redheadextinction

Words for the day

2011-03-02T06:01:00.000-08:00

The key to genuine happiness is in our hands. To think this way is to discover the essential values of kindness, brotherly love and altruism. The more clearly we see the benefits of these values, the more we will seek to reject anything that opposes them; in this way we will be able to bring about inner transformation

The Dalai Lama

Still Kickin

2011-02-16T03:59:00.000-08:00

Waiting to Spring
an exhausting thing.

Feelin hopeful
feeling alive

thanks to the effort
the support and my drive

thinking of my new bike
excited for the run

playing with the kiddies outside
terrible fun

parties, graduations, birthdays and such

concerts, Katy Perry, whom I love-a so much.

Cubs games and especially the first for my boy

Vegas in April, with my love, what joy!!!

Here

2010-11-21T03:45:00.000-08:00

Here I am in silence
Here I am undisturbed
for a moment
its quiet
I am still
I close my eyes and direct them towards heaven
From here
I reach out for your hand
From here it is icy
Bitter cold and dark
From here I lay my intentions of
the means to make it there
But here now
in the stillness
All I do is stare.

Hope

2010-10-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

Is a thought
an action
faith
and a reaction
a baby
a love story
and a happy landing.
"I expect the worst, but hope for the best" (John Mellencamp)

Ode to the Music of 1992 (for Manna Banana)

2010-10-09T05:20:00.000-07:00

Can I have some remedy?
Tell me
Do you think it'd be alright?
We can make time stop for the two of us.
Walking on down the road.....
But I guess you've had you're fill and if
I can't change your mind then no one will.

ASIAN Limerick

2010-08-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

There once was a child from China
Who came to America to work in a diner
Great tips she did make
Her happiness she did fake
Thus traveled home on an ocean liner.

Sunday

2010-08-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

Lovely lady
can do without
she can wait
she can ponder
because its just fate

uncomfortable
nervous
tired
confused

escape to the air
feel the wind on your face
get to your place
today.

The Early Bird

2010-08-14T05:08:00.000-07:00

Every saturday the early bird rises.

1, thirty four pound extention of my heart creeps softly

pulls him self up with all his might, wraps his skinny arms around me,

hugs me and whispers, "I love you, Mommy." We stay like that for awhile.

The early birds rise by themselves as to not wake anyone else up yet.

I make my coffee quietly, let out my Lab, and then feed him as quickly as I can.

And then I hang out with my thirty four pound extension of my heart.

Sweet and silly

A smile to melt my heart each time he flashes it at me and looks at me with adoring eyes......

Before he becomes a cranky and difficult little person,

We have time together.

I notice a solo cardinal outside the kitchen window. Bright, red and magnificent against the gray sky and lush greens surrounding our backyard. Then, he disappears.

The early birds rises.

Gravity

2010-08-12T16:59:00.001-07:00

Its inevitable.

I'm gravitating this way.

I moving toward you without thinking.

Catching me in your spider web just like you did before.

Letting me go again

The Captors

2010-08-11T07:57:00.000-07:00

I forget about the rest of you
when he's in my head

I forget your standing there all around me

My guards

Making sure I'll never sing again.

Determined to never let me by.

But you're criminals
My captors

You know
You can't have me on sandy beaches
with ice cold peaches in my mouth

You're henchmen
You hold my arms when I try to break free

My own world I'm making inside your tight circle around me.

He makes me forget you're there
When you hit me
When you spit on me

But you're criminals
My own captors.

476 days

2010-08-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

with you in my sight
your bright blue eyes in my heart
every day and every night

Now you start to tell me what you want
With your words
and your smiles
and your gleeful expression

you are mine
my bright eyes
I am your everything.
Today
476 days.

Tight (yes the poetry is back)

2010-08-02T10:15:00.002-07:00

It's so good
It can't be real
Don't know what to think
or even what to feel

It soft and its sweet
easy and chilled
Like fruit in my belly
so lightly filled.

It tickles is teases
Its tight and it tame
It sweet like candy
Or its just part of a game.

Thanks to my one follower you are much appreciated.

2010-08-02T10:15:00.001-07:00

To Grandmother's House We Go

2009-10-07T04:37:00.000-07:00

Just last weekend my mom, stepfather, my five month old daughter, Francesca and I traveled to Arizona to visit my 92 year-old Grandma. Things I love about traveling to Arizona the most are seeing my family...and climbing Squaw Peak, which I don't get to do now that my brother and family have uprooted to Maryland.

Yet, my grandmother's house remains the same. One of the most constant things in my life since I was 10 years old. Walking in her home is like being home. A real feeling of home. Like a childhood walk back in time. I picked oranges of her trees, my Italian Papa make us homemade bread, fresh squeezed orange juice, and tons of other culinary goodies.

I have so many memories of my her house, like being 16 and forced to go there when a boy I fell so hard for was back at home waiting for me, playing mini golf at the arcade, the diving board at the pool, driving fast in the golfcart with my brother, and of course, when Papa passed away. I will always feel his presence when I walk through the house or when I relax on Grandma's patio.

The one thing I love most is the love that flows through the house. My Grandma is polite, educated, and well-spoken. She reads the paper every day and you will never ever catch her watching anything but baseball, the news, or Wheel of Fortune. She is also fiesty and opinionated at the same time. "babies should not be wrapped so tight, "She looks like she's in jail!" she tells me when I swaddle Francesca. Not to mention the sock in the arm she gave me when she saw Francesca's pierced ears,

"those are hurting her!"

"She's my baby I'll do what I want," I smile politely. There is more of me in her than just our matching blue eyes.

I'm still here

2009-07-12T18:33:00.000-07:00

Here, I am once again. Ready to take of the bloggin scene again. Even if no one reads, I have big plans...for myself and for my family. Plans which involve the world of writing, something I really love and something I am fairly good at. I have plans for my writing and they begin here. Its been a rough, exciting, challenging, special year. A year full of growth and amazing changes. I will begin to document the insanity and the uniqueness that is MY life everyday. I hope you enjoy.

Let's Pray Together Cubs Fan

2008-10-01T12:06:00.000-07:00

Eddie Vedder played THIS LIVE after composing it at the request of Ernie Banks who I've had the pleasure of knowing when I worked at Illinois Center Athletic Club once upon a time. I asked him for an autograph for my grandma after sneaking faxes in for him in the office on numerous occasions. He didn't just sign his name - he wrote by Grandma (life long die hard 91 year old Grandma) a sweet, long letter.

Go Cubs!!

Friday Evening & Weary

2008-09-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I'm blinded
by exactly what's right in front of me

Other times I'm broken in pieces
but a little bit more put together than the day before

I'm always wishing for things I can't have
I'm always crying for things that I've lost

My heart is a framed picture of bliss, and peace, colored brightly and sweetly
With cracked and fragmented colored lines of gray and black of sadness and regret

Realizing that I just "am"
Helps me sleep better at night.

Lessons in Mommyhood #06

2008-09-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

At some point during your child's life, usually between 18 and 24 months - DINNER TIME WILL SUCK. Accept it as it is, move on, dodge the food before it hits you in the face, and laugh. Remember why you became a mom and what a joyful experience it has been so far. And if you get the sudden impulse to just smack your husband in the face or hit him over the head with a large object during dinner, because nothing he says or does actually alleviates the situation, but only makes it worse.....resist the temptation. Save the energy for something else later..wink..wink....that might only result in another mess maker though.

Lessons in Mommyhood #79

2008-09-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

What do you do when your toddler insists on going outside and you instruct him to put on his shoes (they're CROCS - he's not like tying gym shoes or anything) and he reappears with one shoe on (ready to go, of course)...while the other shoe is completely lost...for days....and he has not yet acquired the verbal skills to explain or remember what he did with the other one? Try this - CHECK THE FRIDGE - preferably the bottom two shelves.

Lessons in Mommyhood #44

2008-09-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

When your toddler wanders in to the bathroom with an EMPTY cup and emerges mere seconds later with that SAME cup, but its FULL of water and your child is happily drinking it, don't immediately ASSUME that the little bugger actually reached up turned on the faucet and filled it up in that short amount of time. GO BUY TOILET LOCKS and then try your best to teach him to say..."I'M THIRSTY!"

(I swear I thought I was going to BARF - well, hey, the dog is still alive after all these years, it must not be THAT bad)

The Parrot and The Potty Mouth

2008-09-03T11:58:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about alternative words to swear words since, according to my parents, I was born with a dirty mouth and I now have a toddler who repeats EVERYTHING these days. He especially repeats the swears with fervor and exuberance. Suggestions are welcome. Breaking bad habits are hard to do.

These are the ones I've come up with so far:

Mother Fletcher (I love Shrek), Darnit, Gosh Darnit, Dangit, Shute, Dag Nabit (Was that Foghorn Leghorn?), SNAP (my favorite the older kids use it), Flippin, Crikey, and blasted.

Can you help me damnit?

Lessons in Mommyhood #92

2008-08-05T12:05:00.000-07:00

Never let your child sit on your lap when he or she is eating watermelon and you're wearing white shorts...brand new white shorts.....that you got for your birthday and they really look cute on you......and your husband says, "oh, just go buy another pair."

But you don't want to...because you really really liked the ones you got for your birthday....they look cute on you....and your kid just ruined them. Then, your kid just laughs their little laugh and keeps eating their watermelon while they laugh at you and your white shorts...that you got for your birthday....that are... I mean were really really cute on you.

2008-07-21T13:14:00.000-07:00

DJ - Happy Birthday. We are so lucky to be spending your day with you. You have become more and more of a smart, funny, creative, and most importantly kind-hearted young man as you've been getting older.
We love you...enjoy the Girl Scount Thin Mint Ice Cream Cake tonight!!!!!!! :-)

Love,
Dad, Erin, Lizzy, Massimo & Ozzy

Another Helping of Summer

2008-07-16T09:34:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention how much fun my summer has been with these three ladies:

swimming, going to the park, making smoothies, tossing water balloons at each other, making crafts, and kidnapping, fuzzy, yellow catepillars. My son is getting in touch with his feminie side as well.

Thank you for bringing so much laughter in to my day!

Serve me up some more summer

2008-07-15T19:40:00.001-07:00

I just checked all the numerous awesome comments on my blog and I realized I haven't posted in over a month. Is it just that i don't have anything important to say? Probably...maybe. Does anyone read this? Maybe hundreds and no one even comments. Still, it might be easier to comment on someone's blog if you didn't have to type that silly 'word verification' and then your e-mail address and your password and so on and so on.

What I will post to the world is that my summer is going very well. I am very much enjoying myself after a rough end to spring and beginning to realize that what I try so very hard to control and the path I carve out for my life, isn't mine to decide. I'm learning to let go a little...and just...see....what....happens. I don't feel like talking so much, just to talk. Maybe I will listen more, and not just half-ass listen, but I will really listen with my whole heart.

My summer is going a little like this:
I'm reading an incredibly wonderful book for leisure (you have to comment if you want to know the name of the book), I'm taking an educational research course online and I'm not THAT scared of statistics this time around, I have strawberry stains on my fingers and I'm walking around barefoot in tank tops. My shoulders are tinged like the color of my hair, and I get to spend every beautiful day with 25 lb extension of my heart that is outside of my body, constantly on the move, curious, thoughtful, and absolutely gorgeous. He makes me cry in a good way. I finally purchased that coveted fire pit and we gathered around it last Sunday and made s'mores.

Everything really is okay. You just have to pause and take a few deep breaths.
P.S. Dominic, I love you very very very much - thank you.......

To VEG or not to VEG....that is the question

2008-06-09T11:40:00.001-07:00

After I graduated from college, 11 long years ago, I decided to try vegetarianism for a month. One month, no meat, no problem. I did it because I thought I would lose weight and I didn't. I piled up the carbs to compensate for what wasn't on my plate. I did continue to eat fish and dairy.

I've always been interested in it because I don't really like meat. I eat it because its there and we've all been taught to have that perfectly well-rounded plate. Technically, if you cut out all meat including fish as well as dairy and eggs, you are a VEGAN.

So, last September I glanced at Alicia Silverstone's controversial naked ad for veganism and of course got the link to HERE. I secretly got the starter kit, not to freak out my meat loving husband. Now Ingrid Newkirk (PETA founder) is sending me freakish e-mails every week about animal cruelty and asking me for my support. I even got some really cute PETA address labels for filling out a survey. I am concerned with ethical animal treatment. Am I a fanatic? Absolutely not, I don't march for animal rights or throw red paint on the women with fur, but I am an animal lover (YES, I love OZZY....sometimes) and I don't believe any animal should die in a cruel and inhumane manner either.

Now, to me its more of a health concern. I once read a book called "Eat Right For Your Type" in which the premise states that our bodies function more efficiently based on how we eat and exercise for our specific blood type. I am an "A+" and according to the author, I should be eating all fruits and veggies, and very little dairy. Even more so, I've started to pay attention to the way my body feels after I eat. Lately, I have been noticing that when I eat meat and cheese and even milk, I get stomachaches - - bad ones. I've also noticed headaches after too much processed/refined sugar. Am I on to something?

It just seems really hard and inconvenient to go VEGAN. Last week I decided to start looking at labels and more specifically, the "ingredients" list. It seems like dairy is in EVERYTHING. One of my best and dearest friends has been dairy-free for a few years now. She is allergic to it. Her 18-month old is dairy-free too (in order to be on the safe side of the genetic pool). She does really well now and she really sticks to it. She misses ice cream, but she eats the soy stuff. I bet its not as delicious though.

Which leads me to price. All food prices are soaring right now and the vegan section of the grocery store is sparse and expensive. We are all trying to save money, enough said.

Then, there is my Italian, meat-loving husband, who will technically eat anything you put on his plate (I adore him for that), but I just can't see him joining me. Even though, and I plan to argue with him on this, he gets terrible stomachaches from too much dairy AND he suffers from gout, AND his blood pressure is borderline high. He would no doubt benefit from becoming vegan, but its hard to change what you've known your whole life.

I'm still on the fence, but I heard if you plan to do this at all, you have to start slow, meaning slowly start replacing regular milk with soy milk, substitute red meat for white, READ the labels, and try new things like tofu (which I love anyway). The slower you phase it out of your diet, the easier it is to stick with it.

Yesterday I made a skillet with eggs, cheese, peppers, onions, eggs, and these Morningstar meatless meal starters (which is seasoned and tastes JUST LIKE crumbled Italian sausage).

"Where'd you get the sausage?" Dominic asked.

"At the store," I replied as I watched him eat heartily.

I turn to the kids and whisper deviously, "its not meat."

Lizzy gives me a look. DJ gives me a look.

"What is it?....don't tell me until I'm done. I don't want to know," Lizzy comments.

DJ continues to eat without saying a word.

I proudly announce what it is and that its got 87% less fat than sausage. Their plates are clean. Maybe this isn't too hard after all.

Happy 15th Birthday Lizzy!

2008-05-22T06:01:00.000-07:00

We hope your day is absolutely beautiful, just like you, and we are so excited to celebrate with you on this nice, long holiday weekend!

We love you so much!!

Dad, Erin, Massimo, "Little Kiwi", and Ozzy

Earth Day Resolutions

2008-04-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

I always start these blog posts out by saying, "I was watching Oprah the other day". Okay, I really do like her show. She had on families that were being challenged, "Can you live on less?" These two families were challenged to spend less; less money on groceries and eating out, less time shopping, watching TV, on the computer, video games, and turning on and off lights. They were also challenged to get rid of the plastic water bottles and Oprah provided them with a Brita.

It was really amazing to see these people struggle because they're just like the rest of us. These families, one with three teenagers and another with two younger kids had TVs and computers in every room and literally struggled as you kept hearing them profess how bored they were and how there was NOTHING to do.

By the end of the week they were eating more family dinners together, interacting more with one another, and becoming more physically active.

Personally, I remember the greatest thing about being a kid was being outdoors, running around, and FINDING things to do. Everything was an adventure, an exploration where we used our creativity to find things to do.

I watched this mom talk about how when she took the video games away from her son, it was similar to watching a drug addict go through withdrawals.

I admit, we watch a fair amount of TV, we don't have one in every room, and we limit ourselves on the computer. Dom and I agreed we are happy that we do always sit down for meals together and thank GOD he's not one of those ADULTS who are addicted to Playstation. Yet, we do eat out a little more than we should.

What I did decide to change was the energy habits such as leaving lights on, the computer on, and even the coffee pot plugged in all the time. I'm starting to turn off the fax machine/copier when I'm not using it. I'm listening to the radio less. Silence is nice. I've even started purchasing the energy efficient light bulbs which Dominic has been putting in the lights we use the most.

I hope my family enjoys the last supply of water bottles. They are no more. I bought a Brita and we'll be using that from now on. Yes, the bottles are convenient, but they are creating too much waste, even though they are recyclable.

Then I also noticed how many paper towels I go through. Maybe a roll every couple DAYS! I can happily say this last week, I only used one roll.

Yeah, so I know all this living GREEN is the rage now, the politically correct movement of our country, but everyone now agrees our planet is in danger and our government is taking steps, even if both parties aren't agreeable. I used to think one family, one person wouldn't make much difference. Well, I USED to think that way. Now that I'm committed to some change, I hope I can pass that along to you.

Senses Alive!

2008-04-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

Even though, my Massimo has been sound asleep for an hour and a half already and I'm sitting here working, I can hear the hum of the lawn mowers outside in my backyard and the faint smell of fresh cut grass wafting in from the OPEN windows. I feel like going barefoot and putting on a halter top. I won't even complain if the noise wakes up my baby.

Happy Birthday Dominic

2008-04-16T11:00:00.001-07:00

Husband, Daddy, Son, Brother, Entrepreneur, & lover of all things AUTOMOTIVE. You are so good to all of us!

Back in the Swing

2008-04-09T11:36:00.001-07:00

Its been 6 years - gasp - since I've taken an education course and here I am, taking yet one of many more I'm sure I'll be taking in the future. Since I plan on returning to the classroom in the near future, whether it be substituting, volunteering, tutoring, part-time, or even full-time, its important, no wait, its required for accredited teachers to have their state certificate up to current speed.

Its an online class too, which means all the coursework is done via an instructor sending us materials via e-mail that we read and essentially respond to with a paper. Towards the end of the ten weeks, we will also be having a few video-conferences with the professor. Sounds easy right?? I'm not sure because I've never done this before, but I'm excited at the challenge.

I think I'm going to miss the face-to face with a professor and a classroom full of educators where discussions are probably a lot more engaging, but for the sake of time and my little guy, an online course is a great option.

After this I am required to take a course entitled, "Quantitative Research". Ugh.

Wish me luck!

Like Father, Like Son

2008-04-08T14:31:00.001-07:00

DISC LOGIC

2008-04-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, how many of you have a CD or DVD that skips, especially during your favorite song or part of the show.

For us, its Elmo's World the WILD WILD West DVD given to him for Christmas from my BFF Nicole. He LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES it. It a was made a few years back, however, the part where Travis Tritt, yup, the mullet-sporting country crooner, Travis Tritt sings with Elmo, it starts to skip. So, MY little boy goes up to the DVD player, pushes the button to open it, takes it out and hands it to me, "MehlmoHHH" which means Elmo in 15 month old baby language. Its become so bad that every times he ejects it form the machine, he scratches it a little bit more and a little bit more, until one day, the DVD player announced on the screen that my son's beloved disc was "unreadable". It also said, "check disc". Okay, I'm checking it, giving it a thorough examination here, and yup, its SCRATCHED.

What are solutions to the scratched disc? Do I need a buffing kit??

According to my almost 15 year old step-daughter, flushing the disc down the toilet is the cure. Yes, I admit it sounds gross, but amazingly enough it WORKED.

I did try another remedy given to me by my (age witheld) sister-in-law, handed down from HER sister, and a remedy they swear by and that's good old peanut-butter.

I tried the peanut butter for kicks. I actually used Massimo's soy nut butter because our peanut butter is the extra-crunchy variety and I didn't want to risk more scratches. You know how pesky peanuts can be when you're rubbing them on things other than toast. I massaged a think layer on the back of the disc and rubbed it in in a circular motion. Then, I rinsed and gently pat dry with a paper towel. No such luck.

So, I resorted to the toilet, two flushes, then a rinse with warm soapy water and light dry with again, a paper towel.

"ALA Peanut Butter Sandwiches!!!!" (you old school Sesame Street people know that line) IT WORKED. Maybe it was the warm water, who knows, maybe it wasn't scratched as bad as it might have just been severely smudged. Anyway....his disc is working great now, thanks to the porcelain GOD!

Anyone else have a remedy??????

Rainy Day Thoughts

2008-03-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

I need more patience

The thought just popped in to my head while the check-out clerk took soooooooooo long just to run my groceries through and ask for my payment.

I can't think of anything better to do on a rainy day than going to the grocery store and then pushing all of our wet, plastic grocery bags out to the truck with a tired and hungry baby in the cart.

No, really m'am, I can bag these myself, really...no, wait, I can't, my son is about to dive head first out of the cart.

On Monday, the excitement of the weekend dies down and even though I don't work outside the home and have to get dressed up to head out to a "job", I still miss Dom and the kids, especially when the kids spend more than 2 days here and we're constantly laughing.

At least I have Ozzy laying next to me, snoring while I post...and should be working.

KEEP THINKING WARM THOUGHTS & ENJOY THE CHEESE BELOW.......now, I feel worse thinking about tender Karen and her untimely death.

Early SJP

2008-03-22T06:15:00.000-07:00

Last night, amidst washing my mom's china, my grandma's silver, ironing my Easter tablecloth, folding laundry, picking up toys, and indulging in some Easter candy, I came across this movie (Girls Just Want to Have Fun) on FUSE channel. Okay, I was 10 when this movie came out and I can't REMEMBER how many times I've seen this movie. Sarah Jessica Parker does not look haggy at ALL, as she cha chas and flip flops with other stars like young Helen Hunt, Shannen Doherty, Jonathan Silverman, and Lee Montgomery, who SO resembles Joey Lawrence.....and.....wait...Lee WHO? What happened to him???

I wished I could have been on Dance TV.

Enjoy the video - this is the end!!!!!

"let's DO it!!!"

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

I bet you're thinking....wow, this kid looks really Irish! Hold up...wait a minute...my parents named me MASSIMO!! Go figure. What I liked best about my 2nd St. Patrick's Day is that my mom let me have a green cupcake at the Kids Club even though I cried when she left. Then, I got to sit in the truck and watch my favorite Elmo video while she ran lots of errands. Then, she made me and my dad corned beef and cabbage and I ate a lot of it. I hope you all had a good one too.

Massimo CONNOR Rizzi ;-)

Massimo's 1st Cinematic Experience

2008-03-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

Nobody even mentioned to me that we would be taking a huge risk bringing our 15 month old to a MOVIE...to a THEATER! I figured, I would just go sit in the lobby with him if he started making too much noise. No need, he was an angel laying on my lap in his Dr. Seuss pajamas, paying homage to Horton. Of course he had no understanding of what was going on, but he watched silently, rarely shifting at all, calm and peacefully corked with his favortie "chooch". After 90 minutes in a dark room with siblings and cousins, and the smell of stale popcorn, he drifted off to sleep before the climatic conclusion of one VERY terrfic movie.

staring at a blinking cursor

2008-03-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post something, but can't thing of anything really specific or profound to say. HMMMM, what do I want my 4 faithful readers to know??....UMMMM, today I don't feel so stressed, because the workload is to a minimum, I went to the gym this am, my house is clean, Massimo ate well, played with his buds at the gym, and drifted off to sleep at 1. It's quiet right now, and I'm going to go switch the laundry when I'm done.

I guess I'd have to say, and this corny, but I hope that whomever is reading this is feeling happy and peaceful right now, and if you're not feeling so good, whomever you are, I am sending happy vibes through this post. You will feel better tomorrow. Go drink some water and stretch, that's always a quick fix for me.

Love,
Erin

Hi JULIA!

2008-03-09T07:16:00.001-07:00

I loved this picture my niece, Julia, took last night. I told her I was going to post it on my blog. Isn't she adorable????

Hi JULES!!!!!!!

Single Ladies Get Down on One Knee

2008-02-29T12:45:00.000-08:00

In case you're interested, here's what I was reading today about Leap Year.
Interesting yet, virtually irrelevant truths or untruths.

The Gregorian calendar, which now serves as the standard calendar for civil use throughout the world, has both common years and leap years. A common year has 365 days and a leap year 366 days, with the extra, or intercalary, day designated as February 29. A leap year occurs every four years to help synchronize the calendar year with the solar year, or the length of time it takes the earth to complete its orbit about the sun, which is about 365¼ days.

The length of the solar year, however, is slightly less than 365¼ days—by about 11 minutes. To compensate for this discrepancy, the leap year is omitted three times every four hundred years.

In other words, a century year cannot be a leap year unless it is divisible by 400. Thus 1700, 1800, and 1900 were not leap years, but 1600, 2000, and 2400 are leap years.

What are your chances of being born on leap day?
About 1 in 1500.

How many people were born on leap day?
There are about 187,000 people in the US and 4 million people in the world who were born on Leap Day.

The rules for determining a leap year
Most years that can be divided evenly by 4 are leap years.

Exception: Century years are NOT leap years UNLESS they can be evenly divided by 400.

I also read that possibly originating in Ireland or Scotland, Leap Year was the ONLY day that a woman could propose to a man and if he did not accept, he was liable to compensate her with money or goods...

Our Trip to the Ghost Mall

2008-02-28T10:12:00.000-08:00

Is it me or should they just CLOSE Randhurst? Dom and I ended up there on Tuesday evening because we purchased our cell phones there and his was acting funny. It wasn't cracking jokes or anything, the SIM card just kept failing. So, his phone was failing him. There are only like 3 good stores in there - - Victoria's Secret, where I rarely shop anyway. I mean, its still a great, pink store, its just too pricey for underwear in my opinion. Then, there is American Eagle, which I don't shop at either since I'm too old, but the teens love it, and then the old standby Carsons, which has shoes and Clinique and the occasional occasion dress.

Massimo was getting hungry, we weren't going to make it home in time to make anything decent, so we headed up to McDonalds - CLOSED??!! Huh? and the only restaurant actually attached to the mall (Applebee's) GONE too!

We almost went for the Chinese, where they shove a sample of some kind of chicken in your face and threaten to stick the toothpick in your eye if you don't take it, but I wanted pizza, as usual, and we went with Sbarro's. We had the whole food court to ourselves.

After taking Massimo for a ride in a disease infested train (which I wiped down twice with a WET ONE) and two minutes in the massage chairs for Dom and me, we finally left the Ghost mall and headed to Costco to shell out some real cash.

Here is my opinion on Randhurst - - rebuild OR knock it down. Its a waste of money and space when there is nobody to shop there, since the stores are all second-rate anyway.

What do you think?!

Good Eats in Wrigleyville

2008-02-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

If you're ever in Wrigleyville and have a taste for Asain/Thai, GO TO Penny's Noodle Shop.

It's been almost 10 years since I've lived in the city and one of the things I miss the most is the great food. Not that 'burbs don't have good food, after awhile you just get used to what's around.

Yesterday Massimo & I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Mara & Ella. Neither Mara and I had been there in years, although we had talked about going there. Busy schedules permit very little time for getting together, but we MADE it there on a very cold DAY in February. Thankfully, it was not too busy.

Lucky for us we have kids that hang out, eat well, and enjoy each other's company. After more than an hour of noshing on Japanese Gyoza, Spring Rolls, Satay, and other goodies, we left there warm and full on gooooood food. (although Mara did jump out at a Bakery on Southport to grab us some brownies). It actaully brought back a lot of memories of being in college and hanging out in the one on Diversey too! I don't think I had ever even tried Thai before Penny's.

Anyways, its so great. If you're ever down there, stop by. Try the THAI ICED TEA!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T08:21:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is the perfect opportunity to communicate to those around you how much you truly love them. Cupid shot the arrow at me almost eight years ago and life has never been the same. You just "know" when its meant to be and it's ironic how somtimes unfavorable circumstances in your life cause you to detour, lead you down an unknown path and smack dab in to the "right" person. Rather than get all sappy in a blog, click here for a history of Valentine's Day!

PS I hope my boys liked their heart-shaped pancakes, even though they were
multi-grain and ughhh....healthy!!! They were made with love.

OLIVE OIL TIP

2008-02-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

I have a slight crush on Dr. Oz. Every word he says is like the gospel to me. Hey, its okay my husband likes Fergie, Jessica Alba, AND Jessica Biel. Appearing on Oprah, yes, the Oprah I always claim to dislike, but mention all the time, he was doing chin-up and he's got himself some really nice biceps, mmhmmm, he really does.

Alright, he's talking about adding years to your life. Antioxidants, Green Tea, and OLIVE OIL....everyday.

Here is the interesting part: he said that when we heat the olive oil in the pan BEFORE we place the food in the pan, we are burning off the Heart Healthy Omega 3's contained in the olive oil which is the main reason we are consuming the olive oil in the first place.

The key is to MIX the food in the olive oil and THEN put it in the pan. The food absorbs the olive oil more efficiently and we get the Omega 3's!!!

He is a genius!!!!!!!! Don't you agree?? Anyhow, if you don't watch Oprah, I bet you've never heard it and I bet you're going to start doing it the way DR. OZ says you should.

Missing Mould

2008-02-06T18:27:00.000-08:00

Here is a copy of an e-mail I received from WXRT Promotions last week:

Hey Erin,

Congratulations! You've won a pair of tickets to see a very intimate
performance from Bob Mould live from Studio X at Martyrs' on Tuesday, February
5th! Martyrs' is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Ave in Chicago. Doors open at
5:30pm and the show begins at 6:30pm.

Mara and I (who have seen him before) were so excited. If you don't know who he is, he founded an 80's punk band called Husker Du, and in the early 90's he fronted another band called Sugar. He is awesome and I've been a fan since college.

Needless to say, Tuesday morning I was running on very little sleep, caring for a sick baby, who required a trip to the "DAHK-TAH" (Massimo language), and awaiting yet another snowstorm.

I ended up persuading XRT to put Mara's name on the list since she lives RIGHT down the street from the venue. She didn't end up going either. The weather was bad and she'd rather of not gone if I wasn't - - awwwww, I love my friend. She said she was more content to hang out at home with her husband and her baby.

Ten years ago and I would have been so utterly disappointed if I couldn't make a concert, or anything fun, exciting, and adventurous for that matter. Okay, I was completely disappointed I couldn't go. But, ya know..things change, party girls eventually grow up, and babies happen.

I know I'm not missing a thing......

Enjoy the Bob Mould and if you like him, check out his new album at www.myspace.com/bobmould. He is terrific.

Happy Birthday Brian

2008-01-30T08:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to my BIG Brother, "Brian Owen Owix", whom I love very much. Thank you for always being such a great big brother and always looking out for me.

Love,
your little sis, "Karen"

Believe it!!!!!!!!!

2008-01-28T09:03:00.000-08:00

Supposedly New Kids on the Block are reuniting. They must be out of money. Yes, I was a HUGE fan and even met a young Mark Wahlberg, when a bunch of us silly girls attempted to get a piece of the action at the hotel they were staying at. We must have been out of our minds.

OH...the memories of youth....and call me crazy, I would go if there was a chance I could round up Jessica, Natalie, Leslie, Becky, Meredith, Megan, Kelly...are any of you still out there???

January Isn't All That Bad

2008-01-23T18:28:00.000-08:00

I feel a little bit stuck, a tiny bit trapped...because its January, which for us Midwesterners means cold, and snow, or better yet that nasty "Old Man Winter" staunchly guarding our front door. I neglected to get Massimo a pair of boots or snow pants. He's not walking yet, so what's the point?? (FYI - he's soooo almost there - keep reading).

So as I stare blankly out the window in to the oh so quiet snow-filled street, I begin to brainstorm about the things I actually like about a month I so rightly hate.

Hmmmmm......it took me awhile.

Snuggling under the covers is one of my all-time favs. Massimo is FINALLY sleeping through the night, but the new morning ritual is him cuddling up between mom and dad in the early morning hours. Its quiet, its warm, and there is peace. January is actually....peaceful.

I also love a hot cup of java too. I have this "warming" theme going on here.

No walks, no running (unless I can sneak off to my mom's for an hour on the treadmill which just isn't the same), so I've decided to fall in love with YOGA again. FitTV has a 22 minute program that varies every other day. Running will always be my first love, but YOGA is defintely my center for January.

As I spend many hours of the day with Massimo, practicing his steps, between his naps, laundry, phone calls, and my office duties, I sneak in sunny daydreams about the coming months. How nice spring will be, going to the pool in the early mornings sounds heavenly, and the elusive "out-of-state" trip we are working on gets my blood pumping...oh yeah, and the YOGA gets my blood pumping too.

I promise myself ahead of time to appreciate every summer day - as far off as that may be.

At least there's American Idol!! Oh - and LOST starts next week. Gotta love the tube!!!!

My 2 Grandmas

2008-01-16T07:29:00.001-08:00

Word of the Day
nonagenarian \non-uh-juh-NAIR-ee-uhn; no-nuh-\, noun:

A ninety year old person; someone whose age is in the nineties

Happy "that its a" New Year

2008-01-09T08:22:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone. I finally feel like I'm catching up on everything. The decorations have been put away, the returns made, the cookies eaten (mostly by ME). I'm finally catching up on the end of the year Paint Boss work. Dominic had a phenomenal year - his first completely on his own. He is living his dream of being his own boss and he is certainly good at it. I am no doubt his biggest supporter and #1 Fan (not to mention his trusted partner and sounding board). We took a really big chance last year and we made the right decision.

The kids are growing up before our eyes. Lizzy is halfway through her freshman year of highschool and heading off to Disneyworld next weekend to sing with chorus and DJ is that much closer to junior high with an itch for football (we really hope he decides to play this year). Its hard to believe that when I met them, Lizzy was in 2nd grade, and DJ was just out of diapers. Speaking of diapers, our little man, Massimo had a great first year. It started out a little rough when he was born with jaundis and a hernia that required emergency surgery, but the rest of 2007 sailed by in a flash. He is toying with the idea of walking, still a little unsure with the steps, but afraid of nothing, which is not always a good thing. His vocabulary grows a little bit more everyday since he will repeat (as best he can) ANY word you say. We call him our "little daredevil" or more appropriately, "punk!".

As for me, being a stay-at-home mom and managing The Paint Boss deems no special medal. I do it because I love it, I most certainly enjoy being at home and being Mrs. Paint Boss. Right now I am in the process of completeing the RICA program at St. Mary's Church here in Des Plaines. I will make my communion and confirmation the Saturday evening before Easter. I spend one day a week at church for a few hours with a group of really great people. My faith has truly grown. I do miss working out of the house sometimes, but plan to take a few educational courses this year to put myself back on the map of teaching. I also completed two 5K runs - one in June and another in October, improving my time by about 4 minutes in the latter race.

Does this sound like a letter that should have been in your Christmas card??? Probably, I just didn't have the time to write until now.

I wish everyone a 2008 filled with JOY!!

Love,
Erin

Happy New Year!

2007-12-29T09:36:00.000-08:00

WORD OF THE DAY
bibulous \BIB-yuh-luhs\, adjective:

1. Of, pertaining to, marked by, or given to the consumption of alcoholic drink.

Best Wishes to Everyone for a Healthy & Happy 2008

I hope you all enjoy a bibulous spirit (unless you are under 21, pregnant, or nursing...what?? - these types of people run in my circle)

Jaime Lynn

2007-12-20T06:41:00.000-08:00

I think the money SHE IS MAKING OFF HER PREGNANCY should be donated to Teen Pregnancy Prevention. This is so very sad. This is also very sad that this story is so heavy in the media right now and other teenage girls might portray this situation as acceptable. FYI - her story was sold to OK! Magazine for $1 Million.

12 Things I've Learned in 12 Months

2007-12-07T06:43:00.001-08:00

As our son's 1st birthday approaches, I ask the question, "where has this year gone?" It seems like only yesterday, my water broke at the Des Plaines Pancake House only to deliver my sweetheart 15 short hours later. For one thing, I can't imagine my life any other way. I've been somewhat house bound, a slave to flannel pj bottoms, soiled sweatshirts, and the infamous sports bras. Its been a year since I left that utterly senseless and awful job I was a slave to, and yet I feel like I am on the clock 24 hours a day. I do not regret one second. However, I am definitely not the same. My newborn has been long gone and before my eyes, a little boy with words, likes, dislikes, affection, and curiosity has emerged. So, being the learner lover I am, I've thought about qualities and abilities I did not have one year ago.

12. I can peel and quarter a grape at lightening speed - - fast enough to satisfy his demand for the sweet, juicy fruit.

11. I can change a crib sheet in record time without cursing, crying, bruising, or scraping my wrists or hands.

10. I can let my house go. If you know me personally, you know my borderline obsessive/compulsive behavior disorder. Cleaning is stress relief for me and it burns calories, but I can force myself to let it go (at least until he is asleep for the night)

9. You can never take enough pictures. If I have 8 pictures of the same pose, I can never decide which ones to delete.

8. I'm actually going to go through childhood again - - and damn it, it might be a little more bearable this time.

7. Boys are wonderful. This statement comes from a mom who always thought she'd give birth to a baby girl first.

6. Things will never go my way all the time. A disastrous welt on his cheek two days before his 1st birthday party is my most recent lesson.

5. The lugubrious cicadas of the world are insignificant. I do not hear their constant noise anymore.

4. Patience is a muscle in the heart that we continue to build - my neighbor wrote me a note with those words I will never forget.

3. Sleep is over-rated. Seriously..who needs it???

2. Life is precious.

1. In the midst of chaos, weariness, selflessness, marriage, kids, a barking dog, bills, home repairs, accidents, and a dedicated & hardworking husband who walks in from the snow in his work boots right after I finish washing the kitchen floor........there is LOVE, at the very CENTER of it all - like a giant, beating heart pumping life succinctly to everything outward. I know how cliche it is to quote the great John Lennon and the Beatles, but I can't help it when I say to myself...

"and in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."

Happy Birthday Son!

My Answers

2007-12-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

1. Favorite Christmas Song RUDOLPH the Red Nosed Reindeer

2. Age you stopped believing in Santa 7

3. Real Tree or Fake Tree? FAKE - the mold count is too high for a real one

4. When do you open the bulk of your presents? Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?
I favor Christmas morning, but with so much family, we get a little of both
5. Favorite Christmas movie or special? Peanuts - Charlie Brown Christmas

6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie? The peanut butter ones with the Hershey's Kiss in the middle and my aunt's sugar cookies with icing.

7. Do you know the names of all of Santa's reindeers?? (without using Google) and which one would you be if Santa asked you to guide his sleigh??? YES I DO!VIXEN - I bet she has fun!!

8. When is the last time you make a snow angel? a mere few years ago believe it or not.

9. What does your stocking look like? Its different colors of felt with Santa on it

10. If your wished could be granted for 3 things this Christmas, what would they be??
1. War ended and troops home with their loved ones
2. Everyone in my family healthy and happy
3. One wish needs to be a secret...........

What Kind of Christmas Are You?

2007-12-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of the holidays and other posts I've read lately, I decided to create my own. 10 simple holiday questions to answer and delight your friends and family....PLEASE POST ON YOUR BLOG, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A BLOG, POST ON MY COMMENTS.

1. Favorite Christmas Song

2. Age you stopped believing in Santa

3. Real Tree or Fake Tree?

4. When do you open the bulk of your presents? Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning?

5. Favorite Christmas movie or special?

6. What is your favorite type of Christmas cookie?

7. Do you know the names of all of Santa's reindeers?? (without using Google) and which one would you be if Santa aske dyou to guide his sleigh???

8. When is the last time you make a snow angel?

9. What does your stocking look like?

10. If your wished could be granted for 3 things this Christmas, what would they be??

I love this album~

2007-12-01T08:26:00.000-08:00

Raising Sand by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

They've been playing the first single, the VERY catchy and blues-y "Gone Gone Gone" on WXRT a lot lately.

Everyone knows Robert Plant (Been a Long Lonely Lonely Lonely Lonely Time -yes it has) and Alison Krauss plays with Union Station. She is more of a folk/rock and bluegrass artist.

They sound great together. Most of the album is more mellow than "Gone Gone Gone". Most of the songs were all written 30 or more years ago.

The album was also produced by the legendary T Bone Burnett who has practically worked with everyone in Nashville and did all the music for film, Walk The Line.

I am not a huge country music fan, but I love the folk elements of the record, which are mostly the storytelling aspect of the music.

You can listen to the whole album if you click on the link.

Check for other reviews in the future.

Black Friday

2007-11-27T07:44:00.000-08:00

Well, we just decided to venture out for the fun of it. Marie "rang" my cell phone once at 10 minutes to 4. "You still wanna go?" she whispered. We hadn't gotten to bed before 11 and the baby was up at least twice.

"I don't think so," I answered, and continued to have a hushed conversation for about 5 minutes. "Have fun," I said and hung up.

Screw that - if I don't fall back to sleep in ten minutes, I'm going....I think my mind was already made up. I nudged my husband, "Hey..I'm going."

"mhmmm," he mumbled.

"I'll be back by 8."

"mm..k..lvu"

I actually managed to brush my teeth, slip on my Nike's, and scoot out the door into the brisk, silvery night without waking a single soul (including the yellow-belly beast).

Marie showed up at Kohls with coffee and donuts for both of us. Kohls was packed. I have to admit, shopping at 4am, doesn't necessarily sound that desirable, but there was something about the day after thanksgiving that sparks excitement for me. I absolutely love Christmas. Most especially because of the kids and now that Massimo is almost 1, its even more exciting.

We had a few things in mind that we wanted to get - but no pressure - we took our time and cruised Kohl's for about an hour.

Then, off to Circuit City and Old Navy at 5:45. There were lines outside, people had been waiting since 6pm on Thanksgiving to get in. Old Navy was giving away free MP3 players with a purchase of $20 or more. I heard someone say they ran out in less than 10 minutes. So, you wait in line for an MP3?? It not even an Ipod. This did not make the least bit o' sense to me.

After waiting in line for almost 40 minutes to purchase a highly coveted item for DJ, my legs started to go weak, my blood sugar was low, I was daydreaming about a soy latte. Marie had Bon Jovi and Ozzy playing on her phone to liven the mood.

After we got to the front of the line she complimented the tall, lanky, young man who had put up with all the crap of the people who were waiting in the "camera-only" line and refused to leave it. He did have a lot of patience. One good samaritan, came up and asked him if he needed some food.

"No, thanks," he answered, "I have a lunch break at 12." It was 7:30!!! No wonder he was so skinny!

There is your Christmas spirit right there. Help others, serve others. Marie thought maybe it was his mom. Maybe - but I like to think that people like that still exist. I would like to try and be like that lady. If I was Terrence, I would have been like, "a venti soy latte and a lowfat blueberry muffin, please..and make it snappy, love!!"

We didn't participate in Black Friday to get super deals or trample our way over people trying to get that perfect toy, or wait in line in the cold. We just went for the curiosity, to get in the holiday mood, and just to have some good old-fashioned fun doing something we love - SHOPPING. Would I do it again??? Absolutely - you bet I would.

enjoy the Steely Dan video....I was singing the song all day long in a withering daze of very little sleep. Am I the only one who thinks Don Fagen is sexy in those sunglasses???

PINCH ME

2007-11-15T08:12:00.000-08:00

Our son finally slept through the night. An accomplishment he has not acheived in several, SEVERAL months. He began sleeping through the night at the ripe old age of 2 months. Everybody told me how lucky I was. We must have made the perfect baby. As the summer months had worn on, however, and he began moving around, crawling, and standing, his waking became more frequent. Getting him to go back to sleep has been a challenge. Yet, its been a challenge I've accepted with heavy eyelids and moderate amounts of caffiene.

I actually slept LESS than usual last night because I kept waking up wondering why HE was still sleeping - peacefully. I kept tiptoeing in to his room to make sure he was okay. I've experienced many different kinds of joy in my life, but my own sleeping in such a state of tranquility, causes my heart to heat up and bubble over.

I repeadedtly told him how proud I was of him this morning, which he continued to answer, "e - i - e - uh" (Old McDonald is the tune of choice). Check back tomorrow, when I tell you that he woke up five or six times tonight.

11 MONTHS ON THE 11TH DAY OF THE 11 MONTH OF THE YEAR.

2007-11-11T05:28:00.000-08:00

I'll be sure to make lots of wishes today....

WORD OF THE DAY

2007-11-05T06:26:00.000-08:00

woolgathering \WOOL-gath-(uh)-ring\, noun:

"Indulgence in idle daydreaming"

I do so much of this.

PS - u have to at least be 30 years old to appreciate & remember this video

The Monkey Who Became a Bee

2007-10-31T06:30:00.000-07:00

I had decided early on in the year, being a new mom and all, what my baby was going to be for Halloween. There was no question - a monkey. We had come to this decision based on the obvious fact that we CALLED him monkey, just because he reminded us of one. Later on when he started grasping objects with his feet and then recently when he began climbing things (couch, furniture, his crib), well then the name MONKEY was completely justified.

I spent $25.00 on a costume in early September. For a costume that's probably only going to be worn for a few hours, if that, its a lot for me to spend. Remember - one income. My mom and I quickly pulled it over his clothes in the store, "it fits, let's go."

Had I taken the extra step to make sure the SNAPS actually SNAPPED on this $25.00 costume, I wouldn't have been in the predicament I was in only 3 days ago. Or was it FATE that intervened????

Sunday October 28th came around. I had a great start - I went to 8am Mass all by myself, returned home smiling, Dominic and DJ are giving him breakfast - perfect!! That great start turned to chaos since he decided he didn't want to take a nap. We had plans to go down to the city for Stroll on Southport with Mara, Ella, Joe, and a handful of others.

The anxiety was now setting in. Forget the nap, we HAVE to leave in half an hour. Lizzy needed to shower, and Massimo needed to be dressed. I couldn't wait to put the costume on. Crying and crabby, on top of a short sleeved onesie AND a long sleeved onesie, sweats, and a pair of warm socks, I struggled to get the thin, brown fleece on him. He cried and wailed. All I have to do it snap it shut and he's done. The first snap puzzled me - it wouldn't CLOSE. WAIT! None of these snaps will close??!! What's going on??? Lizzy is out of the shower, attempting to complete her beauty routine and she walks on on my conundrum, "THESE SNAPS DON'T WORK!!!!!"

She tries, "I got 3 closed," she smiled, the girl with the glass half full.

"I AM SO MAD!!!" I shouted. "We're not going!!!"

Baby's 1st Halloween, don't let the disappointment of this costume get the best of you

Okay, we fly out of the house, only I had to run back in twice for his hat, a blanket, oh, and yeah - my cell phone.

We went to Target, I RAN in and booked to the far corner where the costumes had been ravaged and picked over. DUCK?? nah...Pea Pod??...no legs, Bat??...not that GREAT.... and then I spy the costume you see in the post - THE BABY BUMBLE BEE!!! The light had shone down from heaven. NO SNAP!!! IT ZIPPED!! HOORAY!!

As I strolled, the weight of the world off my shoulders, only 15 minutes late by this time, ALL the way back across the store to check out, I began to think about how things usually don't turn out the way I plan and the biggest lesson I have not learned yet in my 32 years on this earth - - is how to actually DEAL with it.

I wanted so bad to have a little monkey for Halloween, but now I was going to have a Bumblebee.

After an AWESOME afternoon in the city with friends, I realized that maybe what you don't plan, the things we do in haste, and the times where things don't go the way you want, are really a blessing.

Last week I had hooked up with my BEST friend from high school after 11 years of not seeing her. Okay, we are so cheesy that we pulled out her yearbook and read what I had written (at 17 years old!!) "I'm nervous about the future," I wrote, "Will things turn out the way I want them too?? I hope so!!"

So, then I thought about how things had turned out, 15 years later. If my mom and Joe would have never started dating, Joe never would have gotten me the job at Lake Shore where I worked all through college, where I met Debbie Bruno, who got me the job working for Josh, where I made great friends who DRAGGED me to a birthday party where I met my gorgeous husband who gave me this BUMBLEBEE - who I can't imagine not ever existing!!

Did things turn out the way I wanted them too? In my experience, I have come to the realization that there IS A PLAN, although we aren't sure what it is and we're not the ones making it. We just watch it unfold.

The Halloween Hustle

2007-10-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

We couldn't have asked for a nicer day. On Saturday, Marie and I ran the Halloween Hustle in scenic downtown Palatine. The cause was Fathers Supporting Fathers regarding parental custody issues (an often overlooked but important issue). There were about 250 participants, some in costume and even a cute little dog who ran too. Although I couldn't convince my sister-in-law to dress up, we had a great time, finished in record time, and enjoyed breakfast and conversation at Durty Nellie's afterward.

**On a side note, I finished 4th in my age group (30-34). Awards were given out for the TOP 3. I bet if Marie and I wouldn't have stopped at Spunky Donuts before the race, I might have inched out a place in the Top 3. Oh well, there's always next year and the donut holes really hit the spot!

My Favorite Things

2007-10-17T12:00:00.000-07:00

Okay I'm copying Oprah and I don't even really like to watch her all that much. Once in a while she talks about things she's really in to. The difference between Oprah and me is obvious.......she is insanely rich and I'm not. Still, we both get excited over things, hers are broadcasted all over the world, mine are nestled in a lonely blog where no one EVER comments.

1. Alice White - Lexia

I thought it was a Pinot or a Chard, its not, its sweeter and tastes like mangos and peaches. You can purchase at Jewel or Trader Joe's for about seven dollars. Chill and sip slowly.

2. Mylar Balloons

My son is fascinated and intrigued by them. He's even squeezing his insides to blurt out the word, "balloon", but he can't. He can only get the "Bah" We have about five of them floating around the house, thanks to Grandma Jane, and when Dom or I ask him, "Where's your BAHLOOOOON?" He smiles and looks up, hoping to find one nearby.

**YES, fellow mothers, I know the safety hazards and he's completely supervised when attempting to mangle one.

3. LUSH Bath Bombs. They won't magically transform you in to a goddess or give you super powers, but they smell lovely and the fizz is cool. Light a candle and sink in.

4. Waffles with Real Maple Syrup

Nothing to explain here, I am just really loving them right now.

5. My NEW coffee grinder

Why the heck didn't anyone tell me how great the difference is? Yes, its an extra step that's worth it. Especially since I picked up BAKED APPLE PIE gourmet coffee in Long Grove last week.

That's it. If you need a little happiness or a pick me up, try one of my suggestions. They might not work for you, but if you never try you'll never know.

Let's hear from YOU? What are 5 THINGS you are in to these days???

****I'm going to TAG my sister-in-law, "DMR", since she has a blog too.

Van Halen Reunion Tour

2007-10-17T08:25:00.000-07:00

In 1984, after we got cable, and I was an MTV regular at the ripe age of 9, I patiently waited for JUMP to make its hourly appearance in the video rotation. (MTV actually used to play videos - good ones too). When JUMP came on, I pushed the coffee table back to butt up to the couch and moved the two arm chairs in to the dining room within a matter of 10 seconds - - and then I JUMPED - I JUMPED all over the room -just like Dave.

I am and always will be a very big fan of rock n roll. I might have been not quite a teenager (plus I was a girl who wasn't having tea parties)when the original Van Halen was at their height, but I was no less of a fan than my older brother was in his teenage years. Eddie's mastery of the guitar had an effect on me and the showman that was David Lee Roth was someone I immitated and enjoyed.

I also remember being on the back of the bus in 5th grade when the announcement was made that Dave had been replaced by Sammy. "What are they going to call themseleves now?? Van Hagar?" someone said.

Here I am, some 20 or so years later, still a huge fan of Van Halen and truly convinced that the Dave years were the best years. Obviously I was at the concert last night with my sister-in-law (fan) husband (big fan) and brother-in-law (even bigger fan). The Even Bigger Fan (V) was disappointed, as I was, because Dave forgot the words to songs he sang on a regular occasion for 6 years. I felt a little betrayed by Dave. After all, I counted how many outfits he wore in the Panama video and I even played his first solo, "Crazy From the Heat" to death. C'mon Dave Gimmie a Break! He was slower, and he didn't hit ANY of his high notes (The Even Bigger Fan also noted). I realize he's old, fried, and can't JUMP like he used to. I commented in the car on the ride back, "You can't ever really go back to the past."

Still, I AM the girl who always looks on the brightside. It was great to be there and enjoy a night with my hubby, V, & Marie. I had always been disappointed as a kid, that maybe I would never get to see them in concert. Yes, Michael Anthony was gone, but he was barely missed and his replacement, Wolfgang Van Halen, who is obviously respected and loved by his father, is so very likeable.

Eddie never ever disappoints. I've seen him with Gary Cherone in 98, Sammy in 04, and last night. His is a master, innovator, and a commander of his machine. He twists and contorts his hands and fingers in a way that so masterfully brings to life that wailing, screeching, mesmerizing, and magical sound that is THE GUITAR.

So after a long night and a woken baby upon return, Dom and I were talking about the concert. Well, Dom was talking and I was mumbling responses.

"We should have gotten front row," he whispered, "that would have been awesome."

"Mhhmm," I answered.

"How much do you think they make in one night?"

"I dunno, a lot?"

"I wonder if Thursday night is sold out??"

"You're picking up the kids and I have church," I reminded him.

"Oh, yeah," pause pause and more pause, "That was a really great concert wasn't it?!"

GOODNIGHT DOM!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HELEN

2007-10-11T07:02:00.001-07:00

We hope you have a fantastic day! See you this weekend!

P.S. i know for a fact that 4 people read this blog - i know..i know.. i'm huge in the blog circuit. Helen is one of them - thanks :-)!!

My Family IS Perfect

2007-10-09T13:22:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

My name is Erin and I just felt like telling the world how perfect and flawless my family is. No, not just my family, but my whole life.

I am at my goal weight of 120 lbs after giving birth a mere 10 months ago, to the most perfect son in the whole entire world. I felt absolutely NO PAIN in the delivery room because I had such a perfect pregnancy. No complications whatsoever. My baby is so perfect, he is already practicing division and can recite all the Presidents of the United States in alphabetical order.

He follows his flawless brother and ideal sister whom will be skipping their next respective grades because they are so smart and gifted. They have so many friends, their social calendar is packed. We can't keep up with Lizzy's cell phone bill because she is so beautiful and PERFECT, everyone calls her. Oh wait -- yes we can, we have tons of untainted, crisp, clean bills to throw at her for whatever her perfect little heart desires. DJ won a LEGO contest for his PERFECT construction of the Sears Tower made with 100,000 LEGOS, which he completed in only 1 HOUR. WHOO!

Don't even get me started on my husband. He is the most supreme being on EARTH. He is handsome, hardworking, supportive, caring, and loving. He is the most unblemished father of the 3 most perfect children you will ever meet (above mentioned). He started his own business which he runs with absolute perfection. No struggles in his profession, no difficult people to deal with. He also has a garage full of crowning antique cars which he restores himself.

We live in a perfect house. The ceiling has no cracks and the floors never squeak. We have top of the line electronics and appliances. We are all whizzes on the computer! We all eat off the floor because it is always to immaculately clean.

Most of our neighbors stand in front of our house during the day and comment on what a perfect bunch on people we are. We couldn't be prouder. I hate to brag, but we were voted FAMILY OF THE YEAR for 2005 AND 2006. I wonder who's going to get it in 2007? hee hee, probably US!

I drive the hottest SUV in town. Its a Denali and its loaded. It has never broken down and my favorite music plays upon command of my most perfect voice. When we drive down the street, we roll down the windows and shout, "Just LOOK at us, we are so perfect!"

As far as family dynamics go, we couldn't be more perfect! Dominic and I have never even had a fight. We don't argue, or curse, or ever get mad at anyone or anything.
We never have disagreements. We don't have problems, we don't get crabby, or anxious, or frustrated with ANYTHING! We never are lacking for sleep because out son, Massimo, is the most perfect sleeper ever.

I love being perfect and having the perfect life.

Gee, I hope I don't make anyone feel bad when I tell you about how perfect my family. If you want to come and live with us ON FANTASY ISLAND - YOU can be PERFECT too! Until then, I would stick to being just a normal family - there is nothing wrong with it - really....

2007-10-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."

12 Steps to Aging Younger

2007-10-08T06:40:00.000-07:00

Chicago Tribune Magazine published an article on Sunday about tips on how to make a woman's real age younger in as little as 90 days. Michael Roizen, M.D. is the co-founder of RealAge.com and the site is interesting. As women, we are all constantly searching for the fountain of youth. We can't turn back time, but according to Dr. Roizen, we might be able to slow down the clock a bit.

1. An aspirin a day after age 40 (thankfully, I still have 8 years :-)

2. Floss your teeth (my mom - the hygienist - would tell you this anyway)

3. Know your blood pressure (go to Wal-Mart Pharmacy)

4. Reduce Stress (this is a BIG one - make friends and take hot baths)

5. Take your vitamins (Trader Joe's has a nice multi-vitamin for women)

6. Quit smoking and avoid smokers and smoky places (who smokes anyway these days??)

7. Be active (Run or jog, if you can't -- walk. Yoga is wonderful also)

8. Wear your seat belt (Reduce your risk of injury in a car accident)

9. Fill up on fiber (25 Grams in optimum - Oatmeal ROCKS)

10. Monitor your health (Be proactive - schedule those check-ups)

11. LAUGH (movies, tv, your favorite people, books, comics - seek it out!)

12. Become a lifelong learner (take if from a learner-lover - its true!!)

HAPPY AGING!!

Not Over Yet!

2007-10-06T07:50:00.001-07:00

A true Cubs fan must still take heart
The play-offs have brought us a very rough start

I believe they can do it
I'll be watching again
I can only hope to hear those words...

CUBS WIN!

Ozzie Who? We got LOU!

2007-10-04T07:33:00.001-07:00

I wasn't sure throughout the season if I liked him. He's kind of crass with a bad temper. I didn't think the Cubs would even make it to the play-offs this year. In previous years, the last oh, 22 or so, I have been following the Cubs fairly diligently. I am a life-long Cubs fan. I remember my first game, where I sat, who they played, the smell of Wrigely Field, the ivy, the fans, and the peanuts. Baseball is by far my favorite sport and the Cubs my most beloved team.

So, I haven't really been following them this year probably due to the fact that Massimo takes up, oh, 24 hours of my time. It's time well spent, nontheless. So I know a little bit about Lou Piniella. He's won two world series playing for the Yankees and one as a manager in Cincinnati.

This morning I was multi-tasking at 6:30 am - - baby in the high-chair shoveling cheerios and grapes in his mouth - - emptying the dishwasher, making Dom's lunch, all while listening to Lin Brehmer on XRT. I was waiting to hear the outcome of last night's first game against the D-Backs.

I had fallen asleep last night in the first inning. So, Mary (Dixon - who does the news on XRT) came on and reported the loss. Then, they played a sound byte of Lou talking to the press after the game. He's not really warm and fuzzy, but to the point. I don't remember exactly what he said (I was multi-tasking remember), but it was something along the lines of, "Yeah, we lost, we played well, blah blah, this is not over, its the first game." He don need ta esplain hiself ta nobahdy! He's confident and completely optomistic and he's not going to let anyone, especially the press, get to him or his team. Nobody is going to break their focus. This is definitely NOT OVER.

So I start thinking maybe the Cubs CAN do this. Maybe they CAN go to the World Series. I think Lou Pinella can take them there. I think he might actually know what he's doing. He sure seems to think he does.

The last word in all this is my 90 year old grandmother who has been a Cubs fan for longer that most of you reading this have been alive. She grew up near Wrigely Field and has been a devoted baseball fan for as long as I've known her. She rarely misses a game when broadcasted in Arizona and politely pretends to listen to what you're saying when a game is on while her eyes are glued to the tv. She has become a bit of a D-Backs fan since the franchise was born (they don't get as many Cubs games anymore in Arizona and because of the D-Backs, so she's got to watch someone - she just loves baseball). A frequent exchange this summer has been:

E: Hey Grandma, the Cubs are in 1st Place

G: Yeah, I know. And so are the Diamondbacks. I really like the 1st baseman.

I called her last night around 8:30 and my first question was "So who are you rooting for?"

"I'd like to see the Cubs win," she said, "It's been a long time."

Yes, it has!!

GO CUBS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleep Deprived

2007-09-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Here are the unhappy Massimo pictures I promised. Almost 10 months, he has given up sleeping (unless he passes out on me) in favor of pulling himself up and crying until someone (usually me) saves him from peril. I guess I didn't realize how lucky we were when he was sleeping through the night at 2 months. Nevertheless this is still the greatest job in the world because he learned to clap his hands this week and he does this really funny thing where he cocks his head from side to side as he smiles at us.

Sweet Baby Turns Sour As Teeth Sprout

2007-09-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

LOOK at this face! I mean really, he's CUTE...isn't he? I even entered this photo in a baby contest (stay tuned), but the emergence of his first tooth is wreaking havoc on his pleasant and sunny disposition. He's screaming....SCREAMING at the top of his lungs for something - - ANYTHING, any kind of relief he can get. Most of the time its my chin he wants to gnaw on. Oh yes, there is Motrin, and Tylenol, and even those great homeopathic teething tabs. Then, there are the home remedies like teething rings, ice chips, and frozen wash cloths. Not much is working here. I realize I have to ride this out like every other patient mother..yeah yeah yeah, it doesn't make it any easier. I just realized that I NEVER take any pictures of him upset or crying. I seriously have none. Maybe I SHOULD do that and post one, so you can see for yourself.