Family

Pop and Eric

Me, Pop, Gram, Dad, and Mom celebrating Dad's first day back from the hospital (after undergoing heart valve replacement surgery) and Gram's belated b-day. Dad didn't have too many zip-up shirts, so with his stiff walk and stylish jumpsuit, Eric said he looked like he was unfrozen from the 80s.

Babysittin'

Kyra loves E-wickkkkk and playing with my hair. She also loves onos (doughnut holes), Rek (Shrek), Rella (Cinderella), taking her medicine, and going to bed right on time. When Michelle got Kyra out of bed the next morning, Kyra asked, "E-wickkk?"

"Cheney's Got a Gun" sung to Aerosmith's "Janie's Got a Gun"

You all may have already heard this parody, but my first time was this moring on the way to work. I heard a different version on the radio that made me laugh without the reference to Fox News, but when I looked online for it, this is the closest one I could find:
Cheney's got a gun
Cheney's got a gun
His whole world's come undone
Was looking straight at the sun
What did Dick Cheney do?
What did his friend go through?
They say the EMT's attested
They found the buckshot in his face
But man, he had it comin'
Now that Cheney's got a gun
Things ain't never gonna be the same
Cheney's got a gun
Cheney's got a gun
His long week's just begun
Comedians havin' fun
Tell us now it's untrue
What did the VP do?
He shot his shotgun without caution
The man has got to be insane
They say the stress that he was under
Was just a little blunder
And that buckshot doesn't cause much pain
Run away, run away from the blame
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Run away, run away from the blame
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Run away, run away, run, run away
Cheney's got a gun
Cheney's got a gun
His long week's just begun
Comedians havin' fun
What did the V.P. do?
The NRA's IOU
He had to make it look easy
And put some buckshot in his brain
He said cause everyone believes me
That aimin' ain't that easy
And FOX news won't make me take the blame
Run away, run away from the blame
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Run away, run away from the blame
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Run away, run away, run, run away
Cheney's got a gun
Cheney's got a gun
Cheney's got a gun
Everybody is on the run
Cheney's got a gun
His long week has just begun
Now everybody is on the run (Cheney, Cheney what's your problem) Cause Cheney's got a gun (Tell me it ain't right) Cheney's got a gun (Was it Cheney's way of talkin') His long week has just begun (That made you scream at night) Cheney's got a gun His long week has just begun Now everybody's on the run Cheney's got a gun

The old apartment...this is where we live.

Can you put all the pieces together?!?!






Hold on to your seats: Living room, bathroom, and bedroom to come! Probably by the time we're outta here (late '06, early '07 probably), we'll finally have the bedroom the way we want it. At least we'll have pictures to remember our old apartment, and we can say "This is where we USED to live."

Gotta love Saturday b-days

24th b-day highlights:

Dad wishing me happy birthday a day early, even though he knew Saturday was the day.

Receiving an early b-day card from Gram and Pop in the mail.

Eric surprising me with a nice card and thoughtful presents.

Karen CALLING ME! "Is this Melissa?!" I asked. AND, I received her card that was in the mailbox ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!

Joe and Melissa singing "Happy Birthday."

Dana calling. "Who is this?" I asked. Sorry, Eric didn't tell me it was you before handing me the phone.

Mom coming down to visit for the day and of course, giving me a nice mom and dad card.

Eating out at Biagio's Bistro on Ludlow. Mmmmm--chocolate cream pie topped with a pretty candle.

Jason, Michelle and Kyra singing "Happy Birthday."

Eric's parents calling.

Watching "In Her Shoes," a chick flick Eric actually enjoyed. Cameron Diaz's booty probably helped. Ooops, missed that photo-op.

Ah, that's better.

Christmastime was here....

Then the freakin' new year. Already a month into the year, and still gotta hit the pavement (RUN). The Flying Pig half marathon is definitely a no-go, the 5K, hmmm, we'll see about that. If only Dana, Eric's sis, would show interest in U.C. and become my running buddy in about a year and a half (then maybe I'll finally get in shape again). We'll see. There's still time to convince her. Maybe I should finally give in, pay the 50 bucks a month (2 yr. contract) for Gold's Gym, and get in shape with a bud who's already payin' up. Eric's working out for free at the Y since he's a student. Should I pay up? Or wrap up? February sure is starting out cold. What's the verdict?

Christmas Eve at Nan and Dodie's (Eric's grandmother and aunt who live in Struthers, Ohio)

Brian, Dana, Dave, us, Rachel, Diane, and Susie (cousins)
Aunt Dodie, Mom, Nan, Aunt Linda
All the girls
Penny with her new toy.
Dad camera-ready.

Scarf sistas. Dana had finally woken us all up on Christmas morn' by playing her trumpet.

Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie Tanner) Addicted to Meth!!!!

What the H***?!?! You know the world's coming to an end when you hear news like this: ABC News report: ‘Full House’ Sweetheart Talks About Meth Addiction

Was anyone else as saddened as myself to hear this? Geesh.

ME "ERIC" IN SPAIN... IN THE NEWS!

http://www.polivalencia.com/numeros/mostrar_articulo.asp?IdArticulo=104


.... eh?

Submitted design concepts

Which one?.. TOP or BOTTOM... I submitted both because it was basically a 50/50 split depending on who I asked! ..

just a little peek into what i've been working on.. peek peek peek.. peek

Braun M880 Multimix 4-in-1 Handmixer Rocks!

Get yours now!
Sure, Eric loves his new toolbox, but he's also lovin' this Christmas gift that I had on my wish list. (thanks Dad!) All week, Eric's* been able to sate his sweet-tooth with smoothies made so easily with the Braun Multimix immersion blender. Just pop in any combo of fruit you want, and you can drink it straight from the cup that comes with the blender! Wanna make a quick salsa? We haven't done that yet, but it sure looks easy with the mini food processor! Recently, I chopped an onion in about two seconds. (I also love my Pampered Chef chopper from Mom) We haven't used the handmixer yet, but Eric's about to pee his pants until we do! next mission: mixing oatmeal cookie dough.

*Eric was definitely skeptical of my wanting this gift, but a girl knows what she wants!

What a Toolbox!

No, I'm not talking about Eric this time.
Brother Joe looks on.
I'll help you with your manly gift, baby.
WooHoo! Lift up that toolbox, Eric! Notice how his eyes are lighting up..
And now, his eyes are fully lit in excitement at what he's found inside his new manly gift. Thanks, Brother Jason. Thanks also to Mom and Dad Dapore for the early Christmas dinner. Pics to come from our Phelan Christmas.

The Pitstickers on Turkey Day.

U2: Cleveland, December 10, 2005!

After waiting in the freezing Cleveland air for about an hour (without coats), we made it inside the ellipse, no less, thanks to Melissa's winning ticket! Outside, the guy in line in front of us was wearing sandals and unfortunately for him, he and his Jerusalem cruisers did not make their way into the ellipse. Joe and Melissa. Melissa stayed the warmest with her scarf! Gavin "Sexy" Rossdale.
"OH! YOU! LOOK! SO! BEAU-TI-FUL! TO-NI-ITE!"

"in the ci-tyyyyy of blinding light."

Click on the pics to enlarge Bono and all of his glory.

See that hand reaching out for Bono? I tried. This was during "Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own."

Bono's booty.
Larry Mullen, Jr. Notice the security guard's wandering eyes.

Bono on the drum.

U2 Preview

After we got the U2 concert pics developed, Bono came to me (Jill) in a dream. I had dreamed that Bono wanted me to sub for him at their next concert. Before stage time, I was so nervous-- I can't sing, let alone work the crowd, man. Choking up, I desperately tried to explain to Bono that he's the charismatic performer everyone comes to see, not me. (What a dork! me, not Bono. But Bono's also a dork sometimes: Uno, dos, tres, catorce--what's that all about?!)
"People will be so disappointed if you don't go out there and kick some a**!" I pleaded with him.
"OK, you're right," Bono cooly said and went out for the first number. After that, he came backstage, handed me the mic, and said, "Your turn."
"Bono, I don't know all the lyrics to this one."
"You'll be alright. That's what the teleprompter's for." [Like there's a teleprompter at a rock show]
"OK, I guess."
The place grew quiet, and I was out there trying to read the prompter. The lyrics were all in French, and I couldn't keep up.
"Si, blah blah blah. Je nais se whatever," I can't spell out what was in my dream.
"What the H***?" I thought when I woke up. "That's not cool. Bono doesn't sing in French."
Pics to come.