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September 28, 2008

A Penny for Your Thoughts? How About...$10 Million?

Put on your thinking cap, and DON'T take it off until you think of something really, really fabulous. I'm talking change-the-world fabulous. Because to celebrate its tenth anniversary, Google is prepared to sink $10 million into making your dream a reality.

You can read about Google's Project 10^100 in this CNN.com feature:
Got an idea to help the world? Here's $10 million.

Posted by L.C. at 04:07 PM | | Comments (0)
Filed under: News/Media/Studies

September 26, 2008

Gas, Menopause, and Gowns (oh my..)

What a week!

My city is panicking because of the gas shortage, but it's actually the rush to buy gas (for fear of hurricanes that are building) that has left the city so low on supply, according to this ajc article, not an actual gas shortage. Whatever the reason, the lines are long (up to an hour, even two hours) and the people in the lines are getting very, very cranky. (Some desperate souls are actually following the fuel trucks to grab their share. I witnessed this Tuesday evening at Wal-mart.) I got lucky, twice, when I took my car and dh's car (the next day) out at what I figured was my best-bet time of day: around 10:30 a.m. It was too late for the before-work crowd, too early for the lunch crowd, and I pulled right up to the pumps and filled 'em up. I've been pretty lucky this week, and I'm thinking this would be a great time to play the lottery.

Anyway, I also had my yearly gyn visit, and all checked out fine. My doctor proclaimed me in perimenopause, like I needed to hear that from her or something. (Those hot flashes were were a pretty big hint.) She told me this the same day I had received an e-mail from More magazine with links to a whole bunch of information about my latest stage in life. Looks like menopause is everywhere. No biggie, I am totally ready. Bring it on.

Earlier this week, we spent time visiting DD at college. Unlike many of the parents who came to visit and toured the university's planetarium and library, we let DD choose the activities. Our itinerary for Saturday went something like this: eat Mexican food for lunch, shop (for her, or course) 'till we dropped, then stock her up on necessities. Scared at the prospect of spending even more hours with only her Mom, Dad, and little brother, she decided we should join our friends (whose son attends the same college, and happens to be one of DD's best friends) for dinner. Once again, luck was with me; not only was it 2-for-1 Happy Hour, we also ran into some more friends from back home, also in town visiting their son who attends the same college. The weekend was pretty much fantastic. The only complaint I heard from anyone came from DS, who complained that DD's college town has too many "No Skateboarding" signs, and they were all located in the very best places to skateboard. "Haters," he mumbled, whenever we passed one of those signs, which seemed to remind him that his kind was just not welcome here.

Today, I'll be tackling some new articles and thinking about formalwear. SIL called last night to let us know we'd be getting an invitation to our niece's debutante ball. In other words: "you guys need a gown and a tux". No worries. I went over to Chadwicks to see if I could find something affordable (since I don't have much use for gowns, these days) and I'm quite smitten with this black and white taffeta dress. Since it's available in petites, I assume this is a sign from the universe that I should order it for the event.

Back to work!

Posted by L.C. at 08:38 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | General 40ish | Health | News/Media/Studies | Shopping

September 21, 2008

In the News: Disturbing Stories

I have been feeling a little strange this week. Not sick, not upset, just a little off. Have you ever felt like that? That feeling you can't quite pinpoint, so you keep looking over your shoulder or watching the evening news, just to make sure you're not having a premonition of something terrible, like the end of the world?

Since my mind was so preoccupied with the possibility of impending doom, I thought I'd better scan the headlines, just to make sure something terrible hadn't happened while I was doing laundry or grocery shopping. In addition to what seems like the endless string of hurricanes and the destruction in their paths, I did find some disturbing stories:

Posted by L.C. at 04:44 PM | | Comments (0)
Filed under: News/Media/Studies

September 15, 2008

Tell Me About It! Hidden College Costs

Dear daughter is a month into her first year of college, and it's probably going to be a while before I recover from the money I had to shell out for her first semester's room and board. While I am super-thankful that she is on a tuition scholarship, and that she saved up some spending money from her part-time job over the past year, I was still a little sticker-shocked when I saw this semester's invoice, particularly the breakdown of "fees", in addition to the room and board costs. For instance, we were charged a fee for a parking decal, a fee for "transportation", and a parking facility fee. These three fees added up to $170. Her athletic fees were over $100, and her student activity fee over $200. Add in health fees, technology fees, and others, and they totaled more than $700, not including any application fees (applications for admissions, a dorm room, and orientation) paid prior to the semester's start. And of course, we can't forget about the whopping $500+ for books.

In light of my own financial responsibilities, I was not surprised when I read Hidden College Costs: Rising Fees - Class Is in Session on Time magazine's Web site. According to the article:

Why the fee frenzy? State legislatures across the country have instituted strict limits on tuition increases and require arduous bureaucratic and political procedures to change them.

So it appears that fees are a way for state colleges to get the cash they need, without having to go through the more complicated process of raising tuition. Well, at least they don't make us sell raffle tickets or wrapping paper, like they made us parents do when our kids were younger.

Posted by L.C. at 04:35 PM | | Comments (0)
Filed under: Parenting

September 10, 2008

Strut Your Budget-Conscious Stuff

Are you a budget-conscious diva who wants to show the world just how fab you are at looking great on the cheap? Well here's your chance. Head over to Cheap But Not Easy and read about how to participate in her contest-- CHEAP BUT NOT EASY: Work It, Girl. Or Boy, I Won't Judge. Put together an outfit where all the pieces cost less than $20 each, and you might be the Next Big Thing in the blogosphere. Who knows? It could happen.

Posted by L.C. at 11:15 AM | | Comments (0)
Filed under: Beauty/Fashion | General 40ish | Shopping

September 09, 2008

Over Forty is Hot? Yeah, We Know!

So you need to be in your 20s or 30s if you want to be a successful model, actress, or musician, right? Not anymore, according to this ABC News feature, Forget 20, Forget 30. 40 Is Hot!.

According to the news site, the age that was once the kiss of death for entertainment careers is now hot, hip, and has the attention of advertisers, the media, and the entertainment industry.

Finally.

Posted by L.C. at 01:05 PM | | Comments (0)
Filed under: General 40ish

September 01, 2008

On My Book List

I haven't had a good book on my nightstand in a while, so I thought I'll go through my bookmarks, my idea folder (where I keep magazine pages I have ripped out), and my Amazon recommended list to compile a list of books that I need to buy or check out of the library. Here are some that have caught my eye recently:

Posted by L.C. at 10:34 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Filed under: News/Media/Studies | Reviews