Why are you walking like that?

I woke up around 5am yesterday morning to use the facilities and imagine my surprise when I nearly fell out of the bed and then couldn't bear to put any weight down on my left side.

Now, I guess it wasn't entirely a surprise, as I have been dealing with some sciatica pain the past couple months, but this truly was the worst pain yet and it brought me to tears.

I knew there were some things I needed to do at work, so I made my way to the office with a vicodin swimming in my belly. Let me tell you, slurring your words (even if it only happened twice) and wanting to take a nap is not proper workplace etiquette. I held out and put in a few hours, and then managed to make it home in one piece, despite the fact that my mind felt a bit detached from my body (yet, the pain was still there .....)

Of course, my chiropractor is not in on Thursdays, so I suffered. I wasn't about to go to another doctor. I don't even like doctors, so a new one would have been out of the question. Thankfully as the day wore on, the pain got a bit more manageable and I was able to put some weight down on that side and get around a little easier.

After a restless night of sleep (honestly, I can't believe Mike didn't trade the bed for a night on the couch with all the flopping and turning and groaning I was doing), I managed to dress myself (except for 1 sock, which Mike needed to put on for me) and got myself into the car.

Yeah - sitting for any length of time = PAIN. Red, flaming, evil PAIN. Down my leg, from behind my knee, all the way through the calf, and sharpening down in my ankle. At this point, I can't even tell if my lower back still hurts, because the pain in my leg is SO. THROBBING. AWFUL.

So, at any rate, I started therapy with my chiropractor and I hope I can make it in between appointments. Because right now?? Right now I'd like to saw my leg off.

(PS - Thank you again for all the well wishes for my little girl. This time was MUCH better and she was back to her old self in no time!)

Here we go again

My little girl is sick again. Another UTI. It presented itself the same (headache & fever), and while it could have been numerous other things, I had this nagging in my gut.

Finally this evening just before 7pm, I gave in to my gut and off to urgent care we went. We just got back in a bit ago, and she's getting some sleep after having her first dose of antibiotic.

We were kept in there a little longer, as they wanted to make sure her fever was going down after administering some pain reliever.

I could cry......it was traumatic last time. I can't bear to see her go through this again....

I heart NKOTB 4-ever!

Back when I was just a little-bit, I fell head over heels for the New Kids on the Block. I was madly in love with Joey Joe, and it was my (and every other girls) dream to meet this fab 5. Unfortunately, the closest I ever got to meeting the Kids, was meeting their folks.

My mom took me to the mall and I got the autographs of many of the parents. While it wasn't the Kids themselves, it was still very exciting for me.

I did get to attend one concert when I was 10 or 11. My folks took me and one of my girlfriends. We were so far back that we could barely make out the faces of our favorites, but we were there, and we were screaming, and that was all that mattered.

Then, I started getting older and the New Kids broke up, and I moved on (I think I was beginning my love affair with Luke Perry on Beverly Hills 90210).

So, fast forward another 15-17 years until early this year. I hear a rumor that the New Kids on the Block are reuniting. Then - they'll be on the Today Show. I waited with bated breath, until - YES, the rumor is true. The New Kids on the Block are back together, they are making an album and will be touring.

Holy Shit.

In May, I purchased the concert tickets and started my countdown.

October 4, 2008 will forever be one of the craziest, silliest, most awesome nights of my life. It reopened that can of worms, and brought back the memories of my childhood, loving & wanting all things New Kids.

When myself and 4 friends made our way to the concert that night, we sang along to The Right Stuff, and Cover Girl and all the songs that made us fall in love in the first place.

When we arrived at the venue, we excitedly took our place in line and waited to get in. As we walked down the aisle towards the floor to find our seats, we giggled anxiously.

When we found our seats, we exclaimed at how good they really were. Little did we know then, that they'd be even better later that night.

So, we sit and wait and then we are treated to Colby O'Donis and Natasha Bedingfield as opening acts. Somewhere around 9pm, the lights go down again and at this point I'm nearly holding my breath, and I'm squeezing my hands together in anticipation .....



and then ...... they appear.



The crowd (I've never seen so many women in one place in my entire life!!) is going crazy and for a moment I think -- it's THEM ..... and again I'm taken back and all the emotion and love and appreciation for them comes back threefold.

It was an amazing show .... they performed several songs from a much smaller 'B' stage which ended up being just a few rows away from us. And then imagine our surprise as they used the walkway directly behind our seats and we reached out to touch all of them....



Thank you Joe, Jordan, Donnie, Danny and Jon. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

No matter who's got your vote, you can now play with your Presidential Candidates!

I saw these in the store yesterday and couldn't believe my eyes.

I mean - really. Isn't it just what you've always wanted??

I'm sure the Republicans are lining up to get their McCain paperdolls. And I'm sure the Obama supporters are already dressing him just as he has during his campaign.

And for those that are really into politics - why not buy both and host your very own Presidential Paperdoll Debate??

At least then you'll probably get the answers you want to hear.

Heartbroken, but oh so in love.....

While my Cubbies lost their 3rd in a row -- and final game for the postseason -- I was rockin' the night away with New Kids on the Block.

And let me tell you -- it's a great thing that I was having the most AMAZING time of my life, otherwise I would be severely depressed today.

But I am still riding the high of the concert - because -

I TOUCHED ALL OF THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK!!!

Yes, TOUCHED them. Felt their sweaty, dampness.

I promise to share the story of how, and photos - soon!

Listen up everybody, if you wanna take a chance...

O.M.G!!!!

Less than 4 hours and I will be witnessing the above myself!

I just found that video, and believe me --- I am sooooo looking forward to seeing these guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, yeah -- while I've been picked on by my friends for going to see *gasp* New Kids on the Block -- I cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You hear that?? It's my heart shattering into a million little pieces...

...again!

2 consecutive losses by the Cubs in a best of 5 series.

Do you see where this is going?

Thank goodness for a mani & pedi appointment tonight. I need something positive to look forward to!

World Series Bound

Postseason baseball starts today.

Fellow Cubs fans know the feeling of baseball in October.

Every single season, we dream of this.

We've been Division Champs in the past, but this year, that's just not good enough.



I'm hopeful and excited and scared all at once. My heart is on the line again, as we head into the playoffs.

I believe this team has got it together; that they CAN go all the way.

We just need to raise that "W" flag 11 more times......