Off to bed, but before I go, I want to share two instant message conversations that I recently had with my mom.

The first...

Mom: By the way, what does btw stand for?
Me: By the way

(I don't know... I just thought it was funny.)

And the second...

Mom: I'm so excited to go to Florida. I'm bringing my iPod with me!
Me: Good, make sure you charge it.
Mom: I have to charge it?

Ha ha ha... love her. I know I make fun of her computer skills on this blog, but I love her more than words can say.

So how coincidental is it that today's Daily Candy kids email (a must-read for all best aunties out there) is about a handbag?

Yes, it seems a company out there named Scribble Couture can customize a handbag with a design made by your little munchkin. Neat, isn't it?

So here's what I'm thinking... how amazing would the "rocket" that Nora made for me in school look on the side of a handbag?

Yes!

(No.)

I snapped this picture of my friend Mark as we were chatting yesterday. I love it.

So how much do I love it that my step-sister, Tracy just sent me the following email:

Hey Karyn... Today is Dyngus Day in Buffalo. It's a Polish/Buffalo celebration. Men go around hitting women with pussy willows to flirt with them. Sounds fun, huh? For some reason this seemed like something you'd appreciate.

Okay, first of all, Dyngus Day? It sounds like a mix between dingleberry and dufus—I love it!

Second of all, pussy willows?

YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE PUSSY WILLOWS!

From Tracy's blog post today:

Every Easter, when my in-laws leave our house to return to Buffalo, they wish us a Happy Dyngus Day. I've asked my husband about Dyngus Day, and he gives me vague explanations of people hitting each other with pussy willows.

I mean, how fabulous is that? And yet, there's still more...

The annual celebration is held in Buffalo the Monday after Easter. On Dyngus Day, men and boys flirtatiously swat women and girls with pussy willows and squirt them with squirt guns.

Yep. Not only are there pussy willows-a-plenty, but people get wet, too.

Omg, I can't believe something like this exists. And I can't believe I'm not there.

Oh! And check this out from the official Dyngus Day Buffalo website:

Close-up:

Yes, "Brought Together By Dyngus, Couple Married During a Pussy Willow Filled Ceremony."

I can't tell you how happy this has made me. They need a Dyngus Day Queen. Does anyone know if they have one? I'm going to campaign for the position next year.

To thank Tracy for bringing Dyngus Day to our attention, please vote for her in this year's Pillsbury Bake-Off. You do remember she's a finalist, right? Yes, out of the tens of thousands of people who entered this year's contest, she's been chosen to be one of 100 finalists. The big contest is in April; here's a link to her recipe, Jalapeño Popper Cups.

They look good, don't they? And they are!

You have to register to vote, but it's the least you could do for the woman who has no doubt brightened your Monday.

Thank you, Tracy!

"Where has Mark been lately? He hasn't been online in days."

— My mom, on the phone today, curious as to everyone's whereabouts now that she has instant messenger