I'm in Trade Mourning..

My favorite cub, 2nd baseman Ryan Theriot traded to the dodgers :(
I'll miss you...

But hello new 2B Blake DeWitt...

you just might take Ryan's place <3

Clearly he looks good in blue... let's see what he's got for my cubbies, we need some bats going so I hope you can hit Blake.

New Post Segment

Since I find myself completely unoriginal and in need of a new post (it's been days) I bring to you my new post segment.. Random Photo.

I will pull a random photo out of my archives and you can either..
1- create your own caption
2- make it a game for yourself and guess the year the picture was taken, or where, or what's going on in the picture, etc.
or 3- you may enjoy random pictures from the HB collection.

Are you ready?!?! I can feel your excitement through the web...
Ok here you have it.. your first Random Photo.. check back tomorrow for the date of the photo and the story behind it.. enjoy!

hint: I had to scan this photo (no digital camera for HB during this time), and note the braces

See the answer after the jump...

10 Things: I'd Love to Spend my 3rd Paycheck on but won't because I'm realistic

1. The Tiffany necklace you see to your right. Don't judge I want it like yesterday and just will probably buy it anyway even though I shouldn't.. I earned it.. how? idk.

2. ok I will buy a few Lia Sophia items at a friends jewelry party

3. a cubs jersey

4. a trip somewhere

5. Notre Dame tickets

6. too many pieces of new clothes because I have begun to care about how I look a smidge.

7. A crazy night out on the town, movie/dinner/drinks/new going out outfit.. the whole shebang.

8. Bears tickets/another round of Cubs tickets

9. New phone- this is going to happen it's just a matter of wanting to spend more on a fancy new techno-savvy phone

10. something new for the bike

Could It Be?!

Yep. I think so, I'm back on the wagon. Hooray! I have been to the gym 2 nights in a row!! and started a new "Flat Abs Fast—No Crunches! Four moves that guarantee a show-off stomach" routine. Rest assured that you will never see my stomach showed off unless a miracle happens but none the less I am excited at the possibility.

I don't know where this sudden burst of motivation came from but I would like to thank it for reappearing and hope it sticks around.

Lifetime weightgoal is to be down 35-45lbs and I'd be content. Muscle weighs more than fat so lets hope these abs appear fast and take the spare with it.

A Nice Evening for some baseball

We took a lovely Sunday evening and took advantage of some cheap tickets to enjoy some Cornbelters baseball. 'Old Lady', 'My Girl T', and MB were all in attendance today. We listened to a show choir before the game started and turned our chairs around to watch the game. I hope I succeeded in some color on the corpse-color legs today because it was sunny(although safety first, I did use sunblock).

'Old Lady' was very inquisitive about the logistics of the team and had many questions. After the pictures I got some info for ya about the league.

The Normal CornBelters are starting their 2010 inaugural season as a member of the West Division of the independent Frontier League. The Frontier League is comprised of twelve teams in the Midwest and is not affiliated with a Major League Baseball team. Today, the West Division consists of Evansville Otters of Evansville, Indiana. The Florence Freedom in Florence, Kentucky. The Gateway Grizzlies in Sauget, Illinois. The River City Rascals in O’Fallon, Missouri. The Southern Illinois Miners in Marion, Illinois.

In the winter of 1992-1993, several men got together and decided to start an independent professional baseball league to serve the West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southeast Ohio areas. They believed they could bring professional baseball to areas that would never have a chance of affiliated professional baseball coming to their communities. The seed was planted and they named their project “The Frontier League.” These founders approached business people and interested individuals in many different cities to own and operate the franchises. In late June of 1993, eight cities began play in high school, college and municipal parks. College players quickly heard of the fledgling league and mostly came from the Midwest and the east coast to chase their dreams of playing pro ball.

The Normal CornBelters is to give players between the ages of 21 to 27 years old an opportunity to showcase their baseball skills. Players that are selected come from a minor league farm system ball or who went undrafted in Major League Baseball Amateur draft. The 24 man roster must meet Frontier League requirements and therefore teams must recruit and sign their own players.

Players in the Frontier League receive low pay for their dedication to the sport and typically live with host families in the area. However, low pay does not compare to the success players can eventually achieve through the organization. For example, reliever Josh Kinney pitched for the River City Rascals in 2001 and shortly thereafter signed with the St. Louis Cardinals. He eventually broke into the Major Leagues in 2006 and won a World Series ring with the Cardinals that year.

B-17

Some of you may or may not know this but my dad was in the military for a good portion of his life. He did serve in Vietnam but by the time I was born he was no longer active duty but was in the reserves so he just had to "play Navy" on the weekends and for a few weeks training here and there so we weren't the military brat family that moved around from base to base all the time. But from his experiences and stories my siblings and I have always been able to experience things that not all kids our age have been able to and have had a knowledge base outside the scope of the normal.

So on Saturday (yes in the crazy hot heat) we drove to the old airforce base  and got to visit a WWWII era fully restored B17. It was pretty cool. If you had $425 dollars you could even take a ride in it.

It was pretty cool to see some WWWII veterans there talking about their stories and the days when they actually flew missions. As my dad was taking an inside tour of the plane, my brother and I were discussing how sad it is that more people are age, 1-don't get to experience things like this because they don't know, and 2- we talked about how sad it is that such an amazing place with such a story to tell like the museum is in such bad shape and having problems with funding and innovative ways to keep the public interested. For just a few bucks you can learn so much from our local museum, don't let this history be forgotten. Ask questions, take an initiative to learn about the history of our nation and the men and women who helped keep our freedom. If you don't ask questions you'll never know the history.

I encourage everyone to make the visit to the muesum at least once, it's not fancy by any means but we need to keep it in our minds and not forget here is the museum http://www.aeromuseum.org/ and here is more information about the B17 restoration and the restoration http://www.gulfcoastwing.org/ it took more than $500,000 (all donated, they recieve no government funding) and 7 and 1/2 years to restore it to working condition.

Carrie & Aidan Forever in my Heart

Season 4 of Sex and the City has got to be the most amazing season ever. It's no secret that I am team Aidan, even still wishing Carrie would have cheated on Big in the 2nd movie (I know it's wrong, don't judge). He is very cute and a country boy at heart (what can I say.. I'm a sucker) and short haired Aidan is dead sexy.

I have the complete series in my pretty pink box set and I can watch every epidosde a million times, I still don't think there is a show that I can watch over and over and over again.

So Aidan, I'm sorry that Carrie didn't think you were good enough to have forever, you're still Mr. Right in my book, yes the first ring was hideous but you eventually figured it out. Carrie I'm noticing you are pretty whiny about everything Aidan tries to do, he took you to the country and you acted like a baby...not cool. You have a gorgeous man who loves you and was able to forgive you for the whole Big debacle..shame on you.

I <3 you Aidan.

Book Club: The Help

Ahhh book club night. Book club is like a box of chocolates you truly never ever know what you will get and from whom it will come.

First rule of Book club. Don't talk about book club... well you can talk until you are blue in the face about the book and it is actually highly encouraged to do so, technically that is the actual point of book club; but I cannot tell you about what is actually discussed in detail about the book aka side travels from the questions. All I can say is 'Old Lady' took us on a little time trip.

This evening we had a great location, good food and as always great company. This month we read The Help by Kathryn Stockett. As we mature in our book club routine, I love that we are not just not looking at the book at face value. We have begun to take a deeper look at the book, the story, the writing technique, and the author.

This was Kathryn's first novel. We learned that she received 45 rejection letters for this book prior to it being published. We asked ourselves how this could be, this book is now a national best seller, bet those guys are kicking themselves in the arse now. I think it adds a whole different perspective on the book as a work of art when you learn about the author and the back story to the book. I myself don't want to know too much about the author until the end of the book, I think it would give you a different view of the book if you know too much ahead of time.

The Help is set in 1960's Mississippi..

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town...

I gave this book a 4 and the discussion 4. As we progress it's getting harder and harder to rate books. We are being much more critical.. and snooty as you'll read later.

We had a bit of house-keeping (no pun) to do tonight. Our 1st year anniversary is fast approaching and we are trying to decide if we want to do something special to celebrate. Several ideas have been brought up, but this topic has currently been tabled, it's too much to think about November being here. We also discussed a guest policy, that was quickly shot down. The Page Turner Society is also getting snooty (but in the we are way cool kind of way) we updated the by-laws and according to section III paragraph B, line 4 of the update, no new members will be admitted at this time. Sorry to anyone who has the dreams of becoming a Page Turner.

As always you are encouraged to read along with us, comment, blog along, facebook, twitter or craigslist your thoughts, you just won't be able to experience the magic that is book club night and learn the deep dirty secrets.

Next month we are in for a special treat, its a two-for night for our members. Our book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert is being made into a movie and we will be discussing the book AND the movie!

Another HUGE announcement... 'Old Lady' has announced our September read and.. drum roll please.... What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love by Carole Radziwill. Also, 'The Page Turner' has in her possession Twilight, will she read and get hooked and going on a vampire love triangle binge (don't hold your breath) but stay tuned to see.

Head on over to "The Page Turner Society" for additional discussion on tonight's read... Happy Reading!

[a note I had this whole thing done once and lost it, cursing and almost tears. The first one I had was awesome, hope this'll do]

Good News/Bad News

Good News: I have started back to the gym
Bad News: Don't really want to go back..

Good News: took the bike out for a spin
Bad News: dragonflys or like-sized bugs @ 60mph = missles to your neck... ouch.

Good News: Tomorrow is Wednesday! Half way over
Bad News: I thought today was Wednesday.

Boogity, boogity, boogity, let's go racing boys!

One may not fully understand the long-term damage that we just brought upon our dear friend FM. Taking an indigenous city girl to a dirt track race could have lasting implications on her life..sorry FM. To be fair we did warn her not to touch anyone because redneck/hillbilly can be contagious.

Our dear friend FM has been transplanted here from Miami, a land very unlike our own here, and ever since she joined us at the insurance company, we have been trying to get her acquainted with the local past times. We made her a list of "country-like" things we do in these parts for fun. Many moons ago she got frustrated with the list and has since thrown said list away.

But we got her back into the middle America thought process and talked her into joining us at the the dirt-track race. At first we did not tell her where we were taking her we just told her that on Saturday we were taking her to a race. Now to us locals we know when someone says they are going to the races we know what they mean. To a Floridian the first thought... and I quote "What kind of race, like a horse race, or pig races?" Thank you FM for going straight to the farm when you think race.

As we refused to tell her exactly where we were taking her she kept probing for info and eventually got "old lady" to tell her, which worked out better because then we got to fill her mind with the imagery of the types of things she could see at the races. Many of the things we told her were redneck/hick stereotypes exaggerations, but sadly weren't too far off. I can't wait to hear about her version of the story, but for us there were a few things that stood out from the night... I give you the Francesisms from the Races.

- "I wasn't expecting the brick roads, that was an added cuteness" (quoted after her arrival at my house and driving through our downtown area)

- "Oh my gosh, you are passing a car!" (FM has never passed a vehicle on a two-lane road, and was shocked that I was brave enough to do so, especially with a no passing zone approaching)

- "How dark are these roads at night?" (quoted as we are driving on the two lane road, leading us to believe she has never driven on road without street lights at night)

- "Oh well I guess I'll have to use my long light." (after we explained that you can only see as far as your headlights illuminate, long lights are also known as bright lights or high beams)

- "I was expecting it to be a little more white-trash" (after asking if it was what she was expecting. This is our fault for stereotyping to her, I'm glad her expectations were not met.)

- "Oh, I've never seen one this close" (after seeing a lightning bug up close)

- "Do we smell?" (legit question after sitting in the blistering heat, yes we might have smelled but not enough to be confused with a pigfarm, this was quoted after driving past the unmistakeable smell)

FM I really hope you had fun, we had fun with you! I'm glad we can help you acclimate to the local culture and hope we haven't scared you off for good and running back to Miami where the people have all their teeth. Thanks for playing and I hope you'll hang out us again! <3 HB

Holy Shizz..

Photo credit KCOY

Officer Damon Badnell was responding to an officer involved in a foot pursuit of a burglary suspect when he lost control of his vehicle on a slippery road. The momentum wrapped the vehicle around the tree, nearly bisecting the Ford Crown Victoria.
Officer Badnell, who recently was awarded for stopping the most drunk drivers, has a few broken bones but doctors are hopeful about his recovery.

This was an MSNBC.com Find here's the link to the story.

Just a Thought..

but holy crap is July really halfway done almost already?!?!

Where the heck is the time going?

Derby!

Had a great time at the demolition derby.. literally lost count of the beers and had good time cheering on our friend "Hillbilly Deluxe"

FoCo Fair!

Tractor Pull+Beer Tent+Truck Pulls+Elephant Ears+Beer+Feudin' Hillbilly's+mullets+party in a Beef Barn = HB shakin it FoCo style at the Fair!!

Hawaiian Shirt Thursday = Awesomeness

Hawaiian Shirt Thursday.. in all it's epic glory.

A few of the Page Turner's

enjoying the fun of Hawaiian Shirt Thursday

By Request: Theme Day Photos

We used to have two spirit weeks when I was in High School. We had homecoming week in the fall and Winter Blues week in mid February. These days included a class color day (Freshmen were always brown), Red/Black day (our school colors) these were the two staples then throughout my years we had other things like biker day(motorcycle biker or bicyclist day depending on how you roll), Halloween day, hillbilly day (aka Farmer day), Goth day (yes black nail polish the whole bit), Elvis day.. that's all I can really remember oh we had a wish it was summer day etc. etc. Here's a few snapshots from yesteryear.

Junior Class Color Red

Red/Black Day

Halloween Day (gpa worked worked for the railroad had extra stuff laying around, I'm a train conductor or something to do with trains)

Biker Day

(this was pre-bike, I can make biker look a little more girly now-a-days... this is just butch)

Wish it was summer day or something day

and best for last... Goth Day I.Look.Hot!

10 Things: I'm Not Looking Foward to About Tomorrow

All good things must come to an end. It was good while it lasted. Good-bye 5 day weekend you'll be missed.

5/5 Things I'm not looking forward to about tomorrow & 5 Good things about this week.

1. Knowing the CP's are way more cooler than the CSAs
2. My cube-mate is on vacation :(
3. Hearing everyone complain about being back at work
4. Working the 9-5:30 shift this month :(
5. Being seperated from the outdoors aka no windows within sight

5 Good things

1. 4 day week
2. Feudin' Hillbilly's at the Fair Friday
3. Demolition Derby Saturday!!
4. Hawaiian shirt Thursday (thanks for the invite 'Page Turner')
5. Get to see my work friends :)

"So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life." -- Peter Gibbons (Office Space)

Bike Show!

Lately I've been trying to get more involved in the motorcycling world. I joined the local HOG chapter (Harley Owners Group) and hope to get more involved with the chapter by participating in some group rides and volunteering. I have also been wanting to get my bike in some local bike shows.

Last weekend I participated in the 'Old Lady's town bike show. Unfortch, it had rained earlier in the day and I was the only bike that showed up. So I got a trophy by default... not as fun.

Today was my first big show. Neighboring small town has an "Old Fashioned 4th of July" celebration. It really is small town, there are tractors, old fashioned kids games (ring toss), they had a pizza eating contest, lots of cars for the car show and a motorcycle show! So I put the HD in the show in the Sportster category. It was a good turn out (to me) there was about 30 bikes registered for the show but they said they had more in the past.

The weather was gorgeous, albeit a little warm aka 100 degrees. There was only one other bike in my class so I was going to get at least something (they award top 3) but I was hoping for first. This was my first legit show so I didn't know how the judging would go. Well they scrutinized every inch (good thing I washed and waxed her this morning) and took a good 5-10 minutes on each bike. (Still not quite sure everything they took into consideration, I bet it was hard, lots of nice bikes)

Registration was from 12-2 with awards at 3. I got over there about 12:30ish.. weather still awesome but hot! Then 3:00 rolls around and it starts to cloud up, praying for the best I was soon let down. It POURED! sheets of rain coming down, everyone scrambled for the nearest tree in hopes to keep dry. It proceeded to downpour for the next 15-20 minutes solid. Then as fast as it came it was over.

With suspense (and eagerness to get home to dry clothes) looming it was finally time for the awards. 1st Place in my category! Some bike shows will have a special category for "ladies" bikes, but this one I was up against the big boys. It may sound a little weird and vain, but it was cool seeing strangers point and stare at my bike. I'm a girl in a typically boy sport and it was a good feeling, I felt legit. As I was walking up to get my award an old biker dude hollered "Girl, that's a bad ass bike"... I like it.

The bike show was sponsored by the county ABATE club (A Brotherhood Aimed Towards Education) and they got me to join too.

"ABATE is not a club, gang, Harley group, and we do not have back patches. Anyone that is interested in preserving their right to ride is welcome. And while we are a non-profit organization we are not a charity. We currently have over 12,000 members and 60 chapters throughout the state."

Source: ABATE of Illinois

Joining these two groups I really hope to meet new people and experience new things. Being more active in the motorcycling community is something that I hope will take this from being a hobby to a passion.

If you've never rode your own or been on the back, you don't understand the feeling you get from being on a bike. For me it was a challenge at first and I'm still learning. I feel really accomplished for "being a girl" and having a bike. Women in motorcycling is growing but you'd me amazed the disbelief you can see in others when they see its a girl on this bike. But if I'm having a bad day you can take the bike out and free your mind. The wind and road truly is one of the best kinds of medicine.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes about motorcycling:

"I would rather be on my motorcycle thinking about God, than in church thinking about my motorcycle"

"Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul"

"Once you get a Harley, you don't even need a relationship."

"Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly."

"Sometimes it takes a whole tankful of gas before you can think straight"

"You'll know she loves you if she offers to let you ride her bike. Don't do it and she'll love you even more."

Happy 4th!

Nothing brings out your inner pyromaniac like the 4th of July... we got started a little early :)

Have a Happy and safe 4th!