A Good Read

Check this out. http://southsidejournal.stltoday.com/articles/2008/01/15/sports/sj2tn20080115-0116fen_ubriaco1.ii1.txt

It's Time

I'm finally going to do it. That's right. I'm quitting that dirty, filthy, expensive habit that is also killing me. Today is Day One. One day at a time. I'm not going cold turkey. I got me some drugs. There's a concept, take drugs to quit drugs. Kind of crazy. There is a new drug called Chantix that has shown great results. But I must also do my part. I cannot expect to simply pop a pill and never want to smoke again. I know this will be the battle of my life but I am so ready. I refuse to let the cigs control my life any longer. And the money I will be saving in the coming year will be more than enough for a fabulous vacation. That's what I call incentive.

Last night Rick and I went to the casino. They have this neat little heated tent outside for the smokers since Illinois is now smoke free. As I stood in this smoke filled tent having my Marlboro, there was an older gentleman with a very gruff voice and a wicked cough complaining about having to be in this tent to smoke. He went on and on about his grandfather who smoked lived to be 105, how alcohol is more dangerous than smoking (I don't know the stats on that and I'm pretty sure this guy didn't either,) and all the additives they put in food that will kill you. In between his coughs he sounded utterly ridiculous. As much as I have enjoyed my smoking over the years I have never argued the medical facts that smoking kills. This guy was an idiot. I do not want to be an idiot. End of story. Wish me luck.

Today's Agenda

Since I finally got all of my Christmas decorations taken down and put away yesterday, I had planned on getting to a long list of menial chores today. No chance. I must start building my ark. It has been raining steadily since about 5pm yesterday and much more rain is in the forecast for today. Having the creek run through our woods is quite lovely most of the time, but when the heavy rains come the creek swells quite rapidly. While we have never had water in the house due to a storm, it does put us on edge each time. Thank God for our sloping land. The rains would have to come for 40 days and 40 nights before the flooding would ever make it to the house.

Ozzy is not too fond of the flooding. He almost always does his "business" in the woods. Very thoughtful of him since we don't pick up after him in the woods. On the rare occasion he does go in the yard, we don't pick up after him then either! Each time we walk him when there is flooding, he gets to the edge of the yard and stares longingly into the woods for a few moments. With the saddest face ever he then squats and does his business. Poor dog. Life is hard for him.

After ten long weeks...

...Bob is finally home. Still a long road ahead but I know he can do it. Debbie, Sophia and I went down to St. Louis to welcome him home on Thursday. We actually arrived at his house before Bob and Teresa made it home from the hospital. As we were sitting in the kitchen waiting for them, it occurred to Debbie and I that perhaps we should have stopped somewhere for a "Welcome Home" balloon, or something. Nah. Instead, I quickly took a piece of paper from the printer and improvised. Not quite the welcome he deserved but c'est la vie. We were fortunate to share his first meal at home with him and his family. Best damn meal I've had in a long time. As Debbie, Sophia and I headed downtown to our hotel for the night, I was pointing out the St. Louis Arch for Sophia to see. When we finally got close enough, Sophia asked, "What do you do with that?" I explained how you could take an elevator to the top of the Arch to get a view of the city. After a short moment of silence, my 4 year old niece said, "Excuse me. I'm not doing that!" Don't you just love kids? Especially when they're not yours?!

Happy Birthday to my brother Joe who turns 48 tomorrow. Damn, we're all getting old!

A Special Treat

For those of you who have no idea what synchronized skating is and what Lauren has been doing since age 4, check this out. One of the Dads posted Illinois Skating's 3rd place finish at the Dr. Porter Classic on You Tube. I love the web. The music they skate to is from the movie "Speed." See if you can spot Lauren. Ten points if you find her! And turn up the volume!

Party Night

We're having a few very good friends over tonight for some holiday cheer and I'm busy doing my thing today when the doorbell unexpectedly rings. Flowers for me!? Although Rick often brings home flowers for me (cuz he's "THE MAN"), almost never are they delivered. I gently tore open each stapled corner searching for the card. Alas, amidst the greens and roses, was the card. "Love, Michaelene" I have been blessed in my life to have so many wonderful friends and Mikey is certainly high on the list, if not at the top. I think she may even be my "best friend," most days anyway. I'm sure she sent them in anticipation of a great evening of food and beverages tonight.

The said flowers are now the centerpiece of my table. Thanks Mikey.

IllinoiSkating Rocks the House

That's right folks. They took a lot of people by surprise, I'm sure, but not me. I knew they could do it. The competition was stiff. Twelve universities including Western Michigan, Michigan State, U. of Michigan, Notre Dame, Indiana U. and U. of Wisconsin. The girls skated a very fast and clean program and we all knew it the second the music stopped. There is nothing quite like that feeling of knowing you whooped ass. When the results were in, IllinoiSkating took the Bronze! Third out of twelve. Not bad for a team that took seventh out of nine at the same competition last year. These girls practice hard four days a week including the dreaded Friday morning practice that they all despise. I'm sure they have all walked away from this incredible experience today understanding what their hard work and dedication can accomplish. It was a perfect example of being in control of your own destiny. The long and short of it all is we are just so proud of them all including our new coach Audrey. As a first year coach she has shown that she means business. Good for her but even better for Illinois skating.

I would also like to give an honorable mention to the Illini parents for being able to "synchronize" their cheer. We improved tenfold from the Kalamazoo competition!


And just one more picture of our baby with her medal that you can't actually see but I swear is at the end of that ribbon around her neck!