Purse Love

I love purses- I just have a thing about them...love em....can't have enough of them...

I just acquired a new one that I love so much- I wanted to share it with the world....


See- it's LIKE a Coach purse- but with Mickey Mouse....it's pure love.

I Like 'Em Fake...

The fake tree is misunderstood and under-appreciated.
I happen to love a good fake Christmas tree.

I was raised with a fake tree. A totally chessy, plastic...totally FAKE looking SEARS Christmas tree.
My mother even put a pine tree scented mini-wax tree inside of it to help give it that real flair...it didn't work.

She always told me we had a fake tree because of my dad and my allergies.
The thing is...I never wanted a real one....I was fine with the fakeness...
There is something about knowing this same tree shares your memories from year to year...but there is more...so much more:

1) Technology...these days- you almost can't tell a real from a fake tree- they really have spent lots of money to make them more realistic.

2) The mess- there is virtually NONE with a fake tree

3) Pre-strung lights- best invention ever!!

4) No watering!

5) No worries of it drying out or totally dying!

6) No need for the tacky tree tents to pop up all over my neighborhood!!

7) It has to be really bad for the environment to cut down all those trees!!!

I'm sure there are more reasons- but those are mine...please let me know if you have any that I didn't think of!!!

It's the reason why Christmas is only once a year...

Christmas lights!!!

I am attempting to put up our trees....
but I've spent the last hour and a half trying to figure out why one string of lights on our pre-lit tree won't light up!

You know it's a bad sign when you take the tree out of the box and a light bulb falls out....
I still can't find the missing link!!!!!!

More adventures to come...
Future blog topics:
How many christmas trees are too many?
Real tree vs. fake tree?
Tree themes??
I have answers to them all!

I can see....

I can see Jimmy Smits from my chair...
He's onstage at the Obama rally..
It's interesting- because he was President Santos in the West Wing....
and if you watched that show- you might notice a lot of similarities between Obama and Santos....I swear...that show is predicting the future!

Blogging with Obama...

(Sung to the song...Rollin with the homies....)

It's after 9pm...I'm in beautiful Kissimmee....
Outside....it's 50 degrees...and windy....

And we're waiting for Obama.....and Bill Clinton....
There are thousands of people here. We won't know crowd estimates until later in the night- but they are hoping to beat the 50,000 that were in downtown Orlando last week with just Hillary Clinton.

I'm still amazed at the people this man can draw...grandmothers...grandchildren...media from around the world!
In fact, I'm now sitting next to someone from Australia...
It's just nuts...more to come!

My Day Was Going So Well....

I've always hated that intersection...
Mitchell Hammock and Lockwood in Oviedo...
Whoever designed it should be, at the very least, fired.

Mind you...I've been driving since I was 17...never been in an accident...15 years- no worries....And my poor Kamy...that's the name of my car....she's a mess! It's sad- but yes- she can be fixed!!

Traffic suddenly slowed...the car in front of me quickly slowed to a stop. I followed- but then looked in my rearview mirror and realized that the Ford F-150 was not about to slow down at all....

I yelled..HOLD ON BRENDAN....
And then crash.....He plowed into me pretty hard- and I slammed into the car in front of me...
Here's the back of my car..

The Front...

The good news- my air bag didn't engage- so at least I can still drive it!
The car in front of me had a trailer post- so it just put that hole in my front bumper- and he had little damage....
The truck behind me was such a big truck it had so little damage- but his airbag went off- so they had to tow him away.
Apparently it's illegal to drive a car once an airbag has been engaged.

It was a sheer moment of panic...I made sure Brendan was ok-- made sure everyone else was ok....found my phone- and called my dad....
He was first...which is weird...but I was close to his house and told him to come help me...
Then 911....and then Scott...

It's been a day....now the fun part with insurance and dealerships and loaner cars....Fun...Fun...Fun!

At least no one was hurt!!!

An email from my husband...

I can't make this stuff up!


From Scott Cook:
Came home... and here's a new one...

A cat took a dook on our bed...

Yep... one big load...

From the size of it, you would it thought it was Brendan... but he was at school...

Now... I already had the comforter in the washing machine. So this ended up on the white mid-blanket thing...

I am assuming a cat was not feeling good, since there was also some on the couch (a small nugget)... and puke in a couple of spots...

So now I am gonna move the bed around and vacuum underneath that too... to ensure there is not more poop spots...

It is always something around this place, isn't it?!?!?

Ups and Downs...

"There's nothing worse than a sick child...."
That's not entirely true- something worse is when they are sick- and you don't know what it is.
Take a look at this!!



Patrick came home last night with a massive rash on his legs- all over...up to the butt...



We spent hours trying to find the cause...



After a warm bath and some pj's- the rash went away...
Today- more bumps came back on other parts of the body....

I went into mom freakout mode...
According to the doctor- it's MOST LIKELY a bacterial infection- and that's how it's trying to work itself out of his body.
In the meantime- it's lots of liquids and rest....
RIGHT...try explaining that to a 2-year-old.

What did you invent??

My favorite story of the day:


Adviser says McCain helped create the BlackBerry
MIAMI (AP) - Al Gore may lay claim to the Internet, but John
McCain may have a high-tech achievement of his own.
A top McCain policy adviser says the Republican presidential
nominee helped create the BlackBerry.
Waving his BlackBerry personal digital assistant, Douglas
Holtz-Eakin told reporters, "You're looking at the miracle that
John McCain helped create."
McCain has acknowledged that he doesn't know how to use a
computer and can't send e-mail -- one of the primary functions of a
Blackberry.
Holtz-Eakin claims McCain's service on and leadership of the
Senate Commerce Committee put him at the intersection of a number
of economic interests, including the telecommunications industry.
The argument is similar to one advanced by Gore. The 2000
Democratic presidential nominee once boasted about "taking the
initiative to create the Internet" through technological and
educational policies.

Blog in Pictures

The outer, outer bands of Hurricane Ike have been causing some random strong storms...here are some pictures leaving a storm in downtown Orlando today...

I loved these clouds...

Look out the clouds curve...it's fascinating...

Just now- there was a big cat fight between Jack and Bailey...this is what is left...yes- that's all cat hair...and yes- from the same cat...All Bailey hair....our carpet is beige!

Seven years ago....

September 11th...
I think today should be a national holiday..
no work...no school...no events....

It's all just too weird to see a political fundraiser "Come party with us...September 11th"

Favorite AP News Alert Of The Day

WASHINGTON (AP) - Investigators reveal illicit sex trysts
between government oil brokers, energy company employees



(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
AP-NY-09-10-08 1408EDT

Public School

Brendan is now in his fourth week of Kindergarten at a public school.
He has gone to preschool for the last two years at a private church-run school.
This adjustment to public school is not going so well- at least for us parents.

It seems that while it's public school...it's not cheap.
Everyday there is something we need to pay for...
$7 for a school shirt...
$5 for PTA membership...
Third day of class- a school fundraiser selling crap....
$2.50 for an "in-house" field trip to some puppet show....

And not only that- but threatening notes...like "IF people don't pay for this field trip- we will be forced to cancel all field-trips for all students"

We don't have a class list...
We've already had two hurricane days- which you wouldn't think would be a big deal- but apparently it has thrown the entire school schedule off- and we are now getting newsletters home that are literally weeks behind...

Brendan has about 45 minutes of homework a night..
When I was in Kindergarten- it was only a half day- and there was no such thing as homework!
Now- he's at school for about 8 hours- and then has 45 minutes of homework almost every night...my how times have changed.....

The Tale of Two Candidates....

Most people don't get to experience what I've recently experienced...meeting the next President of the United States.
It's pretty intense sitting in a room with the would-be president...but it's also interesting how two men- both wanting the same job- are just SO different...



Monday:

Told we have an exclusive one-on-one interview with Sen. John McCain.
Arrive at Brevard Community College in Melbourne.
Go through a security check. Lots of sweet looking dogs that want to play- and attack.
Told we are the pool media camera for a statement the Senator will make about his vision for future spaceflight. We are housed with national media...some big names in the room.
I try to act cool- all while drooling over the food the national media enjoy.

(Photo: Orlando Sentinel photographer Joe Burbank enjoys his lunch)



We are not allowed to eat the food, as national media has to pay to eat- and we aren't cool enough to be included in that group!


After lunch, the Senator makes his statement and walks away without taking questions.
We are immediately rushed to a different room- where are are in a mad dash to set up the equipment.
The press guy with McCain asks us to look through the view finder so he can approve the shot.


Suddenly, the room fills with worker bees rushing "here comes the Senator...Here comes the Senator"

In walks McCain, who says hello and sits down. With him are Senators Mel Martinez and Joe Lieberman. Martinez jokes with reporter Scott Harris about old high school days...McCain looks on noticing the fact they know each other.

Two women come into the room- one working on his hair- the other touching up his makeup. I come to find out McCain can't lift up his arms- an injury from his POW days- so he has to have people brush his hair for him.

The interview begins- with a sea on onlookers...including the two Senators- a number of secret service agents- and a large amount of people from his campaign/press office. I would say in all, about 30 people...if not more...were watching.

They were also recording. A number of digital audio records were on, taping everything.

The interview was great- about 7 minutes later someone (I swear it was one of the makeup people) gave me the sign to wrap it up. I thought about ignoring her- but then again- there were lots of people with guns around....so we wrapped it up.


McCain was very nice and shook hands with everyone- and then was whisked away....




Tuesday:
Told we have an exclusive one-on-one interview with Sen. Barack Obama.
We arrive at the Orange County Convention Center- and told to meet behind the media riser after the interview.
We do as told- and are taken to a closet. This particular closet is home to every make and model of cord ever made. Cords of all different shapes, sizes and lengths are all organized in bins all around the mason brick room.
We are shown where to set up the camera- we do so...and are told to wait by the entrance to the closet to wait for the Senator- who first has a radio interivew.
As we are waiting, we are talking to a secret service agent- asking if it is a job requirement that you are not allowed to smile. Needless to say, he started smiling...in walked another secret service agent...who our first guy got to smile as well. All is good- and before you know it, in walks Senator Obama.
He walks up to me, shakes my hand...says hello to my co-workers, and is whisked away for a radio interview.
We wait about five minutes- and then our turn.
We are standing in the corner of this closet- in front of a blue curtain and a flag...and the interview begins.
In contrast to the McCain interview, the Obama campaign maybe has about three people in there- and they were way back.
At one point, about seven minutes later- one woman gave me a wrap sign- we wrapped it up- and the Senator just hung around talking to everyone, until someone from him campaign had to move him along.



My thoughts:

I felt like the way the McCain camp controlled things- they were almost afraid McCain was going to say something damaging...it appeared like the Obama campaign was so confident in his skills, that they weren't worried about what he might say.

My crazy life

I'm not looking for sympathy- just a little understanding ;)

I feel like I'm in the middle of an anxiety attack!

Here's my situation.....
1. Primary Elections August 26th- over 100 local races- I'm in charge of all coverage- which is pretty intense...

2. Monday- John McCain comes to Orlando
Tuesday- Barack Obama comes to Orlando
Wednesday- President Bust comes to Orlando.
I'm in charge of all coverage

3. Tropical Storm Fay looks like it's going to nail us about Tuesday/Wednesday...
I'm not in charge of coverage- but I'm sure I'll be involved!

4. My little Brendan starts Kindergarten on Monday!!! In the middle of all this work I'm supposed to be a mom!
I'm not ready- I don't think we've prepared him as much as we could have!
I'm totally freaking!

On top of that- I'm dealing with two different campaigns and the white house- none of which are very forthcoming with information and logistics...

Through all this- I'm actually supposed to be spending a relaxing weekend camping...
I type this right now at the Fort Wilderness Campground- we have a lovely cabin for the weekend- a sort of farewell to summer "stay"cation...
Instead of relaxing, I'm obsessing over emails and logistics- praying for emails so I can just go to the pool....

Only 11 weeks until the November election- and then I can relax..
So basically the whole reason I write this is an excuse for any of my behaviour over the next few months!!!!

Anyone want to either
1- Offer help on how to relax?
or
2- Take bets on when my head will explode?

Chicago: By The Numbers

Hot dogs eaten: 8
Times I've gotten yelled at for wanting ketchup on said hot dog: 2
Hours sitting in traffic on the Edens or Tri-State Toll-way: I'm guessing about 6
Beers drunk: Countless
CTA bus rides: 2
CTA Train rides: 14
Miles driven in rental car: 364
Flights I've been on trying to get out of Chicago: 4
Amount of happy American Airlines workers willing to help me after flights have been cancelled: 0
Airplanes I was supposed to be on that have been deemed "not flight worthy" by the FAA: 1
People that are on the standby line trying to get on my flight out of Chicago to Orlando: 21

Saying Goodbye

My grandpa passed away this week- we are now heading up to Wisconsin for funeral services- here is the official obit from the Chicago Tribune:
John R. "Jack" Bresnahan, age 81, of Burlington, passed away Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at Burr Oak Manor in Genoa City. He was born Dec. 28, 1926, in Chicago, IL, to Timothy A. and Catherine, nee Guilfoyle, Bresnahan. John served in the United States Army. Jack worked as a greeter at WalMart until September of 2007 and was also a retired truck driver and a member of the 705 Union. Survivors include his loving wife, MaryAnne Bresnahan of Burlington; their children, Timothy (Carol)
Bresnahan of Florida, Patricia (Pat) Pastore of Arizona, Daniel Bresnahan of Minnesota and Mary Kay (Victor) Winandy of Illinois; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandsons. John was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, James Bresnahan. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, July 7, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Rev. Jeff Thielen officiating. Burial will follow at So. WI Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Relatives and friends may visit with the family on Sunday, July 6, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m., at Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory , 625 Browns Lake Dr., Burlington, WI 53105.
-----------------------------------------------------

These are some of the amazing things I will always remember about my grandpa- things that you can't print in the obit!!

*When I was little I didn't like to kiss him because his facial hair tickled my face

*He always had jokes to share- most of them were dirty, but I didn't realize that until I was older... "I once had a girlfriend with a wooden leg- her name was Peg"

*He loved animals- especially his sweet Irish Setter named Mick...and lots of kitties...
Poor Mick died a tragic death, being runover by a combine on the farm...it was awful- but at least now grandpa is back with his dog in heaven

*I never really knew what my grandpa's name really was...people called him John, Jack and everyone at "camp" called him Irish

*Every year- he took us to camp. For one week every summer until I was about 12 or so- we would pack up and head to Burlington, Wisconsin
If you dare: http://www.sunrayhills.com
As a child- it really wasn't a bad place- we had so much fun, made so many friends and never thought twice about not being allowed to wear clothes in the pool....
But as I grew up- I thought it was very odd to watch my grandpa play volleyball.
I will never forget my high school graduation party- when he stated that he couldn't play volleyball with all of his clothes on...I got some strange looks....

*He took us to what I like to remember as "heaven on earth"...
Chocolate Fest- and it still continues today: http://www.chocolatefest.com/
I blame him for my chocolate addiction.

*For my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, I interviewed them both- and was able to put together a movie with lots of old pictures. I'm so thankful that we had the chance to sit down and get all of his wit, humor and memories down on tape to treasure forever.

Go Discovery!

Hello world...
I continue my Central Florida travels...
Today- LIVE from Kennedy Space Center....Right now- we're about four hours from launch....
And I'm sitting about 100 feet from the big giant countdown clock- and right across the water from the space shuttle on the launchpad....
It's pretty cool- but HOT!
More to come- of course- complete coverage on News 13.com

Obama

I'm in Kissimmee right now- the mecca of excitement in the Orlando area....
But it's more about who I'm with- that where I am....
It's Barack time baby!
I am not supporting a particular candidate- and when I decide who I will vote for- even then I won't share it.
But I've got to say- there's something about being out in the crowd- the excitement- the energy...people really want "change" and think Obama is the guy to bring it.
There are some strange people here too!
I kid you not- I saw a girl- wearing a pink "I'm a Goddess" t-shirt- pink- (and way too short) shorts and pink fuzzy slippers...she was pregnant- and smoking...
Gotta Love Kissimmee...

It's Barack time.....gotta go- but more to come!

Exciting TV News

The 70's classic Electric Company is coming back to PBS!
Y'all can look forward to hearing kids across the land screaming EC's famous opening, "Hey you guys!"
Production on the new Electric Company started this week, Tuesday.
The show’s new format will encompass interactive online elements and community-based activities across the country.
Music for the show's being looked after by Broadway babes, Chris Jackson, Thomas Kail and Bill Sherman (all from musical In the Heights, which was just nominated for a bunch of Tony awards).

Spiderman lives!

From my sister- about my nephew:

Last night the kids got to bed a bit later than normal. Colin and I had picked up Mom from the airport, and she had given Colin a pen that had the pillsbury doughboy on it. Unbeknownst to me, he took that pen out of my purse and brought it to bed with him. Conor, he falls asleep FAST, but Colin usually plays in his room, with the nightlight on, for at least an hour. I went in to check on him, and I figured that he must be asleep because it was quiet. Boy was I wrong! I found a boy COVERED in ink! He had colored onhis face, arms, hands, neck, legs and feet! Then I took him outside to show his father, and I realized that he had colored on his chest and butt and even inside his ear and belly button!!! I was pretty mad, (seriously, how long is it going to take to scrub ink off of him and I'm already tired??), but then listen to his answer...Colin, what were you thinking?? "I just wanted a Spiderman suit." He had drawn the spiderman web all over his body. It's pretty funny, right?? Oh, and it took about 15 minutes of scrubbing, FYI.

Great Lakes Tour 2008

The Cooks continues the Great Lakes Tour 2008- hitting popular destinations including:
ChicagoDeerfieldGlenviewNorthbrookGurneeNow- we’re onto Michigan…Dexter, Dearborn, Plymouth and East Lansing- and I’m sure some others along the way.

We’ve been busy- and have eaten a lot!

Here’s some of the excitement…

Friday started early with the plane ride and landing in Chicago.
We went to pick up the rental car- they (Thrifty) decided that a 2-door Sebring convertible was perfect for us….thankfully, Scott had enough sense to update to a mini-van. Yes, it cost a little more- but it’s worth it in the long run if he doesn’t have to hear me complain all week.

Next- pick up Katie and head to …eat.Went to a great place called Stanley’s. Look it up next time you’re in Chicago- it’s awesome. Trivia: What restaurant did it used to be?? Answer- Jim McMahon’s- we went there once for Julie’s birthday.
Then- off to Lincoln Park Zoo- so much fun….We had a gorilla try to place with Brendan through the class- that scared him too much for it to be fun…we laughed though! He also wants a Polar Bear- Brendan and one of the bears bonded…Brendan did say the bear can sleep in his bed…so that at least works for us!

The highlight of the day for the grownups….

Then for dinner- Connie’s Pizza- simply the best around.

It’s right next to Chinatown in the city. Ironically enough, breaking news down the street made getting home a challenge.Some trucker crashed his truck into the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) Chinatown station- killing at least 2 people. My dad called from Florida during our dinner to tell us about it. We would have had no idea otherwise. Thankfully- we were safe stuffing ourselves silly.
Saturday- hung out with some family and went to Northbrook to let the kids run around the park. But man- I know it’s colder in the Midwest normally, but this is nuts!!! 45 degrees in April…almost May! Tonight there’s even a chance of snow!!! (Which Brendan is really excited about.)
Sunday- family day…then to one of our other favorite restaurants…Hackney’s.

Yes- the trip is all about food.
We’ve left the icy rain and are now in Michigan.
More to come!!

Noises Patrick's Afraid of...

*Thunder
*The dishwasher
*The ice machine
*The vaccum
*The dryer buzzer
*The garage door
*Barking Dogs

It makes life fun and exciting :)

On a dark, stormy night...

no one slept.
We have a problem at the Cook household.
Patrick is scared of thunder.
Freak out, come running and crying to mommy kind-of scared.
Sometimes this is cute- during afternoon thunderstorms.

However, it's NOT fun during the middle of the night.
Take last night for example- it started storming around 4pm.
We went to bed around 7pm- all in my bed. Brendan immediately passed out.
Patrick was awake for two hours.
Finally he fell asleep- after kicking me out of my own bed!

Scott came home- moved the boys into their own beds- and finally I got some good sleep...until about 1am when Patrick came running into our room screaming and crying. He was soooo scared- it took him over an hour to calm down...
Then he woke up again around 4am....same thing....
Brendan was up and ready for the day at 6am.

All the fun = no sleep for mom.

So this morning I asked Patrick- jokingly...what are we going to do with you?
Brendan answered- well, we're going to have to move- all it does here is rain and storm.

There you go...out of the mouth of a four-year-old.

Silly Monkey

This is my favorite story of the day...
Although it's sad that if money's are supposed to be so smart- that he actually fell for the old banana routine :)


Animal control crews have caged the wild monkey that was running loose in a west Orlando neighborhood.

"The monkey has been caged and is on its way to the animal control facility," Sgt. Barbara Jones of the Orlando Police Department said. "Animal control threw a banana out on a string and lured the monkey into a cage."

Records show that residents of Studio Apartments in the 5500 block of Conroy Road reported the loose primate at 9:20 a.m. Jones said it is unclear if the monkey belongs to a resident at the apartment complex. She said the monkey appears to be a chimpanzee, according to police at the scene.

Crews spent less than an hour caging the monkey.

Pee-pee on the Potty

It's official...after a big battle- Patrick has done it!
Finally gone pee-pee on the potty!
It's a big deal in our house!!

Need I say more?

Marching On....

March is just flying by!
I hope the luck of the irish touched you in some way this past weekend!
It was odd having St. Patrick's day on a Monday!

It's been a month of changes....lots of changes at work- and some changes in my family.
We've gotten word that my grandmother is just hanging onto life in a Wisconsin hospital- that has kind-of freaked me out.
She's the one who's made us all St. Patrick's Day freaks....and has given all lots of fun stories about nudiest camps....trust me- you don't want to know.

On a lighter note- March has also brought the return of prime time television.
I have to say, while I missed all my shows, I've caught up on lots of sleep- and now I fear those days are long gone.

We've also had a very active month- Brendan is now into all sorts of sports: mostly soccer and tennis.
I've become a soccer mom- minus the mini-van.

Let me tell you about our weekend birthday party fun!
We had a party at the Orlando Science Center- a place I've always wanted to take the kids but just never did.
Well- they loved it so much we're sure to go back...but I'm not sure they will want us!
They have this mini-mountain with a river that runs through it. Kids can put on smocks and play with boats- and block certain channels of the river to make the current stronger. It's pretty cool- all the children seem to enjoy it.
But of course, Patrick had to take it one step farther.
I was helping Brendan on top of the mountain blocking off one of the channels....when a friend of mine starts laughing...saying...Jen...you might want to come see this...
I look up- and there's Patrick...ass deep...in the water.
He climbed right in and looked at me like....what?????
Here's a picture of shortly after when I pulled him out.



Notice the darker color on the bottom of his shorts and the puddles around him- that's all from him!!
I was a bad mom and made him spend the rest of the day in his wet shoes, socks, shorts and diaper.

How I Met Your Mother

CBS is calling How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) a "bubble show."
That means it has a chance of being cancelled if ratings don't improve. How do they figure? I can't even think of anything else I watch on CBS.
So- in a ploy to pop the bubble and stay on tv- the writers are bringing Britney.

Britney Spears will play Ted's love interest. Her character is described as "sweet and friendly and scattered and a little nerdy—a female Michael Cera."

Hopefully it's better than her guest role on Will & Grace.
I will give credit to the writers of HIMYM. They have done some pretty amazing stuff. Like, "Let's Go To The Mall." That's one of the best episodes of all time.
I also enjoyed the guest role by Mandy Moore as the slut with the tramp stamp.

The Britney episode airs in three weeks.
YEAH FOR NEW TV!!!

Happy Birthday To Me....

My Guitar Heroes!

Crazy!

Gotta love U of M...
Women's basketball!

Got Balls?

Here's a funny story:
I'm driving today...and I'm behind a truck and I notice something dangling....




Yes- that's right....silver balls.

Classy?!?!

What the blog?!

It's March first..
Four days left of Jen Birthday shopping! ;)

Even though February had an extra day- it flew by!

Right now I'm teaching...that's right folks...TEACHING!
I teach TV News part-time at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting.
Today, it's an all-day news forum class- where the students work on their newscast. So I'm just sitting around, helping when I can...and figured I would take this opportunity to update the blog!

All is well in Cookland.
Brendan is getting ready to start Soccer...we bought new cleats, shin splints...all sorts of things that are new to me!

Patrick is Patrick. Talking a lot, eating a lot and running around a lot.
He turned 2- in perfect bouncehouse style!
Too bad we had to return it- it certainly tired all the kids out!


There hasn't been lots of Britney news to discuss lately...Looks like Daddy Spears is finally getting Brit, Brit to calm down! That's not a bad thing!

Work is work. Very busy in a strange way. But good! I can't wait until the political conventions are over! This whole horserace stuff is driving me nuts! And I'm tired of hearing good candidates attack each other!


I really need to post some good funny stories on here...I just can't think right now!

So Much...So Little

So much to talk about- so little time...
Here are the highlights:

* The strike is over!!!
Time to welcome back 30 Rock, Gossip Girl and my hot doctor's on Grey's Anatomy!

*It's NASCAR time...I'll post a better blog after the race on Sunday....
but for the time being- the two drivers I hate the most are on probation...that's fun!
NASCAR put Tony Stewart and Kurt Busch on probation for the first six races of NASCAR's 2008 Cup Series for their on-track fracas during practice for the Budweiser Shootout.
Friday night during the second practice session, Stewart turned Busch into the wall after Busch blocked him. As the cars went down pit road, Busch rammed his Dodge into Stewart's Toyota three times. Stewart then placed his car in front of the entrance to the garages to block Busch. Busch went around him.
Both drivers were sent immediately to the NASCAR hauler where reports circled that Stewart punched Busch. The reports were never confirmed or denied by any involved party.

*Patrick turned two- lots of Bounce House fun was had!

*We're planning a big trip to Chicago/Michigan- details will follow soon!

*I hear McNally is living like 20 minutes from me!?!?!?!

*We have a busy night of severe weather ahead of us...wish us all luck!

Yes We Can

So- I'm a bit too close to the political process right now..
But this is something that I found inspirational...and no...I don't just like it because Kate Walsh is in it...

http://www.dipdive.com/

or

www.yeswecansong.com

The Britney Blog

I've been thinking about this for awhile now..and while I was working out yesterday (yes people, you've heard that correctly) a song came on my ipod that made it all clear to me.
It was about 9 years ago now that I had the pleasure of working with one Ms. Britney Spears.
We actually spent enough time together she knew my name- which saved me at an event at Virgin Records at Downtown Disney...but that's another story for another time.

My impression of her then: Nice girl, not so bright, easily impressionable.
At the time, one of her managers was Johnny Wright. He's this record producer in Orlando- and known for working with Backstreet Boys and NSync. He was working with her...and she was just in awe. He drove a white BMW....so she went out and bought a white BMW....to be like him...even though she didn't have her license yet.
When she told me that story, I knew, she was in trouble.

I think that if people are not grounded in who they are, they will never know, but just float all around trying to figure it out. I think that's been her problem. She never had a chance to discover herself....she's been pushed around by her family, her agents, publicists, managers and who knows who else.
Now, she's all grown up- tired of everyone running her life, and is now running it herself...and she's doing an awful job of it...
And I think this is the song that made her stop and think about that....She just hasn't figured out how to live her life yet.




you might think that i wont make it on my own
but now im
Stronger than yesterday
now its nothin' but my way
my loneliness ain't killing me no more
i...im stronger
Than i ever thought that i could be

i used to go with the flow
didn't really care 'bout me

You might think that i cant take it
but your wrong
'Cause now im
Stronger than yesterday
now its nothin' but my way
my lonliness ain't killing me no more
i...im stronger

come on now
oh yeah
here i go
on my own
i dont need no body
better off alone

here i go on my own now
i dont need no body not any body
here i go

The word of the day...Caucus

Just say it...caucus....it's a funny word.
I've said it about 3,000 times today...
And it's fun to use in different forms....
"What are you doing?"
"I'm caucusing"

It makes me laugh....

Blow It Up!

Happy 2008!
I know you say it every year, but man, did this year fly by!

We had a very low-key New Years.
It was actually pretty historical.
This was the first year in about 7 years or so that I haven't had to work at 3am on New Years Day.
That, in itself, isn't all that monumental. It was really more of the fact that I didn't want to kill the neighbors for launching fireworks for 6 hours straight.

I will never understand the fascination with blowing those things up.
1. They are dangerous. People die. Especially stupid people who are drinking all night and then lighting things on fire.
2. They are illegal.
3. They are messy
4. They can start brush fires
5. They scare animals and wake up sleeping kids
6. Not everyone is celebrating the holiday. Some people, in fact, have to get up very early to go to work and have to sleep through the midnight hour...not just news people, but firemen, police, nurses, doctors, etc.

If you want to light off a few- go ahead...but if there really a need to start the celebrations at 8pm and have them last until 2am??
And where do these people get professional grade fireworks?? The ones being shot off lately are hardcore fireworks...you can hear them launch...and then it's a big, Disney-like display.

But this year instead of calling the police or yelling obsenities out the window, I just kissed my husband and rolled over and drifted off...with the occassional jump when the noise was too loud. It was great not having to get up and go to work!!

Happy New Year everyone!!