Thursday Thirteen

13 Reasons why I am GLAD that I am not pregnant right now

1. I still have 45 more pounds to lose to be healthy again.

2. I haven't even remotely forgotten about the aches and pains associated with being preggo, until I do, it is WAY to soon.

3. Little j would only be 18 months old and I would have an infant. Are you nuts???

4. E is STILL not home.

5. Work doesn't even know that E is back in the States (until they ask about him, I won't tell. Sick isn't it? That is another post for another day). Can you imagine me trying to explain my "miraculous" pregnancy?????

6. I need to be me for a while. I love my boys, and I wouldn't mind another child some day, but I need to have some independence for a while.

7. Little j JUST started sleeping through the night. I need a good year of sleep before I disrupt it again!

8. Drinking .... not ready to stop yet. It is my only solace some nights.I know, selfish, but true.

9. E will NOT escape another pregnancy. Not fair. He left and I was preggo and he would come back with me preggo? Hell no.

10. They tell you to allow your body 12 months of recovery after a C-Section .... I think I need a bit more time.

11. Can you imagine the cost of day care for THREE kids? Holy crap!

12. I am still an emotional wreck from the last pregnancy. I don't think any of my hormones are in balance yet, I am a nut case. And I want to add to that?

13. I just want more time. period.

Thursday Thirteen

Since I normally post bitching and complaining - I figured that while I was killing time on the train I would do something harmless. Here are my 13 favorite things about Christmastime:

1. Decorating (and eating) sugar cookies. My fave? One big bell, frosted and covered with cinnamon red hots.

2. Watching Charlie Brown, Frosty, Rudolph and The Grinch.

3. Buying gifts for friends and family.

4. Lights on houses when the sun goes down.

5. Receiving Christmas cards with pics of people's kids/families and seeing how much they have grown.

6. Christmas carols - Silent Night, O Holy Night and God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman

7. An excuse to eat dessert!

8. Being able to be religious in a world that doesn't let you any more .. I dare you to tell me that CHRISTmas isn't a religious HOLYday!!!!!

9. Vacation days!!!!!

10. Decorating with with lots of candles and white lights on the tree so at night, without lights on, the house looks so warm and cozy.

11. Its a Wonderful Life

12. The joy on kids faces when they realize what Santa does.

13. Most people TRY and be in good moods!!!!

Thursday 13

13 Things I wish I could have, but cannot afford:

1. Liposuction. Need I say more?

2. Designer jeans. Did you know that they really do actually FIT?????? Unlike others that you have to try on 50 pair before you find one that "kinda" fits. Guess you get what you pay for.

3. A makeover. Complete and TOTAL makeover - head to toe.

4. Regularly scheduled pedicure and manicures.

5. A full time nanny.

6. A Winter home in Florida.

7. A renovated kitchen - complete with a double oven, granite counter-tops and totally decked out sink.

8. Brand new furniture.

9. A new, well-fitting, stylish wardrobe, complete with classic pieces instead of my Target specials.

10. The ability to quit my job.

11. Cubs season tickets.

12. Beautiful lingerie ... not Frederick's sh&*, but beautiful bras, panties and sucker-inners too! ;)

13. A new deck.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I wonder about:

1. Exactly what makes people think Obama will bring about change but McCain won't? He ISN'T Bush .... he has already disagreed with many things ... so ... what is the big deal about this "change" platform they keep talking about?

2. Why can't the teams that I root for ever win? Why am I always on/rooting for teams that are losers?!??! High school football? HA! We sucked. All of the softball teams I played for? Can you say "slaughter rule?" The Cubs? Enough said.

3. I have been wanting a new job to make a better life for my kids for a while. Why can I not find anything; yet, some people THINK about a new position, and it falls into their lap.

4. If oil is at its lowest, why did my gas just go up 30 cents a gallon????

5. Why does it seem that EVERYONE I know gets to be stay at home moms? They go out to lunch, shop .... do ALL of these men REALLY make THAT mich money? Is my husband NOT????

6. When- OH WHEN- will I lose some weight!?!?!??!

7. Maybe some day my husband will have something hit him in the head and he will decide that he wants to move out of this frozen tundra we call Chicago .... ugh. Only September and people are already wearing winter coats.

8. Why DOESN'T bologna get pronouced like lasagna?

9. Will I be a HOT mama some day?

10. Why are some people able to hold onto friends for years and years and years ... and mine seem to change every few?

11. Will this winter be as cold and depressing as last? (Oh Dear Lord, I hope not!)

12. When will my husband be sent home?

13. Will they ever invent a diet pill that let's me eat WHATEVER the heck I want ... and still LOSE weight? How about a a device that allows donation of fat? Seriously, think about it. People can donate organs, tissue, etc. Well, I have enough fat in my thighs to make, AT LEAST, 5 women's boobs double in size! No more silicone ... just get donated fat!!! LOL!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I cannot believe:

1. I got rear ended by a Chicago Cop this afternoon. He honked his horn, ran into me and left. Now I have to go through an investigation ... woohoo.

2. Summer is over.

3. I am STILL wearing big lady underwear ... when - oh when - am I going to shrink????

4. I have been up since 4:30 this morning.

5. I have to be up at 5:00 tomorrow morning.

6. People actually think Obama is GOOD for this country.

7. The lady from a job I would really enjoy hasn't returned my phone call.

8. I have yet ANOTHER "blemish" on the very tip of my chin.

9. I get to see Big J tomorrow!

10. It has been pouring ALL day ... who would have thought you could get a Hurricane in Chicago?!?!???!

11. My husband is still not home ... and we have no clue when he will be.

12. Little j STILL cannot figure out how to roll himself over in the middle of the night.

13. How many old friends I have been in contact with through Facebook ... its like hundreds of reunions all going on at once!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I Hope to Wear Again someday:

1. My bikini

2. Skinny jeans

3. Pencil Skirt (I would walk like I belonged in the sausage race up in Milwaukee!)

4. Lingerie (too many lumps and bumps)

5. Push-Up bra (I would have boobs in my ears if I wore one now)

6. Cute tank tops

7. Shorts (and not just for working out)

8. My blouses tucked INSIDE my pants

9. Swanky dresses

10. All of the fun skirts I bought a few summers ago

11. Short t-shirts

12. Cute workout tops at the gym (now its just old t's)

13. Anything that clings

Thursday Thirteen

13 of my Favorite Snacks:

1. Oreos and Milk - What I wouldn't do to have a bag of those right now!

2. Chips and Salsa

3. Fritos - These are EVIL. I haven't had any in YEARS since they are like 1000's of calories!!!

4. Cool Ranch Doritoes - Simply the best!

5. Hint of Lime Tostidos - These are my new found favorite chips!

6. Microwave popcorn - Especially while I am watching a good movie!

7. Ice Cream - and not low fat either - just give me a tub of the good stuff - maybe Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia or Edy's Girl Scout Samoa's and leave me alone!

8. Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwich's - these are so yummy and taste like they are worse for you than they really are!

9. Sour Cream and Onion Pringles - I could literally eat the entire container at once.

10. Sour Cream and Cheddar Ruffles - another evil creation.

11. Smoked Almonds - Can anyone REALLY have ONE SINGLE serving????

12. Smoked Cheddar Cheese and crackers - WOW! How yummy! Another thing I cannot have just ONE serving of!

13. Smoked Fish spread - I cannot get this around here, so I love when I visit my parents and they have a tub of this - it is heavenly!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I Love About my Parents



1. They love to drink. I know - it sounds like we are all alcoholics ... but seriously, hoe many people can actually say that they can get a little toasty with their Mom and Dad and not be embarrassed by it???

2. They are still young. They both may be 57 - but NO ONE ever believes me. They have energy to do things and the willingness to try!

3. They are sports nuts ... sometimes I think my Mom is worse than my Dad! Mom has taken the Tampa teams on as her own and even growing up I can remember countless weekends, school nights and big events being centered around Bulls games, football games, Cubs playoff games, etc, etc, etc.

4. They love my boys.

5. They are easy to talk with about most anything ... not EVERYTHING ... but most things.

6. My Mom never tried to be my best friend ... she always was, and still is, just my Mom ... and I like it like that.

7. My Dad loves to shop .... I always thought that was the coolest thing!

8. They travel. How many people have parents that refuse to get on a plane? Mine don't mind at all!

9. They still want their family to always be together. While it may sometimes get annoying that they haven't figured out that I am a 34 year old woman with a life of her own and 2 kids, I think it is awesome that they still think of me and my sisters as there little kids.

10. My Mom cannot handle being away from my Dad. My Dad cannot handle being away from my Mom. It can be annoying when you want to do things ... but in the end ... I think it is totally cool that after 36 years of marriage, they still want to be with each other.

11. They embrace my friends. Ever since I can remember, my friends were always made into part of our family .... there are very few people in this world who cannot get along with them.

12. They know me like the back of their hands. It sucks that I can never hide anything. It is great that I can never hide anything .... catch 22 huh?!

13. They love each other. They love my sisters. They love me. And, I believe, they even love all three of their son-on-laws.