An update

So, I sent the bus fight post to the RedEye - an offshoot of the Chicago Tribune. Guess who's been posted in their blog about public trans? Here's the link - I'm pretty sure it's identical to my post below - I'm just putting it out there. http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/redeye/2009/08/a-cta-bus-argument-blow-by-blow.html I'm interested to see if anyone leaves any comments. Hey, y'all - I'm in the newspaper! (Ok, KINDA, but whatever) It's still cool I think. The lady that writes the Going Public column and maitains the Going Public blog was pretty awesome - so thanks to her for re-posting my post. p.s. - this does NOT count as post 200 - still working on that. Thought you'd just be interested in the updated.

Big milestone

Soooo My next post will be #2oo. Please let me know what you'd like me to write about. Leave your comments, and may the best suggestion win. That is all - back to your regularly scheduled Monday.

Everybody was kung fu fightin'

I got in a fight today On the bus. Ah, public transportation. So, every day I get on the bus at the train station to get to the new office. There are quite a few people that take the same bus as I do, every day. A few of these people are gigantic assholes. There's really no other way to describe them. Here's what happened: We were sitting on the bus, still at the station, waiting to head out. Another #120 bus comes around from somewhere behind us in the line with maybe 3 people on it and heads out on the route. This dude starts yelling at the bus driver. "Where is that bus going!?! Why are they going first!?!? Why isn't anyone on that bus?!?! What time do you leave?!?!?" Well, this last question got an answer from the bus driver: "Sir, I leave at 7:48." (It was 7:45) This did not calm the dude down. He kept yelling and berating the driver, and making empty threats about his brother, who works for the CTA, and blah blah blah. He had a little peanut gallery, specifically this trashy women who is also another regular on this bus. She starts nodding, and saying stupid things as well. By this time, the bus is packed and we are on our way. Need to mention here that the dude was sitting down ranting and raving. Standing directly in front of him was an elderly woman. Standing.In.Front.Of.Him. Did he offer her his seat? Oh, hell no. Anyway. The bus driver politely tried to explain things to the irate dude, to no avail. The dude kept interrupting with more rant and drivel. At one point, the bus driver said: "Sir. I leave when I am supposed to leave. I don't know what else to tell you..." At which point the pinhead said "I can't hear you. It's like you're not even speaking English." I was sitting nearby, stewing at all of this crap. Finally (you knew it was coming, if you've ever read this blog, even once, you knew it was coming) I got mad. (my comments in bold - as they should be) "Enough. I've had enough. Stop talking." "Um. What?" "Take a cab. Walk. Plan your day better. Leave earlier. I'm tired of you. Stop talking." "What?" "Every day. You do this every day, and I'm tired of it. I'm sick of hearing you." "No one wants to hear your opinion." (this is one of my favorite statements he made) "REALLY!? Because why, then, do I have to hear yours?!?" (Yep, I'm pissed) "Bu bu bu my brother works for the CTA!" "Great. Do us all a favor - ask him to drive you to work." This went on and on for a while. Trashy-lady just sat there tsking and making faces at me. He and I argued until we got to their stop. At one point, after I said "It's not his fault. Leave the driver alone." I heard behind me "Yeah! Leave him alone!" and it wasn't just one person either. So, dude and trashy and a whole bunch of others get ready to get off at their stop. Trashy says: "F&#K you bi&$H!" and practically runs off the bus. Before she can exit the bus, I say: "Really?" I mean - really? I'm firing off valid points left and right without ANY profanity - and this is her witty retort?! Oh, no, she didn't. But she did. She is now invisible to me. I mean, if that's the best she's got, she's no longer on my radar. She's like those puffy white things that dandelions turn into - they're there, and they bother you a little, but you blow on them and they go away. Once the angry mob was off the bus, the woman next to me said "Are they really always like that?" As I'm about to respond, another rider says "Yes. They're really bad. It's annoying." "I'm bad?" I say "No, no. Them. You're right - they do this all the time." "Hey, in this day and age, I think we're all lucky to have jobs, and shouldn't be complaining about how we get there." (I can be calm and sane sometimes) The rest of the ride was uneventful. I stood up the block before my stop and went to the front. I was pretty much the last person on the bus. "Thanks for having my back." said the bus driver. "Oh! Of course! He was wrong, and you don't deserve that." "Well, thanks." The best part of the whole thing? I get to see them again. Tomorrow. And Friday. And Monday. And Tuesday......... (evil laugh, wringing of evil hands.....)

Sorry, not Charlie

VonSis is fostering a dog this week. He is a shepard-mix who is allegedly about two years old. He came to the Commune with the name Fulton's Harley Joe. He now answers to Stormy; we just couldn't handle that awful name. Even calling him Harley wasn't cutting it. Stormy came about when I asked where VonBrotherInLaw is right now. Turns out he's in Houston, so that didn't work. Then I called VonBrotherInLaw the StormChaser, so that's how FosterPup got his temporary moniker. I say temporary because we've decided not to adopt him. There are a few reasons for this, all of which are valid. He's super cute - when he's not peeing in my house, her house, the garage, the basement, etc. We're pretty sure that although he's very young that he already has some sort of hip and/or back problems. Dogs cost money. I have no extra cash these days, none. Certainly not the kind of money it takes to be a pet owner. The biggest reason, I think, is because he's not Charlie. I thought by now I'd be ready for a new dog. I also know that VonSis would rather have a dog than not after the break-in. Still, he's not Charlie, and I'm not ready I guess. But, that being said - I've also tried to keep my distance from him (I type on Tuesday night, while petting Stormy with my left hand while he paces around my house). I know that I'm a sucker for all dogs, and the longer he's here the more attached to him I will get. I know this is not good, as I know in my heart that he is not the dog for us. However, after the decision had been made - two days ago - that he would be leaving after his week of foster care was up, I teared up as I said goodnight to him and went downstairs. He's adorable and some other family will adopt him and love him very much. Another family that isn't us, that isn't thinking about Charlie all the time, and crying still when we do think about him. I think VonSis and I both want that moment when we meet some stray mutt or shepard that makes us instantly say "Awww" while smiling. The dog that'll mak us remember Charlie without getting sad. He's out there - we just need more time I guess. ***writer's note: this is NOT the post I wanted to present today....but we'll talk about that another day. Probably Friday....***

Looking back a few years......

I've been thinking about my senior prom today. It could have been a random thought that leaped into my head for no reason, but I'm pretty sure there's reason. A) I've started hanging out with D&D again aka TheTwins aka my former besties from H.S. (thanks FaceBooooook, for the reconnect!) We've been hanging out a lot, and doing the "remember when" thing. B) I watched "Prom Night", "High School Musical 3", and "Twilight" this weekend (Ok! Ok! You get to temporarily revoke my cool card for this admission!!) So, proms aplenty. My senior prom was AWFUL!!! I wore a white dress. MyGawd - I was that girl who's friends lied to her and told her the dress looked nice so I bought it but I totally looked like the "before" picture in a weight loss add and the dress had that longer-shorter-in-the-front awfulness that made it even more heinous yes I know this is an incredibly long run-on sentence but I had to keep typing this admission lest I delete it and you wouldn't be reading this tasty nugget of my past. Phew! Besides the horrible dress, I had my hair done in a french braid with two horrendous spiral curls (one on each side) and gold jewelry. I do not now nor do I ever remember liking gold jewelry!! I was also not pleased with my date. He was my boyfriend, but he was a freshman and I was a senior, so I knew I had to dump him sometime between prom and graduation. I think it may have been about 48 hours after prom. He was a dork, AND a very sloppy kisser. I also beat up Chris at our after-prom hotel room. Chris is many things to me to this day. She's a) the only roommate I've ever had. We lived together more than two years and only wanted to kill each other once or twice b) one of my very best friends from high school. She was the first girl at my new school sophomore year to talk to me, and we've been friends ever since c) the mother of my nine-year-old goddaughter whom I adore and love as my own So, the fact that I beat Chris up is not only something I can't ever forget but also something she likes to bring up, especially at family parties, or major holidays. The truth of the matter is I didn't beat her up - I merely pushed her out of my way to get into the bedroom and broke the door with her body. Whatever..... Anyway, not my finest moment. Our prom colors senior year were something like blue and silver - LAME. Who matches with that? Who looks good standing next to a big silver wall? Bleh. Our song wasn't even good. I know senior year I was all dark and angsty, and I totally wanted Depeche Mode or Morrissey or Big Head Todd and the Monsters, but NOOOOOO we had to have trite Peter Cetera/Cher song. "After All" I think it was. Really? Because "After All" is a big defining song for 17 year olds and their love lives. Why couldn't my prom have been like any of the movies I watched this weekend? Ok, sure "Prom Night" ended with a lot of dead people, but their prom was AWESOME - with a professional deejay and confetti and all. And sure, "Twilight" had some vampires and werewolves there, but they had really good tunes and a pretty gazebo that was all lit up. Sigh. I guess the grass is always greener on the celluloid side. At least I have my wine-glass favor that is filled with wax to look upon and and remember. Why is the glass filled with wax, you ask? Well, that was the fantastic idea our faculty came up with to try to prevent our drinking a-l-c-o-h-o-l on prom night. Snort. Yeah, that worked.

An apologetic little ditty

I want to write a new post. I really do. BUT I'm tired My brain has been fired I'm less than inspired I'm a little bit wired Give me a chance To return to the dance With lovely words and stories absurd But not today No chance, no way To sleep I go I'm lame - I know

Light at the end of the tunnel

Tomorrow immediately after work I head out to Michigan with Shannon. TheMarty will join us Thursday after he gets off of work. It's really one of my most favorite times of the year, I can't imagine doing anything else around the 4th of July. I don't remember if this is my fifth or sixth year joining Shannon and her family for the 4th. What I do know is it's one of my happy places, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I know that every day we've spent together in Michigan has made us closer and better friends. Except that one time, last summer, when she tried to kill me on the jet ski, but I also know never to get on a jet ski with her again. I plan on telling Shannon every single sordid detail of my date Saturday night, and I know she's looking forward to hearing them all. I plan on going to Steak and Shake, Walmart, Cracker Barrel, the movies - all of the things that make this weekend what it is. Weekend, ok, that's an inaccurate definition, as we'll be there from Wednesday to Monday, but that's my kind of weekend. I know I'll have at least one moment where I sit back on the deck, look out at the lake and say "Hello, summer, I've missed you." I also know that I will fall asleep to the sounds of the frogs (and possibly the rain at some point) in the channel. I know that I will play lots and lots of games - the fun relaxing kind, not the kind that mess with your mind. I know that I will be nowhere near any computers, so please enjoy your vacation from me. I hope that you will come back after this mental-health break.

Weekend in Review

So, I'm not going to lie. Yep, I went and saw the New Kids on Friday night. Yep, this is an AGAIN thing, I know you know that I know that you know that I went to see them in October. I make no apologies! It was fun. Goofy, silly, summer-time fun. Surprisingly, Jesse McCarthy (McCartney? Not sure) provided one of the biggest laughs of the night. So, he's like this child who sings. He's up on the stage singing and gyrating in front of thousands of women old enough to be his mother. After one bland yet sexaaaay song and dance numbers, he let loose with the following awesome: "So. Ladies. Just so you know. I'm 22. - dramatic pause - Which means.....it's not illegal." It was actually pretty funny. It was a perfect night for a concert - balmy and warm, not at all humid. Awesome. I looked around from my very very good seat and had the 'I love summer' moment. Saturday? Saturday was a date. An awesome date that went on and on and on. I don't think I'll be going into details. Not today anyway. Just an fyi - either Wed night or Thursday morning I'll be heading off to my much needed much loved looooong 4th of July weekend in Michigan with Shannon and TheMarty. This means no internetz.....just lake, boats, drinking, sleeping, laughing. So if I don't get a chance before I leave to write another post, I hope your 4th is awesome and safe.

Mish mosh post

Has anyone else noticed that Brooke Shields has a lot of problems? No, I'm not THAT mean, I don't mean the mom-having-dementia thing, I mean Brooke Shields and her shit-ton of product endorsements. She has: Sun damaged skin Yellow teeth Damaged hair Bad teeth and a sundry of others I'm pretty sure she still likes Calvin Klein jeans too. Does she really need the money that bad? What's next, incontinence? "I'm Brooke Shields, for Depends" I fully admit to falling prey to "I'm a Celebrity - Get me out of here!". Sure, I was just waiting for Patty B. to get kicked off. She was on there WAY too long! She just got kicked off last night! Anyway, tomorrow night is the final episode. I'm rooting for John Salley, but I have an inkling that Lou Diamond Phillips is going to win. I think it's a good thing for him - it may help us forget a) his wife left him for a woman and b) he starred in "Route 666" a fantastically bad made for Sci-fi channel horror movie. I've got this hankering for some retro music this summer. I'm all about REM, INXS, Depeche Mode, Psychedelic Furs, The Smiths, The Cure, New Order. It came on pretty slow, like a trickle, but now it's a full on romp down memory lane. I think these bands and the times that they bring up for me were some of the best times in my life. Ahhh - Medusa's..... Sorry, sorry, I'm back. Sooo, if anyone has any wonderfully classic tunes they'd like to send my way, I'll take them. Right now I am in the process of as I hear an awesome song, I write it on a scrap of paper, go home and check my CD library, and if I don't have it I go on iTunes and buy it. A lame and slow process indeed. Enough rambling for today. Still getting used to my new office place space. Still feeling like the new kid in school. Still not so keen on it.

A new addition

About a month ago, I sated my creative side. No, I didn't actually get my hair dyed blue or purple as I had originally planned. What I did do was get a new tattoo. It's a decent sized Scorpio symbol above a decent sized Scorpio constellation. They are both done really well in a lovely shade of purple. I think it suits me, and I don't regret it, as I don't regret any of my tattoos. A few people in my life have a problem with the fact that it's on the inside of my left forearm. Visible sometimes, bigger than I had originally planned. I decided at my age not to hide it from my family or friends. I went to show VonParents one night. That night I was pleasantly surprised by their lack of reaction. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't hoping for a reaction, I was just expecting one. About a week later I had the unfortunate experience of hearing their (mostly VonMom's I think) opinions on the new ink. Some gems: "It's stupid" "It's huge" "You don't even like it" - Hm....this one confused me. Apparently VonMom thinks she knows me better than I know myself, because I'm pretty sure I love it..... "To date, probably your worst life decision" "What does it even mean?" "It's not like you to do this" This last statement has been coming back to the top of my mind. This statement defines the problem between my mother and me. This statement made me really think about what IS like me. I realized that if I were truly being me, and not worrying so much about what my family would think and have come to expect, I would probably have at least ONE arm tattooed with a full sleeve. I would have more holes in my ears than I do (currently triple-pierced). I would wear a lot more black a lot more often. I would do less on schedules and more on whims. I would probably have never gone to college at all, and might have run off to the circus, or to follow the Dead. I might have eloped once, and at the ripe old age of 20. I've come to love my life, but I'm not 100% sure that it's the life I would have loved. I know that when I broke my leg I lost my daredevil edge. Sometime after that, I lost a lot more of my edges. So, while my mom chews on the fact that I do these Horrible things that she cannot understand, I sit home on Sunday night planning out my outfits, paying my bills, balancing my check book, straightening my fridge - instead of out running around, drinking too much, staying out too late. I don't know if it's in the cards for me to actually be the person I might have been. I don't think that the person I should have been at 20 (the age of my first tattoo) is still the person that I should be now. I just know that every now and then I get these Time-for-a-big-change urges, and they do not go away. I'm starting to think that if I had following my urges,whims, and instincts more and longer that I would be more settled with myself. On a better note was CB's reaction - and it was her's that I had feared the most - she admitted that I am "free-spirited" and that she knew this about me. She said that she would get used to it. Which is pretty much how I ended the conversation with VonMom. My final statement to her: "Well, it IS a tattoo - so you have only one option, which is to get used to it."

Best of Intentions

I have a couple of decent posts a'brewin in my melon, but time has not been a friend of mine. So, here it is, Saturday night, and I'm writing a post about why I didn't write a post yesterday. Thanks to "The Facebook" (as Chris calls it, she's sooooo German sometimes) Laura and I have reconnected with the twins that we were best friends with all through high school and into college. We met them for beers and burgers last Sunday to catch up. Turns out that one of them lives 7 houses away from me, and has for 3 years. Damn, small world!! The other one lives less than 10 minutes away. So, instead of writing a post Thursday night, I walked my happy ass and a case of beer over to Twin1's house to hang out with both of them. We watched "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here" and drank and laughed and had an awesome time. Also, work has been crazy lately. Thursday night we moved our office. We left the offices we shared with another small division (5 people) of the gigantic corporation we work for. Friday I had to find my way to the new office. We now work with all of the other Chicago employees of the corporation. Our new space is 3 floors worth of people. It was like being the new kid in school. CB had some things to do in the morning, so she didn't get in to the office for the first few hours I was there. I didn't even know where the bathroom was. It was mildly intimidating. I plan on writing more about the move next week too. I know, I know, I'm rambling - basically the move was the other reason I didn't get to post something worth reading. Mea culpa. Next week I hope to post something worthwhile.

A possibility

Perhaps you've noticed a slight change in my tone lately. Yes, there is a reason. About a month ago, I met a guy. It was a very random meeting, that revolved more around our mutual adoration of Hot Doug's than anything else. My train friend had told me that she and her boyfriend and his friend were heading to Hot Doug's on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. I totally invited myself along - as any mention of Hot Doug's gets me salivating. Plus, to be honest, I've been looking for an opportunity to hang out with train friend B outside of just chatting on the train with her every day. I think we're working our way towards being actual friends, so this was a good opportunity. Anyway, I invited myself along and train friend B let me do so. Back to the guy. He's funny and smart and interesting. Ok, sure, he doesn't live in Chicago, ok, he doesn't live in Illinois, but these are things that I don't think really matter right now. I'm interested in him, and I'm thinking he might be interested in me too. We've been emailing back and forth for a couple of weeks, and have begun to text every now and then. Of course it's slow going, as all things like this should be (in my opinion, any way). I'll be honest, I look forward to his emails, and try to be witty and bright in my responses. So, we'll see. That's the reason that I've been in a better mood lately. God, I am such a 16 year old girl some times......

Just sharing - back to your regularly scheduled day.

Blushing now, need to find something to be snarky about.

Von takes a bite of the big apple

Yipee!! Internet back working! Aaaah. New York City. I finally had my first real visit there last week, Mon through Wed. Sure, it was a work trip, but I still got to see more than I thought I would. Thanks to the most awesome team building exercize EVAH, I went on a four hour whirlwind tour of the city. Some of the things I saw/did on our scavenger hunt: Rode the subway Went to Grand Central Station Met the most fabulous, helpful, wonderful people at Kleinfeld's (Oh, Von, you mean THE Kleinfeld's? From "Say yes to the dress"? Yep, that one!) Ate dimsum (nope, don't like it!) Wore an I heart New York t-shirt while running around - so did my team mates, it was worth 500 points! Saw the Empire State Building Stood on a roof top Not only did I get to see a lot of the city, but we WON!! There was something like a 600 point difference. Let it be known that sales people are all about the competition. The first night we were there, we ate dinner at Capital Grill - I know that we have one here in Chicago, but I have never been to it, so I was pretty excited. The second night, after the loooong forementioned scavenger hunt we headed over to Lucky Strike for some bar food (Oooh! Fries!) and some more friendly competition. Oh, yep, my team won the bowling game too! (WE ROCK!!) After Lucky Strike we headed out to Time Square. I think that was my favorite part of the whole trip. It was a warm night, and I got to see all of the lights, and the people, and the stuff.....we really don't have anything like that here. We went to the W hotel and had some drinks at the Living Room. I felt really out of place there, but we were tucked into this semi-private corner, so I felt better. The best parts of the Living Room? There were two. 1: The idiot waitress who kept pronouncing one cocktail a group of us kept ordering as the "AAaah siiiigggh EEEEE" I could tell she didn't really know how to pronounce acai, so she just made up something of her own and ran with it. I think I ordered a second one just to get her to repeat it. 2. The couple directly across the way from us that was nearly/probably/likely getting it on. Now, them mauling each other was one thing. When our VP went over and walked behind them and waved at us grinning? Awesome. When we took pictures of them mostly vertical? Classic. When they got up to leave and we gave them a resounding round of applause and cat calls? Priceless!! Oh, yeah, while there we did lots of important business stuff too. Top secret, can't go there. Best parts of the trip? The scavenger hunt. Lucky Strike. Winning. Time Square Spending good quality time with my people I never get to see, but talk to every day. Worst parts? The smell. The garbage. The lack of green things. The mice I saw running along the street. As of right now, I can say I've been there. I would happily go back for work whenever asked. I don't know that I would go back there on a vacation. There are too many other places I would like to see first I think.

Home

So, I just got back from 3 busy and fun days in New York City. I'd love to tell you all about it, and I'd love to give you my thoughts on the Big Apple. But I have no internet at home (again). Once it's fixed, I'm all over it!

Get her out of there!!!

Dear Readers, Please. Please please please. Help me get Patti BlagoBitch off that t.v. show!!! For those of you unawares.....she's on that "I'm a Celebrity get me out of here!" show. There was nothing else on last night, so I watched this show - mostly because Speidi are on it too. There PB, and she's lying LYING about why her husband got fired, and all of this b.s. Oh, AND Today the charity that she thinks she's playing for has declined her offer, so basically she is playing for HERSELF. The longer she stays on the show, the more $$ she makes for herself and that evil piece of sh^t she is married too. So, I ask a favor - please turn this show on long enough to get the phone# that will get her kicked off. Thanks for your cooperation, V

Eins....zwei....

So, I have a computer. Got home, turned it on. No internet. Call LandPerson/VonSis "Where is that thing with the stuff on it for the wireless?" **yes, she totally knew what I was referring to** "Oh, yeah, so the internet is messed up." "Like how?" "Like my husband was in the computer closet and knocked shit over. Like your modem." GGGGGRRRRREEEEEAAAAATTTT And, this weekend, we are all working at the festival -MaiFest at Lincoln and Leland for those of you close by *cough*Jennifer*cough* so, it won't be fixed before Monday at the soonest. Again, I ask, fingers crossed. I know, this is getting old, but still. Have a great weekend!

Rat Bastard

Text 1: Call me. Now. Your computer is f*$ked. Text 2: Call me. Now. Even Microsoft can't fix it. Message: "CALL!ME!" Yeah, head's up dipshit - I don't use my cell phone at work. I get no signal 30 stories up anyway. So, RatBastard (formerly known as StepBrother E) has completely fried my computer. I had to run home, find all of the discs ever given to me for my computer, and run them over to his house. There was screaming and yelling, and sighing, and the like. It ended with me leaving and saying loudly "I don't care! Just f*&king fix it!" He had the stones to yell at me about how Vista sucks, and everything sucks, and yadda yadda yadda. Well, no one jumped up and offered to assist me when I was buying the damn thing, so yes, I went with what Best Buy is telling me. In my comments a statement was made that if someone's laptop was busted they would be screwed because they don't have the $$ for a new one. MAKE NO MISTAKE - If it really is broken, homeboy RatBastard is buying me a new one. He wouldn't want to create a family rift, would he? No. So, he'll be pulling out the credit card if that's the case. I don't want to think about it too much. So, on that note - must be short and sweet, as I really do hate blogging at work. Hope your day is better than mine.

Stupid me

So, I have no laptop again, due to my own stupidity. I love when people, family people, make me feel bad, so I do something to make THEM feel better, and I get screwed. "Von, I was hurt when you sent your laptop to Best Buy." "E, I'm sorry. It's running really slowly, would you take a look at it for me?" "Sure." So, I leave my laptop with E (stepbrother1) on Friday night. He ASSURES me that I will have it back during the weekend. It's Tuesday. No laptop. Sent E a scathing email this morning, accusing him of being worse that Best Buy. We'll see how this pans out.

Better

Thanks all for your kind words and concern. Things are getting better at the commune. We'll be spending some time this weekend fortifying our home environs. We're probably also going to meet some little guard doggies by way of German Shepard Rescue. Perhaps we'll have a new furry friend sooner than we had originally planned. There is the matter of getting the back fence repaired (stupid f*cker) before we can actually bring the guard-beast home, but it'll get done. Big strong heavy front doors for my sister are a first priority. Preferably ones that will break your f*cking foot or shoulder or whatever before it breaks. Other than that? Drinking, board games, sleeping, cleaning, all of the good stuff a long weekend usually brings. Thanks again for being so awesome. Have a great weekend, and I'll see you all on the flip side.

Barely sleeping

Last night I slept with the lights on. Like, ALL of them. The kitchen light, the living room light, and the bedroom light. I had the bathroom light on, but that felt excessive. This was my added security measure. I locked all of my windows - who needs a breeze? I also made sure (ok, 4 or 5 times) that my door club thing was as secure as it could be. And yes, I may have checked the back door deadbolt more than twice. I was able to fall asleep around 11, and I only woke up 3 maybe 4 times. The night before last, around 4:30 someone smashed/kicked/busted their way in to my sister's house. She's my landlord, she lives upstairs from me. The evil evil bastard smashed in her front door, ran up a flight of stairs and kicked in another door. This person was in her house. This person was also in our backyard, had smashed out our back fence - think big tall over 6 feet tall heavy wood fence - and may have tried to get into the building on the first floor. Thankfully, by the grace of God, my sister is fine. Sure, she's in shock and upset and angry and oh, yeah, did I mention in shock?, but she's alive and breathing and unharmed. I'm also fine - more or less, a little leaning to the less. I'm pissed. I'm pissed at myself that I didn't wake up - either from the noise or the instinctual fact that my sister was in trouble -. I didn't even wake up when sister/police/family were walking all over the building, up and down stairs, in and out. I didn't wake up to the text from her 'someone broke into my house'. I didn't wake up until she tapped on my door, about an hour and 1/2 after everything went to hell. I'm a shitty sister. I'm pissed at this horrible person. They're life is over. They will get caught, they will go to jail, and I will laugh and be please. After I breath a sigh of relief. I'm scared and sad and sick to my stomach. Not even a week ago, on a chilly rainy night, I was sitting in my adorable living room all cozy on my new couch, reading a book. I looked around and realized how much I love my place, the building, the area we live in. I felt safe. This person ruined that for me. I know that I'll get that feeling back, but it's going to take a while. I hate that as it got dark last night I got a tension headache and that I got all OCD about windows and locks and such. I hate that my electric bill is going to be higher for a while, until I can sleep without all of the lights on. I hate that some random person can do something so evil and stupid and violent. I can't even go into our back yard with out seeing how badly he smashed out (or in?) the fence. I'm going to be trite and say it: Why my sister? Why us? Why where I live?

Delayed reaction weekend in review

Drank: Italian Whites, Pinot Grigio, lemon drop shots, lambic, chocolate martinis ("you need to sip it before you pick it up!"), Monty Python Holy grAil, HoneyMoon. Yummmmm. Did: Secret stuff, quac...chiropractor appt., volunteered Roger McGuinn at OTSFM, bartended a quincenera (cheap-ass tippers), visited VonMom for about 10 minutes, hung out with John and Toni. Lost: My lunch nearly on the cab ride between bar and volunteering gig, an earring that I'm pretty sure is either in my dress or in my bathroom, a $20 somewhere dunno where, probably some brain cells, sleep. Gained: An honor of the most touching variety that I was shocked (shocked I say!) to be given, a voodoo doll (Thanks J&T!!!), that warm fuzzy feeling that I have the best friends anywhere, a hug from Chris who lives too far away, a slice of pie that I didn't quite give to my sister (whoops) I've been loving my weekends lately. They've been the best. Even though I'm not spending time with everyone that I would like to be spending time with, I have to say that the Friday night to Sunday night thing has been pretty amazing. I think I just need to find some balance. See, once Mondays hit then it's all down hill. No calls, no texts, no emails - I feel like my weekend people are back to their regularly scheduled lives, and that I'm not a part of that. Admittedly, once Wednesday hits, the communication blackout is usually over so that the plans can be set for the pending weekend. I guess I'm lonely on Mondays - long story short. Not a bad reason to find a boyfriend, someone to hangout with/call/text/chat with Monday through Thursday. Good thing I got that voodoo doll. Apparently he's (it's?) supposed to help me find a man. A rich man. Hm....gotta go find me a safety pin or a feather or whatever. Welcome to the week, my friends - I hope your weekend was as sunny/amazing/loving/fantastic as mine was!

For the Love of Zombie Rotten McDonald

Deir Peeples,

Helllllo!! Mah name is Zoe, and I am the Zombie that lives on Von's desk. Heir is a pitcure of me:

Nombrainznom...

Cuse me, got distracted.

I want to tel you that I lovz some tings a lot. I lovz:

KO - she maide me in her houze frum some yarn. I will NOT eat her brainz.

Von - she letss me liv on her desk and givs me friends and ztuff. I will prolly NOT eat her brainz eiver.

MOST OF ALLLLL I LOVZ OTHER ZOMBIES!!!

FOr essample:

I lovz the muvie "Night of the Living Dead". That Gore Romero got us down pat!

I also lovz the book "World War Z". Ok, Maxs Brooks, I may have to eat your brainz beecase you think you humans wins! Mwwwwahhh......

brainzbrainzbrainzzambrainobrainz

Damm! Sorry got discotracted again!

I wuuld be re-mis if I forgot "The Re-animator". Lovz Stuart Gordon!

Becuzz of Von, I has to like much musik. Of curse, I lovz The Zombies! C'mon "She's not there" and "Time of the Season"?!? I woold be very very hugree before I ate thoze brainz.

Lovz a looot that Rob Zombie. Nut onlee is he a qualitee film macker, he alzo rote a song about me. Yuu may have heared of it? "Living Dead Girl"? Besst song ever!! Pluzz he is drrrrty.

Buut I diegress.

I am really heare to tellz you how much Von and I lovz Zombie Rotten McDonald!http://empireofthesenseless.blogspot.com/ (alzo over der in the blog roll. Ther, stoopid, to your rite)

Von waz veri nervice when she started this bllogg. She thaught no one would readz it but then ZRM waz veri nise and mite have read it sometimez and made nise commentz that made her feelz much better. He didn't even knoe her at all then!

Then, thiz one time when Von waz saad about her dog, ZRM sent her some musik CDs and then she was not sad animore. Just out of the bloo! Like a nize persen would do! AND the musik CDs were very very good!

ZRM has veri fantastix tastes in musik!! Like no one elze!!

ZRM rites very good blogg postz that are funny and make sense and are good to read. They make me a smarterz zombie.

ZRM is nice and a frequent commentater over heier witch makez Von happi and that is ok with me. They are lik frendz and may even meat somedai!

SO pleeze, if you valuu your brainz, go visit Zombie Rotten McDonald and show him some lovz.

OTHERWIZE I WILL EAT YOUR BRAINZ!~!~!

brainznomnombrainznom.

Okey, got to go eat something ***brainz****

Thaankkk you for your tym.

Luvz,

ZoeZombie

We Love Zombie Rotten McDonald

A Starbucks Tale

Here is the full story about my run-in with Awesomeness over the weekend. If you are one of the people I called and screeched this at Saturday morning, sorry for the re-run. So, Saturday morning after my quack....I mean chiropractor appointment I went next door to the Starbucks. Since I was just running to the doc I hadn't really bothered getting all dolled up. I was wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt that says "Wicked Pissah" that I picked up in Boston last fall. The line for the coffee was looonnng. There seemed to be some sort of back up with the baristas. So, what did I do? OF course, I looked around for the hot guys. Oh, and there was one HOT guy. He was standing one person over from me. About 6'3", ripped, and h o t. Dude was looking around a little, but more or less kept his head down. So, I'm checking him out and I get the notion he looks familiar. 'Do I know him somehow?' I think. Hm. For some reason I looked at his shoes (I never do this, don't ask me why I did). He was wearing Yves Saint Laurent suede loafers. 'Ok, expensive shoes. Maybe I don't know him, but I know him, like he's famous or something.' Right around this time, the barista says "Did you order 2 lattes Z?" yet he kinda dropped off the "Z", so if you weren't standing right there, you weren't sure if you heard it. Hot guy says "Yes." Hot guy then looks at me and says "I like your tshirt" I say "Thanks!" waaaaay more brightly and quite a bit more high-pitched than my usual sultry vocals. "Here you go Z." That time, we ALL heard the Z. Hot guy picks up his coffees and walks out the door. Not a minute later, 2 or 3 guys blurt out "Holy SHit! That was Carlos Zambrano!" We all tear over to the windows - I think we all wanted to see what Big Z was driving. He wasn't driving, he walked away. Starbucks was immediately abuzz with our mutual brush with greatness. And me? Oh, yeah, I'm the gal he talked to. Me. All because of my silly tshirt. Sigh. I get my latte, and go skipping back to my car - still elated, still giddy. I walk past some couple and the guy says "Wicked Pissah, funny!" I ignore him, I mean, he's no Zambrano! I call my mother. Well, not true, I called my dad as he knows who Zambrano is, but VonMom answered the phone. After I get done telling her the story, she says "But Von, you were wearing a tshirt. How are you going to get him to marry you wearing that?" She missed the point I think. I'm still giddy. I think the coolest part was that no one bothered him, no one approached him. He was able to just go grab some coffee and be on his way. That's my brush with greatness, it made a great start to my weekend.

Your thoughts?

I've got a hankerin' to do a small, wee, one might even call it tiny stripe of fun color in my hair this summer. I'm thinking purple (fav) or blue (might be pretty). I'm thinking I'd like to do a small hardly noticeable horizontal stipe from ear to ear at the underside of my hair. So, a whole lot more understated than a vertical stripe or two or ten. SO. The problem is ChicagoBoss. Though I can find no where in our handbook where such an idea is taboo, CB strongly (and a little sternly) frowns upon this idea. This idea is gnawing at me like a rabid racoon and will not cease and desist. It's been about 6 months now. I've presented the arguement that one thing I have a lot of is hair, and I can pin up the aforementioned colorful stripe at a moment's notice should we have important visitors, or if I need to run an errand to a client, etc. CB is, well, highly doubtful. I would love to have some ideas as to how to convince CB and the rest of my boss-people that this is a good idea. Or if not a good idea, something they will let me do. Because they love me? Or maybe because they are fully behind backing my whim, as it will have zero effect on my performance and productivity. I lay it at your feet, my interfriends. Advise me please.

Well, yes and no

Yes, I know that I have a sneer semi-permanently attached to my face today. What of it? No, you do not smell liquor coming out of my pores. Yes, I showered at 12:30 am. Drunken showering is a new favorite past time. No, I didn't win. Yes, I had to do a shot. I was done in by the very drinking game I invented! **At 55 minutes past every hour, the person with the highest $$ in poker chips and the person with the lowest $$ in poker chips must do a shot of tequila. Viva Cinco de Mayo! I had the highest chips at 9:55. No, I do NOT think I am still in my 20s. Yes, everyone at the poker party is very attractive. No, I did not forget that I have a very long day today, including Deutsche klasse. Yes, I do think I may fall asleep on my desk at some point today. No, you may not write on my face with permanent marker when I do. Yes, I did stop at Daily on my way home. Because it's my Cheers and all. No, I did not imbibe at Daily. Yes, we did hum or sing snippets of "Poker Face" most of the night. No, the people I play poker with do not think Lady Gaga is attractive. Yes, I do think all of the above was a good idea for a Tuesday. Nope, you may not join me next week.

I wish

I wish every day was Sunday. I wish iTunes would give me back the songs that I lost. I wish dieting were easy. Easy as pie. Easy as cake. Mmmmm Cake. I wish I could go see a musical every week. I wish I had won MegaMillions. I wish I had a dog. I wish my ABC free episode player would work. I wish VonSis would take me to Frank's Diner in Kenosha, as Guy Fierri(sp) said I should go there. I wish no woman on God's green Earth would wear sandals or flip-flops before they got a pedicure. For pete's sake, ladies. Please. I wish people used only words they understand. For example, Disrespectful is NOT a synonym for Ignorant. I wish the man of my dreams would just come to my door and sweep me off my feet already. I wish someone would make me some chocolate chip cookies, and that I could eat them without shaking up my diet. I wish my hair were about 3-4 inches longer. I wish my dishes would wash themselves. No, I do not have a dishwasher. I wish I were a little bit cooler. I wish I had a fun streak of blue or purple in my hair. (Boss thinks this is a bad idea.) I wish my friends who are out of work would find jobs. I wish my friends who are sick will become well, and stay that way. I wish that the tourists I have to encounter on a regular basis would start paying attention to where they are going, and stop being so stupid. I wish every work week was four days long. I wish to have my job f o r e v e r. I wish I were going on a vacation sooner rather than later. (July? Really? That's a ways off) I wish something awesomely funny would happen, so I can share it here. I wish they would cancel The Hills. I mean, without LC, is there any show? Nay, nay I say. I wish all reality t.v. would go away. Ok, The Amazing Race, Diners DriveIns and Dives, and Man vs Food can stay. Get rid of the rest. I wish there was an unending bottle of wine in my kitchen at all times. I wish you all a great week.

Configure this

Dear Laptop: Ok, you kinda suck. I gave you time to recover from your ordeal. Lots and lots of time. Just last week, you had two nights that I left you on so you could download the 62 Windows updates, and then install them. Why oh why did I have to wait an hour yesterday when I turned you on for you to configure updates? Didn't we do this last week? Don't you know I have things to do, and among them, a blog to write? I'm bigger than you. I can totally crush you. Or throw you against the wall. Or jump up and down on you. Stop pissing me off! Love, Von

Not attending, nope not me

Alas, I have nothing snarky to say about poker night. Well, I did go home $20 lighter, but the people were nice, the beer was tasty, and I had fun. I'll be going back next week, so I'll keep you updated. SO This Saturday night some of my classmates from high school are having an informal reunion of sorts that was formulated and organized on facebook. If you're a regular reader of this blog, the following should come as no surprise. I'm.Not.Going. First, they are meeting at a pizza place. A bad pizza place. "Meet at Dino's. $12 all the pizza and pop you can eat!!" Yep, hi, um, we're on the other side of 30. I think you could have picked, oh I don't know, a BAR?!?!? Secondly, one of the organizers is someone I beat up my senior year. More than once. Ok, more than twice. Even the teachers didn't like her. How do I know? One of the times I beat her up, I had her pinned up against the lockers right outside her homeroom. I was trying to get her to *ahem* see things from my perspective. Anyway, upon one of the slams against the lockers, her homeroom teacher came out to investigate. 'Oh, shit.' I thought. I kinda froze, I knew I was caught and in deep trouble. Mr. X looked at her, looked at me, then back at her, and back at me. He said "Oh, Von - it's you." And he turned around and walked back in the classroom and closed the door. I finished my conversation with her and went on my way. This is a true story! So - M (the chic) has re-written history via facebook. She's friended most of our class, and now she's organizing this fiasco. I thought I was nuts, but the few chics that I still talk to from h.s. agree with me that M is still a pathetic loser, and living in a fantasy world. I did scan through the list of those attending. There's maybe one or two people who I would like to see. But I'm a GrownUp. If I want to see them, I will email them and arrange a get together. I don't need to go eat bad greasy pizza and talk to a bunch of chics I could give two shits about. Poor M. Poor chicas that think this reunion is a good idea. Poor pizza place having to put up witht them. My weekend is all booked up with grown up kewl activities. No time for the lame.

Tonight tonight tonight whoa oh....

I'd love to stay home tonight and write y'all a post. However. I'm going to poker night. At some dude's house. He's hot. Like really really hot. And young. I barely know him, we work in the same office, but not for the same division. I'm going to play Texas hold em with him and his probably-as-hot-as-he-is friends. Yes, yes I do think I'm that girl from that show "My Boys". I plan on winning all of their $$, charming the pants off of them (do what you will with that), and writing all about it for you later this week.

Well, look who has internet....

I'm not going to lie. I am downright giddy about getting my internet back up. Here's the backstory on that. Was having some beer and conversation with the LandOverLord Friday night. I gently bring up my continuing lack of internet. LOL: "I've decided you can get that fixed. I was on the phone with them for 2 hours, I don't want to deal with it." Well, shit. Had she said that two weeks ago I would have summoned someone from my vast minions of IT peoplefriends. Well, shit. So, I text the first person I think of (hm, this person, of course, is the WORST person I could think of). VText: So, come over tomorrow morning and fix my internet? Reply: Sure! 8? VText: FU. 9. Reply: Sure! So, bright and fackin' early on a Saturday, my ex knocks on my front door. Sigh V: Hi Ex. Ex: Hi! Ex's outfit alone just reaffirms all the reasons he's an Ex. 2 hours later - I haz internets. Ok, it really only took about an hour, but he wouldn't leave. I offered to buy him a doughnut, he declined, but wouldn't leave, thus not allowing me to go get a doughnut for myself. Oh, the problem with the internet you ask? Well, the wireless router (is that the word? I think, yes) was not connected. To anything. Yes, even I can see this could be a problem. Bastards. Very long story, very short ending: I haz internet!!! It's currently raining (awesome!). I'm full from brunch-going with Shannon and TheMarty (awesome!). I'm listening to "More than this" by Roxy Music (awesome!). It's been a good weekend. Last night was fantastic. Beyond fantastic. Yesterday was an incredibly warm day here in the frozen tundra - it reached the low 70s. I was hard pressed to not wear my bathing suit when I went out to meet John and Toni for dinner. I met them at their place, and we walked over to People, a tapas place in Wicker Park that I had never heard of, much less been to. We put our name on the list - 30 minute wait on a Saturday night? You can't beat that! - and went to have a beer at the bar. Delirium Tremens? Yes Please! I got carded giggle grin and not 5 minutes later we were offered a table outside. Outside!! Dining al fresco in April!!! Squeeeeeeee!! * Ok, side note, it's not like they had a patio. I was pretty much sitting in the middle of foot traffice practically in the middle of the sidewalk on Milwaukee Ave, three doors down from Double Door, while John and Toni were kinda sitting on the curb. But I digress* I love love love eating out with J & T. They love to eat (like me) and are foodies that I trust. So, this lead to 8 or 9 items on the menu being ordered by us. I actually lost count. I know the waiter tried to take our menu more than once, and we would just laugh at him and say "Oh, no. We are no where near finished!". Some items I remember: Ceviche, flank steak, mussells, salmon, goat cheese w/ tomato sauce, ham plate, tuna, chicken, pork, plantains......it was all delicious. So, it was during this lengthy evening of awesome that I had a thought. You know, one of those moments where I should have been listening to the story that Toni was telling me, but I wasn't really, and I thought to myself 'So, I'm outside, drinking good beer, eating fantastic food, spending time with people I geniunely dig - my life rocks right now.' And I was hopeful. And I was happy. I actually had a moment when we were walking back to their place and it was still warm and I was all aware at how happy I am. It's carried over into today. A new leaf? Oh, I doubt that. But still, it's cool to be cheerful once in a while. I know, I totally just rambled and jumped all over the place here today. Forgive me. I'm rusty at this here blog. I'm glad to be back. I'm cautiously optimistic that both my computer and internet are fixed, at least to the point where I can maintain this here bloggy blog. Welcome back, happy Sunday.

Have and have not

What I have: A computer. Sure, it's my computer, but it's a) a little banged up (FYOU Geek Squad! Hope you don't meet me in a dark alley!) b) it's been completely wiped of anything/everything I've ever had on it. I have backup discs, and I think I installed them, but I can't find them. What I don't have: Internet. What you don't have: The return of Von For Now. Sigh. Again, accepting things I have no control over. Or trying to. aaarrrrggggghhhh. What I do have control over? Paying the LandPeople for internet when I have none. Once they see the check is short, it might move them to fix the situation. I remain yours, and beg your continue patience. Von

A little distraction

Dear Reader, I hope you have been missing me, as I have missed you. I'm trying to be all Zen/AA and say things like "It is what it is" and "I'm not going to get upset about something I can't control." -grant me the serenity and all that- BUT I miss my computer. The Best Buy Geek Squad of Major Losers has been silent this week, so at least a week more, I'm thinking two. In the meantime, my superawesome co-member of the Tricycle of Awesome, TheMarty, has answered questions all about yours truely over at his blog. It's HI-larious. I recommend you check it out: http://onepretentiousbastard.com Also (prenounced allllzzzzzoooo, as in the German word. It's my new favorite German word, and I use it all the time. It does not mean the same as the English also, it is merely "so" or a place keeper, like "um") Also, I give you the best quote I heard today on lunch. Here's the scenario: I was walking down this corridor, and coming the other was a group of about 5 guys, all in their mid-20s. They all had on khakis and button down shirts. They were all in a heated discussion. As I passed them, I heard one of them say: "So, like, what IS the buffalo stance, anyway?" Best.Quote.of.the.Week. I think I'm going to start writing down some of the better quotes I hear and report them back to you. Once I can. Once my computer is fixed. Alas. I remain yours - hopelessly devoted, V

And the bad news is....

No computer for At Least two weeks. Planning on the way the Geek Squad has been treating me for the past eight days, I'm thinking it'll be at least three. I continue to refuse to blog at work, as I love my job, and intend to keep it. So, for now, I stay on hiatus. Frustrated and missing you all, Von

Fingers crossed

Laptop currently in hospital. The Geek Squad swears they can fix it. Patience and fingers crossed. Thanks.

Phoning it in.

I've got no time, and nothing good to write about. So, for today, I give you this: My favorite commercial (right now, anyway): "Give me back that filet-o-fish!" "Give me that fish!" "Give me back that filet-o-fish!" "Give me that fish!" I know it's stuck in your heads now too. And........you're welcome!

And how was your Tuesday night?

Oh, no, MY Tuesday night didn't involve going over to Metro to see a once-in-a-lifetime U2 show at the ultra tiny ultra awesome Metro. My Tuesday night went like this: "Hiiiiiiii Von!!!" The twig. It's talking to me. Why? Why is this pencil talking to me? I'm trying to read US Weekly. Lauren Conrad has a lot to say, and I want to read all about it. "VVVVVVOOOOONNNNN!!!!!" It's not going away. I look up. I'm not at home. I'm sitting in a hard plastic chair at Athletico. Oh, yeah - I have physical therapy tonight. That's why I'm here. I don't get US Weekly at home. The twigpencil? Kelly. My therapist. She's all of 12 years old. She also weighs as much as my left big toe. High pitched voice, up-talker, probably went to a large midwestern state school and was in a sorority. "Ready to work it!?!? How are you feeling?!?!!? How's the knee?!?!?" I'm not sure which to answer first, if at all. I follow behind her. Lumber really, more than follow. I say "Mmmhmm. Yep. Yeah." "How's your knee??!?" I look at my knee. (As you know, I communicate with weird things, i.e. my t.v., my computer, my left knee). Nope, the knee's not going to respond. "It hurts." At which point I tell her how I'm an idiot and can't buy shoes that fit, so I dragged myself around in a brand new pair of shoes Monday that were too big, and does she think that might have caused the knee pain I have today? Twiggy starts me off with some heat therapy. I see. Lay on this table, watch baseball, some dude comes over with this giant heating thing wrapped in a soft towel. Lay there for 10 minutes. Therapy doesn't suck. After that? Ultrasound therapy for 7 minutes. Cold gel on knee (knee rebelling, but only I can hear it) followed by Kelly ultrasound wanding my knee for 7 minutes. Therapy doesn't suck. Knee cap manipulation. Therapy sucks! Hurts! Hurts! Hate Kelly! What did I ever do to you!? "Is that uncomfortable?" Can I stab you in the eye with a pencil?! "A little" "Well, it will help. Just bear with me." After that I had to do some stretches and exercises. Those weren't so bad. I bet they'd be easier if I did the ones I am supposed to be doing at home. Who has time for that? Not me. I may have to try though. Might make the sessions with TwigPencilKelly a little easier. So glad I get to go do it all over again on Thursday.

Less coughing, more breathing.

I'm finally shaking that horrible thing that I had last week. One part flu, one part cold, two parts chest cold, etc. You know how it is because it's the same thing that's been hitting everyone, everywhere. Take a hint from me - never ever say "Hm. Winter's almost over and I haven't gotten sick." That's what I did. Three days before I got sick. That being said, I'm making the slow full return to my life, and that includes this here page. Being sick for a week makes for nothing of note to write about. So, delay of game. But I hope to be back aces in the short term.

Ups and Downs

Right about now, I: Dislike: Sundays Snow Taxes McDonald's Plantar Faciatis (or however the hell you spell it) Knee pain Dane Cook's continual lameness Nap-free weekends Cold showers with no water pressure(putting this on the HATE list) Pink Dry skin Physical therapy stretches German Lifetime television for women A lack of NCIS marathon this weekend Being brokeish Beyonce Babies with absolutely no schedule and loud screaming habits The near epidemic of the bed bugs in the "greater Chicagoland area" Like: Shamrock Shakes Freshly painted, though short, nails A clean, cozy apartment Gifts given that seem to be a hit Red velvet cupcakes My homemade afghan from my Tante A homework free weekend My job A stylist who is also a friend who will give your bangs a trim when you don't have an appointment because she knows this is of the utmost importance to you A vacation day pending Old Town (it never fails to lift my mood) Dervish Daily Bar and Grill, and those that work there My WoodWick candle (it's just awesome) PAWS, Anti-cruelty, and the pound. Looks like I'll be seeing you soon ( I hope!) Love songs My crush(es) *An amendment. I wrote this list yesterday. Which was before I woke up today, sick as a dog with a horrible evil chest cold. I'm wheezing. I need to cough, yet can't, because it hurts too much. I'm more than a little pissed at whoever gave this to me. And I was just thinking how I had avoided getting sick all winter. Jinxed myself there I guess. So, I am home sick from work today, sitting here just trying to breath without coughing. So, this evil chest cold and whoever gave it to me are #1 on my list of dislikes.

In the hopper

See the title? That's where all of my fun ideas are. And, where they remain. I have a couple of decent blogs formulated and rough drafty, but not quite finished. It's been a busy week, first VonSis's birthday Monday, then Poptart's birthday Tuesday..... On top of that, my stomach and I aren't getting along today. Bleh. Therefore, nothing going on here today folks, please move along. Oh, and yes, you heard it here first - Chuckles is coming to Chicago this summer. Or so he says. We shall see. Will there be shenanigans? Check back to find out.

Dear Check Please

You can suck it. For real. SUCK IT. Thanks so much for not only having a segment on Kuma's Korner, but ALSO for re-running it, what, like daily?! Saturday, Jyl and I met up at Kuma's at 2:30 (2:30!!!) for "lunch" at Kuma's. The place was teeming and overflowing with *gulp* yuppies. The wait? 1 1/2 hours. For lunch. At 2:30 in the afternoon. In a snow storm. We were both starving, so we didn't wait. We ended up at this cute little cafe. It was good, but it was no Kuma's burger. Sunday, I had hoped to meet up with John and Toni at Kuma's. They headed over there around 5. 5:00 on Oscar Sunday? 2 Hour Wait. Again, nothing but yuppies. As Toni said "Not a tattoo or piercing among them." On top of that, it was a 1 hour wait for take out!! Needless to say John and Toni headed elsewhere, and I stayed home. I ate a cheese sandwich. A poor poor substitute for Kuma's. I love Kuma's. I feel happy there. I feel at home, and truly among my people. But now, just like any good thing, it's become trendy and overrun with the bad. Until they expand, or summer, when at least the beer garden is open, I won't be going back. Check please - shit - please stop playing the Kuma's episode!! I think the whole freakin' Midwest knows about the best burgers in the world. (Ok, why did I want a gigantic cheeseburger each day this weekend? Well, I'm giving beef up for Lent, so the perfect last meal would have been Kuma's. Alas, Check Please has ruined that dream for me) *deep breath* I feel a little better. Not quite beef/cheese/frizzled onions/bacon/homemade chips better, but better. V.

Red Light Camera Hell

Dear Red Light Camera, Oh, you are SO tough. Ok, you got me. But let me fill you in on something. There wasn't just a little ice, the entire street was a sheet of ice. So, when you send me the pictures of me "running" the light, I'm going to fight it. I hope that the pictures relate to you that I didn't run the light. I skidded through the light. My car wasn't even going straight. I was in forward motion, but kind of going sideways. I think the camera will show my terrified face, and me white-knuckling the steering wheel. My normally 20 minute drive home from schule was a one hour nightmare. I went no more than 10 mph at any given time. I even yelled at a police man. He was at some mini-mart with a dozen other cops, and he's standing kind of in the street saying "Go! go!" I looked at him and said "No! No." Last night was one of the top 5 scariest driving experiences I've ever had. So, red light camera, send the stupid ticket. In April, when there's no snow or ice. I guarantee you, I won't be paying it.

Damn you John Hughes

At lunch yesterday Marci asked me when am I planning on trying on-line dating again.I told her I didn't know, and that I'm hoping to work on my real and actual crush. In a similar vein, Shannon, TheMarty and I discussed how internet dating is a whole different animal than liking a guy (say in your class). We all agreed that the situation I'm currently in is a little bit harder than the online alternative. I was thinking about all of this stuff last night and today. I blame John Hughes for the romantic mess that I am. I am Watts, with no Keith in sight. I'm Allison, without a kind-hearted jock to kiss me after I put on a little eye-liner. I'm more Ducky than Andi. I grew up on these movies, and I think they set the bar high. Maybe too high. I think that deep down I want unrequited/conflict/misunderstanding/resolution/big kissy ending/happily ever after/end credits, and I want it all within 90 minutes. I want the gazes and the sighs. I want the slightly deluded but ultimately supportive parents. Who are sometimes matchmakers. I want to know which of the two groups I fit into. Richie? Other side of the tracks chic? What? I mean, what other options are there? I want Shermer IL. I want all of this set to a fantastic soundtrack. Rumor has it John Hughes lives not too far from Chicago. I'm thinking of looking him up and asking him to be my wingman, I think he owes me that much, and that he'd be great at it. I think I need to explore this topic further, but alas, work calls. Perhaps another day.

Best of intentions

I had every intention of writing a fun perky post today. And then. And then I stayed up way too late last night. Thus. I slept a little too late. And then. And then I woke up and realized that there is an NCIS marathon on today. SQUEEEE!! And then I had some errands to run. A) I have a physical therapy place and and appointment for next week. B) I joined a new gym. C) Got my eyebrows threaded. D) Realized I have yet to tackle my german homework. I have not one but two essays to write. Auf deutsch. Argh. And then I lost my motivation to provide a stellar post. So, cheap and easy is the way of today. Friday night highlight: Drinking Heineken with bohola. They and their guests performers could not have been nicer. They were so low maintenance, it was the easiest show I've worked hospitality for. And so much fun. Was slightly annoyed they ran over by 1 and 1/2 hour, but that happens. Saturday highlights: Good times at my favorite little one's second birthday. EXCEPT that everyone was wearing red. Made me want to puke a little, but otherwise a good party. Worked show at Old Town. Followed by drinking at Daily. Good times. Sunday highlights: Out with Shannon and Marty. MD acoustic show in Evanston at a small little blues bar. Sigh. Big sigh. Sure, I ignored MD like the plague, but that's just what I do. After that we went to a diner for fried foods and french toast. It was awesome. I don't spend enough time with them in general. SO, commercial break is over. Gotta go catch up with Gibbs, Abbey, McGee, Ziva.......

A little help?

Ok, I'm going to go all girl here for a bit. Humor me please. Oh, and no snark. I'm looking for honest opinions here. Here's the thing. I have this crush. This gigantic crush. He's someone from my class. So, he's been around since September. We have class once a week for 2 1/2 hours. I feel like he appreciates my humor, he's laughed out loud a few times at things I say. I feel like he picks on me (in a good natured way). He's super cute. But not unaccessible. I've had a crush for a while, but it's gotten worse. See, if I notice that there's some banter going on for a while, I get a little nervous. So. Advice. I need advice people. I dig him the most. Yet. I don't know how to approach it. I can't write more about this now, I'm getting all nervous just thinking about it. I don't want to mess it up. So, again, I say HELP?

NCISwwwwweeeetttt

Why I love the show NCIS:

• The name. NCIS. Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Naval or Navy? Either way, not of the belly button, but of seamen. Sea people. Seafolk?
• Gibbs. Yummy. Has been since the fine piece of cinema "Summer School". And he was front and center in one of those dreams last week, so, yeah. Agent Gibbs. (Not really Mark Harmon, just Gibbs)
• Abbey. She's so cool she's wicked pisser. I want to be her for, like, ever. She's a genius - she's the team's forensic scientist; she's goth - like really goth, in ways I want to be, but can't in my current life; she's like 7 feet tall and nice and thin; she rocks out the pig tails - ok, I wear pig tails fairly often, but hers are way better; she wears red lipstick, flawlessly, and sometimes black lipstick, also flawlessly. I just want to be her.
• Ducky is the punny endearing British morgue dude. Once, he got to be an undercover guy.
• NCIS shot one of it's main characters in the head. In.the.head. Right after she got shot in the chest, and I was all 'omg! Kate's dead!' and after the commercial break she sits up and everyone giggles 'Aw, gee, bullet proof vests and stuff.' Next scene? Bang! Shot in the head! That's some good t.v. right there.
• Back to back to back episodes on USA. On Monday nights. And Tuesday nights. When there's nothing better to do. Nice.
• Witty banter between all main characters. Not quite as witty as CW dialogue, but witty none the less.

Good news (for once!)

This afternoon I walked into a new doctor's office, with an old problem. Me and my 'bad' knee have not been getting along lately. Sigh. I was all prepared to hear a)lose weight, it won't hurt b)surgery c)nothing we can do. What I heard: "These xrays are wonderful! Look at this! And this! All good news!" I also heard: "Actually, we are going to work to strengthen your quads, and your weight will be less of a factor for your knees." "But you do need to rest a bit more." HA! Ha! Ha ha. Oh, that's right, brand new doc doesn't know how I roll - resting? That's for a few hours on the weekend, maybe, if I'm lucky. But I'll try. Oh, p.s. - New knee doc? H O T. Glad I was in work clothes and makeup! So For once, good news. Going to sign up at the new gym tomorrow, and probably schedule some physical therapy appointments. Gotta strengthen my quads.

Saying goodbye

When I was 14, I acquired a second set of parents. Laura and I were beginning to spend a lot of time together, as teenagers do, so she got VonMom and VonDad, and I got Ma and Pa added to my life. I also acquired Sarah (I'd always been curious about what it was like to have a little sister). I couldn't have been luckier. It's hard enough to be a teenager, but one with pretty much four parents? That was me and Laura. It went like this: If I got bad grades, no problem, I got no phone usage, no going out on weeknights - well, that curbed Laura's phone usage and weeknight social life almost exactly. If Laura blew curfew? Well, I was in trouble too. Who else was I going to go out with? Besides, who had the driver's license in high school? Yep - Laura. For as awesome as he is now, VonDad was a hardass when I was a teenager. Granted, thank God he was, but still. Ma was also a tough cookie. VonMom was pretty much the 'whatever doesn't kill them makes them stronger' type, which was pretty cool. Pa? Well *grin* Pa was the awesome one. Pa was a cop, so his hours weren't your typical 9 to 5. Therefore, we spent a lot of time with him during the summers. Laura, Sarah and I would lay around in the pool that was always somehow ready and waiting when summer was just around the corner. Pa would go to Subway, or to get ice cream. It didn't take long before he knew exactly what my order would be, just like he knew his daughters'. One year when he worked some event that the President and First Lady were around, he brought home these really cool tshirts. They had POTUS and FLOTUS on them (which at the time I thought was so super cool) and I remember specifically he didn't bring home just two, there were a few extras, he gave me one right away. I think I still have it somewhere, because it's one of those memories. I've already shared the Medusa's story, and the chuckle and the shaking of his head are such a reflection of how he looked at Laura and I. Again, it was absolutely a "those girls" kind of thing. It was, is endearing. Over the years, as time goes, the time we spent with our parents lessened. Laura has a family, I have my stuff. I still looked forward to every opportunity I had to spend time with Ma and Pa. They even have their very own nickname for me. It would be silly from anyone else, but from them, it's got meaning. Sorry, it's entirely theirs' and I won't be sharing it here. I know he used it every time he saw me. We had an on-going joke, he and I. Laura and I actually grew up in two different neighborhoods. They were next to each other, and we lived only blocks apart. However, to go to Laura's I had to walk under a set of train tracks. The joke was that we each said the other lived on the 'wrong side of the tracks'. My parents' neighborhood is a little odd, and they have this cookbook, and Christmas decorating awards, and green thumb awards, all of which Pa thought was hilarious. So, me being me? OF course I gave him a cookbook one year for Christmas. Another year I drafted a fake letter from my parents' neighborhoods community club stating that even though he lived on the other side of the tracks they were giving him an honorary Christmas decorating ribbon. He thought it was so funny. Sometimes when he laughed, he had to wipe his eyes from the tears. He had a great laugh. He always treated me like a daughter. I remember one night I was on a date. I was pretty young, and I was out with a guy my parents didn't approve of. So, I lied to my parents and told them I was with Laura, when I was really at the movies with A. Well, neither A nor I had a driver's license, so we had taken the bus to dinner and a movie. Of course, the bus had stopped running some time before we were heading home. Shit. And this was before the time of cell phones people! So, I got all scared and worried. A was useless. He just sat there smoking his Marlboro reds. I swallowed my fear and called Laura. Who ended up picking us up? Pa. He pulled up. I was pretty scared. He drove A home in silence. He shot me one of those looks, a dad look, but he never said anything. And, he never told my parents. I was so grateful for that. I'd gotten used to napping with Ma and Pa on Christmas day. Every year for 20 years I've gone to their house for dinner. For the past however many years, Laura has done double duty with her in-laws, so I usually had some down time with her parents. So, yep, a few times we just moved from dining room to living room and we'd all drift off. After a while we'd wake up, chuckle a little, and get ready for Laura to come back or for dessert time to get under way. That's a comfort level that only comes from lifelong friendships, and love. I could go on and on about what a great man Christian Michal was, but I won't do that. I know that in the next two days I will have to say goodbye to him, and I won't hear his standard "Ok sweetheart. You take care. Say hi to your parents. Stop by anytime." I'm a better person for having known him, and having him in my life. I think he knew that I loved him, I take comfort in that. Truth be told, he's always been one of my favorite people. May angels lead you in, Pa. I'm going to miss you.

Sad and nothing but

I have a post to write. One that I've known was coming, even one that I've been formulating in my head for the past month. But for now to be the time? No, I'm not ready. Who is ever ready when someone you love dies? Not me. A great man passed away today. Someone I've known damn near 20 years. More than 1/2 my life. Laura's dad passed away today. Devastated might begin to cover it, but not really. I have so much to say about him. I really do. But not today.

Total cop out.

My weekend. In pictures. Lame, and a cop out. Alas, today I am a busy girl. Bigger and better posts down the road.

Friday

It's been one hell of a roller coaster week. I'm so glad it's Friday, I can't even express how much. I need to rest and recharge in regards to everything. First there was bad news, then less bad news, then semi-ok news. Sigh. We can only hope for not so bad news. My fingers stay crossed for good news for the people I love. Work was crazy busy. Crazy busy - which is a great great thing. I'm not complaining about that at all. Yesterday was one of those days that I thrive in. I was busy busy go-go-going all day long. I loved it! I got a crazy cryptic email from someone who I'm in the process of getting close to. If not for the fact that said person were family, I wouldn't be interested. However, they ARE family, and I'm concerned/interested, so now I have a phone call to make at some point this weekend. Plus VonMom wants the dirt. So, I'll have to make the call, see what's up. Oh, yeah. We have a new governor. He's pretty Rad. RAD, not Rod. God Bless Governor Quinn.