Tell a friend :: Oxfam America Unwrapped

Tell a friend :: Oxfam America Unwrapped

I've been thinking a lot about what types of causes I'd like to support in the coming year..and I think this one will be getting my vote - and dollars.

so....very....tired...

Please remind me never to try to host two events in one weekend. I am, of course, using the word event loosely...but as someone who doesn't normally have people over, this was quite an endeavor.

Friday, I went into the office. I rarely go in on Friday...and by rarely I think I have been in three times since we moved back in May. That threw me off because normally I don't "come home from work" on Fridays because I've been here all day. When I came home, I was tired and felt compelled to lay on the sofa for much of the evening. And I am trying to think what we even ate for dinner but I am at a total loss...the evening is kind of a blur.

Saturday, we got up, went to 3 different grocery stores (looking for something we never did find), came home, cleaned the house and then made dinner for friends who were coming over. It was a little stressful because it was something I have never made before - but a family recipe so it wasn't like I was guinea-pigging anyone too badly..though the recipe had no measurements..but just some advice from my mom that said just put what looks right....ugh! Anyway, but it turned out really good so that made me happy. And thank god for Whole Foods and their fantastic deserts... At 10:30 I was in bed...

This morning, we got up (noticing a trend here...) and my mom, dad and one of my sisters came down to make cookies. IT TOOK ALL DAY! I had forethought to make a dinner in the crock pot and thank god because after spending the whole day baking and washing dishes and then had to make dinner...well...lets just say I would have been on the train to crazy town. Anyway, it was fun...but now all I want to do is crawl in bed...oh look..it's almost 10:00.

I am not conditioned for this!!! This kind of weekend really requires an additional day off...which I fear I will not be getting tomorrow.

Next weekend I plan to sit on my ass and watch TV....eat leftovers...oh..and cookies....

Scandal

We've been busy here at Chez Hoover...mostly trying to keep dry and warm given the weather nature has dealt us these last few days. Never mind though...it's winter and we had to know it would finally decide to arrive..and it's putting me into the holiday spirit. Not sure how I'll feel about it in January when I am freezing and the holidays are over.

Anyway....

There seems to be some scandal in the news lately about Tiger Woods. I for one think that this maybe shouldn't necessarily be on the nightly news...because with all that is wrong in the world, is this really a story that should trump things like homelessness and hunger? Probably not. But I did see this posting on one of the blogs I read...and...well...read it for yourself.

when did December rear its ugly head??

I can't believe it's December....when did that happen. What makes it worse is that Christmas is 3 weeks away.

So..now that there is no escaping December, I have a few things that need to get done. The tree is already up..and the decorations and the lights, but now I need to get to the Christmas cards and finish my shopping. I LOVE online shopping!!! There's nothing better then picking up a package at the mail box...and knowing you didn't have to schlep around a shopping bag!

Joy Someone

If you really know me, you know I go through times when I am super addicted to the lottery...well these commercials make me want to go out and buy some tickets :)

Sound of Music

It's not that often that we find things that just make us smile. I hope this brightens your day.

I love trash

No Grouch here today...though I may head to bed singing "I love trash...."

I should have sung that when I was emptying the garbage earlier...next time...

short post

It is definitely a beautiful day in the neighborhood! The house is clean and we still have 1 1/2 days left in the weekend. I'd say all in all, things are going pretty well. I'd better enjoy it while I can.

That's all I have to say :)

Happy 40th Anniversary

I have always loved Sesame Street.

I loved it as a kid, loved singing along with my Sesame Street cassettes - Doing the Pigeon, Rubber Ducky, I can only sing the high part..it's the only part I know... I LOVE all of it.

In honor of their 40th Anniversary, Google is doing logos for them..have you see any of them??




How great are those! To think that I can still sing the Lady Bug Picnic... I hope some day my kid loves it just as much.

healthcare

Organizing for America has held a contest where people submit 30 second commercials for health care - and the winner will have their submission shown on television. NO...don't start thinking that I submitted one...I am SO not that kind of talented. Now they've got the list down to 20 and I thought I'd share some of my favorites. Some of them are funny, some show just how downright absurd some people are in the way they think.

You can find all of them here...watch them..and then vote.

Here were some of my favorites.

These first 2 make me think...







These two are the absurd...





Regardless..they all should make you think.

Skinny but tough

Did you see this short article in Reuters?

http://blogs.reuters.com/frontrow/2009/10/26/obama-skinny-but-tough/

It's amazing how much Obama can take. He's doing the best he can, as fast as he can, with what people will give him. It's time to cut the shit and get it all done!!!

He is tough...can't wait to see what he accomplishes...and then some will be eating crow...

Here comes the sun...

I am off in the morning to visit Jill in California. We have some fun things planned which include knitting, music and food. I know you're jealous.

As promised...

...here's a post. We're back from our vacation and Paul started his new job today...so it's been a big week in our world.

So..lets start with the job. Paul started his job at Northwestern. Don't ask me to explain what he's going to be doing because I seriously don't get it...it's like listening to the adults in Charlie Brown..wa wa wa...he can tell me 10..no 20 times...and nope..nothing. It is a great opportunity for him..and a great University...so I am sure it will prove to have been worth the wait.

We took a vacation before he started because it will probably be until next Spring or Summer until he can get away for more than a day or two. I, of course, am going to California this weekend...so I can go any time!

Here's what we did....


..seriously...this is what we did for 4 days. Here was our view from the poolside hut that we stayed in...

And the beach.

We had a really nice time.

Now that things are settling..and Paul is back to work...I'll try to blog more. Not that the cause and affect is valid..but I am going to say it is :)

vacation

Paul and I are off to Mexico in a few house..I SWEAR to blog when I get back!!

MIA

Seems I've gone missing again. Maybe the issue is that the new fall programs have started and so I've been watching more TV than usual. What ever it is, I should not neglect my blog...that no one reads...

I am currently in LOVE with this commercial..which probably has way more to do with my love of dogs than my need for insurance! I also didn't realize till I looked it up that the version they show on television is the short version.




In other news, we're going on vacation - I am actually going to visit Jill as well - and Paul got a job...but I'll save that for tomorrow...

Dirty

I haven't blogged in a few days..and I feel horrible. I'll try to do better..I even have a few pictures of what we did over he weekend..and none of them are of the dog. I'll get those up tomorrow.

In the meantime, have you seen this...it's amusing...

Tricia's blog

For some added laughs...some four letter words..and other randomness..check out Tricia's blog.. She lives in Vegas! I'm so jealous...but if you know me, I'd be so broke because of my slot machine obsession...


Besides..she's having a contest and I SO, SO want the food scale...

Insurance

Have you seen this?

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

Gavin plays the least inappropriate of inappropriate games and other adventures in driving

Saturday...Love me some Saturday. I was able to stay in my pajamas till noon...then we went to Dave & Busters with Lindsay, Gavin and Keith.

So...before any games were played, we all had lunch. It was really nice and everyone walked away with a game card...

The first game Gav played...had a sign on it saying "graphic life like violence"...hmm...maybe we should have have someone more responsible with us.


...in our defense, it was just a Rambo game...and the one next to us was something like Dawn of Dead 4 and had nasty zombies...so I think we let him play the least inappropriate inappropriate game. Yay for us!

So then I talked him into driving the Big Rig.


Look at that steering wheel!!! Holy smokes it was big! And honestly, I think Gav may be a better driver than a lot of people on the roads today. If I was in an emergency and couldn't drive..and no one else was around... and his legs were a bit longer... I'd consider having him drive me to where I needed to go.

So we did the shoot 'em up..and the big rig...next was the Harley's...of course!!!

Paul and Gav got some serious driving in on these Hogs!!!

So there was driving..and then there was ski-ball..and various other games. We managed to rake up 725 tickets...so Gav got a Tootsie Roll Bank, a fart noise key chain (with 6 life-like fart noises) and a tie..


I think this will be great for a "wear something green" day for school...Lin and I both agreed, though, that this reminded us of Fred Flintstone!

All of this lead up to the grand finale...Ice cream!!

I think we had a pretty good afternoon.


Luckily...we don't have much planned for tomorrow...maybe I'll get to stay in my pajamas till noon again...

red

Maybe you've noticed the red links on my blog. In case you don't know what that's about...or are not sure, here you go.



buy red when you can...it makes a difference in so many lives.

Thoughts from the Avenue

So when I got to work this morning, I jotted down a few thoughts I'd had on my walk in. For those of you who don't realize, I have decided that I am no longer taking the bus. I go into the office 3 days a week and on those 3 days I can walk the 4 miles (round trip). It'll be good for me and is part of my September 16th, 2009 resolutions. This is the thing about walking...there's loads of time to think and reflect and get inspired...and make resolutions. Here are some of the thoughts...

So here we go.

1. I love dogs.
I think I may love dogs more than people. I never see a dog and think anything negative about them. I may think something negative about the owner - like the one who was letting his dog pee on the grass...when there was clearly a "No Dogs on Grass" sign. Actually the dog was peeing ON the sign..and I am 95% sure that dogs can't read..so it's his owners responsibility...so whether or not you agree with the No Dogs thing..well that's another conversation. Wait...where was I?...oh right...so dogs..they totally make me smile. I think I would have a whole heard of dogs if I could. Maybe this is because I personally have a totally cool dog.


I'd definitely need a yard though.with a fence...yeah...for sure.

2. I am going to get hit by a bicycle sooner or later
Those bikers are crazy and I think one of these days, I am going to step on inch to the right or left while I am walking..which isn't a stretch because I cannot walk in a straight line...and BAM!! I'm hit. And they'll have to call the ambulance which will be SO embarassing..and there will be people standing around...ugh..I wonder how many days till it really happens? Anyone want to take bets?

3. When walking, scenery helps.
It helps that I am not in a whole world of concrete buildings...but I am walking along the park and it's really pretty. I'll be happy when the colors start to change.

4. People are wearing coats already?
Yep..it's true. I am seeing people in coats and jackets already. If I had on a jacket..or even a long sleeve shirt..it would be stuck to me due to the massive amount of sweat I produce while moving. If I had a jacket on I would probably burst into flames right there on Michigan Avenue and the fire department would have to come. I just do not understand this. If you need a coat in September, when it's like 70 outside, please make an appointment to see a doctor....or a head shrinker..which ever...

So that's what I was thinking about this morning on the way to work. I wish I had pictures...mostly of the park..and not of me being hit by a bicycle..or kicking the ass of someone in a coat and scarf...

Beautiful Day

I don't typically have much to say in the morning...but I am trying to take time out during this time of the day, to eat breakfast and get mentally ready for the day. So rather than just sit here, I have my mac with me :) Nothing quite like multitasking and watching the sun come up over Soldier Field.

I am walking to work this morning. I do some of my best thinking and get inspired while walking. Hopefully I'll find some of that today because I have a lot floating around in my head.

See you all later. I still have videos to post! But will post this for a laugh..

I can't believe I have to wait till next June :(

Funny Guys

This is kinda funny...but maybe it's because it's early and I haven't had coffee yet.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Tell me...do you think Jason Stackhouse looks a bit like George W Bush?

U2 short recap

It was SO so GOOD!!!

I mostly have video..so I'll have to work on that tomorrow and get those posted. I had a great time..and now must go to bed...with a little U2 on the ipod...

U2 - tonight

I have been looking forward to this night for months! I bought the tickets weeks before we left Texas..so I bought them in April.

I love this band...they are one of my very favorites..and having seen them twice before, I know exactly what I am in for.



I'll report back tomorrow with pictures taken from much, much further away...and probably some of the jumbo-tron :)

Random Saturday

I think today is going to be pretty random...so I'll just title this Random Saturday. I am kinda bored...well not bored..but enjoying doing nothing...we're going to see U2 tonight, so I need a really low key day with maybe a nap.

I have to face facts...

I guess I'll just have to get involved with other things over the winter...ugh..winter...makes me cold just thinking about it.

TBBT

I've talked about how much I love the show The Big Bang Theory here before....and if you still aren't watching, please proceed to the nearest psychological evaluation center and well...have an evaluation.

Here are 5 great reasons ( <----- click the link ) why you should be watching!!!

It's kinda like a product endorsement...and I stand behind this message...or next to it....whatever...

No Explaination Necessary

stupid stupid

True Blood tonight...not quite sure what to say about it..I'll have to mull it over and get back to you tomorrow.

This weekend we went to Wisconsin to a baby shower. My dad had come out to stay with us for a few days starting on Wednesday. Wednesday night we went to the Cubs game...I have some pictures I'll have to put up...but at the game some stupid bitch stole my wallet. I assume it was a stupid bitch only because who the frick else would do that to someone???? Anyway, so that meant that I had to rush home and cancel my credit card - which fortunately no one used - and I'd have to get a new drivers license. That was the part that SUCKED most. Because I had no license to turn in - and I still had my Texas license - I not only had to take the written test, but THE FREAKING ROAD TEST TOO!!! How horrible is that?? Needless to say I passed..thank god. How sad would it have been if I'd failed? Lindsay said she would have hit something :)

That was probably the most eventful item of the past few days..so you haven't missed much.

Oh...and then there is this....can't get enough of this...

Signature

I have this cute font and I want to add a signature to the bottom of my posts...but I am about to go bat shit crazy trying to get one in. Maybe I need to get an html book..

julie
(not in cute font)

District 9 - The Review

Here we go. Warning...this will not be a good review...I mean, it won't be a quality review...yeah, that's more accurate.

The worst thing about the movie...well..mostly the worst thing was that my popcorn was too salty and Paul had to take it back and have them give us more...which was then salt free and, frankly, gross. So..that was the worst part :)

The first 10 or so minutes of the movie just seems to be in a documentary interview style...which I didn't find as annoying as I thought I would. From there, you could kinda tell that something was going to happen to the main character. So the aliens come, and we bust into their space ship..to find them "sick"...so the humans relocate them to a "camp" which after some time the humans don't want to deal with anymore...there is some chaos..and then the humans come to relocate them to somewhere more convenient to them. Sound familiar???? Sounds like something that we do over and over again....


There were some funny bits...one for me was when they tried to knock on all the doors of these aliens in District 9 to tell them they were being evicted and relocated....and asked for them to sign the sheet acknowledging this.


How stupid...yet funny.... So during the house to house eviction, the main guy gets this stuff sprayed on him which makes him sick..they want to cut him up for science, he escapes and then goes back to District 9, where he finds out the stuff that he sprayed on himself is the stuff they need to go home. They spend the rest of the movie trying to get it...whew. I am kind of exhausted now.

Another think I liked was the noise the humans made when hit by the alien gun...it was kind of a splat...it made me giggle. I thought the story was good..shows how the huntee became the hunted...and how in the end, we all should have compassion for each other. I am not really sure that was the point, but it sounds nice, right???

Overall, it was a little different than I expected but in a positive way! Hope you enjoy it too...but if not, I don't give refunds...

District 9

We're going to see District 9 tonight. I'll let you know how it is.

Lindsay...

...one for you...

and one for me...

new direction

I think I am going to take my blog in a new direction...I don't think it's going to be so much daily life anymore and pictures of Izzie..though she is totally cute, right? But I want to talk about other things that I haven't felt much like doing because of what someone may think. Who is reading this anyway? I honestly don't give a crap anymore..I'll be what it's going to be :)

Here's to new stuff!

dripping with hotness

Ok..another True Blood post..can't help it...it's on tonight :)

Eric Northman - who isn't even a real person..well it's like he is..but he isn't..he's one of the vampires on the HBO show True Blood - but for my purposes, and so I don't seem more ridiculous than necessary, he's a real person :)

He is dripping with hotness!

How hot is this???



So now you know what I mean. I don't know what it is, but I can't seem to take my eyes off of him...which just means we need more!

Is it the eyes..I think it's the eyes...

Sadly, he is only real on Sundays at 8:00...and only for 3 more weeks.

The Bears

We're off to the Bears game today!

True Blood

Hi everyone. This isn't really what I had planned for my post today - actually I've been making a list of blog ideas so I can keep updating - but I wanted to make comments about my current favorite show. I know that House is my favorite, favorite...but this is my summer favorite :)

Can I just say this show is dripping with vampire hotness??? I personally think that Eric is the best hottest vampire...don't you think?

Hmmm...wait..sorry..I was saying something..right...ok... Lindsay, on the other hand, thinks Bill is the hottest...

I mean..they're both lovely...but Eric takes the edge on the loveliness factor :) My opinion of course..and it's my blog..so my opinion wins...

Either way, I think it's a fantastic show and it really sucks you in each week. Too bad there's only 3 more episodes left :( But by then House will be ready to start...

i want, i want...

I SO want one of these!

@ work

I am blogging at work. I normally don't do this, but then again, I normally am not still here at almost 5:30 and I need to waste some time until my 8pm conference call with someone in Singapore...who thought 9am was a good time for a meeting since it would be no inconvenience to him. Hell, he might just stop for coffee or something and be a little late. (I don't know that for sure, but it could happen, right?) And since we don't have a home phone, I'll just take the call here. It is giving me an excuse to break in my new gym shoes..and use that pesky gym membership I pay too much for to not use.

These are the shoes I got.

Let me also say that this was the most comprehensive shoe fitting I have ever experienced. Not only did they measure my foot sitting and standing, but they let me walk outside in each pair while they observed how they were moving. I got a lesson on banging my orthotics into the heal of the shoe as well as tying and proper shoe-tongue placement. (no, that doesn't mean licking my shoes). I feel like I made the most informed purchase possible. I don't know that I spent that much effort in picking out my last car! Anyway, I am very happy with them and I am going to try them out in just a little while.

Oh..so I am still here at work..till about 8:30 or 9..and I my biggest issue, besides being the only one here..which will be weird..is the fear that the lights are going to go off. I think they are on a motion detector so every so often I'll have to wave my arms around I guess. I hope there aren't video cameras..they might start turning off the lights to be funny....

UPDATE - I am at work on my call..and I smell really bad...good thing no one is here...and there isn't a smell feature on the phone...

Weekend

This weekend we were in the suburbs for Gavin's birthday party on Saturday. Since there is no point really in just driving out for the day, we went out on Thursday. We also scheduled a hair cut for Izzie :) We also did some other running around - things like shopping for the birthday present, going to the knitting shop and going to the grocery store - you're jealous..I know...

We got Gavin some dress up clothes for his birthday...he apparently LOVES dress up. So we got him this army guy outfit (that went perfect with the camouflage shorts my mom bought him..that he got super excited about and put on immediatley...yes..shorts...who knew a kid could get excited by shorts???) They were a perfect match for his army clothes...

We also got him a pirate outfit...

And of course there was birthday cake...

And other food...

Here's the cake and ice cream.

I don't know why I show pictures of food..I really don't...

I am also a total sucker, so I got Hayden a present too.

I think he liked it.

So there you have it...Gavin's birthday..

And a picture of Izzie..

University Knitting

Late this afternoon, Paul had another interview at University of Chicago. Since it was at 5:30...and I don't like thinking of him going on the bus by himself (yes, I know he's an adult...and I know eventually he'll do this 5 days a week..and he's done it before...) I went with him - he said he'd enjoy the company. We did get there a little early, and so I waited with him, but then when the person who was interviewing him was on his way down to collect Paul, I decided to wander around. I figured it wouldn't be very good if Paul brought his wife to the interview. Anyway, I walked a few minutes, then found a Barnes and Noble and a Starbucks...where I proceeded to browse the books and not buy anything...but did decide to get an iced tea and a cupcake (for later). It was super nice out, and I'd brought my knitting with me, so I sat outside.

I've been working on this green sweater for quite some time...I was really intimidated by the pattern so when I got to that part, I just quit. I did find the courage to work through it..and funny thing..it wasn't that hard :)

What really was funny though, is that there are these little birds that were everywhere! One landed on the table I was sitting at, but before I could take it picture, it flew away. It must have been camera shy. I also had a few of them whiz right by my head, which, if you know me well, you know that I have a horrible fear of birds!!!




They don't look like much, but at one point there was a large group of them...and size doesn't really matter anyway, does it.

I also wanted to make sure to get a photo of where I was sitting...

I really like University of Chicago - its got amazing old buildings - which I am a huge fan of. I really hope it just becomes a huge fan of Paul!!

Wedding Entrance

Have you seen this? I couldn't stop laughing...I would NEVER ever do this!




I can't claim responsibility for finding this one - it was on Babs Blog. There's another one there too that's such an adventure.

Bust

All summer I've been meaning to go to the Printers Row Farmers Market that is on Saturdays from 7 - 2. This morning I was up super early so I figured I'd go...wow...why did I ever waste my time? From the website, it sounded like this great market, like others I've seen in the city. I think they maybe had 4 vendors..and only one of them really had any fruits and vegetables. It looks like I may have to change one of my work at home days from Tuesday to Wednesday so that I can go to the one at work. What makes me more irritated...really...is I'd brought my camera with me, fully prepared to take a picture of me sniffing something...or Paul pulling the grocery cart...nope..nothing.

We did stop at Whole Foods where we were there before they opened at 8 - and I didn't notice when they opened and I walked up to the door and tried to pry it open...Paul was like...they're not open yet...hmm...oops... anyway, where was I?? oh right... at Whole Foods where I did manage to pick up some fruit and a few other things - cheese. Their cheese selection is fantastic. They also had fresh tortillas at the bakery which I've already sampled. They are good.

So no pictures..an no pictures of me sniffing anything...sorry..

Enjoy the weekend!

Did I call that or what???

I was on a roll..then we went house-sitting last weekend...and then the work week was super busy..and I didn't blog. Did you still come by?

So lets catch up, shall we? The last time we talked, I was having my celebratory post - reaching 200 - and talking about my haircut...riveting!! Since then, I was bored for a lot of last weekend. It wasn't warm enough to swim..so we mostly did nothing..oh and I took a nap. Good thing too because we went out to the Foundry for drinks.


I always forget how much my mug weighs when it's full...totally takes me 2 hands to pick the sucker up! But for 4 bucks...I'll struggle.

Paul clearly does not have the same struggle... Are you surprised??

After last weekend, it's been pretty uneventful. We're just hanging around doing our daily things..bathing..brushing our teeth...you know...regular stuff.

This weekend we're going to do something. I'll report back.