Happy Day!

Joe Cole is BACK!!!! He officially started training with the team again on Sunday, and should be playing Wednesday against Valencia. It's about frickin' time!!! He's been out all season.

You may now do a saucy jig to celebrate.

In other news.....work is crap. Literally. Last week, I got pooped on twice and Audrey peed in my hand. I need a new job.

Randomness from the last week or so

• Today is the first day of the two day long St. Patrick's Day celebration. I have eaten potatoes about 4 times already, I believe. Man, I love potatoes.
• I may or may not have scared a life out of my sister's cat today.
• Next weekend the Professional Bullriders Association is in town for two days. Hmm....cowboys...........
• Joe Cole is hoping to return to playing for Chelsea in about a month. He's been out for most of the season so far due to injury. It's been a long season without my Joe.
• My Punky has been in Florida for the last week with the family. I am having serious Punky withdrawl.
• This week, I began taking a prescription sleeping pill. I can go to sleep fine, but keep waking up during the night and staying awake. I didn't realize how tired I was until Saturday, when I took the first one and slept 12 hours straight. Guess I was a bit tired!
• Sunday was Clayton's third birthday. I can't believe he's three!! I remember holding him in the hospital when he was just 6 hours old. I got him a Betta fish and a fish tank. He is so excited...and promptly named his fish Nemo. He asked me several times why he can't pet his fish. It's a hard concept for a three year old.
• I have lost 11 pounds so far on my "eat healthier" plan. Yay me!

Potatoes, St. Patrick's Day, and all other things Irish

So, I did a dumb thing. Although I'm not Catholic, in recent years I have been trying to give something up for Lent, just to see if I could.

This year, I gave up potatoes. It's a hard thing. I am Irish and English, it turns out. More Irish, though, like 90%. In case you couldn't tell by my pale white skin, blonde hair and numerous freckles. I know, it's a shock. Just believe me on this one. I'm really Irish.

Giving up potatoes is KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!!! There are some days when I just eat a big bowl of mashed potatoes with stuff added to it for lunch or supper. That's how much I like potatoes.

My one reprieve is that I put the stipulation in that I can eat potatoes on St. Patrick's Day. It would be impossible to eat Irish food on that day and not have something made from potatoes involved. Two weeks to go until my day of reprieve....................

But on to the exciting news..........

This summer...I'm going to the UK!!!!

First off, we're going to Ireland. Our first stop will be the Cliffs of Moher (below). Aren't they amazing?



After five fun filled days in the land of my ancestry (and the land that gave us Guiness), we're off to Scotland. While in Scotland, I plan on buying a piece of land, so I can become an official Lady. And yes, I will be making everyone call me Lady Miranda...so if you want to go ahead and start now so you can get used to it, feel free.

From there....on to England. First stop.....Pemberley. From Pride and Prejudice, the six-hour mini series...not the crappy movie that came out last year. Trust me, it sucks wind compared to the BBC version.

This is Lyme Park, which they used for Pemberley. And, yes, I do plan on stealing a bottle of water from the lake out in front, where the famous Mr. Darcy-coming-out-of-the-lake-looking-all-wet-and-sexy-scene took place.



Speaking of Mr. Darcy...I also plan on stalking Colin Firth while there.......



And Joe Cole. A tour of Stamford Bridge (Chelsea's football stadium) is on the first day of London's itnerary. The tour includes the locker room, so even if I don't see him, I can still try to leave him a note in his locker. I know, it's all very junior high, but what's the alternative?



Four and a half months until we leave. I don't know if I can wait that long!!!! The wait is going to kill me if the loss of potatoes don't first!

Pemberley

I got a fish this weekend. A purple Betta fish. His name is Pemberley.

Obama...and wind burn

Yesterday, I went to see Sen. Barack Obama announce that he was running for president. My sister's friend Carrie was able to get us tickets so we were in the 'preferred seating' area, not just out on the street with the other 17,000 people that were there.

We got there at about 8:30...and it was 11 degrees. Even wearing multiple layers, it was flippin' cold outside! Thank goodness for the handwarmers and feet warmers I had bought the night before at Dick's Sporting Goods...five dollars well spent!

Here is my sister and I, freezing our butts off!



Barack Obama...announcing that he's running for president. Yes, we really were that close.



The snipers on the roofs around us, in case someone wanted to shoot Obama. I don't think I have ever seen snipers on roofs in Springfield before.



After the announcement stuff was over, we started walking back and Brian, a friend of April's friend Carrie who was with us, was saying that he had never been to Springfield's capitol building, as he is from Michigan..and had never really been to Springfield before. (He goes to Ill. Wesleyan). So...we had to stop at the capitol so he could see the rotunda and stuff.

Upon entering, I had to stop and check out the photo of my favorite politician....State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias. Hey, he's 30, single, and mighty nice looking.....




Laying on the floor looking at the Rotunda with Carrie and Brian....



All in all....good morning. Even though it took me hours to finally thaw out...my face is still wind burned. And my ankles hurt from standing on tip toe for hours.

I need some hot chocolate now.

so, I'm going on a "not a job interview" job interview in the morning. Wish me luck!

Oh, and I have a story in the A&E section. It's on the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. Check it out as well!

This is Lucas. Guess what he did the other day?

Yes, that would be poop. It makes you all out there appreciate your own jobs just a little bit more, doesn't it?