Today's Art Project - GUTS Style

I enjoy being creative, but it's something I can't force. I just have to let the idea come to me.

I'm guessing it was about 20 years ago when my Grandma Olson gave me a frying pan and spatula for Christmas. I fondly remember the days of cooking and baking with her, and certain dishes became favorites of mine because of the time we shared in the kitchen, and... well... plus they're delicious.

One dish is the ever so simple mashed potatoes and the other, Swedish pancakes. I learned from the best and have cherished the pan I received from her. The pan got quite a bit of use and many a pancake was flipped in it, from home to college and back, and finally the move to my own house.

After about 15 years of use and abuse, I decided to retire the pan. It was supposed to be non stick, but it was worn with scratches and the finish dulled. I was not a fan of prying my food out of the pan, and throwing the pan away wasn't an option. It sat in the basement for about 5 years because in the back of my head, I knew I wanted to paint the inside of the pan and hang it in my house, but I never had the inspiration for what to paint until today... I was patiently waiting for something special and meaningful to me.

So, I went with my favorite quote from the wonderful book GUTS by Kristen Johnston. I like to read, but it's usually for pure enjoyment, so I just float through a book without a second thought and tend to have the reading comprehension equivalent to that of a gold fish.

I've now read this book 3 times and listened to it once in less than a year. It gets me to think every single time. If I have a piece of GUTS hanging in my house, then maybe I'll wake up to a little inspiration each day.

I wanted to get the font right, so I traced the letters on notepad paper made from elephant dung. Had to give it a little added character! Then I glued the letters on before I started painting. As you can tell, the rest of it was done done freehand. I didn't realize how difficult it would be to paint in a straight line when the the object is round. I guess you'll have that. I can't wait to get this hung up on the wall.

"At the end of the day, funny and interesting will always kick pretty and perfect's ass." - Kristen Johnston

Ninjabread Adventure

I hadn't yet called it a night when Sandra shot me a text tonight. After a quick exchange, I decided to pack up my ninjabread cookie kit and head over to hang out with her and the kids for the evening.

Buckled in safely, I was ready to go.

How can you resist when you're friend texts the following excitement?

I was glad to share the Ninjabread Kit with the Iadipaolo's. It was a fun present they gave me and kind of figured something this "simple" would be sure to entertain. Someone neglected to read the directions all the way through and missed the important step of flouring the surface before rolling out the dough.

I guess I was too focused on figuring out how to roll out the dough without a rolling pin. We solved that by using Vince's water bottle. But between all the added flour and the instructions of "cook until golden brown" (when the cookies didn't change color), I recommend dunking the cookies in milk prior to consuming. That's if you're lucky enough to try one of these masterpieces.

Here are our little helpers, Sofia and Santiago. Their high energy kept me going through all of the trials and tribulations. I suppose seeing Janers up to her elbows in cookie dough and flour would have been somewhat entertaining.

You know those moments when you have a little devil on your shoulder urging you to do something you know you shouldn't do because the person you would do this thing to wouldn't appreciate it. You don't want to make them mad, but knowing they've already been gooified by the kids at dinner, then you think how much worse can it really get.

Then somehow you convince this person to let you follow through with the plot the little devil has planted in your head. I mean really, how bad can a hug be?

The icing kit was a no brainer, but I'm kind of wishing we had put some food coloring in it. The supplied colorful candies were hard as rock and pretty much inedible, well except the kids loved the pure sugar. Good thing it wasn't a school night... I'm not sure how well they'll sleep tonight.

Here are some of my favorites cookies. Top row includes a couple blobs made from the cookie scraps, and then my favorite wolf-dolphin. The next row starts with Booth from the TV show Bones, then squirrel with an overly poofy tail, and a creepy pterodactyl. The bottom row contains the kickass ninjabread men.

Can't wait to make other future ninja-edibles.

Dog Day Afternoon

I was perfectly content with my quick trip to Dollar General to get a gallon of milk and then enjoy a day of whatever the heck I want to do in my warm cozy home.

Unfortunately, Sparky wasn't having any of that. His energy levels were off the chart and after such a long week, I just didn't have the patience to deal with him. "Hey Sparks, want to go to PetSmart?" I knew he wouldn't say no, especially with how that gift card has burning a hole in his collar.

As usual, I wan't moving nearly fast enough for Sparky, but soon enough he was riding shotgun.

No car ride would be complete without Sparky's attempt at bringing smiles to people one drive-thru at a time.

Gotta get a little fresh air while out and about. Bringing smile to people one stoplight at a time? Quite possibly.

I thought this might be a fun adventure, but I didn't think it through very well. Sparky and the car wash do not go well together AT ALL. I thought he may enjoy chasing the bubbles from window to window. I was wrong, he saw it just as a rain storm just inches away. Note to self: don't do that again.

And the reward after a busy and slightly stressful afternoon. Thanks and shout out to Mom and Dad for Sparky's gift card.

So, if there's no stuffing to gut and the squeaker continues to squeak even when punctured, then how much fun could this toy actually be?

Step 1: Inspect the toy for any weaknesses.

Step 2: Grab hold and test the squeaker.

Step 3: React to the sound of the newfangled squeaker. 

Step 4: Show it who's boss and go in for the kill!

Step 5: Recharge for round 2.

A Lost Weekend

It's rare that I truly feel a weekend was too short. But in the case of this last weekend, one more day would have really done me some good.

I spent Friday evening hanging out with Mom. We stopped over at Asia Grill for dinner before the show RED at Corn Stalk's lab theater. The uncomfortable seating combined with smoking in the play and a somewhat unlikable lead character caused us to scoot out early. Back at my house, I gave Mom a tour around twitter and facebook and shared my newly found screaming sheep youtube clips. Which then led us into some The Big Bang Theory flash-mob clips and a couple Kjo/GUTS videos. Overall, a very enjoyable evening!

Saturday I had to head into the office. Well, it was exactly mandatory, but if I didn't want my work area to look like a tornado hit it on Monday, then it was in my best interest. Plus, there's no 'I' in Mcomm Group, and the team was needed to pull of this latest office reorganization. Oddly enough, I started to get tuckered out after about 5 hours and pretty much called it a day after that.

Saturday night and Sunday morning I got my sleep on. Once I got up and moving, I headed over to my Tom and Laura's house to what a little football. Sometimes it doesn't get much better than hanging out with your big bro.

And now it's Monday night, after a ridiculously long day at work. I'm wrapped up in a blanket with a warm laptop, soon to be replaced with a Jinkies of Sparky, whichever acts faster. I had some chicken noodle soup for dinner and plan to hit the hay early. I refuse to believe my scratchy throat is any more than a result of the bitterly cold and dry weather. But it's better to be safe than sorry.

3 out of 4 isn't bad, right?

Some of you may know that during the baseball off season, my beloved Chicago Cubs pulled out of Peoria and we are once again stuck with the St. Louis Cardinals representing baseball in Peoria. We knew Kane County would come to town at least twice this summer to take on the Peoria Chiefs, but would the Cubs Caravan make a stop Peoria this January?

The answer, YEP!

And tonight was the night. Nothing like hitting Expo Gardens for some ballpark food in January, with the hope of obtaining some Chicago Cubs players autographs. Definitely a wonderful way to spend the evening, especially when you get to hang with your brother and couple friends. (Vince pictured below.)


Sadly, the Cubs didn't send any current players. Kind of a bummer because it's always nice to see some new faces pass through. Who they did promise, did show up and did not disappoint!
     James Rowson - Cubs hitting coach
     Keith Moreland - Cubs radio, former Cubs player
     Randy Bush - Cubs Assistant GM, former player
     Ernie Banks - Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer

Based on the title of this blog entry, you may have deduced that I only obtained 3 of their autographs, and you would be correct. But I did interact with all four.

I will attempt a "quick" summary of the evening.

1. I wait in line for a Banks auto as Tom waits in the other autograph line. A quick count and he tells me I'm approximately 120th in line. Yep, this isn't looking good.

2. Guests of Honor show up and start signing. Tom gets Moreland's and Rowson's autos and joins me to wait in line. (no, not line cutting, just keeping me company... unlike a good 50 other people that oozed into the line ahead of me.) Yes, sometimes I wish I was that person, but ultimately I'm glad I'm not.

3. Tom saves my spot and I get to meet Moreland and J-Row! Very nice fellows and J-Row has an awesome smile.


4. Join Tom again. 30 minutes have passed and we've move a total of 10 feet, not good.

5. "Friends" near us in line save our spot as we go chit-chat, get auto, and pic with Randy Bush.


6. We go back through Moreland and J-Row's line again, so I can get some pics with those guys. Too nice! Love it!



7. Autograph session should last 45 minutes, but it's now about an hour and fifteen minutes since they started. I go join my "friends" back in line.

8. We make it just in front of the podium area before they pull the plug on Ernie's signing madness. Still a good 30 people in front of me. I watch Ernie walk towards me as he makes his way to the stage and I simply stick out my hand. "Ernie, thanks for coming down to Peoria!", I say while he shakes my hand and smiles back. I believe he said something along the lines of "My pleasure." I honestly don't recall because I was caught up in the moment of shaking Mr. Cub's hand.

9. I head back to my seat and turnaround to see the people around me jockeying for position to try to get an autograph. Once again, not my style. I'm just glad I got to thank him. He helped make for a magical evening.

Here's a photo of Ernie signing for people that were lucky enough to get an autograph, but I guarantee they didn't shake his hand. Oh yeah, that's what I'm talkin' about!