Thursday, May 15, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Saturday afternoon, I was sitting in the living room, next to the sliding glass door, watching tv. A movement caught my eye out on the balcony. I turned my head very slowly, and sure enough, there was a Charlie (squirrel) on my balcony, looking for all that seed he'd emptied from the bucket. When he couldn't find it, he decided he'd try getting it from the bird feeder instead. He jumped onto the railing, then leaped onto the top of the feeder.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Supposedly, a second cougar was spotted earlier this week in the Chicago area. It was never found, and there have been no reports since of anyone seeing it. Searches were made by helicopter and foot over a forest preserve where it was see chasing deer. Here's a link to the story.
And it has also been determined the one previously shot and killed by Chicago police was in fact a wild animal that may have wandered here from the Black Hills in South Dakota.
I knew we could get a little wild here in Chicago, but this is going to extremes, lol.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
I finally called to make a PT appointment today. My first appointment, for the consultation is April 23 at 6:45AM. It will last about an hour. Then I have two more appointments scheduled for April 29 (I think) and May 1, also at 6:45AM. It was very hard to try to make evening appointments as that's when everyone else wants them, so I figured early morning would have to do, and I can make up my lost time at work. Now my challenge will be getting up early enough to get to PT by 6:45AM! I might actually have to get up by 5:30AM now! *GASP*
Monday, April 14, 2008
It's an eight foot tower of cars, on a spindle, and was featured in the movie Wayne's World. The Spindle, also known as the "Car Kabob" or the "Eight Car Pileup" is located in Berwyn, IL a suburb of Chicago. It was supposed to be dismantled last year to make way for a Walgreens (like there isn't one two blocks down?), but a couple of preservation groups formed to protest, and are trying to have it relocated.
How much would you pay for a rusted, bird poop covered, famous spindle of assorted cars? The full article and video are here.

They don't know who the cat belonged to, they'll be searching it for tags, chips, or markings to track ownership. Cougar sitings in Chicago are rare.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Last week I bought three new cd's: P.O.D.' s new cd titled When Angels & Serpents Dance. Unless you're into heavy metal, you wouldn't like this, lol. I bought the new Counting Crows cd, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings. And, I bought a cd by a new country artist, James Otto, titled Sunset Man. It has his single "Just Got Started Loving You" on it, which I love! This week another new country artist, Lady Antebellum, has a cd coming out. Their first single is called "Love Don't Live Here" and it's another one I love. They harmonize well, reminding me of Little Big Town.
James Otto's MySpace page
Lady Antebellum's MySpace page
Sunday, April 06, 2008
First, I finally spoke to my doctor's nurse last Thursday. I asked about the xray results from the previous Wednesday. She told me what showed up in the xray was the start of arthritis. So tomorrow, if I have time, I'm going to go ahead and try to set up an appointment to see a Physical Therapist. Not sure what six visits will get me, but perhaps I will come away with some regular exercises to do so I won't be on 800mg of Ibuprofen for the rest of my life.
Above is the waterfall across the street from my work that they started up this week. During the Christmas season, they string lights up from all the trees, making it look very festive. There's a little path behind it, where I believe you can walk, although I've never gone back there. Perhaps this summer when it's a little warmer out, I'll check it out. It's just tough crossing a six-lane road on foot.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
My doctor's appointment was at 1:30pm this afternoon, I needed to be there at 1:15pm to fill out the paperwork first, since it was the first time I've been to that office. The previous insurance plan I was on at work allowed me to keep seeing my old doctor, but that plan was cancelled after 2006, requiring me to pick a new doctor. A co-worker said she'd been happy with BCBS HMO Illinois, and she lives in the same city as me, so I went ahead and switched to it. Since I soooo hate doctors, I haven't made any attempt to go in for a physical or anything since I joined the HMO.
Anyway, this shoulder problem forced me to do it, therefore, paperwork about me and my insurance. I was hoping it wouldn't be some three page list of every ailment or medical problem I've ever had and when. I've done those, and they are a PITA! This was just basic name, address, phone number, emergency contacts, insurance info, etc.
I was pleasantly surprised to be called quite promptly. I was taken back to an exam room, weighed, BP measured (134/84) and told the doctor would be in shortly. I changed into those stupid paper shirts that are open in the back, and waited probably less than 5 minutes for the doctor to come in. He took a basic family history, asked me about my problem, examined my shoulder by pressing on it in different areas, asking if it hurt (which it didn't.)
He had a sheet printed out for me to go get a shoulder x-ray done, a prescription for 800 mg tablets of Ibuprofen, a referral for PT, and a photo-copied picture of some exercises to try for my shoulder. I'm not sure if I'm going to try them or not, since from what the pictures show, I can't put my shoulder in the correct position to do the exercises. I was out of there by 2pm. Since I still had most the afternoon to kill, and one of the locations to get an x-ray was about 10 minutes down the road, I decided to go right then and get that taken care of. The sooner I do that, the sooner they get the results, and the sooner I know if there's something wrong with my shoulder.
I walked in, gave the sheet explaining what I needed, and in about 5 minutes I was called back by the technician. I changed into the robe like gown, walked back to the x-ray room, he put me in position with a lead shield around my waist. The first picture was with my palm facing back, the second picture was with my palm turned facing front, and the third picture he wanted me to raise my arm over my head. I said, "I can't, that's why I'm having the x-rays done." He asked me to raise it as high as I could, I even used my right hand to lift my arm a bit more, then told him to take it quick cause it was hurting and I didn't know how long I could hold it up there. A few seconds later, he was done, and I was done. Whew!
It was now about 2:30 or so? I decided to stop at Target on the way home (the same one I took you to, Kerry) to get my prescription filled. I wandered around there for about 15 minutes, and was out of there by 3:20. Wasn't I getting a lot done today? LOL Next stop was the grocery store, since I needed some food. Especially something to eat when I take the Ibuprofen, since even I should take it with food for that high a dosage. I don't really need to get an ulcer. Came home after the store, at about 4:10. Not a bad afternoon after all.
I'll update when I hear back from the doc on the x-ray results. I also have decided to wait to call for a PT appointment until the doc calls me with the x-ray results. Might as well see if it's something that PT can help with before I start trying to make time for it.
Monday, March 24, 2008
I was on the computer Tuesday and Wednesday night for a bit during Idol, with my shoulder still bothering me. Thursday night I came home from work and stayed off the computer (for the most part.) Friday I was off work, so I rested my shoulder and arm all day, but by late afternoon, I wasn't even comfortable sitting in the chair at the computer, so there was no way I'd be able to stream, let alone sit for four hours listening to Kerry's and AK's streams.
Saturday I did nothing all day, again trying to rest my shoulder. Still no change. I spent yesterday, Easter Sunday at my aunt's house (her son cooked lunch/dinner for us), and rested it again last night. It was still no better this morning, so I decided I better call the doctor to see what's going on with it. I really hate doctors, so my calling to make an appointment is a big deal. My appointment is Wednesday afternoon, so I'm taking a half day. At least I can sit at the computer without pain, for today at least.
Keep your fingers crossed that it's nothing serious.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM FRIDAY TO1 AM CDT SATURDAY
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM CDT FRIDAY TO 1 AM CDT SATURDAY. THE WARNING AREA IS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM STERLING...TO JOLIET...TO CROWN POINT INDIANA.SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TONIGHT...SPREADING INTO PORTIONS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. SNOWFALL WILL LIKELY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES DURING THE DAY FRIDAY...WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR POSSIBLE. SNOW WILL THEN GRADUALLY DIMINISH FRIDAY EVENING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 6 TO 9 INCHES...WITH SNOW AMOUNTS DIMINISHING RAPIDLY SOUTH OF A STERLING TO JOLIET AND CROWN POINT INDIANA LINE WHERE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE MAINLY RAIN.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Sunday, March 02, 2008
This weekend I saw two very good movies. One was Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly. There's some violence, but it's an awesome movie! Plus it's based on a true story.
The second movie I saw was The Spiderwick Chronicles. This is based on a book series written by Holly Black. The movie stars Freddie Highmore as brothers Jared and Simon Grace. Playing their mother is Mary-Louise Parker, with special appearances by Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, the voice of Martin Short, and Andrew McCarthy.
One more week and we move our clocks forward. Spring will definitely feel like it's on the way once the sun starts setting later. I can't wait!!!!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Yonder Mountain String Band - To Say Goodbye, To Be Forgiven
Are you one foot in the grave, or one step closer to your savior
Brother tell me how it feels, it's much too soon to meet your maker
You ain't ever walked a line, boy, you always were a rebel
Now ain't no time to strike a deal now, now for someone to cheat the devil
Won't get a nickle for your name, no, 'course you won't need it where you're going
But brother tell me can you feel, now, the winds of change that started blowing
It ain't a hot and dusty road, no, it ain't a highway it's a journey
Sure you're walking for the train still, but it's a train that's bound for glory
Every man is born to die, there ain't no mystery but livin'
Brother tell me is it hard to say goodbye, to be forgiven
You won't ever get it back, don't you hear the angels calling
'Cause you listen to them now, now that the tears have started fallin'
When he reaches out his hand for you, and you kneel before you savior
Say, your brothers know you're gone now, gone to heaven a believer
Say, your brothers know you're gone, gone to heaven a believer
Saturday, February 16, 2008

Friday February 22 I will be flying to California for a memorial, to be held on Saturday February 23. My Uncle Bob was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease several years ago, and up until six months ago, was being cared for at home by his wife and a caregiver. When he could no longer swallow on his own, a feeding tube was inserted and he was placed in a full-time care facility. He lived a long and happy life, and I know my Aunt will be just fine, with the support of so many family members that love her.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
About 20 minutes later he comes back, with Jack (my buddy from last year), the maintenance supervisor. They proceeded to try to replace the damaged section of pipe, but every time they'd turn the water back on, another area would start leaking. They left about 3:45AM since there was nothing more they could do until a plumber came. They were hoping to have one there by 6:00AM. I called work to leave a message for my boss, explaining what happened, and that I would be there in the afternoon. I went back to bed at 4:00AM and slept till 9:00AM, so I could be up, showered and dressed before the guys with the shop vac came to suck all the water out of my carpet.
Sunday, February 10, 2008

Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Fortunately, the highways weren't too bad, and traffic wasn't too heavy, so I made it home in under an hour. Not bad for the middle of a snowstorm! When I got home, while it was still light, I took a few pictures. This is the tree right outside my front door. The wind was blowing the snow in every direction, so the trees got a good coating of snow all over.
Monday, February 04, 2008
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHICAGO HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
SNOW WILL BEGIN TUESDAY NIGHT AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THERE MAY BE SNOW DEPTH OF 6 INCHES OR MORE ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL... NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL PROBABLY BE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80 AND TO THE WISCONSIN BORDER. THE TRACK OF THE LOW MAY DETERMINE SNOW FALL ACROSS THE REGION. AREAS SOUTH OF THE KANKAKEE RIVER MAY HAVE LESS SNOW BECAUSE THE SNOW MIXED WITH RAIN AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS EVENT.
Is it spring yet?
Sunday, February 03, 2008
"A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM CST MONDAY.
SNOW WILL RAPIDLY OVERSPREAD THE AREA EARLY THIS EVENING...WITH SNOW POSSIBLY BECOMING HEAVY AT TIMES. THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SOME THUNDER SNOW...WITH VISIBILITIES LIKELY FALLING BELOW A HALF MILE DURING THE PERIODS OF HEAVIEST SNOW. SNOWFALL RATES OF UP TO AN INCH PER HOUR ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES THIS EVENING...WITH TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO THREE INCHES LIKELY BY MIDNIGHT.
THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL WILL LIKELY OCCUR OVER NORTH CENTRAL ILLINOIS BETWEEN 6 AND 9 PM...AND OVER NORTHEAST ILLINOIS INCLUDING THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA BETWEEN 7 PM AND 10 PM. SNOW WILL END LATE THIS EVENING OR SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT."
Is it Spring yet?










