The 'ol Ant Eggs Prank for April Fool's Day

Here's a classic and easy prank for kids of all ages:

- one regular size rubber band
- one regular size bobby pin
- one small-to-medium size button
- one envelope

1. cut one snip in a regular size rubber band to make a straight elastic line.
2. thread a small-to-medium size button through one end of the rubber band and drag the button to the middle of the rubber band.
3. spread a regular size bobby pin to form about a 30 degree angle into a "V" formation.
4. tie each end of the rubber band to each end of the bobby pin.
5. twist and turn the button around and around and around until tight, creating like a spring release.
6. while holding the button tight, place the entire contraption in an envelope, remove your hand from the button and close the flap.
7. write "ant eggs---10 days old" on the front of the envelope.
8. give the envelope to an unassuming friend while asking if they care to see some ant eggs.
9. when they attempt to open the envelope, by spreading open the sides, the button will spring-release and rapidly unravel, making a very loud noise as it unwinds against the sides of the paper. People generally freak-out and throw the envelope, never seeing the silly contraption inside. Great fun and terrifying. Who knew ant eggs could be so scary!?!

New Lingo on the Golf Course

Some new lingo to use when you're out on the course...

A 'Rock Hudson' - a putt that looked straight, but wasn't

A 'Saddam Hussein' - from one bunker into another

A 'Yasser Arafat' - butt ugly and in the sand

A 'John Kennedy Jr.' - didn't quite make it over the water

A 'Rodney King' - over-clubbed

An 'O.J.'- got away with one

A 'Princess Grace' - should have used a driver

A 'Princess Di' - shouldn't have used the driver

A 'Condom' - safe, but didn't feel very good

A 'Rush Limbaugh' - a little to the right

A 'Nancy Pelosi' - Way to the left and way out of bounds

A 'James Joyce' - a putt that's impossible to read

A 'Ted Kennedy' - goes in the water and jumps out

A 'Sonny Bono'- straight into the trees

A 'Mickey Mantle' - a dead Yank

H/T Melissa

The Secret: Aim High

No more effort is required to aim high in life, to demand abundance and prosperity, than is required to accept misery and poverty. -Napoleon Hill

BYOB to Brunch at Ann Sather's

Grapefruit and vodka sure beats running 5 miles in Chicago's spring
snow shower.

Chicago Race Day Weather Disappointing

After weeks of training for my sixth annual 8k run in Chicago, I am
presented with a race day decision this morning. Run in the snow and
wind, or have brunch with family and friends.

West Egg

Breakfast at the Best. Diner. Ever.

Sweet Home Chicago

It was a truly shocking on time departure and arrival into O'Hare. We
were escorted by the blogfriends, Maggie and Kevin, to a fish fry at
the Irish Heritage Center on the northwest side. Then on to the
Affinia Hotel on east Superior, a lovely little boutique hotel at the
center of our weekend actitivities. All the runners in Sunday's
Shamrock Shuffle race are dreading the forcasted weather: cold and wet.

Smokin' Hot Dude

The lastest in function, design and surge protection.
H/T Manolo for the Home

41 Degrees, Shorts, T-Shirt, 5.25 Miles

Feeling way cool. Priceless. Today was my final training run before Chicago's 8k on Sunday. It was more a mental exercise rather than physical. I warmed up on the treadmill before hitting the hills outside. It was nice not having the excess clothing.

Buy the Rumor, Sell the News

Stocks look sharply higher for the opening. All ears waiting for Geithner.

Avocado Spring Rolls for the Start of Spring

We're going to a Thai themed dinner party this evening. I am bringing avocado spring rolls with sweet Thai dipping sauce for an appetizer and mango sherbet with a tropical fruit medley for dessert. Such an adventure in culinary preparation! I felt like I was transported to the Far East for the grocery shopping excursion. Happy Spring!

Quadruple Witching Day

Fasten your seatbelt. Futures, options on futures, equity options and single stock futures all have quarterly expiration today. Oh, and happy Spring!

Align your Spine and Cop a Fast, Fun Swagger

There are no magic workouts. It's about a willingness to cross boundaries.

-Peter Tegen, coach at the University of Wisconsin

Oddly as it may seem, Wii Fit yoga has been a great cross-training activity between runs. It really does help with centering, balance and posture. Who would have thunk?

RIP Natasha Richardson

The tragic story of Natasha Richardson's freak ski accident and now death is very sad. I loved watching Natasha in the remake of Parent Trap. She was a talented actress. RIP.

Sláinte!

To your health, as they say in the old country. Here's some rebel rousers wishing you a good day.

In Pursuit of the Perfect Lemon Meringue Pie

After my 5.25 mile run yesterday, I celebrated π day by trying to improve on my lemon meringue recipe. Oh, so close to perfection.

Young Amelia: The Brave One

From Steph and Jeff: As of last week Amelia was up to 13 on 4 ounces and has reached the 3rd percentile! All else was good and they were very pleased with how she looked and acted. Yesterday Amelia had an upper GI test and a swallow study to see how the hernia at the top of her stomach has progressed. It was clear that what was swallowed went down the right tube and not her airway. The hernia looks worse when compared to the last upper GI. The esophagus is having trouble draining into the stomach which could be cause for her gagging. She will most likely need surgery. Here she is pictured with mama Steph.

Video: The Lilt of Irish Laughter

H/T Maggie

Sears Tower in Chicago Gets a Name Change

The tallest building in the Western Hemisphere will be renamed Willis Tower, after the London based insurance broker, which will occupy 140,000 sq.ft. Anyone feeling another bailout here?

Sweet Baby James is 61!

Here he is in his younger days singing one of my favorite songs with his former wife, Carly Simon. Happy Birthday, James. My heart is on the Vineyard today.

9th Annual Martha's Vineyard Film Festival

Joining the ranks of Sundance, Cannes and Tribeca, the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival is a highly anticipated event for inspiration and community. The film festival begins tomorrow in Chilmark and runs through Sunday.

"Arriving on the Vineyard in the off-season, you sense right away the island is focused on filmmaking. The festival is filled with excellent films and the people who love them. Add to that the comfortable sofas, delicious food and cozy digs...it's a perfect weekend away."

Irene Taylor Brodsky

Discovery Set for Launch Tomorrow Evening

From NASA: The STS-119 launch was scrubbed at 2:37 p.m. EDT due to a hydrogen leak in a Liquid Hydrogen vent line between the shuttle and the external tank. The launch team is currently beginning the process of draining the external fuel tank. We'll turn around for launch attempt tomorrow at 8:54 p.m. EDT. This is the last of the space station missions for the U.S.
This image was taken this morning at dusk.

**UPDATE** Launch scheduled for no earlier than March 15th.

DJIA Needs to Close Gap Near 6876

The DJIA opened down last Thurday, leaving a gap of 100 plus points from Wednesday closing index. In my technical analysis, a gap must be filled before a new trading range may develop. While there should be major resistance at 6876, it's good to see a bear market rally of significance today.

The Statusphere Is Taking Over the Blogoshpere

Heh.
Facebook, Twitter, and FriendFeed rule. Our CPA (continuous partial attention) is devoted to these micro communities.

Family Dog Struggles with Time Change

The blogdog, Solo, just can't seem to spring ahead after the time change this weekend.

Artist Rendition of the Miracle on the Hudson

H/T Irene

Time for a "Sully" Cocktail

Two shots Grey Goose vodka and a splash of water.
H/T bobpick on Twitter

DJIA: Trading Down Nearly 4% AGAIN this Week

The index is down 271 points (-3.95%). The S&P 500 is down almost 4%.

Cougar Barbie

Barbie is turning 50 this year and there's been lots of hoopla surrounding the big occasion.

H/T The Other McCain

You WEARIN' That Hoodie!

It cracks me up when I see people taking full advantage of their hoodies while driving.
Cartoon from Miss Cellania

Wii Fit Yoga to Avoid the Frigid Morning

It's just too chilly to get into the shorts and out of doors this morning. The living room workout will have to do today.

Angelina: Blond and with Bangs

Trying on some wigs for her next spy thriller, Salt.

Burrr!

It's a chilly 11 degrees this sunny March 3rd morning.

Pomegranate Cosmopolitan

After a cold snow day there's nothing like a yummy pomegranate cosmopolitan cocktail by the fire.
2 shots Vodka
.75 shot Cointreau liqueur or triple sec
1.5 shot POM pomegranate juice
1 shot fresh lime juice
Lime wedges, optional for garnish
Combine vodka, Pom juice, Cointreau and lime juice in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake or stir mixture, then strain into chilled cocktail glasses.
Garnish with lime twist, if desired.
CHEERS!
Thanks to Jeffrey for the inspiration! And add 1 shot of cranberry juice to make it even better.

March Snow Fall

A beautiful, but chilly day in the neighborhood.

GM Didn't Listen to Peter Drucker

"Every organization must be prepared to abandon everything it does to survive in the future." ~ Peter Drucker

GM was one of Drucker's first clients back in the 1940's. From his relationship with GM, Drucker wrote what is believed to be the first book on business management, Concept of the Corporation. GM ignored Drucker's suggestions for building a more successful and sustainable organization for decades, while the Japanese embraced Drucker's findings.

Louis and the Sweetest Cat Ever

H/T Peg