Where in the World is Marianne?

Just about everyone in Chicago was in Grant Park today:

Photo credit: Megan Walsh

With really cool signs:



This one was clever AND had correct spelling and grammar.  Makes me happy.
Photo credit: Megan Walsh

Celebrating this:



Photo credit: Colleen Capola

But where the heck were Joe and I?

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In desperate need of one of these:

Seriously.  It was looking at me.

After a long day spent here:

This was snapped pre-beer tent

It may seem odd that a couple of Blackhawks fans skipped out on the big rally.  It's not every day our favorite hockey team brings home the Stanley Cup.

But commitments had been made.  Tickets purchased.  Friends waiting.

I promise to explain fully once my head stops pounding.  But I will reveal that I had a lot of "fun."

As in...

fun.

To be continued...

The Minivan Moms Meet Famous Actor

It was a girls' night out.

And I totally would've put on an extra pair of Spanx had I known I'd be hobnobbing with acclaimed actor types.

See that scholarly guy behind Miniature Friend's blurry head?  He's totally famous. 
Photo credit: Rebecca Healy

Full story click HERE in today's Chicago Parent.

History of a Blackhawks' Championship

It all started with a do-or-die game five, with the Blackhawks down 3 games to 1 against Detroit.  Because big brother Daniel went to Great America last year, Jack had been promised a Blackhawks game this season.  So it was a do-or-die moment for fulfilling that promise, too.  When tickets became available through a nephew, Jack finally got to go to a Blackhawks' game.  And the rest is history:



Game 5 vs. Detroit

Hawks win!

Jack uses his rally rag to keep things going...



...and sleeps under a Blackhawks sign (as well a map of the United States and poster of treble clef notes because I'm such a Tiger Mom). 



There was a good luck net.



And a good luck puck.



And even a good luck jersey.



The key?  Jack needed to be AWAKE for victory.  Blackhawks lost this one.

I got home from an outing to find Joe had put Jack to bed with the Hawks in OVERTIME.  School be damned, I woke the kid up & bada-bam.  Hawks win.

And in case you missed it:

Congratulations Chicago Blackhawks!  And thank you Jack for always being such a good sport! 

 

I promise you can take a nap today.  

 

Before the Sox game.

You Thought Your Morning Was Bad?

There is no better way to start your day than looking out the back deck only to find a dismembered fireman lying there:

Aren't joggers always supposed to find the dead bodies??  I'm practically a sloth. 

At least that's what I thought until my own fireman heard me scream and explained that his house had two fires the other night and he was simply drying out his gear from all the water.

It's going to be a three Xanax kinda day.

When BlogHer Comes to Town

My very first conference was in Nashville and the entire event revolved around interstate insurance licensing procedures and practices.

That bag contains folders on the educational insurance requirements for New York, California and Idaho.

I pretty much assumed all conferences were dull and uninspiring.

But with BlogHer coming to Chicago next month, I have been told that the times are a-changing.

Full story click HERE in Chicago Parent.

Father's Day Dilemma

Here's my quandary.

We could really use a new grill.  Ours is about 10 years old and nearly exploded about three times.  Last summer, I was so convinced it was about to light the house on fire that I almost called the fire department. 

Joe wouldn't let me.

I guess there is a bit of a stigma when a fireman burns his own house down.

But on the other hand, I really like cake.  Joe really likes ice cream.  And look what I found:

Baskin-Robbins has these bad boys available for Sunday. 

New grill or ice cream?

This is an easy one.

I'll be hiding the propane.