Congrats Connor and Molly

Happy New Year

Dont Get to drunk

Merry Christmas

Presents

A Flask Belt Buckle

Bear vs. Packer Checkers

I got these gifts, amazingly, from Vorrel and Stevie. Thank you so much, they are amazing.

George's Hot Dogs

I am a sucker for old school hot dog joints and this one is perfect. George the owner and cook is especially great. He is nice to everyone who walks in and really makes you feel like you are his best customer. Just the other day I walked in there with 2 minutes before close everything was put away and you could tell he was ready to close up. I walked in apologized and said sorry are you still open, he said yeah of course come on in. He struck up the grill again and got me a pizza puff and fries in no time. I didn't want to bother him so I was going to get my food to go, but it would have for sure been cold walking 5 blocks in the freezing Chicago winter, he though insisted that I stay and eat, he genuinely seemed to want me to stay so I did. The food was great and I was glad to be warm eating hot food.

Christmas meme

Stevie asked me to fill this out.

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Some are wrapped some are not depending on how he is feeling.

Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Colored

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
My Moms bread

Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
Waiting on the stairs while our Dad checks to see if Santa came, then he would always coming back and say "sorry not this year"

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
The brothers and sisters give each other presents

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Big colorful bulbs maybe some ornaments, Im a fan of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree

Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Dislike it greatly

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
hmmm...

What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Anything by these guys Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
Yum

Christmas Tradition growing up:
Going to a different Aunt and Uncles house for Christmas eve with a million family members

Least Favorite Christmas Tradition Growing Up:
None

Breakfast or Presents First?
Presents, I don't know if we even make it to breakfast

Winter Renegade

Everyone should check out the Renegade Craft Fair this weekend. Its at Pulaski park In the Rec center and will be in three different rooms. Stevie will once again be displaying her awesome jewelry. The fair is running on Saturday and Sunday from 12-5. There is a ton of different things that are for sale there from scarfs and hats to necklaces and earings.

NFC North Division Champions

Well, Rex Grossman played absoulutly terrible but the Bears still easily clinch the division, thanks to, once again, the special teams and the Defense. The final score was 23-13 with Devin Hester running back a punt and Rickey Manning Jr. scoring off an interception. The Defense also had three sacks and a safety. The Bears are 10-2 with four games left, now we are going for home field advantage.

First Major Snow

Today it snowed like crazy in Chicago.

(not my picture, AP photo)

New York Flickr

The Crew


Phat Cats


Arthur's


Downtown


Little Italy


Late Night Pizza


One and One


Pete's

I've decided no more novels. My camera broke when I was in New York so some of the pics are bad, but you get the point. Each picture above represents a part of the NY trip. The top one is a picture we tried to retake at every place we were at. Thank you so much Nell and Cerone, it was great.

All pics here