Merry Christmas to All and to all a good night's sleep!!!!

I wanted to make a quick post and let everyone know I would be thinking of them over the holidays and hoping they have an enjoyable time with family and friends. We are heading to Manty on Christmas Eve for church and the annual food and drink fest at mom & dad's. It is always way too much fun. Although, since I won't get plastered this year, I guess I will see how it really is when you are the only sober person there.

Christmas day, as I have mentioned, we are hosting Jeff's family, which consists of his mom and 2 brothers, so nothing too advanced. We are roasting a brisket of beef, making cheesy potatoes, broccoli and tomato salad, having dinner rolls and baking an apple pie for dessert. It should be fun and I will be distracted in the kitchen, so I won't need to talk to anyone. This year, the number of topics to avoid discussing with his family has tripled, so not sure how long talking about the weather will last. I plan to drink a lot when no one is watching, this way, they can avoid commenting on if it is a good idea to get sloshed and then feed Cooper.

Also, wanted to mention that the pictures on this post feature the gorgeous creations of my cousin Adrienne, she is a very talented knitter. I will miss seeing her over Christmas, as she is probably my most entertaining relative. I am sure she knows we will be thinking about her and that Cooper loves his gorgeous apparel from Cousin Adge.

Enjoy each moment of whatever you are doing for the holidays!

I am too tired to care about the following...

#1)Our driveway is an ice rink and my husband seems to think this is no big deal because we park in the garage. I will of course be out there next week chipping away at the ice and then running inside every 5 minutes to make sure Cooper isn't screaming. For whatever reason our monitor isn't quite working outside the house yet.

#2)Jeff asked me today if I thought it would be okay for him to go to fight weekend with his friends in February in Milwaukee. Which is fine with me(not really, but I will pretend), but I can't help but wonder - when in the heck do I get to have a weekend away????!!!???!!!??? In fact, when am I going to get a full nights sleep??!!??!! I would even take 4 consecutive hours of sleep.

#3)We are entertaining the in-laws on Christmas day, I have asked Jeff to discuss a menu about a million times, to which he replies, "ham". So I am not bringing this up again and I am seriously laughing my but off picturing us eating deli ham sandwiches and boxed potatoes on Christmas Day because he as usual has no idea what it really takes to properly entertain people and will seriously probably think he can run to the store on Christmas Day. Good thing Kwik Trip will be open:)

I will say I am looking forward to tomorrow, we will head to Manty for Grandma's 85th b-day celebration, then we are going out to dinner in Kohler with my parents and sister. We are eating in the Wisconsin Room at the American Club where Heidi is chef. Very excited for some grown up time. Although Cooper will be there and Jeff will be panic stricken because he seems to think Cooper should stay at home for the rest of his life, but oh that's right, I am too tired to care...wink wink!

All I want for Christmas is....

For people to be better listeners. Why does listening seem to be such a hard skill for some people? I don't want to name names, but I will give you a clue, she lives about 90 minutes away from us and she is related to Jeff. After we provided very specific Christmas Lists, she calls to say she wants to buy me clothes. Um- NO!!!! I have a closet full of suits and clothes I never wear, as since I work from home (and Angie O. can attest to this) I am usually wearing pajamas, a jog suit or workout clothes. Jeans are now what I consider "dressing up" for my trips to the grocery store. So seriously, I can barely wear the clothes I do have and to know that some one who asks us every year for a Caroline Ingalls style flannel nightgown for her Christmas gift wants to get me some apparel, I have to put my foot down. I am sure this will again characterize me as the B*tchy daughter in law, but seriously, get us what we ask for, not what you have found a super sale on.

PS)I am going to drink on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I figure it won't kill Cooper and I think it is the only way I will be able to deal with everyone on zippo sleep.

A method to Daddy's madness....

I am sure you have noticed, if you are even still reading my blog that I have not been very good at posting lately. So many priorities, so little time. But I do have a funny story to share about Jeff's very alternative parenting style.

Cooper has a very definite crabby time and it is evenings from about 4-6pm, which is miserable for poor Jeff, he comes home from work and is greeted by a screaming baby. And I usually need a break by then, even if it is only a 10 minute shower break, I need some time off from our little guy. So Jeff is tasked with trying to figure out what on earth could be bothering Cooper and then trying to satisfy him. Last week, Cooper was beyond upset and after both of us trying for more than an hour to settle him down, I had to pump, so Jeff was on his own. As I finished up and turned off the pump, I could hear some super loud music coming from the bedroom upstairs where Jeff and Cooper were camped out. I was a little worried as I approached thinking that Jeff had left a crying Cooper in the crib and had locked himself in the bathroom and blasted his new Matchbox 20 CD. Oh no....I opened the door and discovered Jeff playing air guitar on Cooper's belly as Cooper was completely asleep/out cold. Interesting method, I would have never tried it, but it worked. Cooper seems to really enjoy loud music.

I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and I promise to try to post more regularly!

Happy Thanksgiving - I have 2 thoughts for the day....

#1) If I was a perfume, I would be called "breast milk and spit-up", because I seem to be covered in both more often than not. Cooper loves to spit on me while eating and spit up on me when he is not eating. Although, can I really complain, he usually does not get the spit-up on himself, so no changing required.

#2)Why was Burger King closed this morning?!?!? I escaped from my husband and baby for about 10 minutes and I wanted a flipping croissant sandwich and they were closed. Do they not understand how exciting it is for me to go to the drivethru? Especially when I am alone? I was forced to get a donut from Kwik Trip.

Happy Thanksgiving to you, I would write more, but I need to do about 8 million things prior to leaving the house at 11.

Life with one Arm

Well hello there everyone, it has been too long since I have had the opportunity to blog, hasn't it?

As most of you know, we welcomed Cooper Jeffrey to our family on 10/20/07 and life has been a whirlwind since then. I am madly in love with our little guy and I could go on and on about just how adorable he is and how much I am enjoying being a mommy. Of course, there are challenges, like figuring out what is wrong with some one at 3am when you are completely groggy, your eyes won't focus and you really have to pee. Most of the time, I just have to laugh, as Cooper is a pretty good baby who likes nothing more than eating and sleeping. Won't we be in for a shock when he decides he likes to be awake:)

Now, let me say I am very impressed with my ability to do most everything with only one hand, including emailing, laundry, and most everything else. I never thought I could be this adaptable. If something happened to one of my arms- I would be okay. Cooper is really a darling appendage, I hope he stays this adorable for the rest of his life!

Before I forget- good luck and best wishes to our friends Christine and Kevin, who are getting married this weekend in Las Vegas. Kevin was the photographer at our wedding, Christine was one of my bridesmaids. I like to take a little bit of credit for introducing them, as I invited Christine to one of Jeff's kickball games, where we both proceeded to get totally drunk and have way too much fun in the stands and Kevin was on the team, so long story short, these two met and fell in love because I invited Christine to the kickball game. Of course Brad (Jeff's famous West Allis pal) would take more of the credit, as after the kickball game at Sir Greg's Pub, he was all over Kevin to get Christine's number. But really, Kevin & Christine were DESTINED to end up together. Best wishes to our most trendy friends this weekend!

The Time has Come....

That's right kids, our baby is about to arrive. We had our LAST pre-natal visit yesterday where we had a Fetal Stress Test and an ultrasound, as suspected, the baby is doing great, still has some room to move around and has plenty of fluid. Basically, Baby H. has no reason to come out of that comfy little house. So, although I would love to avoid being induced, we are going to be induced on Friday and have the baby sometime this weekend. It was pretty nice to be able to at least schedule the arrival of the little squirt, as they have chosen to be completely uncooperative when it comes to our due date:)

I am working my last 4 hours at work this morning, then will make sure the items I have had packed for the last month are still what we will need at the hospital. We are both really excited and can not wait to find out if we are having a boy or a girl. Please cross your fingers that I have a short labor and smooth delivery.

The next time I post(and who knows when that will be) I will be a new mommy and probably have a bunch of adorable pictures for everyone. Have a great day and weekend!!!!

It's official: We are ready for the baby to be born!

The floors are all clean, the house is clean, we're stocked up on groceries, the nursery is ready, and although I will never kid myself about being completely ready to be a parent, I am ready to get the show on the road. Mostly though, I have reached the point where I am a little sick of being pregnant....

I am sick of getting up every 2 hours or less in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

I am sick of having to eat everything so slowly because my intestines are crushed and I can just barely digest food and even if I barely eat anything I still feel sick after it.

I am sick of needing help getting up if I am laying down on the couch.

I am sick of having to sleep with 20 pillows all positioned "just so" or I can not sleep.

I am really sick of my in-laws calling incessantly to see if we have had the baby. I am considering crossing them off our "to notify" list, because I know Jeff will be so excited, he probably wouldn't notice. But that is a little too mean, even for me. Seriously though people, we will tell you when we have the baby!!!!!

Other than that, I am sure it will be another fabulous day on the phones at work! And hopefully this kid will do me a favor and I will go into labor at any second!!!!!!

A quote to start out the week....

"I must learn to love the fool in me-the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled, masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool." -Theodore I. Rubin, MD

-If only it were that easy. And... in case you are wondering, we did not have our baby yet, I would like to now wait until next weekend, it will be much more convenient if the baby arrives on Friday. I think it is kind of hilarious that numerous people have called and when I answer, they say, "Did you have your baby?" I have taken to responding, "Yes, we had the baby in September, we are waiting until they are able to crawl until we tell anyone they exist, talk to you in 5 months!" I know- I crack myself up!

This post has been a longtime coming....

People tell me that I just don't complain enough when it comes to being pregnant. Which is kind of strange because anyone who knows me, knows I have STRONG opinions about EVERYTHING. However when it has come to being pregnant, these last 9 months, my due date is TODAY, I really haven't had many complaints. I have felt very lucky to not have much to complain about.

However there are a few things, I just need to sound off on....

#1)The only appropriate thing to ever say to some one who is carrying a baby about their appearance is, "YOU LOOK GREAT!" I am not sure why not many people are able to understand this, however they just can't seem to get it. Some of the comments I have gotten are, "WOW-you are huge!" "There is no way you are due this Thursday, you don't even look 7 months pregnant" "Are you sure you should be working out? Does your doctor know you are here?" and many many other comments that are just plain stupid.

#2)If you have planned your wedding and it is 9 days after our due date and involves a 45 minute car trip to get there...FIGURE IT OUT, we can't come to your wedding. We would love to RSVP yes, but seriously, we may have a baby who is just a few days old, how on earth could we show up at your wedding? And remember at our wedding, you were plastered prior to the ceremony and made a complete scene by making out ALL over the reception AND getting caught in the men's bathroom. So while we feel bad we will miss your special day, you should feel good that we won't be at your reception seeking revenge.

#3)I think it is a little funny when people ask if we are excited and when we say, "Yes!", they then act like we haven't given an appropriate response. Would you like me to start sobbing? Or do Cartwheels? WHAT?!?!? Of course, we are ecstatic, we can't wait to know if we are having a boy or a girl and feel like this is the biggest adventure of our lives. However, we are also people who are VERY realistic about all of the work it takes to bring home a little one, so while we blissfully await the arrival of Baby H, we are also enjoying all of these last moments beforehand when it is just the 2 of us.

So in summary, I would like to say that people should think before they speak, especially to ME!!!

Welcome to the World Jadie!

I have been meaning to post these adorable pictures of our soon to be baby's first friend: Jadie Lynn, who was born on Tuesday September 18th to our very great friends Mike and Marie and proud big sister Kylie.

Here are some pictures from this summer, when we went to Franklin to celebrate Marie's baby shower. You will notice both men are very proud of their pregnant stomachs. Jadie is going to be a heartbreaker - check out these completely adorable pictures.

Jeff and I can only take credit for the little red & white strawberries outfit she is wearing, it's the first thing we picked up when we found out Jadie was going to be a little girl back in May.

Congratulations to the whole Family and we can not wait to meet Jadie in person and introduce her to Baby H.!!!

It's not who you say you love...

It's how you treat the people you say you love. I have been thinking about this line from the movie, "The Last Kiss" for the past week or so. Even though Zach Braff's character drove me absolutely crazy in that movie, I just love this line. It's a great reminder that action speak louder than words.

It really hits home, if only I could use it to motivate myself to be a better person and treat those I love a little better. Oh well, I am working on it! :)

Should boys have dolls?

Recently Jeff & I were watching The Power of 10 - which in my book is a pretty stupid game show on CBS, however we are still waiting for the fall tv season to start AND the birth of our baby and then I am quite sure we will never be bored again.

So... we're watching it and one of the questions is something like, What percentage of Americans said it was okay for their male children to play with Barbies? And Jeff said "OMG-zero percent!" And I said,"WHAT?!?!?" I personally think there is nothing wrong with little boys playing with dolls and little girls playing with trucks. I think that kids should play with whatever they want! And when I tried to explain to Jeff that if you tell a kid they can't do something, that will make them want to do it even more, he looked pretty mystified. Boy is he in for a surprise!

If every weekend could be like last weekend...

I would be so happy!!! Maybe it is the impending birth of our child that makes everything we do seem really fun and exciting?!?!?

Friday night our pals Julie and Ben from Madison stayed with us on their way to Door County. And of course, that gave us a reason to go to our favorite dinner location, Royal Scot. Which was of course absolutely scrumptious. We had a great time and gave Julie and Ben their wedding gift which was a tad late, but they really loved it. I can take pretty much zero credit for the creation of the quilt, that would be all Angie O. & Barb!!!

Saturday we had donuts for breakfast, which it is so easy to justify when you are pregnant. I may have had 2 of them. I am pretty sure our child will be born asking for Coke Classic, chocolate and McDonalds. As long as they aren't vegan - we're going to get along just fine! After we got Julie and Ben on the road to Door County, we did some organizing around the house, Jeff hung a fabulous picture of the United States in the nursery(yes I will post pictures sometime soon) and set-up the mobile, I decided Saturday would be a lovely day to do some cooking and baking. So, I made a lasagna for the freezer, an apple pie for Jeff(I am determined to get better at apple pies, because they are one of Jeff's favorites), and a cheesy chicken biscuit casserole for dinner. I loved spending the whole day cooking in the kitchen. Who knows when I will be able to do this again. Although I do have a carrot cake cookie recipe that I still want to eek out before D-Day!

Sunday we traveled to West Allis and went to a fundraiser for our fabulous friends Brad & Jeni Kimminau's son Eddie. It was a great time, good to see our friends, eat yummy food and support finding a cure and treatment options for Morquio syndrome. And of course if you would like to support this cause, here is a link to Eddie's website http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/eddiek where there are always details on how you can help. Brad & Jen have an amazing family and are truly inspiring to us as we get ready to become parents, even with all of the adversity they have faced, they are the parents of 2 adorable, well-adjusted kids. We love them lots and can't wait to see them again! As always, please keep them in your thoughts and prayers!

WHY ARE DEER AND DELILAH SO STUPID??

As I drove home from what I am hoping will be my very last day bartending at the golf course last night at 10pm(yes, props to me, I stayed awake past 8) last night, I was pondering some things.

Anyone who has driven with me knows that I am completely petrified of deer. Some people think this is a little irrational, as I have never been attacked by a deer, however when I am driving, the deer seem to be drawn to my car. So of course, last night, coming down HWY 57, past UW-Green Bay(practically a deer sanctuary) I was thinking, "oh great I am sure a deer will dart out in front of my car at any second." Luckily that didn't happen, I made it all the way past UW-Green Bay and thought-SCORE! Then I noticed the person in front of me momentarily hit their brakes, and of course I wondered why. Until I saw THEM: a deer on either side of the HWY both looking like they could move at any second and total my car. So I ask you - WHY ARE DEER SO STUPID? Why when there are tons of wide open fields all over the place would you choose to have dinner standing in a gravel patch with cars whizzing by you at 70 mph? I made it safely past the deer and of course was then thinking it would be just a moment before another would show up along the beautiful highway.

Moving onto Delilah - remember her? I forgot about her radio show until last night. I happened to tune into it and heard a caller talking about her VBF, Very Best Friend, and it made me think of the fabulous ANGIE O. who celebrated her birthday yesterday. I was thinking, what a nice story-blah blah blah and then Delilah says,"Let me pick a song for you and your very best friend." I am thinking this is so obvious, it has to be the classic, "That's what friends are for!" But NO - what does moron Delilah pick - you will never guess because the song has NOTHING to do with friendship!!!! She plays "Tiny Dancer" by:Elton John, which is a GREAT song, but seriously what does it have to do with these ladies who have been friends for years and really rely upon each other. I will tell you: NOTHING! So, I don't miss Delilah's radio show and I will NEVER listen to it again.

WHERE HAVE I BEEN?

Lately I have not been super excited about blogging. Even though as we all know, I always have PLENTY to remark upon, I have just been crabby and wondering why bad things happen to good people. I am happy to report that I feel as if I am out of the funk. And when I think about having just about 5 weeks until our due date, I realize if there is something I need to say on the blog - I better get it done now, as I am pretty sure as soon as the baby is born that I will not have much time for blogging at all.

So - to summarize what I have been up to in the last week or so:

-Had a birthday, it was very low key, which was perfect, I am now completely stocked up with jog suits and new pajamas, which is all I wear anyway.

-Went to the Honey Pot in Two Rivers, a very cute collectibles and gift shop, where they have not Build-a-bears, But another type of things and Jeff & I made a very special stuffed animal for Baby H. I think the picture above says it all, Jeff and our new monkey!

-Traveled to Door County with my mom while Jeff was at the Fantasy Football Draft, we spent the day sitting around outside at Auntie Connie's fabulous cabin and then enjoyed a traditional fish boil for dinner. I can't wait to go back next year, hopefully the baby likes to travel.

-We almost have the nursery completed, one wall left to do(I swear I will upload pictures as soon as we are done

-I have also finally uploaded the pictures from our digital camera that went all the way back to February. Who knows what I have been waiting for, BUT- I will be sure to share the pictures as it relates to whatever I am discussing.

Other than that, I am super excited that my dear friend Christine is visiting tomorrow. It has been so long since we got together that I can't even remember when I last saw her. Hopefully the weather will be nice and we can enjoy it!

Have a great weekend!

My husband, the snake hunter!

You may recall that about a month or so ago I told you about Jeff's adventures in our backyard with field mice. Since this time, Jeff has decided to let the mice peacefully exist in our backyard. We have hawks in the neighborhood and we thought they would help to get rid of the problem. We also thought about getting a cat as a mouser to make sure the problem never makes its way into our house. Well - Jeff has a new ally in the yard that will also help combat the mice.

Last weekend(2 Saturdays back) we had a big thunder storm. I of course didn't know this was happening as I was COMPLETELY deeply asleep. Jeff came scampering into our bedroom to make sure that the built-in stereo wasn't kicked on by the power surge from the lightning, like the downstairs stereo was. And then I was awake to enjoy the lightning lighting up our entire room every 2 minutes. I was not happy - Jeff of course, like the little boy at heart he was, was having a great time enjoying the lightning. Finally he decided to get a better view by heading downstairs to the patio. I was about to drift back to sleep when Jeff again burst into our room and announced that he needed batteries. I said, highly annoyed,"What do you need batteries for at 2 in the morning?" Jeff, all excited said, " I think there is a snake on the patio and I want to look at it with a flashlight!" I told him to have fun and to tell me all about it in the morning. The next morning Jeff was happy to report that indeed there was a snake slithering across our patio during the storm and that hopefully the snake would meet the mice and we would not have to get a cat to help us with our rodent problem.

Thank you God- The Hills is back!

Hello friends near and far - As you know, since finding out we were expecting back in February, we have done A LOT of TV watching at our house, because usually by about 6pm, I am completely non-functional. Well, this summer has provided many many TV viewing challenges for me. There has been not anything SUPER good on. Even my old favorites, Hell's Kitchen and Big Brother have left A LOT to be desired. Hell's Kitchen because, well, I have worked in many kitchens for many years and not with anyone QUITE as crazy as Gordon Ramsey, but a lot of people who are CLOSE to his level of psychosis, and let me tell you, NO ONE I know working in a kitchen gets it wrong as much as the people on this show. Seriously, if you have ever worked at any type of restaurant, you know that food does not get screwed up or sent back more than 5% of the time. Especially when these people have 9 hours to prep. And Big Brother - where can I start?!? If I have to listen to one of those idiots on there pray for help from God one more time, I am not watching it anymore. There is a reason I don't seek faith from the television - BECAUSE IT IS STUPID!!!!

Luckily however, The Hills on MTV premiered Monday night(I watched it this morning because of course I was sleeping when it was on). This show is great, it's like being back in college, but not having to live any of the drama yourself. I could watch the show over and over again. And while I sometimes think that Lauren is a bit of an idiot, I do love her clothes! So- finally a show to look forward to!

My husband, the mouse hunter

Jeff & I can't seem to do anything without it being a HUGE adventure. And I do mean anything. Last Saturday we were weeding our playset. You may wonder why we have to weed our sandbox. That would be because the fabulous people who put the playset up didn't properly put the bottom in. Instead of having one sheet of rubber and then covering it with woodchips, they put down multiple sheets and imagine this: WEEDS grow through the spaces!!!!! Of course it is our own fault we haven't weeded it since May, but we have had better things to do with our time.

We both were working to pull all of the weeds out Saturday when I noticed what looked like an upside down birds nest on the outside of the playset. I immediately thought it was mice. So I say to my fearless husband, "When I go inside, could you please take care of this?" Not that I am that scared of mice, I just didn't want to see what was going to happen to the little pests. SO I continue weeding about 3 feet from the mouse house and turn my IPOD back on. Suddenly I see Jeff approach the mouse house with a stick and start jabbing at it. I thought maybe he was just trying to figure out how to remove it/how heavy it was. Oh no, he was out for blood, because suddenly I hear squeaking over my IPOD, so I turn to see Jeff running away from the mouse house, looking totally petrified, leaving me 3 feet away to be attacked by mice. When I asked Jeff why he didn't wait until I was in the house to do this, he seemed confused. Next time, I am just going to get a cat from the humane society and turn it loose in the yard.

A Very Cute Love Story

A few weeks ago, Jeff and I were out for dinner at the fabulous golf course where I work part time, Royal Scot and we were chatting with a very charming older couple. They are the parents of Joy, the owner and I have known them for about 12 years. They have been married for almost 60 years.

Owen was telling us about when they met, it was at a dance and he saw Delores(who still wears her hair in a red beehive) and decided that he should try to walk her home. So, Delores accepts and they make their way home. Owen decides that he should try to kiss Delores. Bad move, because Delores has already decided that she is going to tangle Owen in the telephone or radio wire, that back in those days hung down from the house. So when Owen decides to kiss her, she tangles him up in the wire and runs into the house. He knows right then and there that this is the lady for him and we he spots her downtown a few weeks later, he asks her on a proper date. And now, 60 years later, they are still having a blast together. HOW ADORABLE!

Yep - I look pregnant!

So - it's really happened, I have a HUGE belly and actually look pregnant. I noticed the other day when I was coming in from the front yard and caught my reflection in the front door. It was a little alarming. Then I traveled to Milwaukee for our company's quarterly meeting. It was obvious that yes I do look pregnant because, well - everyone could tell. And only one person tried to touch my stomach and I was not okay with it, but don't worry ladies and gentlemen, I am still quick and I dodged the touch.

On a hilarious note, one of the books I am reading that offers a bunch of tips on pregnancy gave these two ideas for combating the people who think prodding your stomach is a great idea and not at all inappropriate.

The first is to scream, "OUCH!!!!" at the top of your lungs.

The second is to say,"Do you realize you are touching my uterus?"

Both of them crack me up. For the record, I am a-ok with any of my close friends and family touching my belly. I think it is endearing and I know they are excited just like we are to meet Baby H. Just under 3 months to go!

A book I have found very helpful as we stock up on all of our baby gear is: "Baby Bargains" by: Denise & Alan Fields. I would recommend picking it up if you are in the market for any sort of baby gear.

A great reason to read my blog(did you know I had a blog???)

Summer is just cruising by, isn't it? I have taken a few weeks off from posting - I know bad bad! However I had some reasons, we took a trip to Chicago to celebrate being married for a WHOLE YEAR and we spent a lot of time relaxing. If I ever get around to uploading pictures, I will post some. If you have any plans to go to Chicago this summer I would recommend seeing Wicked and having dinner at the Signature Room which is on the 95th floor of the Hancock building. We had a fabulous time and will definitely go back someday when we aren't gearing up to buy hundreds of diapers! ANYWAY- onto what is really important, the subject of this post, our great friends, the Kimminau's(Brad, Jeni, Eddie & Makena).

Please look at the following, visit Eddie's website and pass this information along to anyone you feel may want to contribute to Eddie's cause. And of course anything you can do to help this very special family is much appreciated!

And before I sign off for today, I would just like to say that the Kimminau family is always in our thoughts and prayers. When I met Brad & Jeni, Eddie was about 3 months old and they were some of Jeff's best friends. I now consider them some of our best friends and really admire how they have built such a wonderful family.

Here is the information Brad and Jeni shared with their circle of friends and family a few weeks ago:

Hi Friends and Family,
I am writing to update you on our son Eddie. Eddie was diagnosed with Morquio Syndrome last August. He has had his share of struggles in his short life, but we are hoping that soon those struggles will be lessened. I have attached a brochure that explains what he is going through, what Morquio Syndrome is, and how Brad and I are so hopeful that a treatment will soon be a reality.

Brad and I, along with wonderful family and friends, are planning a fundraiser on September 16th to raise money solely for research to find a treatment for Morquio Syndrome. If you would like to help by donating your time, items for auction, concessions, or a monetary donation, we would be so thankful.

For information on how you can help with the fundraiser or for more information check out Eddie's website: www.caringbridge.org/visit/eddiek, and feel free to pass this on.

Most Sincerely,
Jeni & Brad Kimminau

A typical Monday night at our house.....

Have any of you been experiencing the summertime HORRIBLE prime time TV blues like we have? Seriously every night we are BORED silly trying to find one program to watch. Of course on Mondays we like to watch Hell's Kitchen at 8pm, but when Jeff and I are both done working by 4:30pm, we still have a lot of time to kill to get to 8pm.

We may have found a solution last night....He-Man. You remember He-Man, don't you?? "By the Power of Grayskull - I HAVE THE POWER" Jeff picked up a very cheap DVD from Walmart loaded with He-man episodes and it provided us with more than an hour of entertainment. This is nothing more hilarious than watching a cartoon character with a killer pageboy bob fight off characters like BEASTMAN and MERMAN. We will be watching some more episodes tonight in fact.

What has been your strategy to beat the summertime TV blahs?

I Want Candy!!!

It all started the other day, Angie O. & I were shopping and she needed to pick up some candy for a gift she was putting together. So - we went down the candy aisle at Target. First I picked up some Raisinettes covered in dark chocolate, then I remembered that Jeff and I wanted to try the dark chocolate M & M's. And it has been a chocolate feeding frenzy for me ever since.

I would highly recommend the Raisinettes, they are a little yummier than normal raisinettes, which I LOVE. The M & M's don't really taste all that different from regular M & M's, BUT if you need a reason to pick up a whole bag, really, go ahead and try them!

I wonder what I will be like....

When I am older...

As many of you know I work for a company that sells products to the long term care industry. Meaning nursing homes, senior living centers, etc. etc. So I probably think about getting older and what they will mean for me a little more often than the average person.

However, it doesn't stop me from thinking that a lot of old people are really annoying or scary. And lately I have found myself wondering, will I be pleasant or will I be annoying and scary. I am really hoping I will spend my days as an old lady knitting, golfing, baking and drinking martinis. And not complaining unless I really have something to complain about.

And you know I have examples of scary & annoying old people - so here they are:

ANNOYING#1) Some customers at the golf course, I am thinking of a very specific old lady. They don't have drinks at the bar, they go right to their table. BUT - you better be there waiting to take their drink order, and they better not wait more than 30 seconds once a drink is finished to have another coming. Also - don't even think about taking their dinner order before they have sat at the table for 20 minutes, or a little more, or a little less - and if you come too early, or late to take their order, they will yell at you for it. To mess with them, I almost always put their bill together, even though they ask for it separately. I figure I am preventing them from dementia, by helping them keep their math skills sharp.

ANNOYING/SCARY #2) Jeff and I had dinner last Saturday at PLAE bistro - which if you live in Green Bay, I would recommend trying it. A very nice little place - we ate outside on their new patio, not much of a view, however nice to dine al fresco whenever we can. Anyway, back to the elderly. We were seated at a table next to an elderly couple. The little old lady looked harmless enough, your typical whitehead with curly hair and a little pantsuit outfit. The man - he looked like a slimeball, ratty t-shirt and very very short white shorts on. He also acted like a slimeball. He kept ordering the little old lady more and more and more drinks and talking about the waitress' backside. You may wonder how we could hear their conversation so well...they must have been a little hard of hearing because everything they were saying was semi-yelled. Grandpa Grossness then went on to start talking about the types of undergarments that little old ladies at the nursing home they live at pull out of the laundry. Who knew....some of the lil old ladies still wear thongs. Really- very pleasant dinner convo:)

So to tempt fate, I would like to say right now, I am vowing to be pretty normal when I am old, not scary, not annoying, not complaining about everything, I think I will just be happy to be alive!

What is with the Lawn Gnomes?

Hello there after much too long of a break. I wish I could tell you I did something exciting with all of my time off from blogging, but I would be lying. Beyond yard work, napping, and a few Brewer Games, I am up to not much of anything. Which is good, I should take full advantage of resting now, because comes October, I have a feeling I will not be resting.

As I drive around our fabulous city of Green Bay, I have begun to notice an alarming trend. People actually have ceramic(well who knows what they are made of, either way they are hideous!) lawn gnomes and figurines on their lawns. One of our neighbors has what looks like a Dutch girl and boy on their lawn. This crap is just hideous! And I am sorry if I am insulting anyone, but seriously, can you not find something more normal to put on your lawn? I have plenty of suggestions - a basket of flowers, a lemonade stand, one of those mini flag holders, ANYTHING is better than gnomes, Dutch people, or donkeys!!!!

Songs that changed your Life!

Recently, my fabulous friend Angie posted a very interesting blog with this title. I thought I would be a copycat and also post my thoughts on some songs that are emblazoned upon my memory.

Song #1: "Look Away" by: Chicago

This is a classic roller rink song for me. Chicago was the first supergroup that I was fascinated with. Every time I hear this song, I still think about a moonlight skate at the roller rink.

Song#2: "All Cried Out" by: Allure.

My poor roommate from college, Kim - she probably had to listen to this song on repeat for about 4 months during the famous Marcus breakups of sophomore year. But WOW - did this song sum up another heart wrenching time in my life. Heartache used to be one of my hobbies, that and drinking.

Song#3: "Mo$MoProblems" by: Notorious B.I.G & Diddy.

If you know me and hung out with me anytime in the last 15 years, you know that I love to dance, but it has to be to the right song. And this my friends, is the right song. I love dancing to this song and rapping along. In fact I think I am going to give birth to a hip hop loving baby, because it is still the music I listen to most!

Song #4: "100 Years" by: Five for Fighting.

This is a beautiful song and it is the song that Jeff and I call our own. It came out not long after we started dating and it made both of us think of each other.

Song #5: "Hotel California" by: The Eagles & "Silver Spring" by:Fleetwood Mac

Really any songs by the Eagles or Fleetwood Mac are among my very favorite songs. I saw Fleetwood Mac in concert a few years ago and it was literally a euphoric experience. I am still waiting to see The Eagles live - Someday I will. If you want to come with me, let me know.

GRANDMA!

My Grandma is a very interesting lady. Some may call her abrasive or rude, I will stick with interesting, because even though Grandma has never used a computer, I still think she may have some way of detecting that I am talking about her.

We visited her on mother's day and she asked me if I was still working or if I would be quitting to take care of the baby. When I explained that I planned to go back to working full time after taking a 12 week leave after the baby is born, she asked me who was going to help me. So, I told her Jeff, my husband, thinking that was obvious. Grandma then went on to say that it is entirely acceptable to bash Jeff in the head if he is not waking up fast enough to take care of the baby. I CAN'T WAIT!

So, if you haven't met my grandma, I guess count your blessings. And if you do ever meet the lovely Gladys, don't sit too close to her, you never know when she might BASH some one.

Who takes a pregnant lady to Happy Hour?

MY PARENTS!!!! I was staying at their house last Tuesday night, which is the standard protocol when I have to be in Milwaukee for work, so my commute is an hour instead of 90 minutes, and these two crazies insisted that we go to Double Bubble at Friar Tucks. Which was of course a wonderful time.

I got to see my sister, who I haven't seen in probably 2 months. We all went to dinner at Harborside, which is this fabulous but tiny restaurant in Manty that is truly unbelievable. I had Dijon Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potato Fries. I would score this a 10 - they are just a great restaurant. If you are ever in Manty - you must try Harborside.

So as is customary whenever my family gets together, we talk about service and cuisine at restaurants. I was sharing that when I work at the golfcourse, it is so annoying to split tickets for people because our kitchen requires that all of the entrees be on only one sheet of paper. As a waitress who adores efficiency, I have this huge problem writing all of the items down twice. Then we started talking about upcharges, for example, last night my dinner was supposed to come with rice, but I wanted the sweet potato fries, and this was a $2 difference - which is a little hard to believe, but I will gladly pay it to get the fries. My dad said, this is what they should do at restaurants, "Charge one price, and you can substitute whatever you want and have whatever you want - and it is easy to divide between a group." My sister said, "Dad - they have places like that - they are called Buffets!" Hilarious, even my dad totally cracked up at that.

In baby news, I am a few days away from 20 weeks, meaning the halfway point!!! Although it is a relief to be hitting that 1/2 way mark, my pals and co-workers at work tell me that it's all downhill from here, get ready for the massive weight gain, being really hot this summer and uncomfortable. I am hoping that summer just zooms by and that I somehow manage to trick this kid into sleeping at night when I am trying to sleep. Because right now, if I am sleeping on my right side, this baby wants to go left, then when I roll over, the baby wants to be just where we started. This kid is already just like it's father: ANNOYING!

The Life List

Recently 2 of my fabulous friends and favorite fellow bloggers Barb (http://fancysimple.blogspot.com/2007/05/life-list.html) & Ang (http://secretsoda.blogspot.com/) have created a very fun little project on their blogs.

It's the Life List and Here is mine:

#1) Maintain a work/life/motherhood balance and not feel guilty about being a working mother

#2) Travel to Italy and Australia

#3) Travel to all 50 states with our children and have great adventures

#4) Figure out a way to make money doing what I love: Event planning and being creative

#5) Appreciate how lucky I am each day to have a wonderful husband and beautiful home.

#6) Get caught up on all the projects I have fabulous ideas for

#7) Start planning regular events to get all my fabulous friends together.

What's on your list? Feel free to post it here!

Do you watch Entourage on HBO?

It is such a great show. I usually watch it via DVR on Mondays or Tuesdays because there is way too much essential TV on Sunday nights. Anyway - if you have never seen the show, you must seriously watch it as soon as possible. It's about Hollywood and agents and actors and all the people in an actor's posse and is seriously just hilarious.

My two favorite lines from this week's episode are( I will set these up for you, so you can at least semi-understand what is going on if you don't watch the show),

This is Ari Gold, who is a very cut throat agent and always has the BEST lines, he is at couples therapy with his wife, who has accused him of taking his job too personally, "I have hundreds of clients and they are all just numbers to me, just like you are WIFE #1 and you are THERAPIST #7!"

And then later in the show one of the posse members says,"Every man loves a woman filled with rage." For some reason I really connected with this line. Go figure!

Why on Earth???

There are some things I have been pondering lately. And of course - in my book, they are hilarious. You'll have to let me know if you agree.

First, if you were say about 70ish and drove a Buick and were the quintessential "old lady" type. Why would you have a bluetooth handsfree cell phone? I am not kidding, a little old lady driving a Buick almost backed into me the other day. And I wasn't even mad she almost hit me, I was more concerned about why she would have a bluetooth in her ear. Who knows - maybe she is a drug dealer. Meanwhile, back in Manitowoc, my grandma refuses to let go of her answer machine with the little tape in it from the 80s - because she doesn't want to learn about any new fangled answering machines without tapes.

Second, let's say you are at a bridal shower. You are asked to give sage advice on marriage. For the record my sage advice on marriage is to DEMAND what you want - it's the only way you will get it! Anyway, back to the bridal shower, you are asked to give advice and you say, "Marriage is all about being together with your husband and really enjoying things together. I know when my first marriage failed, it was because I really pulled away from my husband and was more concerned with my own self." Oh yes - this is almost verbatim. Where do these people come from?? Who brings up divorce at a bridal shower?

Other than that I have not a ton of news. We are continuing to settle into the new house. And planning a fabulous housewarming party for May. (If you haven't RSVPed yet - what are you waiting for??) I also have the hugest appetite ever that I am trying to keep under control- some times it works, sometimes it doesn't. Have a good week!

Where would I be without Oil of Olay AND Breathe Right Strips???

Kind of a strange combo - but these things are life savers! I will tell you why... I am pretty sure most everyone who reads this blog is aware that Jeff and I are expecting our first baby. I am due 10/11/07. Now if I haven't told you and you find out on the blog - I am sorry, but between moving, unpacking, painting, cleaning our old apartment, and continuing to work non stop I am a little frazzled these days.

Anyway on to the Oil of Olay. One of the pregnancy symptoms I have been afflicted with is BAD SKIN! First, I tried to stick with my fabulous Aveeno Pure Radiance - it not only completely dried my skin out, it caused some of the most disgusting zits I have seen in years. Then I tried to move to a different Aveeno cleanser because I love Aveeno - NO DICE, same problem. So...onto the classic Oil of Olay daily facial wipes and the fabulous pink beauty fluid. It is working like a charm!!! Now I can actually leave the house and not worry about scaring people.

And Breathe Rights - they are the only reason I am getting any sleep. My breathing sucks to begin with, and how wonderful, when you are pregnant one of the symptoms is having difficulty breathing and becoming permanently congested. So every night, Jeff slaps a breathe right on my nose and I can actually breathe. I have thought about wearing them all day everyday, but I am much too vain.

And really, being with child is not too bad - I could be hunched over the toilet right now:)

Happy Birthday Christine!

Today is a very important day - It is the birthday of Christine, one of my favorite people in the whole world. Christine is one of those special people that is so nice, I call her the nicest person in the world. And I really mean it - I can only hope to ever attain the level of niceness of Christine!

Besides being nice, Christine is hilarious! If I had to pick one thing I miss most about Milwaukee it would be being able to hang out with Christine anytime the mood struck. We used to workout together 4 days a week. And many of the most hilarious things happened in cardio boxing. There were some characters in there!

This has been quite a year for Christine - she got engaged to Kevin(whom I like to take personal credit for introducing her to at Kickball), and they bought their first house. VERY EXCITING! I hope this next year is just as wonderful, because if anyone deserves it - it is Christine!

Home Stretch

That's actually a bit of an overstatement when it comes to how much we have actually accomplished when it comes to moving. BUT - I am writing this blog from my NEW and improved office, where I am confident a lot of magic will happen. So- my office is moved over to the new house and mostly unpacked. We have completed painting and in about 45 minutes I will be back over at the apartment frantically packing so Jeff has something to move tomorrow, while I continue to pack more and more and more!

And next week I promise to actually take some pictures(If Jeff remembers what he did with our camera) and give you a little tour of the new place.

Have a great weekend all!

I trick my husband because I can...



Sometimes, just for fun, I trick my darling husband Jeff. I don't do it to be mean, I do it because I can. And it's sort of funny, okay it's REALLY funny!

When I/We were picking out paint for our new house, there was a color I really enjoyed. It's called Blushed Cotton. Now I knew it was a very pale, almost white pink. I showed Jeff a picture where it looked more neutral than pink. So this past weekend, imagine his surprise when he opened that can of paint and discovered it was pale pink. He begrudgingly painted the guest room in Blushed Cotton while I innocently proclaimed I couldn't believe it was pink because it looked SO neutral.

Ha! Ha! I fooled you!

In other news, have you ever wanted to slap the person waiting on you at a restaurant. Jeff and I went to the Red Robin last week Sunday for dinner and we had the worst service ever there. Our server appeared to be extremely distracted or stoned or something. We had to ask for everything multiple times because her memory span was 5 seconds. Then finally at the end of our meal we were ready to go and she had stopped at the table right behind us to take their order. Well, they were clearly not ready to order, but instead of saying the standard,"I will give you a few minutes" she stood there and started randomly suggesting things off the menu and then reciting the ingredients. She did this for more than 5 minutes while we were waiting and waiting for our bill. It was hilarious, anyone who is literate can tell what is on all the burgers and what is in each salad, but she seriously recited almost the whole menu. We will never sit in her section again.

Another thing that is hilarious, at least to me is that while I was at Walmart last night, I saw these 2 guys, both of whom were super tall, like 6'4, and then were each standing on a different side of their cart and they both were grabbing the 2 liter bottles of Sam's Cola, 2 at a time and filling their cart. They were doing this very quickly, like on Supermarket Sweep. It was so funny, I almost took a picture, but, I stopped myself.

Have a great weekend all!

Happy Birthday to Heidi!!!!!

Today is my little sister's 25th birthday and I can't believe it. In my book, her turning 25 makes her older than me, since I have been 24.5 for the last 4 years. So it is a very special day. And Miss Heidi is having a wonderful week - she just got a new job working in the kitchen in the Kohler company. I believe it is in their Wisconsin Dining Room, but I don't remember - I know bad sister! But I am so proud that she is going to be working at such a fancy smancy place!

To celebrate we are going to the CourtHouse Pub in Manty tonight for dinner and then having a drink at the Linebacker. I am hoping that my mom and sister don't get too crazy, but you never know with them. They both like to stay out until bar close:)

Happy Birthday Heidi Esther and many more!!!!

Things that baffle me

I will limit myself to talking about 2 things that have baffled me lately.

First - why do people talk loudly about you when you are right there and can hear what they are saying? This past Saturday I was in line at Einstein Bros. bagel in Milwaukee and I pushed my sunglasses on top of my head and these ladies behind me started talking about how my engagement ring had to be cubic zirconia. How dumb are they? I mean, I have a very nice sized ring, but no one is going to confuse me with Zsa Zsa Gabor or Elizabeth Taylor in the jewelry department. Usually I would have addressed them and let them know I knew exactly what they were talking about, but since we were on 27th & Oklahoma and they out weighed me by about 200#s I actually decided to let it go. But I am still baffled.

Second - if you are one of my customers, why on earth would you call me at 5:56am? I mean, don't get me wrong, I am in the office by roughly 7am each day and usually available until at least 5pm. But you call at 5:56am? Did you really think I would be here and answer the phone? BAFFLING!

Finally, a friend of mine recently posted about Penzey's Spices and just how wonderful they are. She specifically mentioned my addiction to the Salsa seasoning sprinkled on Mac & Cheese. Well I had this delicious combination yesterday and I can reconfirm, it is absolutely SCRUMPTIOUS!!!! If you have never tried Penzey's spices, please, pick some up ASAP - you don't know what you are missing. And on my macaroni and cheese tangent, let me say that I really want to eat either mac & cheese or buttermilk pancakes every night for dinner - isn't that the most bizarre craving you have ever heard?

Have a good day everyone!!!!

What a Weekend!

What a fabulous busy weekend - I am still recovering, let me tell you!

Friday I was in Milwaukee for work and then had the pleasure of getting to stay over at Kim & Creighton's House. And also go and see Connor at the hospital. Connor is currently tipping the scales at almost 5 pounds. He is adorable and very curious about everything going on around him, he loves it when his mom and dad hold him and is quite a cuddler. Let's all say a prayer that his lungs will improve and he will be home with his mommy & daddy really soon. I know they can't wait. And the nursery they have all decked out for Connor is filled with sports stuff and teddy bears and lots of books.

Saturday morning I was up bright and early and on the road back to Green Bay - I had to get to our new house and get ready for the washer and dryer to be delivered. They showed up about noon. I then headed to lunch with Angie and Barb. After lunch we crafted for about 6 straight hours on a beautiful project that I am so excited about. Let me tell you, though - Angie & Barb are the real crafters, I just do what they tell me. This way, nothing gets ruined!

Saturday night, Barb's husband Brad came over from Appleton and Jeff and I went out to dinner with Barb & Brad and Ang & Mike to Titletown Brewery - it was a hilarious time. I am really looking forward to some BBQ's with the 6 of us this summer.

Sunday was the start of painting at our new house. We are so lucky to have such nice friends, as Ang and Mike were over and literally taped off the entire bottom level of our house. Angie is seriously full of tips on painting and she knows exactly what she is talking about. Ang & Mike are so great and saved us so much time. While they were over, my mom & cousin Patrick came up to help also. Patrick dove right into painting and is a pro, he is also taller than any of the rest of us and it was great to have him for rolling whole walls. He pretty much painted my office single handedly. My Mom taped off the entire upstairs by herself and also brought some yummy chicken wings and her now famous brownies that are like eating a brownie with a candy bar in the middle. AMAZING! Later in the day, my good friend Korey drove up from Manty and we discovered that she is an amazing edger, so she was in charge of all the detailing and evening out as we painted. We still have a long way to go, but it's getting there. Jeff is going over pretty much all day today, and I am heading over at 4pm to hopefully paint the entire upstairs tonight. Then, we have the monstrous kitchen, dining room, & living room left, which has the SCARY high ceilings and a TON of wall space.

That's all for now - have a great week everyone! And I promise to replace the batteries in my camera and take some pictures of our beautifully painted rooms!

A little Inspiration for today....

I saw this quote the other day reading O magazine, which was my holiday gift from Christine - thanks sista!

"Be what you are. Give what is yours to give. Have Style. Dare." -Stanley Kunitz

I love this quote - it is just so inspiring yet not too fluffy.

Doesn't it make it sound so easy? Just be who/what you are, give what you can, be stylish and take some risks along the way. Isn't that what life is all about?

And I wish I could remember to be more daring sometimes. It's funny, I used to be a lot more daring than I am now. Nothing used to scare me, now it seems like sometimes everything scares me. For example when we were in Hawaii, Jeff was absolutely fearless when it came to hiking anywhere, out into the ocean on lava rocks, through lava tubes on the way to Hana, into deep dark caves. I was just not into it. Most of the time, I just sent him in by himself, as really I like to look at scenery, I don't need to crawl around in it. There was one beautiful cave that we hiked down into and it had a pool at the bottom of it, of course, I was content to stare at the pool from the safe upper ledge, not Jeff, he was seriously scaling down the walls of this cave. So, the moral of this story is, I need to be more daring and Jeff needs to be less dangerous!!!

What about you - do you feel more or less daring now that you are a "grown-up"? And what does this quote mean to you?

THE HONEYMOON IS OVER!!!!

Literally - we returned from our honeymoon about a week ago. We took a wonderful vacation to Hawaii, spending about 4 days in Oahu, mostly Waikiki Beach and 4 days in Maui, where we were all over the place from Wailea to Lahaina, to Hana - it was great!!!

My very favorite things we did were whale watching in Maui and visiting Pearl Harbor in Oahu. Overall the trip was just pure bliss, beautiful weather, beautiful scenery, romantic dinners and tropical drinks.

The history of Hawaii and the Hawaiian people is so interesting and we learned so much on our trip. I loved the laidback attitude of most everyone we encountered, "How's it Brah?", however I will say the waiters and waitresses that we ran into who were potheads took it a little far, but were entertaining nonetheless. We also had some very interesting celebrity sightings on this trip. We started with Alison Sweeney, AKA Sami Brady at the GB airport, since it was 7:30 am, she was not very pleasant looking. Then in Maui we were seated at the gorgeous restaurant Sorrento's across from the actor Richard Chamberlain, he was the priest in the Thornbirds, he was also in Shogun. And we are pretty sure Barbara Billingsley, who was June Cleaver on Leave it to Beaver was at Sorrento's also, but we couldn't get a good look at her.

I would say everyone needs to go to Hawaii at least once in their life, I plan on going back as soon as possible.

Milestone Day

Well kids - today is a fabulous day in the history of Ang & Jeff. 3 years ago today Jeff and I started dating. It has been a wonderful 3 years and so much has happened since we got together. Obviously we got married last July, we moved to Green Bay from Milwaukee last May, we both have made major career changes since we got together. And now we are busy living happily ever after.

Jeff was a wonderful boyfriend right from the very start. On our first date he took me to the Hi-Hat AND Eddie Martini's. And I have been over the moon and impressed with him ever since. Sometimes I wonder how on earth he can put up with me, his fortitude is obviously off the charts. Then there are the times I wonder how on earth I can put up with him. Somehow I know we will never be able to live without each other, because at the end of the day, he's the only one in the world for me.

To commemorate this special day, we may put in our first offer on our first home. We went to look at it last night and it is SOOOO gorgeous, we would be ecstatic to live there. However, since it is a hot property, there is a good change we will not get it, which is fine with us, it is a little early for us to be closing, but this house could be where we live for MANY years. I would put a link to it up, but I am too paranoid some one might see it and put an offer in.With that being said, I need to hit the ground running today, because I have to call some mortgage brokers, our accountant, workout, and determine what we are going to offer on this home all before Jeff leaves at 2:30pm.Did I mention that I am going to also try and get my laundry done today, while I am working? Yes - things are nuts here. Hope you have a nice Tuesday - love Ang.