Pumpkin Carvin Fun

Last night Jeanette, Sarah, Haley, Ashley and I all got together to carve pumpkins at Ashley's house. We started the night with a giagantic chicken pot pie from Costco...fantastic job Costco! We all picked our patterns out of a really cool book. I have never used one of those patterns before, in the past I would just wing it! My first thoughts about the books were that they took the creativitiy and individuality out of pumpkin carving, but I did enjoy the pumpkin turning out cute! Everyone's pumpkin turned out super cute...and of course we took pictures...group pictures...seemed like back in high school. We finished the night off with some fantastic brownies that Ashley baked for us and we took out the garbage (Ashley has some pretty scary back stairs)!

Splish-Splash, I Had A Blast

Donovan and I started our swim class today...it's called the Shrimp group...how fun! When we entered the pool Donovan seemed a bit nervous, but warmed up quickly to the water. We had a very successful day that was not marred by any crying or fusing. Donovan was having more fun watching the toddler group splash around with their floaties then he was with the Shrimp group singing songs. We sung lots of fun songs; Humpty Dumpty, The Wheels On The Bus, The Hokey Pokey and the song about marching troops up and down a hill (can't remember the name). We also got to play with a fun little toy and chase it around the pool. We did a lot of walking in circles and that was fun too!

Now, I know that Donovan is the cutest baby in the world, but I just didn't realize how much cuter he is then every other baby. There was a baby there that weighed 29 pounds and was 6 months old. You couldn't tell that he had a neck because his huge head rolled over into his large back. He was the fattest little thing I have ever seen. His mother was also a little unusual, not physically, but mentally. She was talking to me and she said, "I can't believe how big my son looks compared to everyone else's baby. I thought for sure that he would be the smallest one here today." I replied, "Are you joking?!?" She was like, "What?" I was done with our conversation, and hopped away while saying, "Nice to meet you!" Hopefully I am not the bitchy unsociable mom in the class...but there seems to be some others that are much more bitchy than me. There were a few other nice moms that I got to talk to, their babies were mediocre. Maybe Donovan and I can make some friends and have play dates...I'm not sure that will happen...the yuppie moms probably won't like my parenting style or the fact that we don't live in Oak Park.

The instructor is nice...he was kind of like a big teddy bear sort of guy...not gay by the way. Good news is that the stupid secretaries at the front desk were wrong and daddy can come too! Donovan will have alot of fun with both mommy and daddy there.

The locker rooms were kind of nasty...Especially because old women take nude showers. I covered Donovan's eyes when we walked by and the lady glared at me, but hey...I don't want him exposed to that king of gore.

All in all, we had a wonderful time in swimming class, and can't wait to do it again next week. Splish Splash!

McSucks

Jeanette and I had another McSucky experience at McDonalds and we emailed our complaint to McDonalds Corporate...here is the letter:

We are loyal McDonalds customers who enjoy playing the Monopoly game annually. We went this morning (we have been boycotting you because of all your crap chicken sandwiches and the change of the numbered meals*) to collect some game pieces and a playing board. We ordered two breakfast meals with medium drinks. One of the meals was incorrect, however; very tasty. As posted on the menu board, medium drinks should come with Monopoly pieces - ours did not! We also asked for a monopoly board and ketchup packets...neither of which we received, but we were told that they were in the bag.

* The new menu is very disappointing. The overwhelming number of chicken sandwiches is unappealing. Also, the retiring of most of the good meals is sad to your long time customers who go to McDonalds for their famous hamburgers.

The Forest Park McDonalds also seems to always be having problems with their ice cream machine...is there any way they could get that fixed? I don't understand how a high traffic location is so ilequiped to deal with customer wants.

Your signature Big Mac sandwich does not come with Monopoly pieces...only the chicken sandwiches do...is there a reason other than the inundation of marketing that the Big Mac is left in the cold.

Thank you for your time.

We will continue to visit your establishments, but definetly will not be as frequent.

Sincerely,
Jenny and Jeanette

Sorry Harry - I guess We Would Be Enemies

SLYTHERIN! You scored 68% Slytherin, 20% Ravenclaw, 28% Gryffindor, and 16% Hufflepuff!

Or perhaps in Slytherin You'll make your real friends, These cunning folk use any means To achieve their ends. Slytherins are known for their ambition, guile, and Machiavellian sensiblities.

The Zombie Survivor Test

Hero You are 84% Zombie - Savy!

You know what you're doing, kiddo. Shotguns can run out of bullets, but a nice katana by your side will never fail when you have to slice through some brains. You know that once people are zombies, there is nothing of the old them left. They are nothing but walking shells. However, you know when it's better to run than fight. You also know exactly where you should hold up. You will be the leader of a group of survivors. Watch out and don't get too attatched to the group members (except if you could nail one of them). You may have to sacrifice yourself to save them. Oh, and look out for the twat. Go to www.okcupid.com/tests/take there are about 10,000 different quizzes to be found...a few really fun tests!

I Love My New Desk!

Although I am saddened by Ashley departure...I am loving her desk! I have moved my stuff in and I am so excited to have my own spot. I know that this is only a temporary situation, but I love it! Jeanette seems pleased too (Ashley was kind of messy)! I do miss Ashley a lot...the conversations are not as eye-opening as they were - no offense Jeanette, but I already know all your secrets!

Hurricane Wilma - Scary Stuff

I have been feeling very nervous about hurricane Wilma. My grandparents live in Naples, Florida and are under mandatory evacuation. That would be fine and dandy, except that my grandfather just had triple bypass surgery last Wednesday and is stuck in the hospital. The surgery went well, the recovery will be the hard part. My grandfather is a stubborn and pigheaded man. He was in really good health, played tennis everyday, worked at the tennis courts, ate really really healthy, and has never had any major health problems. They decided to do the surgery while he was still healthy instead of waiting for something to happen. Well, grandpa thought that he would be in and out and that this was not a major thing. Well, grandpa was wrong, it is a major thing and now he is stuck following doctors orders...not an easy task for him. He had to be restrained the other day because he was pulling out the drainage tubes and getting out of bed when he was supposed to be laying down, not walking. The hospital had to put alarms on his bed and tie him down. He was very unhappy! Well, things are looking better today - there were no complications with the surgery, except for my belligerent grandfather! They had to move him to a different hospital room that was not on the Gulf side for when Wilma comes. My grandma has decided to stay home or in the hospital with my grandfather, even though they are under mandatory evacuation. There are a lot of old people staying put in my grandparents condo...amazes me...I would go! My grandma says, "You get use to this kind of thing when you live in Florida, I don't worry about any storm serge or anything. Just let Wilma run her path and get here and leave." Glad she can be so optimistic...I however have been worried sick!

Trick-or-Treat on Madison Street

Every year Forest Park closes down Madison Street from Des Plaines to Harlem and holds a Trick-or-Treat day. This was the first year that I actually went! Most of the business were being butt holes and were closed, but a few were giving out candy. I was a little disappointed that Brown Cow was not giving out ice cream - instead they had some cheap ass candy...but that is okay, it was a little cold. Donovan got dressed up in his elephant costume and was the cutest thing on the street. There were no other little elephants - or chewbaccas - so I am pleased that he had on an original costume. However, there were about 25 Darth Vadars, their parents were not so original. Donovan was so well behaved...he slept 75% of the time. Everyone passing by had a comment like, "Look at the sleeping elephant!" Wow...are they observant or what! There were a couple other cute little costumes, and a few people too old for costumes, but all in all, we had an excellent time. There was some crazy lady singing outside of a restaurant in her witch costume, reminded us all of Phoebe from friends - Smelly Cat! Of course, my mom gravitated towards the fire department, who by the way was handing out Snickers - the only good candy given out! My mom also got a kick out of the parents that would let their little kids wander aimlessly around, especially close to the hay rides that were being pulled by two gynormous horses...poor horses. Well, that was the highlight of my Sunday. I think it might be more fun next year when Donovan can actually eat the candy he collects and we don't have to feel stupid saying, "Trick-or-Treat" and obviously the little sleeping elephant isn't going to be eating the candy...fat asses pushing the stroller are probably going to be cashing in!

P.S. Jeanette looked particularly sexy in her skeleton pants!!!

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow Inventory Results

Physiological Needs (50%) you appear to have an adequate supply of basic necessities. Safety Needs (37%) you appear to have a very secure environment. Love Needs (27%) you appear to be content with the quality of your social connections. Esteem Needs (50%) you appear to have a medium level of skill competence. Self-Actualization (43%) you appear to have an average level of individual development.

Take'>http://similarminds.com/maslow.html">Take Free Maslow Inventory Test
personality/'>http://similarminds.com">personality tests by similarminds.com

Cattel 16 Factor Test Results

Cattell's 16 Factor Test Results Warmth 54% Intellect 66% Emotional Stability 42% Aggressiveness 90% Liveliness 54% Dutifulness 78% Social Assertiveness 54% Sensitivity 46% Paranoia 50% Abstractness 46% Introversion 42% Anxiety 14% Openmindedness 54% Independence 58% Perfectionism 86% Tension 38%

Yeah Right

What are they talking about?!? The way I answered some of those questions didn't seem very Gandhi like. I guess Gandhi was an aggressive, unsympathetic, anal retentive little man!

To take the What Famous Leader Are You? - go to:

http://similarminds.com/othertests.html

Cool Link

I took the quiz...and this is what movie represents me...never heard of it...but that's cool!

What Classic Movie Are You? - go to:

http://similarminds.com/othertests.html

I Am Finished

I finished reading Life of Pi on Saturday night. I am very excited to have completed the first book that I have read in years. I did actually enjoy the book, weird. I read it much faster than I expected...the Nerd Herd is not meeting for another month. I may have a chance to read the book again - probably won't - once is enough. Now I have a full month to ponder questions for our meeting. I would really like to talk about it now though!

Happy Sweetest Day!

Another sappy Hallmark holiday has come and gone with no benefit to me. I am used to not getting flowers or a card, since Don never gets me any of those things. However, I do feel that these are stupid holidays and that it is all for show and a way for Hallmark and flower shops to take advantage of pussy wiped men who will get bitched out if their "sweetie" doesn't get anything for them. So I am okay with not getting spoiled on these romantic couples holidays...I don't know if I would feel the same if I actually received gifts on these sappy holidays, I may actually like them then!

Poor Neglected Puppies

This is Caesar...he has got quite the personality...and is very loud!
I not only have the cutest baby in the world, but I have the cutest dogs in the world too!
This is Cleo...she looks cute and sweet...but don't get between her and her bone!

And The Runner Up Is...

Although Emily did not win the Sophmore Homecoming Court, she did look very beautiful!

My Friday Date

It is Friday...bank deposit day...and date day (with Jeanette)! Jeanette and I have made a habit of Friday date day! I love it! Today I was able to share my love of Target with her. This shopping extravaganza was much better than the first...I think the novelty of the Super Target is beginning to wear off...very exciting for addicts like myself.

Before Super Target, Jeanette and I shared a meal at Bennigans...the best Irish restaurant on the face of this earth...not because they have great Irish food, but because they don't! Bennigans has the worlds best baked potatoe soup...served in a crock (that reminds me of the phrase "crock of shit")! They also have fantastic desserts...too full to indulge this time, maybe next time we will not eat as much and save room for dessert.

We also made a quick stop at Old Navy, my favorite store for baby clothes. They have such cute stuff there for kids under 1 year. There adult stuff...not so good, but it is worth it for the baby clothes. They seem to be fairly reasonably priced as well. They have an awesome clearance section and Donovan usually ends up with a couple of itesm...spoiled little brat!

Finally, we made our descent upon Super Target. Jeanette got to see the big red ball that the ethnic girl was humping...I got to see Jeanette hump the ball this time...very fun to watch. I decided to pick out a pumpkin. Seems like a simple task, but for someone who is anal, it is not really that simple. It seemed as all the perfect pumpkins were at the bottom of the big rolly bins, but there weren't. Jeanette kept having to transport from one bin to another so that I could see the perfect pumpkin, of course the ugly scars and dimples were hidden until we moved every damn pumpkin. Well, we settled on one and in the process of catching rolling pumpkins, I elbowed Jeanette in the skull and she almost peed her pants...and had to buy a pumpkin of her own because she almost dropped it!

So, I enjoyed my Friday date day thoroughly! We'll have to do it again next week...don't want to break the schedule...this time we will have to go to the teacher store in Oak Park for a stamp pad.

Chewbacca Baby

Where's Darth Vadar??? I am gonna kick his ass!

What Do Book Clubs Talk About?

Well, I am now officially half way through Life of Pi and I can't help thinking aobut the Nerd Herd's first discussion group in November. I am enjoying the book - if I wasn't, I would not still be reading, but I cannot for the life of me think about what we are going to talk about. I don't know if it is because I am not deep enough to discuss Pi Patel and his adventures or if I just don't care that much to look deeper into Pi's life. I don't want to feel like the odd ball out, but I don't know that I will have all that much to discuss. Judy wants everyone to bring a question or discussion prompt to the meeting, but I just don't know what I have to spur discussion. I am planning on finishing the book within the next week and maybe then I will have some intellectually stimulating discussion prompt that will shock the shit out of the Nerd Herd...I doubt it but it is possible. I am very interested to see what everyone else thinks about the book and what different questions they bring to the club meeting. Hopefully Jeanette will be in the same boat...not that I think you aren't deep, but I think you and I are on the same page and will just take the story at face value and not look that deeply into the Life of Pi! I hope the Nerd Herd doesn't think I am an idiot for not understanding the whole discussion part of the club!

So Cute

I am the worlds cutest baby!

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat, if you don't, I won't care, I will show my underwear! Ha ha ha...I am not wearing any underwear! I am diaper dude!

Cute Little Elephant

Donovan tried on his elephant Halloween costume last night and he looks so fricking cute...I just can't stand how cute he is. We are going to try on the chewbacca costume tonight if everything goes as planned. The trunk of the costume is really long and since the arm sleeves are equally as long, Donovan couldn't use his hands to grab his trunk, so he used his feet. It was very cute! He kept pulling on the trunk with his feet and yanking his head down (the trunk was attached to the hat piece).

Movie Recommendations

Yesterday was Tuesday, for all of you who don't know what day it is, and that is new movie release day. Don and I rented Kicking and Screaming and Unleashed. Well, I already love Will Ferrell, and this movie was fucking hilarious. It wasn't knock me down, side splitting funny, but I did have a few good laughs watching Will knock down some little kids. I lauged so hard with Will and the coffee shop scenes...that was some funny shit! We also watched Unleashed with Jet Li, Don and I are big martial art movie fans (I don't love them love them, but rather enjoy them because of default), and I was so suprised that I loved this movie. The story line was really really good. Jet Li did a superb job, his acting is not usually that great - due to the language barrier and all, but he was very good with acting with facial expressions and body language. I actually shed a tear or so at the end! I would highly recommend this movie (not you Jeanette - you probably wouldn't like it) to anyone who would enjoy a little action, blood, and a good heart warming story.

It's a Super Target - Not a Super Experience

As many of you already know, Target is one of my favorite hobbies! Well, a few months ago I was enlightened to the fact that my Broadview Target was going to be reborn as a Super Target. Jeanette can verify, I was so excited...I just couldn't wait - I should have known that it was too good to be true!

As Don and I are approaching the Super Target, we see what looks like a never ending sea of cars (at the regular Target I could usually maneuver myself a pretty good spot, right by the door!) and boat loads of people just filing into my Super Target. I was thinking, "okay...It is a Super Target so there will be more room for all of these people." The overwhelming amount of people did not ruin my excitement, I was very excited! After we hunt down a parking spot and start to walk towards the door, it seemed as if every person walking about had crawled straight out of a trailer park or ghetto (yes, yes, I do know that it is Broadview we are talking about), but still I was shocked by the hoards of ugly people. I did get a kick out of the little ethnic girl humping the huge red Target ball (there are big red Target balls placed about every 15 Feet outside, so no one drives their car through the front of the store). Don was already disenchanted, but I still remained hopeful.

We decided that we were going to grab a Starbucks drink before we embarked on our Super Target spree, another one of my favorite hobbies...Starbucks! Well needless to say, those baristas didn't get a tip...At least a monetary tip! When it was finally my turn to order, I ordered two venti (that's the fancy term for large) iced caramel macchiatos, one low fat. Does that seem too difficult or challenging in anyway that I don't know about? Considering the fact that you work at Starbucks, I would assume that you would be use to getting drinks request and maybe even have some special requests once in a while. Well dumb ass proceeds to hand me a tall (that's the fancy term for small) latte. I politely said, "I ordered two venti caramel macchs." She replied, with an attitude, "No, you didn't." I then pulled out my receipt and said, "Okay, there are a couple of things wrong with this piece of paper then, I paid for two venti drinks and you are trying to hand me ONE tall latte , is that perhaps someone else's?" I did not receive an actual answer at that time, just a huff and a cold shoulder. I did watch very carefully as she was making my drinks that no foreign substance ended up in the cup...spit for example. She then loudly calls out, "two venti caramel macchiatos, iced and one non fat." I could in fact hear her, even without the screaming, because I was in fact still standing at the drink pick up area...Approximately one and a half feet away from her. I grabbed the drinks and my own straws, from behind the counter and walked away...With the free tall latte too! By the way, the whole time I was dealing with the idiot from Starbucks, Don was off hunting down a cart...Because of course there can't be any in the store front cart area!

So we finally begin our shopping endeavor to find out that Super Target is not that super at all...it was really disappointing. The isles were so small that you couldn't fit two carts side by side down them, there were too many people (found some yuppies too), there were too little workers, there were too many overpopulated families (not Super Target's fault), and there were too many attitudes for one store.

I would recommend Super Target...in about a month or so...once the initial excitement wears down...sorry, I am one of those people to blame for the mad rush. I, however; use proper shopping etiquette. I don't leave my cart in the middle of the fucking isle, I don't wander aimlessly through the store, I don't make a fucking mess, I don't eat the product as I browse, I don't walk like I was just awoken from a comma, I don't have 8 children running around like monkeys, I don't get to the checkout counter and have the lady scan everything to double check the price, I don't have the checkout lady take like 10 fucking things off of my bill because I don't have enough money...you do that while you shop moron, I don't do a lot of other things that create bad shoppers!

I will continue to be a loyal Target shopper and revisit Super Target in a month or so...for now...I will try to enjoy the longer ride to the Target in Lombard!

The DVD Battle

Donovan is getting very, very good in his walker. We have a DVD rack in the computer room (Donovan's favorite room to tool around in) that he just cannot keep his hands off. All the pretty shinny colors, and not to mention the load bangs and crashes that are music to his ears when the whole row comes crashing down. I was a psychopath like Jeanette about alphabetizing, but that went down the shitter, due to the fact that I would have to re-alphabetize like 2o times a day...screw that! I have eyes, I can look to see what movie I want to watch without the convenience of the alphabetical order! For those of you out of the loop, the walker is also named the poop seat...since 90% of the time Donovan is in there, he poops!

I can read!

Extra - Extra - Read all about it!

I can read!

The Book Club BAMF's aka Nerd Herd have picked their first book...Life of Pi. I started reading last night, I have not read a real book since High School. Yes, I do know how to read and the past few years I have been preoccupied with reading text books for school. I was really excited to start reading after I put Donovan to bed, but that wasn't the way he wanted it to go. Donovan wouldn't sleep unless he was on my chest (you would know that if you read my previous post) and I was really really wanting to start reading (I knew if I didn't start last night, that I wouldn't read at all, and then I would have to buy Cliff Notes(spelling) and that would just be embarrasing. So I let Donovan sleep on me in the bed, and I made due with a flashlight. It was quite fun juggling a sleeping child, flashlight and book. I am something special because I read 30 pages last night and it only took me like a little while. I wanted to read more, but I just couldn't hold the flashlight in that weird catatonic position any longer. I will keep you updated on my progress!

Donovan Update

Poor little fella is coming down with a cold...he didn't sleep very good at all last night. The only way he would sleep is if he was laying on my chest...not very comfortable for mommy, but that is a sacrifice I have to make for my little squirt!

Another fun day at work!

Sylvan, Sylvan, Sylvan...what would I do without it! Friday went by so, so, so fucking slow. I was the only one here because all the directors were at a management meeting. I am sure that their day went pretty slow too. I watched a movie, my Favorite movie...The Whole Nine Yards and played Spider Solitaire til my arm fell alseep, and I was still bored. Jeanette is finally setting up a blog too (so that we can make comments to each other)! We will be the only ones leaving comments on each others blog's! So I guess this is stupid because we talk about the shit that we are blogging about at work anyway. Stupid girls! Which reminds me, Stupid Grandpa...put shit in the garbage can. CPK Rocks!

Disclaimer

Just so everyone is aware...this blog will mostly consist of me bragging about how Donovan is the cutest baby in the world and will just be another outlet for me to share cute pictures! Speaking of Donovan, Halloween is coming up soon and we are all very excited (including the wizard...Jeanette - that's you)! Donovan will be adorened in two different costumes this year, after all he only gets to have his 1st Halloween once. He will be dressed as Chewbacca from Star Wars and an Elephant from the Tom Arma collection. I wanted him to be the Goat, but that was sold out...FUCKERS!

Blog This! Birth

Hello Fellow Bloggers!

I have been feeling left out of the blog community so I decided to start my own!