Sparks and Butterflies

Really quick so I can get it in at 8 –

I just spent the last half hour trying to explain why Bleach, a show on Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, is inappropriate for my oldest son.

I had to use the words 9 year old, cartoon, and panties in the same sentence. That should never happen.

Considering I grew up with the Smurfs, I understand why my 77 year old mother doesn’t get it, but sheesh! I’m trying to do blogathon here. And with THAT – I’m grabbing my dinner.

As I mentioned before, I really need a new swimsuit. The two suggestions I got were to check out Land’s End, and Target.

I did check out Land’s End – and I liked them, especially for their super gut sucking capabilities. Unfortunately, they’re a little out of my price range at the moment.

As for Target, I came down to 1. This one. That’s it, for various reasons.

I’m going to check out some other stores too – I have Amazon Prime, so I can potentially get free second day shipping, which would be nice.

I took some quizzes to see what my superhero name would be, ’cause I was having trouble coming up with one myself. And twitter and facebook peeps were no help, ’cause there was no input (y’all are slackin’ on me today of all days. Again, I say don’t schedule blogher and blogathon at the same time. Most of my tribe is in Chicago eating Cheeseburgers, bowling, arguing, and taking pictures.)

Here’s what we came up with:

Your Superhero Name Generator is


The Amphibious Mariner



Get your Superhero Name Generator at Quizopolis.com

Your Superhero Name is The Snow Droid

Your Superpower is Electrocution Your Weakness is Snakes Your Weapon is Your Slime Bazooka Your Mode of Transportation is Pegasus

What’s Your Superhero Name?

Alright. The minor emergency might not be so minor… But my dad’s on the case and I can get back to work over here.

Lizzie (@lizzieshome asked:

@sparksfley Okay, question – You’re back in high school. It’s the same old school politics that drive you crazy. Would you pull a Carrie?

Wow. Obviously, we have to pretend that I have the powers. So, let’s pretend I do. Although for all you know I have superpowers that I must keep secret in order to keep my cover identity intact.

Now, do I use the powers? God that’s a hard question. The answer should be “No! Of course not! We use our powers for good, not evil.”

But I lived through high school.

I’m going to say that the answer is no, coming from an adult perspective. But I don’t speak for my teenage self without the big picture perspective.

That may be my new tagline… Don’t make me go Carrie on you.

Very minor emergency in the back yard. Will be back for 6:30, promise. Got to take care of life real quick.

And the last question from Amy.

Is sunscreen that is SPF 50 REALLY the best???

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. In theory, an SPF of say, 30, should mean that you do not burn until you’ve had 30x as much sun exposure as when you would have burned. 50 would be 50x. This varies according to the various factors… Someone’s skin type, when they’re reapplying, if they’re swimming or doing sports, etc.

So, yes. It is better IF it’s being applied properly, reapplied every two hours. And I should probably note that you should use sunglasses, hats, and long clothing to protect from the sun. But in answer to your question. Yes. It’s better. A little.

Typing this one from the side of my kiddie pool for a change of scenery and quiet. Ahhhh, the wonders of wifi.

OK, another totally left-field question from my friend Amy. Yes, she really exists, I was in her wedding.

How do you make homemade macaroni and cheese??

I’ve never actually made the homemade stuff. I’ve always been afraid the picky eaters in my bunch wouldn’t eat it, since they’re used to good old craft. But I love me some of the homemade bunch and I’ve saved the recipe links, in case I wanted to try making them. I love cooking, just hate cleaning up.

Macaroni and Cheese – This comes from the famous Pioneer Woman. I heart her. I also heart her recipes. I met her briefly at SXSW and she was very sweet.

Vermont Mac and Cheese – Looks rich but worth a try.

Mac and Cheese Dog Casserole – Coming from one of my most favorite of people, Domestic Chicky.

There you go. Three different recipes to try.

OK. I asked for input and I got it.

My friend Amy asked:

What is Bastille Day??

Your guess is as good as mine as to why she asked that. Perhaps Facebook is more enemy than friend.

So, like a good blogger, I looked it up.

According to Wikipedia:

Bastille Day is the French national holiday, celebrated on 14 July each year. In France, it is called Fête Nationale (“National Celebration”) in official parlance, or more commonly le quatorze juillet (“14 July”). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution.

Happy, Amy?

Alright… I’m waiting for something hit me. Anything. Got videos brewing, but I need to learn the software. Working on it.

I’m about to transition to working outside to give me a change of pace, since tonight will be one long stretch, man.

Random note – reading Nora Roberts. Seriously this author drags me into her stories every single time!

Another random note – Flip cameras are very very cool. For the first time, I downloaded what I had stored in memory and it had software to edit and stuff! Very cool. P.S. It’s orange.

At some point I’m going to highlight some other causes and blogathoners, but I’m trying to do too much at one time right now. Once everyone goes to bed, I’ll be able to focus a little bit better.

A question response! Yay!

L., an old friend from high school asked

band memories – Germany?:)

I’m a band geek. What she’s talking about was the trip we took to Germany and Austria my freshman year (her senior year, I believe.)

We went to be in a “parade” in Munich for Easter. It wasn’t, in fact, a parade. We actually, if I recall correctly, just played standing still in the city quad. I have pictures, but they’re packed away, so I can’t scan them. I know there are some floating on the internet, I’ll grab them and link them here.

Anyway – memories. That year, I was in the color guard, and not playing in the band yet (I blew out my knees and had a hard time marching, so at one point I played in pit percussion so I wouldn’t have to march or dance in the field shows.)

I don’t remember much from the trip – probably because it felt like a whirlwind, and it was only the second time I’d traveled away from my parents.

I do remember having a yellow shirt I had to wear because my mother packed it and it was the only clean thing left. I remember my roommates. I remember that we had free time in Munich, and my roommates and I got lost on the subway. Which was awful, ’cause I really really had to go to the bathroom. We found the hotel again just in time. I also remember feeling rather grownup because we got lost on the subway. In Germany. Where all the signs were in GERMAN and we still found our way back to the hotel without having to ask a grownup. I was only 13/14 at the time, so it was a huge deal.

I remember my purse got stuck in one of those turnstyle doors.

I remember we played a concert at a castle in Austria, and thought it was absolutely gorgeous. I still want to go back and explore Austria more.

I remember one girl who shall remain nameless being completely airsick nearly the whole upteen hour flight. And then back again.

I remember buying this decoration – I don’t even remember what exactly it was. A decorative egg, I guess, of some kind, that fell apart eventually. I kept it for years.

Other than that all I have are impressions. All good impressions. A feeling of warmth when I look back.