Not going anywhere for a while?

I've noticed that everybody's favorite candy bar seems to be Snickers. Given a bag of candy with lots of choices, most people grab the Snickers.

Personally, Snickers has been eclipsed by Take5 as my favorite candy bar.

Time for a Good Cry

The Thanksgiving Edition of this literally had me in tears on the way into work. I'm talking laughing so hard with so many tears that I was afraid of getting into an accident.

Check it out, if you have time. The previous three seasons of the podcast are available on itunes.

Baby-fresh Scent

Part of the Process

Well, yesterday was election day. After days and days of signs, calls, and commercials, it all came down to one day. Long story short, in the race I really cared about, my candidate (Tammy Duckworth) lost. However, for Peter Roskam it was a pyrrhic victory due to the fact the the Republicans have lost control of the House of Representatives, and seem poised to lose the Senate as well. (some races still undecided)

I feel this election was a referendum on the Iraq War, which seems to be more of a boondoggle with every passing day, and President Bush, who is as unpopular as ever. I'm just glad that the family member who was over there has returned safely. Hopefully he doesn't have to go back to that shit as Iraq seem to be turning into Vietnam II where this Congress (or the next President) will pull us out of there.

For Governor, I voted for Judy Baar Topinka, who also lost. I did not particularly support her but as I feel the incumbent (don't feel like googling to make sure I spell his name correctly) is somewhat corrupt and a crazy spender, I voted Republican. The Green party candidate was pro-concealed carrying of weapons so he was a no-go for me.

Personally, I am something of a social liberal (gay marriage: ok, stem cells: ok, abortion: ok but rather not) and a fiscal conservative...which is kinda funny because I don't pay attention to what I spend and have no clue what we have or don't have in the bank. Thank God for my wife.

Name Game

When you google my daughter's full name, you don't get any results. (until she cures cancer, that is)

In any case, it's a far cry from the mess that comes up when you google *my* full name.

Question of the day

What good is using a "handsfree" bluetooth earpiece while driving if you are using one hand to drive and the other to gesticulate while you talk on the phone?

baby dazed

Picture time...



More later.

Cuz tonight's the night the world begins again...

Very long story short...

7lbs, 2oz, 20 inches long, and cute as a button.

More later...like when I've eaten and slept.

So instead, the cutter gets death by a thousand cuts...

CNN.com - Bush: Democrats the 'party of cut-and-run' - Sep 28, 2006: "President Bush counterpunched at Democrats on Thursday, saying their criticism of the war in Iraq has turned their party into one of 'cut-and-run' obstructionists."

I'll never understand this way of thinking. First of all, I'm pretty much against labelling an entire party in any way. Secondly, why does it become all about 'cut and run' if you're simply wondering about specific goals and timeframes? If we just stay there while little insurgent attacks keep happening against our troops until enough is enough and *everybody* thinks we should leave, isn't that just 'death by a thousand cuts'?

September Showers

We had our baby shower this past Sunday. It was at the same place as our wedding shower. When we got there the room was hot so I went back home and got a fan so Court wouldn't be too warm. Unfortunately, the fact that I wore a Bears jersey under my shirt made me constantly sweat the whole day. Oh well, at least they won.

We got a ton of stuff. Today we'll be going to get our baby furniture. Amazon points, baby!

The shower was nice. The whole thing is really not my deal. I'm uncomfortable with being (near to, anyways, since Court is the real center) the center of attention with these types of things. Add in all the baby stuff on top of that. I wonder why we need so many of these baby outfits considering sometimes it seems we do laundry so often I wear the same 3 pairs of socks every week. There seems to be some type of device for every baby scenario, and I'm sure the stuff we have barely scratches the surface. It's amazing.

I got to see my Godson, which was nice. Pretty soon there will be a lot of babies/children around with our kid, my Nephew, and my Godson. I've said before that I am not much good around babies since it seems they are just really fragile and holding one is just an excercise in making sure you don't drop it. I can't wait for them to get older.

My BIL tells me that once our baby comes I'll really start to understand it all. I'm sure he's right but I can't stop thinking about what my Dad thought/felt when it came to me (and my sister) and how things ended up working out as they have. I already know I've done things I can't imagine my Dad would ever do (registering for a baby shower, I don't think so) but what's that mean, really? The true test is being a real *team* with your wife (or husband) and facing things together...a case where my dad (seemingly) made things worse rather than better.

I find myself looking forward to our kid really coming into his/her own rather than just being something that's passed around like the most fragile thing ever.

The day has arrived

huzzah!

So very ready for some football

Being a Cub fan, I've only been ready for the first Bears game of the year for about 4 months. Being that they tore the hell out of Fav-ray and the Packers, the wait was worth it. It's my first full-year back in IL so my BIL came by and (in what will become a back and forth tradition) he came over and we watched the game. My SIL and MIL came by with my nephew (who has gotten a lot bigger this past week, I swear) and then the girls left to go shoppig or whatever. We ate a bunch of junk and watch Rex the Beast and the Bears D destroy Green Bay.

It'd be sad to watch Favre these days, if he hadn't spent so much time kicking our asses. He should never have come back. For the first time ever he was looking like he didn't even care. He sucks.

Our Five-Year Mission

My thoughts and remembrances of 9/11 have been stated here before, so I'll save the recanting of it all here. I find that five years has passed pretty quickly. In that time, we have invaded Afghanistan and Iraq and in my opinion squandered some of the international goodwill that was felt for us in the aftermath of the events of 9/11/2001.

Though the jury is still out on Iraq, it seems to be a quagmire of sorts. For Afghanistan (and the destruction of the Government which support Al-Qaeda) it would seem that we were successful. I am not sure whether the absence of any sort of 9/11-type attack against this country since then is proof of the righteousness of our actions or simply coincidental.

but was I ever?

I must not be net hip anymore, because I have no clue why somebody I don't even know wants to add me as a myspace friend.

Movie ticket stubs currently in my wallet

• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest


• Clerks 2


• Superman Returns (IMAX)


• Superman Returns (opening night in TX)

priming the pump

We had a nice weekend. My BIL and SIL are moving to Bloomingdale from Naperville, so we are happy about that. It's a lot closer to us (probably 20 minutes closer) and this way we'll see them more often.

Court spent yesterday watching their baby son (our nephew) while the rest of us shuttled a few things to the new house. I think it was good for Court as we are not too far away ourselves from having a little one around. Personally, I am not much of a baby-holder but I think they are amazing. I think this little chair they have now (Braiden has one too, and we registered for one) is the neatest thing beacuse the baby just kind of sits in it (once he can hold his head up) and looks like a little person with his chair.

I'm exited about our little one, but I will be very happy when he (or she) hits 4 or 5 or so and starts running around like a maniac. I've told Court many times that I'll take over the reigns at that point. :)

His beard has a beard

Depending on what we are doing I usually don't shave on weekends...or at least on Saturday. Sometimes on a Friday (if it doesn't look too bad) I won't shave...I guess because it's 'casual day'. I didn't shave this past Friday. This past weekend I'd planned on seeing family on Sunday so I was going to shave. Problem was, I didn't feel well so this fell through. On Monday I worked from home so I didn't shave. Consequently, on Tuesday morning I pretty much looked like a homeless man.

Yes, this is a strange post, but it's all I have time for now.

Proud to be...

You Are 73% American

Most times you are proud to be an American. Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home. You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!

How American Are You?

ESPN.com: Page 2 : A Sports Guy can dream ...

ESPN.com: Page 2 : A Sports Guy can dream ...: "My bosses won't allow me to say which six announcers I would deport to Eastern Europe, but here are their initials jumbled together backwards: WBMABCMJMTBJ."

Ok, can we unscramble this? I feel pretty safe with...

Joe Buck

Tim McCarver

John Madden Johnny Miller or (the HATED) Joe Morgan

Chris Berman

Al Michaels

But who is BW?

TV Nation

My plans for the upcoming fall schedule:

Monday -

8pm Heroes
9pm CSI Miami/Studio 60

Monday Night Football (live)

Tuesday -

7pm NCIS
8pm Veronica Mars

Wednesday -

7pm Bones/Jericho
8pm Lost
9pm CSI:NY/Kidnapped or The Nine

Thursday -

7-8pm Earl & the Office/Smallville
8pm CSI/Supernatural
9pm ER

Friday -

8pm Las Vegas
9pm Numb3rs
(also SG-1, SGA, and BSG)