The Best Chauffeur I Ever Had

Yay! Another birthday blog! December 1 is my friend Kendra's birthday (okay so as I type this it is still November 30, but hey an extra couple hours to celebrate Kendra is fine by me). Happy Birthday Kendra Martin!

Kendra is one of my former Busey co-workers. She recently left to work at another bank, and I must admit I really do miss her. It was particularly poor timing too, because she left about a month before the Season 4 premiere of Project Runway so now we are forced to discuss every episode by email... it just isn't the same.

There are lots of reasons to love Kendra, one of my favorite for some reason is that even thought she is a rather petite lady... dang that girl can eat! You would think it would be annoying- a skinny girl that pound it back like a man and stay thin...but on Kendra it is endearing.

Kendra was a godsend to me this past spring. When I was in a cast and on crutches for six weeks, and could not drive because the cast was on my right foot, Kendra picked me up every morning, drove me to work, dropped me off at the front door, then parked the car, then after work went and got the car, picked me up at the front door, and drove me home. She did this for six weeks, and it is a kindness I shall never forget. The best part was that I did not have to ask her to do this, but she volunteered. It was kind of funny, after about a week we had our routine down to a science, how to maneuver my back pack, she would carry in my mail every night when I got home, she would hand me my back pack when she dropped me at the front door of the bank, I took to saying "Thanks Mom", it was like she was a mom dropping her kid off at school. Thanks again Kendra you have no idea what a blessing you were to me.

Kendra married Wyatt a couple months ago (their wedding post is back in September)... she married a Cardinal fan... she has good taste in men. One of my favorite Kendra stories when Kendra, Allison and I were heading off to "Girls Lunch" one day. We were going to cut through an area of the bank that is restricted from customers so we needed to go through a door that we had to punch a code on the key pad to get through. Kendra arrived at the door first and then just stepped aside, Allison and I didn't think much of it, figured Kendra couldn't remember the code, punched it in and then just went on through. A few seconds later Kendra said that she realized that she had just stepped aside to let us open the door for her out of habit because she is just so used to being with Wyatt and he always opens doors for her. She was slightly horrified in case Allison or I thought that she thought she was "entitled" to having us open the door for her. We just laughed and said we thought it was so sweet that Wyatt always opens her door and that he shows her that kindness. Now that didn't stop us from teasing Kendra about this endlessly and taking every opportunity to race ahead of her and open every door for her in a most dramatic fashion.

I have lots of Kendra stories, but those are a few of my favorites. Happy Birthday Kendra!

Good Morning Baltimore!

I worked the musical "Hairspray" at the Hall tonight. I loved the movie this summer (even enjoyed the original movie from way back when too), and the stage production did not disappoint. It was fabulous, the performance was great, and I already knew the songs would be to die for. My favorite part of the stage production was Penny... I thought Amanda Bynes was great in the movie, but the stage Penny was incredible, she was so over the top something that works on stage, but not so much in a movie.

Anywho, great show. The movie is now out on DVD.... WATCH IT, you will be glad you did.

Happy Birthday Sarah J

November 28th is my Sarah J's birthday. Happy Birthday Sarah J!

So Sarah J, her name is Sarah Jersey. I am not exactly sure how or why the "Sarah J" started, I don't think she was one of multiple Sarah's at the Hall at the time (if she was I have completely forgotten any other possible Sarah's), but for whatever reason she is and will forever be Sarah J... I rarely refer to her has Sarah or Sarah Jersey. I often refer to her as "my" or "our" Sarah J... what is that about. I guess Sarah J is just special that way.

I met Sarah at the Hall. She was an usher supervisor at the Hall in the late 90's, early 00's.. the super student supervisors years when I managed to find all sorts of co-workers that have since become some of my dearest and closest friends. Sarah J is a research civil engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She grew up north of Chicago, so she is a Yankee by birth, but is very much becoming a Southerner. Sarah J spent this past school year in C-U starting work on her PhD at University of Illinois. It was great to have her so close by this past year, and I REALLY miss having her close by. She so got me saying "Y'all" and I really miss that.

Sarah is just way awesome. She is a engineer, and actually specializes in airfields and pavements... the farm girl in me appreciates a girl who can embrace dirt. I also love that Sarah J is a woman of both science and faith, and seamlessly seems to marry the two. Sarah J is smart and funny, and loves her Illini. She plans to met us in STL for the Illini vs. Mizzou basketball game next month. How can you not embrace someone who drives, what 6+ hours for Illini basketball. She did it two years ago as well... last year she was her in C-U so it was only the 3 hours. Sarah J is also an awesome cook, and we exchange recipes. She gave me the trick of using plain yogurt (well drained of course) to make spinach dip... so much healthier than mayo and sour cream and it really does taste just as good. She also gave me the recipe for the sausage, tomatoes and cream cheese dip... my brother nearly made himself sick last Christmas he ate so much.

One of my favorite Sarah J stories is going with her to look at a puppy last fall. Of course Sarah brought that puppy home and she grew up to be the infamous Daisy Dogg. Daisy has a new sister, Madison who I have yet to meet. Both Daisy and Madison were rescued, I love that Sarah J has a heart for those that need a home. So I could write a book about Sarah J, but I need my beauty rest.

Happy Birthday Sarah J!

Editors Note: So this post will hit the blog about 90 minutes before Sarah J's actually birthday, but I decided she is definitely worthy of celebrating and extra 90 minutes!

Good Fortune

I went to dinner tonight at Thara Thai with Larimer (he is one of my college buddies for those of you who may not be in the know). We decided to commisserate about the boys who have recently dumped us. We were both told by our respective exes... "You are so wonderful, you are such a great catch, it's not you it's me". If anyone reading this blog plans to break up with anyone in the near future... please, please don't use that line. Maybe it is true, but trust me your soon to be ex doesn't want to hear it and will so mock you about it a week later. Larimer brought me flowers... how sweet is he? Seriously, Richard never brought me flowers... not that I really minded, but just an FYI to anyone out there who might want to know... girls who like sports still like flowers! I am looking at my flowers right now, they make me smile. Thanks Larimer... you definitely get today's Kudos on the blog.

So the fortune in my fortune cookie (which was so delicious... a bit chocolately I think) was very appropriate for the occasion. It read "Appreciate the caring people who surround you." Wow, given this past week, could it be more appropriate? I am doing very well since breaking up with Richard, I know it is for the best, but it has been so much easier given the wealth of caring people who surround me. So, if you are one of those caring people, please know you have no idea how much you are appreciated!

He's Baaack!

Guess what? Today I got a phone call from Nathan, a real live cell phone call, not one of those poorly connected internet calls from Down Under. He got back from Australia (via Hawaii, he sucks) on Tuesday I think, spent Turkey Day in Fairfield with the fam, and was driving home to Chicago when he called. Welcome home Nathan, I have missed you and the "Good Directions" ringer on my phone. Nik and are headed to Chicago to see Nathan and the Fighting Illini at the United Center in a couple of weeks. It was kind of weird, it was like Nathan wasn't even gone. I got him all caught up on the Richard break-up, well I actually got him caught up on the whole Richard relationship, because as Nathan pointed out we started dating just before he left for Australia and broke up about the time he got back. Kind of odd isn't it, basically Richard was my trip to Australia.

This morning I met Allison Sit for coffee at Panera. She and Abe are visiting her family for the weekend. It was so great to hang with Allison. I have really missed her since she moved to Evanston after the wedding. We got all caught up on all sorts of stuff, talking for nearly two hours. Which I just realized that during that entire conversation we never once talked about the St. Louis Cardinals... that has got to be a record for me and Allison.

Inspired by the fabulous fellowship of my friends Nathan and Allison I spent the afternoon in the yard raking up the last of the leaves, and putting up my lighted Christmas wreath and garland and lights on my outside light. Friday night I put up my small Christmas tree and a few other decorations, and boxed up a bunch to garage sale in the future... I decided less is more this year. Right now I am cozied up on the couch, ripping some of my favorite Christmas CD's to my computer. It has been a good day... today I think the kudos go to Allison and Nathan... I know I overuse this word but it fits... they are FABULOUS!

Giving Thanks

Well it is just after 10:00 a.m. Thankksgiving morning. I really should be getting in the shower and heading to my Mom and Dad's house, but I have to work tomorrow so this was my one chance to sleep in. Anyway I thought I would do a quick post and list the many things I am thankful for. I will start witht the Four F's... faith, family, friends and freedom. Take any one of the four away and my life would pretty much cease to exist as I know it.

Now for the less obvious things, in no particular order, this will be a stream on consciousness thing so watch out! I am thankful for flannel sheets, bubble bath, pedicures, Nutrgena tinted lip balm, lotion. I am thankful for Starbucks, hot tea, flavored coffee creamer, chocolate in all of its woderful forms and turkey sandwiches. I would like to give thanks for wireless internet, warm blankets, DVRs, ESPN, BRAVO and HGTV, Gary Allan, Joe Nichols and Sugarland, Cher, Prince, Madonna, Nelly, and Bon Jovi. I am thankful for the run up the middle, the long bomb, going yard, the double play, taking a charge, a 3 point play the hard way, and a sweet 3 point shot at the buzzer to win the game. I am thankful for songs of praise, the electric slide, YMCA, children laughing, old folks snoring, and moving parties. I am thankful for hugs and kisses, high-fives, tearful sobs, sighs of relief and shouts of joy, and knuckle bumps. I am thankful for two jobs that most of the time I really enjoy, I am thankful that one puts a roof over my head and clothes on my back, while the other pays for all of my fun.

This list is never ending. I am so completely blessed. I am thankful for each of you, my wonderful readers. Please leave a comment and tell me one thing you are thankful for... even if you are one of those who never leaves a comment or it is New Years before you read this post. Happy Thanksgiving everyone... God bless you all.

Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: The Sporty Girl Version

So if you read yesterday's blog you know that Richard and I broke up. It has been crappy, but I have survived 24+ hours relatively intact with the help of some fabulous friends. I have also discovered two advantages to being a sports lovin' girl when it comes to break-ups.

#1 As a sports fan I am not completely unaccustomed to heartache; the Illini losses in the Elite Eight to Arizona in 2000 or the National Championship game in 2005, Rick Ankiel self destructing in the playoffs, Illinois losing to Michigan in the Final Four in 1989. I have loved and lost before and managed to survive. Now I am not a Cub fan so I am not used to nearly 100 years of heartache, but I think you get my point. Plus, let us not forget that sometimes the biggest of heartaches just only make the comebacks that much sweeter. Rick Ankiel the MLB outfielder is that much more special given the melt-down of Rick Ankiel MLB pitcher. As for the Arizona loss... it just made the amazing comeback against them in 2005 to get to the Final Four that much sweeter.

#2 Today I discovered that as a girl knowledgeable about sports you can completely trash your ex's favorite team, and all be darned if it isn't incredibly cathartic. Plus, trashing your ex's team makes you less pathetic and bitter than trashing the ex. Today I so trashed the Patriots and their coach, Bill Belicheat... it was really easy to do with the help of a die-hard Colts fan co-worker. Today's Kudo's go to said Colts fan co-worker... Mike Orton. Trashing the Patsies (as Mike calls them) was kind of fun. Okay, so maybe it makes me a bad person to do that but I really don't care. If it makes it any better, when Mike said he wanted Tom Brady to get hit really hard, I said that I didn't want him to get hit in the face because he is hott and I don't want anybody to "hurt the pretty"... so that makes me a better person, right?

If you can think of any other sporty girl break-up advantages please post them in the comments.

Learning How to Bend

On Thursday I worked the Gary Allan and Keith Urban concert at the Assembly Hall. I really enjoy Gary Allan, and he played a new song from his album "Learning How to Bend" which is pretty much the most awesome song ever... it speaks to me on several levels. Keith put on a great show too, however, it was somewhat lost on me when he invited everyone to rush the floor for the last few songs of his show. To any performers out there, you so don't make friends with the arena staff when you invite the crowed to rush the floor and you don't give us the heads up.

Continuing the the "Men of Country Music" theme, Nikki and I went to Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield to see Jack Ingram an Dierks Bentley on Friday. That place is so small, even the bad seats are great seats. That concert was awesome... partly because it was free, but mostly because it was just awesome. Jack Ingram is just cool, and he makes me think of the former Illini basketball of the same name, who we fondly referred to as "Jackers". Dierks is pretty much fabulous. I remember I saw him just a few years ago at Canopy Club when he was an up and comer, and now he is pretty much a star. His show was so fun, and he played a bunch of my favorite songs "So Long" and "Domestic Light & Cold". He also dragged a girl up on stage and she was definitely wearing gold stripper boots with her jean skirt and "little white tank top". We definitely heard another group of girls saying "OMG, did you see those stripper boots she was wearing!?!?" when we were leaving the show.

Saturday I went to the Illini football game, and I must admit got a little misty on Senior Day. The last time I will see J Leman and Jason Reda at the Memorial Stadium... you can't help but get a little emotional. After the game I crashed and took a nice long nap, making up for two late nights in a row on Thursday and Friday.

Sunday I went to church, worked the women's basketball game at the Hall, then met Richard for a bit to eat before he left for vacation. Turns out it was our last date. Yep, we broke up and decided not to see each other any more... Dick and Jane we are no more. Without getting into details I would rather not blog about, I kind a saw it coming, the break-up is ultimately a good thing, but in the meantime it pretty much sucks in three major ways... really hard, really bad and wicked bad. On the plus side I have been reminded that my friends are ridiculously awesome... Nikki, Jenn, Jen and Jeanne have been very caring, supportive and fabulous.

So that has been my last couple of days... I will leave you with the words of Gary Allan from "Learning How to Bend".

I'm just trying to understand
It's all in someone else's hands
There's always been a bigger plan
But I don't need to understand

Crack those nuts... Smash that cake

So Saturday was a big day. In the afternoon I watched the Illini football team hand #1 ranked Ohio State their first defeat of the season. Okay, I should clarify, I watched the game on TV, not in person from Columbus. Anywho, Nikki, Larimer and Jake came over for the game and some lasagna. It was a good time, and I don't have many leftovers so I don't have to eat lasagna for the next 12 days. It was kind of cool watching a game with Jake, since he was a member of the team last year... he provided an "insider" viewpoint. Also, he quickly picked up on who to counteract the "announcers jinx". For those of you unfamiliar allow me to explain. The announcers jinx is when the announcer says this hasn't happened all day, and then it happens. For example "Well you know Bob, Illinois has been doing a bang up job protecting the football today.", and then on the very next play Illinois fumbles. You can totally counteract the announcers jinx if you catch it early enough in the sentence and then just start yelling things at the TV loud enough that you have basically drowned out what ever was being said. It was great to see Jake jumping in with a "Hey, hey, hey!" Anyway the game was awesome and we had a great time hanging out together.

After the game Nikki and I headed to Fisher for Jeremiah's 1st birthday party. It was rather exciting as well. The best part was Jeremiah eating his cake. Please see all of the photos below. In some of them he looks like a victim of a violent crime, but it is red frosting. Also, he isn't crying as you might think he is squealing with delight. There are a couple other photos of him playing with the back of wrapping paper trash, which was far more entertaining than any of his gifts, and of his new Illini sweatshirt (believe or not Nik and I did not give him that) which was perfect since we had beaten OSU earlier, and of John working furiously to get Jeremiah's new toy out of the box. Oh, and speaking of John and Jeremiah's new toy. It was a caterpillar that have various different learning games. One was to hit the different letters on its feet to spell words and learn phonics. John so tried to spell and therefore get the caterpillar to say "bad words". The best part is that when you try certain letter combinations, the caterpillar stops saying the letters and says "Oh, that tickles!"

So Saturday was a good day. The Illini cracked those nuts, and Jeremiah smashed that cake!

Cirque du Just do it already

So on Friday night I worked Cirque du Soleil Saltimbanco at the Hall. Although I greatly enjoyed the actual performances, the juggling, trapeze acts etc., I discovered that the whole gay, French, theatrical part is so completely lost on me. I am sure part of it was that I was working (read standing) so all of the extra theatrical stuff leading up to the actual performance just meant that much longer on my feet. The costumes involved in this particular show reminded me a bit of Teletubbies and/or Dr. Seuss characters... but not just a regular Sneetch, more like Sneetch on acid! Like I said earlier the actual performers were amazing, and there was one clown that was incredible. In the second half he brought a man from the audience on the stage and it was hysterical... part of that was just picking a really good sport from the audience though. Some of the other clowning got old pretty quick, but that happens to me at regular circus too... even as a child I had a bit of cynic in me. After about 5 minutes I would be "Yeah, yeah, yeah you aren't funny anymore, bring on the lion tamer and the Flying Rumba Brothers.", and as an adult it has just intensified. Also, there was a really cool quartet of bungee jumping trapeze artists, but the cracked out Teletubbies running around that lead up to this act and others, so not my thing. Although a good portion of this show was completely lost on me, most of the audience really enjoyed it. So if you are looking for a review, I don't know that I could give you one because obviously this really isn't my cup of tea. I was very glad I had the opportunity to work the show and see it, but I am very glad I didn't spend $65 to see it... I could go see both a baseball game and a football game for that!

Jeremiah was a bullfrog... Nate is a friend of mine

Okay, another birthday today. Actually there are two birthdays, my little buddy Jeremiah Todd turns 1, and my buddy and now supervisor at the Hall, Nate Harmann, turns 21!

Happy Birthday Jeremiah!

J-Man as I fondly refer to him, lives in Fisher, IL with his Mom and Dad, Marla and John. The Todds are one my favorite families, and John is one of my co-workers at the Hall. I am super duper excited for Jeremiah’s birthday blog… I have never had the opportunity to blog about someone’s very first birthday. Anyway, J-Man is one of the best little babies ever. He is just so happy and mellow and relatively fuss-free. He also has some killer blue eyes too. Jeremiah is a St. Louis Cardinal fan, and an Illini fan, so what is not to love. As a matter of fact Nik and I (along with his parents) took Jeremiah to his first Cardinal game ever at Busch Stadium in May. Here is a picture of J-Man filling out his All-Star ballot.

Jeremiah has a blog too... all the cool people these days do. He hasn't quite mastered typing and spelling just yet, so his Mom Marla helps him out.

Happy Birthday Nate!

Nate is one of my co-workers at the Hall, and this season is technically my boss. He is a junior in the College of Business, and from Quincy. Like J-Man, Nate is a big Illini and Cards fan... I am sensing a trend among today's birthday boys. Nate went with us to the Cards game in April and was a dear and pushed me in my wheelchair on the way back to the car. It was an interesting ride... lets just say now I know why boys under 25 have such high car insurance rates. When we went to that game Nate told us that he and his roommates had just bought some baby ducks for their apartment... I believe my response was "Who are you guys?... Joey and Chandler... are you getting a chick too?"

Not that ducks and wheelchairs are not special, but one of my favorite Nate moments was when the Cards won the World Series last year. We had been working at the Hall that night so Nate came over to watch the end of the game with Nikki and me, since all of his college buddies are not really Cards fans. Nikki and I watching sports and getting "in to" a game is a bit of an experience, but watching us win the World Series is kind of crazy, and Nate was a trooper and just jumped right on board the crazy train. He went with us to Tumble Inn later that night to celebrate with our Cardinals buddies, and completely scored major points when he said upon walking in the door at TI, "Oh my, I am home!". I bought Nate a beer that night, completely losing the fact that he was only 19 in all of the excitement...oopps my bad. Nate is 21 today, so.... Nate, buddy... you are buying me a beer next time.

Oh, one other random thing about Nate. If any of you happen to watch The Bachelor, the current bachelor, Brad Womack... totally looks like Nate about 15 years from now.

Happy Birthday Jeremiah and Nate... I hope 1 and 21 treat you well!

Billy, Billy, Billy, Billy... B-I-L-L-Y!

Well today is another birthday blog. There hasn’t been one in awhile, and you know I kind of miss them. Today is Billy Gillispie’s birthday.

Happy Birthday Billy!

For those of you not in the know, Billy is the head coach of the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team. He first came to my attention as an assistant coach on Bill Self’s staff here at the University of Illinois. At that time I was just getting to know my good buddies Nikki and Karen, co-workers of mine at the Assembly Hall who were college students at the time. Nikki had quite the crush on Robert Archibald, while Karen was smitten with Damir Krupalja. I was feeling a bit out the loop, but was old enough that it was kind of creepy for me to have a crush on a 19-year old player, so I had my eye on Billy.

I could not really participate in conversations about the basketball stats of my “Illini boyfriend”, so I took to throwing in what color suit, shirt and tie Billy had worn when we would chat after the game. Karen and Nikki would talk about how many rebounds, points and fouls Robert and Damir had, and I would throw in tidbits about Billy’s “red power tie”. Anywho, Billy’s fashions ended up having quite the following at the Hall, and often times the color of his tie would often be an indicator of the teams success. We even took to scanning the sidelines while watching away games on TV trying to get a glimpse. Disaster struck when Billy trotted out some hideous brown suit with a peach shirt at Purdue one year. We played horrible, and went down in defeat. To this day we still refer to French blue as “Billy Blue” in reference to one of his blue shirts that brought the team unparalleled success.

About six years ago Billy was given his first head coaching job at University of Texas-El Paso. He was off to UTEP and what was I to do. On a bit of a dare I sent Billy a note at UTEP, wishing him luck as a head coach, and filling him in on our little game of charting his shirts and ties vs. the team performance, and telling him to NEVER wear the brown suit/peach shirt combo ever again. Well, lo and behold the good ol’ boy wrote back thanking me for my support. Since then I always send Billy a birthday card every year wishing him good luck on the upcoming season. One year he wrote back and even sent me the media guide for that years team. Billy is quite the rising star in the college coaching ranks, landing the head coaching job at Texas A & M after two years at UTEP, and then being named the head coach at Kentucky (yes that Kentucky… Adolph Rupp, Ashley Judd) after just three years at A & M. When Texas A & M played DePaul in the NIT tourney three years ago at All State arena, Nik was a sport and went with me to see the game. We hung out and waited for Billy after the game and he knew who I was before I even introduced myself, was super nice, cheesed for picture and once again thanked me for my support. When I sent him a note at Kentucky this spring congratulating him on the new job, he wrote back again… this time he had an assistant type the note, but he still jotted a handwritten “Thanks for the Support”.

Billy is the one who gave new Illini assistant coach, and former player, Jerrance Howard his first job in the business, as J-How was his administrative assistant/coach at A & M for three years. Billy is just an all around good guy, an awesome coach, and the blue eyes, Texas twang and killer smile and dimples don’t hurt either. One of my favorite Billy moments was watching an A & M game last year with Sarah J when Billy got teed up for laying down on the court in protest of a bad call. He didn’t really mean to be quite that theatrical, he has been squatting down in the coaching box, and just kind of fell back in exasperation. Afterwards he was super embarrassed and apologetic, and just ridiculously adorable. I hope he does well at Kentucky and can impress the Big Blue Nation, and they let him stick around for awhile. Kentucky blue really does set off his eyes.

Happy Birthday Billy!