Bath time

Millions of gallons of oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico... Images of pelicans covered in brown goo, unable to fly or move... Politicians too busy campaigning or sniping at each other day and night to actually get anything done... Unemployment still too high and the housing market still at an all-time low... Bieber Fever raging out of control... Calgon, take me away! (I wanted to embed this classic 1970s ad for Calgon, which is a must see, but the embedding was disabled. Boo. Instead, click on the link.)






















Don't know about you, but I could use a break from the 24/7 news cycle (nearly all of it depressing) -- and the stresses of everyday life. (Question: Why does everything decide to break down at the same time? Do appliances talk to each other and say "Let's stick it to the humans"? And what is with the cat puking all over the place just before you go away?) So I am taking a few days off to recharge my batteries, get a new lattitude, and celebrate the 10th Wedding Anniversary of two very dear friends.






















Hopefully, I will return in a better mood (though flying through Newark Liberty and driving on the New Jersey Turnpike during rush hour is enough to challenge -- or crush -- even the best of moods).

In the meantime, consider this an open thread -- your invitation to discuss whatever you like in my absence (though I will be checking email periodically and will delete any inappropriate comments -- so in the words of Austin Powers, behave).