I need your help.

First, having some camera fun this morning. I just cant seem to get in the middle of the picture. Don't get excited, I am not doing MeMes still, I'm just throwing up a pic of my ugly mug to help others feel better about themselves.

Note the crow's feet, the 80's ear piercing that would never quite heal over, the unshaven rebellion signifying a day off, and the "I'm supposed to be cleaning the house" smirk that will soon be slapped off.



Here's today's topic of conversation:

How many of you are making money from your blog, and know a little something about doing it?

Do any of you make $10 per month?

$100 per month?

More?

Do you use Blogher? Adsense, other?

I joined Blogher (pay per impression) almost 2 months ago, and have made a whopping $12. And my traffic is pretty damn good. One of my fav bloggers jumps on Adsense this weekend, encourages her readers to click for her, and is up to $78 in 3 days.

So if you will, lets spend some time spitballing all of this, and figure out how all of us can make some money from our soul-sharing, if that is what interests you.

Tell me if you have had any success at this, and what has worked.


Also, just want to thank Young Momma, Jenners, and Tena for nice linky mentions of me recently, hop over and see what they are up to as well.


And finally, you know what tomorrow is...Tuesday's Tribute. We will be throwing up Mr. Linky tonight, we are excited to see who (or what!) you are honoring this week. Remember, you don't HAVE to Tribute President-Elect Obama. I mean, one or two might be nice, but if I find 40 tributes to the man, I'm gonna call for a recount in Pennsylvania.

Happy MLK Day.

Ok, ok...I'm here...dammit...

Hi.
I've been absent for a couple of days...you probably haven't noticed. The thing is, the wife and I have been involved in a project, and it has utterly consumed us.

Yeah, I set that up like we're curing cancer or feeding sick malnutritioned babies or something, I know. And, if you believe in the seven deadly sins, we continue to have Pride and Envy nailed down pretty good. Oh crap...and Gluttony...and Sloth...dammit...

No, dear, judgmental friends, this is about a floor, and the things you place on it. You see, we saved our little pennies, and bought a new floor. Dave Ramsey would be proud of us, we actually paid cash for the sucker, and didn't contribute to any national bad credit decisions. Here she is.



Took us four years, but we saved up and bought a floor. To go on top of a floor. The irony and waste of that I choose not to address, instead, let's focus on what has been an increasingly frustrating for us...a complete lack of talent and ability to decorate.

And I mean, we suck hard. To look at the picture above, that looks ok, right? I mean, it may not be your taste, but it looks ok? I cannot describe to you what it has taken to get to this point...Trial of 100 things that look horrible, and in the end, it just looks...ok.

How do you talented souls out there decorate so well? We have a neighbor on our street who puts rooms together in a random, eclectic manner, and they look fantastic. My wife and I stand in a showroom like a couple of neanderthals screaming "UUUnnngghhhh!! Me need BROWN!!

Truly frustrating process. And by the way, who the hell wants to pay $2000 for frickin rug that sits under a table that only gets used when the frickin POPE comes over? NO. THANK. YOU.

Anyway, I'm back. Happy Frickin Sunday. Sorry, I had a really bad night's sleep, and now I am on Daddy Duty for the day. I'm gonna start with coffee, and see if I can improve this mood...bleh.

One more thing...Tuesday's Tribute was an even bigger success in Week 2...you think you might wanna play this week? We'd love to read you...

Kat's Workshop...Regarding Kat.

Unless it has escaped you, our fearless writer leader shares the same nickname as my wife. Tonight, I sit to tell you about her. Not MamaKat, MY Kat. I dont really know MamaKat. I mean, all that well. whatever.


The assignment? To identify an inner quality in my spouse that I admire. Which is easy, especially since I elected to marry the gal. There is plenty that draws me to her, endears me to her, holds her in my place that is designed for only one. But I'm afraid, because I'm a conflicted shit, this will be a double edged sword. For there is something that I both admire about her, and am dragged over the coals by...and that is her ability to put emotion aside and do the hard things.

When I brush my son's teeth, I regularly make a game of it...make him laugh, try to squeeze some semblance of fun out of a painful act for a 2 year old. Do I get them sparkling clean? Well, not really...we do ok. When my wife brushes him, I can hear her putting him in the thumbscrews from the next room. Blood-curdling screams abound, but those baby teeth are getting PRISTINE.

I often come in to judge her, as most parents would who get to witness their son tied down having the steel wool applied to his infantile bicuspids. And I often feel like she is treating him like one of her patients at the hospital, who she is administering treatment to despite the howls of pain. Her face clouds over, she puts her Mommy mind aside, and does the work for the betterment of the child.

But it's your son.

That's where my immediate mind goes. My overprotective mind, my parent mind. And I almost forget what I admire about you. Your ability to put it aside. The ability to put it all aside, even for a moment, and do the hard thing. At first I thought you were cold. Unfeeling. And then I realized what blessing that feature is in a Mommy. Our kids are better for your ability to do what needs to be done. It's hard to watch sometimes, but in the end, I know what kind of care my kids are getting.

Thank you, Love.

Thanks to the lovely MamaKat for her creation of the Writer's Workshop, and for putting out a pail for my mental diarrhea.

WW - Moonies R Us

Just a quick heads up...I am starting a cult. If you are interested in joining, please liquidate your assets, send me the cash, and practice the facial expression below...it will be required when the spaceship picks us up.

Thanks again to Angie
for another ragin' Wordful Wednesday...

Also Thanks to 5 Minutes for Mom for "Wordless" Wednesday...I always have such a problem being wordless...

Tuesday's Tribute - Sweet sustenance, thy name is Wendy.

How do I justify thee? Let me count the ways.

As a strapping man of many stone, I understand my worth, for yea that mine own intake may not exceed 2800 calories on the morrow.
As well my morning coffee cost me but a trifle, a mere 50 calories in nonfat milk, and four sweeteners sent to adorn and please my palate from the very Gods above.

Upon the path to the stable, I was confronted by the stealth and savory wit of a banana, and I laid with it for a time. She was sweet, but she cost me. 110 calories, save I return to the bunch.

But only 160 into the warmth of the morning sun, my gait was strong, my fears unrealized, my intent noble, for I knew my luncheon fate lay ahead as the sun rose to its peak. A tireless seductress was sure to tempt me with the fruit of her loins, and my will to resist would be no match for the strength of her greasy fill, and her chocolaty ambrosia.

What woman is this, who can see the breadth and depth of a man's need? What heartless siren takes the very will of a man in trade for her delights? One could barely push her name past one's lips for fear of utter surrender.

Hours passed, and as if summoned by my wanton spirit...

she suddenly laid in front of me.



Her garments trembled in the breeze beneath her, as if they themselves were aware of her undeniable strength over a man. As the world behind me blurred with unimportance, and without regard to any consequence, I knelt to take her with the warm sun on my back pushing me down, down, down.

I paused, and held still for a time. And as if to softly return me to the moment, she whispered, "950 calories...that still leaves 1700 for dinner, My Lord. Please don't make me beg, sir?"

I fell on her again with a savage fury, satiating my every urge until the scrape of my plastic spoon began to yield waxy disappointment, and I fell back in exhaustion. In a prideful swoop I adjusted my belt to recover my girth, and looked at her remaining garments not with guilt, but with the eyes of a man who had found freedom. She had pushed me, and I had taken her. There was no remorse clinging to my spirit, nor would there be...

until I found her sister...


(PS - Yes, this post may seem like it is about me, but it is ultimately a tribute to the Wendy's Single and Large Chocolate Frosty. Yes, we are pretty stringent with the rules around here at Tuesday's Tribute...Have fun!!)

Yet Another Jay and Deb Production.

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To participate in Tuesday's Tribute, Fill out a Mr. Linky below with your name and URL address to your Tribute. Need a details, or a button? Go Here.

Me and Annie sittin in a tree....

I have to say, I was deeply offended yesterday at being called a liar so many times on one Sunday. That being said, it just goes to show you what remarkable judgment you all have. Yes, that picture is a tad old...it was taken 10 years ago on the beach in Puerto Rico. But I mean, how much can one man change in one decade??



Ok, no, that's not me. But if you are interested, my sweet friend Annie at Cookies, Chaos and Conversations, in an unprecedented show of pity, has featured ME today on her blog!! And actually, I sent her a recent picture to post as well, so go see!! And you'd better hurry...Annie is shuffling me down the page pretty quick...my comments must be bad for business...

Unless, you don't want inside my head...which I would totally understand...

Oh and one more thing...remember what tomorrow is?? Come show us all how you like to point and giggle at people by participating in this week's Tuesday's Tribute...