Smoque

Hi all, I'm not sure if anyone's been checking the blog lately but I thought I'd post this here anyway. John wants to do a test run of this BBQ place in the city called Smoque. We're planning on going Tuesday because Dave will be in town. It looks pretty affordable and I think it might be BYOB too. So we don't have a specific time picked out, but just putting it out there for anyone who's interested

Happy Birthday Sonja!

Happy Birthday Day to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Sonja! Happy Birthday to you!! xoxo

Happy Birthday!

Today would have been my sister's 21st birthday. So I think in honor of all those we have loved and lost we should raise our classes in a toast. (Josie, you can just stick your finger in a glass!) Happy Birthday Ali!

Hot Toddy it is!

Thanks for all of your feedback. Hot toddy party it is!

What: Hot Toddy's for all. Ugly sweaters if desired...but our apartment is tiny and warm. Wear sweaters with caution.
When: Saturday, December 20th at 7:00 pm (early for those who are preggo)
Where: The lofts of the Hoggarth Estate
Why: Merriment!
Who: Anyone you want to bring that likes hot beverages

Z.O.P aka Zima Only Party

Ok folks! It's officially time for Mark and I to have our first party at the new apartment. We have a them in mind that we're pretty pumped about. Please place your vote for the estimated party time! And we are serious. Dead Serious.

Saturday, December 6th

Friday, December 19th

Saturday, December 20th

Josie, I expect a vote!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Everyone,
It's hard to believe that it's already Thanksgiving and the holidays are officially here. This past week has been full of ups and downs but more than anything, I have had a lot of time (I mean 8 full days of reflection...)to think about how lucky I really am, especially to have all of you in my life. Thanks everyone for being so great and supportive especially during the last week. I hope you all made it home from Brixies, I didn't get any emergency Polanek Taxi calls so I hope it went well...Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Operation coolest cousin-aunts is a success!

A wrench in the spokes

Hi everyone,
Well I'm just teetering on my second trimester and I've entered the mysterious catagory of high risk. The good news is yesterday John and I saw some great shots of the baby, even a foot ,an arm and its growing brain, whew! The bad news is, due to some complications, I've been put on a modified schedule that will be requiring me to spend more time in bed and restricts me from doing anything that I need to do at the flowershop (besides watching movies on youtube and homework). So, here I am with my feet up, it sounds good at first but after yesterday I am already bored. But hopefully with plenty of good thoughts and some luck everything will turn out well and Carrie, baby and I will be running off this bedrest weight in June! Just wanted to keep everyone updated. love you all!

Sweet Relief!

I've been eagerly awaiting this trip and I can't believe it is finally here. It will be my first time completely sober on the island, I wonder how it looks that way....but Amy gave me some great tips on decent non alcoholic wine so we'll see how that experiment goes. This time we'll be arriving via the Ferry, which will be a nice change because we don't have to worry about quickly cramming all of our stuff into a windsled or cargo van. I'm super excited about seeing the family, eating funfetti cake and nature walks with everyone who can make it this time! So here's to another trip up north, see you bright and early!

Not to state the Obvious

What a day to be an American! (huge sigh of relief)

Obama Rally

Hey All,
Alex and I are going to the rally tomorrow. Is anyone else down to take part in this historic event? Were going to rock the public transportation, since it's going to be nuts downtown. Were not sure when to head down there. Train schedules and the polls will make that decision for us. Let us know if your interested.

Oh Ya-GO OBAMA!!!!!!

I'm also way stressed about this whole election. Can't wait for it to be over.

New Snow Patrol Album and Girlfriend

As I was listening to the new snow patrol album, which I just love, I was thinking, this is a lot different than the last one. Which in my opinion is good because "A Hundred Million Suns" has some depth and production that I thought was slightly lacking on their last album. Anyway, after listening to this album, I researched what the band has been up to and besides our lovely Jonny Quinn getting married to the gorgeous Marianne Rokke, I also found out that Gary Lightbody is in love big time with the songstress shown above, Lisa Hannigan. She's a singer songwriter, plays a few instruments and has an equally lovely Irish Brogue so cheers to them. Anyway, it seems like another one bites the dust, but the good news is, if love makes Gary write better albums then I'm all for it!

Happy Belated Birthday!

Sorry I didn't post this yesterday. Hope you had a great day! The tapas was swell!

Happy Thursday!

Can't help smiling at this picture. :)

It's a big day for birthdays!

Today is Dakota's, Kaity's and my cousin Ben's birthdays! Happy Birthday to all! We should have a party and celebrate!

Gin Martini What?

Yup, all is well in Kansas! I might not come home tomorrow. But, we have successfully sampled a lot of beer, ate some Kansas City BBQ, toured exciting Manhattan, KS and enjoyed the best martini of my life! Yes, it was made with gin. I am in love with it. I hope to move here someday. I hope all is well in IL. See you all soon! Love, Carrie

Celebrating my birthday amongst royalty!

Hi all,
I wanted to let everyone know that we are planning a fun evening of musical entertainment at The Baton Lounge in the city for my birthday. We're going on Sunday October 26th, probably the 8:30pm show. They also have a special on Sundays so it's buy one get one free admission and I think there is a two drink minimum. I'm not 100% sure but I think admission is around $15 so it's not a bad deal with the Sunday special. So anyone who is interested in spending an evening with your closest friends and a bunch of drag queens, let me know so I can make reservations. Hope everyone is having a fabulous week!

Kansas City here I come!

I am off to Kansas to surprise Kaity for her birthday! I hope it stays a surprise!

Hearthrob and Political Activist?

So apparently Luke Perry spends his free time campaigning for the Obama Campaign by registering new voters in swing states. Who knew?! I guess I can forgive him for declining to make an appearence on the new 90210, maybe once Obama has claimed victory, Luke can put his focus back on his favorite zipcode...

Apple Picking

Apple picking excursion...this Sunday October 12th! Who is in? I am not sure where we are going yet either. So, let me know if you have any suggestions!

We are the Champions!

Well the good news is there were 150 people behind us as we crossed the finish line, the bad news is there were 150 people ahead of us. Still, I think we held our own in this years Wellness run and we got mini jamba juices and free piggy banks! Have a fabulous Monday morning!!

Ray LaMontagne

This man is going to sing to me and Josie tonight. Be still my heart...

A Visit to the State of New Hampshire Liquor Store!

Mama Mia Meatballs!

Josie and I were discussing having a ravioli making extravaganza. Homemade shit. Varieties. Delicious to the extreme! We can make oodles of noodles and freeze them. Any takers?

sorry these r messed up

this is in no order and not the right angels. the house from behind with no deck. katrina and my dirty feet from working in the house. the lovely josie and carrie loving penis. and the only goshdarm cure for this aweful day was me and this lovely bottle of firefly. its awesome. this day sucked bj had a meltdown. im over this.

looky what i found

found this in my phone. just learned how to download pics into the computer! in town if anybody wants to hang out. i actually really love this picture..u kids r funny

Apple Picking

Hello friends- I think we should pick a day to go apple picking before the season is over. It is already the middle of September. Of the top of my head I am thinking the weekend of October 11th and 12th. Any ideas? Does anyone even want to go? Here is a helpful website about places to pick in IL. http://www.pickyourown.org/IL.htm Hope to hear from you all soon! xoxo

Chicago Half Marathon

Ha! Talk about some terrible pictures! I just checked the website for "official race photos" and there are more stunning shots where these came from! Ha! At least I can say I did it even if it didn't look pretty! I will post some more (hopefully better ones) after Jackie emails them to me. Run on my friends....

Maine

Thought I would share a few photos of my trip to Maine with you all. Starting with some nice shots of my uncles on the beach and ending with me eating one of the best turkey sandwiches of my life! Delish! Someday we all have to go to Maine together! It is my favorite state!

US Womens National Team vs. Ireland

Hello everyone,
Brent and I would like to go to the US WNT game against Ireland on Saturday Sept 20th at Toyota Park. Is anyone else interested? We'll buy the $18 tickets the day of the game because there's a $6 fee on Ticketmaster.
http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_9076738.html

Family Matters

This has been how I have been spending my days. Cleaning bottles, filling bottles, and picking them up once thrown. I'm not sure after sitting twin one year old boys that I'll be able to enjoy one at a time. I need two! Sorry Mark!

The Renegade Craft Fair's here!!

Isn't that owl just the cutest?

Brent and I will be going on Saturday probably after lunchtime. It's from 12pm til 10pm both Saturday and Sunday on Division between Damen and Hermitage. There should be some indie bands playing, tons of really cool crafty artwork stuff for sale, including t-shirts, posters, prints, and tons of STATIONERY! (Ahem, Carrie and Josie...)
Also, all of the hipsters come out so it's fun people watching...
AND, get this, both PBR and Bell's Oberon are sponsoring it. What's not to love?!?!?!!

Here's the link: http://www.renegadecraft.com/chicago/index.html

Anyone interested?

My 12 to 15 inch bass!

WPS is coming!

This is a blog entry from a Gael player who's attending the WPS tryouts.

Let's go...

Posted by WPS on September 2, 2008 at 9:00am

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By Jen Buczkowski

In two days, I’ll be boarding a plane for Tampa for the W-League Combine. The weather was amazing all Labor Day weekend and it has been nice to relax with family and friends, but “Let’s gooooo already….”

My name is Jen Buczkowski and I am from Chicago, IL. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2007 and this past summer I played for the Chicago Gaels. Life out of college is different. It hasn’t always been easy or fun, but playing professionally has been my goal since I was little and I have committed my time to training and playing in hopes of making a team in the new WPS. I love the game, the competition, and the feeling of being a part of something….a team; that is why I want to play.

Without any classes to attend and bills to be paid, I have had to balance my time both working and training. My days have consisted of about 4 or 5 hours in the office doing marketing work for a catering company and then lots of time racing around from the gym to the field. Thankfully, I have had the opportunity to train all summer in a program called Acceleration. Having done a lot of speed and agility work throughout the years, I have never experienced anything quite like this….treadmill workouts up hill with resistance bands, weight lifting and plyometrics. On the field I have been training with a group of boys from the Chicago Sockers to prepare for a faster speed of play.

Having prepared and done the hard work, I am more excited than nervous. It is still the same game with a little round ball and I am just ready to have some fun.

Sounds nerve-wracking! Oh, I'll be going to some Red Stars games next Spring if anyone's interested!

Mmmm...Ribs

Here are a few photos from my moms camera from Sunday. I'd say it was a success. Now what are we going to Smoke for Memorial Day? It is only 9 months away!