Sparks

What would you grab in case of a fire? I got that opportunity to find out! It was clothes and then Mike before I realized we weren't in danger.
I get up in the middle of the night to visit the potty and look out the window and I see sparks. Now I haven't had a fire in the fireplace for 2 days so I know that's not it. I run to look out the kitchen window and see flames. OK - I'm waking Mike up!
I called 911. I woke up Sharen's boys (South Elgin Fire Dept)and they came out at 2:00am to investigate - took them 7 minutes. Turns out the power lines blowing in the wind was setting one of our trees on fire. They called ComEd for us, but they were busy with a power outage in St. Charles, and since we had power, we were put on the long list. We ended up with a light show for the rest of the night. ComEd came out the next day and said there was nothing wrong except our tree is too close to the power lines and it may have to come down. YA THINK!!!
Sounds like a project for next summer. More firewood..... Yipee!

Meet the Parents

Mike and I drove into the city to meet Mary's parents this weekend, who were up from St. Louis for Christmas.
We met up at Wishbone's for brunch. The conversation flowed and the time flew. Mike finally met a Cards fan that he likes. When the help started putting chairs up on the bar and tables around us, we decide to call it a day. (It was only 3:00pm)
Here we all are!!


Next time they can come out to Elgin and have dinner at our house.

Dashing through the Snow

Woke up Christmas Eve morning to more snow - It was beautiful!



We had a whirlwind Christmas Eve day with breakfast with the Dup's - Sharen, Dup, Carrie, Dave, Jon and his girlfriend Erica, Mike, Bryan.
After breakfast we went out to Carrie and Dave's and had some friendly competition with SceneIt the movie version. The team of Mike, Carrie, Dave, and Jon were victorious.
Brian, Stacy, Kory and the kids came over that evening. One grandson wanted Mostacolli, the other lasagna, so I made both.
Christmas morning I woke up Bryan to open presents. I put a ham in the oven and Sharen and Dup came down for some eats. Sharen loves ham as much as Mike.
I guess the present this year was a hat.
Dup got a Green Bay Packer Superbowl hat. Mike got a Bears hat and Sharen made me one.


After eating We jumped in the hot tub and shared a bottle of wine. There is nothing like relaxing in a hot tub with steam in our faces and snow all around.
Dup dared me to run to the shed and back - through the snow - in my swimsuit. I told him I would run around the tree. You can't make it around that tree.
THAT sounded like a dare and a challenge. Sharen hops out of the hot tub and we run around the tree in the back yard in our swimsuits through the snow. It was fun and we laughed. Seems the snow was mixed with ice cause when we got back into the house we noticed small cuts and scrapes on our legs. Doesn't matter!
We watched Mama Mia and all enjoyed it. Sharen went home to her book, blankie and a fire, I curled up with the new James Patterson book and Mike and Dup headed out to see a movie. Great Holiday - I realize that I did all the cooking when I look in the frig. Can you say LEFTOVERS!! Bean soup this weekend??!

Merry Christmas

From our home to yours!!

Happy Face

Here is a list of things that made me smile already today!

- Woke up to George Strait singing "Winter Wonderland" on the radio
- A HOT shower - Our hot water heater broke for a few days
- Christmas cookies for breakfast - Who Cares? (And if I hadn't told you, you would never know)
- Bears Win!!! Yes, I fell asleep. I was tired OK.
- A picture of President-elect Obama in the Sun Times wearing a SOX baseball cap
- a voice mail message from an old Boss (the best one ever) wishing me a Merry Christmas

And it's only 8:30am......

Kevin

Thursday night at bowling was our Christmas party!
The place was crowded and I noticed a black man standing behind our lanes next to the bar. My first thought was to watch our cell phones and purses. He just stood there watching - so being who I am - I went up to him and asked him if he was waiting for a lane. "No, I just came to watch some bowling. It looks like you are having fun."
We were! The bowling alley buys drinks for everyone at Christmas time and seeing I'm still on the wagon, Michelle and Deanna drank a shot for me and Cheryl! (she was home sick).
To make a long story short. This man's name is Kevin. We invited him to sit at our table and have something to eat. He is 47. He moved out here from Chicago to get away from his past. He has a 12 yr old daughter and an ex-wife who he doesn't see anymore. He made some major mistakes in his life and did his time. He always loved bowling and "people who bowl are the friendliest people he knows". He never knew his father and his mother's friend used to take him bowling at Diversery Bowl.
Turns out he was just lonely and we gave him "one of the greatest gifts he will get this year". Our invite to join us.
As I was leaving Kathy one of the girls in our league asked me. "How did it go from watch your purse to bye Kevin it was nice to meet you?"
My answer - It's Christmas!!!

I Paid it Forward

I have this little fellow in the bathroom sitting on the sink counter. His hands hold a dish that is screaming out for some snow flake soap. Whenever I take him out for the winter season I mention to Nancy, a sales Rep. at work, about my quest for soap in the shape of snowflakes. Since she gets into many businesses on the job she has taken up my mission to find snow flake soap.

Well Monday she comes in with a smile on her face and hands me this.

Just what I was looking for - until today! She found this incredible snow flake bath confetti. You sprinkle it in your bath and it dissolves with water and it smells wonderful too.
Doesn't it look great in my snowman.


I offered to pay for it. I saw the price tag only $3.99. She of course refused my money.

On the way home traffic on Randall was terrible so I decided to get off at South St. and get some gas. When I got to the stop light I realized the problem. An Escalade was stalled in the left hand lane so everybody was trying to go around him.
I get to the gas station right there on the corner and this poor guy was standing there with a gas can in his hand. Seems he was the driver of the stalled car. I filled his can for him $3.55 and he ran back to his car - got in and drove off with a wave in my direction.

Enlightment

Part 1
When my sister Mary moved away she had to get rid of "the pool table". This pool table was in my parents basement. It held many a Christmas buffets. Laughs were had, secrets were told, and much food was consumed around this table. So we needed to keep it in the family. Mike and I finally had the space for it - so we thought. I never realized how big that sucker was. It fit in our basement but no way could we actually play pool on it. It just sits there with all the grandkids toys stored under neath.
We had the kids over Friday night and as I was watching the boys build another fort around and under this table, it came to me. It was the perfect size for me to pin my quilts together on. I usually stretch out on the floor on a area rug. Flannel sticks REAL good to the rug. Mike put the rug atop the table and well-la my back is saved. No more crawling over the quilts on the floor.

One of my Christmas quilts. I have used this pattern copious (one of my favorite big words) amounts of time. This is my first with no flannel. I felt with 3 kids and a dog she would need something that would hold up to the punishment.


Part 2
Friday night the boys were playing touch football in the basement (their new favorite pass time since Thanksgiving). Kaylyn attached herself to Mike. As they sat there sharing a bowl of grapes. Kaylyn shares "Boys have penises" Mike about choked on his grapes. "Where did you hear that?"
"My Mom told me. And I have a ma-china".
Now Mike is falling off his chair. How do you respond to that? Your 3 1/2 yr old grand daughter is giving you her lesson on the birds and bees. I about peed my pants watching Mike try to talk his way out of this one.
Turns out Stacy had to explain to Kaylyn the correct terms to use after she was hanging out with her 9 yr old brother and his friends and the things that boys say when no adults are around. She had a talk with Dylan too.

In Honor of the Gov

I am seeking to build my personal wealth and maintain power in the workplace.
Memo to Sales Reps.
I am selling prime positions in the paper to the highest bidder. Yes - the front page strip ad can be bought. You want your ad on page 3? Grease my palm!
You need to make your numbers this month? I can help pad your numbers if you pad my pocket book. Because I have this position right now to do it and it is golden and I'm just not giving it up for nothing.
Nothing is sacred everything is for sale!
Don't even try to bug my F**in phone or tap into my F**in blogger account - I will act very hurt and Deny it all!!!!!

I'd Rather be Golfing

I decided to participate in the desk decorating at work. Mine is all done!
No reason to lie - I'd rather be golfing.....

Bulletin Board. The golf ball material is flannel that I had left over from PJ bottoms I made for Jon.

The tree is in my open overhead (It was time to clean it out anyway). The tree usually is in our family room.

The wreath welcomes you to my little corner of the office. It is the only thing that I made this year. Along with the golf ball ribbons.

Wish me luck!!

I've Lost my Mind

Christmas this year is a struggle for me.
My answer is to make a quilt. I told you I have lost my mind.
I can't find material that matches so I look at flannel shirts, flannel pajamas, flannel baby blankets. I think I need help! EVERYTHING MUST MATCH!!!
Last Thursday I caught myself matching my bowling towel to all the bowling balls to see if they matched. (Purple and pink towel matched Cheryl's ball).

Friday I went to Joanne's in Algonquin to check out a different store. First mistake was going without Sharen and then I found myself calling Bryan, seriously I called him for a opinion on the color for baby Reuter.
Saturday I wasn't so stupid, I went with Sharen to Hancock Fabric in Schaumburg. We did find some material that will work, but holy, moly I will be sewing right up till Christmas Eve.

I'd Rather Have a Root Canal

It's very quiet at work right now - Everyone is of to "the Lunch".
After some soul searching and some sound advice from family I decided that I will not be going to the lunch. I would rather have a Root Canal.

Seriously, that is what I'm doing! The Dentist office just called and they have an opening. My tooth is not to the point of a root canal, but I do need a cap put on.
So while they are trying to make small talk and pretending that they all like each other I will be stretched out here.

And let me tell ya Dr. Dave is an old family friend of Mike's and he is a cutey.