How my blog address came to be...

I love the show Gilmore Girls...here is how I came up with the address for my blog....

Lorelai: Huh. You know what I just realized? Oy is the funniest word in the entire world.

Rory: Huh.

Lorelai: I mean, think about it. You never hear the word oy and not smile. Impossible. Funny, funny word.

Emily: Oh, dear God.

Lorelai: Poodle is another funny word.

Emily: Please drink your drink, Lorelai.

Lorelai: In fact, if you put oy and poodle together in the same sentence, you'd have a great new catch phrase, you know? Like, oy with the poodles already. So from now on, when the perfect circumstances arise, we will use our favorite new catch phrase.

Rory: Oy with the poodles already.

Lorelai: I'm telling you, it's knocking ‘whatcha talking ‘bout, Willis?' right out of first place.

Emily: Lorelai, for God's sake, be quiet.

Bragging rights

Well, it's official...I have bragging rights for ANOTHER year!! :) Why, you ask? Because the Northwestern Wildcats have once again beat the Fighting Illini (University of Illinois). Yes, I may have been born in the land of orange and blue, but on this game day, my heart bleeds purple for Northwestern! And my hubby is a U of I fan....muu ha ha!!!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen TV Shows I Like to Watch:

1. Extreme Makeover Home Edition
2. 7th Heaven
3. ER
4. Gilmore Girls
5. CSI (any of them)
6. Grey's Anatomy
7. Dawson's Creek (gotta LOVE syndication)
8. The View
9. Brothers and Sisters
10. Iron Chef America (love Cat Cora)
11.Friends
12. Numbers
13. Will & Grace

Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?

I'm sure this song or even this question has gone through everyone's mind sometime today.I felt myself reflecting on the past 5 years this morning. This day for me and "our generation" is our grandparents experiencing Pearl Harbor and our parents experiencing Kennedy's assination.

I remember hearing about the first plane hitting Tower 1 and the inital thoughts that were expressed by the radio personalities. At that time, we thought it was a small plane and the comment was made "Hello, did they NOT see it?" By the time that I arrived at work (school), we had learned that the second plane had hit. By the time that the kids arrived, they knew more than us and they were telling what they saw on the news. It was a hard day for teachers, because we had to put on our "brave faces" for the students even though we were just as scared as they were.

I saw and heard alot of mixed emotions about today. Some people thought that the media over-played this and we were just reliving it again. That we should not focus on it so much. I'm sure that there were some people who also felt that we could do more.

I ended up going to church tonight where we had a nice simple service to remember that horrible day as well as pray for our future. It was a small group of people, but it was nice nonetheless. I prayed for the firefighters, police officers and for everyone who perished in this horrible day. I prayed for the safety of our troops in hopes that they will all make it home safely and SOON! I hope that those who were most affected by 9/11 were able to get through the day today and that they had family and friends around them to support them.

sleep tight princess...another lo

my goddaughter...another lo

So I jumped on the bandwagon...

Of digital scrapping...I've come across some of my friends who have tried it...so I was procrastinating last night...and decided to give it a whirl with Microsoft Digital Editor!

Geoff and Brandi

What do y'all think??

Dateline with Britney Spears

Ok, so I watched the Dateline interview with Brittney Spears last night (hiding head in shame). Call me a sucker, but I feel bad for Brittney Spears. Everyone keeps saying that she’s a bad mom because of driving away with the baby in her lap…the baby falling out of the high chair and a few other assorted problems. I’m not excusing her or saying she was right, but I don’t think it’s right just to point out one person’s parenting flaws…especially when it seems like the paparazzi are “stalking” her. I’ve counted several times in which I see parents driving around with their kids either in the front seat of the car, in their laps…or they aren’t safely buckled in…where are the cameras on those idiots?
Ugh…I hate paparazzi…you would have thought they learned their lesson after the death of Princess Di, but I guess that didn’t happen.

Goodbye Sweet Child...Kayla Marie

So Bill's young cousin died the other night. Actually second cousin, but that really doesn't matter. What matters is that she was only 16 years old. Too young to die, so suddenly and so....god damn young. I can't even begin to comprehend what her parents and siblings are going through. They're good people, definately don't deserve this. That poor baby, she died before she had the chance to live. I hold those I love a little closer now, as we all do when death comes near. I keep thinking that even though she was taken so young, I know that there are her aunt and her great-grandmother will watch over her and they will take care of her up in heaven.

I also keep thinking about my own cousin...her name is also Kayla and she is only months younger...I hope and pray that she will stay safe and that no harm will come to her ever.

You can never have just one chip...

my nephew at his birthday party last week...count the bags of chips around him...

Time to pack it up!!!

Last week, we started the paperwork for a new apartment back in our HOMETOWN...woohoo. Yup, that's right...we're moving back to Schaumburg. As my sister-in-law said, back to civilization! Ha ha. Once we move, I'm only going to be about 7 miles from work as opposed to the 32 miles I am now. No more I-88 in the mornings! Once our company moves in January, the commute will be even less! Defintely can't beat that!
To make the move just that much sweeter, dh was offered a job up that direction as well. he'll be working for the new hotel/convention center...yippee!
Some people aren't happy with our decision and to that I say, tough shit. I've commuted from the Naperville area up to the northwest suburbs for almost 4 years and I'm sick of it. Just because it wasn't something you planned, doesn't make it wrong!
Not to mention, we'll be closer to a lot of our friends and family. I can be more help to Gma, since she is moving out to Friendship Village.
Ok, I'm done for now.

Evolution of Dance...

This is hysterical...all of your favorite songs to dance to in 6 minutes....makes me want to get up and dance!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

digi top ten...

Top Ten List of Songs that has special meaning to it for you

1. I don’t want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith – We saw this movie on our first date and this was the song that we first danced to as husband and wife…aww J

2. Live like you were Dying – Tim McGraw – This song took on a lot of meaning after I had my surgery to remove my thyroid and it taught me to do just that.

3. If I had a Million Dollars – Barenaked Ladies – By far, one of the best BNL songs EVER! Reminds me of my college days, hanging out with Marcy and friends and having a good time overall! Haven’t you always wanted a monkey? JJ

4. Son of a Preacher Man – Another flashback to the college life…this was one my roomies favorite songs and this was the perfect song to “start” getting drunk to! J

5. In My Daughter’s Eyes – Martina McBride – This song reminds me of the great relationship that I have with my mom and all of the mothers & daughters in my family. I hope that one day, I have a daughter, because I know I will be singing it to her!

6. Redneck Woman – Gretchen Wilson – This song reminds me a lot about myself…I can be a girly girl, but I’m not afraid to be a little redneck either!

7. Vogue – Madonna – This reminds me of my high school days, when life was so much simpler…all you had to do was strike a pose!! J

8. Jesus Take the Wheel – Carrie Underwood – This song reminds me that I need to focus my life more towards my faith and whatever happens, happens.

9. Friends in Low Places – Garth Brooks – Another great dancing, party song…reminds of the good ole days!

10. Where were you when the World stopped Turning – Alan Jackson – Very powerful reminder of September 11th…makes me reflect that day over and over again in my mind.

I usually don't do this...

Get into much "religious" debate or throw my faith until other peoples faces...but there's always an exception to every rule! If you would like to learn more about all of this....visit Still Speaking.

It's been too long...

Since I've updated and for all of my fans out there, I apologize! :-)

Things are going pretty ok for us...I think that we are actually starting to make some headway after dealing with all of the unemployment and health issues that have plagued us for so long. B started back to work last month working for a security company. The job isn't great, but for the time being it's a job, and it does pay more than unemployment did. We don't get to see much of each other because he works second shift, but we are making it work. The nights that I don't have to go to bed early I stay up until he gets home and then we end up chatting for awhile and I do my best not to make any plans until after 3:00 on the weekends so we can spend as much time as we can together.

My job is going good...it's a busy time of year because all of the schools are testing their students, but it defintely is job security! :-) I've been with the company for over a year now...yea!!

I really have nothing exciting to say...sorry to disappoint...LOL

Jenn

1995

1995

Your senior year in high school is supposed to be the best year of your life. Let's see how much you remember:
Year: 1995
1. Who was your best friend? Hmmm…probably Karen
2. What sports did you play? None
3. What kind of car did you drive? My parent’s cars…lol…88 Plymouth Voyager and 77 Pontiac Bonneville (AKA…TANK)
4. It's Friday night, where were you at? With my boyfriend
5. Were you a party animal? No
6. Were you in the "In Crowd"? No
7. Ever skip school? Uh no
8. Ever smoke a cigarette? Another no
9. Were you a nerd? Probably Yah
10. Did you get suspened/expelled? No
11. Can you sing the Alma Mater? Fight on all you saxons…lead us on to victory tonight…raise your voice to the highest..for the red for the gold we will fight. Crap…I forgot the rest!
12. Who was your favorite teacher? There were some really cool teachers…it’s probably a toss between Mrs Meyers and Mr Williams.
13. Favorite class: Probably Band
14. What was your school's full name? Schaumburg High School…on Schaumburg Rd…in Schaumburg,IL….talk about original!
15. School mascot? Saxons
16. Did you go to Prom? Yes!
17. If you could go back and do it over, would you? Hell no…too much drama for my liking!
18. What do you remember most about graduation? The weather was awesome!
19. Favorite memory of your senior year? Walking out of the doors for the last time!
20. Were you ever posted up on the senior wall? Didn't have one of those, but if we did, I wouldn't have been.
21. Did you have a job your senior year? Nope
22. Who did you date? Greg
23. Where did you go most often for lunch? the cafeteria, sometimes out for lunch.
24. Have you gained weight since then? Probably a little, but not much
25. What did you do after graduation? Went to parties and then went to college

Who would like to buy me tickets??

To see this hottie? please please please? i'll even share him with his wife! lol
he's an awesome singer and he's a hottie. my husband already knows that if tim were to come to the door and ask me to run away with him...i would so be running! :)

When I Get Where I'm Going...

This is another awesome song. I heard this song the night before Aunt Mary passed away and I immediately thought of her. If y'all believe in signs, it seemed like a song she enjoyed. They played it Saturday at the burial service...not a dry eye in the house!

by Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton

When I get where I'm going
On the far side of the sky
The first thing that I'm gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly

I'm gonna land beside a lion
And run my fingers through his mane
Or I might find out what it's like
To ride a drop of rain

[Chorus]
Yeah when I get where I'm going
There'll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles
I have carried all these years
And I'll leave my heart wide open
I will love and have no fear
Yeah when I get where I'm going
Don't cry for me down here

I'm gonna walk with my grand daddy
And he'll match me step for step
And I'll tell him how I missed him
Every minute since he left
Then I'll hug his neck

So much pain and so much darkness
In this world we stumble through
All these questions I can't answer
So much work to do

But when I get where I'm going
And I see my maker's face
I'll stand forever in the light
Of his amazing grace
Yeah when I get where I'm going
There'll be only happy tears
Hallelujah
I will love and have no fear
When I get where I'm going
Yeah when I get where I'm going

In Memory of Aunt Mary

Last Sunday, a very beautiful and strong woman, left this earth and was called back home to be with God. For some people reading this, it might make you feel uncomfortable, but these are my beliefs. As much as she will be missed, I know that she is in a better place. She is no longer sick and she will take care of all of us for many years to come. I didn't really know her as much as my husband did, but I know that she was an awesome woman. She proved that to me after my surgery in August of 2004. Even though she was dealing with her own illness, she made a point to call me in the hospital and let me know that she was thinking of me and praying for me. She was willing to listen if I needed to talk about what was going to happen to me, and she knew that I was scared. The phone call didn't last but for more than a few minutes, but it meant the world to me.

For those who know me, you know that music is one of my passions...this song was played at her service and it really fits...plus it's by Faith Hill...one of my music heroes. I found out later that Faith wrote this song for her mother...very appropriate since Aunt Mary has 2 beautiful girls.

When I think back on these times
And the dreams we left behind
I’ll be glad because I was blessed to get
To have you in my life
When I look back on these days
I’ll look and see your face
You were right there for me
In my dreams I’ll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life
I’ll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you’ll be
And everywhere I am there you'll be



Well you showed me how it feels
To feel the sky within my reach
And I always will remember all
The strength you gave to me
Your love made me make it through
Oh I owe so much to you
You were right there for me
In my dreams I’ll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life
I’ll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you’ll be

Cuz I always saw in you my light my strength
And I want to thank you now for all the ways
You were right there for me
(You were right there for me)
You were right there for me
For always

In my dreams I’ll always see you soar above the sky
In my heart there'll always be a place for you for all my life
I’ll keep a part of you with me
And everywhere I am there you’ll be
And everywhere I am there you'll be
There you'll be

Sometimes Life Isn't Fair

It's not fair that I still have 3 out of my 4 grandparents who are still alive and for the most part healthy...and my husband has no grandparents.

It's not fair that some people try for several years to have a child, but then there are those who get pregnant if someone looks at them the right way. I found out this morning that one of my friends from high school is about halfway through her pregnancy. I'm hurt on a few levels...they were wanting to wait until she was done with grad school which was right around Christmas time (last month)...well, turns out it happened in September. She is due in June, right around the time of another friend...who was planning to wait 5 years before having kids. She and her husband are going to have their 1st child before celebrating their first anniversary. Again, totally not planned.

Here I sit...having not been on birth control for almost a year...and nothing. Ugh, it just gets to me sometimes. I promised myself I wouldn't obbess over this, but today it just reared it's ugly head. Everyday I wonder if I will be able to have kids because of the thryoid cancer from last year. I had to have the radioacitve idoine to make sure it didn't spread beyond the thyroid...but did that screw me up? I'm sure the fact that I don't have my thyroid anymore is also making it difficult. But as rational i try to be, it still hurts. I keep praying that our lives will work out for us this year!

I also ask that you keep bill's family in your thoughts and prayers...his aunt/godmother isn't doing well and her time is very limited. please pray that she doesn't have to suffer too much longer and that the family can get through all of this.

Martin Luther King Day

Because of a wonderful man who dreamed a great dream, I don't have work today. I have to say...my job may be stressful but there are alot of benefits that can't be denied...thanks to being off today, I haven't worked a Monday in about 4 weeks! lol Off the day after Christmas, the day after New Years (legal holidays) and then I was home sick last week.

Plans for today??? Haircut...doctor's appt (oncology appt...always a little nervous)...scrapbooking, watching the golden globe awards tonight and just enjoying the day! ;-)

the bears lost last night and that sucked, but the STEELERS won!! Woohoo!! I'm kinda bummed about the bears, but a little relief that those two teams aren't playing in the Superbowl together...that could have been a divorce as we know it! I'm a bears fan since birth...but I've become a steelers fan by marriage!

that's about it from here... :)

1977

In 1977 (the year you were born)

Jimmy Carter becomes president of the US Most of the 10,000 Vietnam War draft evaders are pardoned by President Carter Singer Anita Bryant starts her "Save Our Children" crusade against gay rights Elvis Presley dies in his Graceland bathroom Congress creates a Department of Energy Anwar Sadat flies to Jerusalem in a dramatic gesture of willingness to discuss peace Orlando Bloom, Shakira, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Liv Tyler, and Ludacris are born New York Yankees win the World Series Oakland Raiders win Superbowl XI Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup Swedish music group ABBA passes The Beatles as having most records sold Star Wars is the top grossing film The Shining by Stephen King is published "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone spends the most time at the top of the US charts Three's Company premieres

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

More cool things for your blog at
Blogthings

2005: A Year in Review

JANUARY
1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year? To become a mom...still working on that one... here's to 2006!
2. Who kissed you at midnight? My husband and then I think we were both asleep by 12:05...lol.
3. Did it snow where you live? Yea, it did...welcome to winter in the midwest!
4. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop? No, but that is one thing I would love to experience once in my life!

FEBRUARY
1. Who was your valentine? Bill
2. What did your valentine get you? LOL I can't remember...probably scrapbook stuff!
3. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class? Yes!!

MARCH
1. Are you Irish? Nope
2. Did you wear green on St. Patty's Day? don't think so
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day? Nothing much

APRIL
1. Do you like the rain? No, it tends to bring me down!
2. Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year? No
3. Did you get tons of candy on Easter? No just what candy mom had! lol

MAY
1. What's your favorite kind of flower? Any that are given to me! (nice idea Sarah)
2. Do you like the spring? Yes!!
3. Finish the phrase: "April showers bring...": mayflowers..and mayflowers bring...Prom!! (old joke from my sister's friend)
4. What would you think of as a spring color?: all the pastel colors!

JUNE
1. What year did you graduate from school?: Class of '95...I'm old!
2. Did you go on any vacations last June?: No

JULY
1. What did you do on the 4th of July? Went down to Peoria and spent it with family.
2. Did you go on any vacations during this month?: If you count Peoria as a vacation...than yes!

AUGUST
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer? Not really...enjoyed a visit with our good friends from out of town
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '05? don't really know of one
3. Did you go swimming a lot in the summer? Not alot...a few times at the inlaws pool and at our family reunion.
4. Did you go to the beach a lot? Nope

SEPTEMBER
1. Did you attend school/college in '05? No
2. Who is/was your favorite teacher? Mrs. Bethurem in junior high
3. Did you like fall better than summer? Yes, fall & spring are my favorite seasons

OCTOBER
1. What was your favorite Halloween costume ever? I can't remember.
2. What's your favorite candy? Peanut Butter cups :-)
3. What did you dress up like this year? Nothing

NOVEMBER
1. Whose house did you go to for Thanksgiving? My inlaws
2. Do you like stuffing? Yes!!!! One of my favorites!
3. What are you thankful for? My family and friends

DECEMBER
1. Do you celebrate Christmas? You bet!!!
2. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe? Of course!! ;-)
3. What did you want this year for Christmas? Living Room furniture...didn't get.
4. What's the best present you ever got for Christmas? My new photo printer this year!
5. Do you like cold weather? Not *TOO* cold...the below zero temps...NO!
6. How would you rate your year on a scale of 1-10? 5 - It's been a rough year with losing a job and a sick husband as well as some extended family problems so I'm hoping for an easier year! i'm soooooooooooooo ready to close the doors on 2005!