We had an unexpected change-o-family-plans earlier this week (vague enough for you? you’re ever-so-welcome), and as a result of that situation there’s been an extra young’un at our house for the last few days. We have loved – LOVED – having him here, and even though I’m pretty sure his parents won’t go for it, we’re thinking of keeping him forever.

Or maybe they could just loan him to us periodically. That would be delightful.

So we’ve been doing all sorts of wild and wonderful summertime activities so that our visiting little man won’t think so much about the fact that MY PEOPLE, THEY ARE NOT HERE WITH ME, and he has been an absolute trooper. We’ve hung out at the park and at the most refreshingly air-conditioned McDonald’s PlayPlace in North America; we’ve been to the pool and to the movies; we’ve taken every cushion off of every piece of furniture and made the world’s largest pillow pile in the middle of our living room.

There’s been some exceptional jumping on that pillow pile. You have no idea.

And if I can’t figure out what to do next I think I’ll just round up some tambourines and drums and let the preschoolers in the house start themselves a band.

It’ll be my one and only shot at singing lead vocals.

And don’t you love how I threw out that musical activity option as if I have an extensive on-hand supply of musical instruments?

Like I’ll just go pull some tambourines and drums out of the storage closet where I keep all our maracas, trumpets and guitars?

Finally, this morning we were at the movies and I had to take Alex to the restroom, and since I’m out of practice at the whole hauling-a-toddler-on-my-hip deal, I lost my balance when we rounded the last corner on our way back to our seats.

And when I stumbled I inadvertently stepped on a fellow theatre patron’s toe, and apparently the pain was quite severe on her end, because she yelled “OW!” and dropped her popcorn and then yelled “OW!” one more time.

I whisper-apologized profusely while trying to find our row as unobtrusively as possible (there was, after all, a movie playing), and the nice injured lady said that she was FINE, REALLY, SHE WAS JUST FINE as she held on to her foot for dear life and rocked back and forth in her chair.

So I spent the next ten minutes glancing over at the woman and wondering if EMTs have ever been summoned to a movie theatre for some sort of toe-related injury, because judging from how long she clung to that foot, I don’t think my flip-flops with the three-inch wedge heels did her any favors.

When the movie was over I tried to find her so that I could apologize again (I am an over-apologizer. It’s a trait that fits nicely with my over-worrying.), but by the time we returned to the scene of the toe-stepping crime, all that was left was her pile of popcorn on the theatre floor.

I sort of halfway expected to see a taped outline of her sandal.

But then again, I tend to err on the side of irrational.

Just consider it part of my charm.

My first AllAccess post is up here.

Because I’m sure you’ve been waiting on pins and needles.

PINS AND NEEDLES.

It’s also worth noting that at one point yesterday I had THREE posts up on AllAccess because I am still on the backside of the learning curve with their blogging platform.

Where apparently “schedule post” means “POST WILL PUBLISH IN MERE NANOSECONDS.”

And this has absolutely nothing to do with blogging, but I just gave my cousin’s little boy J. a blueberry PopTart for breakfast.

His first one.

*sigh*

What a sweet, tender privilege.

This day is shaping up to be the stuff of mem’ries, my friends.

The stuff of mem’ries.

All righty, everybody – here are the five winners of the Marla Taviano book giveaway.

22 – Emily C (no blog; Juno email)
67 – Christina
102 – Suzy – so the prize officially goes to Amy H. (Suzy left a comment saying that if she won, she’d like to give her prize to the first commenter, and I just think that’s so great that I’m going to send Suzy a book for being so dadgum generous. So Suzy, if you’d email me your mailing address, that would be perfect.)
113 – Gretchen
124 – jill (no blog; gmail email)

Congratulations, everybody!

I’ll email this list-o-winners to Marla, and she’ll be in touch about which book you want and where you’d like it shipped.

And if you didn’t win, remember that you can still order the Fancy BooMama Special – all 3 of Marla’s books for only $20 – a mighty fine deal indeed. The special is good for one week – until Monday, June 16.

Thanks for playing, internets!

One of my favorite things about writing on this here wideworldintertubeblogsite is that I get to share stuff I like with you, the internets. And today, I am ever-so-delighted to share some books by Marla Taviano, who has one of the most down-to-earth and engaging writing styles that you ever did see, amen.

Marla writes about stuff that many of us can relate to – marriage, babies, and the, um, activity that leads to the babies – and she does so in a way that makes reading her books feel like you’re talking with a girlfriend who has been right where you are and knows exactly how you feel.

No self-righteousness, no here’s-what-I-think-and-you’re-wrong-if-you-don’t-think-the-same-thing. Just practical, sound encouragement from someone who is grounded in Truth and wants to spur on her readers as they make their way through a season of life that can sometimes get a little cuckoo.

Triple love that.

Marla is giving away five copies of her books, and if you’d like to win one of them, here’s all you have to do:

1. Click here to visit Marla’s website.

2. Take a look at her three books. You can even read excerpts while you’re there.

3. Come back here and tell me which book you’d like to win.

4. That’s it!

I’ll leave this giveaway open until next Monday, June 9. At that point I’ll use random.org to draw for five winners.

And if you think you can’t possibly wait until then, or if you know that you’d like to give Marla’s books as gifts, you can take advantage of what she has dubbed her Fancy BooMama Special (picture me, eating fried chicken and blushing) and buy all three books for only $20.

Personally, I think that three brand-spankin’ new books for $20 is a mighty fine deal indeed.

I hope y’all enjoy digging a little deeper into Marla’s books – I know you’re going to love them.

Have fun, everybody!

This giveaway is now closed.

A few more search engine terms that have brought people to the blawg:

cb handle names – Now I’m no CB expert, but here are a few right off the top of my head.

Completely impromptu, mind you.

Sugarlips.
Foxy Lady.
Road Warrior.
Hot Mama.
Big Daddy.

Really, I think just about any adjective coupled with the words “Mama” or “Daddy” would work beautifully.

Although “crusty” or “scaly” might be the exceptions to that adjective rule.

bacon fat butter compare – Well, I mean, how could you possibly compare?

I find that they are equally delicious.

Though I am slightly partial to bacon fat because if I want to have bacon fat on hand, then I have to fry some bacon.

And that is never, ever a bad thing.

jody calls – Well, you are very fortunate.

Because Jody never calls me.

Needless to say, I have missed her terribly.

And the fact that I have no idea who Jody is?

Totally inconsequential.

how to get on boomama’s blog – YOU JUST DID!

I can’t even imagine the complete absence of thrill you must feel.

It has to be the most underwhelming moment of your entire life. Such a non-event!

I’m beyond teary-eyed.

i admit i need god’s power – You and me both, sister.

You and me both.

youtube dave barnes – Now you may not know this, but I sort of enjoy Dave Barnes.

And his YouTube stuff?

GOLD.

For whatever reason, this one is my favorite. Because I’ve always been a fan of a mock dance-off.

And then this one? And this one?

Interweb delights, my friends.

mama jig’s +fried chicken – I am unfamiliar with Mama Jig’s fried chicken, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that anyone who goes by the name “Mama Jig” CAN FLAT FRY UP SOME CHICKEN.

And I now feel that my life will not be complete until I try Mama Jig’s fried chicken.

Because I believe in goals.

layer cake props – Really?

Well.

Okay. I guess I can handle that.

BIG UPS TO THE LAYER CAKE!

WOOT!

OH, HOLLA.

Don’t you ever change, layer cake.

Don’t you ever, ever change.

If you’ve been trying to access this post, you should have better luck now. However, I’m in the process of restoring all the comments that didn’t make the transition, so if you know you filled out the MIR form and left a comment here, you may not see your comment for an hour or so. If you still don’t see your comment by the end of the night, just send me an email and I’ll get it fixed.

Thanks for your patience, everybody!

So the people at the Gospel Music Association do this little thingy called Music in the Rockies. Music in the Rockies is a place where songwriters and performers and worship leaders can go and get all sorts of great training. And here is where I could start a big huge list of all the people who will be performing at this year’s MIR, but instead I’ll just direct you here because y’all are very, very good at the clicking and the reading.

Another component to MIR is that they have sessions where parents can learn how to protect their kids in the music industry. I know some of you have super-talented kids with some mighty big dreams, and this would be a great opportunity for you to learn how to help facilitate those dreams AND make sure you and your family head into the music industry with your eyes wide open.

MIR also provides the chance to get some feedback from successful professional musicians and other music industry people, which I’m guessing would be pretty invaluable if you’re wondering if you or someone you love has what it takes to make it professionally.

Needless to say, I will not be attending MIR. Because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I do not have what it takes to make it in the music industry, nor will I be leading worship at any time in my whole life, unless of course it becomes all the musical rage for a 30-something woman to sing classic Amy Grant songs in an off-key monotone.

FINGERS CROSSED!

So. All that being said.

Here’s how you can have a chance to win a real-live iPod Nano, which, by the way, can play music and movies and TV shows and everything.

OH, it is very fancy.

1. Click here.

2. Look for this image (I can’t provide direct links because it’s a Flash-enabled site, so instead I’m relying on visual aids, and I do hope it all works beautifully):

3. Click on the image, and you’ll see this box pop up:

Fill out the form – and you don’t have to give your phone number. Just fill out your name, email, and address – so that if you win they know where to ship your fabulous prize.

4. Come back here – and this part is OH-SO-IMPORTANT – leave me a comment letting me know that you filled out the form. I’ll draw for a winner from my comments, but I’ll have to verify that you actually filled out the form before I announce the winner (so make sure you use the same email address on the form and in my comments).

5. That’s it! The giveaway will stay open for one whole week – until June 9, 2008. As always, I’ll use random.org to draw for a winner.

And you will NOT be inundated with mail or with email if you fill out the form. I made a point to ask. You’ll receive an informational email about Music in the Rockies registration, and you can unsubscribe from that mailing list with the click of a button if you never want to receive another email from them again.

But I figured that filling out a form was a small price to pay for a new Nano. Call me crazy.

(CRAZY!)

(Beat you to it!)

Happy iPod’ing!

This giveaway is now closed.