My Last Will and Testament

My 9 year old son, Ryan, is a serious animal lover. Our dog, Holly, has a bald spot on the top of her head from him constantly kissing her. Although Ryan loves all types of animals he seems to have a fascination with birds. Thanks to a report he wrote in 2nd grade, the Black Capped Chickadee is his favorite but he pretty much loves birds of all shapes and sizes. I bought him a bird book and he always has that thing out to identify birds he sees in our yard.

I inherited some porcelain bird knick knacks from my grandma that reside in a China cabinet which we light up at night. A few evenings ago, Ryan was intently studying the bird statues and informed me that one of them was a Kingfisher (he was right--I checked on the plaque under the bird.) He then grabbed a piece of my ever-dwindling copier paper and began furiously scribbling.

Awhile later, I happened to glance at the piece of paper to see what he had been so intently writing.

Huh. Not sure what to think about that.

Virtual Barbie....She's Back!

Virtual Barbie has been on vacation the past couple of months. But she is back and modeling some fab new boots!

The Marsha boot by Jeffrey Campbell is one of a kind and super versatile. It can be worn turned down in a cuff to show the coordinating inner lining, full to the knee or slouched for a fun and unique look.

Complete the outfit with a Rainforest Steel Trench coat and you are sure to turn heads, rain or shine!

Jeffrey Campbell "Marsha" rain boots: $59.95

Happy Memorial Day!

Since both UPS and the USPS observe Memorial Day (meaning they don't pick up or deliver) DLL Rainwear will also be closed on Monday, May 25th. We will resume normal shipping on Tuesday the 26th.

Let us all remember that this day celebrates the bravery of our nation's men and women who gave their lives in service of our great country.

More Useless Yet Interesting Trivia

A few days ago I blogged about mondegreens, singing the wrong lyrics to songs. Today I wanted to imbue you with the knowledge that, yes, there is also a word for when songs get stuck in your head.

Like the Backyardigans theme song.

Or Thriller.

Or Ebony and Ivory*, my all time least favorite song E-VER. (I think I may have just screwed myself by even typing it.) BTW only click on the link if you want to see the riveting (cough) music video. Don't say I didn't warn you.

The term for those annoyingly repetitive tunes that torment you by playing over and over in your mind like a broken record that JUST WON'T STOP is:

"earworm"

It evokes kind of a skeevy feeling, doncha think? Like there is some creepy, slithering insect crawling around in your ears. Seems like mindworm or brainworm might fit better yet it wouldn't be any less disturbing a term.

But either way, there you go. More useless trivia to amaze your friends and family.

And the next time a song is glued in your mind, now you will at least know what to call it.

"Ebony and Ivory....together in perfect harmony...side by side on my piano keyboard, oh now why don't weeeeeeee........ Ebony...Ivory...living in perfect harmony...."

AAAAARRRRRGH!

The pain, the pain!!!!

Stevie and Paul....why, why, WHY?

*Note: The message of this song is a good one but DAMN the song itself is it horrible.

What are you barking at NOW!?

I thought dogs were supposed to have super duper, extra sensitive hearing. I think that is just a myth so they can bark for no reason under pretense of protecting their masters.

I have pretty good hearing to overcompensate for how bad my vision is---although somehow my hearing goes to hell when my contacts are out. And when my kids wake up at night. Funny how that works. (grin)

But seriously, I never hear a darn thing when that dog barks, other than her barking, of course. Oh and me (or my husband or both of us) yelling at her to STOP BARKING! Yet when there is someone at the door, when an unknown car pulls into our driveway or when an unknown creature is scrabbling around under my house.....nothing.

N.O.T.H.I.N.G!

Half the time I think she is dreaming and wakes up to bark at whatever critter she was chasing in her little doggie mind.

Sure enough---she is asleep now and just busted out of her bed to bark at....NOTHING.

And she just did it again.

And again....

I think instead of a bark collar I am going to get her an aluminum foil hat to block her dreams.

Wait...maybe that just blocks aliens from getting into your head. I'll have to research that but it can't hurt right?

Update: Since I have been writing, she has shot out of her bed at least five times. Wait...make that ten now. I'm getting hoarse.

NO MORE BARKING!

What the Heck is a Mondegreen?

There is truly a word for everything. I was reading my "Real Simple" magazine this weekend and discovered that when you sing the wrong lyrics to a song that is called a mondegreen.

Huh.

I think most of us are guilty of doing that....singers totally mumble sometimes.... and when you wanna sing along, well, you just sing what you hear, right?

Awhile back there was a commercial on TV that spoofed mondegreens. Two people were walking down the street and one was belting out the lyrics to Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer.' Unfortunately he was singing: "Hold me closer, Tony Danza" instead of "Hold me closer, tiny dancer."

Close but no cigar.

Here are a few others that are pretty funny.

"Science healed the liver...I'm yours."

should be

"Signed, sealed, delivered...I'm yours" by Stevie Wonder


"Wake me up to pour your cocoa"

should be

"Wake me up before you go-go" by Wham!


"Village cheese in not my lover"

should be

"Billy Jean is not my lover" from Michael Jackson's 'Billy Jean'


"Another one rides the bus"

should be

"Another one bites the dust" by Queen from the song of the same name


"Like detergent/Drunk for the very first time"

should be

"Like a virgin/Touched for the very first time" from Madonna's "Like a Virgin"


Next time your not quite sure of the words to a song, visit this handy website.

And if you just want more funny mis-heard lyrics, check out this site.

A Freebie I Couldn't Live Without

I've written before about how much I love my iPhone. Today I am writing extol the virtues of an application I literally could not live without. It is called:

Sha-ZAM!

This little freebie (yes, FREE!) has dramatically changed my life, allowing me to happily spend copious amounts of money on iTunes. (I think you can also download this app to your Blackberry. Click above link for more info.)

I am one of those people who loves music but never knows who sings what. Very often I am listening to the radio, watching something on TV or in a store and I hear a song that I love but I have no clue what it's called or who the artist is.

In swoops Sha-ZAM! to the rescue, just like the ancient Superhero it is named after. All you do is hold up your iPhone (or Blackberry apparently) and let it listen to the song. It tells you the name of the song, the artist and album. I have even used it in crowded, noisy places like the mall and it works every time. And it even gives you a link to buy the song then and there. What more could a girl want?

As my nephew would say, and I quote, "Awwwwweeesome!"

If it weren't for Sha-ZAM I would literally be writhing around in mental agony not knowing what all of those cool songs are that I really like. Not pretty, right? Instead I am listening to all those cool songs right now as I am typing this blog.

So this blog is in tribute to the all-mighty Sha-ZAM and whoever created you.

You. So. Totally. Rock!

New Favorite Boots

This is a new boot design from Western Chief called the Corina. I LOVE them! I think I would match them with the Rainforest Cream Packable coat for a super feminine rainy day ensemble.

Super Creepy

These armless (and bodiless for that matter) hands are actually made of soap. Get it?

HAND SOAP!?

Bah ha ha ha ha!

Yea, I know. The humor doesn't really detract much from the creepiness of them. If I put these in my kid's bathroom, I'd never get them to go in there again. Think I'll stick with Spongebob Foam soap, thank you very much.

Boots Available in Sizes 11 or Larger

Finally we are able to offer more styles in larger sizes. For years 99.9% of our rain boots were only available in up to a size 10 but manufacturers are realizing there is a need for size 11 and higher. Looks like our years of nagging them actually paid off!

Here is a list of what the designs we have in larger sizes. Not all are in stock as these sizes do sell out quickly but we do our best to replenish them as needed.

Chooka Fat Bird Dots

Chooka Peace Love

Chooka Radiant Navy

Chooka Fresco--sizes 11 & 12!

Chooka Honey Bees--sizes 11 & 12!

Chooka Recycle Me--sizes 11 & 12!

Chooka Tiny Whales--sizes 11 & 12!

Chooka Starboard Anchor

Chooka Men's Dueling Skulls (goes up to a men's 13)

Hunter Chocolate Brown Rain Boots-up to size 14!

Hunter Navy Blue Rain Boots-up to size 14!

Jeffrey Campbell Artist Print

Tretorn Ballena Lace Up Rain Boots (come in size 11 & run big!)

Western Chief 'Character' boots (Ladybug, Frog, Kitty, etc.)

Hatley Rain Boots---fit a full size large: 10s fit most women like 11s

Psycho Donuts

In the town I live in, there is a huge uproar going on over a new mom and pop donut shop that just opened called Psycho Donuts.

The basic theme is that they have taken your average donut and gone crazy with them, making them in unusual shapes, adding strange toppings, fillings and the like as well as bestowing wacky names for their creations

Of course they have also extended the 'crazy' to their decor, adding a padded cell where customers can eat their goodies, displaying wild artwork including a pyscho of the month (I think this month it was Jack Nickolson from one of his scary movies) as well as having the counter staff wear nurse uniforms.

Apparently this small shop has made a few people upset. A donut aptly named Bipolar which is half chocolate glaze with peanuts, the other half covered in coconut, has a more than few people up in arms.

I stopped by the other day to see what all the fuss was about. The place was hopping, the staff was very friendly and they did indeed have some crazy donuts. One has green glaze....scary looking...but apparently it is green tea flavored.

My kids loved their treats (one got the Manic Malt, the other the Do-Nilla) and I was actually kinda sad the padded cell was closed.

But I suppose there is always someone who will be offended... My theory is, don't go there if you don't like it. The owner made a good point: Why is no one worked up over the fast food restaurant called "El Pollo Loco?" It's basically the same thing.

Oh well, off my soap box for now. I'm off to get a donut.