Three things I'm not really loving this week:

1. Club Penguin. The kids came home from the sitter's the other day begging to enter this online world called "Club Penguin." My very smart and cyber-challenged husband told them they'd have to wait until he found out what it was and until mom -- the household PC expert (which isn't really saying much) checked it out. I read up about it and decided it wouldn't hurt to let them try it out and let them sign up for a free account. I was totally annoyed to find It actually costs MONEY to access some of the features -- a monthly fee that I refused to pony up. And, I'm glad I didn't because this site is pretty stupid. I'll admit that I'm making this judgment having spent all of 20 minutes looking at what it had to offer, but...honestly, it's got nothing on Webkinz.com.

2. Medicating a cat. Turns out my uber-skinny old cat (he's 14, but...you'd never know it!) has a thyroid problem (which explains the weight loss, raging appetite and endless thirst). There are three treatment options: Surgery, radiation or a pill twice-a-day for life. Well...being that he's 14, the first two options are out. Ever try to give a cat a pill? They're way smarter than dogs. If you hide it in food, they'll figure it out. For the first few days I managed to trick him into eating it using the old pill-wrapped-in-turkey trick, but...he got wise to that ploy quick and could eat around the pill and spit it back out. I've resorted to holding him on my lap, forcing the mouth open and sticking the pill so far back he can't spit it back out ...then he gets the turkey. We both hate it -- and I have the scratches on my arm to prove it. (I will say, however, that he's looking much better and has gained some weight back...possibly from all that turkey I'm bribing/consoling him with).

3. Running conditions. I can handle snow ...really I can. I don't love it, but you can run on it. Ice...slush...not so much. It's going to be a long winter.