perhaps the funniest thing about this recent submission to the reality project  is that it came with no accompanying explanation:

 i will now offer you the only plausible rationalization for natalie’s edgy little menagerie :

an oafish teenager, trapped in a middle-aged man’s body, was robbing a florida grocery store in search of the perfect tv dinner. witnesses say he was wearing a tan shirt bearing the image of a muskrat and holding a brown plaid umbrella, while peering at the contents of the store freezer through a paper towel roll scope. the suspect proceeded to a nearby beach-side condo to charge his phone, drink a beer, change into a green shirt, deodorize, and microwave his lunch. when the unsuspecting renters returned to the condo to reapply sunscreen and suction out their 8-month-old’s nostrils, they came face-to-face with the bandit. they put a pot of water on to boil and were discussing the best way to season thief stew when the suspect fled the scene.

typical case of arrested development.

for the past few days, the monkey has required the following object for all afternoon naps and night time sleeping:

yes, this is an embroidery hoop.

another friend told me last night that she and her husband have remade their three-year-old daughter’s bed with items that blind them with tackiness. the powerfully ugly bedding, blanket, and matching night light are comparable to the sight of heaven for their little girl, who just spent a long-awaited and much-celebrated night in her own room.

and finally, another friend swears that the best $9.99 that she’s ever spent was for the purchase of this umbrella:

bed time for this child now includes the careful arrangement of said umbrella so as to create a sort of sleeping canopy.

what is it with these kids and their sleeping accoutrements?

what bizarre objects are necessary for bed time at your house?