Like I lost a family member

Rest in peace Ronnie.

Will I get caught?

So ... It is the Cubs' home opener ... and a beautiful day ....

I called it quits early and got home just in time to see the first pitch (and 5 run 3rd inning).

Hope I don't get caught!

Go Cubs!

My 4 1/2 day weekend.

What a weekend it was!!! I am back at work now :( but excited that on Friday my parents come for a visit to I have ANOTHER 4 day weekend! Woo Hoo!!!

So ... I was done with work at noon on Thursday. I hung out with the boys for a while and then had a bikini wax and pedicure scheduled at 3:00. The wax - I could do without ... and the pedicure was long freaking over-due! AAAAHHHHHHH ...

After dinner we took j and J to the local Fest. Big J was SO excited to go on the rides (for $28 he better have been!). I stopped and grabbed my first beer of the weekend, E got a BBQ sandwich and I got the boys some tasty fair treats.

Friday I woke up for Spin - yep - even on a day-off!. After the boys and I took a walk to the grocery for a few last minute items. I cooked for most of the morning and then took little j to the pediatrician at 3:00. He is a chunker, who screams the entire time ... but healthy.

I invited a close friend over for our cookout that evening and around 6:00 we all packed up and headed over to the horse track for some races, more beer, and then fireworks.

The boys were great. Big J got a bit cranky toward the end, but did well overall. They both loved the fireworks.

Saturday was a cloudy day. We blew up the bike tires, but the boys in the bike trailer and headed Downtown for a local Parade. It lasted for well over an hour, the boys collected enough candy to rot all of our teeth and, as a whole, we enjoyed ourselves as a family.

The rest of Saturday was spent relaxing before we headed to over to a friend's house for dinner and to let the kids play.

Sunday we spent at the Cubs game. We took the El down to the bus connection - a whole new experience for Big J - which he loved. The boys behaved wonderfully (they better have after hot dogs, nachos, cotton candy, pop, and other assorted $$ items!) and we all had a great day.

Thanks GOD I took yesterday off. I enjoyed it and treated it as such. A. DAY. OFF. The boys and I went to Panera in the AM for a scone and coffee. After we ate they headed over to the middle of the shopping center where there is a gazebo - we have often gone over there for a cookie, music and to goof around.

Well, the two of em started dancing and having a GREAT time - it was TOO cute. We shopped for a bit and ended up having lunch at one of Big J's favorite places, Noodles and Co.

We took little j home for a nap and then Big J and I headed over to the pool for some goofing around.

It was such a pleasant weekend. I wish it weren't over. I wish I weren't back at this rat trap of an office. .... Come on FRIDAY!

Yippee!

E bought the tickets this morning ... 13 games, 4 tickets a piece.

Granted, some are in early April when it could actually SNOW .... but YEAH!!!!!!

Maybe THIS is the year??? HA!

Go Cubs Go ......

It is getting close to that time of year - baseball season .... We have an opportunity to buy a 13 game package for the Cubs ... We are just trying to figure out if it is worth it. I know I could probably sell a few, but it gets difficult for those early Spring, late Winter games.

But, the thought of a Cubs game, hot dog, beer and a tan ..... mmmmmmmmmmmm

Sadness sweeps the land

Bummer .... so the heartbreak continues. What makes me most sad? Not that the Cubs completely BLEW it (although, it is hard to stomach), but that the fun that we could have had while watching them is over. I think that is what bothers most peiople. You plan on going to games, or having parties.
Celebrating ... it is like holidays that are not marked on the calendar. When your 3 year old son asks you, "Mommy, are we having another Cubs party?" You know you have him indoctrinated. THAT is the part that I am going to miss .... the party.
Now, evenings are back to "normal" .... bed time routines are back on track. Dinners are no longer nachos or pizza, but salads and soups. Evening attire is now pj's and lounge pants instead of jerseys and hats. Beer will be reserved for football Sundays. No more scrambling to find a babysitter so that I can see a game, instead I will find a babysitter so I can work. :(

How depressing.

maybe it is a good thing that "party" fare is off the menu. I went shopping for pants these past few weeeks - dude, I am fat. No other word to describe what I look like ... I am just fat.
I STILL haven't had an uninterrupted night sleep since March, so my energy levels to actually EXERCISE are slim to none. At night, I am too busy getting chores taken care of to actually DO a routine. In the morning, I am too tired to THINK about a routine.
But something is going to have to give. I had to try on a SIXTEEN the other day ... 16! ONE SIX ....... that is duisgusting ... especially when I have 8's hanging in my closet from last year. I am so unhappy with myself .... I just wish I had time to FIX it ....

Ugh ... what shall I look forward to so I can get through the days? hhhmmmmm ..... trip to Tampa in December ... 2 Heavenly weeks of having time .... aaahhhh.

Heartbreak

A person can experience all types of heartbreak in their lifetime ... some are more extreme and lasting than others.
The heartbreak of losing your first love, feeling empty inside, and knowing - for sure - that, even at the tender age of 17, you would never find love again.
The heartbreak of failing that big test, remembering all the countless hours of studying you put in, only to be slapped in the face when you hit the "score" button and see the word "FAIL" in bold letters.
The heartbreak you feel when your husband tells you that he questions your marriage, the sick feeling that takes over your stomach and works its way up to your throat in one big lump.
The heartbreak of watching your child get ignored by another child at the park, watching the look of confusion and sadness on his tiny face as the other runs away.
The heartbreak of moving away from your family, and wishing that they could hop on the Ryder truck with you.
The heartbreak of putting your pants on when the weather changes, and realizing that you STILL cannot get them buttoned.
The heartbreak you experience when the dreaded phone call comes, the one that takes your husband away from your arms and sends him off to war, creating a feeling of anxiety like no other.
And then, there is the heartbreak of watching your team, the team that you have cheered for religiously for over 30 years, the team that your Grandpa adored, the team that your Dad was driven to drink over, that team that your Uncle and you have bonded over ... THAT team .... disappoint you, yet again. In the grand scheme of things, it isn't THAT bad of a heartbreak .... but after a while, the pain and sadness start to feel the same. You cheer them on, you cry with them, you yell and scream at them. You spend you hard earned dollars on hats and T-shirts and sweatshirts and tickets. You teach your 3 year old the songs that epitomize them. You work your schedule aruond their schedule. You fight for them (Go away you stinkin White Sox fans!), you defend them.
Come on Cubbies .... let's get it back and END the heartbreak for so many... PLEASE?!?!?!?!??!?

Too busy for words .....

Life is CRAZY busy .... CRAZY. The boys are insane! Work is INSANE (can anyone tell me why I work with the stock market???)! My schedule has been INSANE .....

I hope next week will slow down .... but for now ... I am going to pay some bills, download some pictures and get ready to go see my beloved Cubbies play ball tomorrow!!!!!