the during the holidays. 41% of women and 25% of men admit to increased eating during the holidays.

Is it really stress related? Sure, there is stress. Trying to get your kids the "it" present that year, trying to get your husband something that he won't know what it is already, trying to buy for the gazillion and one nieces and nephews...not to mention arguing over which family you're going to spend Xmas with. Oh yes, there is tons of stress during the holidays.

But as for that being the reason people overeat during the holidays? Ummm....I'm not buying it.

Why do people overeat during the holidays? Well jeeze...from mid November until January 2, everywhere you go, there's food.

You have Thanksgiving, which is basically a day to see how much food you can cram in your mouth before you pass out watching football. Then almost every weekend in between Thanksgiving and Christmas you have holiday parties. Parties at work, parties with friends, school parties, etc. Then if you work in most offices, vendors send you presents and most of it is candy or cookies, tack on another 5 pounds there.

Most families wind up going to a Christmas Eve party, then having Christmas Day at someone's house. Think about all the food and sweets that are consumed then. Then it's left-over time. And to finish it all off, you have New Year's Eve parties full of food and booze (yes, Booze packs on pounds too), and then the New Year's Day dinner.

Most people say they gain about 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Are you really surprised?

Technorati Tags: stress, holidays, overeating, women

If only people would tell the truth

I just got a call from the insurance company today. When my husband was in the first of his two recent accidents, the officer asked my husband for his email address and told him he'd email him the report that night. We never received it. I proceeded to email him 3 more times asking for this report, never to hear back from him. So finally I dropped it, figuring our insurance company would deal with it.

I get a phone call from our insurance company today saying they can't find record of the accident with either Leesburg City or VA State police. So I call up the police dept and after looking for 5 minutes, they find it and tell me despite the fact the cop said otherwise, they don't email reports and if I want the report, I have to pay them $6 for it.

So another call to StateFarm later, hopefully they'll deal with it.

Ugh... if they don't email reports, why ask my husband for his email address and say they'll send it to him????

Hugh Laurie Pt. 3

The Swoonfest continues

Johnny B. Goode like you've never heard before.....

Definitely a new version of Johnny B. Goode.

While I live Hugh, I'm so much more impressed with the dude playing the xylophone....I mean hey, he's got sheet music for that? *L*

Hugh Laurie

I'm a Hugh Laurie Freak. So for the next few days, I'm going to post some clips of him I found on YouTube.

You Tube is great...

Behold the sexy, hilarious Hugh Laurie

Christmas Gifts

I was listening to Casey Kasem's top 40 christmas edition this morning.

Every time they got ready to break for commercials, Casey would do a commercial for an item he recommended listeners buying for their family. What kind of gifts were they? Gifts you couldn't afford to buy unless you made a fortune!

My favorite was for the Bose stereo system. Talking about buying it for a family member, and hey....why not buy one for yourself as well.

Ummm..... I don't know any family member that gets $1000 gifts, do you? The simple fact that in order to buy their headphones, they have a monthly payment plan!!

Geeze!

Emmitt wins Dancing With The Stars 3

Season 3 is all over, and the winner is..... Emmitt Smith.

I have to say, I'm quite happy Mario didn't win.

The premise of Dancing with the Stars was to take stars who had no dancing background, and teach them all the intracracies of ballroom dancing. Every season ABC sacrifices this premise to get ratings. Last year, they brought in Drew Lachey, who was in a boy band and was experienced in learning routines and pulling them off, and he won.

This year, they had two ringers, Mario Lopez and Joey Lawrence. True, Joey Lawrence only had dance training when he was small, but he still had it. He still carried with him the training he received when he was a child. And Mario. Mario was on Kids Incorporated. He learned dance routines every week, and had to master them. Both of them had dance training. Neither of them should have been allowed to compete. I'd even go so far as saying Willa Ford is a recording artist and has training when she does her videos, she probably shouldn't have been allowed in either.

So I'm very glad Emmitt, who had no training and worked his butt off, won this season's DWTS.

That all being said.... I wonder if they give Cheryl a bean bag next season if she could win again?

Sending the woman off to fight your battles

After being out of the spotlight for almost 7 months, Tom Cruise is inflicting himself on the population again. But what was he careful to do before he started appearing everywhere? Send Katie Holmes and "his" daughter out to mend HIS fences.

You've seen the photos, Katie out having lunch with Brooke Shields (the site of his last great stand), having Katie making things look good.

Now they're finally getting married this weekend. I feel bad for Katie. I think she's in over her head, and there's no way to get out now.....not without losing her baby.

And as for Suri...that baby is all Katie. Suri looks just like her mother. Doesn't look at all like Tom...which just confirms my feelings that Suri wasn't conceived naturally. I swear there was a fertility clinic involved in the conception.

Target Recalls "Play Wonder" Puzzle Tables for Choking and Laceration

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2006
Release #07-034

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 440-0680
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Target Recalls "Play Wonder" Puzzle Tables for Choking and Laceration
Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: "Play Wonder" Puzzle Tables

Units: About 7,100

Importer/Distributor: Target, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Manufacturer: Sunrise, of China

Hazard: The handles on the puzzle pieces can come off, posing a choking
hazard to young children. Also, the tips of the nails on the inside
shelf of the puzzle table could be exposed, posing a laceration or
puncture hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Target has received two reports of the pegs coming
off of the puzzle pieces. In one of these reports, a child was found to
be mouthing the pegs. No other injuries were reported relating to these
hazards.

Description: This recall involves a "Play Wonder" brand puzzle table
that contains three nine-piece wooden puzzles inside the table. They are
light blue with paw prints painted across the top of the table. The
table is about 13-inches high when assembled and has green sides. The
"Play Wonder" logo is located in the front lower right corner of the
packaging. Item number 204/12/0162 is located in the front upper right
corner of the packaging.

Sold at: Target stores nationwide and on www.target.com from December
2005 through October 2006 for about $25.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the products from children immediately and
return the item to the nearest Target Store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Target at
(800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or
log on to the firm's Web site at www.target.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the
recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07034.html

Target Recalls Various Toys Due to Lead and Laceration Hazards

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2006
Release #07-035

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 440-0680
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Target Recalls Various Toys Due to Lead and Laceration Hazards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Various "Kool Toyz" Children's Products

Units: About 190,500

Importer/Distributor: Target Stores, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Manufacturer: Toy Century Industrial Ltd., of Hong Kong

Hazard: Some of these toys contain lead paint, which is toxic if
ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects. Also,
some of the toys have sharp points, posing laceration or puncture wound
hazards.

Incidents/Injuries: Target has received four reports of toys breaking
apart, exposing sharp points. No injuries have been reported.

Description: The recall involves "Kool Toyz" brand toys, including sets
containing die-cast cars, playground set, doll house set, dinosaurs,
trucks, boats and planes. The packaging is primary blue and has the
"Kool Toyz" logo is on the upper left corner of the packaging. The
following chart lists the toys involved in the recall, their item
numbers written on the upper right corner of the packaging, and the
specific hazards they pose:

Product Name / Item Number / Hazard
Truck Carry Case / 087/01/0050 / Lead Paint and Sharp Points
Tiny Playground Set / 086/10/0048 / Lead Paint and Sharp Points
Dream House Play Set / 086/10/0048 / Lead Paint and Sharp Points
Discovery Dinosaur Habitat / 087/01/0011 / Lead Paint
Command Center Action Figure Play Set / 087/01/0034 / Sharp Points
Aircraft Carrier Action Figure Play Set / 087/01/0034 / Sharp Points
Air, Land and Sea Defender Play Set / 087/01/0036 / Lead Paint
Tank Action Figure Play Set / 087/01/0040 / Lead Paint
Helicopter Action Figure Play Set / 087/01/0040 / Lead Paint
Remote Control Trucks / 087/01/0042 / Sharp Points

Sold by: Target Stores nationwide from July 2006 through September 2006
and on Target.com from August 2006 through September 2006 for between
$10 and $20.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should take the products away from children and return
the item to the nearest Target Store for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Target at
(800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or
visit the firm's Web site at www.target.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the
recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07035.html

Decorative Snaps and Metal Clips Recalled by Provo Craft Due to Lead

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 15, 2006
Release #07-033

Firm's Recall Hotline: (800) 955-9490
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Decorative Snaps and Metal Clips Recalled by Provo Craft Due to Lead
Poisoning Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Decorative Snaps and Metal Clips

Units: About 76,000

Manufacturer: Provo Craft, of Spanish Fork, Utah

Hazard: The recalled clips and snaps contain high levels of lead. Lead
is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health
effects.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The recall involves the "Rob and Bob Studio Clip-Ease"
metal clips with model numbers 28-1084, 28-1085 and 28-1086 and the "Rob
and Bob Studio Snap-Ease" snaps with model number 28-1080. The product
name and model number can be found on the packaging.

Sold at: Scrapbook stores and craft retailers nationwide from August
2005 through October 2006 for about $6.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using these products immediately and
contact Provo Craft for instructions on how to obtain a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Provo Craft
at (800) 955-9490 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT, Monday through Friday or
visit the firm's Web site at www.recall.provocraft.com

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the
recalled products, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07033.html