Fidgeting in church pews

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When I was really little, a perk of going to church every Sunday was the possibility of receiving a nickel for good behavior. If dad didn't give me "the look" and mom didn't have to tell me to quiet down, my chances of earning 5 cents were promising. That means if I was well behaved every Sunday for a year, I collected a whopping $2.40. In kid's terms (in the 90's at least) that was like being a millionaire. Today, I think there are slightly different standards; a 6 year old I babysat for two years ago told me the tooth fairy gave him $20 for every tooth he lost. Whaaaa? Jaw dropping to floor right now. When I was little and about to lose a tooth it was like, quick hide from dad so he doesn't try that whole doorknob and string tactic...he might be kidding...he might not be...kinda scared...better wiggle this one out before things get serious.

Sorry for the tooth detour. Anyway, as I got older a perk of going to church was being able to lean my head on my mom's shoulder during the homily. I mean just because my eyes are closed, it doesn't mean I'm not listening.

As of late, a perk of going to church is sitting on the edge of my seat in hopeful anticipation that the choir will sing a song that requires the congregation to clap along. First of all, those songs are usually fun. But most of all, seeing my dad attempt to clap to a beat is just about the funniest thing I have ever seen. It's like watching a penguin trying to hoola hoop.

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Indiana canoeing and fast fooding

{Nick and Catie - the great explorers of the Midwest}

Last weekend I had the pleasure to visit Indiana University and stay with some of my good friends who go to school there. Within a four day stay, we ordered pizza four times, went to McDonalds twice, and picked up Chipotle once. So basically what I'm trying to say is that I lost a lot of weight during the trip. Oh, did I mention we also went to The Taste of Bloomington aka an event dedicated to eating? But don't worry folks, we burned some calories canoeing on a beautiful bright sunny day and running a mile (might be exaggerated) in the rain through the quad later that evening. On the car rides we jammed to Madonna's "Like a Prayer" and The Lion King's "Circle of Life" among others. We danced. Oh did we dance. We saw a band called Here Come the Mummies at The Taste. Bananagrams...playing pool...avoiding spiders...playing cards...making each other laugh. Overall, a wonderful trip I'll never forget!

{canoeing}

{arriving at a party at 2:03 am, 3 minutes after they stopped serving free drinks. shucks. but we danced anyways)

lil story for ya:

The McDonalds we stopped at on the way was the crummiest one I've ever been to. Broken down bathroom stalls and the slowest service everrrrr. After waiting for about 15 minutes (fast food?!?) I heard a worker say in a frustrated and tired voice, "Oh hellllll no. Who ordered the crispy chicken?" Well, that person was me. I felt kinda ashamed, like I was gonna get in trouble or something, so I shyly raised my hand. The lady then said, "Honey, it's gonna be at least 10 minutes for the crispy, you sure you don't want grilled?" I probably should have just said sure, but I really wanted the crispy. So uh in my chirpiest voice possible (I didn't want them to get mad at me), I said, "I'll wait."

Definitely should have gone with the grilled, because the hasty made crispy chicken was still partly frozen.

The end.

"Profound whatever"

some things profound. some things sad. some things beautiful. all things whatever.

happy anniversary mom and dad

32 years and still going strong. Thank you for the constant support, advice and love.

love, KQ

Spilling ketchup on shirts

His new girl knows the way to his heart. She bought him a house on the Gulf in Alabama. Rumor is that she sold her Beanie Babies when she was young and they were still profitable. She used the money to buy the land. I should have thought to do that. Now they spend lazy summer days at the ball park eating sno cones and cheering on her nephews.

{image via SunSurfr}

Heart Melting

I've seen some pretty adorable stuff in my day, but this might top the list. If anyone knows any George Harrison-esque men, um uh you should introduce me.

*Off to Bloomington, Indiana for the weekend with some friends. Where the lemon ices are free and kites endlessly float in the sky. I made that up, but it might be true. I shall see.

{picture via}

Let my Cameron gooooo

Unlike good ole Cameron here, I am having a surprisingly pleasant morning. Despite the fact that my hot coffee in combination with my muggy, warm house (AC please?) is making my skin all damp and uncomfortable, I think this might be a really good day. The indicators are: it's lightly raining outside, woke up early enough to finish my reading for this afternoon, there are homemade blueberry muffins waiting for me in the kitchen, and Lenny is resting his head on my feet (I think his way of saying "I'm glad you're here; don't leave me.")

This might be my favorite clip from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

1. "How do you feel?" "Shredded." --> I'm bringing this response back.

2. "Ok. I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go." --> poor Cameron

Oh wait. But this scene is EPIC. (the quality stinks, but not including it would be an injustice.)

ps at my friend's birthday, people at the bar could requests songs to the DJ and everyone was requesting some new stuff that I didn't know (except Lady Gaga. Love me some Lady Gaga). Sam (the birthday girl) wanted oldies. So I made my way up to that DJ and said, "Listen up buddy, it's my friend's 21st and she wants some damn oldies. Gimme 'Twist and Shout' stat."

I wasn't actually that aggressive. I think I said something like, "Do you have the Beatles? 'Twist and Shout'? Could you please play it? Thank you!" Then I flashed him my million dollar smile and waited for the twist. To say the least, it was a crowd pleaser. The song, not my dance moves.

Blackhawks Win !!!

{photo credit - Nuccio DiNuzzo - Chicago Tribune}

Way to go Hawks!!! You deserve it.

Sweet home Chicago indeed.

Can't wait for the parade tomorrow!!!

tough love

I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that my dog Lenny likes our cleaning lady more than me.

All she has to do is walk in, pat him on the head and say "hi" in her Polish accent and he goes berserk. I come home from college, adorn him with hugs, tell him he's handsome and all he does is look at me and basically say, "Cut the crap and gimme my damn treats."

I have a feeling Lenny might just be annoyed with me. Possibly because I force him to sit still while I take pictures of him wearing hats, or maybe because I'm a blabber mouth and talk to him like he's a human (plus my voice takes on a super annoying pitch whenever I talk to him). Or maybe because I film him when he is just trying to rest. I guess those are pretty legitimate reasons to give me the cold shoulder.

But I helped pick Lenny out god dammit and I think that positions me as someone he should prioritize. At least more than Mary our cleaning lady who he only sees two or three times a month.

Claiming the page

Keeping a diary always sounds good in theory.

If you are anything like me, you write it in about 11 times (at max) and then forget it exists.

I just came across my diary that I started in third grade. Here is a memorable entry:

“Grace was over. We made a dance routine to ‘Wannabe’ by the Spice Girls. I told her Posh was my favorite and she told me that Posh is ugly and looks like a camel. When she left I ran to my room and cried.”

WOWZA someone get my 9-year-old self on Dr. Phil stat!

Well, my dearest friend Anne got me a journal from Florence when she studied abroad in Italy.

I am determined to write it in often. Anything and everything. I keep it at my bedside. Here is my first entry:

"When I was 15 this popular girl in my Foods and Wellness class told me that in order to get rid of the suds quicker when rinsing the dishes, you should use cold water. I never really investigated it; I always just took it as fact. I almost asked her why but instead I told her I liked her jean jacket. 15 - eager to smile - naive - dumbo eyes -- I still haven't changed."

*I just investigated the cold water trick. Turns out she was right. Something about dissipation or some shenanigans of that sort. Sounds made up to me.

Chumba Confession

One time I asked Teddy (my boyfriend at the time) to our high school's turnabout dance - King of Hearts. I made him this plate and piled on homemade chocolate chip cookies. I remember driving home from giving it to him and being all giddy and blasting Chumbawamba (because it was on the radio and I was feeling it. get off my back.)

Then a possum darted in front of my car and I killed it. On accident.

Whenever I drive down that street or hear the song "Tubthumping" (what a peculiar name) I get the shivers. Bad shivers.

martha's vineyard and cape cod

Vacationing with my parents = one big fanny pack adventure

OK there weren't actually any fanny packs involved, but there might as well have been. Between my mom's constant picture taking, me with my video camera, and my dad's three maps, we screamed tourists. My mom literally stopped traffic to take a picture of a fire hydrant. The people in the cars weren't even upset that my mom was holding them up; I think they were just stunned that there was a lady taking a picture of a fire hydrant. It kind of reminded me of the scene from Anchorman when Ron Burgundy says to Baxter, "What? You pooped in the refrigerator? And you ate the whole... wheel of cheese? How'd you do that? Heck, I'm not even mad; that's amazing." In both situations, there was just pure awe.

I must admit though, I was the one who asked my mom to take the picture. Upon seeing this particular fire hydrant, I think I said something like, "Mom, look at that fire hydrant. Light blue? Take a picture." My dad then just rolled his eyes and kept walking.

{Window shopping in Falmouth with my mom}

{A random barking chocolate lab my mom and I named Buster}

{Walking through a garden on the Cape. Notice the map in the back pocket}

{Houses in Martha's Vineyard that are too cute for their own good}

{The infamous fire hydrant. But honestly, are these common? I've never seen these colors in the midwest}

Memorial Day

{Memorial Day circa 1993. I'm on the far left}

Between the huge bruise on my foot from clumsily dropping the hair dryer, the nasty sunburn I received on Sunday (I kept reapplying spf 50 only to find out that the sunscreen expired in 1996 and therefore wasn't doing diddly-squat...), and the ghastly pale skin that hasn't had sun exposure, I am red white and blue. How appropriate for Memorial Day. I'd like to say I planned it, but that would just be a lie.

{The lovely side view of my sunburned thigh}

I started off my Memorial Day at 3 am to the sound of a whimpering dog. Lenny? What the heck? I haven't heard him whimper since he was like 8 months old. So begrudgingly I go downstairs to let him go the bathroom. How nice of me, right? Well then the darn dog didn't want to come in. No good deed goes unpunished. Finally I got him back in and I head upstairs to return to my slumber. Five minutes later the whimpering is back. I think to myself, "Maybe he's not done doing his business." So I go back down and open the backdoor. He just looks at it and instead sits next to refrigerator and looks up at where we keep his treats. Oh hell no. So I go back up to bed. Three minutes later? More of the damn whimpering. Apparently Lenny was lonely or something because eventually I moved my pillow and comforter to the family room couch where he nestled his head into the crook of my arm as I slept. That darn dog. God love him.

Once I finally woke up, the rest of the day went a lil something like dis...

1) It was rainy for a good chunk of the afternoon, so I welcomed the opportunity to bury myself in covers and finish reading Wonderful Tonight. I started reading it last summer right before school started and unfortunately didn't get to finish it before classes got into full swing. I wasn't alive in the 60's but I'm pretty sure I have/always will have Beatlemania.

2) I soothed my sunburns by applying aloe a bajillion times.

2) Inspired by old photographs of Pattie Boyd and her beautiful eyes, I tried my hand at 60's eye makeup. Needless to say, it didn't quite turn out.

3) Watched the Blackhawks win (!!!) and watched the Bachelorette (some of the guys = holy hair gel) with friends.

4) Laughed out loud as I watched this clip literally four times in a row. Stephen Merchant, I love you. Extras, I love you.