Is it Christmas?

Because I feel like a kid at Christmas. The anticipation of the big game is almost too much for me. I can't sleep and when I do I dream all sorts or weird shit about the Bears. I'm singing the Bears fight song all day. It is even on the answering machine. When my cell phone rings it plays "BEAR DOWN." Usually I read the Metro section of the Tribune first in the morning. Not this week. This week it is all about the Bears Blitz section. Truth be told, Rick gets it first, then me. At night when the TV gets turned on, the first channel checked is ESPN in hopes they will have some Super Bowl hype on. As the game nears it is not too hard to find the Bears on television. What will I do when the game is over? The off season is just too long.

B E A R D O W N !

One of Many Culprits

Remind me to get another big, hairy, slobbering, barking, whining, crying, screeching, jumping dog.

I Just Want to Have My Coffee!

Every morning is the same around here. Lauren has to leave for school by 7:30 and never gets up until about 7:20. It drives me crazy. She got up easier when she was skating at 3:30am. I used to tell her that the first time I had to wake her up for skating there would be no more early morning skating. I cannot however use that line when we're talking about school. Then there is Ozzy and his reaction to the "big dogs" (aka deer, but renamed by Rick.) The deer come through the yard almost every day. Once in the morning between around 7 and 9 and again in the late afternoon during the dusk hour. And Ozzy's reaction is always the same. He runs from one window to the next, upstairs, downstairs, barking, crying, back and forth, on and on. This goes on until he can no longer see the deer. Sometimes the deer literally stand in the backyard and stare at him barking, as if they were antagonizing him. Not that it would take much. Rick always tells Ozzy that the "big dogs don't want to play with the black dog." So if you've ever been to our house and wondered why the windows are always so nasty, this is why.

In Honor of Buddy

On occasion Ozzy will have some trouble with his right ear. Apparently he has a very narrow ear canal. Whatever. For the past week he has been scratching his right ear like a mad dog. Pun intended. I knew I had to make a move. I thought he was due at the vet for his yearly checkup in February so when I made the appointment at the vet I made it for his yearly stuff, the ear and to have his nails trimmed. Why not get it all done at once? Part of the yearly exam includes providing the vet with a "fresh stool sample." That would be Rick's job, he's much better at that than I. Rick very courageously and dutifully completed his task. I arrived at the vet promptly this morning only to be told that Ozzy was not due for his yearly (Charlie, however, had his yearly checkup in February, hence the mix up) and they would not need the stool sample. When I told Rick he responded with, "You made me pick up shit for nothing? DOH!"

Our good friends and neighbors lost their beloved German short-haired pointer, Buddy, last week. He now joins Charlie and a host of other four legged friends. May he rest in peace and may Mike never have to pick up shit for nothing again.

Super Bowl, Super Bears!

What a game. The excitement at Soldier Field was like nothing I have ever experienced before. We stood the entire game and Poppie didn't yell "Sit Down!" once. And so much action in our endzone; Bernard Berrian's TD catch, Cedric Bensons's 12 yd. TD and even Reggie Bush's somersault TD. In retrospect, I bet he wishes he'd never done that! So the Saints go marching back to New Orleans and the Bears head to Miami for Super Bowl XLI.To view all the pictures click here.

B E A R D O W N !

Who are you....

....from school district 149? Identify yourself, please.

A Sampling of the Local Artistry

B E A R D O W N!

Saints v. Bears for the NFC Championship

Ken (aka Grandpa, Poppie, Dad) has had Bears season's tickets since 1946. That's right, 1946. And if that weren't impressive on it's own, he has been going to the Bears games since 1939. 1939. Long before I was around. I, on the other hand, have been going to the games (on and off) for 20 years and have had my very own season's ticket since 1993. Today, Super Fan Eddie and his friend Bobby presented Ken with a Bears jersey with the number 39 and "Grandpa" inscribed on the back.Never could I have imagined a day like today. I was so happy I cried. That is sick my friends. What is even sicker is if it were the Cubs. I may very well have to be committed.

B E A R D O W N!

You Tell Me

If a woman in your life showed up to three family functions in the past six months with three different men, would you not have questions and concerns about her morality? What if it were a man in your life? Hence the term Manwhore. I rest my case.

OK, OK

After several requests, I have finally posted again. Sometimes I get busy, jeeez. You really should rent Napolean Dynamite.

The Story of Ken-Bob

So, years ago, on one of our numerous trips to the North Country (aka Adirondack Mtns.) my brother, Ken, myself, probably a few NY cousins and some locals were enjoying some cold beverages in the bandstand that was across the street from our grandma's house when someone approached in the dark of the night and asked, "Friend or foe?" My loving brother, who turns 44 (shit you're old!) tomorrow responds with, "Hi. I'm Ken, Bob's son." Need I say more? Happy Birthday, Bro!