We miss you Adam!

Happy Birthday to my little brother! Adam would be 28 today. I spend this day reflecting on what would have been and smiling at what a great person, fiance, brother, son, & friend he was. Adam is missed by each and every person that ever knew him. If you are new to my blog and want to read his story you can find it here.

Happy Birthday Adam, I love you and miss you more than words can describe.
Happy Birthday USMC. Semper Fi.

Wedding fun

The wedding we had on Saturday was a blast. I will let the pictures tell the story.


loved their cake topper-perfect since he's a baseball player


me and my hubby

mom, me, brother Andy with his eyes closed, sister Mallory

hubs and I again-LOVE HIM

first dance

momma and I

jodi, me, allison, bride and groom


and another...

Back to work-it's definitely a MONDAY! At least it's warm here.

TGIF!

It's been a crazy week. I'm so glad it's Friday. I mean I'm really glad it's Friday. We have a jam packed weekend full of fun.

Tonight we are meeting my step dad for dinner. He's in town on business and we plan to meet him at PF Changs for some yummy goodness. I haven't been there in awhile so I'm definitely looking forward to that.

Tomorrow I plan to hit up spin class bright and early and then we will be heading down "south" for a wedding of a good friend of mine from high school. The groom and my brother, Andy, played baseball together and were great friends. Since Andy and I had all the same friends in HS (we are 13 months apart) of course Jason was my friend too. Jason made it big with the whole baseball gig playing for the Yankees, Cubs, Phillies, and I'm sure I'm missing some. I've had the pleasure of watching him pitch on live tv. I mean this guy is like a celebrity! Except we don't act like he's that cool b/c that'd give him a big head and all. :) No really, it's kind of funny...people know we are good friends and ask me about him from time to time but I never know because when I talk to him we don't talk about baseball. He's just another friend to me which is exactly how I know he wants it to be. He's very humble. So anywhoots, we are going to his wedding and I'm looking very forward to seeing some of my best gals, my mom, sister, brother and all my other old friends that will be there!

Sunday we are headed back so we can get the dog at the kennel by 12. I refuse to pay for another night if we don't get her by 12. Call me cheap or whatever but I just can't justify it. I think it's a dumb rule on their part but rules are rules, I guess. We are supposed to be going to a 1st birthday party Sunday from 1-3 downtown Chicago but it ain't happening. After much thought and stress, I've decided to cross that off our list of things to do. I can't handle driving any more than we already have to. And, we just might be hungover on Sunday.

Happy weekend to all-wherever you are going and whatever you are doing!

Halloween

We had a blast on Halloween with our friends in the city. We haven't been out downtown Chicago in quite awhile and it was definitely a blast. Unfortunately, there were no costume contests at any of the bars we went to. I'm quite sure my husband would have won if he entered!

Prince Charming, Snow White, Batman and "Catwoman"

don't mind the back drop-we were at our friends condo

the boys...

cool costume huh?

I found this Joker in the bar and asked him if Batman could join him in a picture. They both loved it! And of course, Paul had to pose in true Batman form. :)

Hello Psych Ward!

I think the state of the economy is seriously bringing out the CRAZY in everyone. If you don't believe me just listen up!

Last week we had a nut bag come in our office screaming and hollering at my assistant about something another agent did not do. Said agent was on vacation so poor Cindy had to deal with her. When it got super heated I went flying out of my office and, in a tone I probably shouldn't have used, I asked the woman if she had a problem. She immediately said all insurance agents are crooks, called Cindy a liar, and started pointing at me with her keys. If looks could kill I would be dead because this woman gave the most viscous stares. The conversation (I mean screaming match) took place far too long and I eventually had to kick her out of the office. She left uttering words that I could not make out and that is probably a good thing. She came back about 2 minutes later to scream some more. She threw a stack of papers at Cindy and that's when it really got UGLY. Nobody will come in to my office and disrespect me or my assistant. NOBODY! This argument was all over $20 believe it or not. Yes, the other agent should have explained it but apparently when she was here for the quote she was so rude then too that the agent never thought she'd be back...so why tell her, right? Anyway. She is no longer a client and never really was in the first place. She was trying to get insurance but after acting like that who is going to want to deal with her? She apparently is still deciding what she wants to do "with the agent who was rude to her" aka ME. I feel like calling her with the department of insurance phone number. What does she want to do? Report me? Please do.

Then on Friday I was at Meijer grocery store and had another encounter with a crazy lady. I turned down an aisle to park the car and was pleasantly surprised by a spot about 2 cars down. Sweet! I got out of the car to find this crazy lady parked very close to the bumper of my car waiting on me and she was SCREAMING at me. She said I stole her parking spot. Let me just tell you that I'm not a fan of parking spot stealers so I would never do that. And, this was in no way HER parking spot. If she came from where I think she came from, she had a stop sign-I had the right of way AND a right turn. It was MY parking spot from start to finish. I looked at her with complete shock and went on my merry way. (I might have said a not so nice thing to her, but I'm too nice...I would never say anything rude to an out of control crazy lady-never) I decided while I was walking around Meijer that if I saw her I would approach her and point out the fact that I had the right away, she was not waiting on that spot, and there was no reason for me to believe that was HER spot. Wrong place, wrong time lady. Get over yourself. I never did find her and it was probably a good thing. I'm not really one to go up to strangers in grocery stores and go off on them but I really wanted to give her a piece of my mind!

Both of these encounters happened within 24 hrs of each other. I am thankful it's been a quiet week with no screams and yells from strangers. Really, I am.

Our Weekend in Pictures

We didn't do much over the weekend. I came down with what we think was food poisoning after having sushi with a friend on Thursday night. (she got sick too) That illness carried through Friday evening for me and we didn't have any major plans so we opted to stay in and lay low. It was really, really nice! I got to sleep in until 10 on Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday. That NEVER happens. Chloe must have known I was sick because she did not whine for me to let her out like she usually does after Paul goes to work. Thank you dog!

I'd like to point out the beautiful flowers my husband got me for Sweetest Day. They are in full bloom and absolutely beautiful. And the smell, ahhh, the smell. Our house smells so delicious!



We got a little goofy during the Vikings game on Sunday. We were getting picture messages from Paul's parents who were visiting relatives in PA. You see, Paul's family are the BIGGEST Vikings fans you have ever met. They do this goofy calling of each other when the Vikings score but they do not answer. They just ring each others phones to let them know there was a score. Because, you know, the other person just might not be watching. Ha, ya right! I think it's pretty cute that they do this to be honest. The relatives Paul's parents were visiting are super huge Steelers fans so it was only appropriate they make the drive to stay with them for the weekend so they could watch the game together on Sunday.

One of the pictures they sent was their golden doodle, Holly, in a Favre jersey. It was adorable. Chloe was feeling left out so we got her all dressed up.


feeling left out can't ya tell? ha! more like feeling tortured!






I don't know who was feeling more tortured, her or me. I never thought this dog would wear a Vikings jersey. No worries, it didn't fit anyway!



Since the Bears played after the Vikings I just had to put my Bears jersey on her. She enjoyed wearing this jersey so much more. I mean, it fit her better. What girl wants to wear a huge jersey that makes her look bigger than she is? Not my girl!


Daddy is telling her secrets on how the Bears are no good. He might be right, but once a Bears fan, always a Bears fan.

Chloe cracked us up when we were messing with her to put these jerseys on. She is the most laid back dog and will let you do literally anything to her but that doesn't mean she won't act like it's the most torturing thing in the world. She acted paralyzed when we had these jerseys on her. We were laughing hysterically. Such a goofy dog she is.

If you are thinking we are nut cases for putting our jerseys on the dog this weekend and that being the HIGHLIGHT of our weekend, I would just like to say that we ARE crazy and this WAS the highlight of our weekend. Our life is about to get super busy again so we were enjoying pure laziness.

Randomness

Who else is totally annoyed with all the publicity of the balloon boy and his family. I have to admit I may not know the latest with this whole story because when it is on the news or an article pops up on the Internet, I quickly change the channel or go to a different website. The news of this craziness almost made me crazy, literally. I did see a quick interview shortly after the incident with a tv report and the boys father. I mean could this man be any dumber? UGH. He acted and looked drunk. Some may say he was shaken up but I don't buy it for a second. I think these people are just flat out stupid. I hope they get whatever it is they have coming b/c, well, they are stupid. :)

And how about the H1N1 flu? I thought this was just a bunch of people overreacting back in April or so when it started really surfacing. I actually laughed to myself at all the talk of this flu virus that has been around forever, right? Why now is it getting all this talk and scare? Well, I have to admit that lately I have been more and more tuned in to what others are saying about it. 900 students reported sick with the flu at a local high school and they shut it down. There is so much controversy over getting the swine flu shot (i prefer to still call it that, really). Should you just get the regular flu shot like you have in the past? Or do you get any variation of the flu shot? I've never had a flu shot and never thought I'd even consider it. If I'm going to get sick, let me get sick. But please don't kill me, please and thank you. But for serious, what the heck is going on? And lets talk about how the swine flu shot is recommended but not available. What if I did want to get the shot? I've heard from numerous people it's nowhere to be found. Hmmmm.

I have always been a germ freak. I worry every single time I shake someones hand. I've actually stopped doing that and I hope my clients understand. If I do shake you better believe I'm in the bathroom as soon as they leave my office scrubbing my hands with warm soap and water. I constantly am bugging my husband about washing his hands and being super sanitary. You just never know. What are your thoughts on the whole swine flu debacle and the shot? I didn't think I'd actually know anyone to get it but unfortunately I know a few to date.

Please dear swine flu, stay away!