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So my mom got this rosebush from "he who shall NEVER be named" (no, not THAT guy), and I have sort of adopted it's care.  I usually trim it all the way back in the early spring, but since we never really got a deep winter, there was no need.  It's a giant bush now, about 4 feet wide and as 4 1/2 feet tall.  It started blooming yesterday, and it makes me smile!

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May the Fourth be with you!
Below you'll see Darth Vader, Yoda, and our Ewok.

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This is a Voodoo martini from Olive or Twist (say it fast and it's a literary joke!), the martini bar in Berwyn where we celebrated a friends birthday.  Originally, it came with a pickled, spicy green been along with the lime and lemon.  A green bean!  In a martini!  What will they think of next?

I made my own black velvet!  I was so proud, because it is very difficult to keep the stout floated without mixing immediately into the cider.

This is Nick and Brian.  Brian LOVES Nick, and Nick thinks Brian is pretty cool.  Whenever Nick comes over, Brian has to come and say hello.  The only problem with this relationship is that Nick is reeeeally allergic to cats.  Hence, the hilarity of this picture.

This was taken as I was about to go to sleep, and realized I hadn't taken any pictures on Monday.

This Batman clock projects the time (along with the bat signal) onto the ceiling.  Another, "Crap!  I didn't take a picture today!" picture.

She needed to take a picture of her and the kitten for someone at work and this was the first take.  Lauren's going to be sooooo mad when she sees this up.

Howie sleeps in the funniest positions.  I love his front foot bent at the ankle, wrist, or whatever the joint is called on a cat.

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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.