Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, my friends! Here are some pictures from the evening. Bella dressed as Dorothy, Rowan was a little doctor, and I was of course Sarah Palin (Ok casual Sarah Palin in jeans).





Dale is Pumpkin-Carver Extraordinaire. Each year he goes all out. He does not use a stencil, mind you. He free hands the drawing and then carves away. I told you he's good at everything he does!





So I want ya'll to comment and tell me your favorite Halloween candy. I'll go first. Mine is, without a doubt, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. Mmmm....

Scary Ghost Cupcakes

I signed up to bring cupcakes to the Halloween party at Bella's preschool tomorrow. Originally, I was going to make each cupcake a little pumpkin, but then I had visions of being up until the wee hours making tiny fondant pumpkin stems for each one, and hey- when would I find the time to finalize my Sarah Palin outfit? So I dreamed up these little guys. Easy to make, tasty to boot, scary as I'll get out, what more could you want?

My Brother

I had a dream last night that my brother died. It was so vivid and real and horrible. Then, in my dream, I woke up and was so relieved that it was only a dream, but I was told that no, he really was gone. I cried and cried and cried. The feeling was so awful.

When I really did wake up, it was 2:00, and while I WAS relieved that it was just a dream, the realness of it made me so upset that I could not go back to sleep.

Today while I was at work, I was happy and thankful that I still have my brother here. I even took a break from my patient and went and called him. I described my dream and then told him how much I love him.

I remember the day he was born my dad holding me up to the sink in the hospital and helping me wash my hands with the little red disposable scrubby thing, so I could hold him. I remember laughing when he yawned. It is crystal clear in my mind.

I love my brother. I am so glad it was only a dream.

The REAL Springer Story

Ok, I have the Jerry Springer story in my last post totally wrong. I emailed Chris to tell him he was in my blog. Here is his reply:

Jessie,

good to hear from you. I check your blog probably once a week.

You are too nice calling me the smartest guy you know. You may not feel that way after October!

As for the Springer story, here is the clarification (I am shocked you remember that): I was evacuated from the Sears Tower; I walked over to Jen's work by the Hancock building; we started walking toward home (5 miles up the lakefront); right near the Hancock building, I saw Springer and went over and shook his hand; Jen's friend that we were walking with said that he lives in the Hancock building which was also evacuated; he seemed to be walking relatively aimlessly around, like we all were.

I am glad you had a great trip to Chicago. It is a great town. I hope to go there in the next 6 months myself.

Take care and Happy Halloween,

Chris

So I honestly don't know where my version of the story came from. Apparently I just make things up. The true story is actually better than mine. Chris, you should have invited Jerry to come stay at your house.

Oh, and as far as the market goes...I am sure my $ would be doing even worse if I was investing with anyone else. I have faith!

Chicago Trip

We just got home from a week long trip to Chicago. It was great...but it's always great coming home. Before I get into the details, I have to say Frontier has moved to the top of my list of favorite airlines. Roomy! Comfy leather seats! Great service!

Originally it was going to be a family trip, but the week before we left we decided to leave Rowan with my mom. He is so busy right now, wouldn't have had fun, wouldn't remember it, and he ended up having a great time with grandma. He got one on one attention from her, Bella got one on one attention from us...it was the right choice for everybody!

We started most days with breakfast and coffee at Starbucks. Here is Bella goofing off. She was like "Hey mom look! Take my picture!"





One of the greatest things about Chicago is the food. It's a good thing we did a ton of walking each day...because we were eatin' good.

Chicago hot dogs are quite a treat. They are made a very specific way, with a poppy seed bun, peppers, tomatoes, even celery salt. Tasty!


Chicago style pizza...cheese, toppings, cheese, then sauce on top. Must be accompanied by a beer (if you ask me).


Here is Bella on the beach with the John Handcock building in the background.


We shopped along Michigan Avenue. I bought myself a scarf, because I never could quite get warm enough there, but Bella insisted upon wearing it. And the sunglasses, too.


I snapped this as Bella was standing along the railing on the bridge over the Chicago river.


Mostly when I photograph Bella she gives me a fake, cheesy smile. Every now and again I can coax the real thing out. Isn't she a cutey?


And what is a vacation without a jumping picture?


The Chicago river runs right through the heart of the city.


These are just a few shots of the amazing architecture.





See the dark green building with the gold top? It was designed to look like a champagne bottle, in protest of prohibition.


Dale and Bella


Me and Bella


We even saw Oprah! Not to sure why Dale is trying to tune in Tokyo.


We had to go up to the top of the Sears Tower. On September 11th, 2001, Dale's and my good friend (and the smartest guy I know), Chris Tarrach, was working in the Sears Tower and was forced to evacuate. He got into the elevator and realized he was standing next to Jerry Springer. He was like, "Hey Jerry."

I am not a huge fan of heights, so I was a little worried in the elevator that goes so high so fast that your ears pop on the way up, but once we got to the sky deck, it was no big deal. It didn't seem to be as high as I expected.






We walked a gazillion blocks to get to Chinatown where we ate lunch and discovered what dim sum is!


Walking back from Chinatown I snapped this picture. Wow, a dental studio. It makes dentistry sound so chic! Like you walk in, do a couple turns on the catwalk, sip some Cristal in between fillings, then casually stroll out in your Prada pumps where your driver is waiting to whisk you of to your private plane. I want to work there!


Chicago has some GREAT museums. This is at the field museum.


Michael Jackson?


I was so happy to come home to Rowan. I missed him so much!!

Hernia...Back So Soon?

If you follow my blog, you know that I had hernia surgery a while back. One month today, to be exact.

My surgery failed.

Yep...I have to go back in for surgery for some stronger reinforcements. I'll probably do it in November. My surgeon is going to assess it in two weeks since I am not fully healed from the FIRST surgery.

I'm not mad about it. I know my surgeon did his best. Sometimes things just don't always work out as planned. Such is life in health care.

I am actually kind of excited to have another operation, considering I suffer from Munchausen Syndrome. I am totally kidding.

My New Haircut

I got my hair cut last weekend and my sister emailed me the other day asking me to send a picture so she could see it. I got to thinking...Stacy would want to see it too, because she referred me to the guy that cut it...Courtney lives in Maryland and we never see each other, so she would want to see it too...Kaylee lives in Pennsylvania...What the heck, I'll just put it on my blog.

Not drastically different. More layers, instead of just long and strait.

So here it is, my new haircut.

Oral Health- A Window to Overall Health

I know y'all have been loosing sleep wondering how my article for Dale's newsletter turned out. Check it out! Good stuff.

Just click on the image to see it better.

Oh!...The very last sentence was Dale's!

A Friday Meme

Ok, Courtney...Here you go...

maybe i should start planning for a very busy month.

i love the smell of Aloe soap, coffee, orange creamsicles, rain, my kids after their baths

people would say that i’m funny, creative, and logical

i don’t understand why i procrastinate so much

when i wake up in the morning i have this little conversation in my mind that goes...get up and work out! No, I can workout after work. No, just do it now. No, I didn't sleep well last night and I can't workout well on no rest. Just get up! Go work out!

i lost a piece of who I was ...really? Do I have to dig up some sad old memory?

life is full of people who lift you up or bring you down. You choose who to surround yourself with.

my past is what makes me think, Is this a wise choice?

i get annoyed when I have to listen to peoples cell phone conversations!

parties I miss 'em sometimes.

i wish i was independently wealthy.

dogs smart

cats stupid. (sorry Ragans)

Tomorrow Haircut in the morning, then shopping in Auburn.

i have low tolerance for lazy people.

i’m totally terrified of (besides the obvious) Tsunamis.

i wonder why i can't accept a compliment.

never in my life have i seen a single episode of Sex and the City or American Idol.

high school Was brutal. The gossip, the cliques, the drama...

when i’m nervous i blush!

take my advice You are capable of so much more than you believe you are.

making my bed is Something I do when I have the time.

i'm almost always dwelling on something.

i’m addicted to my computer.

i want someone to make me feel happy/loved/adored/irreplacable.

It's October

Today is the start of my very favorite month. I love October. I love the fall, Halloween...cold foggy mornings and warm sunny afternoons. It was looking especially fallish this morning, so I took a few pics.







Now help me decide whether to be Amy Winehouse or Sarah Palin for Halloween.