Hilarious!

My cousin Samantha, who is the newly elected President of the Rhode Island College Democrats, posing in her Michele "Crazy Eyes" Bachmann Halloween costume. Love the tea bag earrings!

Chicago Hope

Theo Epstein formally introduced as Cubs' president of baseball operations

Here's hoping that Mr. Epstein can help the Cubs shake that "103 years without a World Series championship" monkey off their backs. Is it too much to ask that I get the chance to see my beloved team win a championship before I die?

Future Boyfriend, Take Note

Wondering

Do any of you find this commercial gross, or is it just me?

Freddy Krueger Pug

This will never not be funny. I would totally do this to my pug, Mushi Mu, on Halloween if I had the sweater, hat, and glove.

It Was Bound To Happen Sooner Or Later

My first cold of the season, that is. Itchy nasal passages? Check. Head congestion? Check. Intermittent runny nose? Check.

This is what happens when parents send their sick children to school instead of keeping them at home where they should be. So frustrating. Green snot should automatically earn a student a trip home. Especially when said student can't wipe his own nose, keep his germ riddled hands to himself, or cover his mouth when he coughs.

Plans for the day include some Sudafed and a Netflix marathon. Perhaps even a nap before the Blues-Ducks game this evening.

Julie And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Michael's funeral was this morning. I had bad cramps (sorry, TMI). One of my co-workers needed a swift kick in the rear from my size 7 boots of reason (still does). The teacher I work with had to go home early due to illness (caused from the stress of dealing with said co-worker). One of my students was on my last nerve. I had a flat tire during the drive home and had to wait an hour and 15 minutes for the tow truck to show up. I had to spend $60 for the tow truck man to put the donut spare tire on. The donut spare was also flat. The Chinese restaurant I went to for dinner didn't have peanut butter chicken. My cat horked all over the kitchen floor.

*Sigh*I'm going to bed.

For Michael

Rest in peace, sweet boy. Your loving soul and big, beautiful smile will never be forgotten. You'll be in my heart forever.

Seriously?

When I stopped to fill my car's gas tank yesterday afternoon, the price of gas was $3.26/gallon. As I was returning the nozzle back to the pump after $30 worth, I noticed the station attendant changing the numbers on the marquee. In the short time that I spent at the pump, the price of gas jumped 19 cents to $3.45/gallon. What the hell?

OMG! Waffle Fries!

Peoria to get Chick-fil-A

"The now-vacant Regions Bank on Scenic Drive will make way for a Chipotle Mexican Grill and a Chick-fil-A. The tear down of the former bank is expected to be completed this fall, and the new restaurants should be open by the spring, a news release from Simon Property Management states".

Happy Birthday To A Very Special Lady

My beautiful Grandma B. celebrates birthday #96 today! Doesn't she look fantastic for a 96 year old? I can only hope and pray that I inherited the "aging gracefully" gene from her *fingers crossed* Mom and I are planning to visit her at the nursing home this coming weekend when we stop in Farmington for the Spoon River Drive. I miss her so much!

Lordy, Lordy, Look Who's 40!

My brother, Bart, became an official quadragenarian on Friday, Sept. 30! His co-workers helped him mark the occasion by gifting him with a cake, a black balloon bouquet, and all kinds of middle age staples, such as Preparation H, Tucks wipes, Metamucil, and a bag of marbles (in case he started to lose his!). I hope he enjoyed his very special day! Love you, bro.

P.S. I'm not trying to suffocate him or perform a neck adjustment in the photo above. I was just going in for a hug.

SUCCESS!

Remember when I was coveting this super cute Reebok St.Louis Blues Faceoff Cuffed Pom Knit Hat? Well, after 8 months of searching online and coming up empty, I finally had some luck this weekend! My best friend Kelly and I were in St.Louis for the Blues and Dallas Stars pre-season game on Saturday and decided to do some pre-game shopping at nearby Union Station.

When I saw this hat in the Lids store, I knew my long search had come to an end. Isn't it the cutest? (please ignore my goofy face) The design is a little different from its' predecessor, but it is indeed a Reebox Faceoff Cuffed Pom Knit Hat. In fact, I think I like the new design better. I'm now officially ready for the cold and snow. Bring it, Mother Nature.

P.S. The Blues were atrocious that afternoon, losing 4-0. Jaroslav Halak wasn't looking very good in the net. Thank God the game didn't count. Kelly and I were so disgusted we left midway through the 3rd period to beat the traffic.

The Sorting Hat Has Spoken

Better be...

I FINALLY got my Pottermore welcome email last Sunday! I was beginning to worry because I had solved the clue on Day 5 (way back on Aug.4) and still hadn't gained early access to the site, which was promised to the first million participants by mid-September.

Anyhoo, I was sorted into Ravenclaw (huzzah!) and was "chosen" by my wand, a 12 1/2 inch hard pine with dragon core. My only complaint? Pottermore is constantly unavailable due to high traffic demand (that's what happens when you try to cram in 500,000+ users at the last minute).

In the limited time I've spent on the site, I've discovered that I'm total crap at Potions. I'd be on Professor Snape's hit list for sure!

Growing Like A Weed

My 12 year old nephew Garett is already 5 ft. 7 1/2 inches tall and towers over Grandma. He needs to stop growing up so quickly