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So long story short, I had to take home some of this ^^^^  black, scratch-off-to-reveal-many-colors paper to cut out shapes for work.  When the sisters saw this, they wanted to scratch off the scraps.  I told them that they had to help cut out umbrellas if they wanted to scratch.  I felt like a regular, ol' Tom Sawyer.

I feel old just thinking this, but I remember when gas was $0.99/gallon.  This is a line at North Ave and Harlem Ave for $3.98/gallon.  A LINE FOR $3.98.  Madness.  Absolute madness.


On another, non-picture related note, I need some prayers.  More specifically, I need some prayers for my mom.  Guidance, strength, the whole gamut.  Thanks.

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This would be much simpler if I would upload a picture every day...do you know how difficult it is to try and count backwards for multiple days?

We broke in a friend's new fire pit over the weekend.  This is the beginning two logs...

...and this is the pit several hours and several logs (and found sticks) later.

This awesome Lego TIE Fighter was a gift from Lauren for my birthday.  And the brown and white striped creature is NOT Lucas, the foster kitten.  It's the menacing Wompa!  Or the misunderstood Wookie!  Or the adorable Ewok!  Or the deadly, ugly Rancor!  OK, that's enough geek for one picture.

Flat Top Grill!  I <3 MYO stir fry!

Lauren actually took this picture.  She wanted to show how pretty the sky looked, but, to quote her, "It's mostly a picture of your IPASS."

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I know, I know.......I've been neglectful.  And here's a confession -- half of the pictures are from one day. Hope you can still enjoy them!


 Sister picture at Molly Malone's Friday night!

Me and Nick waiting for the Aquatic Show to start at the Shedd Aquarium (see how empty it is behind us?  We got there super early to get good seats!)

This is the women's bathroom sign at 

Margaritaville Restaurant on Navy Pier.  Love it!

^Me attempting to take an "artistic" picture of my wine glass.  Fail?  I think so.

Saw this driving Lauren to work and thought it was crazy enough to take a picture.--->

<---Pewter!

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Yes, I know what you're thinking...."More animals, really?  Don't you have anything better to do in life than to take pictures of animals?  And the peacock is a bad picture.  It's head is cut off.  Not literally, but in the picture.  I'm not some peafowl hater.  Does anyone really hate peacocks?  I mean, come on, they're beautiful!  And they're such a unique creature.  Really amazing.  Oh look, something shiny!"

Now how spot on was that?

I forgot my phone was on the self-portrait mode and Brian was helping me on the computer.  This is a follow9877777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777777iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii4-up picture below.  You'll understand the "7" business.

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 Mini lego Tie Fighter!!!

 This was in my Glamour magazine and it literally made me LOL while I was working out.

Just hanging out with my friends Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner...or as I like to call them, Captain America and Hawkeye (not the Allan Alda character from MASH).

336

Alleluia!  Here's some of my favorite of God's creatures celebrating The Resurrection...in their own ways.

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 339 was laundry day!  Yay for clean clothes!  The one hanger hanging askew was from my Millenium Falcon shirt.

This is the fish tank I was looking at whilst Lauren and I got pedicures at Well Come Spa in Oak Park.

This is from Nick's backyard.  The top is a solar light, and yes, I have continued the alcohol theme, because right below the light is an empty aluminum Bud Light bottle with a Cubs logo on it.

By the way, I am expecting another theme to emerge....CUBS (if it already hasn't)!!!!!!!

340

This made me, literally, LOL.  This is from a book called "F In Exams" that my sister got today.  This one made me laugh doubly hard, because not only does it make me feel better about myself, it's a "Fight Club" reference.

So, if it's your first time, you fight.

341

One of my grandpa's pet peeves about church was that we got fresh altar flowers every week, even if no one had signed up to pay for them.  This meant that the women of the church would have to pay for them, and the flowers would essentially go to waste.  It was his idea, long ago, to get a silk arrangement made (or multiple) to put out when no one had signed up to beautify the altar, and save some money.

When he died in July, the many donations that were made to the church in his memory went to purchasing this arrangement.  Seeing it out is going to be hard for a while.  There's not a day that goes by that I don't feel like I'm in a bad dream and am going to wake up and see him.  So much that I see reminds me of him -- Culver's, Sam's Club, tomato plants, the color blue.  The only thing that makes it even remotely better is knowing that he went to be with his Father.

The last thing he said to me was, "Next time, you see me, I'll be dancing."  If only it was here on Earth.

342

Yay!  A post not related to animals OR alcohol!
FOLLOW UP:
If you can't read it, the sign in the lower left hand part of the window says, "Chicks dig musicians.  Sign up today or be lonely."

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Upon review of my posts, the most re-occurring themes seem to be alcohol and animals....not sure exactly what that says, but I thought I'd make the observation.  It's been an incredibly hectic week, so here's some a continuation on a theme!  Enjoy.

 

 A relative's relative's Great Dane.  She's actually stooping a bit to get into that cooler.

 CUBS BASEBALL STARTS ON THURSDAY!!!!!!!!!!

 My uncle's dog is not normally camera shy, but when I take out my phone and say, "Look here!" and make smoochie noises, this is the reaction I get.

This was my TV watching partner.  I think the only reason he likes me is because I share my chips with him.