Squatch Watch

Four days until J&J's baby is due. Rick and I are on call to stay with Aud while they (really, let's face it, JEANNE) go have baby number two. Being the crazy family that they are - I have no idea where they get it from - they have nicknamed their unborn son Squatch. Short for Sasquatch. Apparently the little guy is extremely hairy. And he and Aud both have their Daddy's feet. The 3D ultrasounds they have these days are amazing. The detail is phenomenal and we have been lucky enough to have seen many pictures of the baby before he is even born. Just crazy. So my bag is packed and ready, just waiting for the call to head to the OP.

Mother's Day was fabulous. We had Shirl, Mike and Debbie over along with their families. And Lauren surprised me with a visit home. She had finals all last week and her last two today so it was definitely a shocker when I went to take out the garbage yesterday and and there she was when I opened the door. Scared the SHIT out of me but the best Mother's Day gift ever. With her was the new BF Charles who we like more and more each time we see him. Finally a normal boyfriend! I'm pretty sure Lauren is starting to figure it out. When I say it, I mean life. As if any of us ever figure it out.

It's a gorgeous day in the HG today. Gonna put on the ipod, gas up the John Deere and cut me some grass. Think I'll wear my Wild hat. That's a shout out to my girls!

Like No Other

That's all I can say about New Orleans. What an interesting place. We had a spectacular time this past weekend. Lots of fun on Bourbon Street, lots of yummy food including char grilled oysters and the best beignets ever. One thing I learned for certain is Lauren is never going to New Orleans without me. It is no place for a cute young blond. And it's a good thing it took me until this point in my life to make it to New Orleans. I think if I was young like Lauren I may not have come home.

We arrived in NOLA late Friday night and immediately upon checking in our hotel we headed straight across the street to Chuck's Bar and the party began. We only stayed out until 4 that night. Saturday was graduation day. I cannot begin to express the pride we felt for Marc. He has worked so hard for the last 7 years. First undergrad at UCLA then off to Tulane for law school less that a year after hurricane Katrina when no sane person wanted to live in such a devastated city. No sane person but Marc. Here we are 3 years later and he has a Juris Doctor degree and a place he finally calls home. That's right. He and Ashley are staying in New Orleans, they love it there and Marc has a job. Something that many of his fellow graduates do not have. We enjoyed a fantastic celebratory dinner at Desire Oyster Bar with the entire family including all both of Ashley's parents and their spouses, Marc's mom, J&J and Audrey. Rick made a lovely toast to the newest lawyer in the family that brought tears to my eyes and his. He is so proud of his son. But I have to tell you Lauren and I were done with all the lawyer talk between Marc and Rick this weekend! Then it was time to experience Bourbon Street. I am speechless when it comes to Bourbon Street. It is like no other place in the world. Nowhere else in the world can you get a "Huge Ass Beer" to go. Bar after bar after bar, most with live music and all with crazy drunk ass people (not us of course). Ashley told us of a game that her and Marc frequently play when they're on Bourbon Street. It's called "Costume or Not." I have to say that most times it's not!

On Sunday we enjoyed a lovely brunch at Lil' Dizzy's. $20 all you can eat and all the mimosas and champagne you can drink. My kind of place but it would have been better had we all not stayed out so late the night before! Then it was off to a traditional New Orleans craw fish boil that was hosted by a friend and fellow Tulane Law graduate of Marc's. Marc described their craw fish boils as being akin to out bonfires. Nothing but a keg of beer and all the craw fish you can eat. No napkins, just a hose. Very interesting to experience the local culture on this level. After a brief rest we were off to dinner, again with the whole gang, at Acme Oyster House and then on to Bourbon Street again. After three consecutive nights of partying til the wee hours we decided on Monday night that none of us, including Lauren (go figure that we could have worn out the college kid) needed another night on Bourbon Street. There was a point on Sunday night that Lauren and I were in a bar and Rick was waiting outside for Marc to show up. Lauren had a clear view of Rick outside and leaned over to me and said, "I don't know what's going on out there but Dad has a bunch of beads!" Turns out he was being pelted by some drunks up in a balcony! Time to move on before somebody gets hurt! Another fun filled day on Monday including lunch with J&J&A, a cocktail at the Carousel Lounge (The bar actually rotates like a carousel. Lauren and I agreed that we were only good for one drink at this place! I'm not good with the round and round thing. When I would watch Lauren practice her spins for skating, sometimes I had to leave because just watching would make me dizzy.) and finally some shopping for all that touristy stuff. Dinner Monday night at Drago in the Hilton. Probably one of the best lobsters I've ever had. Not to mention the shrimp fondue and more char grilled oysters. You can't go too far in NOLA without having char grilled oysters. Tuesday was time for a muffletta. Not any muffletta, the original muffletta from the Central Grocery. Turns out the Central Grocery and the muffletta are both Italian. Who knew? After stuffing ourselves once again Marc and Ash took us for a scenic (I say this sarcastically) drive of the ravaged lower 9th ward. Absolutely devastating to see the damage from hurricane Katrina even four years later. My prayers go out to those people. And yours should too. Then it was off to the airport and home to the HG. Our time with the kids is always too short but 4 days in NOLA is about all I could handle without going to rehab!

Some highlights from our Cajun adventure:

Audrey-she is the best travelling baby EVER! Never heard her cry all weekend and we put her through the wringer.
HUGE ASS BEERS to go-no explanation needed.
The trail of powdered sugar from the beignets that went from our elevator straight to our hotel room door. Not to hard to figure out who made the mess in the hotel hallway!
The drag queens on the seedy party of Bourbon Street, now there's a sight!
The guy in Chuck's bar with the fake mustache that at one point in the night was actually on the guys cheek.
The old broad on Bourbon Street who showed her "stuff" and scarred us all for life!
The craw fish boil-gotta love an afternoon of cold beer and head sucking!
Riding the streetcar-a first for me and Lauren.
And last but certainly not least-seeing Marc get his diploma. A proud, proud moment.

Deck update:
While in NOLA work continued until the building inspector showed up and shut us down. No more work until I go to the Health Department and get them to "sign off" on our septic system. That's on my list first thing today. My builder said there are all old men at the health department so I'm going to wear something a little low cut and smile pretty and hope for the best this morning. If all goes well the earliest they will be back at work will be next Thursday. What a pain in my ass. What really makes it a pain is the fact that the building inspector showed up because a neighbor called in to complain. Complain about what? That my deck will be better than yours? Get a life and mind your own fucking business.

Heading to Cadiz later today for a sun filled weekend on the boat. We are missing a celebration at my brother Ken's house this weekend for my niece Allison's college graduation. She graduated from University of Missouri in just three years and is moving to Denver with the BF in 2 weeks. We are so proud of her too, and since we love Denver I know it won't be long until we visit. I know I'm getting old when the nieces and nephews start graduating from college!

To view pics from our trip click here.

The first two pics are of the bullfrog that is living on the edge of Karla's pond. They got mixed in with the grad pics. The bullfrog is probably about 6" round. He (or she) is HUGE!

A First for IllinoiSkating

It was a very successful weekend for IllinioSkating. As always, the competition was tough but they skated a very clean program. Clean enough to earn them 4th place and a pewter medal. The first ever medal for IllinoiSkating at Midwestern Sectionals. And, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place were only 2.14 points apart. One month until Nationals in Maine. The girls certainly have their work cut out for them.

In other HG news:
-We got to spend the evening with Audrey last night. She is smiling and cooing and doing all the cute things little babies do. She's perfect.
-Happy birthday to Jeanne, tomorrow. We love you JLA!
-Got a new car, a Beemer. Maybe I'll post a pic soon. Then again, maybe not. I have been driving a truck for 12 years so Rick promised that if I didn't like driving a car that he would give me back my beloved Escalade. I'll keep you posted.
-We're supposed to go to KY next week, but no power there due to ice storms. They have been without power for a week already and expect it to be at least another week, maybe several weeks. We'll just play it by ear.
-My Dad got a good check up last week. His tumor has shrunk by 20%! That's huge! Why can't he be the one that lives for years with Stage 4 lung cancer?
-Blowjobavich is finally outta here! No one is happier about this than Rick and I. Apparently his daughter skates for Chicago Skates and had her security detail pulled last Thursday night from the hotel at Mids. That poor girl.

Super Fan Eddie In His Glory

The picture is a little blurry but you get the idea. Eddie is super cut this year. I'm a little envious. What a game yesterday. It was one of those "last one with the ball wins" game. 48-41 Bears. The most points the Bears have scored in a game since 1986. A much needed win. Tailgate and post game tailgate rocked as usual. Kristin and Jake joined us along with Kyle and Jare. Kris, Jake and Jare were all Bears game virgins. I think we broke them in well. Rick is walking a little funny today since he thought he was 16 when he was tossing around the football after the game. He'll never learn. Not too many pics but fun to see all the same.

Vikings v. Bears October 19, 2008

In other news:

Jeanne's shower was perfect. Small, intimate, lovely. Lots of the usual Ooohs and Aaahs. This was Lauren's first baby shower that she remembers. She informed me that at her baby shower (not for several years!!!) she wants drinking games. She is still in college. Someday she'll figure it out.

My ass is so sore from working out. Ouch. It's amazing how easily your muscles turn to Jello. Soon I'll be buff like Eddie. Maybe not that buff.

Off to New Mexico this weekend with Special K (Karla) to visit Colleen. And meet Dexter the new puppy. Can't wait to spend some time with Col. She rocks.

My Pottery Obsession

I bought this gorgeous platter in Colorado with the intention of hanging it on the wall in my upstairs hallway. I cannot possibly be the first person ever who wants to hang something like this on the wall. After searching high and low on the web for a way to hang this, I have come up with nothing. There is not a search term I haven't tried. The platter is about 20" in diameter, about 3" deep and quite heavy. I found plate hangers for smaller lightweight items but nothing that would do for this. This is just the kind of shit that sets me off. What the fuck? There is nothing on the web to hang this thing? I don't believe it.

Years ago when I was having some glass shelving installed in our master bathroom, I wanted some sort of bracket that wasn't ugly and didn't stand out too much. The installer told me they didn't have anything like that. I simply replied, "I cannot be so original that I am the first asshole to want such a thing." Remarkably he found a solution that pleased me. Not an easy task, I know. But I also cannot be the only one to want to hang something like this on the wall.

I think I will just look for two separate brackets to affix to the wall and go from there. Unless Jeanne the Web Queen someone has a better idea. I am open to suggestions.

FYI: If you are searching for marijuana smoking paraphernalia, just add the word "bowl" to your search terms!

Unbelievable

We returned late last night from our first trip to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains. A client of Rick's was generous enough to let us use his "Kamp" as he calls it. His kids call it his 5 acre money pit and work farm. Let me tell you, hardly what I would describe as a camp! A gorgeous cedar log home complete with guest house where we stayed and where this picture was taken. We fished for rainbow trout on Lake Granby and actually caught some. Ate them too. YUMMY! We spent an afternoon driving through Rocky Mountain National Park. Overwhelmingly beautiful and scary at the same time. I'm not one for heights so there were times during the drive that I literally could not look. I've seen the Adirondack Mountains in all their seasonal glory, I've seen the Blue Ridge Mountains and they really do look blue, but the Rockies are truly spectacular. (I've also seen the Swiss and Italian Alps, but that's another continent altogether.) To be more than two miles above sea level is mind blowing and breathtaking, due to the altitude. We ended our trip with a night in Denver where we got to see Jeanne's "Booty Lounge" apartment. Very hip loft in the LoDo area of downtown Denver with extraordinary views of its own. We shared a delicious meal with J & J at a champagne bar that Jeanne selected just for her me, then the four of us went to a Colorado Rockies game. Really awesome stadium that was barely half full even with the Rockies in the running for a wild card spot in the playoffs. Sad, I thought. Saturday morning the kids took us out for a great brunch at the cutest little French bistro near Jeanne's apartment. Nothing like a few mimosas before you get on a plane! To view all the Colorado pictures, click here.



Sports Update

Today is the Bears season opener at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. I hope we kick their asses.

I hope my brother Bob is doing a little gloating down in St. Louis since the Cubs did win 2 out of 3 games against the Cards.

And Michigan whooped the shit out of Notre Dame yesterday!

I Love This Man

Honestly, he will never grow up and that's a good thing. Every time we go for a walk in the woods its like he's 5 years old again. He will always come home muddy and/or bloody. We have lived here for 14 years and I have only fallen in the creek once. Jeanne remembers. Rick on the other hand falls in on a regular basis. And yes, it happened again yesterday. All I can do is laugh and be thankful I had my camera so I can share.

Rick and I have talked at great lengths recently of selling the HG house and downsizing. Lauren is leaving soon and it is a lot of house for two people. But whenever we get close to actually doing it, we're just not ready to let go of all of this.

Is that not the Taj Mahal of beaver dens or what?!!

Happy 10th Anniversary to J & J!

And many, many more! We love you!