An extra hug today...

Spent most of the day watching CNN. The tragedy unfolding in New Orleans and the rest of the Gulf Coast areas affected by Hurricane Katrina is mind-boggling.

I sat here this afternoon, trying to imagine what I would take with me if we had to evacuate our home. Here's my list so far: Kevin, Olivia, the 2 dogs - Jake and Mollie, the 2 cats - Daisy and Gatsby, our photos, my wedding dress, our cameras, clothes, diapers, Olivia's blanket and stuffed toys, food, water, cell phones, home movies...the list goes one and on. Basically, it would take both cars and probably a U-Haul to take it all. But that isn't realistic, now is it?

It is unimaginable to me...what these people are dealing with. Many of them have no homes or belongings to come home to. They have the clothes on their backs and memories. That is what's left for most -- only memories.

I said today that I won't complain anymore about how tough things seem to be. The residents of the Gulf Coast have it much, much harder.

Sure, our gas prices went up to $3.09 a gallon...but at least we have 2 cars to drive. Yes, money is tight right now, but at least Kevin has a job and we have a home to keep us safe and warm. We have electricity, food, water and all the basic necessities that probably seem like luxuries to those living in Katrina's aftermath.

My thoughts and prayers to everyone on the Gulf Coast tonight.

Believe me, Olivia got many extra hugs and kisses today, just because.

Fruit Salad...Yummy, Yummy!

Why fruit salad, you ask? Because I have The Wiggles on my brain. All day, all night. I go to bed at night singing their silly songs and wake up in the morning still singing them. It used to be annoying, now it's just plain weird. Of course, if you spent every day watching at least 2 - 3 hours of The Wiggles with your toddler, you'd probably do the same thing.

Olivia is OBSESSED with The Wiggles. Seriously, I think the girl needs a toddler 12-step program or something. She screeches like a banshee when she sees them on the Disney Channel or on the shelves in a toy store or a bookstore. She even makes a beeline to the Wiggles DVDs at the video store. I'm not sure how or when it happened...but The Wiggles have become a daily part of our routine.

And I hate to admit it, but I'm kinda fond of the guys from Down Under. Yeah, at first they seemed a bit, well, freakish. Four grown men, dressed in knock-off Star Trek uniforms, dancing around with a giant dog, a green and yellow polka dotted dinosaur and a pirate named Captain Feathersword. But they grow on you, like some sort of fun, funky mold.

I can sing just about every song word for word (much to my husband's annoyance) and, as much as I hate to admit it, I actually LIKE some of the songs ("Eagle Rock" comes to mind). And, yeah, a couple of them are sort of cute.

And so, another day of Wiggle-induced mania begins....stay tuned for more fruit salad and hot potatoes! Hoop Dee Do!