It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It's supposed to snow tomorrow!

Now, every year it snows. Some years we get mounds of the stuff, some years, it barely accumulates. Somehow, though, the first snow always catches us by surprise.

"What?! Snow! I can't believe it's going to snow already!"

But every year it snows. It's Illinois. There is no escaping it. And then everyone forgets how to drive for about 3 days and then finally, we all accept that winter has yet again come to our city.

With that said...it's still the middle of November. It is not the Christmas season quite yet. So why, when I got into my car for lunch was one station playing nothing but Christmas music? Can we not enjoy Thanksgiving first? I know it's kind of a non-holiday where the only real activity is to eat way more food than should be allowed and maybe if you remember, you'll go around the table and say "I'm thankful for..." whatever, but it's still a holiday and a time to be together with family and we should not glaze over it with pre-December Christmas music. Not only was this station playing the Christmas music, but it seemed to be some sort of "local high school choir sings the holiday hits" segment. Not really very good. I suppose if you have to "entertain" your listeners with local high school talent, broadcasting it this early on is actually a wise move. No one is listening for it. I don't get into the "high school musical" of Christmas until that one tv station starts showing us the delight that is the Holiday Madrigals who all seem to have a version of Carol of the Bells with which to keep up in that holiday spirit! I recall making my mom watch that station many a year!

But I digress...

Pull out those snow shovels folks! Winter is a comin'!

erin

All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray

And it's cold and wet and muddy!

I guess it is mid-November here, but man, those days of mild temps. were great! I had work off yesterday and did absolutely nothing! Didn't even make a meal...we had leftovers. It was great for a while. Watched a West Wing marathon on Bravo (that was the BEST show on tv, hands down). Played with the pups a bit (though Harrison kept getting bored and was just barking at random stuff - all day), then about 3pm, I was bored. You can only watch so much tv and I had cleaned my house the weekend before, so it is still in decent shape! I finished putting clothes away from Sunday night laundry so all the clothes have been washed and put away! Both laundry baskets are not full of folded clean clothes, but rather, dirty clothes waiting to gather enough friends to constitute a load.

We did have band practice last night. We've got a show coming up on the 22nd of this month. Maybe we'll get paid for once??

These have been days where all you want to do is light candles, get under a blanket and watch a movie or eat chili or heck, take a trip to Hawaii. Oh! Speaking of that...I informed Danny I wanted us to take a trip to Hawaii in a few years and he says, "no way." What! Apparently there is "nothing to do" in Hawaii and you only have fun if you enjoy "sitting around doing nothing." Hmm, well I guess I can't say for sure having NEVER BEEN THERE, but I guess I'll have to take my sister instead and leave the hubby at home!

Boys. What is wrong with you sometimes? Seriously.

erin

No time left for you

Sorry, not a good blog today...

We had an all staff meeting this morning that I had to help prepare for (food-wise): made some corn bread to go with the chili and help with room set up, etc. Then had to help clean up and do some other stuff not in my office...finally got back to my desk at 4pm! Makes the day go by fast, but I'm tired!

No work tomorrow! Whoo hoo! Good old, Veteran's Day....thanks Veteran's! Not only have you done a job I would never want to do, I get a day off in your honor. Can't complain about that!

Wow, I've used many exclamation points in this one.

So, hopefully I'll have more to report on Wednesday!

!!

erin

And they called it puppy love!

Just thought I would share one more.

Don't have much to post lately. I actually have a weekend of hardly any plans! I will be going to Springfield on Saturday to get a bridesmaid dress for a wedding I'm in in January. Hope to clean our mess of a house at some point and maybe rake some leaves...that should be a challenge this year (see above - she. likes. leaves.). The band was potentially going to play a show this weekend, but now that has been changed to the 22nd, so now I've got some time.

Austin will be staying with Mom and Dad all weekend, so I'm sure I'll spend a good amount of time over there and Danny will be a doing a little male bonding with his dad, brothers and good family friend on Saturday - dinner and boxing. Who hoo! I'll pass, but then again, I wasn't invited!

So the work week winds down. We get Tuesday off next week for Veteran's Day, so work one day, take a day off, work 3 more. I'm going to a birthday party for a friend Monday night and since I don't have to work the next day, I'm going to try and explain to my body that even though it's a weekday, I don't have to necessarily fall asleep at 8 pm. That's been my routine as of late and that won't make for a very exciting party.

That's it! I seriously can't think of anything else to share! I can't believe we're weeks away from Thanksgiving and Christmas and 2009!

Have a good weekend!

erin

God Bless America!

President Obama sounds pretty great to me!

It's a change! Even putting political agendas aside, it's a change. Since the birth of our nation, old white men have been at the helm. Some have done great, others not so great and still others (cough*Bush*cough) abismal! But now we have a change. And I'm not saying because he is black, Barack Obama will solve all of America's issues, I'm saying, it's about time we see a different kind of face in the White House. What an exciting time this is for America. A younger, in touch American with a fresh perspective and a strong desire to change what ails us (and can raise his arms above his shoulders...sorry, had to throw that in there...loosen up those suit jackets McCain)! I don't see how anyone can be so upset with this choice. I understand if you supported the other side that it's disappointing to lose, but now it's time to get on board this new train! Give the new guy a shot and see what's he's got in store for the country. After 8 years of dumbed down, messed up, "don't mess with Texas" rhetoric, does-what-my-Vice-President-tells-me-to-do, let's see what a well-spoken, motivated, appears-to-have-a-grasp-on-what-President-does, actually gave us some answers on his proposed policies, man can do.

I feel great about my country today! And I haven't felt that way in oh, I'd say 8 years. You don't have to agree with me at all, but we all should to get behind President Obama here at the beginning of what could be a great time in America!

God Bless America!

erin

My Guy

Totally stole this from another blog, but I thought it was a good idea for a blog and I haven't done the whole "2 in one day" thing in quite some time!

MY GUY
1. He’s sitting in front of the TV. What’s on the screen?
I'd say top 5 would be football, UFC, mythbusters, something like Real World/Road Rules challenge, and then whatever I'm making him watch (like Gilmore Girls)

2. You’re out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
French

3. What’s one food he doesn’t like?
I can give you an entire food group: cooked vegetables. period.

4. You go out to the bar. What does he order?
Hmm, there are a few options, but his fav. beer is Newcastle.

5. Where did he go to high school?
Meridian High School, Macon, IL

6. What size shoe does he wear?
9, I believe

7. If he were to collect anything, what would it be?
oh lord, BEARS stuff!

8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
The baja chicken something-or-other from quiznos

9. What would he eat every day if he could?
see above, and candy (which he does eat everyday from gas stations, though he doesn't think I know that...I know all!)

10. What is his favorite cereal?
He's a big fan of cinnamon toast crunch, not sure if it's his favorite, but it's up there.

11. What would he never wear?
A cowboys jersey.

12. What is his favorite sports team?
CHICAGO BEARS

13. Who will he vote for?
Obama

14. Who is his best friend?
Well of course me! But aside from me, I'd say Smitty.

15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do?
get on his case about anything! (living in a dream world with that one, buddy!)

16. How many states has he lived in?
One.

17. What is his heritage?
Well, I know he's got Irish roots, and some Native American too, but I'm not sure about anything else.

18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?
He doesn't generally eat a lot of cake, but I made him a pecan pie for his birthday this year.

19. Did he play sports in high school?
He played football for 2 years and wrestling for 1? 2?

20. What could he spend hours doing?
Video games, drumming, sleeping, and I have seen him put in a good amount of time into working on the dining room...not lately, but I've seen it!

Good ole hubby-o-mine!

We are the Bears shuffling crew....

Here we are, about to depart for the Bears game, from my sister's house in Bloomington!

Soldier Field!

Here we are at Soldier Field!

The view from our seats

He's ready for the game!

Pre-game warm up, Urlacher and Briggs

Getting ready for the Bears entrance through the giant Bear head

Orton just went down... And we take the lead in the 4th quarter!

As we realize our shuttle pick up in on the other side of this crowd, we decide to walk back to the parking area...about 2 miles away.

It was a nice walk, though it got a little dicey towards the end trying to figure out where exactly our car was parked (picture that episode of Seinfeld, except it wasn't really very funny and I had a GROUCHY husband with me)!

All in all, it was a great time, but we'll probably never do it again.