Cathy's Favorite Things

No. I'm not getting all Oprah on you... wouldn't do that. But I wanted to post about some of my favorite things (and refer to myself just this once in third person!) that don't cost any money. Well. Okay. Maybe some will cost a little. But this one? Not a dime, and right now, it's one of my most favorite things.

1. Cole's drawings

He's way into drawing right now. WAY into it. He is also WAY into space conservation, squeezing the majority of his artistic endeavors into the bottom two horizontal inches of any given space.

He makes tiny drawings. Page after page after page of tiny illustrations. OH. MY. HECK. (Side note: I have to say 'heck' now, because Aidan thinks I swear too much and that is a post for another day.) Every single time I see a finished drawing, I want to squeeze him, just like John Malkovich squeezed those puppies in that particular version of "Of Mice and Men."

And most of the drawings are re-creations of various World Series victory celebrations. Page after page after page. Tiny World Series' celebrations. Krakatoa! Seriously. The cutest livin' thing you ever saw.

So the next time I'm moody, and sad, and generally feeling unpleasant and sorry for myself, i need to remember to go look through his stack of tiny illustrations. I mean, anyone (namely, me) who looks at the little guys, with their little arms upstretched in victory, and doesn't stop for even a split second to wonder what it's like to paint the world this way, is a robot.

2. This set of lists from jonlajoie.com. (Please do not click if you are offended by non-pc humor. I'm just sayin'.)

And a further note: I just saw some stuff by this guy (not included in this link), and it is very, very not for kids, or, not for adults who are offended by swearing or humorous portrayals of violence and drug use. However, considering I am on the verge of being banned from swearing by my own child, and seeing how I haven't smoked a cigarette in nearly two years, I am SO justified in enjoying listening to inappropriate humor. Right? Somebody? Anyone? Back me up? No? Okay. Sorry.)

(And a further note, if you're not offended by excessive swearing AND rap  music, "Everyday Normal Guy" under his video links, made me laugh out loud. (thank you, Krista  !)

3. Raising Sand.

This one will cost you money. I am mesmerized by this collection of songs. Especially this (not a real video) song, Killing the Blues. Who knew they would be so magical together? It's no Kashmir,  baby.

 

4. And finally…I STILL can't not watch this and fall in LOVE with simply being alive and having internet access:

Comments

[Merideth]

i want to cry looking at cole's drawing! i hope you keep them all (or at least scan them all). it's ridiculous how fast they grow up and move far away to chicago and have babies of their own . . . fortunately, i have my "menopause baby" who's just two so i can do it again, with special attention paid to the stuff i never knew i'd miss the first time around.

again, i'm tearing up about that drawing! btw, he is really very talented!

[Priya Venkat]

Cole's drawings are oh so cute. I'd love to get into children brains to know how they work and how they think. Tiny figures, with banners held up high, with something written on those banners are sooooo difficult to draw. Keep em please. Priya

[dana]

wow. i must be a little emotional today. the critter video made my heart sing and my eyes tear up all at the same time. i love when he reaches out for her hand near the end. thanks for sharing.

[amy]

speaking as someone who doesn't have kids yet, how can I get one like yours? Everything you post about that kid makes me wish he was 20 years older so we could be friends. I love it!

[cdpeck]

Thank you so much for sharing the artwork and the sea otters. My family is always "In Search of the Perfect Sea Otter."

[karlalala]

dang if that gal doesn't look like Mary Lu Henner's sister!! and the otter's.... saw it a while back, and its too friggin adorable!! swear on Cathy gurl!!! smooch!!

[amy j.]

I LOVE Cole's drawings. I bet he's an illustrator when he's big. Seems like he's picked up some artistic gifts from someone...hmm, who could that be?!

My five year old loves to draw and has since she was two. She is always making something. I set up an entire room for craft and art just for her (and me if I ever take the time to indulge) and she uses is daily. I keep everything.

Raising Sand is beyond genius as far as I'm concerned. When I found out they were working together I was sure someone had invaded my musical fantasies...they are both huge favs of mine. If I could sing, I'd want Allison's voice. Oh, heck (keeping PC like you), I'd like to sing like Robert too. He is still ultra sexy as far as I'm concerned.

[gloria]

that's sweet!!
the video AND the drawing.

[Sherry]

Loving Cole's art. How cute and intricate and sooo much work.

The otters made my day! Sherry

[reyanna]

jonlajoie.com's lists were hilarious! Oh, thanks for a great laugh this morning. And thanks for introducing me to The Daily Puppy! How cute is Teeka the Shih Tzu?! GAH!

[Patricia]

Your post about swearing just kills me with laughter. I have a son with Asperger's and we've had some tough times. One "specialist" said to me once, "Don't you think you swear a bit? I'm sure it isn't a good influence on your son". My reply ~ "Who do you think TAUGHT me those words?" Ha ha ha!

The otter clip is very cute. I can't help but remember a recent tour I took of a zoo in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada before we moved this past summer. I asked the zookeeper who was their worst resident and he pointed to the otters. They liked to bite and were spiteful. So while I'm admiring the lovey-dovey otters I'm thinking they are laughing at the audience...

[Linda aka Kropster]

Cole's drawings are amazing. I think he could easily earn his college tuition money if you slapped some of thse drawings on stationary, notecards, or sticky-notes. I know I would buy them ... as would every Red Sox fan in America!!
Great job Cole.

[katie scott]

I now say "oh for goodness sakes" instead of the F word and now my children say "oh for goodness sakes" all the time - instead of saying the F word all the time which is what they used to do. Thank goodness the Sopranos is over - that show made me say the F word way too much.

Those otters are pretty "oh for goodness sakes" cute :)

[Melissa S-E]

COLE IS INTO "WHITE SPACE"!!!! He's finally listening to you, don't you get it?!? He has been listening to you praise the virtues of white space and he's putting into practice!! :-D

[Christine Campbell]

Cole's ROCKIN the white space. Way to go!!!!

[Shelley]

SO needed a laugh today. jon's site cracked me the heck up. and from a momma who's 2.5 year old says what the hell when she can't get her blocks lines up just right - i say swear on... you're kids will still know right from wrong.

peace.

[melissa deakin]

those drawings by your son are incredible and i love that video!
thanks for sharing these!

[DEANA]

Ok, loving the Regular Every Day Normal Guy video. Been singing it to myself all morning. I woke up this morning without getting enough sleep last night and 2 huge bags under my eyes. This video really made my day! Thanks for mentioning it! :-)

[Terri B in Oregon]

Cole's drawings are so cool! Totally detailed! They remind me of the way my oldest son used to draw! And the links were great, irreverent, non PC and all. And the otters. We have otters in Newport, OR Aquarium, and they are so damn (whoops sorry Aidan) cute, swimming, eating shellfish by putting them on their chests and cracking them between two rocks! Adorable!

[Jen]

Sometimes, a little inappropriate humor (off-color is good too...) goes a long way to making a crappy day a LOT better. It reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously...

[suetreiber]

we are currently watching the last of the Sopranos and I have been swearing up a storm. Funny how it just sneaks in...
the drawings are awesome. My son loves to do the same thing...detailed drawings of the same things over & over.

[Ashley Schultz]

LOVE the otter video. So stinkin' cute. Cole's drawing is precious.

[Julie]

Cathy, I laughed so hard at your post about Cole's drawings, I had tears running down my face! Fabulous!!

[Sarah]

darlin' if you haven't smoked in almost 2 years and you want to swear by jeezum you can go ahead and swear.
we have a game here - we say 'regular' 4 letter words like they are swears. we've passed many a car ride with "TREE!" "SHOE!" "BOAT!". it's all in the inflection...
love the illustrations - I have a junior artist too, only he's into Pokemon and Yu Gi Oh characters, so we have many 'creatures' floating around the house.

[melanie]

Those drawings are incredible, really! Frame those babies!
I'm jealous, b/c my kids' drawings aren't that cool. ;)

[Susan]

ok, huge blog lerker here, but that damn otter post was soo cute. i am crying as we speak and making my boyfriend watch it so he can learn a thing or two...damn pms...

Susan

[Amy Sebert]

What does one search to find otters in love? Or better yet, how long must one roam you tube to find otters in love?

[Dana Lambert]

Lovin the drawings. Too cute. The otter video actually prompted me to post, which I am really too impatient to ever do. Anyhoo, I was over here just going on about how darn cute the otters are, isn't it so sweet, they're holding hands! blah,blah,blah. My husband just looked at me like I'm nuts. He's not liking the otters so much. Oh well........
Dana

[julie]

Oh... now that is too D@mn (don't want to offend Aiden)cute! Thanks for sharing the love. Makes me smile big smiles.

[Heidi]

Cole's drawings are just the cutest. And the sea otters were pretty darn adorable.

[Laura]

if you really need something stuck in your head, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGOohBytKTU

You've probably already heard of them. They seriously make us laugh, and most of their stuff has lots of swearing. It's business time!

[Laura]

if you really need something stuck in your head, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGOohBytKTU

You've probably already heard of them. They seriously make us laugh, and most of their stuff has lots of swearing. It's business time!

[Erin Glee]

Thanks for sharing Cole's woderful art, and the otter video link...I was "awhh"-ing the whole clip & will show it to my kids tomorrow...yes, Nature and the Internet are cool inventions!
Peace Out, Erin : )

[Gina]

Man! That Jon LaJoie is freakin' hilarious! I've got a list a mile long of people I want to share that with. Thanks for today's post - LOVE Cole's style (Don't ever change, Cole!), gotta get me that Allison Krauss/Robert Plant CD (She's so good with duets, isn't she?) and those otters were so adorable! Tschüss!

[Houston]

Thanks for the list, sometimes you forget the simplest things (like a good laugh or holding hands) are the most valuable.

[vanessa]

I love coming here in the mornings for a good laugh! that link was great!
Drawings wonderful, my son does the same thing , he is into to drawing flip books, I have hundreds of note pads with tiny drawings in the corners and they put a smile on my face every time.

[Sue K.]

Seriously, how did we ever entertain ourselves before You Tube?

Love Cole's white space. :D

[Penny]

My hands are up. I could do this all day.
Love the drawings.

[Debbie Cook]

ok. well, now cole's drawings are one of MY favorite things! that's the work of a little creative genious!

[kim in Camas - ScrapToMyLu]

your son reminds me of my 8yr old. He is totally into drawing lately. He even decided to draw his own comic books and thinks he can sell them on ebay. LOL
Since I won't buy anymore Pokemon waste of money Cards, he has now started drawing his own trading cards.....calling them Z cards. The kid cracks me up. He even has two other kids in the neighborhood wanting his cards. I hope our sons stay this cool.

[Rebecca Gawryl]

Ok. I am so not a squishy kind of person, but those dang otters almost made me cry! How cute are they? TFS!

[Margaret C]

LOVE Cole's work !!! Keep it up, kid ! xx

[Faye]

OMG that is soooo cute. We've just watched it at work and all the ladies have been going awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

Love Cole's drawings. Forget about saving for the future, buy that new car, Cole is going to be rich and famous and able to support you in your old age.

[Kenny]

Anything Alison Krauss lends her presence to is magic. I'm not a huge Plant fan but feel like I may be becoming one in the near future!

[catherine feegel-erhardt]

johnlajoie ... oh my God!
I am making my husband so mad by laughing so loud so late...and that makes it even funnier but... i cannot help myself. his videos are emabarassingly funny! LOVE the breathing commercial! thanks for the much needed laugh!

[willowthewysp]

OMG!!!
That is SO cute!..Made my heart flutter!
Thanks for sharing that!
xx

[Barb Congdon]

I just got my first iPod and downloaded the Raising the Sand album. Yeah, technology, when you embrace it, is fabulous.

The album is so amazing I can't even put it into words. I saw the Gone Gone Gone video on VH1, but decided to buy it when I saw it here.

Too awesome for words! Everyone reading this must get it!