whiski_sour: (aorta love)
Spent my Valentine's Day with my TV crushes and my forever Valentine, Vincent Price. Also, the nieces since we had Spanish anyway. They got me a box of candy. I got them nifty little felt bags, pencils, and I made them each a bracelet. I had them make Valentines for Dad and Carrie and they got Carrie a box of chocolate as well. Then I came home and made chicken and penne for dinner. This is probably one of the better Valentine's Days in recent memory.

It's been very quiet since I got back from Chicago. Life is its routine little self.

I've got the whole month off from my morning job (neighbor I sit for is on vacation) and I've yet to work one floorset this month, so I've been coasting on one job all month. It's positively relaxing.

I've been working on a writing project that I'm really enjoying. I feel like it's really something solid. I've had that feeling about writing projects before and they didn't pan out as I'd have liked, but I always enjoy the feeling while it's rolling.

I like it when it rolls.

Except for when I think it's 1979.

Don't ask.
whiski_sour: (Dietrich explains it all)
I keep putting off updating because I'm lazy. Here's the high points:

-My first floorset went fine. I felt like an awkward doofus because I had no clue what I was doing and only knew the two people that had interviewed me, but I survived it. My next one is Wednesday.

-Speaking of Wednesday, I had tickets to a Cubs game that night and was going to go with a guy I knew from high school, but had to cancel. There are only three home games before the season ends and I really want to go to one. I might try for the Monday night game instead.

-The complications of going to the Monday night game include having to be up at 6:30 both Monday and Tuesday to get the neighbor up, ready, and to school. The first week of this went fine. The second week he suddenly developed morning diarrhea and spent ages in the bathroom until he was informed that he didn't have a choice and he was going to have to make an attempt to get through school (his grandmother's call). I don't know the kid well enough to know if he's faking, but judging by his grandma, the kid will be going to school unless he's dead. All I know is I don't feel like going through these battles every morning. The pay is good, but not that good.

-If I do want to go to the Monday night game, I've got it all worked out with Mom for the girls' Spanish lessons. At first, they quite liked seeing Aunt Kiki three days a week. Now that they've realized I'm there to learn them up, the charm has worn off. We played review games today that they really liked, so that's good. Some days are better than others.

-The way the Monday game shakes out is such: I'd have to get up at 6:30 and get the boy to school. Come home and nap. Go to Mom's and teach Spanish, leaving by 1:30. Drive to Chicago, do the park and ride to Wrigley, watch the game, park and ride back to the car, drive home. I'd get home between 12:30 and 2 depending when the game ended and I got back to my car. I would then nap and get up at 6:30 in the morning to take the boy to school. I'd then come home and nap that afternoon before floorset. So the question is can my 32 year old self run like my 22 year old self used to? I'm kind of hoping so. We'll see.

-Apple and Pork festival this weekend. Imma get me an apple donut.

The end.
whiski_sour: (Ooh! Shiny!)
Carrie and I went to Mom's yesterday for Hammie's birthday. She's ten, nearly five foot tall, and really into anime. She got a kimono for her birthday. It made Mom and I sing The Vapors.

Hammie asked for a giant cookie for her birthday. It came with violent pink frosting that I did not eat. Mom also got me cupcakes from our favorite bakery, half unfrosted because I'm spoiled like that.

The girls also got me a present (even though I already technically got mine at Christmas since Mom and Mark gave me money for Cubs Con). A new Cubs sweatshirt. Pretty soon, that's going to be the only clothing I own.

Today I ran last minute errands in the blowing snow so I'm as prepared as I can be for my trip to Chicago tomorrow. I don't relish the three hour drive in the snow, but hopefully the wind dies down and the plows can get things clear.

And then [livejournal.com profile] luchalibrarian and I party Cubs style in Chi-town.

I'm hoping to come home with a player or two stuffed in my bag.
whiski_sour: (Groove)
My last day of work was Friday. I made sure to say goodbye to all of the drivers in town (including doubling back to catch Stephen), got a hug from Albert, Kent, and Shilo, and, I admit, shed a few tears on the drive home. I say again, I won't miss the work, but I will miss the people. I was told before I left to come back and visit. I'll be doing that.

Hit the family reunion yesterday. I just stayed long enough to eat and visit with the people I wanted to see before I left. It was kind of weird without Papa there, though they did have a big picture of him over the dessert table, which I found kind of creepy. I don't need a bad picture of my dead grandpa lording over me while I get my piece of cherry pie. I mean it was well meaning, but I still wasn't comfortable with it.

After the reunion, I took the girls to the last Cornbelters game of the season. They got to spend some time in the bouncy houses and get their faces painted before mean Aunt Kiki made them sit in their seats and watch the game. Hammie was actually pretty into the game from the get-go. Hobbit and Howlin' Mad Smurf, not so much. It took a few innings before they caught on to the concept of cheering for the Belters. By the end, they were chanting "Let's Go Corn!" right on cue.

I was disappointed that they wouldn't dance during the dancing inning. How do they not know how to do the YMCA? That's just ridiculous that they're so uneducated in the ways of community dance. However, they redeemed themselves by singing the 7th inning stretch.

I won a signed a jersey and they got their freebie t-shirts signed by the whole team and Corny. They got to run the bases afterwards. In the end, they had a blast and they want to go again next season. Aunt Kiki will only be too happy to take them.

Tomorrow I go back to work for myself. It's going to be weird not waking up at 5:30 to head to the cube. It'll be a few weeks before I start working with DaLette, so I really need to get the book done and the jewelry site rolling as quickly as possible.

I'm back to working for myself and I'm one bitch of a boss.
whiski_sour: (yay!)
Since the weather prevented me from going up to my mom's house yesterday for Hammie's birthday, I went up today for mine. I also took up the Christmas presents from Dad's side of the family in addition to Hammie's birthday present, so it was a present extravaganza!

Actually, it was more like a Barbie convention. They got a lot of Barbies.

They also got a charades game that was an absolute riot to play. Every charade that Hobbit did involved some vague gesture with her arm. She also interpreted Mom miming driving a car as milking a cow. It was fantastic. Hammie was a bit stilted at first, but once she got the hang of being more animated, she got really good at it.

Hammie got a guitar for her birthday, so there was plenty of music. Howlin' Mad Smurf was very excited about me getting my cake and my present (I got money).

I guess for Mom took the girls shopping to pick out presents for Hammie's birthday and when Mom asked Smurf what she wanted to give Hammie, she said a punch in the stomach. Apparently, she really did give her a punch in the stomach, too. When Smurf said she wanted to give me my birthday present, I asked her if it was a punch in the stomach because I didn't want that. She acted all offended. I don't know why.

After the birthday celebration, I came home to join Carrie for a haircut. We're both loooong overdue (as usual). We ended up going to a new lady, Tammy, and she did a fantastic job. I'll have to post pictures after I decided what I'm going to do with this new style. I prefer my hair a little more punk rock then the way she ended up styling it, but it's still nice. And short. And my bangs are finally out of my eyes.

I could never have Justin Beiber hair.

Carrie ended up ordering pizza for dinner so I didn't have to cook.

All in all, it's been a fantastic birthday. I have a feeling that being 30 Bonus Year is going to be excellent.
whiski_sour: (Groove)
Today was Hobbit's 7th birthday, so Carrie and I headed up north to celebrate with the girls. We had McDonald's and cupcakes. Hobbit got a new outfit, a new purse, a snowglobe, and Just Dance for Wii.

Naturally, we had to play Just Dance. Carrie wasn't feeling well, so she sat out. (Smurf was very concerned for Carrie's health; she told her to get lots of rest, drink water and orange juice, and keep a bucket next to her bed in case she threw up.) The girls were good. They shook their groove things. Mom did a challenge while sitting on the couch and won. It was hilarious. I had no trouble getting up and making an ass out of myself. I did pretty well. I'd say the girls get their moves from their Aunt Kiki.

Then we played Guitar Hero. I rocked "Walkin' on Sunshine" and "Honky Tonk Women". Smurf does really well on the easy setting because she just makes noises into the mic constantly and ends up with 100%. Hobbit really kicks it with the guitar.

Between playing guitar and dancing, I'm going to be hurting tomorrow.

It was a good birthday for Hobbit, I think. At least she was sweaty and smiling when we left.

That Just Dance is a great game.
whiski_sour: (happy holidays fuckers)
My holiday plans have been set. Only two Christmases this year.

23rd will be Christmas with Mom, Stepdad, nieces, and grandparents. No Christmas on the 24th. Christmas on Christmas with Dad, Papa, Aunt Jo, Nancy, Jake, and anyone else who shows up (maybe Aunt Ruby and Uncle Harry; they put in an appearance last year).

And since the girls will be staying home on Christmas (between Hammie's diabetes and Howlin' Mad Smurf's meds for her overactive adrenal gland, Mom's not letting any of them out of their plastic bubble for the holiday), that'll be even less driving I have to deal with.

Yes, I'm a horrible person. I'm okay with my nieces not going to Christmas because it means I don't have to drive more. Also, we can stay and play cards longer.

I know. Santa is totally skipping my house again this year.
whiski_sour: (*cackle*)
Carrie and I went to see the nieces today.

It turns out the phone call I got from Hobbit and Howlin' Mad Smurf yesterday was not sanctioned (and I wasn't the only one; they called several people yesterday) and when they got in trouble, they decided to run away. Mom found them down the block. Needless to say, they got in trouble for THAT, too.

Yep. My mom's got her hands full, to be sure.

Carrie took the two runaways to run errands with her while I stayed at Mom's and beat Hammie at Connect Four repeatedly. She only beat me once. I say that with pride because nobody wants to be beaten by an 8 year old. I then horrified her with tales of the olden days when we didn't have cell phones or Interwebs, so communicating with your friends was much more difficult. You had to talk on a phone that was hooked to a wall or walk to their house, or if you were at school, you had to hand write a note and pass it to them in the hallway. She looked at me like I also slew dinosaurs at recess. Hey, if I'm going to be old, then I'm going to use it to horrify the children.

Hammie has a new cat. He's gray and white and his name is Buddy, which totally messes up Mom's naming theme (they currently have Little Guy, Lillian, Lucky, Libby, Lenny Skinny, and Linus, but also at one time had Lucy, Lexie, and Louis, too). He's a sweetie and very playful. It's been awhile since I've gotten to play with a cat that young.

Carrie and the runaways came home. Everything is very shiny at Hobby Lobby, so it took them forever to get through there. Then they went to Target, where Hobbit and Smurf helped some lady pick out a coat. Hobbit also fell in love with several purses there. She is definitely the girliest of all three.

And then Smurf ended up shoplifting a toothbrush. Carrie put in the cart and Smurf put it in her pocket and forgot to take it out at the checkout. By the time Carrie realized it, it was too to do anything about it. So the girls got a lesson in thievery and Carrie contributed to a deliquency of a minor. Good times.

I told Smurf that between the prank phone calls, running away, and shoplifting, Santa was going to skip the house for years.

I don't know why, but she didn't believe me.
whiski_sour: (Dempster Laugh)
In case you haven't heard, the Governor's race in Illinois is so close that it's practically tied and there will be much counting done in order to determine the winner. So, it could be a month before we know the outcome.

Personally, I think if it's a tie, then they should treat it as a tie. Have co-governors. Come on, it's a brilliant plan. Think of the reality show that would come of it and the revenue that would generate. Illinois would be out of debt in no time and the world would be entertained. It's worth the embarrassement the residents of my state would have to endure. Really, it's a small price to pay.

And at the end of their joint term, we can vote on which one should be indicted. Good times.

In non-politics snark related news, I got a phone call this morning from the Howlin' Mad Smurf. She babbled something at me and then hung up. I called back, hoping to get an adult and got the Hobbit instead. I asked her what Smurf had said and she told me that Smurf just wanted to remind me to come for a visit tommorrow.

Then smurf got on the phone and told me about their new cat. Then she gave the phone back to Hobbit, who declared the conversation over and hung up on me.

I have no idea if my mom knew that this was going on, but I have to admit, at the time I felt like I'd just been prank called by a 6 and 5 year old.

I'm just saying.
whiski_sour: (up to no good)
The girls did a good job sleeping over last night. They laid down in their sleeping bags to watch Clue with Pappy and within fifteen minutes of the movie starting everybody was asleep.

Pappy and the girls got up early and went shopping for breakfast. They got waffles, bacon, and sausage. As they are primarily meat eaters, there wasn't a whole lot of sausage or bacon when I got up and none when Carrie got up.

For lunch, we went over to Haley's house for a playdate with Walker and Emma. Emma wasn't too keen on Howlin' Mad Smurf touching her stuff, but they worked it out. Peacefully. And Hobbit, who couldn't stop talking about going to the playdate, clammed up as soon as we walked in the door. It was funny. All of the kids had a good time, though.

We took the girls home and I'm sure they will sleep good tonight. I know I will.

And Hammie had a good time at the TNA show. She told me everybody she saw. And she missed out on getting her picture taken with Jeff Hardy because Mom wouldn't let her take her money to the show and my stepdad didn't have enough money. The absolute indignation in her voice when telling me this was truly fantastic. It's up there with her telling me that So-and-So had to beat down on AJ because he was throwing a tantrum. The eyeroll at the end of that was priceless.

My stepdad said that since she behaved, the next time there's a show nearby, they'll try to go. Yeah, she was looking up the schedule this morning online. I think she might get her love of wrestling from her Aunt Kiki. Heh.

Yeah, good times.
whiski_sour: (vrooom!)
The sleepover has been going well so far. Howlin' Mad Smurf got in trouble for being hateful early on by Pappy, but recovered in time to go out and get sprayed with the hose.

They've wrestled with Pappy, played in the hose, eaten "THE BEST PIZZA EVER", watched Murder By Death, taken pictures on my camera (I'll find out what of when I look at it), weeded the yard, played with pill bugs, walked on Pappy's back, gotten makeovers, drug out all of my stuffed animals, read some magazines and one of my books, pretended to be grandmas by playing with Pappy's walking sticks, played chess, played cards, and played ball in the house.

Right now, they're sprawled out on their sleeping bags, watching Alice in Wonderland. In theory. They're talking too much to really hear it.

I have a feeling that it won't be too hard to get them to go to sleep. They've had a busy day so far.
whiski_sour: (Busted!)
So, unless something comes up, Hobbit and the Smurf, aka Howlin' Mad (because she really is some kind of crazy), are coming here for a sleepover. Hammie will not be joining us as she will be attending a TNA show with my stepdad instead.

They've been planning this with Carrie for weeks now. We're going to eat pizza and watch a movie and Carrie is going to give them makeovers. It's going to be a ripping, girly good time.

And before you ask, no, Aunt Kiki is not participating in the makeovers. I am not qualified to give make-up advice or apply it and I do not need a makeover as I am gorgeous.

Yes, I typed that with a straight face.

Anyway, if all goes well, we're going to meet up with Haley and her two kids for lunch before we take them back on Saturday.

I don't anticipate them having any problems staying the night here, but I'm going to make it very clear before we even leave Mom's house that they have until 9 o'clock to change their minds. I am not driving back to Bloomington at 2 in the morning. It's just not happening.

I suppose if you don't hear from me by Saturday, then you'll know that I didn't survive the sleepover. It's my first one in probably 15 years. I imagine I'm out of shape.
whiski_sour: (yay!)
In celebration of Carrie's birthday, I took her to see the nieces. They were quite excited about it. They got her princess cupcakes (okay, I asked Mom to order the cupcakes and Mom came up with the idea of putting princess crowns on them, but we didn't mind giving the girls the credit), princess plates, a Tinkerbell card (because, as Smurf knows, she likes Tinkerbell the best), and an Applebees gift card.

As Mom said, the gift card was the most grown-up thing in the whole shabang.

We ended up sitting out on the deck (Mom got some really nice new patio furniture) playing cards while the girls ran in and out of the pool. We taught Hobbit how to play Spit and Hammie how to play Rummy. Then we all played poker. Smurf invinted her own card came and played it with me. I have no idea if I won or not, but she had a good time.

I woke up with a headache this morning and got it to mostly go away, but by four o'clock it was back in full force, which kind of put a damper on my good time, but other than that, we all had fun.

I think it was a very good way to spend Carrie's birthday.
whiski_sour: (Groove)
Went up to Mom's today to celebrate Smurf's fifth birthday. She had a Spongebob cake. I swear the icing was four inches thick. And I scraped it all off because I'm not an icing person. Even if I like it, I don't like it that well.

Smurf's been asking for one of those butterfly gardens that they advertise on the TV, so I ordered it for her and it'll be delivered to her house. And until it is, she'll be bugging my mother about where her present is, which is like a present to me.

And to think, I'm considered the good daughter.

Carrie and I had a good time with girls. Smurf got a swingset and my stepdad was out back most of the time putting it together. The girls kept going out to check the progress. They're real whipcrackers.

We played games. There was some serious cheating going on during Old Maid. I blame Carrie as she instigated it. I managed to win a game of Uno, but it was a hollow victory since Hobbit and Smurf quit before we were done.

Then when it was time to go, Smurf tried to make us stay and when we wouldn't she resorted to force. Unfortunately, she's rather small and it was ineffective. She settled for pouting.

I guess it's just as rough being five as it was being four.
whiski_sour: (*cackle*)
Visited the nieces today, so naturally my brain is mush now. I swear they sap my intelligence and energy. But I love them because they are so fun.

Hammie is doing well with her diabetes. She has no trouble giving herself shots and checking her blood sugar. The other two girls are helpful, too, though when Hammie was first diagnosed and Mom was explaining it all to them, Smurf interrupted her and said, "Can we stop talking about her now? She's boring." That's my Smurf.

Carrie took Hobbit and Smurf with her to do some shopping (according to Carrie, Hobbit has inherited my infatuation with jewelry; she left her face prints on several cases while looking)while I stayed behind and hung out with Mom, Mark, and Hammie. Hammie and I played cards. She beat me at two hands of Crazy 8's, but I beat her at both games of War, including a huge come from behind victory.

When Carrie, Hobbit, and Smurf got back, I ended up playing some convoluted Yahtzee card game with Hammie and Hobbit. And then we played the real Yahtzee.

Carrie bought the girls a big, blue ball, so I ended up going outside with the girls to play with it. They were pretty impressed with my ability to kick it high until I almost got it stuck in the neighbor's tree. To which Hammie says, "Don't get it stuck in the tree like our hula hoop!" Sure enough, I look up and there's a bright orange hula hoop stuck in the tree next to me.

I don't know. They're not my kids.

We all had a good time. And I'm sure Carrie and I will sleep well tonight.
whiski_sour: (this just in)
So it seems that Hammie, my oldest niece, has been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. I haven't talked to my mom yet (I heard it from Mimzie), so I don't know all of the specifics. She's only eight, so that's gotta be rough.

Hammie's kind of a diva and a bit of a drama queen. I wonder how she's going to handle testing her blood sugar and getting shots. I imagine there will be whining. She's the most prone to the whining out of all three of the girls.

Speaking of, I wonder how Hobbit and Smurf are reacting to this. I bet they'll want to give Hammie her shots. They're very helpful and hands on children, you know. I doubt they'd want to pass up an opportunity to jab their big sister with a hypodermic needle.

Sure, they live with my mom, but they are my sister's children. I'm just saying.
whiski_sour: (vrooom!)
Yesterday, I went down south to visit Papa for his 75th birthday. I took him a couple of new DVDs and some cinnamon swirl bread. We talked. He told me stories and I raided his vinyl collection (I get my ecclectic taste in music from him, I think). We had some good, quality grandpa-granddaughter time.

Today, Carrie and I went up north to visit my mom and the nieces. Carrie's mom made the girls scarves, so we had to deliver them and I had them make her thank you cards. Carrie ended up taking Smurf to run errands while I played Rock Band for the first time ever with Hammie and Hobbit. Smurf is a slower shopper than Carrie, something I didn't think possible. And "Mr. Roboto" is totally my, Hammie's, and Hobbit's song. Just saying.

All in all, it's been a very entertaining two days.

It's also been rather tiring. That's why this is so short.
whiski_sour: (*cackle*)
I'm too tired to liveblog Castle, but I think it's safe to say that Castle will say something amusing, Beckett will verbal smack him, Mom and Alexis will be cute, and Ryan and Esposito will continue to be my favorite duo.

I went to Mom's today to celebrate Hammie's 8th birthday. Mom arranged for me and the three girls to get our nails done (the girls got pedicures and I got a manicure, my first ever) and to go to lunch. It was a great, girly outing with the nieces.

Highlights of the trip include:

Hobbit: *while the girls are waiting for their nails to dry, Hobbit rolls her eyes*
Me: What? What did Hammie do?
Hobbit: She's making faces. She's lost her mind.
Me: She turned eight and lost her mind?
Hobbit: Yeah. Smurf already lost hers.
Me: But she's not eight yet.
Hobbit: She started early.

Hammie: *as we're walking from the mall to the car* My coat smells like buffalo wings.
Me: What?
Hammie: My coat smells like buffalo wings.
Me: Why?
Hammie: I don't know!

*At Applebees*
Smurf: *pointing to a picture of the Beatles* Look! It's Harry Potter!

Smurf: *after taking a bite of her mini-burger* Oh. I want to marry this. (Smurf really liked the burger because at one point she was holding it and stroking the bun and calling it "my precious" like she was Gollum)

In addition to the manicure and lunch, Mom also bought me cupcakes for my birthday tomorrow.

Yes, this was the last day of my twenties. Not a bad way to spend it, really.
whiski_sour: (dreamy Alex)
Apparently, the weather respected my threat to cut a bitch and held off so Carrie and I could go to my mom's for Hobbit's birthday today.

It was a good time as always. Carrie and I both signed Hobbit's cast. We played Uno (I swear I was holding half the deck during one game). We iced Hobbit's cake. Hobbit got presents from me and Carrie plus she had her birthday party at school so she got even more goodies. Smurf took an instant liking to her Chinese yo-yo and kept running up to everyone, flicking it at them, and yelling "Silence!"

Smurf also told me the entire plot of Alice in Wonderland. Hobbit was most disturbed by me belly dancing for no reason (at one point she looked at my mom, pointed at me, and said, "Kiki is belly dancing" as thought I just wiped boogers on the couch). And I will never teach Hammie poker because she was the reason I kept bombing at Uno (there was a lot of "draw two, Kiki" followed by an evil giggle).

So it was a good day and as usual, I came home exhausted.

Now we're getting that freezing rain they've been promising since last night and a DJ dedicated Milli Vanilli's "Blame it on the Rain" and Vanilla Ice's "Ice Ice Baby" to on the radio this afternoon.

And since I don't have to be anywhere in the next couple of days, I don't care.
whiski_sour: (*headdesk*)
My mother called to inform me that Hobbit broke her arm the other day at gymnastics practice. Not flipping or tumbling or anything. Running. She broke her arm running.

Mom then goes on to point out that my sister broke her finger while running and Hammie chipped a bone in her ankle while running. Smurf will have to be wrapped in bubble wrap if she wants to run as it seems to be detrimental to the bone structure for that particular line in our family.

Then mom pointed out that she and I have managed to break ourselves while NOT DOING ANYTHING. She went on to say that if we ran, we'd probably kill ourselves.

Hobbit's cast is pink and because she broke her arm above the elbow, it will have to be replaced in a few weeks with one that hinges so she use her elbow.

She can also walk again. Apparently, Hobbit thought that since she had a cast on her arm she couldn't walk. Mom pointed out that she didn't break her leg, but logic was no use. Hobbit had to figure it out on her own.

Good times.

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Cheshyre

February 2014

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