co.inc.ee.dinx

When you grow up in Ohio, especially in Central Ohio, you have a clear choice: Bengals or Browns. (Let's not get into those that support neither and yet somehow claim to be Ohians). I was raised Browns fan, for better or for worse. Having gone to college and lived in the Cincinnati area, it was all the more easy to stay a Browns fan. There's really nothing worse than a Bengal. And now that I've lived in Pittsburgh for a few years, it's been simple to maintain my hatred for the Bengals, but of course harder to maintain my love of the Browns. I've caved, I'm a Pittsburgh fan, with the Browns still holding an important place in my heart.

And you already know my allegiance to the Buckeyes.

So when I read this today, my reaction was something along the lines of... Carson Palmer can go fuck himself. I am remembering with some glee that moment when the Steelers busted his knee. And looking forward to a rematch.

And for those of you reading this post with mixed emotions (i.e. a hatred of the Buckeyes but a love of the Steelers), let's not forget this little Carson Palmer gem from Sports Illustrated: Palmer stated that: “I hate the Steelers more than I hate UCLA.”

I generally try to keep the more embarrassing, personal inner workings of the home life out of the annals of this blog. Yesterday I said, after a particularly hilarious conversation, that I oh-so-wished-that-I -could-blog-about-that, to which my beloved replied that I could "go ahead" if I wanted. I thought, no, no, I will just keep it to myself.

Until this post hit the airwaves, making it all too perfect and irresistible.

For a number of years now, I've heard about the woes of summertime chafing post-run. I can relate, a little bit, to the chafing issue as a woman who has to deal with bikini line maintenance, and who has from time to time had some desperately uncomfortable bikini zone razor burn. I've also had the chafing occur after the very few bike rides I've done over the years. It happens, more than people like to admit or share. Let's face it, it's no picnic.

So years ago, I suggested one possible remedy, running shorts with wicking undergarments built into them. That did, apparently, provide some relief, but not enough in the heat of the summer. So, a couple of years ago after hearing one too many whiny rants about "the chafing," I basically forced some Bikini Zone into the picture. Sure, there was resistance, but how different could uncomfortable bumps and irritation be in the bikini area from women to men? And as I suspected, it worked, and he was a convert. I'd heard all sorts of excuses leading up to this as to why other products (talc, baby powder, moleskin, etc., etc. were not options).

So as we neared the summer months this year, we regularly added the Bikini Zone to the shopping list, but kept coming up short. No one seemed to have it in stock, and it was leading to some major issues around here. So in desperation a couple of weeks ago, I picked up a product that appeared to have similar qualities to Bikini Zone-- it was a gel, it smelled the same, but it was an anti-itch gel and had a different active ingredient.

Sunday, post-run:

JV: I've got major chafing issues.

HS: Well, I bought that gel stuff. Use that.

JV: Where is it?

HS: (tosses tube to JV, who heads down hall to bedroom)

JV: MOTHER FUCKER!!! (Loud bang as tube of inferior gel comes sailing down hallway and ricochets off a door and a wall)

HS: (Laughing) I guess that's not the right stuff?

JV: What's in this stuff, napalm?

...

Approximately 5 minutes later:

JV:  Huh, now it sort of feels good, like it was sort of worth it.

HS: Maybe it's just a relative feeling.

So, I am glad to know that now I can invest in DZ-Nuts and hopefully, once and for all, remedy this annual plague. Anyone else have suggestions out there?

So I suppose a few of you actually care to know that Vrabel and I are expecting, due December 2. This is our first!

I've read and heard that pregnancy leads to odd bouts of forgetfulness, and while I would like to believe I am above all of that, the hormones tell me otherwise. I've also read and heard that pregnancy gives some a lovely, radiant glow.

My glow today is due to the fact that instead of my normal translucent face powder, generally applied atop my foundation, I instead applied my blush all over my face, and didn't realize this until I was finished.

The following is about a month old, so I've got more of a bump now, but no recent pics.

Baby wants a Twizzler

Maybe I've been hiding under some rocks lately, but somehow the news escaped me until today that there are serious talks underway about 90210 making a return on the CW. Bra-fuckin-o, bro! And not only that, it may actually include ertshile disgraced Shannen Doherty. Be still, my heart.

Now is probably a good time to confess that I have been tuning in for the latest Tori Spelling vehicle, and I am liking what I am seeing. I may even have to break down and get a copy of her new book.

I don't know about yinz, but I will be keeping fingers and toes crossed that indeed, I will one day once again be able to play drinking games to a 90210 season. (Drink every time Dylan or Brendan say, "bro.") Do I hear the cry for a return of Melrose Place, or is that just my own pathetic keening for my late teens/early twenties?

H/t to Truda who pointed me to this blog, and h/t to that blog for pointing me to this.

Duckimage

I was recently home for some innocent fun and games with the family. This video features my mom, also known as Nana, and my niece Ellie, also known as Ellie.

Vrabel has been best friends with Jed since they were teensy little crickets growing up on Overlook in Mt. Lebo. The very thought of the two of them at about 3 years old meeting and deciding to become friends just makes me quiver from the cuteness of it all. Regardless, what is truly remarkable to me is that they've stayed close friends through it all, and let's face it, in 30+ years of friendship, there's been a lot of "all." Vrabel is an only child, but his relationship with Jed is really much more like brotherhood in my book.

At any rate, Jed is a bit of an adventurer, free spirit type, and is beginning to express himself in film. I hope it continues because he's obviously talented, and knowing just a smidge of the many life experiences he's had and how and where he lives means that he has material-a-plenty to share, and I'm looking forward to all of it.

Here's one of his first polished pieces. I must admit here that I don't know jack about Uncle Vanya or any Chekhov for that matter (I blame this and countless other deficiencies on my Catholic school upbringing and the utter void of culture in my hometown), but I still find this to be fascinating and, if nothing else, very entertaining.

With apologies to our friend JY, I couldn't resist this post. HR, this will become very obvious at about 0:55.

Need some time away from your busy life?  Want to run away for a while but don't want to let anybody down?

Get The Vrabel® to take over for you!

The Vrabel® will attend meetings, chair committees, write grant proposals, assemble furniture, produce lengthy reports, deal with angry community groups, drive a big truck, teach graduate courses, lift more than 50 lbs. at a time, present at conferences, and follow up on every single potential project lead that comes his way!   He never sleeps!  He never complains!  He tells funny stories!  He's really really affordable!

All he needs to operate is hot dogs and coffee.

Nobody will miss you if you have The Vrabel® running things!  Get it before its gone.

renovrabel

(H/t to brenda)

I actually don't even like comics all that much, but I stumbled upon this today via Photojojo, and thought it seemed like a downright righteous good unique gift idea, so good, in fact, that I am passing it along to all of you. I am giving like that.

Have your own custom comic panel made for yourself or a loved one, by a real good comic artist.

And since I am passing along funnies, here's something that my pal Atalou mentioned recently that is truly fantastic. If I have your mailing address, you can almost certainly expect to be receiving one of these someday.