I’ve been so busy with work this week, I haven’t really had time to write. I’ve also been really tired, but that’s also because Ben’s sleeping schedule has been pretty crazy lately.

Anyway, today I was on the bus going to work (I’m working in the city today) and I was napping because I only had 2 hours of sleep last night since I was working on a project. All of the sudden I hear a loud couple thumps outside the bus and a yell. Everyone on the bus gasped. It occurred right outside my window so I was jolted awake. I thought someone got run over. I looked out the window and there was a man screaming at the bus. I guess the guy was trying to cross the street and the bus cut him off and he wasn’t too happy. People always try to beat the bus when walking across the street, even when it’s against a light. In some ways, I’m kind of happy I don’t work downtown all the time! Pedestrians can be crazy!

Tags: Daily by Yano
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Tags: Pictures by Yano
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It’s been snowing here for the past couple days. I was thinking that we weren’t going to get anymore snow since it had been such a dry winter for us, but I was definitely wrong!

Yesterday traffic was moving slowly on the way to the train - yes, I’m working in the city this week. The perfect time for the snow to come down. I’m doing a training class and all of my clients are from somewhere in the South, so they’re not used to this weather. On Monday it wasn’t too bad - no snow and a warm (compared to last weeks below zero temps) 20 degrees. But yesterday was an adventure! We went to lunch at Rock Bottom and when we got out, the wind was blowing the snow everywhere. It would blow it into our faces and it felt like little pinpricks. Some of them screamed. I laughed. Not the side of Chicago that visitors want to see!

Once I got back to the train station to where my car was parked, it was like a field of snow covered cars. Some smart neighborhood kids, snowbrushes in hand, were offering to clean snow off cars for $2. I was pretty tempted to take them up on their offer!

After 10 minutes of cleaning and heating my car (which didn’t really matter since the wind was blowing the snow back on my car anyway) I headed home. Since the snow was being carried by the wind, most of the work that the snowplows did was gone after 10 minutes. Cars on the road were left to guess where the lanes were. People were sliding here and there and I even passed a pretty bad accident on my 5 minute drive home.

But I’m safe and sound, ready to brave the winter weather again. Wish me luck!

Tags: Pictures by Yano
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1) My weight
2) That everyone is conspiring against me
3) The war in Iraq
4) Who our next president is going to be
5) Benjamin, in general
6) My debt
7) My job My family
9) What’s going to happen on “LOST” 10) What my next blog layout will be…
Next week: 10 Foods You Hate

Tags: Weeklies by Yano
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I was watching, but due to a lot of people around and having to chase Ben, I couldn’t do a play by play…

Any of you watch it? I caught bits and pieces of it…here’s a couple thoughts:

- The whole “Police Reunion” was ok, wasn’t as cool as I thought it would be

- I’ve seen better performances from Gnarles Barkley, though I did like their outfits

- When Justin Timberlake started performing “What Goes Around” I was thinking to myself, “Justin always has such awesome live performances!” Then halfway through he brought out a video camera and started singing to it which was just weird.

- I’m glad that the Dixie Chicks won, and Natalie Maines looks terrific…her husband, Adrian Pasdar from “Heroes” was looking pretty fine as well. Although I’m happy they won, I think that at times Natalie acted a little smug about it.

- Is it just me, or is Mary J. Blige everywhere? She looked gorgeous during her song with Ludacris, though…

- Corinne Bailey Ray is the cutest thing…

- Did anyone see Smokey Robinson’s green eyes? FREAKY!!!

- I never realized Mandy Moore was so tall

- I really enjoyed Chris Brown’s step routine…it takes me back to college

- The James Brown tribute they did was nice, with a man (the one who’s held it for all these years) bringing his cloak out to the stage, hanging it on the microphone and leaving the spotlight on just the cloak covered microphone.

- I wish that the Red Hot Chili Peppers sang a different song at the end of the show.

What did you think?

Tags: Reviews by Yano
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For a while I was wondering if Ben would ever get teeth. He was 8 months old and still hadn’t had any teeth come in, but had been drooling and gnawing on things for months. Finally, he had two little teeth come in on the bottom. Two weeks later, he had three teeth come in the top, and a week after that another tooth at the top.

It was so cute to see his teeth come in, especially the little gap in his middle front teeth. It looks like he’s going to have big beaver teeth like me.

It was totally adorable.

Until he bit me.

HARD.

I was carrying him in my arms and he was burrowing into my shoulders, and all of the sudden a sharp pain on my shoulder. I screamed and tried to pull him off and after a second he came off. Then the little bugger started laughing because he thought it was a game.

Well, at least I’m not the only one he bites - he bit my father in law, too.

Fortunately, that seemed to be a one time incident. I’ve caught him biting on my shirt numerous times, but no more painful bites.

Oh well, I’ve got to forgive him…especially when he’s looking this cute!

Tags: Pictures by Yano
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Redpac requested a pimping by me:

3rd Annual Mardi Gras Contest

That’s right, I’m starting it a tad early…this benefits you consistant readers. You can win a swanky Mardi Gras prize pack, consisting mainly of stuff I catch at parades and other places in New Orleans along with various other goodies I have from the Tall Steve giveaway archives. Here’s how it works:

There are 5 of us this year, and we all enjoy a cocktail or 4. We should arrive in the quarter around noon on Friday, Feb. 16th and leave at 3:00pm on Monday, the 19th. All you have to do is guess when the first drunken vomit will be. Date and time is needed. Closest guess that has not passed wins. (Ex. a guess at 7pm and a guess at 7:30pm. The vomit attempt happens at 7:05, the 7:30 guess wins.) If you think there will be none, you can say that too, however there will only be one “no puke” entry allowed, first come first served.
As a hint, 2 years ago it was 2:30 on Friday, last year it was 7:19 on Friday, so guess well.

Check out his site here.

Believe me, he always has awesome prize bags!

Tags: Cool Link by Yano
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I stumbled upon a pretty cool art site that has periodical contests, and there was this cute manga (japanese cartoons) contest. The challenge was to take a celebrity (or anything, really) and manga-ize them, that is, make their eyes big with a little face. I thought it was a fun exercise to revive me photoshop skills, so I played around with a couple celebrities. Can you figure out who they are? I’ve got the answers below, and if you click on the name you’ll be able to see the original picture…

Answers, in order: Natalie Portman, Gwen Stefani, Kristin Kreuk, Shakira, Natalie Portman. I tried to keep them so that they’re still recognizable as the celeb, but I played around with the hair and lip color, too. This was a lot of fun to do…I may do more in the future!

Tags: Tips & Tricks by Yano
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I love having parties, but I just really suck at planning them and getting ready for them.

But Ben’s first birthday is coming up (he turns 10 months tomorrow!) and I really need to start planning on what we’re going to do. I know I want to keep it small this time around, only inviting close family and friends with kids around Ben’s age - his baptism was the last time I have to have a big party. It was too stressing for me, and to tell the truth, I just don’t have time to do it.

I was originally going to have it at a local park district room, but after thinking about it a little more, it might be easier for everyone that it’s at our place. He’ll be more familiar with home which will make him more outgoing, if he’s sleepy (or any of his friends are sleepy) he can take a nap in his own room, I can be assured there will be a changing table handy, and the Dads will have Dave’s 100in screen to watch. He’s only a year old anyway, he’s not really going to remember it or really be able to do anything interactive like playing at Chuck E Cheese. Well, he’ll be able to play there, but his attention span won’t last too long.

So I’m looking for ideas…what to eat, what kind of theme, what kind of games to play, what to watch out for…I know some of you are parents and some of you who aren’t have gone to kiddie parties before, so I’m open to any suggestions you have.

Tags: Daily by Yano
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I love long drives, it gives me time to think, relax and have a little alone time. On Monday I had a nice drive up to Milwaukee for work, and I brought along one of my favorite CD’s - Janet. by Janet Jackson.

This CD brings back so many memories of college. The Filipino club I was a part of had fashion shows where we’d borrow clothes from local clothing stores and show them off in a little show with modeling, skits, and dancing. Back then, it wasn’t as elaborate as the shows have become - we were just in the Student Union hall on a temporary stage.

Anyway, my junior year I was in the dance scene which was what we called “The Gil’s Greatest Hits” scene, because my friend Gil had choreographed many of the dance scenes before that year. He’d scour around for videotapes of dance performances, learn them, add some moves of his own, and we’d perform them for the show. Back then, youtube would have helped a lot! One of his favorite dancers was Janet Jackson - she always had great choreography and her music was perfect to dance to.

So I drove and reminisced on dance scenes from days gone by. One of my favorite dances we did was from “If”. One day I’ll figure out how to transfer my old tapes to my computer and I’ll post our little version of it.

I think I’m babbling…I’m tired!

Here’s the video!

Tags: Video Gaga by Yano
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