Chi-town, here I come!!!

Chicago can't handle this.....KD is on her way, yo! I am leaving bright and early in the morning for Chicago. I am beyond excited! It's gonna be a great time. Eric and I have BIG plans, big plans, I tell ya! I can't wait to be there, to feel the buzz in the air over the Cubs, it's gonna be exciting. And not to mention actually going to Wrigley Field on Monday-it's like a religious experience, really. Never fear, I am going to the Billygoat Tavern to Reverse The Curse. Yep, singlehandedly, I'm gonna do it. Wish me luck. I want to give a shout out to my friends Erin and Renee who are taking me to and picking me up from the train station, respectively. I truly appreciate your assistance! I will definitely return the favor! I am excited to take the train. I will have my Book Club book and several magazines ready to roll! The iPod is charging as we speak, I should be good to go. I really hope the Cubs win on Monday when we are there, I want to get a chance to sing "Go Cubs Go", which they only sing after a win (Go Cubs Go, Go Cubs Go, hey Chicago, whaddya say, the Cubs are gonna win today!).

I will be missing a family BBQ this weekend at Aunt Jan's house, kinda sad about that. That, and my sis and brother-in-law are moving to frickin' Texas this weekend....maybe it's better that I'm not around for that....

There will be no more blog posting until next Wednesday...I know, I know, you are TOTALLY bummed, but it's just the way it is people, get over it! :)

Canada-I am the World's Crappiest Friend. Hope you still love me! :)

Random babblings....

Is "babblings" a word?

Congratulations to my friends Tanya and Allison-they both recently got their LPC license (licensed professional counselor-same as me!). Very exciting-it is a long, long road to getting your license-two years of grad school followed by two years of supervision (not to mention one very ugly licensure exam) plus dealing with the State of Missouri's office of Professional Counseling. A long road indeed.

I am sleepy this morning and for some reason, my legs are cramping. What is that about? Am I finally to that age where your body reacts to the weather (cloudy, humid and rainy)? WTF? After working twelve hours yesterday, I met up with my sister and Jon and their friends at Hacienda. Their friends were throwing them a goodbye happy hour. I didn't care how tired I was, I knew it was the last time I will see them.......at least until October when I go visit them in Dallas. But it was the last time I'd see them as residents of St. Louis. It is kinda surreal to think of my sister living in another state (and that year in Kansas doesn't count!). It may not sound like a big deal to most of you because, I mean, people move all the time, right? NOT IN OUR FAMILY! For the most part, we all stick around St. Louis/Missouri/Illinois. The only ones who have left are my cousins and that is because they are in the military. So, for my sister and brother-in-law to move to friggin' Texas, it's a big deal. I could get all sappy and stuff, but why? I am happy for them. It is a great opportunity and truly, I think my sis will thrive in the Dallas culture. :) I can't wait to go visit-my parents are going the same weekend I am (electing to drive from Salem, Mo to Dallas, I, on the other hand, will be flying, thank you very much, totally worth the $146 plane ticket). Southfork, here we come! Will Bobby Ewing be there? What about Sue Ellen?

Chris Farley lives????

I had that dream again...

NO, not the one with me and Matthew McConaughey, the other one....the one where my teeth fall out. I absolutely hate it when I have that dream. This is a recurring dream for me, the situations/settings are usually different but the end result is always the same-my teeth fall out. It is beyond disturbing. I went to a dream interpretation web site, and this is what I found:

Dreams of tooth loss coupled with anxiety reflect a fear of change, fear of transition.Losing teeth in dreams can also point to insecurity about finances.Tooth loss dreams may also symbolize a fear of abandonment, of being left behind with no recourse. Look at your relationships and see if any of them are leaving you with feelings of insecurity. Another interesting way of translating tooth loss dreams may be a fear of giving away too much information, a spilling of secrets, or a fear of being lied to.

What the????? I do remember feeling very anxious during the dream, but that's about it. I think this dream just proves what we all already know-I'm a friggin' mess. Amen.

So, the f'ing Cubs lost last night. That's kinda ok though, since the Cards did too. It's all good in the hood. Dumb bastards.

Thank you SO much, Amy Henson...

...for getting "Electric Youth" by Debbie Gibson in my head........

Go Cubs Go!

I'm sorry, Diet Coke

Is it too much to ask that when I go to QT that my favorite beverage is on tap? I mean, seriously....I have a new route to work. With all the contstruction and whatnot at 40 and 170, I have decided to take 55 to 70 (yes, through downtown) to work. So far, it has gone ok. Along the way there is a QT-my favorite for fountain beverages. Today, I went in, and the Diet Dr Pepper was OUT, I had to settle for Diet Coke. I just said "settle". You see, for years, Diet Coke was my beverage of choice yet, just like that, it has been replaced by Diet Dr Pepper. No, Diet Coke didn't do anything wrong, I just traded her in for a newer, better tasting model-that's all. Is our love affair over??? Only time will tell.....

So, my Cubbies won last night. They were making me a bit nervous as they were down 3-0. I turned to channel 418 to see what the Cards were doing and was quite dismayed to see they were up 7-0. I did a little praying to the baseball gods, and lo and behold-my Cubbies came back and won it. It just happened to be Sweet Lou's 64th birthday-good present, I'd say. Now those pesky Cards are in 2nd place. Is this the downfall of the Brewers? I hope so. I'd love it to be the Cards and Cubs from here on out. Just as long as the NL Central flag waving at the top at Wrigley is the Cubs at years end. Let's play ball!

I really need to start packing for my trip to Chicago. I am leaving bright and early Saturday morning, I have to work tonight and have plans Friday night....guess that leaves tomorrow night to pack, do laundry (so I actually have clothes to wear) and get my s**t together. Good luck with that.

Mikey, Mikey Poo, where are you?

Yes, the title is being sung to the "Scooby Doo" theme song......

I miss my Mikey! It's only Tuesday and already his absence is being felt. It's just so frickin QUIET around here. I don't like it one little bit. I mean sure, Paulette is doing her part to be my Mike replacement, but it just isn't quite the same (she snuck up behind me yesterday and whispered "Ker Bear" in my ear. Scared the crap out of me.....). Jeff says he is enjoying the silence but I think he is just covering up the fact that he misses Mike too.....

Good week of baseball coming up. The Cubs are playing the 2nd place Brewers tonight. My Cubs are holding on to first place by the very tips of their fingernails. And you can't count out those pesky Cardinals....it is against my religion to cheer for the Astros (much as it is to cheer for the Braves), however, it is my civic duty to do so. Have I mentioned that I will be at Wrigley Field on Monday? I am going to go to the Billygoat Tavern and single-handedly REVERSE THE CURSE. Not sure how I'm gonna do that yet, but will keep ya posted.

Pix from Red and Jon's Going Away Party....

Dad and Jon just chillin......
What is that face, Grandpa????
Mr and Mrs Dallas County 2007
He's a cowboy, on a steel horse he rides...

These pix are HYSTERICAL!!!! OMG, I have been laughing with tears in my eyes all day long as my sister forwarded them to me......

My niece and her uncle, Mr. McFlurry.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA!!!

Today is my dear, dear friend Canada's birthday (AKA "RP", AKA "Canadian Bacon", AKA "The Most Ridiculously Good-Looking Person On Earth, and some people even call him...**gasp**......Darin). Happy Birthday, Canada! I hope you are having a GREAT day, expect to hear from me later, I know a call from your Yankee Doodle is EXACTLY what you wished for..... :) Anyway, behave yourself, don't be partying too hard listening to Bryan Adams and Barenaked Ladies and drinking your Molson. I know how you Canadians can get! :) I miss you tons!!!!!

What's wrong with a hand crank?

That quote came out of my 79 year old grandfather's mouth (or something to that effect...I don't quite remember the details, I was laughing too hard). Yes, we had fine family fun yesterday. After church, the Baumgartners, Red, Jon and myself all went over to Grandpa's house for some oh-so-yummy english muffins topped with I-Can't-Believe-It's-Not-Butter (to which Red replies "oh, I can!") and coffee/Diet Coke. We were having fun, laughing when it hit me....this would be the last time for a long, long time that things would be like this. You see, the reality hit that my sister and brother-in-law are really leaving....a week from today they will be gone to their new home in Dallas. It just made me sad....and I cried all the way home. There were tears at church as it was their last time at Atonement, heck I even got teary-eyed when Jackie sang her solo (beautiful, by the way). I am such a sap in my old age. But more than that, I am really gonna miss my sis (and, yes, even that brother-in-law of mine! :) Ha!). Ok, enough of that sappiness, y'all.....

My Cubs are in trouble, people. Yes, they are still in first place, but are hanging on by a very, VERY thin string. Of course, it didn't help that Grandpa kept saying "isn't it almost September? You know what happens in September, don't you???". To which I always have to reply: "yes Grandpa, I know, the Cubs are Completely Useless By September". Then he laughs. It's a fun little game we play. Real fun. They have a very, very important series starting tomorrow with the second place Brewers....it's make or break time, boys!!!! I'm gonna throw up......I will be at my precious Wrigley Field a week from today! Yay! I hope they are still in first place when I go to see them.....Timbo is going to the Cards/Cubs game with me on September 14. They are my sis and Jon's tickets, but since they are moving to Texas and stuff, they gave me their tickets...I invited Tim as part of his birthday gift (since it didn't cost me anything, I promised him I'd pay for beer....what a good big sister, huh?). :)

I will be putting up a second post today because it is a Certain Someone's birthday today.......

uh...........

Dude, the last two days at work have kinda sucked. It's true. I am dead tired people! I swear, I only had two martini's last night, but I woke up with one hell of a headache and I have been wiped out all frickin' day. If this is what getting old is like, then I want NONE OF IT!

And now it is thundering and I guess gonna storm all night. Ain't no thang though, I'm not planning on doing anything but sitting on my couch tonight anyway. I am doing the L6 5K tomorrow morning at 7:30am (ugh), so a good night's rest is in order, I think. I'll probably do a short jog tonight (if it isn't raining) as I haven't jogged since Tuesday.

I am in mourning. My Mikey is on vacation next week. Whatever will I do without him for an entire week? It is actually a week and a half because of the holiday coming up, and I am off the day after the holiday. I will have serious Mikey withdrawals....BOO! Who is gonna sing to/with me? Who is gonna walk down to the cafeteria with me? Who, I ask? Who?

I need fifty dolla's to make u holla.......

OMG I heard "Wild Thing" by Tone Loc on the radio this morning. It was some good times. I got to listen to it as I sat in traffic on Hwy 70....seems there was a FIVE car pile up right in the center lane. Bummer. People can't drive, I swear.

So, I'm a bit sleepy this morning. I was up until midnight watching my Cubbies...I knew it would be a late game since they are on the West Coast, but really wasn't feeling EXTRA INNINGS. I have to get up at 6:00am people! Geez! It was all good in the hood though because the Cubs won in the 10th, thanks to Henry Blanco (AKA Hank White), who, I swear, has the best Mexi-mullet in all of baseball. It is truly a sight to behold.I couldn't find a good picture that would truly illustrate the beauty of his mullet. You'll just have to use your imagination. Mullets rule.

So, I am already ready for the weekend. Not that I'm doing anything exciting, mind you, just looking forward to it. I am doing a 5K on Saturday....it starts at 7:30am (ugh!).....and it's in Chesterfield....a good 35 minute drive for me....meaning I will roughly have to get up around 6:00am....ON A SATURDAY. Ain't no thang though, it's for a good cause, so I'm happy to do it (lets see if I'm still "happy" come Saturday morning).

Well, I have some actual work to do now, so I must go. Hope all is well with everyone. T-minus 9 days until I leave for Chicago!!!!

not much to say

Well, I haven't blogged in a couple of days, mostly because I don't have much to say-shocking, I know, but it's true. I haven't been sleeping well for the last probably 5-6 nights and it is starting to catch up with me. Nothing much else new is going on-still working both jobs, still obsessed about the Cubs, you know, the usual KD crap. Just wanted to let y'all know that I was still alive. Catch ya on the flip side.

Quality television

Ok, so I got caught up in watching "Rock of Love" on VH1 yesterday. Whose idea was this trainwreck? I mean, these women are dirty, trashy, skank-whores and Bret Michaels is no prize himself-time has not been good to him. He looks ok with that bandana and cowboy hat on, but in one episode, he was standing there in his man-jammies and no bandana on, and let me tell ya...I was skurrrrred. Nothing sexier than a middle-aged, balding man with shoulder length hair standing there in his man-jammies. Yikes. Trainwreck as it was, you may be asking yourself-ok, so if it was so bad,why were you watching it all day? Valid question. My only response, is that much like a trainwreck, I couldn't look away. I was mesmerized by the awesome badness of it all. Can't wait for next week's episode.

Damn you, ASPCA!

Have any of you seen that ASPCA commercial with Sarah McLaughlin? You know, the one with all the sad-eyed puppies and kitties who have been abused and then saved by the ASPCA? I saw it for the first time yesterday and CRIED LIKE A BABY! Like a baby, I tell you. I think it was the one-eyed Shitzu that broke me down. So sad! I wanted to call right away and donate my paycheck (I didn't). See, I'm not heartless.

So, how was everyone's weekend? Mine was good. I spent Friday doing not a whole lot-just the way I like it. I worked on getting the internet hooked up on my computer, not having much luck. I really looked like I knew what I was doing with my screwdriver...the problem? My ethernet thingy-ma-bob is not compatible with my Yahoo DSL program. Any advice, Auntie C, the Guru of Computers????

Saturday was our Girls Lunch (see the pics on the family blog). We celebrated Aunt Mary's 50th birthday. Aunt Mary you are so beautiful and totally do not look 50. Yes, thank GOD we age well in this family. Maybe a little too well-you see, our waiter at Olive Garden offered every adult wine with their lunch. Every adult, that is, but ME. He just passed right over me on to Aunt Paula. What? Don't I look 21? Didn't he see my gray hair? Not that I wanted to drink wine at 1:00 in the afternoon, but still, it's the principle people!!!! Whatever. I'm over it.

Saturday night, I went out with my girls Erin, Robyn and Val. Erin, Robyn and I had dinner at Rigazzi's (yep, that's twice in one week people!). I got my fishbowl of Miller Lite-because, really, what gets classier than that??? (I just realized this story would be better with pictures, I have some, just have no way to upload them at the present moment, so deal with it). After dinner (where we manhandled the Al Capone statue-again, pictures would better illustrate this), we went to Tin Can to have some beverages and Val met up with us. Val and Rob decided to try their newest product.....wine in a can....complete with it's own bendy straw. It tasted like ass. 'Nuff said. Later on in the night, Big Bastard (Val's hubby) and his friend Jeff met up with us and we all headed out to the Trophy Room (open till 3am y'all!). There was some PRIME people watching there, wow. I especially loved the burlesque "dancer" from Vegas (again, pics would help). We got BB to chat her up. He is such a stud. Val just rolled her eyes and laughed at his attempts to talk to this girl. Love it.

Sunday, I slept in, not gonna lie (uh, I got home after 3am, give me a break!). I nearly forgot about brunch with my friends Renee and Sue. We met up at the art museum-kinda a fun place to have lunch. After that, I headed home to try my new exercise DVD...complete with the balance ball. Because, I am gonna get my "core" in shape if it kills me. At least I'll die with flat abs......jogging for the last four months has gotten my lower half in shape, but my "core"???? Not so much. I am completely fed up with it, so I got this DVD and did all the exercises, rolling around on this giant ball, which I'm sure looked REAL cute. After that, I jogged/walked my three miles. This morning? I HURT LIKE HELL! It hurt to drive this morning, and it kinda hurts to breathe. Proof the tape is working, right? We shall see....I'm doing it again tonight.

I was pretty pissed that the Cards/Cubs game got rained out last night. All day long I looked forward to some kickass Cubs action, but it was not to be last night. In case you hadn't heard, my Cubbies have won the first two games of the series, they are in FIRST PLACE y'all! Yes, I am excited. So what if it's only by a game. They are still in first. They are playing the Cards again today if the weather holds out. GO CUBBIES!

I'm so excited I could pee

It's a Cubs and Cards weekend party people! Can ya feel it? OMG, I am soooooo excited. This is the way it should be-our boys fighting for 1st place in the NL Central. I LOVE IT!!!! My friend Allison will be at the game tomorrow-SO jealous about that, but whatever. Moving on. My weekend plans will be revolving around the games this weekend, Girls Lunch better be speedy because we got a game at 3pm, y'all! :) GO CUBS! GO CUBS! GO CUBS! GO CUBS! GO CUBS!

Other than baseball, I do have a fun-filled weekend planned. Tomorrow is our monthly Girl's Lunch-our last one with my sis....BOO! :( Tomorrow night I am having Girls Nite Out with Val, Robyn and Ern-we will SOOOOOOOOOO miss Nenonen! :( Sunday I am having our monthly brunch with Renee and Sue. Good times, good times my friends. Good times.

Well, thus far this morning Mike has already broken out into his rendition of "Close to You" by The Carpenters. Usually a sign of a long day when that happens. He also has decided he wants the shirt I am wearing today. It says "Country Girl". I love Mike. We actually have some work to do today, nothing too terribly painful, but a full caseload nonetheless. Have a good Friday y'all! Happy weekend, much love!

Quotes by Mike for 8/16/07

1. "I love nutter butters"

2. "I like cheese" (with Jeff retorting "hey, that's my line!")

3. "I have a feeling that White Castle is gonna come back and haunt me"

4. "That White Castle was gooooooood"

5. "There was some Kung-fu fighting, chimmy chimmy chong ching"

6. "ok, my stomach is starting to grumble" (to which Julie replied "that didn't take long")

7. "I gotta go to the bathroom"

Conversation with a fungus

So, I was working at the crisis line last night. My co-worker Laura (a newbie) says to me "I don't know how you do it, working all day then coming here and working at night". Before I had a chance to respond to her, my oh-so-charming co-worker Alex tells her "she comes here to see me". You can imagine the look I shot him, then I turned to Laura and said "it's true, I come here to see Alex" (it may have been said a bit sarcastically, I don't know). Anyway, Alex then proceeds to tell the entire call center about how when he first started there, I couldn't stand him (true). He then tells the story of the time he called me "Ker Bear" and I looked at him and said "uh, you don't call me that". He then says "well, what should I call you then?". And then I said, rather sarcastically/irritably, "my name". Oh, yes, it's true, I couldn't stand the kid (he's like 28, but whatever, still younger than me). So then last night, I fessed up that he had, in fact, kinda grown on me through the months and I just couldn't help but be entertained by him (I mean, who else gets the inside joke about "fibromylanta"?). His response? "I know, I'm like a fungus". It's true, there is a fungus among us, and his name is Alex P. Keaton. We then had a conversation about how his mom asked him if he was gay, but that's a whole nother story.....

OMG, my Cubs suck so bad I can't even take it anymore. I am PISSED. Pissed, I tell you. I stayed up until frickin' MIDNIGHT watching their game last night (it was late due to an hour and a half rain delay), the game was back and forth, up and down all night long. The end result? My boys lost 9-11. The Cubs bullpen S-U-C-K-S hardcore. What a pisser. Wow, I just realized I've said "piss" a lot in this paragraph.....SIDE NOTE: aside from my baseball crush on Rick Ankiel, I also have a bit of a baseball crush on Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly (full name: Theodore Roosevelt Lilly), he's kinda precious............anyway, I am completely sleep deprived. The last time I looked at my alarm clock it was 1:55am, my alarm went off at 6:30am.....that's not a lot of sleep, people. Not a lot at all. I'm sorry in advance for any craziness I may cause today. Can anyone say "slap happy"? I knew you could.

I like cheese

That's a quote from Mike and Jeff. No, not my cousins Mike and Jeff, my beyond handsome co-workers, Mike and Jeff. "The Girls", if you will. They like cheese.

I saw a commercial last night and there was a goat on it. I took this to be a direct sign that the Billygoat Curse for the Cubs is still in effect. It's true. I don't make this stuff up. They lost again last night, it is beyond annoying. I'm thinking of becoming a Cards fan solely for the purpose of cheering on Rick Ankiel (I think I may have a bit of a crush on him). I'd switch to cheering for the Brew Crew, but honestly, they suck as bad as the Cubs do. Actually, the entire NL Central sucks, but that's besides the point. Speaking of the Cubs, only two more weeks before I am in Chicago seeing them play at Wrigley. I sooooo can't wait to be back in Chi-town, it's been awhile. I will be visiting my friend Eric, totally excited to see him (although, he was so NOT the Cubs good luck charm last night, he was at the game, they lost, I am thinking twice about taking him to the game with me on Sept 3).

I am completely over working today. I don't know why, it's not like we're busy. I'm just over it. And I miss Amy Henson.

Thanks to my sister, I am now hooked on "The Hills"

How could you do this to me Red? I spent an hour of my night last night watching The Hills....and now I am hooked. Thanks a lot! I mean, how could they treat Lauren like that? It's a travesty. And that Spencer-could he BE more of a tool? I mean, seriously!!!!

So, I am torn this week. My beloved Cubbies are 1.5 games out of first. Not so bad. The problem? The team standing in their way, the Brewers, are playing.....the Cardinals this week. In order for the Brewers to lose, the Cardinals must win. It is against everything I stand for, but I must cheer for the Cardinals, at least for a couple of games. I don't want them winning too many because then they'll be right back in the race and are playing the Cubs this weekend. Of course, none of this matters if the Cubs can't get their heads out of their asses and win some games. Hell, by Sunday, the Cubs could be in 3rd place and the freakin' Cardinals could be in first. It could happen. I hope it doesn't, but it could.....

Heidi, email me about scheduling a time to do dinner. You know how busy I am...HA (that is sooooo a joke, I mean, hello, she has a newborn for crying out loud!). Will there be waffle fries in our futures? Only time will tell!

Had a good dinner with my sis last night. We went to Rigazzi's on The Hill for some good ol' St. Louis Italian. It was super yummy! Of course, we yapped the whole time, that's what sisters do! I'm glad we are spending as much time together as possible before she moves to The Big D.... :(

And to end this post, a special present from Mikey: "Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees, look at these!". Did I get that right, Mikey? It's complete with hand movements, obviously I can't show them to you on this blog.....see Mike if you'd like to see them.

There's always next year....and other things we tell ourselves

My Cubs SUCK, y'all. Suck. But you already knew that, didn't you? Smart ass.

How was your weekend? Mine was good, filled with fine, family fun. So glad that I picked the hottest weekend of the year to have a family BBQ/party, but whatever. So, on Friday, after rushing over to Aunt Cheryl's to perform emergency surgery on her flowers (the 100+ temps were totally wreaking havoc on her plant's health), I went over to Grandpa's where mom and dad were. They were hiding in the basement when I got there trying to make me think they weren't home, but I heard Grandpa's big mouth from the air vents. I knew they were down there! We had a VERY exciting dinner folks, VERY exciting. Yes, my parents, grandpa and I went to dinner at...........Bob Evans. Uh....yea. The average age inside the building was approximately 68...and that was counting the teenage service staff. There were a whole bunch of old people up in there. My dad was excited because the senior menu started at age 55. Mom gloated because she was not eligible for said senior menu. I contemplated my choices of pot roast vs baked chicken and decided to go with the fish sandwich.......After dinner, my mom and I grocery shopped and I got busy making my home made chili once we got back to grandpa's. I was the first one to go to bed (Grandpa was like "why is everyone going to bed?"), I just couldn't hang with the senior citizens, I guess. I laughed at all the crazy things my grandpa said throughout the weekend. Every time he said something crazy, we'd joke about calling "the home" and "someone go call Delmar Gardens and get him a bed". Nothing like harrassing your nearly 80 year old grandfather about going into a nursing home! Especially when he's healthier than you are! Ah, gotta love family.....especially mine.

Saturday was Red and Jon's going away party at Aunt Mary's. Mom and I got there early to decorate. Rachel and I pretty much kick ass at decorating. We're gonna open our own company. I especially loved when we threw that garland on top of the mailbox and just stuck a bunch of tape to it to get it to stay down. It looked HOT. I think the party was quite successful. Red and Jon wore their special cowboy/cowgirl hats (especially loved it when Jon turned the brim of the hat down-he looked like he was about to go into the rice paddies in Vietnam.....). I was worried about not having enough food, but there was PLENTY. In fact, I still have a ton of it in my fridge. If I never see another bbq'ed hotdog again, it'll be too soon! :) I'll post some pix just as soon as I get my home computer up and running. I have mom and dad's old one now, but the ethernet cable is not compatible. Gotta figure out a way to make it work.....I'll get back to ya on that one.

Sunday, I went to church with the fam then went to work at the crisis line from noon to 4pm. The crisis line was NOT fun. It was quite busy and I was basically running out the door screaming by 4pm. My evening was filled with grocery shopping (in which I forgot my wallet. Seems it had fallen out of my purse in my apartment. SO embarrassing. They bagged up my groceries and held them while I ran home to get my wallet...thank God I literally live a minute away from Schnucks!) and then a nice, HOT, jog. There is nothing like jogging in this weather. I did ok, but my ass (literally, my ass) is sore today. Ugh. Between that and my infected foot, I am a big ol' mess!

My sis and I are having dinner tonight, that should be a good time. My Cubbies have a MUCH NEEDED day off (hey, they played 20 days in a row-leave them alone, ok?). We are pretty busy at work today, so I'd best get at it. Have a good week y'all! I have book club this week (yay!) and Girls Nite Out on Sat nite (double yay!) and brunch with Sue and Renee on Sunday. Always busy, always fun. Peace out.

Happy Birthday Chelsea!

I can't believe my baby cousin is 16 today!!! Have a great birthday Chelsea girl! I love you!

Did you hear about the dead dinosaurs found in Switzerland?

They're dead. It's true. Tanya and I tried desperately last night to find a picture of a dead dinosaur with x's over his eyes, but to no avail (yep, we were working REALLY hard at the crisis line last night....). This is the best I could do:

So, my Cubbies finally freakin' won last night, 10-2. It's about f'ing time! They are only a half a game out of first right now. Gotta watch those pesky Cardinals, however, they are only 5.5 out! When did that happen? Must have been during this week when the Cubs and Brewers sucked ass.

My parents will be in the STL today, yay! We are having a big family pow-wow for Red and Jon. Ain't no party like a Baumgartner party, cuz a Baumgartner party don't stop! HOLLA! :) Mom and I are doing some shopping and cooking tonight to prepare, I'm excited to get to see everyone! I challenge all y'all to some volleyball-LET'S DO THIS!

OMG, I have already laughed so much today and it's not even 10am. I've already finished off one 20 oz. Diet Coke and I am on my second one now. I need rehab. I'm gonna go to the Cirque Lodge and hang out with Lindsay Lohan. Or Promises of Malibu. I can't decide.

Feelin' hot, hot, hot!

F me, it's hot outside! DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN! I feel like my eyeballs are gonna melt. I mean, seriously people! Last night when I left the crisis line at 9pm, my car said it was still 98 degrees (hey, wasn't that Nick Lachey's band? It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do...to turn around and walk away and tell you I don't love you.....). That just ain't right.

OMG, I have SUCH a low tolerance for stupid this week. I'm not bragging when I say that I am good at my job (it's just a fact, deal with it), so when I encounter people that can only be described as, well, morons, I get frustrated. I just don't understand it. Especially when they've been doing this job way longer than I have. Mikey knows what I'm talking about-right Mikey? It is a true WTF-moment. Nuff about that.

My Cubs are starting to irritate me. They are just totally sucking lately. And now, are playing a four game set against a team that beat Mil-i-wau-kee 19 to 4 last night. This does not bode well for the slumping Cubbies who can't seem to score runs and who have lost their last 6 of 7, including the last 4 in a row. What is a miracle is that they are still only a game out of 1st place. Thanks for also sucking, Brew Crew, appreciate it. The Cubs need to get their heads out of their asses and play some ball already! No blaming the billy goat, no excuses, JUST DO IT! Ok, I'm done now.

Slump city

Thank God the Brew Crew is sucking too, because my Cubbie's are in a hardcore slump, y'all! I know everyone thinks they are gonna fold without Soriano, I don't think they will. Hopefull Crazy Carlos can pitch them to victory tonight. Yea, yea, yea, so Barry Bonds hit 756 last night. Good for him and his steroids, hope he can live with himself knowing that most of those homeruns were hit with a little bit extra HGH in his system. Pretty sure Hank Aaron never juiced......but whatever, thanks for playin' Barry Bonds. Dirty cheater.

Ok, so all morning, I have been sitting here with the weird feeling that I had some sort of dream last night that freaked me out, but I can't remember any of it. I just know I had it. Maybe it's because I was reading a book about schizophrenia before I went to bed last night....I don't know. I'm sleepy. My allergies have been acting a fool lately, so the last couple of nights I have taken Benadryl before I go to bed. I only take one little 25mg pill, but my God does it knock me out! I am such a medicine wuss. I don't know how the pill poppers/drug addicts do it! I don't think there is any way I could ever develop an Oxycontin habit where I'm taking 10 pills a day. I can't even handle ONE Benadryl. Hell, Advil makes me sleepy.

Well, I am working my part-time job the next two nights. Fun times had by all, I'm sure. I'm already exhausted thinking about it. Friday will be filled with preparations for my sister and Jon's party, mom and I must do some shopping and I must prepare the dreaded deviled eggs...they're good, I know, just a huge pain in the butt to make. I am also undertaking some other cooking projects...aren't you proud? KD is cooking, all domestic and stuff. Don't get used to it....it's all for my sis and Jon because I love them. :)

I have to pee, so I'm gonna go. Happy Hump Day y'all.

Uh, who's idea was it to build an office park right next to a landfill???

I mean, seriously. The landfill is ripe today y'all. Before I know it, Mikey will be walking down the aisles, spraying air freshener, saying "it smells like boo boo in here". Combined with 100 degree heat, it makes for an interesting day.....

Sister, did you watch Age of Love last night? I so knew he was gonna pick that Amanda girl. Whatever, she was kinda a biatch. I'm over it. My sister has turned me on to another show that I can't believe I haven't been watching. "My Boys" on TBS. Uh, HELLO, the girl is a sportswriter....in Chicago....for the CUBS. How is it I have been missing out on this? Well, I watched it last night and LOVED it! All the Cubbie and Chicago references? How could I not?

Speaking of the Cubs, they are kinda sucking up the joint lately. I know, I know, Grandpa is saying right now "you know what Cubs stands for don't you?". Yes, I've heard the joke:

Completely

Useless

By

September

Well listen up all you haters, it's not the case this year, aiiight? Yes, their best player is injured for at least a month, and they have lost 3 out of their last 4. I'm not panicking......yet. Luckily, the Brewers keep losing, so the Cubbies are still only 1 game out of 1st place. It'll be ok......

So, I injured myself again last night. Are you surprised? I was getting out of the shower, and was rushing as I apparently had mascara in my eye, I was trying to get to the eye makeup remover when I banged my ankle into the side of the bathtub....after I stopped cursing, I sat there and watched it turn various shades of red then settle on a nice purple color.....today it's a bit on the green side but doesn't hurt a bit. Seriously, where is that helmet I ordered? I clearly am not cut out to live on my own....

Is everyone ready for the cowboy-themed going away party for Red and Jon on Saturday? Wear your hair in pigtails ladies because it's gonna be a paaarrrrttttay! :) I hope everyone doesn't mind wearing cowboy hats when it's 100 degrees outside.....

...and how was YOUR weekend?

Mine was fairly uneventful. I spent most of it in Salem hanging out with the fam. Saturday morning, Grandpa and I headed down to the big town. I realized how special it was to be able to ride in a car with him for two hours, lots of quality time. Because, as Grandpa says "I am almost 80 you know". The two of us talked non-stop! And I thought we got out chattiness from Grandma.... :) Once in Salem, we all just kinda hung out. We watched the Cubs/Mets game as a family with my Cubbies kicking ass (of course), mom was slaving away in the kitchen all day and made some amazing food (that blackberry cobbler was TO DIE FOR!!!!). The dogs were entertaining as usual (with Chloe added in the mix). Hank was in love and Stubby was pissed off. It was some good times. Saturday night, Red, Jon, Tim and I went to Rolla to see that movie "Hot Rod". It was the most retardedest movie I have ever seen in my life, yet we all laughed the entire time. I have two words for you-"house cat". After the movie we went to this bar in Rolla and had some beer, Tim's "man-tourage" showed up. I'm talkin' like a good 10-15 people. It was quite a crowd. We weren't out long, probably because Red, Jon and I are, well.....old. On Sunday, we went to church, Red and Jon headed home, dad, Grandpa and I watched the Cardinals game, it was fairly uneventful, but relaxing. Now I'm back at work, it's a crazy Monday as usual. My Cubbies best player is out for a month (Alfonso Soriano), that is NOT good news. Hopefully, they can keep pace with the Brewers without him! GO CUBS!

On msn.com today.....

Repeat this to yourself one thousand times:Screwed-up people are not more interesting than people with their heads together. Baggage is not fascinating, romantic, or exciting. It is very, very tiring. Men who are polite and emotionally mature are hot. Learn it, love it, live by it.

With friends like these....who needs enemies?

I mean seriously....I asked Mike to help me get "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie out of my head and what did he do? Well, he and Amy proceeded to belt out a stirring (yet, oddly beautiful) rendition of the song right here in the office....SO not helpful in getting it out of my head, but whatever, I mean, I hope you know, I hope you know, that this has nothing to do with you....oh, wait, sorry.....

My foot hurts. After yesterday's jog (yes, in the 100 degree heat), my toes were cramping up, kinda like a Charley horse, they are now sore and I am kinda limping around like the lame-o that I am....

Work is slow today, which is a good thing, especially for a Friday. I'm hopin' to get outta here at a decent time today, gotta pack up for the big trip to Salem tonite, go to Auntie C's to water the flowers and then am just gonna chill tonite. I'll probably jog too since I'm not sure if I'll be doing that while in Salem (I think I will mostly be eating and drinking beer....).

Mikey-can't wait until our special movie nite! :)

And, last but CERTAINLY not least..................GO CUBS!

ch..ch..ch..ch..chitus

OMG, one of the things I love about my job is seeing other people's reports and laughing at all the misspelled diagnoses and meds....today, I had a really funny one. The patient has "fibromyalgia", it was spelled two different ways on the report-"fibromialiga" and "fibromialgis". Either way, it's funny. It was also noted that the patient has "chronic bronchitus" (uh, not sure what that is....) and an atopic pregnancy (uh, isn't that ectopic?).

My Mikey is back!!!!

Yay, my Mikey is back at work today. All is now right with the world. He's got a nice lookin' shiner too....something about a knife fight with some street thugs....oh, wait, sorry, that was the "Beat It" video....my bad!

Heidi, your theory has been proven correct.....thanks to Heidi's blog post about craving Taco Bell, I, too, last night was craving it and gave in to the craving (DAMMIT!). And the theory of needing at least three mild sauce packets per item is correct....the Taco Bell on Chippewa was VERY generous with the mild sauce packets last night, I even had some leftover, that I will be stashing for future use......

Getting excited for my big road trip to Salem with Grandpa this weekend! We are leaving early Saturday morning. The trip promises to be a good time-how could it not? Red and Jon will be there for Red's 10 year high school reunion (SHS rocks, y'all!), Chloe will be there to get Stubby all riled up and Hank all riled up as well-but in a completely different way.....there will be some fishing, probably several trips to the Super Wal-Mart, maybe a Yahtzee (Lucky Jew Game) tournament or two and, according to Tim-we are all going out Saturday night....to a bar....in Rolla...with Tim's friends. This should be interesting......

product endorsement

I don't know about the rest of you, but I am forever looking for a lite salad dressing that actually tastes good....well, look no more, I found one! Yes, it's Paul Newman (man, can that guy make a dressing or what???). It is the Light Italian Dressing w/a hint of lemon....very good and doesn't at all taste like a lite dressing....just thought I'd share! :)

Cubs move into first place

That is the headline on Cubs.com today. My Cubbies are in 1st place, y'all! They are a 10th of a percentage point ahead of the Brewers, technically. We'll take it! Today may be the last day they are ever in first place, so I plan to enjoy it! :)

1. Chi Cubs; 57-49; .538

2. Milwaukee; 58-50; .537

3. St. Louis; 50-54; .481; 6.0 back

I miss my Mikey!!!

My Mikey isn't at work again today....I miss you Mikey! Hope you are feeling ok! Work just isn't the same without him...it's eerily quiet.....and I'm bored. I miss just sitting, working, then all of a sudden hearing...."Ker Bear?" from across the cubicles, knowing my Mikey is needing something very, very important....there has been no singing this week, I'm sad to say. It is a dark, dark time in managed care land...

So, is it too much to ask that the stupid Pond Scum (sorry Aunt Diane) beat the freakin Brewers? All I'm asking for is a sweep, but NOOOOOOO, they had to lose last night keeping my Cubbies from taking over first place....Let's do this, Pond Scum!!! I guess the Cubs will just have to keep on winning, can't rely on anyone else to lose....they are only a game back, so they are doing aiiiight.....GO CUBS!

Well, Grandpa and I are heading to Salem this weekend. Should be good times had by all! We'll be doing some fishing, maybe playing some Yahtzee and, according to my baby brother, going out Saturday night....in Rolla.....with his friends....yee haw! :) I got to talk to my little bro last night for the first time in, I swear, a million years. I thought he didn't love me anymore because he never calls me, never responds to me on MySpace......he said he DID TOO call me, last week...I politely reminded him that it was 11:30 at night, in the middle of the week, those of us that are RESPONSIBLE ADULTS are sleeping at that time of night because we have to get up at SIX IN THE MORNING....ahhhh, to be 23 again.....

So, my mom is on vacation this week and next. How is she spending it, you may ask? Well, in patented Val style (I love you Mommy!), she is.........................CLEANING. Gotta love it. My head was filled with visuals of mom and dad cleaning yesterday, as Red and I were emailing about it, I was seriously laughing out loud. Seems yesterday was Clean The Grout In The Kitchen Floor Tiles Day. Very exciting! What was making me laugh is that, my dear, um, entrepreneurial father decided their current cleaning method was just not doing the trick, so daddy dearest rigged up his own device in order to get the job done. Dad took an electric drill and rigged up the brush from the previous cleaning device to it and....voila! A spinning scrubber that wiped out that grout! Dad is a freakin' genius.....can't wait to see how he handles Cleaning All The Windows In The Entire House Day today.......I love my parents. I really think they need a reality show. I'd watch it.........did I mention that my dad was still feeling the effects of the anesthesia from his visit to the doctor earlier that day???? Nothing like being high and using power tools....

Speaking of reality shows, is anyone besides me watching Big Brother? I mean, seriously, these people are nuts. It's good times, y'all! I wanna bitch slap that Jen girl. Really...she is everything that is wrong with the world....