We’re at the beach for a few days, and today my little man and I went for an early morning walk.

Nothing better.

The very best episodes of “The Office” show us the sweetness behind the characters even when they’re acting like total jerks.

Which is to say: tonight’s episode was gold.

A few highlights for the husband and me:

1. “The tall guy got engaged.”

2. Let’s Get Ethical

3. “Because? I’ll just take up smoking. I’ll do it.”
“I’ll do it with ya. I’ve got a bag of cigars in my purse.”

4. “When I discovered YouTube, I didn’t work for five days.”

5. “I once reported Oscar to the INS.”

6. Jim’s stopwatch

7. Holly-lujah and Mike-raculous

8. “It’s kind of business-romantic.”

9. Michael blocking the copier.

10. Phyllis and Stanley high-fiving.

But above all else, the Dwight / “Battlestar Galactica” / “open soda bottle” stuff made us laugh until we wheezed.

What did y’all think?

Right now it’s about 4:30 in the afternoon and I either need a caffeine infusion, a nap, or both. I suppose I could “cook supper” for my “family” so that they can “eat,” but I think we’re gonna have a make-do supper. Cheese quesadillas for everyone! With Doritos! I’m way behind on the laundry and need to get us packed so we can head out of town tomorrow, but I’m telling you, people: it is difficult to do laundry when you’ve been overtaken by a bout of the narcolepsy.

Anyway, I just wanted to tell all of you who emailed me about the Praise Baby blogging stuff that you’ll have some specific information from me in the next couple of days. Y’all pretty much tripled my expectations in terms of how many people might respond, and I want to make sure all the info I send you is accurate. So just as soon as I talk to The People In Charge, I’ll shout you a holla via email.

Hey. You know what’s sort of sad? When a mama in her late thirties says “shout you a holla.” Teenagers around the world cringe in unison when that happens.

But I can’t help it. Because I’m street, yo.

Also: I got my hair cut today and it’s way too short and I’m borderline traumatized by it but trying to tell myself that it’s a good thing because the world’s economic systems are falling apart and now I won’t have to spend money on another haircut for a very long time.

Seriously. I’m thinking I’ll be ready for another cut sometime around 2011. By then it hopefully will have grown out below my chin.

I’ll be back later with an “Office” recap. Because even though I’m sleepy and my hair situation has me contemplating some extensions, Andy Bernard will make it all better.

Oh yes he will.

Just a few items of (relative) interest:

1) A few weeks ago I mentioned a possible night-o-fun for bloggers who live in or around Birmingham. And after we all exchanged a couple of emails, we realized that schedule-wise that particular date just wasn’t going to work.

So. All that to say.

We now have a new date for All The Fun. It’s on a weeknight in October - but not on a Wednesday so it won’t interfere with church. If you live in this area and you’d like more info, email me.

2) I’m helping the folks at Praise Baby line up some contributors for their new blog. Specifically (and ideally), I’m looking for about 25 people who would commit to writing two short posts over a period of three months (late-October to late-December). If you’re interested, email me. And yes, there is free music involved.

3) And finally, because it’s never too early to start planning for the holidays:

I’ll post more details in the next week or so!

p.s. Shannon made the adorable button. I’m telling you: she is handy on them there computers. FAYN-CEE!

Have I mentioned that Travis Cottrell has a new Christmas CD out today? And that I enjoy his new Christmas CD very much?

Well apparently I’m not the only person who loves this CD. Because this morning there was a rave review in CCM Magazine. I mean, “Goosebump-Inducing Holiday Record of the Year”? That’s some high praise, my friends.

And look who’s Mr. Number-Four-on-iTunes-Holiday-Downloads:

FANCY!

So needless to say, I’m oh-so-happy to be able to share this CD with ten of you.

Here are our winners!

52 - Cyndi
58 - amykay
162 - Marie - no blog - yahoo email
190 - Jesica
369 - Britt - no blog - yahoo email
443 - Jessica
699 - Lindsay
755 - Kelly
814 - Rebekah
931 - Joyce - no blog - cox email

Congratulations, winners! Just send me an email with your mailing address (please write “Giveaway Winner” in the subject line), and the CD will be on its way to you ASAP.

If you didn’t win, you can certainly download a copy of your very own, oh yes you can.

Thanks so much, everybody, for your tremendous response to this giveaway!