Friday was the last day of work for my boss. Scary. Much drinking commenced last week.

Yesterday there were issues already, but managed. I can only imagine what today may bring. The governor is going to announce his budget ideas.

Pat, did SNL not suck with Jeff Gordon? Or, should I say that the show itself sucks now?

We have finally hit typical January weather in Minnesota. This morning it was -2 degrees with only a high of 13 expected. We have yet to receive any substantial snow, however. We had about an inch last night, bringing our total to 6 for the season. So, if you guys in NY would like to send snow our way, we'd take it. I'd like to go snowmobiling next weekend up north, but it might only happen if I go out on the lake. The lake is the ONLY place with enough snow!

This past Friday we attended the Vikings Exhibit at the Science Museum in St. Paul. It was very interesting, especially for us Norskies. If it comes near you, I highly recommend it. It was interactive with a Viking ship you could walk on and a replica of a village.

Yesterday in the mail I received two new books that I'm psyched to read. Last Train To Memphis and Careless Love are 2 part bios on Elvis written by Peter Guralnick. It's great because the books are based on facts, interviews and the author is not simply drawing his own conclusions or painting Elvis in a specific way. I'm looking forward to learning some things I didn't know. And, as Paige said, "What's with you and this Elvis?"
:)

I'm getting really scared. All I did was post a brief comment on Clerks and Mallrats.

If I had known it was going to become this, I might not have. haha

:)

I don't know enough about Kevin Smith and his movies other then to make a passing comment.
I don't think I care enough to post more then a passing comment. But, as always, I am interested in reading any movie rant. March on Lally!

I was going to repeat a good burn that my husband said, but I won't. It could just open up another can of worms from Lally AND my brother. :)

I will agree with you both that A Beautiful Mind is a great movie. I think that anyone who has this disease deserves a medal for just living day to day. It was really a great explanation of what a person with Schizophrenia goes through.

Hey Lally, can I not have my own opinion on a movie!?!?

:)

Since this is my FIRST foray into the world of Kevin Smith, here's my discussion of the topic:
I did like Clerks, it was, as I said, Interesting....I laughed. The format was cool. But I still liked Mallrats a lot better. That's just the way it goes in my world! I guess my personality and humor is better suited to Mallrats. Perhaps it's my age and that I did hang out in malls when I was ages 12-16.

However, if you want to get into the whole Kevin Smith, best flick discussion, I would say Clerks is his finest of that series because it's 'different' and that he made the frickin' movie with a budget of like $20,000. Dogma would be the close second.

All in my 'opinion' of course.

Thank You. Good night.

Okay, just so no one takes me off their blog lists, I thought I better post something.

The sickness stuff is much better then it was, but still isn't going away. I managed to get in a full day of work yesterday, but I am paying the piper today. It seems like one day I'll do good, the next I'm worn out. Day by day will just be how it goes.

Mom & I had a great time visiting Pat & family for Christmas. My two favorite things that Paige said to me were:

"Aunt Kristin....what's with you and this Elvis guy?" This was in reference to a book Alissa had given me for Christmas. Paige didn't quite get why I liked him!

"I'm glad I'm not you!" We were disagreeing about her not getting out of the tub and I told her that Lyn would be mad at ME if Paige wasn't ready. That was her response.

It was nice to see Alissa still excited about Christmas too. Kids really do make the holidays fun and memorable. That's what it should be all about.

I'm offically on a mission to find a new job. My boss is leaving her position as of next week and I can't stay here without her support. It pretty much seems like each day or week, we find out how crappy the state of government offices and their staffers REALLY are. Unfortunately, they are screwing a fantastic program and disappointing a ton of Minnesota teens. I wouldn't give it more then 3 months to last. I had thought I would stay on to close the place down, basically since I put so much into setting up the program at the beginning. But, the information I received yesterday pretty much erased that option from my mind. I'm on the hunt!

Mike & I are in the midst of a Kevin Smith movie marathon. I had honestly never seen such flicks as Mallrats, Clerks, Dogma, etc. Mallrats was awesome (and it was filmed at Eden Prairie center which is right next to where I used to work at techies), Clerks was interesting and Dogma was hilarious.

Apparently, this sickness that is going around is not going away. Hang in there Mike L.!

Here' s the take on my cold/flu/sickness whatever. Mike had it first, both my parents have had it. Barry's still hasn't gone away completely and is on anti-biotics. Mike felt better, but still didn't get rid of his hacking. Then, I get it a week ago. It's the kind where the first day, I was so wiped out I could barely move. After that, I could manage half days at work and had some energy. Then all the sudden, I would feel like crap. By Friday I was doing a little bit better and thought I was on the right track. WRONG! I was up all that night coughing again. We had a Christmas party in Duluth on Saturday night that I really wanted to go to, so once I got up and going Saturday morning, we went. I made it okay-but was in bed by midnight. Woke up hacking the most horrible crap out. We were home by noon on Sunday and I felt a lot better. Still coughing , but it was getting much better. Mike slept all day Sunday, so should have known something was coming. He woke up Monday coughing again with a sore throat. I felt good all day Monday, and felt really good Tuesday, minus the coughing. Tuesday, Mike's down for the count with it again. This morning I'm up at 5am coughing my brains out and now I felt like shit AGAIN! My next step is to lysol the whole place to get rid of germs. We're down to separate hand towels, no drinking out of the same glasses, you name it. I hope things start turning around.

Work stays about the same, but gets just a tad worse with each meeting. I don't even feel like talking about it anymore. Same shit, different pot each day.

I agree with Mike L. that there is diddly on television. I can only watch Thirteen Days so many times before I feel like I was AT the crisis. I watched an excellent biography on Queen Noor of Jordan, as well as one on the Queen Mum. Both very amazing ladies. Caught the Osbournes last night. It's not as good as last season, but still worth watching. Ozzy was in tough shape in last night's episode. I wonder if he was self medicating?? I love Ozzy, but you can't help feeling bad for the guy. He's really taken Sharon's cancer hard. And Jack and Kelly are brats!

I read my last post. Man, I've been in the dumps lately. Yuck. I got the dreaded 'cold' that I've been so excited that I had been able to avoid. Managed 2 half days at work, was able to work from home today on some crap that could only be done AWAY from the office & interupptions. My boss said she didn't care what I did in terms of sick time/vacation this month, she's doing the same. Nothing to lose so use 'em! There is a certain amount of relief in the 'screw it' attitude. :)

I watched my two holiday must see movies. Last night while I finished the tree (While resting in between ornaments from my cold) I watched It's A Wonderful Life. I truly did feel better after I watched it. Did you know that it did not become a classic until they started playing it on TV in the 70's? It was a box office failure. Jimmy at his best. 2nd movie: Going My Way with Bing Crosby. Technically, it's not really a Christmas movie, but the movie ends at Christmas time so I always watch it then. Bing won his Best Actor for this one.

Now, I'm looking to Charlie Brown & Little House on The Prairie to complete the holiday movie ensemble.

We have a cable channel called True, which mostly airs biography movies. Anybody have it? Tonight I started watching a bad movie about the life of Rock Hudson. I was really pissed off because although it was made in 1990, all "Rock" and his "lover" would do is hug. Give me a break-the guy was gay, the story is about this, KISS THE GUY! Not that I want to see it, but I try to not be homophobic and I think it would have been a much more realistic movie if it had been done.

Anyone seen what Johnny Cash looks like these days? He is in Rolling Stone this month-it's sad. He's 71, has asthma, diabetes and glaucoma. He can't read or write, but can barely sing and play guitar. What's happening to those outlaws? Is Willie next? They're getting old.

I think I should move to Canada.

I know that I live in the greatest country in the world, but I'm starting to become very cynical. More so then usual. It's scaring me. I am going to watch It's A Wonderful Life tonight while Mike watches the Penguins take on the Crapitols, as he calls them. Jaromir Jagr is a hated enemy in our household.

Job:
Word came down from our grant manager that I need to start pulling together a list of all the things we have, contracts, etc so that should we be given the word to shut down in 30 days, we are ready with a plan of action. I think it will take them about $100,000 to shut this thing down. Breaking contracts isn't a cheap business. We still have no final word on where the place is going. We do know that the program as we know it is gone. If we want to play, we have to play by the Health dept. rules.

Christmas shopping is done! Shipping will commence this week! I feel a huge amount of relief in terms of the pocket book. I think we'll be just fine. However, it's time to start looking for that good old thing called a job! And, the house probably is going to take another back burner leap. Oh well. At least we are not like some family & friends that we know that are in debt up their butts, work a zillion jobs, and keep on buying. However, my uncle Tom related a cute story about our grandparents at Thanksgiving...

Apparently, in the early years of their marriage, they found themselves with $18. All the money they had in world, which back then, was a pretty good chunk of change. They borrowed someone's car, drove to Decorah, and purchased a record player for $18. They now had no money. Grandpa said, "We were the dummies. We had to BORROW someone's car to get the darn thing, but we sure wanted it bad enough to spend all we had." My aunt Diane's comment was: "It sounds like a Webb. Spend your last cent on electronics." Heehee

Second story: Diane asked Grandpa how long he and Grandma had been together before they knew they were getting married. Here's his response: "I was living with Grandma and her Mom at their house in Bluffton for awhile. Grandma Molly was called away to a birth (she was a mid-wife) and found out that she would have to stay for quite a long period of time. We were told in no uncertain terms that Grandma and I had to get married if we were going to be staying in the house like that. So, 2 weeks later we were married in the rectory at St. Bridget's." Then he said to Diane, "I don't think that story is common knowledge in our family." I assume he was referring to the living together part!! Pretty cute.

Thanksgiving was fine. Ate well, gained weight. My pumpkin pie was the best. 2nd year running. Pam made romogrout from Grandma's recipe. It was damn good.

John & Jenny had a baby boy on November 23. Just under 7lbs, but 1 month early. Issac John Simon. He's a doll, but soooo small. They said that even though he weighed a good amount, he has no body fat because he is early. He's a little jaundice, doesn't want to eat, and only wants to sleep because he is still technically in-utero. They call him their little chiquita banana because he's dressed in yellow because they didn't if he was a boy or girl, he has blond hair, and then is jaundice! Poor little guy. But, they'll get there. It just takes time. We are passing on stories to them, including yours Mike L. on the success of babies that come early.

Put the tree up Sunday night, and will finish decorating tonight. Mike has his own small tree in the corner with just his sports ornaments on there. Gotta have the Jerry Rice, Steve Young and Mario Lemieux guys on there! I have my own collection of Gone With The Wind ornaments. Pat, your tree looks nice in red.

Been awhile since I've posted. I probably won't be posting much in the coming weeks. Work is slowly going down the tubes, so my time seems to be consumed by that. It's safe to assume that I will be jobless by February. And, it has nothing to do with the incoming governor this time.

Busy Christmas shopping, trying to get it done by Thanksgiving. I hope to finish up tonight. I hate shopping during the holiday season-I'm not a good crowd person.

On Sunday I attempted to make my first roast-and it was really good tasting. I also made potatos, gravy (it was runny but good) along with corn muffins, salad, and vegetables. WOW! I can't believe I knew how to do it. All with the help of Mom, who just got me started on when to put it in the oven and how to defrost it.

Heading to Rochester for Thanksgiving at my mom and barry's. That's about all planned.

I need to watch it's A Wonderful Life or something to make me feel better about life and my fellow man-kind.

My brother with Senator Hillary Clinton. Holy Crap! My co-worker and I think it's cool.

Last Thursday night we went to the Minnesota Wild game against Pittsburgh. Only Lemieux's second trip to the new Xcel Energy Center. Welcome to the state of hockey. Mike loves him to death and was able to stand down by the ice and take pictures of him. As he said, "Two feet away from greatness." Great game-overtime tie. Mike was thrilled to not be the only Penguins fan. Our governor-elect make an appearance at the first intermission where everyone cheered him-I booed so hard I hurt my throat. Then, we all booed the Commissioner of the NHL. Everyone hates that guy. The arena is awesome and a great place to watch hockey. We get the 2004 NHL All-Star Game at last.

Start the new work schedule today: 9.5 hours a day with one day off a week. (Not like I don't already work those hours most of the time, but there is some incentive now)

Mommy made homemade chicken and dumping soup on Sunday. Holy crap is it good! I scored a little extra for lunch and supper today. Stopped at my Aunt Linda's on the way home and scored some flat bread and more soup. She had made Grandma Garness' ham and dumpling soup. It was a good day all around. And, the Vikings won against the Packers, so my step-dad and I were happy.

Long time no post. I've been wallowing in post-election depression, which is why I haven't written. I spent 3 hours discussing things with my Uncle Charlie (my political mentor) and I have now come to terms with what has happened. No more whining.

Won't know if my job is safe for some time yet. It's really hard to say. Many other states are yanking their tobacco money to fix the budget (Wisconsin raided all of their's) so it's a definite possiblity. The Dept. of Health is giving these random answers. They don't have a clue. I think they're thinking that they have to watch their mouth because in a little over a month, Mr. Pawlenty will be their boss. His transition team is already in there asking such pointed questions as, "what program is this? Is it really needed? Where does the money come from?" I guess I'll just brush up the resume and hang on.

Spent the weekend in Rochester again. Mike is deer hunting last weekend and this weekend. I didn't feel like staying home and since I haven't had a lot of time in Rochester in the past months, I've been just hanging out and visiting with people. Nice to not have anything pressing to do.

Anybody catch 20/20 last week with Sharon and Ozzy? Pretty sad. Ozzy broke down on camera about Sharon. I will say that daughter Aimee is the smart one in that family. Well-poised, quieter, and not annoying at all. I'm not so fond of Jack and Kelly anymore-they're brats. The new season starts the 26th I think. I hope it's as good as last season.

I have a lot to say, today, the day after the election. I'll try to not rant too much.
I'm displeased with the outcome. It's going to be a sad 2-4 years in this state.<

However, Walter Mondale made an excellent point. Democracy spoke. We live in a great nation where we have the freedom to choose what we want. I might not agree with what was chosen this round, but there is hope. I'm going to remember the words of Paul Wellstone in the coming months: "Don't get cynical. Get out there and do something about it."

In the governor's race, Republican Tim Pawlenty won. What this means is that Target Market is in for the fight of our lives. Tim Pawlenty was the biggest opposer of our organization. He fought hard to get rid of us last year. Guess what that means when he is governor? A lot. Our staff has pulled together and determined we aren't going to go down without a dirty fight. Our theme song? Rocky. The next 6 months are going to be a wild ride. And this is why I truly love politics.

This is all I will be saying for the next two days...
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE


To continue in this spirit, I will post the following email sent from Michael Moore. I like it. And I'm probably going to do what he is suggesting.

Dear Friends,

Well, folks, Tuesday is the day! The day that George W. gets taught a long
overdue lesson. The day that we, the MAJORITY -- the 52% who never elected
him -- get our chance to reclaim a bit of our former democracy (back when
ALL the votes used to be counted).

What if, on Tuesday, all of us, regardless of our political stripe, and
just for the fun of it, decided to serve one big-ass eviction notice that
said, you have two years to remove yourself from the premises-and you had
better not damage anything on your way out?

I think we can give Bush the Mother of all Shellackings on Tuesday. It can
happen if you, and the millions of others, who are now reading this letter,
will do one simple thing:

TAKE THE DAY OFF THIS TUESDAY.

That's right. Call in sick, skip work, skip school, skip Springer, and then
devote the next 12 hours to dragging as many people as you can out of their
homes and getting them to the polls.

I know a lot of you cannot afford to do this. But, honestly, can we afford
NOT to? Bush has been effectively stymied in his first two years from doing
much of the serious damage he was hired to do (we owe a big thanks to Jim
Jeffords for that). Yet, if he has both the House and Senate under his
thumb for his final two years, we will all pay a huge price for many years
to come.

On Tuesday, go down to the local candidate's office and volunteer to do
whatever is needed: give a ride to the polls for senior citizens who can't
get there, make last minute phone calls to probable voters who may have
forgotten to vote, pass out handbills on street corners, do cartwheels in
the middle of the mall -- you name it, I am sure it will work.

Or you could just start going door to door in your own neighborhood. Knock
on every door and tell people in plain, non-political language why you
would like them to go down to the polls right now and vote for so-and-so.
Tell them you have never done this before, that you were just compelled to
do it as an act conscience, to do something for our country. Or tell them
you just needed to get some exercise. Tell them what they already know:
that the corporate guys have made off like bandits while the rest of the
country lives in utter fear over whether they will have jobs, health care
benefits, or our pensions when they retire. EVERYONE can relate to this --
and trust me, it is on everyone's mind right now. Even many conservatives
who have seen their job or their 401(K) go up in smoke are now livid and
want their pound of flesh.

I know that for many of you this will be a new thing. Give it shot. I
promise you, at the end of the day on Tuesday, if we succeed, you will
never again doubt the power of just one individual who decides that she or
he can make a difference

Send this email to your friends and family so that they, too, can be
informed of the good women and men who are running for the House and Senate
(and for many local and state races as well). Visit my web site at:
http://www.Michaelmoore.com for my recommendations.

We will deny Bush control of the Congress next week, and then we all work
to get him out of the White House in 2004. 2004 will NOT and MUST NOT be a
repeat of 2000.

As for local and state races, whenever possible support Greens and other
progressive candidates like those highlighted on my web site.
(http://www.bowlingforcolumbine.com/involved/greens.php)
There you will find the list of progressive candidates who have a chance to
win.

Will you join with me in doing this?

It's our only chance, right now, to receive a small measure of justice for
what happened in Florida in 2000. And that is worth something.

Expect a wake-up call from me at your bedside 6am Tuesday!


Yours

Michael Moore

You want to see somebody who had way too much time on their hands?? An entire website devoted to the bible-in the form of LEGOS. You have to at least look at it. It's way too funny. <

Last night I did not go to the Wellstone memorial. In the end, it was better that I didn't because they filled the place in less then an hour with 20,000 plus people. Nice service-but it turned into a political rally at the end. I have no opinion on whether or not it should have turned this way, except to say that it's most likely the way Paul Wellstone would have wanted it. Bill and Hillary got their fair share of cheers and Fritz was given a standing ovation. It was wild to see Jesse Jackson, Trent Lott (who is a dickhead), Tom Harken, the Gores, Ted Kennedy, etc. It was a nice celebration of the lives of some really amazing people. If you talk to the press though, they'll let you know that they thought it sucked. And, the GOP is throwing a big fit. Some feel Norm Coleman has some leverage against Mondale, but I think that's bullshit. <

The GOP has said they will respond with such criticism as: he's too old and that the voters of Minnesota don't know who he is because he last ran for an office in 1984. Hmmm..yet when the Star Tribune polled the state, they found that 98% of Minnesotans know who Walter Mondale is. What to think?

That's where my mind is now and will be for the next week.

I also have a brand new DELL computer at work and I'm loving it. My last one that I just retired was over 4 years old and pig slow (to quote one of my TMers.) :) I not only have a CD burner on here but a DVD player as well.

Since Friday, life in the political world of Minnesota has drastically changed. WIth election day being little more then a week away, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash with his wife, daughter, 3 aides, and 2 pilots. It's looking like good ole Fritz Mondale will most likely be stepping in to replace Senator Wellstone. Watch for Minnesota to make headlines on Election night. It's going to be a doozy.



The hard part for our office has been that our boss and and press secretary knew the Wellstones and their aides very well. Obviously, they are taking this hard. Our boss could and most likely would have been on that plane if Wellstone had not been traveling to a private engagement before going to Duluth. It's scary to note that any one we know in the DFL party could have been on board. The headquarters is just a block away from our office and while all the news is transpiring, Ted Kennedy and Walter Mondale are standing down there giving interviews. Wild. Tom Daschle is in town now, and a lot more are on their way. Tomorrow is the public memorial service and I think I'll go. As inappropriate as this may sound, it's an opportunity to see many of our US Senators (rumor has it that most of the senate is coming) as well as Clinton. I would like to see Clinton speak in person once in my life. Cheney may come too, but I could give a rat's ass if I see him or not.



Thanks OJ, for the info on Gedde Watanabe. My husband and I also realized that he was in the movie GUNG HO with Michael Keaton if anyone even remembers it. We like it cuz it's pretty funny and has some great one liners. (Example: "Razy American auto worker!") Apparently Gedde has really been around the block in terms of TV and Movies!



Angels win the World Series. I gotta say they were the ones that wouldn't die. As I heard a reporter ask, "What helped get the monkey off your back? Whoops, not the Rally Monkey." Did anybody see the batboy for the Giants? His grandpa is the coach, and that little guy was crying alligator tears that they had lost. :( Poor kid.

Yay Paige! It's a big moment when you lose that first tooth.



Pat, do you remember this? I could never find the tooth fairy money under my pillow when I would get up in the morning. Mom would say, it's probably down in your bed from you rocking in your sleep. (To others, rocking is a term I won't get into) So, I would search my bed, but no luck. Then MOM would search my bed, and always miraculously find it down under the covers. Hmm-do you think the tooth fairy may have forgotten to put it under my pillow the night before?? Wink. :)



And, speaking of Arthur books, has anyone heard of this series yet? Captain Underpants. Such titles are: "Captain Underpants and the Invasion of the Incredibly Naughty Cafeteria Ladies from Outer Space." Apparently, some parents have not taken a liking to these books because they promote being disrespectful, not to obey authority, etc. A fourth grader got in trouble because he and his friends were having too much fun with the Name Change-o-Chart 2000. You can take a chart and transform any name into something like: Samuel Albert Smith to Snotty Pizzashorts. Here's who I agree with. Barbara Genco of New York's Brooklyn Public Library says, "First of all, they're funny as heck, and kids love them. And they get kids, especially boys, to read-and that's what we want." I've asked Mike to buy me one of them for Christmas. Sounds like they are right up my farting and burping ally.

Saw a great billboard off of I-35 coming home from Northern Minnesota:

"Stop saying my name in vain or I'll make rush hour longer. " -God



It appears Bud Selig is trying to make ammends with Minnesota baseball fans as well as the Twins organization. In the Sunday Star Tribune he took out a full page ad with a team picture of the Twins that says (paraphrase): "Minnesota, thanks for your enthusiasm, patience and dedication this season. We look forward to working together in the future." Trying to make nice with all I guess. Yuck.



I was really excited to see John McCain on SNL. I liked his Ashcroft, but was disappointed in the rest of his performance. I guess he's truly a senator first. But it rocked that he did the show. Mike's question (some may find this word offensive, so I apologize) to me was: "Do you think he'll use the word gook like when Chris Parnell would play him during the 2000 elections?" I really think the show needs to start using Horatio Sands and Tracy Morgan A LOT MORE.



I don't know how much stock most people take in dreams, but I always have really vivid ones and usually remember them. After my step-sister passed away in 1991, I had a bizarre series of them about her. They freaked me out until I started to analyze them a bit. Anyway, I woke up Saturday morning kind of in a daze...had a dream about my grandma. It was actually really cool. She was just sitting at her kitchen table, hanging out with the family. I asked her why she was there and she said she had just come to say goodbye. She looked like the old grandma-the one with weight on before she got sick. I went over and gave her a big hug and she said something like she knew that we missed her, but she was okay and feeling much better. It made me feel a lot better for some reason. There are many philosophies on what dreams mean and I could read it many ways. I chose to view it as 1) my subconscious working out the many details of how I'm feeling about losing her 2) maybe she was really saying goodbye. Interesting to ponder, not sure of the answer. After 9/11 especially, I pay attention to my dreams even more. Before it ocurred, I used to have this recurring nightmare about once a week that I was on the top floor of this tall building and the floor was moving around. Kind of like it had waves. I would be crawling around trying to get to safety, but no once else noticed and they weren't experiencing the same thing. I'd wake up in a panic. After 9/11, I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS DREAM AGAIN. Strange???? Yes. But I'm glad I don't have it anymore because I hated it. I had probably been dreaming that dream for 5 years or more.



What's the best band name you ever heard?

My answers: Screaming Monkey Boner (my fave)

God Speed You Black Emperor

Bruce Banner (as in the Hulk guy)



Personally, I liked the Chain Smokin' Alter Boys that Pat posted.



We watched both Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club this weekend on TNT. These movies totally remind me of growing up in the '80's. I love 'em. I noticed the guy who plays Long Duck Dong has not only been on ER, but also played a doctor on 'My Wife and Kids' last week. One of my favorite scenes in Sixteen Candles is at the beginning whenever they mention Long Duck Dong, they hit the gong in the background. :)



Saturday night we spent at Mike's parents house looking at his Grandma's old slides. It was really cool. :) Maybe we should be nostalgic and go back to this? I remember it was always a highlight when I was little when we would ge the projector out and check out the family slides. You had to giggle at how young everybody looked, the places they'd been, the clothes they wore. Mike's dad had these wicked sideburns going in one picture. We had to laugh :)

I can't believe I came that close to being removed from Clan Lally. Thanks for being so forgiving :)



I took the afternoon off from work yesterday because I wanted to catch up on some sleep and lay around. About 3pm I ventured into the kitchen and made some homemade soup. Around 4:15pm I stepped into the living room only to see a dead mouse lying in the middle of the floor. People, WE DON'T GET MICE! We live in a second floor apartment that is no where near to being pest infested or anything. Let's just say I hid in the bedroom until Mike came home. Where did it come from and why the hell did it just croak in the middle of the floor?



As many of my co-workers and husband can attest to, I am being a total bitch this week. Just thought I'd get it out in the open. :)



Found this funny picture of Bush 'posing' like Dr. Evil with his pinky by his mouth. Seems appropriate this week doesn't it?



Anybody seen the GAP ad in Rolling Stone of Willie Nelson?? AWESOME picture. Also, Playboy's interview with him this month is highly recommended.

Forgot to mention that I ran up to KMart yesterday for a few things. Target is closer, however, the prices at KMart are cheaper. The ONLY reason I made the choice to go there instead of Target, however, is this: the self-checker. I cannot tell you how awesome this invention was, and I serious recommend other retail outlets similar to theirs look into this feature. I went into the store, looked around and picked up my items in 15 minutes, and checked myself out in 2 minutes flat. I took a look around, and only 2 lanes were open. Both of which were knee-deep with about 5-7 people per lane.



In any other circumstance, I would have chosen Target. But, the thought of wading my way through a Sunday afternoon crowd there and waiting in line for 10 minutes was too much to handle. KMart will keep my business (although their selection isn't as good) just because of this awesome feature. I highly recommend giving it a try if you manage to find a store you actually want to go into. :)



Tonight, while playing around on the computer, I was singing along to my Springsteen CD. Unaware of how loud I was getting (I had headphones on) Mike walks in laughing at me. He could hear me clear as day out in the living room. What can I say? I'm learning the words I don't know on some of the tunes and jamming to the others!!!!!!!!!



I'm working on old family photos again after taking a short break. I completed my grandmother's life cycle by putting in her death date in my geneology program. It was a reflective moment for me. I'm always putting in new info and catching up with stuff that hasn't been done, but rarely have to update information that has happened recently. Hard to explain how I felt about doing this one.



The Rein of Terror begins tomorrow at work. My boss officially starts her 3 week leave of absence. AHH!



Last item of interest: I purchased the 'Friends' trivia game yesterday. Mike and I are very sad people. We knew the answers to almost everything. However, we would love to play with anyone of you!! Let's get together soon! :) Good game of fun though.

FINALLY! My Blog is working. Apparently there were some issues with my template. It needed a face lift anyway.



Well, our rein of being America's Team is now officially over. The Minnsota Twins had a good run while it lasted, but couldn't catch a break in the end. Anaheim is a good team, and they deserve being in the World Series. However, it doesn't mean I have to like it!



My parents were up on Saturday and delivered our new/old bedroom furniture. They brought TJ, our dog, with so I got to play with him. He made himself at home by crawling up into the chair and taking a nap. :) I can't wait until we get a dog.



Still can't get enough of Springsteen's album. I listen to it all the time. I LOVE the beginning of Countin On A Miracle, and my all time fave is Waitin' On A Sunny Day. Brings back good concert memories. I gotta say that for being in his 50's, the guy can still boogie on stage. I'm really glad we went considering all the family stuff going on.



It's been 2 weeks since my grandmother passed away and I have to say that I really miss her. It's amazing how you just take advantage of knowing that they're always just 'there'. Plus, having gone down there almost every week or so since she became ill, I didn't realize how it had become part of my schedule. The more I think of her and the things she did in her life, the more I realize what she gave to us as individuals and as a family. She was truly our matriarch and will always be missed. Reading the memorial I wrote for her was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life. It was, however, something I felt compelled to do. In the end, I'm happy that I could honor my grandmother in the way that I did.



SNL sucks without Will Farrell.

I've been having some blog issues. Nothing has been posting, so I apologize.



Been gone for the last week at my grandmother's funeral, etc. Back to work today, which is sort of a blessing to get back to normal again. Went up the north shore of Minnesota for our anniversary this weekend. We stayed at a cool lodge in between Lutsen and Grand Marais for 2 nights. Lakeside view of LakeSuperior. The lodge was pretty small, however Mike had to throw in that it reminded him of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining. After that, I kept expecting to see those twin girls standing down the hall.



Crappy weather all weekend and very cold. IT started to spit snow today. I'M NOT READY FOR THAT YET!



Saw Springsteen last Monday night. It was hard to go the day after my grandma died, but our family was insistent that my aunt and I go. It's kind of like our special thing since we love the Boss. Best show I've ever been to. He played for 3 hours, with about 5 encores. Great tunes, great energy, great crowd. I've been playing the CD all weekend. Favorite tunes: The Rising, Lonesome Day, Waitin' On A Sunny Day, City of Ruins, Mary's Place, Counting on A Miracle, Empty Sky. Lally, you're going to love the show. Anybody see him on SNL Saturday?



Speaking of which, SNL was pretty good. Matt Damon is a hoot when he wants to be. Our fave was him and Jimmy Fallon doing Sully and his friend from Boston at a Springsteen concert. Rachel Dratch as 'zazoom' is awesome.