Wake me up, when September ends . . .

So I have diverted from the original plan and now used a Greenday song lyric for a title. Oh well, a little spice in my Beatle world. I don't look too sleepy in this picture, but I need a bit of a push these days to get up as it is darker and darker every day about this time. Then again, I shouldn't complain after I had an one hour nap yesterday while the tiny one was sleeping. Heavens - missed valuable time to be doing something, anything. Also missed the Sox clinch, which really hasn't turned this city upside down at least as far as I can see. The news didn't start with the win last night, I don't think. I don't remember hearing the fireworks outside the house like when they won in
83. Did you even know they did the same thing in 2000. Nope, I had no clue. I think the Cubs lost that year too.

On other news, I am glad that September is ending because fall really gets started in October. This has been a horrible summer, punched with days of happiness but overall, a pretty pitiful summer. The list of things that were pitiful is way too long to explain here but know that the Cubs season had a bit to do with it. I don't know about this club (pictured right) but it seems like the one for me. Back to the subject, the fall promises cool winds, brightly colored trees and the return of jackets. October also marks the concert of one of the Beatles - PAUL, which I will be happily attending with my pal Miss Jill. I will have lots and lots to say about that when that happens.

By the by, I don't know what happened to my messages yesterday as the ending seemed to bet cut off. Hmmmm

Tonight we will be flying under the stars and munching along the boardwalk. What does that mean, you ask . . . tune in this weekend to find out!

All the best - A

You say you wanna Revolution . . . .

Another stretch for a title today as it is still early and the jury is still in session to determine if this will be a smiley day or a grumpy day. I was really grumpy yesterday but it turned around with a phone call from a friend, an wonderful distraction from the rigors of the day. The other distraction was a wonderful evening with good ole PBS watching the "Best of the Beatles", a documentary of the Pete Best story. I got to see him and hear his talk at the 2002 or 3 Beatlefest so it was neat to finally see the film. After that, there was a two hour special on the subject of "protest songs" in 20th century pop music which was really neat to see as well. Glad to have been a witness to some of the more interesting events of the series. Also, warmed me up to the release of "The Concert for Bangladesh" which is to be released next month on DVD. My Christmas wish list is starting to add up!

So here is a cute little picture I came across in my travels. I had the wonderful opportunity to hold a tiny one (6 months, I think?) at the last Volleyball game and she fell asleep on my shoulder. No damage except a litte drool on me, but she got about a 15 cat nap. So nice to snuggle with a little one again. The reason for the pictures is that this little one looked exactly like Cindy Loo and everytime I see her, I think of that little one. Have a great day!

Always shouts out something obscene!

So the best word I could use to describe my day is crabby, which sort of leads to a mean face which can only lead to the Beatles "Mean Mr. Mustard" song. This was a stretch, but am really not in the mood to look for something a bit more descriptive, so there it is! Almost all of their stuff is pretty upbeat and happy kinda stuff or at least, those are the songs I remember. So instead, I place a picture of the Walnut Room from Marshall Fields from sometime back. Yes, it is less than 3 months until Christmas.

Other news, the older pie had a horrible day with midterms and school photos. The younger pie doesn't have a ride to the volleyball game on Saturday and I had someone say to me as "Feeling Stronger Everyday" was playing in the background this very memorable thought. "Oh, I didn't know the band members from Chicago were from Chicago?!!" Eeeegad!

Finally, it is raining here and I have heartburn. Gosh, I need a milkshake from Burger Chef!

All the best -A

Bang, bang! Maxwell's silver hammer came down . .

Well, another sad loss. First, the Marshall Fields loss, then the loss of Giligan, now Maxwell Smart. A trilogy of loss, tho a mix of different kinds of loss. Does that count? Anyway, I will always remember the scene at the end of the show which seemed to be the most interesting part of the whole show itself, when Maxwell takes the long walk down the hallway with the various doors closing as he walks by only to disappear in a trap door at the end. The things we remember in our youth. Today was a so so day. Spent half the night up with the poor poochie girl as she was sick. Yuck - hate to do that mom stuff that you have to do when they get sick. Poor girlie! Then I got inspired to get some work done around here and around the computer. So all is well here. Hope the same for you.

I've been waiting on the other side . . .

Greetings again:

How many times have I written this greeting this week - plenty! Have been having problems uploading pictures for some odd reason. Rats! Don't like that one little bit.

Have been having some rain the last few days which really makes me appreciate our beach day last week.
This picture works for me. I have some picture of the little pie and her pals but to post one here, I would have to have all the parents sign permission slips to show the friend's faces and quite frankly, am not too much in the mood for that. So here is a nice beach picture for you all instead.

Other news is that the Cubs are now out of the running for the wild card in the National League. Not too surprising, but glad to see they came as far as they did this season. I will always be able to take finishes like this year, because, quite frankly, I am used to it. It is those darn years when they do well -like in 2003 when watching and listening is painful.

Well, I best go off and get things ready for the week. Hopefully it won't be as busy but we are looking forward to some exciting events next weekend.

. . . buried along with her name, nobody came . .

Sad sad sad sad. The end of Marshall Fields. Darn that Macys store. I don't want to see them in town at all. Don't want their silly parade coming to town. I am going to miss my green bag! The Walnut room is supposed to stay, but then again, probably as long as they make money. Darn those people in suits! Pooheey! There is no way I will make a trip to go to Macys - I guess the Old Navy on State Street will be our annual holiday stop downtown! Poor children! They will no longer will enjoy the magic of going downtown to see the windows or have a package of roasted chestnuts from the wagon on the sidewalk. Rats!!!

TAKE a sad song and make it better

I cannot believe that I actually messed up the lyric in my last post, but it was pretty early and I was very sleepy but it hit me like a piece of lumber when I re-read the post and saw how I messed up the title! Oh dear!! But I also made a huge discovery with the new Paul CD. There was a little card inside the CD that gave instructions on how to download a free song "She's so beautiful". Well, if you turn that card upside down, the name "Paul McCartney" in that indian style font, is the same as if you look at it straight on. Try it. Turn that little card or that red sleeve on the bonus track version and see if you don't see the same illusion. Now I will be turning all sorts of stuff upside down to see if it looks the same right side up as it does upside down. Something else to do during the day.

I heard from my friend today whose mom was spoken about on the CBS Sunday morning interview by Paul. My friend said that her Mom is getting all sorts of phone calls about the reference - good for her. Everyone deserves a time in the sun!

Little pie is better so off to a volleyball game today! All the best - Annette

Sing a sad song, and make it better . .

Good morning! Been trying to wake the sleep from my eyes and get a tune in my head and this lyric above is all I could come with so far. Don't have any sad songs currently in my Life (ooh - there's a song) but we must use what God gives us at the time. Anyway, it is Tuesday, Gilmore Girl Tuesday and so I anticipate the new episode with a cute but little picture from the web. Awwww, so do you think Luke and Lorelei will get married? I have a hunch, an uneducated one at that, that the lovebirds will NOT take the plunge as the whole "kid" issue will get in the way. I see Lorelei telling Luke "No, been there, done that!". Or is that too much a 90's way of answering the question. Hmmm, been wrong before so we will have to watch and figure it out.

One of the pies came home sickly yesterday and didn't feel 100% myself so no pictures from the beach yet - hopefully today as I have a bunch of computer stuff to do.

Here is a cute little picture I found while jumping around the web to find some pictures to add to my little journal here. It is a picture of my high school - Rolling Meadows. Was hoping to find some vintage pictures as the town just celebrated its 50th anniversary but alas, not a one to be found. I will keep looking however.


After finding the High School picture, I went carousing through my college website for photos and found this one. While not completely significant - this IS the horn I used to play in the Showband/Marching Huskie band. The uniform, sadly is the updated version from the very cool one I used to wear. This poor guy has this silly hat with a tassle, my hat was a cool white cowboy hat with I believe a plume feather sticking out of the back. I will have to look in my archives for verification of that memory, but without a doubt, our uniforms were better!

So, have a nice day! Listen or play some music, learn something new, enjoy love and hope!

All the best - Annette

Your day breaks, your mind aches . . .

Good morning!

It is a dark, dreary, rainy early morning here. Sleepy sleepy sleepy!

Here is a nice picture that I did not take, but I would like to think I did. I wonder if the mountains really look like this in the morning.

We did go to the beach yesterday and it was beautiful. Great place to go, not too many people, just the right temperature and lots and lots of boats to look at. I did that thing that the Corona commercials show, where someone takes their bottle (mine was a water bottle) and you tip it so it is horizontal to the ground, then look through it to see the boats inside. Fun! Didn't upload the pictures yet. The little-est pie and pals decided to bury each other in sand and try to get out. Fun!

Best of all, the CBS Sunday morning ran a piece on Paul - it was great! He even told the story about the lady who played Beatles songs a at a nursing home but had to change the words from "When I'm 64" to "When I'm 84" to make it more applicable to the audience. The lady is the mom of someone I know from the Fest - how cool is that!!!!?????

All the best - A

Other news, Cubs are off today. Greg Maddox won't get 15 wins this year, rats!

Looking thru the backyard of my life . . .

Here is a rally neat picture, tho it is so small and you might not be able to see it very well, of John, Paul and Ringo sitting on some steps in India crafting the famous "Obla di Obla da" song. The photographer is looking through a chain link fence so the "webbing" in the front give it kinda neat affect. Wish it could have gotten it a bit bigger in my download. I met the photographer at The Fest for Beatlesfans and he really is an interesting guy. More about him sometime soon. I was hoping to do some work for him, but I don't think that will happen now. That is okay because his photographs are still really neat!

Had scrapbook events the past few days and am almost finished with my 10th scrapbook. Could it be that many? It was fun to get together with friends and laugh about silly things, like the large wooden spoons, hanging in our kitchens of our youth! We all had 'em!!!

Today I am off to the beach with one of the cuties and her pals. Hope to take some good photos. Maybe I will get to read a magazine or two???

All the best - Annette

Always look on the bright side of life!

CUBS WIN! A good day for living! After a horrible night last night, when things fell apart and then the rain, the catch-up in the bottom of the ninth only to have the ump pull the plug on the game - today's win made me smile!

Above, here is a cute picture of a bobble head doll that I am currently looking for on Ebay.

The picture on the left is a picture of the new PAUL MCCARTNEY album (shucks! I forgot . . "It is a CD Mom!!!" so the little pies tell me!) and I did go out on Tuesday morning to our local Target to make the purchase. Haven't seen the DVD yet, but the CD is nice. A couple great songs, a couple of so-so songs and some just made to skip. Oh well, a typical Paul CD. Favorites and sure to be played at upcoming concerts: "Jenny Wren, English Garden, A Fine Line" and my very favorite" Too Much Rain". I think it is funny that Paul takes the basics of some of his classics, like "Blackbird", change the cords and words a bit and you get "Jenny Wren". Funny how live shows that no matter how rich or famous you are, you still can sample from the gems of your youth.

Other news, our internet service has been spotty at best the last few days so sorry for the delay! Hope you have a nice weekend!

I need to walk, when the sun is out . . .

Good Day Sunshine! I have figured out the photo issue and am happy to report that I have a very nice collection of photographs that I can upload to my site so each and everyday will have some little picture to make this blog much more entertaining. Makes me want to jump and click my heels for joy!

Here is another fun picture I have found and it makes me smile . . . it is a picture of the interior of a BURGER CHEF from the 1970's. Check out the prices! We had one of these near us and I remember getting to go there, having little burgers in folded up wrappers. Nice memories!

Today will be a busy day with lots of activities to keep me busy. Maybe some quilting or scrapbooking! Oh, and did you hear that the Cubs had an 8 and 2 road trip? Could there be hope for us Cub fans? Hope your day finds you well and busy too. I think it is really true about the evil of idle hands!

Okay, world, it is now time to start to dance again. . .

"It's not right,

In one life . . . . .

Too much rain

Smile when you are spinning round and round . .

Its alright,

In your life

No more rain" - Paul McCartney from his new album to be released on Tuesday. This song is called "Too Much Rain" which is really the song he should have sung during the MTV, VH1 telethon last night instead of "Its a Fine Line", but that's okay. Maybe he thought it was too cliche. I thought it was a bit of slick marketing to use the first single off the album to perform, but delighted in seeing it anyway. All the best - Annette

Do ya still have to carry that cross? - I am Loosing you from Double Fantasy - John Lennon

It is September 11.

Wake me up when September ends.

Enough said. All the best - Annette

It's a Fine Line . . .

Good morning! While I was looking for the picture of sweetie and cutie pie yesterday, I stumbled across this shot taken the same day in Millenium Park in Chicago last July. This is a Segway (sp?) class underway in Grant Park, just south of Buckingham fountain. You will notice one of Mayor Daley's (or Daily as the Kewanee paper noted this past weekend - HA!) trash cans butting its way into the picture as well. You know, it don't come easy! Now I am having return key issues again - silly thing! But I wanted to say I nearly jumped out of my seat last night when the new Paul McCartney song from his upcoming album (I think due out next week) played as background music to the new Lexus commercial on NBC last night. COOL! Now I better get going to take munchkins to school (or schwoooool) as one would like to say with a giggle from us all! All the best - A

You know it Don't Come Easy . . . .

Here is sweetie and cutie pie, in no particular order, just looking nice in Millenium Park this past summer. A great shot - we may use it for our Christmas Card. Who knows!

I am trying to remember all the words to Ringo's "Don't Come Easy" all day but just can't figure them out. Guess I could do a google or some such search if I really want to but, that is okay. It is nice to hum the song along the day.

I'm Fixing a hole, where the rain gets in . . .

Okay, so I am not the one fixing the hole but glad to see that things are starting to get fixed down south. Was glad to have a few days away from all the coverage, it was nice that the kids choose Elmo and Ernie over news and updates!

We had a very nice time in Kewanee and enjoyed all the offerings that Hog Days bring. I got a good deal at the flea market on some Beatle trading cards and cutie pie found a Flounder plastic cup to add to her Little Mermaid collections. Sweetie pie came home with swedish fish.

All for now - have a great night! Annette

One Less Thing

One of my favorite of all favorite movies was on tonite, tho it be sanitized for your protection - Forest Gump. My favorite part is when Forest is telling his tale to the passerbyers in Savannah while waiting for a bus to see his Jenny that famous line "One Less thing!" Makes me smile. This whole week made me think about that movie, about the part where Forest bought his shrimpin boat, how his best friend lived in heart, how new friends came to make an impression and how Mother Nature showed him a new direction. Could that be happening in the South, today, as I type? Could there be someone taking a new direction toward their own promised land?

So tomorrow through Monday, I will be stepping away, taking a break, hopefully catching some rays. My CDs won't be with me, too many unsupportive ears tagging along but I have next week to look forward to, I have Tuesday to gaze upon, like the moon in the sky, to focus future thoughts too. . . .my day will come!

In the meantime, I am packing away and hopefully some more pictures to share when I return. Tho the chances of me seeing Ringo or Paul there are pretty much as close to zero as they can get. That's okay, more to come!

Back off Boogaloo!

Happy Thursday!

I am happy to say that all the CDs that I have ordered have arrived and am most enjoying them, tho slowly so I can get the whole flavor of each and every one! My favorite so far has to be the VH1 Storytellers CD: Ringo Starr from 1998. Of course, Mark Hudson is also prominently featured on this CD. A great collection of songs but the stories that Ringo tells are too short and too far in between. Also, they don't have his microphone set properly or he isn't talking into it as it is too soft to hear, you have to turn it up to hear what he is saying and then the music blasts! Okay, so a small picky note. . . .but a great CD nonetheless.

Also in the collection was Paul McCartney's London Town to replace one of my missing records! I discovered before the Fest that all my longplaying Beatle and Paul records are missing - they are somewhere carefully packed, protected from the elements, only to be found when I move, I guess.

More later! Have a good night! Cubs are off until tomorrow so it is a good day!