Almost there

Well, just a few hours and it will be 2006. I won't be out partying with anyone. I have already scoped out what channels have the New Years celebrations on them.

I want to wish everyone a safe night. You CAN have fun AND be safe, so you know. I go through all this just to be healthier and I don't want to see my friends throw it away. I've had my stupid moments but that does not mean that I'm not smart overall.

Everyone should be having crazy stories of how their particular New Years went down. I want details. Mine will consist of Dick Clark(maybe), Ryan Seacrest, and Carson Daly. Exciting I know! My parents always poop out early so I'm pretty sure it will just be me and the television, spending quality time together as usual.

Also, I hear and see some people worrying about a New Years Kiss. Maybe it is because I know I'm not going to be out in the fray of things but I am not worried about it at all. I know I had one last year. Which was nice, mind you. But is there really any significance in a New Years Kiss? Does it mean luck? I know it doesn't mean you're getting lucky. If that is going to happen, the kiss isn't what sealed the deal. I can tell you that. Both parties more than likely have made up their minds prior to the stroke of midnight. If it is a serious matter to you then I wish you goodluck on getting that magic moment.

HAPPY NEW YEAR to EVERYONE!

Oh Baby!

I weighed myself this morning. Scale said 262.6 lbs. Things are progressing as planned. This is the added boost that I need. I'm wasting away, in a good way.

So I guess everyone is running out of town this year for New Years Eve. Jenny and Mels are going to Chicago. Ed and Amanda are going to New Orleans. Philly and Katherine are going to Champaign. Shoofly is bartending.

So if I really think about it, this would probably be the best year to be laid up because of surgery. Nothing is really going on. I plan on plopping down in front of the television and watching all of the New Years Eve type shows that are on. I'm usually out getting blitzed so this will be a change. Back to the days when I was a child and the family would sit around and celebrate New Years on our own.

There is a possibility of Kyle A, Lora J, and maybe Sarah stopping by to see me and chill for a little bit. My sister and her husband are coming home again but they have plans to go out to a friend's New Years Party.

Back at it

Well, today I weighed myself. I'm back to exactly 265.0 again. Gained a little over Christmas but I wasn't worried about that cause I knew with help of the surgery that the weight would be falling off in no time. I still barely have an appetite. I had a banana for breakfast at about 7:30am then went back to bed, Just woke up at noon and had a slice of ham. I'm stuffed! Feel like I just had a 5 course meal. So I expect to lose about 5 to 10 more pounds before I'm fully functional in the eating department again.

Side note, parents are putting all of the Christmas decor away already. I am sad.

And how are you?

Things have been well with me. I've just been watching a lot of television lately. Melissa came by last night and hung out for an hour or so. That was a great time.

So what's going on out there in the world of the healthy? I haven't been out since Sunday night and it feels as though I have not seen people in a social situation in over a month. Any news? Any funny musings? Interesting stories?

I'm not in pain like I was that first night back at the house. I can actually get up and walk around and do things. I still tire somewhat easily though. I'll get up and do something for my "exercise" like get a drink of water. Then when I come back I need to rest. I'm such a little pansy now. I'm okay with it, it's all part of the healing process.

What are people's plans for New Years Eve? I know that Mr. Shoo is working behind the bar at DH. As for everyone else? I'm still leaning towards keeping my fat arse in the recliner. It would be the best thing for me to do. I'm working on not being my own worst enemy. So I've putting partying on hold for a while. At least the 6 weeks prescribed by my doctor, maybe longer. We'll see. I'm not as young as I used to be.

Fighting Illini

FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #14: #6 Illinois (13-0) vs. Tennessee-Martin (5-4)
Dec. 30, 2005 • 7 p.m. CT • ESPN+ Local
Champaign, Ill. • Assembly Hall (16,618)

I'm Alive!

Well here is the deal. The surgery went well. My surgeon said that it was a huge hernia. I'm like, yeah, I know. My thing is that I felt better immediately following the surgery and through the night than I did today. I almost didn't want to come home cause I felt that something wasn't right. My incision aches, I expect that but what has been bothering me is a huge gas build-up in my abdomen. So bad that it was hurting my back, my sides, and my front. It was just all over and I couldn't do anything to get comfortable. So today I was in agony. All the way until about 7:30pm. Oh, I got released at 2:30pm which was apparently right at my 23 hour mark because the 23 hour outpatient started when I reached my room and did not include the surgery room or the recovery room. I went into surgery at 10:10am yesterday, got through with surgery at about 12:30pm, and then was stuck in the recovery room until about 3ish, then still didn't make it to my room until 3:30pm.

I feel better now. Sorry to anyone who talked to me while I was in pain. I probably just shouldn't have answered the phone. But you know me, Mr. Social. The habit of talking no matter the circumstance overpowered the pain but the quality of conversation was right at ZERO. I don't get loopy on drugs so if I was short with you it was the pain. I gaurantee it. Again, sorry, I do appreciate the calls.

I think that I may sleep in my dad's recliner tonight. I don't know if I can lay flat yet without causing pain. I'm more of an on my side and on my stomach kind of sleeper anyway and that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

Thanks again for everything everyone has done. The visits, the calls, the emails, the gifts. It really means a great deal to me to know that I have such great friends that care.

This is IT

Well, I'm all ready to go... kinda. I leave in about 5 minutes. So I or my parents are not calling everyone and their mom we are calling Ed, Philly, Reier, and Melissa. Surgery is at 10am and I don't know how long it lasts. Next time I talk to anyone I will be done with the operation. Byebye everyone.

And So It Begins

Well, I just started my prep for tomorrow's surgery. It isn't the most pleasant and I am now house ridden for the remainder of time before the surgery. But for all those who don't know. I go in for surgery tomorrow/Tuesday morning. It is a Hernia surgery and it is at St. John's at 10am. I will be there for 23 hours... so I guess I'll get a room and all that jazz. I've got a few people I'm going to call or have called post-surgery. Ed, Reier, Philly G, Mels. I'm not too worried about it and it isn't as major as my splenectomy that I had almost 2 years ago now but I will be in over night. I get to keep all my organs this time and I am actually have something put in instead of taken out, the mesh. I hope to maybe be mobile by New Years Eve but I'll have to just play it by ear. I won't be drinking alcohol for a while. I want to heal properly.

Thanks to everyone for your well wishes. I apprectiate it very much.

Merry Christmas!

Well, my Christmas is nearly coming to a close. When I wake up in the morning it will be a Christmas breakfast and then the sisters are off and family time is over. I had a wonderful time. I love being with the whole family together. I got some great gifts. I can make my own beer now! Yay!

Well, I am off to watch some of the Christmas Story marathon. The whole family just watched ELF together. We did that last year too. I think we may have a new tradition starting and I like it! Everyone has went to bed though and I am wide awake and left to watch the marathon by myself.

I hope everyone has a super wonderful relaxing Christmas!

Tis the season

I love the holidays. I love Christmas music. I love giving gifts. I love baking goodies. I don't mind a super busy grocery store. I love being with family.

I work the door down at DH Brown this evening from 9pm - 1am. Tomorrow I have family Christmas all day and all night. Sunday I have family Christmas in the morning. Then I may just hang with the parents. I'm not sure yet. I know my dad wants me to hang with him on Christmas afternoon so I may just do that. Indulge my old pappie once.

HEAD SHOTS!

Okay, So many of you may know. I love taking pictures of myself. And now that we are in the digital age I take them every time I have the digital in my hands because I'm not wasting real film and if it actually sucks I can delete it but if it sucks in a funny way, then I might keep it. But for your viewing pleasure and amusement for some. I bring you HEAD SHOTS!

(Also, for those who have not seen me. This first photo is me with my recently shaved 'stashe.)

85 POUNDS!

Here are some current photos of me. Well today actually. Considering that today I have reached 85 pounds of weight loss I felt that I should post some pics. So I had my mom take a photo or two with the digital. I love technology.


Ohhhhh

Ahhhhhhh

OOOOOooohh

This on is a tucked in photo

And 1 of Mr. Shoo

I just felt like putting up a pic of Mr. Shoo being "geeky" with his hightech equipment. Enjoy.

And 1 of Nattie!

For her "ego"

Oh! Who is ranked #6???

That would be the FIGHTING ILLINI!

FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #12: #6 Illinois (11-0) vs. Missouri (4-3)
25th Anniversary Busch Braggin' Rights • Dec. 21, 2005 • 7 p.m. CT • ESPN2
St. Louis, Mo. • Savvis Center (22,153)

On the Air
Television
ESPN2-National: Dave O'Brien, play-by-play; Jay Bilas & Bill Raftery, expert analysts.

Radio
Illini Sports Network - 50 stations: Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Stephen Bardo, expert analyst; Loren Tate, pregame/halftime/postgame interviews.


I'm stoked. The Illini are moving on up the rankings. Although they still have yet to mesh as a team they are pulling out the W's.

Can You Imagine?

Can you imagine me being down to 200 pounds? That is only 67 pounds away... crazy.

a few pounds...

So I'm expecting to lose a few more pounds in the next 2 weeks or so. Biggest reason for this is that the heartburn issue is out of control. I can't be experiencing that crap every time that I eat something rich. So I'm toning down the splurging which I need to do anyway. But yeah, I'd like to lose a few more pounds before my surgery which is in 1 week and 12 hours from right now. Then I figure my appetite will be lost after the surgery like it was last time, at least for a few days. I remember, a cup of broth and I was full. I couldn't believe it but it actually happened.

Also, I don't know if I will be up for anything but are there New Years Eve parties planned? I haven't heard of anything yet. If there are get togethers in the works, pass with good word my way. Thanks in advance.

God Bless

I love Prevacid. I feel sooooooooooooo much better. Back to work tomorrow I go.

Not much better

Today I'm not doing much better. I woke up feeling alright. I've felt better but not good. Well enough to go to work in the morning. Well, I'm there. Doing the usual morning. I have one child tell me that I look yellow. I'm like, oh great. I decide to have 1, just one little goodie in the copy room. Immediately the heartburn flares back to near full force. So I call the surgeon and request a prescription for a heartburn med. I finally have them call me back a few minutes ago and my mom is going to get it for me. I feel like complete and utter crap. I can't breathe very well either. I think that my hernia is pressing up towards my lungs now or something cause if I take a deep breath it hurts and I can't breathe any deeper. So here I sit, in burning pain, unable to breathe deeply. I have taken the afternoon off so I will be sitting here at home trying to cope with this. I am trying to only eat "mild" foods, like soda crackers and jello.

Like Crap

It is hard to sum up into words how I have felt in the last 16 hours. I left Mojo's last night because I felt the onset of heartburn beginning. I have never felt something so horrible in my life. I had this crazy intense painful heartburn until about sometime after 4am at which point I think I literally passed out. I was taking anything I could within reason to try and help make it stop. The praying that what I took would kick in as soon as possible. So I think that I fell asleep shortly after 4am, well, I slept until 2pm then I layed back down slept until about 4pm then went back to sleep at 5pm and now I just woke up at 7:30pm. My body is going through some serious crap. I had to say no to doing so much fun stuff today. Today was the Christmas party at the Adult Day Care that Ed adn I always go to. Also Phil and Crow and the significant others and I were going to go bowling, they had to go without me. A huge bummer cause we don't get to hang out all that often.

My insides feel off. Granted I know that I have a hernia and it is big but I feel as though everything else was affected. Things are not where they should be. The pains and odd feelings are increasing in frequency. Just a week and 2 days until the surgery and then I will be all better. It cannot come quickly enough. I don't like wishing my life away but in this case the next week except for Christmas can be gone.

So yeah, how has my Sunday been? I have slept for almost all of it. If I haven't been sleeping I have either been in pain or just uncomfortable. Sucks. It really sucks.

Last night was a blast though. Congratulations Farah on getting your Master's Degree.

Christmas Shopping

Well, I almost have all of my Christmas shopping done. I just have to get one thing for a special someone and then I have to get an exchange gift for my extended family Christmas and then I'm done. But I've got my gifts for my family secret santa exchange person done.

It will be nice to say I'm done cause then the money spending will have ended. Goodness. I'm glad there is a price limit this year.

I don't know if people know, but I'm not really getting gifts for friends this year. I just can't swing getting something for everyone. If I was in the situation where I could you definately know that I would but alas I'm not, it would get too hefty to buy for everyone that I would want to buy for. I hope you understand. I am giving free hugs for Christmas. Just ask for a hug and you shall receive. I've been told I'm warm and cuddley which makes them that much better. ;)

The Procedure

Well, it is set. I am having Open Incisional Hernia Repair. It is scheduled for 10am on Tuesday, December 27 at Saint John's hospital. I will be staying just 1 night for observation because of possible infection and pain associated with the surgery. Then I will be laid up for a few days. I hope that I heal quickly. I don't like being out of commission. This is a big load off of my chest knowing that it will actually be fixed soon and also before the 1st of the year(for insurance purposes).

It doesn't seem like Friday today. This week has been so long that it already seems like it should be the next week, if that makes sense. I work the door down at DH Browns tonight. Crow and Emily are going to be in town this weekend. That means that Philly will be willing to hang out. Saturday night at DH Browns is Farah's finishing GradSchool party. Everyone should attend. I will probably be there. Not working the door.

I am excited, although the surgery is a factor in this but after next Thursday, I will have 12 days off of work. Because of "Winter Holiday". I love it.

Doctor?

Doctor doctor, give me the news. Well, in less than 12 hours I will be at the surgeon's office figuring out the plan of attack.

Sorry to all who I saw tonight if I wasn't social enough. I haven't been in the best mood lately. Happy social Kyle is resting at the moment. I'm still going through the motions. Cause, well, that's what I do...

Great to see you Jessie. Lookin good.

My ear is pounding, my hernia is aching, and I'm feeling tired and weak. I'm hitting the hay. I hope Friday does better for me. Goodnight all.

Hear the pulse

So I'm sitting here listening to the end of the Price Is Right from the other room and I keep hearing a knocking sound. That would be my pulse. I can hear it in my ear. Just one ear because I have an ear infection AGAIN! This crap drives me nuts.

I also think that my hernia is getting bigger or doing weird things. Like my old incision is starting to hurt again. I think because my hernia is pressing back up into it or something. I can't wait to see the surgeon tomorrow. it hasn't come quick enough.

So I come home this morning. My mom's car is in the garage and the door is open. I come in the house and all the doors are locked. SO I think, maybe she just pulled in ahead of me and is in the garage just about to come in. So I go out to the garage to see if she needs any help and she isn't there. But what I do notice is that her keys are still in the door on the outside as though she was trying to get inside. But she is no where. Odd, very odd. I do recall her saying something about going to breakfast with people this morning but the fact that all the doors are locked, her keys are in the door, her car is here, and the garage door is up, kind of freaks me out.

Well, I just figured it out. As she just walked in, she was next door and I guess I didn't remember that the front door was actually open when I came home. THe key thing is what freaked me out the most. I was like, ut oh, cause who leaves the house unattended for a period of time with the keys still in the door? My mom!

worky

Well, it is nearly time for me to get back to work and deal with my kids for 7 hours straight. Hopefully they enjoy the movies that I picked out. Lion King(special edition with an extra song) or All Dogs Go To Heaven. Too bad I can't show both of them. Oh well.

King Kong tonight. I'm so stoked. Peace.

Snowy

So, no one told me or even hinted to me that last night it was going to snow. Alot. I was totally going on my no-snow schedule and I am walking out to get my breakfast and I'm like, SHITE! SNOW! So I chug my OJ and snag a banana which I throw in my car. Clean my baby off and then hit the road. Now, I'm a good driver in the snow. BUT I cannot account for the rest of Springfield who is going 5 mph and still fishtailing all over the place. I don't fishtail like that. If I am going as slow as they are going I have too much control. Statement to make a point. Because of all the other drivers I then was 1 minute late for work. 7:01 as I walked in the building. Not bad, considering that the parents were not waiting for me and that my helper was yet to arrive also. But geeeeeez. When snow is coming, don't people usually gripe about it before hand? I heard nothing of this. And people learn to drive in snow, please.

Dinosaurs and A big monkey

Oh boy oh boy oh boy, It is going to be aweseome. 3 hours and 7 minutes of pure entertainment. I hear the the special effects are awesome. Also that Peter Jackson does so much justice to the original 1933 film. I am very excited. The "plan" is that I get to see it Wednesday night. Tomorrow is opening day, you know. Who else is excited about this movie?

Tooosday

I went to bed early last night. It was great. I haven't done that in forever! I was still really tired when I woke up though. Weird. Maybe I could try going to bed even earlier.

I bailed on doing anything with anyone last night. I wasn't feeling at my best. I think I have an ear infection beginning. I have a crazy cough kinda too. Very infrequent but bothersome. Good thing I quit smoking. Could be worse.

So I just went shopping with my mom. I ended up buying for myself. I love bargains. Best Buy has this sale going on with their DVDs. Scattered throughout their whole section you can find DVDs for 10 bucks even. Not old crappy ones either but some are ones that have recently come out, and quite a few are the hopped-up editions. For those of you who may want to check that out, I suggest you get out there soon.

So I got myself, Ghostbusters 1 & 2 (Double Feature Gift Set) for 10 bucks and also Tommy Boy (Holy Schnike Edition) for 10 bucks. Best deal that I can find for them especially considering that they are brand new and not second hand. Also, technically I got 2 movies for 10 bucks with the Ghostbusters set.

600th Post!

YAY! This is my 600th of my blog. That is a lot of entries. I remember when it was post 100. That was crazy. 500 passed by without me even noticing.

So yeah, today is Monday and yesterday was Sunday. I had a blast yesterday. Almost too much fun. I didn't get home until maybe 1:45am. I'm not totally sure. Last night is a blur. Apparently I talked to Reier last night at 1:08am. I don't know what we talked about. It was for 3 minutes though. I'm going on like 4 hours of sleep, very dehydrated. I chugged down 3 bottles of water during my morning shift today. I've had a little coffee to try and help me out. But oooooh boy, I sure am rough around the edges. I did manage to get in a quick shave this morning.

For those of you who haven't seen me, I shaved the mustasche off. I still have my dashingly handsome goatee but the stashe is gone. So far it has been all compliments or just surprise. My parents didn't even notice for a whole day, I had to tell them, then they were like, oh, yeah you did shave it off.

When I lose a little more weight I will get rid of the goatee. I'm waiting until I have more of a chin. Cause yeah, I've lost 82 pounds but that isn't all of it.

So today my picture was in A paper. not our paper though, it was in a paper down by belleville and troy IL. My uncle called to say he saw it. First day it ran and I found out before the clinic could even tell me where it was placed. That's awesome. I'm famous. I rock.

Well, I am going to get in a half hour catnap. I need it. I really need it. I will talk to you party people later. I expect to see some wild photos up on Torrie's blog here soon.

Happy 600th Post to ME!

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!

Yep, it's that time again. Wings, Beer, Football and repeat. Have a great Sunday! I know I will.

IL vs OR

FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #10: #11ap/#10 Illinois (9-0) vs. Oregon (4-2) • Pape' Jam
Dec. 10, 2005 • 5 p.m. PT/7 p.m. CT • Fox Sports Net
Portland, Ore. • Rose Garden (19,980)


GO ILLINI!

Last Night

I had a good time last night. I worked the door. smols and D came to visit me all the way from brewhaus. Mels came in to hang out too which was a pleasant surprise. Amanda was in also taking a break from studying. Other than those wonderful people hanging out and keeping me company the crowd of people I know was pretty slim. My mass text message apparently wasn't well received because no one got back to me about it. Well, 1 person did but not til 11:45pm. I still had a blast.

I felt great. I got dressed up last night and decided not to do the bluesy hat with the shirt this time. I got some of the best compliments that I have ever gotten before. Not the usual, "you look good, keep up the good work". Let's say it was more believable and less fake like some people can be. I'm not a fan of fake. Fake compliments can go out the window.

I may dress up tonight also. Who knows, I'm contemplating even wearing a tie....

Zombie Movies Revisited

Okay, some of you may or may not know. I love Zombie movies now. If one comes out, I want to see it. I also enjoy campy zombie movies that most people claim to be pieces of crap because the "acting" is so bad. That is what makes it so good. You can laugh at it and enjoy it. But I found one that I want to check out and I think Ed may appreciate this one since he is with me on the zombie movies.


Hood of the Living Dead



There is also another bigger budget zombie type movie coming out in the spring. It is by the people who remade Dawn of the Dead last year.

Slither 31 March 2006

Forbes Fictional 15

NEW YORK - Collectively, we are fascinated by the super-rich. We devour their biographies. We hang on their advice. Maybe we even hope for their downfall. But in our attempts to explain the ultra-rich--and their super-inflated bank accounts--we are often guilty of reducing real people to mere caricatures. There is the monopolist. The oracle. The genius. The thief.

With the Forbes Fictional 15, we have taken the opposite approach--fiction’s caricatures are elevated to the status of real people.

To qualify for the Fictional 15, we insisted that members be both fictional (in the sense that we excluded mythological and folkloric figures) and characters (meaning they are part of a narrative story or series of stories). Great wealth was required to be one of the primary attributes of the characters on this list--in other words, we looked for characters that were known, within their universes, for being rich.

Of course, there is one notable exception to all these rules: Santa Claus, who is mythological and not really known for his great wealth. Our excuse? We just couldn’t resist. What’s the point of doing a list about fictional characters if you can’t break the rules, at least just a little?

This list is an updated version of an earlier Fictional 15, which we published three years ago. After all, the passage of time affects even the timeless.

The List
1. Santa Claus
2. Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks
3. Richie Rich
4. Lex Luthor
5. C. Montgomery Burns
6. Scrooge McDuck
7. Jed Clampett
8. Bruce Wayne
9. Thurston Howell III
10. Willy Wonka
11. Arthur Bach
12. Ebenezer Scrooge
13. Lara Croft
14. Cruella De Vil
15. Lucius Malfoy

LINK TO THE STORY

Pleasure

I'm a little bored. So for your brief reading pleasure I will be posting movie quotes from some of my favorite comedy movies. I hope that they bring a moment of joy to you on this long and drawn out Friday before the weekend.

OLD SCHOOL
Mitch: I've had a hell of a day and even worse week. And all I want to do is get some fucking sleep.
Beanie: Whoa. Whoa. Why the F-ing? Why in front of the kid? All ya gotta do is say "earmuffs" to him, and you can say "Fuck, shit, bitch."
Frank: Cock. Balls.
Beanie: I'm just trying to make a point, Frank. You don't have to celebrate it.

ROAD TRIP
Rubin: It's supposed to be a challenge, it's a shortcut! If it were easy it would just be the way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corky the Dog: Hey, Jack, have that bitch make me some blueberry pancakes... Right now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
E.L.: Barry, hit the lights. It's boner time!

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

Ron Burgundy: [to dog] You're so wise. You're like a miniature Buddha, covered with hair.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ron Burgundy: I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Austin Powers: Goldmember

Dr. Evil: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my submarine lair. It's long, hard and full of seaman!
[Laughs, then notices he isn't getting any laughs from his submarine crew]
Dr. Evil: No? Nothing? Not even a titter? Tough sub...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goldmember: Can I paint his yoo-hoo gold now? It's kind of my thing, you know...
Dr. Evil: How 'bout no, you crazy Dutch bastard!

So I Married An Axe Murderer

Stuart Mackenzie: Would ya look at the size of that kid's head! It's the size of a planetoid and it has it's own weather system! Looks like an orange on a toothpick!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stuart Mackenzie: I'm not kidding, that boy's head is like Sputnik; spherical but quite pointy at parts! Aye, now that was offsides, now wasn't it? He'll be crying himself to sleep tonight, on his huge pillow.


SHREK

Donkey: Whoa. Look at that. Who'd wanna live in a place like that?
Shrek: That would be my home.
Donkey: Oh and it is LOVELY. You know, you're really quite a decorator. It's amazing what you've done with such a modest budget. I like that boulder. That is a NICE boulder.

Wedding Crashers
Jeremy Grey: Okay, what's our back story?
John Beckwith: We're brothers from New Hampshire. We're venture capitalists.
Jeremy Grey: I'm sick of that. Let's be from Vermont. And let's have an emerging maple syrup conglomerate.
John Beckwith: Wait, that's stupid. We don't know anything about maple syrup.
Jeremy Grey: I happen to know everything there is to know about maple syrup! I love maple syrup. I love maple syrup on pancakes. I love it on pizza. And I take maple syrup and put a little bit in my hair when I've had a rough week. What do you think holds it up, slick?

Elf Snowball Fight

Thanks to Nattie for this link. It's fun, check it out.


Turn up the volume - (or no volume if you are at work)
DON'T hit Santa -
Don't run out of snowballs
Move the mouse on to the people click and enjoy - Remember -

Don't hit Santa

http://www.elfmovie.com/swf/snowball_fight/index.html

Marvel for those that care

Marvel Character Feature Film Development Pipeline
X-Men 3, Fox - Script, Director, May 26, 2006 release
Ghost Rider, Sony - Filming completed, Slated for Summer 2006
The Punisher 2, Lions Gate - Writer, Director, Targeted for 2006
Spider-Man 3, Sony/Columbia - Director, May 4, 2007 release
Namor, Universal Pictures - Script, Targeted for 2007
Iron Man, New Line Cinema - TBD
Luke Cage, Sony/Columbia - TBD
Deathlok, Paramount - TBD
The Hulk 2, Universal Pictures - TBD
Wolverine, Fox - TBD

Marvel Character Feature Film Projects in Development
Ant-Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Killraven, Nick Fury, Silver
Surfer and Thor

Marvel Character Animated Direct-to-Video Projects in Development
Partnership with Lions Gate to develop, produce and distribute original animated DVD features. Four projects in 2D/3D format are in development with the first release slated for 2006. Titles include: The Avengers 1, The Avengers 2, Iron Man and Dr. Strange.

The Fighting ILLINI

Nevermind on the movie. I wasn't in my right mind. I was even reading news articles about the game tonight and when I posted about the movie it slipped my mind that the game would be on.

FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #9: #11A.P./#10 Illinois (8-0) vs. Georgetown (3-1)
Dec. 8, 2005 • 8 p.m. CT • ESPN
Champaign, Ill. • Assembly Hall (16,618)

On the Air
Television
ESPN: Brent Musburger, play-by-play; Steve Lavin, expert analyst; Erin Andrews, sideline reporter.

Radio
Illini Sports Network - 50 stations: Brian Barnhart, play-by-play; Jerry Hester, expert analyst; Loren Tate, pregame/halftime/postgame interviews.



ILL!

THE FOG

Is anyone interested in seeing the movie THE FOG (featuring Tom Welling, Maggie Grace, Selma Blair, DeRay Davis, Rade Serbedzija) at the cheap White Oaks Cinema tonight at 7:20pm? Tonight is its last night there and it is only $2.50. Leave me a comment here or call or text message me to let me know.

It's Snowing!

WOOOO! It is snowing yet again. I was all like, where is the snow? Come on, old man winter. It was supposed to start at 6am and it was just starting like 15 minutes ago at 10:15am. Slacker!


So I lost another 2 pounds since yesterday. Yeah, love it. Still not back to where I was though. Really really close. But in 3 days I have lost 6 pounds. Crazy huh? I didn't think I could still do that considering how much I have already lost. But I've been very strict on myself. More water, more fruits and vegetables. Lighter on the sliced bread and meat. I still get a little of everything. Don't you worry none. The idea is to live off some of the fat. Man, if I could lose 2 pounds a day for the next month I would practically be where I want to be. I know that won't happen though. I think that I may make Sunday my only splurge day now. Cause this is going so well, getting back on the wagon and all. Thanksgiving can kiss my butt.

So I don't have any cute stories about how my girlfriend is so good to me since I don't have one and all. I can say that my friends are good to me and my family is good to me. For example, I came home from work last night and my mom had dinner on the table ready for me. Granted she does this most weeknights but the fact still remains, dinner was cooked for us. Yay.

I watched War of the Worlds the new version last night. It was pretty good. Creeped me out in some parts and spooked me in others. I kept thinking, what if this really happens. What would I do? I wondered if I hid in the crawlspace would they find me? or would just the house be searched and that be it. I don't think that barring myself up in the winchester would work as well against aliens as it would zombies.

Money issues

I cannot keep money in my checking account. I swear. I got paid on Thursday. I paid 190 dollars in bills on Friday. Then I spent cash that I already had on me throughout the weekend. I did holiday shopping on Sunday night and spent about 60 dollars. Then I spent 160 bucks on the dentist. That totals up to about 410 dollars. The paycheck that had just went in was barely over 500 so with the negative balance already in the checking account, yeah, that puts me at negative already again. Less than a week. Oh yeah, I just remembered I have a tank of gas on the checking also which is hefty. It was about 35 bucks or so.

I have been thinking about getting a loan just to keep me in the positive because I'm sure that interest on a loan would be a lot better on me in the long run than getting about 75 dollars in fees (or more)every 2 weeks(paycheck cycle).

What do you think? Cause I'm really hurting, I cannot stay afloat and I have cut back.

ADVISORY

Well, we've got our first advisory folks. I love snow but just not driving in it. I never feel safe.


A SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM CST THURSDAY.

SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO WEST CENTRAL ILLINOIS AROUND DAYBREAK THURSDAY...AND THEN INTO THE ILLINOIS RIVER VALLEY AND THE I-55 CORRIDOR DURING THE REST OF THE MORNING. AT THIS TIME... IT APPEARS THAT THE HEAVIEST SNOW WILL OCCUR DURING THE AFTERNOON. TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS RANGING FROM 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE ANTICIPATED BY EARLY THURSDAY EVENING...WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE FROM GALESBURG TO PEORIA TO CANTON.

A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.

Sleigh bells ring aling

Well, things are going well. In the past 2 days I have lost 4 pounds. I'm nearly at what I was at before the holiday week that I had. I've been counting calories to make sure that I get enough and don't over do it either way. Not counting to the specific individual calorie but more to the 50's or 100, always round up.

Saw a lot of people at DH and Mojo's last night. That was a good time.

Monica, you'll recognize. Soon enough.

Congratulations GTG on being finished with student teaching, now you will just be teaching students.

I ditched out somewhat early cause well, I was getting bored. Everyone was in their little conversations and I thought hey, I would rather be at home watching some Conan O'Brien. So I did. I did say bye to the bar though. ;) I wasn't drinking anyway and well, gave up the cigarettes so I can't use those to get me through a night. But actually I just remembered that some people left without saying bye...

In the meadow we can build a snowman

We have Christmas music on the digital cable music channels. I love it!

I need a nap, I didn't sleep well last night.

Today sucks, maybe tonight will be better.

Eating well so far today, nothing to be ashamed of. ;)


Has anyone ever heard of the musical artist Matthew West? He is awesome. You should look him up.

Back in the Game

So, I got side tracked. It happens. I am paying for it now because I have to make up for lost ground when I was doing so well. I am back in the saddle again though. I expect to lose at least 5 pounds this week. I weighed myself tonight and will again in the morning to get an idea of where I am at and what I think I can accomplish. I am guessing 5 pounds. We'll see though. I'm focusing more on diet and not eating crap and cutting back on the caloric and fatty intake. When I start showing the signs of losing again I will post it here. Thanksgiving kicked my ass and then repercussions were felt because I didn't hop right back on the wagon.

I want to lose as much as I can before my surgery. Less fat that the surgeon has to cut through the better, I assume. So I'm going to knock it off and of course keep it off. But also I want to see how surprised the surgeon will be to see how much I have lost since she cut me open last time about a year and a half ago. Maybe she doesn't really care, but it is worth a shot.

Today I did wonderful. I ate only at meals and did not over eat at all. No snacks, no treats, not even a sip of a milkshake offered to me by Ed this evening. Water, tea, and coffee were the only beverages that I partook in. Although I think that I may have a glass of skim milk before bed just so that my stomach doesn't keep growling on me all night. It gets annoying.

Which by the way.

GO BEARS!

GO ILLINI!

GO CUBS?

Well, it is officially Tuesday now. Happy Tuesday!

Also, Monday was my HALF birthday... I got no presents. That would have been awesome if someone was like, hey, Happy Half Birthday. Ya know? Cause it's like, who thinks of that crap.

Dehydrated

I am so dehyrated today. Considering that I had nothing but beer and wings and popcorn yesterday I am not surprised. I woke up many times in the night just to get drinks of water. Today my water bottle hasn't left my side. I don't feel bad though. Just constantly parched.

My finger has a cut on it. I still have no idea how it got there but I think it happened while I was shopping last night. It is almost like a paper cut and it is very bothersome.

I started today off by breaking up a fight in the cafeteria during breakfast time. I almost got my glasses knocked off because the kids were swinging so hard. I was like, whoa whoa whoa. Straight to the Principal for them. They weren't mine.

Me and my llama, going to the dentist today.

Sunday's, God Bless Sunday's

Sundays are truely the Lord's day. Because no other day brings me such happiness than Sunday and my only logic behind it is that it is the Lord's Day of "Rest". Hehe. Yeah, Sunday's rock.

Today consisted of Beer, Wings, and Football at Showme's. Always a good time. The BEARS BEAT the PACKERS! WAHOO! By more than 10 points I might add. Which means whenever I meet the drunk guy at mojo's last night he owes me One Dollar because we made a bet that if the Bears won by more than 10 points he would owe me a dollar but if we didn't win by more than 10 points I would owe him a dollar. Yeah, I totally won so that drunk butt owes me a dollar and expect me to make him pay next time that I see him. Whoever he is, I just hope he remembers the bet.

I am getting up to get a drink right now... be back to finish this in a few minutes....



okay back....

So yeah, today was great. No pressure, no bullsh*t, no games. Well, there was pinball. But that is a totally different catagory of games. I'm not a fan of games in the other catagory. I like it when things are spelled out. Got me? I know you do.

So yeah running into my kid's after I have been out and about isn't the most fun thing in the world. I just did the hi and keep on walking thing because I wasn't about to stand and chat when I might act a fool. I was in my right mind but yeah, not going to do that.

Amanda rocks for helping with shopping. Thanks a bunch.


Oooooooooooooooh yeah.

It is almost Monday, that means the beginning of the work week. That sucks. This weekend flew by. I wish the weekend started out with Sunday's instead of ending with Sundays. Ick. Oh well, at least I get a Sunday at all.


Peace, Love, Laughter. - K

Harry Potter 4!!

Well folks, I'm moving right along. I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The best one yet. They just get better and better and more intense. I'm really looking forward to the 4th book Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire which was just released as the latest movie.

Does anyone have the 4th book, hardcover that I could borrow until mine comes in the mail? The one I ordered is coming media mail and would probably be over a week or so before I get it especially since I just ordered it on a Saturday night. I got it for 13.25 including shipping. Not bad considering the list price for a new one is 30 bucks.

For the sake of posting

I don't really have much to say. I am in one of those moods where I would rather just sleep even though I am not tired. I'll see what I can spit out.

The Illini won. Barely. But I didn't get to see much of the game considering that I didn't wake up until about 9 minutes left of the second half. Yeah, I woke up really late. I didn't even go out last night after working the door. But I did come home and pop a lot of sleepy drugs that knocked my ass out. Crap sucks but you'll still see my happy face.

Tonight I guess I will stop by Nattie's birthday. I don't think that I will stay out long though. But you know me, once I am out sometimes I just go with the flow and stay out until all hours of the night. I wouldn't let myself get into the flow last night. That is why I was in bed before 2am. All by myself.

Sunday is the Bears vs the Packers. Wings and Beer and Football. Yay! Maybe even some poker too. Who knows...

Everyone is so happy.




Blah.

Saturday's Game

FIGHTING ILLINI BASKETBALL
Game #7: #12 Illinois (6-0) vs. Xavier (3-0)
Lexus December to Remember Classic
Dec. 3, 2005 • 1 p.m. CT • ESPN+ Local / Fox Sports Net Ohio
Chicago, Ill. • United Center (21,711)

Natalie's Birthday Announcement

Nattie Says:


"OK, so it’s time for my annual birthday announcement!!! My birthday is Saturday, December 3. Having a party at Mojo’s, starting around 9:00 and going until whenever…

My friend’s band, Groovebox, is playing. They played my graduation party in May also. So anyways, hope to see everyone out there!!!"

Happy December!

Woooo baby! December started off on the right foot. A beautiful snowfall (without ice) to wake up to. I love it! If I was feeling better I would be out playing in it but alas I am not. The head cold is getting better though. I hope for it to be gone soon.

Today I went to the Blood Doctor. Everything went well there. My platelet count is up at 507,000 which is barely above the high end of the normal range (150,000 - 450,000). So over a year and a half later I am still doing fantastic in the blood department. I would go as far as saying that the splenectomy was a success for what we wanted it to do.

The blood count being high like that is also a good thing I believe for my upcoming surgery. Less likely to bleed to death if I clot well. Always look to the bright side of life.

Other things that have been going on. I went to Bible Study last night. That was a good time.

I chatted with my birthday sister on the phone last night. She is well.

I haven't been to the bar since Monday night. Sorry all. I don't know how any of you can possibly manage without my presence. It must be difficult but you must be strong. Find the courage deep inside your soul and display it proudly on your sleeve.

I'm about half way through Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I haven't had long periods of time where I have been able to sit down with it. I'm making it though.