148 posts from 2008

This new work shit sucks.  Mainly it's just the commute.  It's like I have these two hours to myself each day but I can't enjoy a single minute of it.  I've had a thousand ideas for great posts and no time to write.  I have a one hour lunch each day but I can't get on the Internet and catch up with my hood.  I feel like my creativity is being stifled and so is my personal life.  I'm exhausted by the time I get to work, I'm exhausted when I get home.  I have zero time to myself for doing the things that *I* want to do on my own, ya know?  This is only after four days in a row.  We really need to get our shit together to sell the house, but when?  And will it sell?  Before winter??  I can't even let these thoughts creep into my mind or I'll go mad.  Anyway, thought I'd drop you guys a note to say that I'm still alive.  I've been able to peek at the hood, but I'm in no way caught up on any of it.  I miss you guys and hope you're all doing well.  I'd say I'll catch up this weekend, but who the hell knows.

Show us your happy place.
Submited by edwina.

My happy place most definitely has good food.

Let's hope that no Happy Joe's pizzerias were harmed in that nasty storm.

I suppose that this is as good of a place as any to mention it, but Sister, nephew and I went to La Rancharita for breakfast on my first day there and at 10 AM I was chowing down on the most awesome steak burrito.  Yum.

I miss my Sister!

My mama was out camping (rv'ing!) since Sunday so I didn't expect to hear from her for a few days...I hadn't been keeping up with the hometown news - looks like the IL side of the Quad Cities had its ass whooped by a killer storm.  My folks survived and are back home...Mom called on her cell, they have no power.  Trees down - everywhere.  Big, old trees.  :-(  They have their camper on the street, it has a generator and a fridge.  Good times.  They have some ice, beer and hot dogs over a fire tonight on the patio.  Wish 'em luck, y'all.

It's hard to believe my two week vacation is up.  I've only lurked around Vox -- hi strangers.  I was hoping these two weeks would invigorate me but I feel sluggish and unprepared for the week ahead.  Instead of bitching and moaning, I'll share a few more fun pics from the trip.

First up, my Aunt Maggie - she's crazy for Nascar.  It's ok to make fun of her for that.

Here's The Dad, who has an exciting new addiction...can you guess what it is?

Be careful, this one is cute, but she'll eat your brain.

Here's that little pup being all irresistible.  We demanded to hold him
This is a different pic than before...can you see the difference?

To show you Charlie's new friend:

The trip home on Sunday was much more difficult than the ride out to Moline.  I didn't sleep much during the entire visit so I was pretty tired when I hit the road. I took an extra stop to eat and I rested my eyes for about ten minutes shortly after Cleveland. About an hour and a half outside of Albany I felt like I was jumping out of my skin.  That was sure a lot of fun.  At an hour outside of Albany, just when I thought I couldn't drive another mile it started getting foggy and rainy.  Oh joy.  Not only do I hate driving at night, but rain makes it ten times worse.  I had to make one final stop only 22 miles from home just to clear my head (and bladder!).  I was so grateful to make it home in one piece!  I slept most of yesterday away and have just been trying to catch up around the house today.  I know I can totally make the trip again by car, I just want to make sure I get plenty of sleep before setting out.

Ok, so for the fun stuff:

Here's my Mama, makin' her gardens beautiful:

Get this, Sister is living at home until her new place is ready in a few weeks.  In the meantime, Charlie has taken to guarding her when she sleeps at night.  He's very protective of his family.
We all had fun at the shower:
In our parent's backyard, way back in the corner, is the infamous pee pond.  Here we see big-boy Landyn following in a great family tradition:
  Dude, those are real freaking flowers.  How beautiful is that??

When I first arrived, Sister was helping me unpack my car.

Sister: Do I have to wait until Saturday to open my shower gifts?
Me: Well, yeah.
Sister: How come?!?
Me: Because I know it will drive you nuts.

I caved because I'm a good sister and she opened them the next day.  She later wrapped them and then acted surprised when she opened them again at the shower.

Our lovely Grandmother crocheted a beautiful blanket for the baby.

When Sister Sally Francis was younger she never strayed from the perfect look of the white t-shirt and blue jean.  A very sweet friend made sure she could pass it on to the wee one with white onesies(sp?) and jean shorts.
Babydaddy Jon was bopping Kennedy in the face with a balloon...and in retaliation she made the following threatening chalk drawing
Don't mind the backwards 'J' - it's the stickman with the missing head that should concern us all.

On my last night there I walked Charlie and brought his present back home with me.  I left it for The Dad under his bar in the garage.  When The Dad returned and was hanging out at his bar he thought that maybe there was a dead mouse in the garage.  He tore through the cupboards and drawers hoping to find a dead Mickey while nine of us who were in on the joke were busting up on the patio.  Eventually he thought he'd figured out the problem - opened salsa in the fridge.  Hmmm...that still didn't stifle the smell.  And it seemed to get worse when he was behind his bar.  He dug through the shelves on his bar a few times - not once noticing the black sack of dog shit right under his nose.  Alas, eventually the jig was up and I was caught.  He told me I moved up to daughter number one status.

I will miss you guys!  Love you so much!!

I've been having a great time here with the family.  Today is Sister's baby shower, it should be fun!  Tomorrow I begin the long trek home and then it's a week off with Mr. Val.  Here is some good local stuff:

I never thought twice about the name growing up...it was just the best place for ice cream.  When Mr. Val first visited and saw the sign he was shocked!

Woohoo!  I made it safely to Illinois with only three stops for gas and pee.  I left at 7 EST and was here by 9:20 central time. Not too shabby.  As I was driving along the Rock River on I-74 I came upon a sign that said "Quad Cities 1 Mile" and in that moment someone shot off fireworks over the river, it's nice to have a welcoming committee.  :-)  Hope y'all are having a good week, maybe someday I'll have the chance to catch up around here.

These last few days have been crazy.  I'm just about to leave for my road trip to Illinois.  See you guys next week!

I am finally done with work for the next two weeks.  This is the longest vacation I've taken since my honeymoon eight years ago.  Of course I was up bright and early this morning.  I'm so tired after my new long commute - I was in bed around 9 last night.  What a party pooper.

I was going to remote-in to my old computer to finish uploading some files from my old office to my new office but my login failed (although oldboss said he was cool with it...not sure what happened).  I also wanted to finish something up for a client that I just hadn't the opportunity to complete, as well as put a vacation reminder on my old email.  I'm sure clients are freaking out about the transition - and just in time for my vacation!  I might have to stop in there this weekend.  Maybe I'll go before the Farmer's Market tomorrow.  Blah.  Hey, I'm *trying* to be a good worker here.  It just doesn't seem to be happening.

Any advice on getting my car ready to travel half way across the country next week?  One thing that's a little odd is whenever I go over bumps (like the end of my driveway or a speed bump) my car makes a squeaky noise when it moves up and down.  Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?  I'm going to get an oil change, have them check my belts, tire pressure, shit like that.  I usually take it to the dealer but don't want to even necessarily tell them I'm going to take a road trip (for fear of being screwed).  I wish I lived close enough to the Car Talk guys' garage!