unexpected good fun

The kids are gone for the weekend. It's so quiet and boring when they are gone all weekend, I know I should enjoy the silence!! We have an engagement party to go to in Chicago tonight. And it was just easier for Mike's parents to take them for the weekend. Cal went to an overnight birthday party last night at a hotel with indoor waterpark. They even got a limo ride to/from the waterpark. Geez, what are they going to do for this kid's 16th birthday. I can see it being like "My Sweet 16" on MTV. Ah, the joys of cable and trashy TV, but for as much as I rarely watch TV, one juicy trashy show every once in a while is all in good fun. Anyhow, Cal got dropped off after lunch, and Mike took Cal to meet his parents so Cal is staying there tonight.

Last night after meeting my dear friend at a scrapbooking store on my end of town, my aunt called and asked if I wanted to go to some Brewers thing. Mike had been in a terrible mood all week, and planned on staying in to watch the netflix movies he got this week. So I figured, what the heck, I'll go. So to the Riverside my Aunt Lorie and I went (for the second time in 6 days for me!). It was called "Bob Uecker's Winter Warm Up". I had never heard about it, and I like to think I stay on top of news, sports, and upcoming shows (Cracker in Madison and Illinois the first week of Feb, for example & Morrisey coming to the Rave in April), etc. Anyhow, the Riverside is pretty small, I'm thinking it was private invite or something only for sponser/employees of sponsors (my Aunt got tix through a friend's husband). You could pay $500 to eat and mingle with the Brewers beforehand, but yeah, we didn't do that. Anyways, it was really fun!! While I have to say Bob Uecker is an outstanding announcer, he is the worst interviewer I have ever seen. I don't know if it's his old age, if he had been drinking, or if he's always that awful. Anyhow, the Brewers were there, and they made it fun. There was a great comedian, too. Can't remember the name of him...they did a Family Feud like game show between the Brewers. Then they had a "Hot for Hardy" show, a spin off of the Dating Game for JJ Hardy. They showed highlights from the season, and I know this sounds ridiculous, but it was just amazing and emotional to see the replays from the final games; the excitement and pure craziness--just awesome. While at home all summer we did watch (at the very least, listened to) every game that was broadcast on TV, watching it on the big projection screen at the Riverside was just so much cooler. I wish we would've gone to more games. Well, now with the season tickets, we'll be going to lots of games this coming season. Hopefully they are just as good of a team.

I am such a goof. Who else in the world gets excited over paper, stickers, and sports to the point of doing little dances and "oot-hoot!"'s over sports. Okay, now that I probably put 75% of my blog readers to sleep...sorry. Now I am going to subject you to pictures of them. But I convinced Mike we have to stop at Gurnee Mills on the way to Chicago so I can go to Archivers. That's a good end to a blog, isn't it???

Mark Antanasio (owner) and Bob Uecker


Jeff Suppan and Corey Hart--this one's for you, Laura : )

Ryan Braun and Bob

The team, owner, GM, etc...

these guys rock! Oh the winners of the Feud game got "Tenntucky" t-shirts and bratwurst (the winners are wearing their shirts : )

sweet treats...

I meant to post this a while ago! I didn't realize that next week is already January 26!! I wanted to let you know Kaycey is selling girl scout cookies. Orders are due 1-25. If you are interested, send me an email. Thanks, in advance!

I wish...

that I could cure cancer.

I check on Jack everyday, and I happened upon a little girl I hadn't heard about whose mom had commented on Jack's page. I checked the little girl's web page and she passed away 6 months ago after a third relapse. I read some of the posts, and was struck at how similar Kaycey and Emily's (the little girl) initial presentation of the disease was. Anyhow, while it was sad to read how difficult their past few months have been, I didn't tear up until I read under the heading where it lists hospital info, room #/home address, it was listed as "Heaven".

Poor Jack has such terrible mouth sores right now as a result of high chemo-low white blood cells, he is on methadone. I remember Kaycey's first time with mouth sores; we spent 10 sleepless days and nights in the hospital. Then home for a few days, then back for 6 more days/nights for chemo, again. What a monotonous cycle of Hell. I pray that there is a cure sooner than not, and that no one has to go through what Kaycey, Jack, and thousands of other kids have gone through with this terrible beast called cancer.

Saturday night...

with Frank Caliendo. We saw him at the Riverside with a couple friends who drove up from Chicago. The show was really funny, I highly recommend it to everyone. Lots of laughs. And family friendly. Who would've thought, a stand up act that isn't vulgar? One of the only stand up people I know who isn't vulgar is Jerry Seinfeld. We saw Robin Williams live 6 years ago and WOW, he was hilarious, but boy, he needs his mouth washed out with soap. Anyhow, back to Frank. For those who don't know him well, he is esp. well known for doing impersonations, John Madden being one of the best. He does a great George Bush, Bill Clinton, Dr. Phil, Charles Barkley, Tom Cruise, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld (and other characters from Seinfeld's show), Robin Williams, the Fox Sports guys (Terry & Howie, M. Strahan). I know there are more, but those are the ones I recall from the other night. http://www.frankcaliendo.com/
There's alot of youtube videos on it, check it out, he's funny!!
Here he is promoting his site.

our cold day

So, school was called off today for a "cold day". I find it kind of silly, since we could get in the car (which is in the garage) and I could drop them off at the door of school, hardly spending a moment outdoors- instead of them taking the bus (I've driven them to school Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week). But I do understand, there are plenty of kids who walk to/from school, or have to take the bus (which means waiting for the bus in the cold!) But for whatever reason, I don't believe our school plans for any snow/cold days. I thought there were two planned for all schools. But because of the snow day the week before Christmas, the kids now have to go to school the Friday before Memorial Day (they were supposed to be off that day). Now with today being cancelled, I think that means that instead of getting done with school on June 5, their last day will be June 8.

I was feeling SO inspired after reading Ali's post today. I was ready to paint a room and go to Goodwill. http://aliedwards.typepad.com/_a_/ And I felt like scrapbooking. Too bad I have very little adhesive left. I haven't scrapbooked in a while, so I haven't been keeping up on buying my necessities, like adhesive. That was foolish of me.

Today I read that Pittsburg mayor Luke Ravenstahl is now Luke Steelerstahl. I find this funny. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Pittsburgh-mayor-Luke-Ravenstahl-is-now-Luke-Ste?urn=nfl,134346

The kids are playing football...Cal is completely obsessed. I think it's funny, until they start whining, crying, and arguing over a current game of football with their webkinz they created themselves (often Cal and Kaycey are playing football in the upstairs hallway, always results in a fight and crying, and postponement of the game by Mom or Dad). Part of the current conversation concerning the football game of the Ravens vs. Packers (this time the webkinz animals are the players):

"But you have tougher players,"says Kaycey (in a whine, of course)

"Come on just play. Maddie do you want to be drafted?? You can't be a puppy though if you want to be drafted", says Cal.

"Ruff, ruff!" says Maddie.

{Cal humming ESPN tune}

"Your guys are really good so we probably won't get any touchdowns," whines Kaycey. "You have a lion."

"Your snowman webkin is going to lose his foot if it's the kicker," says Cal.

"Don't even say that, you're scaring me," says Kaycey.

"I wanna go home!" says Maddie.

"Hey you're cheating!! You were in the way. You are such a cheater!," Kaycey squeals.

"You don't even know how to play," says Cal.

Pretty close to Mom interrupting game and taking all the webkinz and footballs away.

Time for lunch.