The BIG 80...quite a mark.....

So many pictures, so much to say! I went home to STL this weekend for my grandpa's 80th birthday. 80! That is just insanity. So Happy Birthday to him, he is looking pretty spiffy I must say. (we didn't make him blow out 80 candles..) I also got to visit with the new addition to the family, little Daniel Patrick, pictured above. He is only 3 weeks old and has a FULL head of hair! Very very cute. And then we got to go to a Halloween Party with all the cuz's. We didn't quite have costumes, but we came up with these masks. My cousin Anna was actually an astronaut with a diaper on, which was hilarious. I haven't really seen any other good costumes..has anyone?! Also, the parents are coming to visit this weekend..any ideas on where to go in the greater Milwaukee area? I'm definitely stuck...

Fantasy ANTM...it is here.....

So I pretty much saw this picture of Palla and I had to post it, just for the sheer hilarity. Clearly she was in the South when she came across this little pearl of wisdom. Seriously?! Has anyone else ever seen this? Anywhos..so my sister, Ashley, her sister and I have just started a rousing round of America's Next Top Model Fantasy League, which I only mention because I am actually super excited for this game and I want to dominate this game!!! So far, Ash Bash is off to a slow start, one of her top 3 got booted :-( But it should be fun. Anyone want to give me advice on who is getting kicked off next week? I need the points! We went to New Pornographers last night, and it was pretty good, and this weekend should be pretty uneventful (always the worst thing.........)

I assasin down the avenue....

So I'm just going to go ahead and dedicate this whole post to the Wilco show on Tuesday night, because it was by far and away one of the best shows I've seen all year (and we see a good number of shows...) First, thanks to Jessie Bear who got us the balcony seats so we could see everything and sit! That worked out nicely for us! Mostly, the set list was pretty great..all the Yankee songs I wanted to hear, plus all the Sky Blue Sky sounded really good. JJ really wanted to hear Casino Queen and that was for sure a highlight of the awesome awesome 40 minute finale (plus the acoustic was nice!) Okay, I never post blogs about show but this one was great and everyone should go. see. wilco. this tour. It's pretty great...Okay, I'm off to the beach for football and beer and Tina's birthday! And say congrats to Matt and Stephanie who had a beautiful baby girl..Maura! More on that later...

I do actually miss the troll house...(never thought i would say that!)

Ahhhhhhh.....so if you ever saw my house in college, you would not IMAGINE someone ever missing it (mikey describes it as one step above a house/room you see on COPS, and my brother in law who actually lived in a frat house in college said our house was worse..yeek) but this weekend some of the ladies I lived with in the Troll House (939) were up from Chicago and we had a good time. 6 out of 11..almost half all at once! Besides that, not much going on. I can't seem to shake this cold/sore throat I've had for the last two weeks. I even tried airborn! So I'm up for any further suggestions. And also to tell you that I am indeed having a small party today to celebrate Christopher Columbus day! What a great man..to shut down the markets years later. I really owe him one. haha to the suckers at work!! P.S. It is 90 here. in Wisconsin. In October. Twilight Zone.

BABY TIME!

CONGRATULATIONS to my cousin Jake and his wife Jenny who had a baby this week! Daniel Patrick came out at 9 lbs 10 oz (ouch!) Now that the baby is here, Jenny can join Jake with his drinking here! Everyone is healthy and I will try to get a picture up soon!

Football Sunday+Cardinals Game+Ryan Adams show+Throwing Baby Shower+Mason Jennings Show+Tom's Going Away Party/Brewery Tour + Wedding in Chicago=Death

And that was just the last six days of my life. I may literally crumble from exhaustion, but I have so much to say. I even had to miss a few events if you can believe it. Very Depressing. We can start with the baseball. We got to go to a Cards Game (compliments of Kerry Foods Tickets..thank you very much!) and the Cardinals got PUMMELED. But I was okay with it, because I thought the Brewers still had a chance and I did NOT want the Cubs to win. Sigh. I'll have to settle for watching them get a beat down in the first round vs Zona. Next, the concerts. Ryan Adams. Not so great. Song selection sucked and the set wasn't very long at all. But that was made up for at Mason Jennings, which was AMAZING. It was a really good show, and I recommend everyone have his music and go see him. He sort of rules live. And thanks to Jess for sneaking us in freebie style! Let's see, what more. My boss recently had a baby and we threw a baby shower, which I think went very nicely! (when did i have time to bake?!). Sadly, Tom is moving back to Chicago for a great job, so congrats to him! But sad for us. Of course that means Lakefront tour very necessary on Friday. That was lots of fun. Then wake up early the next day for a wedding in Chicago. I may die of exhaustion soon. Finally, for the things I missed. I did not get to see Mo, who was in from Minneapolis this weekend, but hopefully she will come back soon. And finally, the worst, I missed Miss Ashley Little's going away/Birthday Party. I am sad I missed it, but will survive, because in her own words:

"I hope to see you guys, but not in a passive-aggressive, "I'm subtly telling you that you need to come or I'll be sad sort of way." It's more in a "I like hanging out with you, but I understand if you can't make it" sort of way. My emotions are pretty complicated like that. Most of what I feel requires a compound-complex sentence. "

So HAPPY 24th Birthday to Miss Ashley. And everyone wish her luck and farewell. I'm sad she is gone, but now I have a reason to vaca in L.A! Although, I will miss our days at the country club...