Domain Name Partnership from a Land Down Under

As one of my fave 1980's bands, Men at Work, might say, "Do you come from a land down under? Where women glow and men plunder. Can't you hear, can't you hear the thunder? You better run, you better take cover." I don't blog from the land down under, but several of my blogosphere buddies do, including Buffy (you'll find Buffy's Blog listed here in my Roxiticus Best Blogs sidebar). Nooice!

Aussie bloggers may be interested to learn that Australia's biggest domain name registrar, Net Registry, has taken an equity stake in NetFleet, Australia's biggest domain aftermarket. If you come from a land down under, what do you think the implications of this new partnership will be for the .au domain name aftermarket? Will this deal create a vibrant and profitable domain trading industry in Australia? Should I look into Aussie domain names to buy with a plan to develop the content and resell them for a fortune in the future? I've never been on the cutting edge of technology, and I came along too late to ride the dot com boom by hoarding those URLS, so the dot au market may be my chance. The prices are intriguing to me, from Steve dot com dot au seeking $21,000 to mail dot com dot au seeking a cool million. Perhaps Roxiticus Desperate Housewives dot au? Or how about Roxy's Best Of... Australia dot au?

Dear Susan

I love to get comments from my readers. I'm truly envious of my blogosphere buddy Mariuca, who frequently receives triple-digit comments on her posts. However, I'm not so desperate for comment luv that I need to include comments from spammers who come to my blogs looking for no follow links back to their own pathetic splogs (spam blogs). Here's a sample from "Susan," who says, along with an embedded link to an insurance sales web site:

"This is my first visit to your blog. I don't really know what to say, but I'll be coming back often."

Dear Susan, thanks for stopping by with your spam today. You know what my mother taught me? If you don't have anything (nice) to say, don't say anything at all. So, since you don't have anything to say, I have rejected your comment. But I'm sure you'll be coming back soon.

Update, an hour later:

Loyal readers, you will not believe this! Less than an hour after I wrote this post, Susan's sister Ruth visited my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog and left this comment, along with a link to her infrared sauna splog:

"I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often."

Roxy's New Year's Resolution Blogosphere Buddies Support Group

As if I don't have enough blogs to keep me busy, I'm pretty sure I'm going to create one more, within my Roxy's Best Of... WordPress MU Community: Roxy's Best Of... New Year's Resolutions.

I know I make resolutions every New Year's Eve, but I rarely stick to them past the first few weeks of January. This year, I want things to be different... for me and my blogosphere buddies. So this year, raise a glass, write down your goals, objectives, wishes, hopes and dreams for 2009, and get ready to share them with Roxy and your support group of blogosphere buddies. Don't worry, I'll have the new blog up and running and ready for action by midnight on New Year's Eve.

Who Doesn't Need A Bail-Out? Let's Get Out of Debt in the New Year

It goes without saying that 2008 was a year that many of us, from Wall Street to Main Street America and around the world, would like to put behind us. With the New Year 2009 fast approaching, now is the time to make a resolution to get out of debt... and do what it takes to change spending habits and make a plan and family budget that lasts over the long term. Our family has cut back on spending on unnecessary luxuries... London and Maddie help out with clipping coupons and watching for sales at our local supermarkets and retailers. We're also "living off of inventory" by using what we have. I only partially joked about re-wrapping last year's unused Christmas gifts... when Rex received a free replacement for a broken wrist watch in early December, I intercepted the FedEx man and wrapped that Breitling knockoff up and stashed it under the tree. The personal effects of having too much debt can make things challenging at home, at work, and with your credit rating and ability to get a good rate on financing significant purchases like a car or home. IVA offers services that can help you to get a handle on debt, so join me in making a resolution to reduce our debt in the New Year.

Good luck and best wishes for a happy, healthy, debt-free New Year!

Music Monday: Time in a Bottle

It's almost New Year's Eve, time to get nostalgic with one of my favorite songs from Jim Croce: "Time in a Bottle." I dedicate this Music Monday to the loves of my life -- my husband Rex and my two daughters, London and Maddie. This week, leading up to New Year's Eve, our family is working on a Time Capsule Project... literally trying to save time in a bottle.



If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
Till eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Baby It's Cold Outside... Time to Start Planning for Summer Vacation

Brrr.... winter officially just started about a week ago, and the Roxiticus Valley has already had our share of snow days, icy rain and cold cold weather. While Rex, London and I have been busy making our New Year's Resolutions and laying out plans for a successful 2009, I'll admit that it is hard to think about summer vacation rentals when there's snow on the ground... and on the deck... and covering up the swimming pool. However, for those who are looking for savings and bargains, there are plenty of benefits to be had by booking your vacation early in the New Year. Whether you're dreaming of an island in the South Pacific or checking out hilton head vacation rentals, you'll find a variety of affordable vacation packages online now. I can take Rex and the girls (and BEAR-iuca) overseas to visit Mariuca or book at trip to Lady Java's Lounge in Malaysia. I've always wanted to get back to Austin, Texas, and since Erik probably doesn't have room for us at his place, I should book early to get the best rental rate for a condo downtown. If you're coming to visit Roxy this summer, we don't have enough room for all of my blogosphere buddies at our beach house in Bay Head, so shop now to find the vacation spot that suits you best. Even if we're only dreaming, it's nice to plan a vacation someplace warm cuz baby, it's cold outside! Happy New Year to all of you.

Let's Keep Blogging Out Hunger: Stop and Shop Contributes $1.00 Per Comment at This Full House

As part of the Blogging Out Hunger campaign for the Community FoodBank of NJ, one of my fellow New Jersey Bloggers -- Liz, from This Full House -- has gotten Stop and Shop to pony up $1 for every comment left (up to $300) under the blog post linked below. It's a way all of you can help and it won't cost you anything. Please take a second to click the link below and comment. Let's see how quickly we can raise $300 more bucks for the FoodBank.

http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/12/blogging-out-hunger-we-cant-let-this-bank-fail-the-big-give.html

Just Another New Year's Eve

Even though there's a full week to go until next Music Monday, I'm starting to evaluate potential New Year's Eve themed songs. Here's a fave from Barry Manilow... I think I remember LadyJava posting a Barry Manilow tune a while back, I'll have to check the Music Monday archives.

Just Another New Year's Eve -- Barry Manilow

Don't look so sad, it's not so bad you know.
It's just another night, that's all it is,
It's not the first, it's not the worst you know,
We've come through all the rest, we'll get through this.

We've made mistakes, but we've made good friends too.
Remember all the nights we spent with them?
And all our plans, who says they can't come true?
Tonight's another chance to start again.

REFRAIN
It's just another New Year's Eve,
Another night like all the rest.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
Let's make it the best.
It's just another New Year's Eve,
It's just another Auld Lang Syne,
But when we're through this New Year
You'll see, we'll be just fine.

We're not alone, we've got the world you know.
And it won't let us down, just wait and see.
And we'll grow old, but think how wise we'll grow.
There's more you know, it's only New Year's Eve.

If you're out and about celebrating New Year's Eve, be smart, don't drink and drive. Take a cab home, pay for a designated driver to drink Diet Coke all night, but don't drink and drive. If you don't want to listen to Roxy and you get in trouble in Southern California, you're going to need the phone number for a good bunch of Los Angeles Criminal and DUI Defense Attorneys. Call Kestenbaum Eismer & Gorin LLP, a top 5% United States law firm specializing in criminal defense. (877) 781-1570. They're available 24/7, whenever you need them.

Music Monday: You Are My Shining Star

This week's Music Monday post is in recognition of a great honor bestowed upon me by Matt over at Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta. Matt has given me the Pulsar Award: "A pulsar is a brilliant flashing star in the sky. The Pulsar Award honors those who add a bit of brightness to life. If bloggers everywhere can find pulsars, other beacons of hope and friendship and display them on their blogs, then we all can make this world a better place together."

Thanks, Matt... I will continue to do my best to live up to your great expectations! Please enjoy the video and lyrics of You Are My Shining Star... a classic by the Manhattans.



Honey you are my shining star
Don't you go away
Oh baby, wanna be
Right here where you are
Till my dying day, oh yeah
So many have tried
Tried to find a love like yours and mine
Hmmmm mmmmm mmmmmm
Girl don't you realize
How you hynotize
Make me love you each time, yeah baby
Honey I know I leave you lonely
Give my love to you only
To you only, to you only
Honey you are my shining star
Don't you go away
Oh baby, wanna be
Right here where you are
Till my dying day, yeah baby
Feel so good when we're lying here
Next to each other lost in love, yeah baby
Baby when we touch, I love you so much
You're all I have with me now, yeah baby
Honey I know I leave you lonely
Give my love to you only
To you only, to you only
Honey you are my shining star
Don't you go away
Oh baby, wanna be
Right here where you are
Till my dying day, yeah baby
You are my shining star
Don't you go away, oh-o-o baby
Honey you are my shining star
Don't you go away, oh-o-o baby
Honey, right here where you are
Till my dying day, ahhhh yeah
Honey you are my shining star
My shining star
Honey you are my star
Don't you go away, yeah baby
Honey you are my shining star
Don't you go away, oh-o-o baby

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Looking Ahead to Springtime Projects in the Roxiticus Valley

Whew! Things sure are busy here at Roxy's place as Rex, London, Maddie and I get ready for the holidays. On Friday, we've got a holiday singalong with the girls at Mendham Township Elementary School in the morning, then we'll have a couple of business phone calls from the home office, and head back to the school in the afternoon for Maddie's class publishing party. All of the kids in Maddie's first grade class have been hard at work over the last month or so, writing their autobiographies to proudly present to all of the parents. The big day is almost here, and it should be a lot of fun.

Meanwhile, Rex and I have been in the process of applying for a home equity line of credit to make a few improvements around the house in the springtime. We really haven't done much since we bought our house five years ago, and now it feels like we should let London and Maddie choose a new color of paint for each of their bedrooms from a selection of paint chip samples. We'll probably add a new carpet in the family room after we take this year's Christmas tree out in January. I've been waiting for the girls to get a bit older to minimize the spills on a new carpet, and we've also decided we can't get a dog due to London's allergies. The biggest change would be to put in a new patio door to walk outside from the gym in our basement. It would be nice to let a little more light in by the elliptical trainer and weights to inspire my back-to-school turned New Year's resolution workout plan. As the new year gets closer, I'll be sure to post my weight loss progress and goals in true Bridget Jones style.

My New Women's Blog at Today.com

I posted about a week ago that I was signing up for yet another new blog over at Today.com, and I'm now up and running over there, complete with daily posts and an EntreCard widget. The URL for my new blog is http://desperatehousewives.today.com, and I hope you will all drop in and check it out. Today.com is actually a paid blogging service, but instead of paying bloggers to write about particular advertisers, at least for the first month of posting and getting your audience to follow you, Today.com pays bloggers $1.00 per day to write at least 100 words about the topic of your choice. I picked "Women" and I've decided to try my hand at a little bit different style of writing... another side of Roxy that you haven't seen before. I'll leave it to my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers to determine whether I know anything about the subject of WOMEN.

Since I joined Today.com, I've started to notice the number of other bloggers I know via BlogExplosion or Entrecard who also post there...sports blogs, celebrity blogs, you name it and you'll find it there. If you're feeling Blogalific, you can click the Today.com icon below to get your very own new blog and start earning a little money on the side:

Ah, Looking Back on Roxy's Good Old College Days

I just got an e-mail about my upcoming 25th high school reunion, which got me thinking about my high school and college days. It feels like things were easier for college students back then. Even though we didn't have the Internet, so there was no such thing as blogging, it seemed easier to get into the college of one's choice, and easier to deal with things like finding a place to live...although I have more than a few college roommate stories that would make your skin crawl. Just the other day, I read on another blog about a criminal using Craig's List here in the U.S. to rip off college students seeking apartments. I won't go into the details, but I will say that if you're seeking student flats in leeds, you're lucky to have access to Pickard Properties, recently voted the number one student landlord in Leeds in the United Kingdom.

Farewell to The Painted Veil?

Over the past few months, I've had the pleasure of visiting Jackie a.k.a. Shinade at her site, The Painted Veil. Self-described as "a place to seek peace and harmony.In hopes of reaching out across boundaries that seek to destroy harmony from within and also globally. I do this through the use of art, photography, writing and humor. A bag of diverse content always reflective of positivity." I've found some beautiful photographs and writing there.

Just today, I stopped by The Painted Veil and found "The Long and Winding Road: My Farewell." Say it's not so, Jackie!!

March Madness Starts Now: Prescription Eyeglasses for College Basketball Referees

When the leaves fall from the trees and there's more than just a little chill in the air in the Greater Roxiticus Valley, New Jersey, a young girl's heart turns to.... college basketball! While I know the bracketology and the real madness doesn't come into play until March, I'm looking forward to building a fire in the fireplace, snuggling up on the couch in front of my big screen TV with Rex and the girls, and getting into all the best weekend NCAA action. This afternoon I received an e-mail from the sports authorities at my alma mater, Syracuse University, letting me know that the Orangemen will be taking on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in January right over at the Rutgers Athletic Center (RAC) in New Brunswick, but I'll be happy to watch the game in the warmth and comfort of my own home.

I worry about the vision of the referees, though, so I thought I'd take a moment to point out that Optical4Less.com offers high quality prescription eye glasses for a nice low price ($15). At that reasonable price, each ref could afford to wear a different style of cheap eyeglasses at every game and ensure better vision and accurate calls. So if you're an NCAA referee, before your next game, why don't you visit Optical4Less.com and check out their virtual try-on system. You'll even get free worldwide shipping (if you order more than 1 pair), and all of your trendy, fashion, and stylish new glasses will arrive within a week.

Roxy's Got A Brand New Blog

I was relaxing with a pumpkin spice latte last night at LadyJava's Lounge when I read that she had started yet another blog. I think that makes 4 billion and twenty seven blogs for my friend LJ! Of course, I couldn't let LJ get ahead of me, so just like the blogalific LadyJava, I have started yet another blog. I think the URL is http://desperatehousewives.today.com, but I'll have to get back to all of you with the details after I start posting. It is actually a paid blogging service where today.com pays bloggers $1.00 per day to write at least 100 words about the topic of choice. I picked "Women." I'll leave it to my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers to determine whether I know anything about that particular subject.

You can click the icon below to get your own today.com blog:




Thanks for reading!

Roxy

Can't Keep Up On My Television Viewing

I can't even use the hectic holiday season as my excuse, but I haven't been able to keep up on those other Desperate Housewives on network television, never mind Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice or Dirty Sexy Money. When I visit other people's blogs, I'm amazed at the number of shows my friends Mariuca and LadyJava seem to keep up on every week. Then there are the shows I can't even get started on... I bought the box set of Sex and the City last year to get ready for the movie premiere, and I haven't watched episode one. I have friends who like Prison Break and other shows about jail, but really, if I needed a daily dose of criminals or an Alaska Inmate Locator I needn't go any further than the Internet to see today's news about the criminal charges against the Governor of Illinois!

The Spirit of BEAR-iuca

-START COPYING HERE-
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a powerful Genie Princess named Mariuca who was known throughout the land as the friendliest, most popular blogger in the blogosphere kingdom. Adored and admired by international visitors and commentators from around the world, the Genie Princess travels the blogosphere on her magical flying carpet, always looking for ways to share her good fortune with others. Over the past two years of blogging, Mariuca has met so many new people, from all walks of life and all over the world, each one bringing a little of their culture and lifestyle when they visit and comment on Mariuca’s two sites. So on her 2nd Blog Anniversary, Mariuca wanted to celebrate with all of her international blogosphere buddies by hosting bear-naming contests at Wishing On A Falling Star and Mariuca’s Perfume Gallery and to pass her two lucky, cuddly teddy bears along to the winners who came up with the best names.

On the opposite side of the world, from the moment Roxy (the prolific Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blogger) and her sweet daughters London and Maddie saw the teddy in his personalized t-shirt and blue muffler at Wishing On A Falling Star, they knew that he needed to come to live with their family in Mendham, NJ. The three New Jersey girls named him immediately and burst into a wonderful song for BEAR-iuca:

BEAR-iuca, BEAR-iuca, amazing teddy cheer
BEAR-iuca, BEAR-iuca, we’d love you to come live here!

Mariuca received 16 possible names for the Mariuca Teddy Bear, making it hard for the Genie Princess to choose just one…then Alakazam! A bolt of lightning delivered the perfect way to share BEAR-iuca’s good fortune to bloggers around the globe. While the soft, stuffed, cuddly BEAR-iuca is on his way to live with Roxy, London, Maddie and Rex in the Roxiticus Valley, the Spirit of BEAR-iuca is racing through the blogosphere to bring happiness, holiday cheer, and beary best wishes to everyone who welcomes him into their online home and passes along the BEAR-iuca good luck charm to ten friends.

Please play along with us by following a few important rules:

1. Add your site(s) to the list once you have received the Spirit of BEAR-iuca badge of teddy bear cheer.
2. Pass along the Spirit of BEAR-iuca and his cheery badge to as many people as you like.
3. Leave a comment HERE once you’ve passed on the Spirit of BEAR-iuca.
4. Once Roxy and the Genie Princess have visited your site to make sure your links are complete and proper, you will then be added to the Master List.

To ensure everyone receives equal link benefit, please UPDATE your list regularly!

BEAR-iuca LOVES 1. Mariuca 2. Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 3. Mariuca’s Perfume Gallery 4. Roxy’s Best Of... 5. Bay Head Blog 6. Roxiticus Best Blogs 7. Emila's Illustrated Blog 8. Metz - Empty Streets 9. The Spirit of Blogging 10. Speedcat Hollydale Page 11. Snapshot 12. purplefrogcat 13. Turn-u-Off 14. Simple Life 15. A Little Girl Talk 16. Life in the Lapadula House 17. Spicybugz World 18. The Mom With Brownies 19. Our High School Homeschool 20. Our Five Dangerous Boys 21. The Big Dog 22. LadyJava's Lounge 23. Moments of My Life 24. Life is too short to be ordinary 25. A Great Pleasure 26. Time Goes By 27. Life According To Me 28. Laketrees 29. This is a miracle 30. Porcelain Doll 31. Moms...CheckNyo 32. Wonderful Things In Life 33. Sweet Nothings 34. Hot Shit Form Here 35. Not Just a Mom Site 36. The Life of a Mom 37. Wiehanne Lounge 38. The Painted Veil 39. My Crossroads 40. Little Mermaid 41. LOVE's Haven 42. Also Mommy 43. The Journey 44. Comedy Plus 45. Making sense...(somehow) 46. The Modern Mom 47. Stay At Home Mom 48. Picture Clusters 49. Maiylah's Snippets 50. Sweety tots 51. My Discoveries 52. A Life to Remember 53. Rekha 54. Crissy's Haven 55. Crissy's Library 56. Crissy's Zone 57. Shopping Blog 58. Crafts and cooking 59. Asian Mutt International 60. A Simple Life 61. I AM KCAT 62. A Girl For All Status 63. Berry Blog 64. Carnation 65. Pinaymama's Diary 66. Life's sweets and spices 67. The Callalily Space 68. Butchay 69. Blessings in Life 70. Pinay Mommy Online 71. The Ruby Posts 72. Day Break 73. R...E...B...E...L?!? 74. VDAY CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 75. Just the Tip of the Iceberg 76. Honeysweet Learning Center 77. Vsk8shop 78. A Diva's Hammer 79. Arlene - Joys in Life 80. Listening..Learning..Living 81. Mommy's Little Corner 82. Living one day at a time 83. Momhood Moments 84. SUPER INFO THAILAND 85. Life Ramblings 86. Samantha Ysabelle 87. Kikamz' Just About Anything 88. SigneSays 89. Normz 90. YOU Next!

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I’m sharing the Spirit of BEAR-iuca with BerryVox, Matt, Henson, and YOU! Come join the Spirit of BEAR-iuca and share your teddy bear good luck stories with us. Copy the complete post, including the BEAR-iuca photo badge and hyperlinks, and be sure to UPDATE your list of links regularly to ensure that all participants enjoy BEAR-iuca’s worldwide linky love. Add your own story, song or video about BEAR-iuca to personalize your post. BEAR-iuca is looking forward to a warm welcome into your blogging home.

What's Your Weirdest Secret Santa Gift?

It's been ten years since I've been in an office large enough to justify a Secret Santa gift exchange, but I can still remember some of the weird gifts my colleagues and I received. One year, at my first investment banking job, a stalker in a white lab coat from our IT department had me as his Secret Santa. My stalker took great pleasure in providing creepy clues leading up to the big day of the gift exchange, and grinned with glee as I unwrapped, of all things, some sort of duck horn or bird call. He later revealed that it had something to do with my move to the suburbs and my purported interest in bird watching. I guess I should be glad he didn't give me night vision goggles, binoculars, or one of those 5.11 Tactical Knives.

What's the weirdest Secret Santa gift you've ever received?

Music Monday: Just Another Manic Monday

There are still three hours left to Monday here in the Roxiticus Valley, and I'd like to end my Music Monday Trifecta with an old fave from the Bangles, fittingly named "Manic Monday." Enjoy!

Six o'clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin' Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can't be late
'Cause then I guess I just won't get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made

It's just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
'Cause that's my fun day
My I don't have to runday
It's just another manic Monday

Have to catch an early train
Got to be to work by nine
And if I had an air-o-plane
I still couldn't make it on time
'Cause it takes me so long
Just to figure out what I'm gonna wear
Blame it on the train
But the boss is already there

All of the nights
Why did my lover have to pick last night
To get down
Doesn't it matter
That I have to feed the both of us
Employment's down
He tells me in his bedroom voice
C'mon honey, let's go make some noise
Time it goes so fast
When you're having fun



I'm also trying out a new web thingy called Smallaa... please drop by and vote for my post. Smallaa pays $10,000 each week for the most popular post. If I win the ten thousand bucks this week, I bet we Music Monday participants, EntreCard droppers, and BlogExplosion Battle of the Blogs voters could coordinate an effort for each of us to have a turn at the big win.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Black Friday Promotion from Nikon Sport Optics

As I've mentioned over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog, Rex is back in our kitchen today for our second Thanksgiving feast. We've got a 22 pound turkey and a nice group of twelve getting together for dinner this afternoon.

If you're done with Thanksgiving and have moved on to your holiday shopping, let me tell you about a Black Friday (and Saturday) Promotion from Nikon Sport Optics, NikonProGear and NikonHunting.com. The Nikon BDC Slam Hunter's Package contains:

• ProStaff 3-9x40 Riflescope with BDC Reticle
• Silent Technology Rangefinder Case
• Mastering a Long-range shot with BDC DVD
• $50 NikonProGear Gift Card

All these come together in a great package, saving you $144.90 on high quality hunting equipment.

For tranquil birdwatchers, as well as hunters, who may be looking for high-quality, rugged binoculars, Nikon Sport Optics has something for you – for a limited time only, get an extra $20 off on Nikon Action Extreme ATB 10x50 Binoculars. Just for the Black Friday Promotion, Nikon and NikonProGear.com are expanding the Gift Card Promotion ($25 and $50 value) to include all of the following products – Nikon Monarch Binoculars, Trailblazer Binoculars, Nikon Action 10x50 Binoculars and ANY Nikon ATB Binoculars. Now's your chance to surprise the hunter in your life with special holiday prices on ProStaff Riflescopes, Nikon Monarch Rifle Scopes, Buckmasters and Omega Riflescopes!

I'm leaving you now to bake a pumpkin chocolate cake...whether you're headed out to the mall or shopping online, happy hunting!

Roxy's Trifecta This Week on Lady Java's Music Monday?

One of my new favorite things that I've been doing for the past couple of weeks is participating in Music Monday over at Lady Java's Lounge. It's been a great way to find out what some of my fellow bloggers are listening around the world. The Mister Linky program that LJ is using for Music Monday makes it easy to hop around from one blog to the next, checking out tunes all around the blogosphere. The first time I participated over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives with my fave work-out song, Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie." Then, last week, I was so excited about it that I put a country song on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and a Beach Boys classic over on my Bay Head Blog. This coming Monday, with the long Thanksgiving weekend to prepare, I'm thinking about a Trifecta...three songs on three blogs.

Turbocharge Your Blog, but Don't Forget Your Car!

I just dashed off a note (scroll down one post) to remind everyone that my good blogosphere buddy LadyJava can turbocharge your blog with a snazzy Blog Make Over. However, as winter sets in here in the Roxiticus Valley, it's easy to snuggle up with our blogs or those other Desperate Housewives on network TV while we neglect our cars. I know my little red Celica convertible is just shivering out in the garage for the winter. One of my neighbors just souped up her ride with a Volkswagen turbocharger and now she's like the Little Old Lady from Pasadena, go granny go granny go granny go. I may wait until the Spring to supercharge my ride, but I've gotta keep up with the Britts down the street!

LadyJava Does Blog MakeOvers!

When I'm out and about surfing the blogosphere, every now and then a really snazzy header banner catches my eye, particularly if it is a big change from the blog's usual look. Lately, I can't help but notice that lots of my good blogosphere buddies have upgraded the look of their sites with a tasty Blog Make Over by LadyJava, who with 7 blogs also happens to be one of the most prolific bloggers in the world!

If you fancy a blog makeover for your Blogspot hosted blog, click on the blue square and let LJ work with you on that one exclusive look that is only yours alone. Lady Java's blog makeovers include:

1. Custom 2 or 3 column blogger design
2. Your very own header banner
3. Horizontal navigation bar
4. Favicon (the little icon next to your address)
5. 125x125 square blog button & code
6. Complete installation

A terrific value priced at thirty bucks... I may have to do something special for my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives site...or maybe LJ could give Roxy's Best Of... a Santa hat and a red sweater to keep warm for the holidays!

Polyanna: Seeing the Glass Half Full in a Troubled Economy

Over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives site, I just posted some tips for coping with stress during hard times and the current economic situation. While a troubled United States economy is tough on Wall Street and on Main Street, I've experienced one minor plus. Without the benefit of a lap-band doctor or even a diligent fitness program, I've dropped fifteen to twenty pounds over the past two months. Now I just need to get to a tailor so I can start showing off Roxy's slim new figure in my favorite clothes.

EntreCard Discovery: Simply Drunk

I found Simply Drunk through EntreCard, and have been laughing ever since. Self-described as a blog about life....discussing current events, everyday life and other useless or offensive topics over a few drinks. I particularly like the way Simply Drunk's posts are organized around song titles such as "Taxman," "Land Down Under," "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," and "You Don't Bring Me Flowers."

Check it out with your favorite beverage in hand... and tell 'em Roxy sent you!

Why More People Should Blog

A few weeks back, while our family attended the Far Hills Race Meeting, I caught up on quite a bit of hot gossip from my fellow Roxiticus Desperate Housewives. It is not my story to tell, but there was a steamy tale about an attractive 40-plus personal trainer with a hot local cop, packing heat in both senses of the word, and complete with Galco holsters and bulletproof vest...

That kind of story is the reason I'm convinced that more women should blog instead of just sharing explicit girl talk on the phone or in person... I would happily add their sites to Roxy's Best Of... Other People's Blogs for everyone to enjoy!

Roxy's Best Of... Blogs: Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff

I don't remember whether I found Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff through EntreCard or on Matt Urdan's Meltwater. Torrents. Meanderings. Delta. ("MTMD"). I do know that you should check out his site, which promises "movies, music and other people's habits peppered with the odd story or two from my world." Ken is both creative and entertaining, and rarely a day goes by that I don't lurk in the shadows of his blog, catching up on his latest post. Enjoy!

When Black Friday Comes...

Even though London and Maddie usually start their letters to Santa during the month of July and look forward to the big day all year, I've never been one for heading out to the malls and standing in line at the stores at 5 o'clock in the morning on Black Friday to start my holiday shopping, then counting down the number of days until Christmas. Our family actually celebrates Thanksgiving twice, once over at my mom's house with my oldest sister and my nieces, then again on Saturday when Rex does all the cooking for his family. My only responsibility is the baking -- pumpkin pies, pumpkin bread, sometimes a pumpkin bourbon cheesecake -- but on the Friday in between our two Thanksgiving celebration, Rex, London, Maddie and I just want to lounge around the house with nothing on the agenda.

I've actually had good luck over the years saving money by shopping online for most of my Christmas gifts...even online, Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, has turned into a major sale event.... and you can bet that Roxy prefers to do the shopping while I'm still wearing my jammies, cuddled up with my computer in a nice cozy chair by the fire. I've even found a site that offers email alerts that let me know when new black friday ads have been posted by my favorite stores (like Circuit City deals or Best Buy for electronics, or Toys R Us for the girls) to help me plan my online holiday shopping.

How does your family celebrate Thanksgiving, and that secondary holiday, Black Friday? Do you cook for an extended family, then head out to the mall the next day at 5am, or are you lucky enough to have someone else serve you a turkey with all the trimmings?

Bear-iuca: The Perfect Name for Mariuca's Teddy Bear

While we're celebrating Election Day here in the United States, and all eyes are on who will be the next President, over on the other side of the world, my good blogosphere buddy is looking for a name for her teddy bear. Don't worry, I'll get out this afternoon to cast my vote for President, but right now, I'd like to nominate "Bear-iuca" as my choice for Mariuca's teddy bear. If you'd like to submit a name for this cute teddy, click the link below or the photo to participate. And please let me (and Mariuca) know what you think of Bear-iuca!

That's Amore... Hey, All You Dean Martin Fans Out There!

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie
That's amore
When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine
That's amore
Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
And you'll sing "Vita bella"
Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay
Like a gay tarantella

When the stars make you drool just like a pasta fazool
That's amore
When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet
You're in love"

Here's a sweet little offer for all you crazy kids out there who might be looking for a deal on Dean Martin at the Sands. Click the link for a budget-priced 1996 box set "on disky." The collection features 48 of Dino's greatest Capitol hits in a gatefold 6' x 10' long box. You'll reminisce to faves like Dino's 'Volare' (whoa-oh-oh-oh), That's Amore,' 'Return To Me,' 'Young And Foolish,' 'Cha ChaCha d'Amour,' 'Memories Are Made Of This' and 'Dream A Little Dream Of Me.'

Sizzle!

The Nose on Your Face Keeps Us Laughing Through the Election

I haven't seen The Nose on Your Face in my BlogExplosion surfing lately, so I droppedby to see what they were providing in terms of "election coverage." Turns out that they've been keeping up the regularly scheduled laughs, with recent posts including "Can We Believe Colin Powell's Endorsement of Barack Obama?" and "Obama to Combat Joe the Plumber with Average Americans of His Own." So if everyone else's political coverage has you down, head over to TNOYF for a hearty election week chuckle.

The Nose On Your Face, written by the blogging team of R.H. Potfry and Buckley F. Williams, is one of my favorite BlogExplosion discoveries. These guys are hysterical, but you may not be familiar with them because they don't participate in Battle of the Blogs or EntreCard.

Twelve Steps to Recovery from Alcholism or Addiction

Consider yourself lucky if you've never had to deal with alcoholism or addiction of a family member, whether through local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or through private rehab. While this blog tends to be devoted to the best blogs in the blogosphere, I did think it might be helpful to provide the valuable information contained in the original Twelve Steps as published by Alcoholics Anonymous:

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His Will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

EntreCard Saturdays

I have to admit to being a bit behind on updating my Roxiticus Best Blogs site. When I first started out in the blogosphere, my only real source for finding Other People's Blogs ("OPB") was BlogExplosion, particularly the Battle of the Blogs. Since I joined EntreCard, I must have found over a hundred high quality blogs to read. I hate to make excuses, but it takes so much time to read through the posts, I hardly have time to write up the nice review that each blog deserves.

That said, I've seen "EntreCard Saturdays" in which other bloggers post about the faves they've discovered through EntreCard dropping, and I'm going to try to participate more regularly using my Roxiticus Best Blogs and Roxy's Best Of... Blogs sites. But hey, just like a diet, please don't set your expectations too high!

Roxy

P.S. -- Oh, and if you have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about when I say EntreCard, how do you keep your laptop charged up in the cave you must be living in? Seriously, just click on the little yellow "Get One" under the Blog of the Day in my sidebar.

Isn't Roxy a Little Too Old for a Pimple On My Chin??!!

I woke up this morning and stumbled out of my bed to find a pimple on my chin staring back at me from the mirror! What's up with the teenage acne? I may be going to see a blast from my teenage past tomorrow night -- Joan Jett and the Blackhearts at the Morristown Community Theatre -- but I certainly don't need any other remnants of my adolescent years coming out of my closet like skeletons on Halloween. The good news is, superzit should clear up in a few days, and I won't have to schedule a consultation with Dr. Martin Sands, a dermatologist with a special interest in researching cutting-edge technologies and incorporating them into his practice.

Updating Roxy's Best Of... Blogs: Lady Java, the Blogger Who Never Sleeps

As my loyal Roxiticus Best Blogs and Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know, I've been doing my best to transfer all of my faves over to my new Roxy's Best Of... Blogs site, and Lady Java will soon be ready to make the move. For those of you who are not familiar with my good blogosphere buddy, Lady Java is sooo blogalific that she posts regularly to seven (7) different blogs. As we're approaching midnight magic here in the Roxiticus Valley and, unlike LJ, I need a bit of beauty sleep, I can only share a couple of them here.

Lady Java, another terrific BlogExplosion discovery, is one of the friendliest and most prolific (or blogalific, if you will) bloggers in the blogosphere. Her secret to getting everything done is that she nevah evah sleeps...she just pours herself cup after cup of that hot java and delivers her Midnight Magic (and cheerful comments) around the blogosphere. Lady Java's Lounge is where you'll find LJ's ramblings on daily living, home, family, health, love, beauty, shopping and product reviews.

Lady Java's Life Pages are where LJ feels free to let go and be herself. It's a blog revolving around her life, daily activities, special events, love and relationships. Enjoy!


LJ also has a blog about her six furry kitties, but I am so highly allergic to cats that I'd be sneezing while I blogged if I posted a picture, so....just a link to Cat Tales.

Roxy's Back-to-School Fitness Program Update

Since London and Maddie went back to school in early September, I decided I need to get back in shape with a back-to-school workout program that I've been posting about over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog. I knew that if I didn't get on the elliptical trainer at least three days a week, I'd be signing up for lapband houston surgery to be able to fit into my jeans. Well, I'm now about 6 weeks into the program, and down about 10 pounds from 160 to plus or minus 150, but for all the wrong reasons. I've had little to no appetite from stressing out about the stock market, and haven't worked out for a couple of weeks. Wish me luck...I'm hoping to get back on my workout program this week.

Updating Roxy's Best Of... Blogs with Mariuca: Wishing On A Falling Star

It's been about eight months since Mariuca, the friendliest and most popular blogger in the blogosphere, befriended me through BlogExplosion. Now my day is not complete if I don't stop by and read the latest post and make a few comments at Mariuca's blog, Wishing On A Falling Star. Lately Mariuca has been serving up prizes for her top commenter, leading to a world record of over 500 comments per post!

Mariuca's blog revolves around the ups and downs of her life as a freelance copywriter working from home. She has three adorable cats and loves collecting perfumes & daydreaming! Mariuca writes about anything under the sun. From hobbies and food to love and life, Mariuca has it all.


As I begin the transition of Roxiticus Best Blogs from Blogger to Wordpress, it's time to move Mariuca to Roxy's Best Of... Blogs. As soon as I've done a bit more research on Mariuca's blogging history and love story, you'll be able to read more by clicking here.

London and Maddie's Bad Luck with Pets

As my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know, Rex, London, Maddie and I just returned from a long weekend vacation in Duck, North Carolina. You may also remember that London is allergic to most furry pets... I am deathly allergic to cats, but so far London seems to be allergic to horses and dogs as well. So when London and Maddie both won small aquariums in a school contest, we decided to try fish as a pet for each of them. Both girls picked out a betta fish (the Japanese fighting fish)...Maddie chose a blue one and London's was red and white. Unfortunately, we just don't have good luck with pets... Maddie's betta required a "burial at sea" before we left on vacation, and we found London's little guy belly up on the bottom of her tank when we returned home on Monday night.

I do know that my good blogosphere buddies like Mariuca and LadyJava (you'll find their blogs noted here at Roxiticus Best Blogs) believe that "Happiness is Pets" and our family will persevere in finding the perfect pet for us. Maddie keeps bringing home books about pets (rabbits, dogs, and fish, to name a few) from the school library, and I've been trying out the options on our loyal readers. If only London outgrows her allergies, at least becomes tolerant of "less allergenic" dogs like cock-a-poos, we would all be excited to have a cuddly puppy in our home.

Introducing Roxy's Best Of...Blogs

As my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and Bay Head Blog readers know, I've been hard at work over the past couple of months on the launch of the Roxy's Best Of... WordPress MU Community.

To give you a bit of background on the new site as well as some of the old ones, Roxy is a former disc jockey and advertising copywriter, current investment banker and mother-of-two coming to you from the Roxiticus Valley, New Jersey. You'll find my original PG-rated blog, reporting on the quirks and sexual peccadilloes of the neighboring desperate housewives, or whatever else the milkman may have delivered this morning, at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives.

When we (Roxy, Rex, and our two daughters, London and Maddie) moved out to the Roxiticus Valley in October 2003 from a co-op on the Hudson River in New York City's West Village, we didn't know where to find anything: toddler ballet classes, butchers and prepared foods, local clothing boutiques, and all sorts of personal services, from pediatricians to florists to our now beloved cake lady. As our girls grew up over the past five years, from ages 2.5 and 1.5 to 7.5 and 6.5, we discovered age appropriate opportunities for them, and favorite restaurants for grown-up play dates. So Roxy's Best Of... started out within the Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blog as a directory of our family's point of view on the best of the Roxiticus Valley, including the Best of Mendham, NJ; Best of Bernardsville, NJ; Best of Chester, NJ; Best of Peapack-Gladstone, NJ; Best of Far Hills, NJ; Best of Morris County, NJ; and the Best of Somerset County, NJ.

In addition to our lovely home in the Roxiticus Valley, where our children attend Mendham Township Elementary School, we also own a beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, where we spend many weekends and vacations during the summer, so Roxy's blogging expanded to include the Best of Bay Head, initially known as the Bay Head Blog.

After our most recent of four annual vacations in Laguna Beach, California, Roxy added a new blog to include our favorite restaurants and art galleries out there. It's a bit hard to keep that content up to date, but we're hopeful that our dear friend Mary Alice, who just moved out there with her family, might contribute as she finds the best restaurants and activities near their new home in Palos Verde.

Recognizing that one Roxy can't do it all, we invite you to write about the local area where you've become an expert. Please use the Roxy's Best Of... contact form to submit your proposal for a new "Roxy Blog." If you're a local restauranteur or service provider in one of our existing Roxy areas, please use the Roxy's Best Of... contact form to learn more about advertising with Roxy.

While I'll probably never give up my Google Blogger/Blogspot sites entirely, I'll slowly be moving the best blogs from this site over to Roxy's Best Of... Other People's Blogs. Hope you'll stop by and check it out.

Manipulating Spreadsheets in Excel, Writing Offering Memoranda in Word, 12 Tabs Open Dropping EntreCards, Commenting on Mariuca, No Blue Death Screen!

My loyal readers here on Roxiticus Best Blogs and over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives know that I stretch the truth every day: I'm neither desperate nor a housewife...I'm a happily married mom-of-two and the owner of a small investment banking business with my husband, Rex. We have a deal in our household: Rex does all the cooking, and I do all the spreadsheets. While technically (pun intended) I'm the President & Chief Operating Officer of our small firm, Rex and Brent frequently refer to me around the office as "Senior Tech."

On the average night, after I read my girls their bedtime stories, you'll find me in bed with Rex and my HP notebook: manipulating spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel, writing offering memoranda in Microsoft Word, "Getting Wicked" by dropping at least 150 EntreCards with 12 Internet Explorer tabs open (sometimes in my sleep), and trying to leave a comment on one of Mariuca or Lady Java's blogs...On my old high-priced IBM notebook with Windows XP, that would have been asking for the blue screen of death, and even a woman who's allergic to cats doesn't get more than nine lives.

When that IBM notebook bit the dust three days after its three-year extended warranty expired, I seriously considered switching to a Macbook because it seemed like so much more fun...and there were all those commercials that poked fun at Bill Gates. However, while Maddie and London love the huge-screen Mac in our family room (and I've been known to sneak on and drop an EntreCard or fifty before they wake up in the morning), I find that I can't get my "real work" done on a Mac. Blogging yes, investment banking no go no how.

While you've all heard my complaints about my shaky Internet connection since Comcast acquired Patriot Media earlier this year (and you don't want to get me started about e-mail forwarding coming to a screeching halt on August 31st), I do have some happy technology news. Since I bought my new HP Notebook back in April 2007 with Windows Vista Ultimate (the version that combines features designed for both personal and business computing requirements) preloaded, the blue screen of death has made far fewer appearances in my personal and business life. The sleek new look of the Windows Vista desktop, including a widget-friendly sidebar, also makes it easier for me to combine business and pleasure. I've found that most leading small business applications—including software from Adobe, Autodesk, Avanquest, CA, Corel, Intuit, McAfee, Sage, Symantec, and Trend Micro—and thousands of others are compatible with Windows Vista. I have spent the last year and a half calling Brent in the office to access my Sage ACT database because it's still not compatible with the 64-bit version of Vista, but that's my only major gripe.

I've also learned about Windows Vista Small Business Assurance, an offer designed to help small businesses move to Windows Vista, with a responsive customer service team for small business owners like me. Well, small business owners who are perhaps smarter and less cutting edge than I am...as the offer, which will continue through September 30, 2008, is for small business customers who purchase PCs with Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate after July 1, 2008.

When you buy a new PC with Windows Vista Business or Windows Vista Ultimate like I did, only do it now through September 30th, 2008, you'll receive free support, compatibility assistance, and one-on-one coaching from Microsoft to help ensure a smooth transition. While I may have missed the official shopping window, I think I'll give Windows Small Business Assurance a call next time my computer re-installs Vista Service Pack 2 as I'm trying to shut down and get some sleep. I'll let you know if they're as good with the midnight magic as our blogalicious friend Lady Java....

Inspirational Posts from the Roxiticus Best Blogs

As we come up on the third blogiversary celebration of Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, I've posted there about Instructions to the Double, the blog that inspired Roxy to start blogging. I've truly enjoyed reviewing that blog, and I've received many favorable comments from bloggers who share my intrigue. I realized that every blog has a story, and I may not know what it is, even when it comes to my favorite bloggers. So, over the coming weeks, I'm going to refresh my linky love on all the existing Roxiticus Best Blogs, and accept nominees for new Roxiticus Best Blogs. All I ask is that you share with me one or more of your favorite posts (along with any background from the blogger) by leaving a comment here with a link to the specific post(s) URL(s). I'll check them out, "reprint" them here with your permission, and link to your blog. I hope you'll find it as much fun to look at the history of our favorite blogs as I will.

Deb On the Rocks (Her EntreCard Says "LapDance"

I found Deb on the Rocks one night while I was out cruising the blogosphere on EntreCard, bringing home the best bedtime entertainment for my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives Readers.

While some of my regular readers spend a good deal of their time ROFL (rolling on the floor, laughing), Deb on the Rocks actually "took me there" with her Night-Night Story for the Jolie-Pitt Children. Go there. Wake your kids up now! Read it to them. Good family fun.

(Still not sleepy? Yes, I'll bring you a glass of water, and you can also hear another story: A Night-night Fairytale for Suri Cruise. And after that? Lights Out! I mean it!)


July 22nd update: Henceforth, Deb would like to be known as a "mythical hobbit." By the power of the Genies' magical lamp vested in me, I hereby grant her wish.

SpicyBug Here...and There

Spicy Bug is one of my favorite BlogExplosion finds...she's a mom, and a grandmom, blogging in between chasing after babies and toddlers all day long and trying to get a little sleep at night...and she's one of the nicest people I've met out there in the blogosphere. SpicyBugz World is the only place where Roxiticus Desperate Housewives is one of the top ten EntreCard droppers. I may not always be numero uno, but at least I'm on her list. In fact, I've been reluctant to take an Internet-free vacation for fear of dropping out of Spicy Bug's top ten. I started reading SpicyBugz World whenever she participated in a Battle of the Blogs, and I haven't stopped...it is loads of fun and surprisingly addictive.

SpicyBug describes her blog as a "Little bit of this and a whole lot of that. My daily adventures, joys, heartaches, laughter and tears." On December 8, 2005, Spicy Bug launched her blog with the following answer to "Who Am I?":

"I went outside this evening after a strong snow storm. The wind was still blowing but the snow had ended. As I stood out on my deck, with the wind whipping my hair all around. I got lost in thought, as I often do. Who am I? a small voice whispered in my head. I then saw a sparkling diamond, shimmering in the sun. Who am I? I am your neighbor, the girl next door. I am the nurse at your doctor's office, the cashier at the grocery store. I am the grandmother down the road who bakes cookies and apple pies. I am the lonely housewife who sits home remembering when children used to run thru the house. I am the sexy model on TV. I AM that diamond. And like that diamond I have many sparkling facets. I can’t be put in a box and labeled as one thing. Each time you look at me, you will see a new and amazing color. Watch me Shine. "

And now, congratulations girlfriend! You beat me to the punch and introduced your very own URL, www.spicybugz.com! Let's all head out and pay a visit to the new, improved SpicyBugz World!!

Rent Your Cars Now for the Roxiticus Best Blogs Dinner Party

Now that I've got the new dining room set and Rex has committed to a pistachio encrusted rack of lamb as the main course for our Roxiticus Best Blogs dinner party, there's just the small matter of getting all of you top bloggers here to the Roxiticus Valley, New Jersey. I believe you can get a direct flight in to Newark International Airport from most Roxiticus Best Blogs locations, including Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia. If not, you'll have to fly into JFK. Either way, there's an Advantage car rental available for you, and there are even some special offers that would get you up to a 50% discount on luxury and hot red convertible car rentals. Just let me know which date works best for all of you.

Henson's Hell

Henson is funny. Very creative and very very funny.

Something you might not know about me is that I'm not so good with funny...you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to the movies if they were showing a "comedy," but Henson makes me laugh. LOL as they say. LMAO as they say.

Check out his blog. I found him through the extensive comments on Matt's MTMD/Michigan Rafter blog, since he's got this nekked avatar that shows up whenever he makes a comment. Henson describes his blog as random musings and humorous observations on pop culture from Henson Ray of "It Happened in Plainfield." And Plainfield, NJ, it turns out, is the town where I was born. Many years ago.

Every now and then, I drive Henson crazy by giving him a little homework, in the form of a meme or two that have been passed along from blog to blog like an urban legend until he twists it in his own humorous way. And whatever Henson may say, ROXY is not a four letter word. I mean, it has four letters, but...see what I mean? He's got me tripping all over my tongue.

I've also been known to show my face on his EntreCard widget and vice versa. So head on over to Henson's Hell and let me know how hot it is...don't wait until Hell freezes over.

Roxiticus Best Bloggers Dinner Party?

One of these days, I'm going to surprise my husband by inviting Mariuca, LadyJava, Tricia, Matt and all of the Roxiticus Best Bloggers over to the house for one of Rex's delicious home cooked meals. Before I do, though, there are so many of you that we'll need to invest in some new Dining Room Furniture. It just wouldn't be right to ask our blogosphere buddies to sit on lawn chairs, drinking chardonnay out of plastic cups and dining on paper plates at picnic tables....

More Laughs from The Nose On Your Face

I was surfing on BlogExplosion this morning and came across this funny Obama "Friends" video on The Nose on Your Face...check it out!




The Nose On Your Face, written by the blogging team of R.H. Potfry and Buckley F. Williams, is one of my favorite BlogExplosion discoveries. These guys are hysterical, but you may not be familiar with them because they don't participate in Battle of the Blogs or EntreCard.