Please Write a Caption for this Photo!

Taken just outside the doors of @ Kinko's on Central.
Thanks for the sharp eyes, Frank OftheSaints!!

What Makes the Best Mohawk?

The question of the ages for disaffected youth and goths around the world; well, now we know -- peanut butter. Also we are psyched to learn that, at 18 months, Laney weighs 22 pounds, which puts her between the 10th and 25th percentile for weight (she was hovering down at the 10th for awhile).

Yesterday, in search of fresh air and sunshine, we visited Tumbleweed Park in Chandler. First we played on the big climbing area, then went on the swings and the tire swing. On the road in, we saw an area with old (rusty) farm equipment. It reminded me of all the stuff at my parents' house (Poppa Jim has at least 4 or 5 good old rusty tractors sitting around on any given day). We stopped at that area before going home; it was deserted. They have an old rusty broken down REO Speedwagon (no, not the band -- the vehicle) with a hole in the windshield, plows, disks, and various other agricultural relics. Also a cute little burro in a pasture to the side.

It was clearly open to the public (open gate, signage, parking, etc) but I was amazed at the lack of warning signs (eg "Enter at Your Own Risk" . . . "Sharp Dangerous Equipment; If You Like Your Kids, Supervise Them Closely" . .. you know, that kind of thing). Given the daily proliferation of personal injury lawsuits, I can't believe the City of Chandler leaves that gate open!!! Of course Roman and I wandered around and loved it! Also, we did not injure ourselves the entire time! Now I'm waiting for the newspaper story about some kid getting hurt there followed the parents suing the city. On the way out, we christened it with a great new name: Tetanus Park!

Those of you readers who tire of these kid-subject posts I am trying to find my next great product endorsement (or vituperation) so bear with me . . . I'm workin' on it!!!

Oh, and happy super bowl to the fans out there. I can't CAN'T CAN'T wait for it to be over. I don't expect to see a piece of that alleged $400 million the event brings to the economy in my pocket so at this point all I can do is keep my head down and wait for the hype to end. Four hours and counting. If anyone has a super bowl equivalent of "bah humbug" -- I need it!

Rain Fails to Dampen Spirits at Stingray Bay!

Roman and I braved the rain this morning to have breakfast with the stingrays at the Phoenix Zoo (people and stingrays served separately). Fortunately, the stingray water was nice and warm-ish. We also walked around the zoo and visited a few animals after the program, until the rain got pretty aggressive. Living in Phoenix makes you heat tolerant (with necessary "it's a dry heat" complaints of course), but completely wimpy and unprepared when it starts to rain. The toughest part was trying to keep the craft projects (see wayyyy below) dry on the way back to the car. After naps and a change of clothes, everyone was dry and happy, memory tanks full of good ones.

Career Day for the Griffenzuela Kids

What do YOU want to be when you grow up? The aspirations are high for the kids around our house. Here they are checking out a few career options:


Roman (I'm a scientist). Yes, he actually said it. Little known fact: all the leading researchers are using crayons these days. Now maybe he needs a pocket protector?!?

Delaney The Chemist (it was her idea to try these on so here's the picture).

PS yes Rick and Julie, those are Rick's cool former daytime motorcycling glasses. That he reluctantly gave me!!! In 2000! My junk drawer is a time capsule of beauty.

PPS I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up but maybe for 2008 I need to learn how to play the guitar properly - finally. Somehow when you grow up around people who make it look easy (and own high end Martins) it's oddly difficult to grasp and execute. Like, why can't it be as easy as singing???

Best & Worst of the Week (food and drink)

Best Food of the Week: Lean Pockets 4 cheese

Why: tasty and neat, like a little pizza burrito, only 300 calories and 7 grams of fat, less than a buck apiece, microwave cookable, and now with a handy take along "On-the-Go" crisping sleeve (yes, that last is from their website) but they have the right idea. The breakfast ones can go with you in the car without making too much mess, and my hat is off to whomever created the term "crisping sleeve." I'm a believer! There are gobs of different flavors with similar fat content and I will be trying them. Get yours today!

WORST WORST WORST Drink of the Week: Starbucks Skinny Mocha with sugar free mocha syrup

Why: this was so bitter and saccharine-y I didn't even finish it. To quote Roman, who had a little sip, "It tastes like gas!" If you say this fast, it's even funnier. Anyway, worst $3.84 I have spent in recent memory. Now I'm looking at the on-line literature, and the real mocha with nonfat milk is 2.5 grams of fat/220 calories compared to the skinny mocha, 0 grams of fat/130 calories. I will sooooo be ordering the original mocha and walking the stairs like 6 extra times. Maybe the skinny latte is better, but considering that the menu picture shows it with a piece of marble coffee cake (24 fat grams/490 calories) what are they really trying to sell us? So here's my suggestion: just order your drink with nonfat milk/regular syrup, no cake, and take the stairs?!?!? Your tastebuds and glutes will thank you. Tee hee!

Deep Thoughts by Helen Keller

This is too good not to add here:

"I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something.
and because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do something that I can do." -- Helen Keller

If that doesn't help fortify your new year's resolutions, whatever they are and however they stand, nothing will.
Go Helen!

Whew . . . it's over! Bring on 2008.

We are drowning in toys. And toy packaging. For some reason this seems like the first Christmas where the kids got everything and then some. And I didn't do so bad myself!! But it was a good holiday, in spite of the fact that every one of us had a cold -- Laney topped us all with a triple-double: double ear infection, two trips to the doctor, and two - count them - two different antibiotics. That girl does not mess around!

Anyway, here's a little blast from the 80's past, and a great post Xmas message:

Though I believe, and please by all means comment if I'm wrong, the originals read Frankie SAY Relax. So, fine, they have corrected the grammar. Also, I had the codicil and more subversive social commentary shirt "Frankie Say Arm the Unemployed" -- because that, to a high school kid, is funny. I wore it to a dance where you had to match your date, and there is probably photo evidence somewhere on the property but I don't feel like digging it out. Anyway, hope YOU get to relax in the next few days. Then it's welcome to the new year, so all the best for the last bit of 2007!