The Things Our Parents Tell Us

I was listening to the radio the other morning and they were discussing adults who wouldn't do something because their parents told them not to do it. Correlating with it is advice your parents gave you or statements they made that you will never forget.

Some of mine are:

• Whenever I use a credit card, I hear my dad in the back of my head saying not to use a credit card unless it's an emergency or you can pay it off immediately. Not a bad thing to remember. But I still feel weird using a credit card, no matter what occasion.
• Mom - never leave the house without lipstick. I hear this in my head all the time. Do I obey it? To her dismay, no.
• Dad - "If a boy tries to take advantage of you physically, grab his thumbs." I don't know why I remember this one. Grabbing his thumbs would be the least of his problems.

What are some things that your parents told you that you can't get out of your head? Or is there something that you still won't do because your parents wouldn't approve or think it's a good idea?

Dreams

I've had a bounty of dreams recently. One involved a theme of bad toupees and ended with Rod Blagojevich comforting me. What?

Another dream I had this week had me running around the city with friends when all of a sudden the sewers backed up and the streets were being flooded by crap. Crap as in...crap. Ew. Gross. We escaped to this old, victorian three-story home that served as some strange convent. It was almost like a combination of amish women and nuns. Then it turned out to be some kind of cult where they basically worshipped their vacuums. I said to someone standing next to me, "Hey, they feel the same way about their vacuums as we do our brooms." When I said this I meant brooms that we use for flying. You know you've been reading too much Harry Potter when it seeps into your dreams.

The final dream had my counselor writing it down and then analyzing it. She told me that I should spend the last 10 minutes of my session in a tanning booth. I said that I have some big stories to tell her and she responded, "I don't like to listen to these types of stories until Easter." RANDOM! She analyzed the dream. It's official. I'm a wacko.

A New Book

I am reading the most delightful book. You know it's good when you say "delightful" after only reading 16 pages. It's called The Guernsey Literary and Potatoe Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It makes me want to write. So here I am writing. Nothing good enough to publish. The book is comical, heart warming and just plain witty. Beckles, we should write a book together!

Has anyone read it?

Summertime in the City

I really am having such an amazing summer. I stopped taking classes, vowed to not partake in a play, and have sort of reacquainted myself...with myself.

Sunrise bike rides with Alyson, movies in the park with Jess & Jay, Ravinia with Cristin, laying out by the lake with Harry Potter, talking on a porch swing with a glass of Chardonnay in hand with Melissa, walk in the park with Kelly, So You Think You Can Dance with Janell and Carmen, mountain climbing in L.A. with Kathie, swimming with my nephews, cocktails at lunch with Beckles, High Tea with Mum, walks with Dad, dancing at Jessie's wedding with Erin, Bobtail ice cream, small group on Monday nights on Alyson's roof top, full moon reflection on the lake, pilates in Millennium Park with Jessie, etc., etc. I really could go on and on. I am so blessed for these gifts this summer. I'm looking ahead to the Family Reunion in Missouri this next week. I can't wait!

I haven't felt this way about summer since I graduated from high school. Feels good.

Slippery When Wet

Oh to be 18 again! Andrew and his friends are having the time of their lives. If only we had thought of this back in the day....

Working the Corner

Last night I went for a walk around the block to get some fresh air. It was gorgeous and the Pride Parade had finally disbanded and the neighborhood was de-trashed. Walking towards me a man said, "You know I want you, don't you?" Me: "Um, I do now!" Janell, let's just keep walking at a swift pace!

Must Protect This House!

One thing I don't get:

Micro-mini skirts and public transportation.

Seriously, I get the heebie-jeebs when I see girls board the bus in freakin' short skirts. Do they know who or what has previously sat in that seat? Protection from the elements ladies. Protection.

Dirt Bike Accident

This photo makes my ass twitch.

Wedding Day Predictions

Jessie & Jay got married this past weekend in Springfield, IL. Mom, dad and Erin flew up for the celebrations and we had a great time! Jess looked gorgeous, of course, and it was obvious Jay couldn't wait to get married. They're off on their honeymoon and can't wait to see them when they get back. I'll post pictures at somepoint. Most of them involve me and Erin being the silly girls that we are at the Lincoln Museum. (part of the reception included a tour of the museum. pretty awesome.)

One of the most precious moments of the weekend was when my Aunt Nancy found a paper Jessie had written when she was nine years old. In it she predicted what each cousin would be doing a few years down the road. Some she nailed right on the head - like Alyse being a pro-wrestler and poker player who knows how to cheat. Others came close - like Erin being a super-model, like a queen of the super-models. For me, she said that I ran a mile in 24 seconds and won a thousand million dollars and now live in Paris. Oui oui!

I absolutely adore family and cannot wait for our family reunion in July!!!

Every Man's Dream

Here's a picture Alicia sent of Liam titled "Every Man's Dream." Mom and I laughed so hard.

Los Angeles

You know why I'm not blogging as much as I used to? I think Facebook has taken over as the place I go to post weird comments and humorous anecdotes. Find me on Facebook, I'll be your friend.

I'm here in Los Angeles visiting my dear friend, Kathie. Kathie let me stay on her couch the first four months I lived in Chicago. She is a wonderful friend who was so generous with me when I first moved. Nothing has changed. I'm sitting on that same couch right now and she's shown me what Southern California has to offer. So tempting to move here! Especially thinking about what February weather would be like here versus a Chicago February.

Here are some pictures from my trip! I'm off to Dallas tomorrow morning to see Drewby graduate high school. Thank God for this amazing vacation!

Childbirth Face

Saturday I had an audition downtown for a short film. I arrived just as two other girls my age checked-in. We received a piece of paper telling us more about the film and the audition. After the "perform a two-minute monologue" came this phrase: "You will be asked to show your child birth face." Ummmm....WHAT? We chatted through nervous laughter about this new development. I mean, I knew the character gave birth and all, but... Seconds later we hear screaming from the audition room. Oh no, he's serious about this one.

"NEXT!" I go walking into the audition room and give my monologue. Then the director says, "Okay, now I need you to pretend like you're giving birth." I seriously hope this isn't some crazy fetish that this man concocted so he could get his thrills watching recorded videos of fake deliveries. I just know that someday, at a very inconvenient time, this video will pop up. I better never marry someone who wants to be President.

How did it go? Well, never having given birth before, I guess it went fine. I gave it my all. It's all about commitment. Go hard or go home. I walked out of the room and said, "It's a boy!"

I feel weird.

Give the Picture a Caption

Erin posted this picture of Archer on their blog. It made me laugh. Give the picture a caption. Best caption (chosen by me) just may receive a prize.

Last night's rehearsal was HI-larious. I really wish we had it on tape. That way you could see Magic Whore Lady come to life before your very own eyes.

Andrew's Graduating

I've been so emotional lately about one thing: Andrew is graduating High School. It's mostly a mixture of pride, joy, nostalgia and an overall unbelief that the past 18 years have gone by so quickly.

Andrew has gone from a hilarious, smiley, adorable, cautious, and loving little boy to a hilarious, handsome, courageous, leader, God-loving, family-loving man. But one thing remains the same, he's my buddy. I've always felt a strong bond with Andrew. He is absolutely the biggest blessing to ever happen to our family. Who can imagine life without Andrew? He was a surprise that no one expected but one that God knew we couldn't live without.



I'm so proud of him and all that he's accomplished in the past 18 years. It's fun to look back and see how much he's grown in his stature, his love and knowledge of God, and the wisdom and joy he has with his friends and the people in his life. My prayer for him from day one has been that God would bless him greatly and that he would be a leader for the Lord, have a heart for God and compassion for His people. God is good!

Please feel free to leave little love-notes and words of congratulations for Andrew in the comments section.

Look at our picture from my graduation on May 20, 1994: (yes I realize I need my eyebrows waxed)



Take a look at him now:



I remember taking this picture and thinking, "I should save this picture for when he graduates."15 years later... it's a miracle I still remembered!

Running Photos

I just received my half-marathon pictures through email this morning. Pictures of me running should never be taken. They should all be burned! Who wants to see their butt swaying this way and that? Who wants to see the skin on their face flying up and down? "Why do I keep my head pulled back?! I have a weak chin!" Plus I just look tired, sweaty and red-faced.

The final picture of me, Adrienne and her friend is actually good. I'd had about an hour to cool down.

Not feeling remotely sexy after seeing those pictures. Tyra! You need to do an episode on these kinds of photos.

Confession

I was driving to Indianapolis on Friday and a Miley Cyrus song came on the radio and I cried. I CRIED! I wasn't even hormonal. Don't judge me! I'm looking at you Becky Page. Seriously, have you heard her song, The Climb? Just so you don't think it was a moment of crazy emotions, I heard it on the way back to Chicago two days later - and cried. AGAIN!

What I Learned from Tyra

I actually learned something from watching America's Next Top Model. That Tyra, she's so wise. She told a model never to push her hips towards the camera if she wants to make them appear smaller. She was so right! Case in point:



Um, yeah. I know I've got birthing hips, but seriously. The reflective gear doesn't help much either. Note to self: Do as Tyra does - push those hips AWAY from the camera. Tyra, I can't thank you enough.

H1N1

The Swine Flu is all over the news. I know we're supposed to call it by its technical name, so I did. I had to clarify that it was the "Swine Flu" otherwise no one would know what I was talking about.

I was iChatting with my mom last night when she informed me that my dad's dad (Grandpa from here on out) was not just the oldest of two kids. He was the oldest of six. I had no idea! I thought it was just him and my Uncle Pete (lots of funny stories involving the Happy Birthday song and alcohol). Mom said that Grandpa had three siblings die of the Swine Flu within one week of eachother during 1917 (or some year close to that date). WHAT? I can't imagine how hard it must have been for my great grandmother. It must have spread rapidly. Thank God for the media awareness we have today and great advancements in medicine.

Does anyone else feel a little weird when they say "Swine Flu"? I don't know what it is...

Shedding

When you've been bundled up all winter long in down coats, thick wool sweaters, angora hats and gloves, there's something odd about suddenly wearing a tank top in public - specifically one with spaghetti straps. I have to repeatedly tell myself that I am not a whore and that it's perfectly fine to wear a tank top in public; especially when it's 85 degrees outside (For the first time since October, bee-tee-dubs. It's been a LONG six months!). Am I the only one who feels this way?

Chicago is hopping right now. I spent my lunch hour getting my nails done (lovely Jelly Apple red by Essie) and running to pick up some frames for work. Hello tourists, you are back. But thank you for bringing the warm sunny weather with you! I am so happy it's warm that I don't mind the humidity making my hair frizzy.