• Spreading the Bloggie Love

    The Day Greta Van Susteren (Probably) Became Weaselmomma’s BFF

    My partner-in-crime, Weaselmomma, had a Skype chat last night with Greta Van Susteren from “On the Record” on Fox News. How did this happen? I’m sure she’ll probably post about that, but if I didn’t know the story and had to guess, I’d guess that Weaselmomma sent Greta a few fan letters, some baked goods, and quite possibly a case of Coors Light, asking if she wanted to come to the Weasel house for dinner the next time “On the Record” does a Chicago show. I’d guess that Greta was charmed by Weaselmomma’s nouveau-Midwestern hospitality yet a little scared by her South Philly heritage, and she got on the horn…

  • Amazing People,  Friends,  Spreading the Bloggie Love

    For Anissa

    On Tuesday, the blogosphere received yet another rallying cry to pull together: Anissa Mayhew, wife, mom of three, blogger extraordinaire, and all-around funny person, had a major stroke and landed herself in the ICU in her new-ish hometown, Atlanta. Anissa’s family has been through so much already. She had her first stroke years ago, and then her youngest child was diagnosed with cancer (and is now in remission). She and the kids were separated from her husband, their father, for months because of his job (it was far from where Peyton was being treated), and they finally settled down, all under the same roof. And now this. I finally met…

  • Confessions,  Do I Really Want My Readers To Know This?

    Perpetually Behind, But Thinking Ahead

    I’m really thinking, with it being November 18th and all, that I should change the perpetual calendar that hangs in my kitchen so it reflects the current month. I’d hate for December to arrive without my getting to enjoy a few days of a November calendar. That’s how life in this house is, though, lately. Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ Into the future… (Steve Miller‘s words, not mine.) This year is flying by. I knew it would; having a high school senior in the house and having the added life elements of his college applications, scholarship applications, work schedule, girlfriend, school work, yada yada yada…it’s enough to make a…

  • Fun in Chicago

    What Do You Wear To a 75th Anniversary Party?

    Apparently, the Galaxy Dress. As a part of the exhibit “Fast Forward: Inventing the Future” and in honor of the Museum of Science and Industry’s 75th Anniversary, designers from CuteCircuit came up with this attention-getting creation, which is the world’s largest, wearable LED display. I hope to get to the city to see it in person very soon, but for now, a video will have to suffice for all of us: I wonder how long it will be before someone on MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16” begs her Mommy and Daddy to get her a dress like this.

  • Confessions

    Like Unbuttoning My Pants On Thanksgiving Afternoon

    I’ve been busy lately. Probably no busier than usual, but it seems like it to me. I think that the last couple of weeks were more intense for me mentally because I was assembling my book proposal. Naturally, some other things in my life got the short shrift when I had to focus on getting that complete–sometimes you can’t give everything the attention it needs, all the time–though it was definitely worth it. Last night I came home from a meeting and my mind was all a-buzz with what I have to do today. I grabbed a pretty pink notebook (one which I forgot I bought at Borders last year…

  • Proud Moments

    Honored To Honor.

    I found out from a friend just a couple of days ago that Naperville was the home of a week-long display of flags on Rotary Hill in the middle of downtown. It was called the “Healing Field of Honor”, and it was put on by the Colonial Flag Company in conjunction with local sponsors. The purpose? To honor our military. Flags and yellow tags were “sold” (to raise funds for a local VA hospital), and people wrote all kinds of messages on them. The 2009 eight-foot flagpoles were set up in incredibly straight rows that completely covered the hill, which is used during other parts of the year as a…

  • Best Thing Ever,  Confessions,  Shameless Promotion,  Something That Could Change Your Life,  Writing

    Aaaand They’re Off!

    I can’t believe it.I’ve been working on a book project, off and on, for more than two years. Actually, the research for it started four years ago, so I guess I could say that I’ve been working on it for four years, but that’s depressing so I’ll stick with “more than two”. Yesterday* was a monumental day for me in this process, because after working intensely for weeks on getting a spiffy and oh-so-professional proposal done**, I finally got it in the mail. To more than one publisher. I have told some people IRL what the book is about, but don’t yet feel like I should put it out here…

  • My Kid Has Mad Skillz,  Too Funny To Ignore

    Like Big Brother, But On A Smaller Scale.

    Note: This post is part of Fatherhood Friday at Dad Blogs, where all the cool kids are hanging out. (Moms are welcome over there!) I *might* even have a column called “Teen Angst” there. Welcome to my visitors from DB; thanks for stopping in! Our varsity lacrosse coach is fabulous. He is from the northeast part of the country (where lacrosse has been huge for years) and is very, very passionate about the sport. He still plays, in fact. He is well known for being very, very tough when it comes to the game (or practice) in progress, but also has the ability to goof off with the boys in…

  • Travels

    This is Probably the Best Blog Post About This Particular Topic. Maybe.

    Back in 2006–I can’t believe it’s been three years already!–I went to Europe on a spectacular vacation with Kate and her family. Our first stop was Liverpool, England, with a side trip to beautiful North Wales. We spent a great day walking around the town of Conwy, North Wales. The town is home to Conwy Castle, which was built in the THIRTEENTH CENTURY, which is amazing when you think about it, if you’re American, anyway. We don’t have anything nearly that old here, of course! As we explored Conwy, the juxtaposition of new against old was a sight to see. It was a bizarre thought, to me, the American, that…

  • Childhood Memories

    Poppies

    Today is Veterans Day. A tradition that goes all the way back to World War I is the distribution/wearing/selling of poppies, because of the bloody battle in Flanders Field in Belgium and the subsequent growth of poppies in the demolished battlefield, on top of the soldiers’ graves. (EDITED: Thanks to Liz, who pointed out that the poppy tradition in the U.S. is actually on Memorial Day. My bad; I thought they were sold on both holidays!! Oops!) Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae wrote a poem called “In Flanders Fields” after he witnessed the death of his friend, Lieutenant Alexis Helmer (Source: wikipedia): In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween…