Rain Renews. And also leaves a wicked good buzz.

We buy liquor!

I'd been wanting to try the Rain Organics vodka line, so when we walked into the liquor store and ran smack dab into a sample table of the stuff, I felt it was a message from God: man cannot live on bread alone. But also on delicious USDA certified organic vodka at affordable prices.

Rain has the most fantastic flavor options: Lavender Lemonade, Honey Mango Melon, Red Grape Hibiscus, and Cucumber Lime. For the annoying purists out there, they also carry a plain old boring vodka. I didn't think I'd love it, but the Cucumber Lime was my favorite - crisp and light, try it with a splash of sweet and sour and some ginger ale. No seriously, try it.

I like the vibe of the company, too. When you visit their website, it's all yoga music and serenity. The calm before the storm, perhaps, before you've sucked down four Seaside Rain cocktails (Lavender Lemonade, cranberry juice, and grapefruit juice) and start thinking that having a naked Wii party is an AWESOME idea.

Improv Everywhere

The hilariocityishness that is Improv Everywhere has struck again. One of their latest missions was a subway art gallery opening. Improv Everywhere agents turned ordinary subway objects into works of art, complete with captions like this one, next to a locked metal box:

Locked Box #2 (1988)
Metropolitan Transit Authority

This extremely subtle piece reexamines the assumption that art must be visually accessible to be important and identifiable as a creative work. This artist explores the limitless possibilities of the hidden here, allowing the viewer to reevaluate underlying preconceptions, and to recondition the inner mind to work with the perception of the commonplace outer space.

Check out their archives while your live basketball feeds are buffering. Some of my favorites are Best Game Ever, Rob!, Cell Phone Symphony, and Welcome Back.

Burt's Bees: Even Your Dog Will Love It

DDW told me about this fantastical shampoo and conditioner made by Burt's Bees. It's all natural and made without sulfates, which apparently are bad bad bad. Or at least, somewhat bad. Either way, this stuff makes my hair soft and super shiny. Also, it smells so good that I woke up in the middle of the night and Aikane was licking my hair.

I kid you not.

A Link

I love McSweeney's Internet Tendency, especially the "Michael Ian Black Is a Very Famous Celebrity" section. If you visit the main page, scroll to the bottom for links to the various archives. Brilliant stuff there, just effing brilliant.

But today, in honor of all of us who have ever come THISCLOSE to quoting Wikipedia in a scholarly paper because hey, it seems really accurate, I present a List: "Footnotes, Endnotes, and Parentheticals That Cost Me Marks on My Thesis," by Mike Baylis.

You're welcome.

I watch reality TV because it's good for my soul.

I count my blessings!

I hate those days when I work late, come home to take care of household chores, figure out dinner, and wash dirty undies. And then, suddenly, it's 8:45pm and I feel like I barely have enough energy to drag myself to the couch instead of crashing on the laundry room floor surrounded by the DNB's pit-stained t-shirts.

I didn't realize this at first, but 8:45pm on a day like that is when the Buds have scheduled their Cage Fighting Bouts. We call it Cage Fighting because one morning we woke up to a most ferocious-sounding wrestling match happening in Ka Liko and Aikane's crate. It ended up a draw, with mutual butt-sniffing, in case you're wondering. The noise level during a Cage Fight reaches epic proportions, mostly due to Ka Liko's ridiculously shrill Cage Fight Bark. Although probably very intimidating, if not just annoying, to potential opponents, it's the sound that makes me want to punch babies, and also puppies.

So to gain some perspective on days like that, when I'm very close to not only punching babies and puppies, but also tiny unicorns, I turn on Jon & Kate Plus 8. This TLC show will make you feel like the most giant tool ever for being tired. EVER.

Jon and Kate Gosselin used in vitro to have a set of twins, first, and when they tried for one last baby, ended up with SEXTUPLETS (so it's not just a clever name . . . ). If you've ever wanted to know what it would be like to have half a preschool class running around your house, tune in. I could not possibly do life with the wit and grace these parents have, and two minutes with the show cures any residual exhaustion I may have.

Because no matter how crappy my day has been, I do not have six 3-year-olds who just scammed giant gumballs from their babysitter.